PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: jakeg@armeniandiocese.org
Website:
September 28, 2004
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ACYOA CENTRAL COUNCIL WORKS ON IMPLEMENTING GOALS
You can’t move forward without a map. During their first meeting this
fall, the volunteer leaders of the Armenian Church Youth Organization of
America (ACYOA) sat down to look at their map and see how they can get
to where they want to go.
The ACYOA Central Council and its executive secretary gathered at the
St. Sahag and St. Mesrob Church in Wynnewood, PA, on Saturday, September
11, 2004, to plan ways to reach the organization’s goals for the coming
year, which were established during a July meeting in New York City.
PLANNING GROWTH
During the July meeting — with the input of Archbishop Khajag
Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese, and Dr. Sam Mikaelian,
executive director of the Diocesan Center– the ACYOA Central Council
compiled a list of goals for the group, divided into four categories for
the organization to address.
Each broader goal was given a time frame for completion, and each was
broken into smaller goals, to facilitate planning and execution.
According to the goals set by the Central Council by May 2005, ACYOA
will:
* Improve communications by increasing contacts between the Central
Council and the chapters and parishes;
* Strengthen existing programs by expanding and improving its highly
successful Armenia Service Program (ASP) trip to Armenia in 2005,
studying the possibility of establishing a second trip to Armenia, and
planning unique fall regional conferences to be held in each region;
* Work with local parishes and chapters to expand local chapters,
develop resources for local leaders, and establish or revitalize three
new chapters;
* Implement a new fundraising strategy by establishing a fundraising
committee and developing new fundraising methods.
CONNECTING PARISHES
One new project discussed during the September meeting is called “ACYOA
Fasts for Armenia.” This effort is meant to allow local ACYOA chapters
throughout the Diocese to participate in the same project on the same
day.
During “ACYOA Fasts for Armenia,” to be held on a day yet to be
determined, ACYOA members will come together and fast while
participating in Bible studies and other activities. The objective is
to increase hunger awareness and raise funds to benefit Armenia.
It is just one of the ways the Diocesan ACYOA leadership is working to
tie together young Armenians in parishes throughout the Diocese. They
will host a series of fall regional conferences this year, bringing
young Armenians together to discuss their faith. Topics of discussion
will include learning to live within God’s word, sexuality and spouses,
and programming ideas for local ACYOA leaders.
The first regional conference will be for Midwest regional parishes on
Saturday, October 23, 2004, at the St. John Church of Southfield, MI.
Mid-Atlantic parishes will meet at the St. Mary Church of Livingston,
NJ, on Saturday, November 6, 2004. The Holy Resurrection Church in New
Britain, CT, will host the New England parishes on Saturday, November
13, 2004. And on Saturday, January 15, 2005, Southern parishes will
gather at the St. Sarkis Church of Dallas, TX.
These day-long conferences are free and open to anyone between the ages
of 18 and 28. If you would like more information on any of the
conferences, e-mail ACYOA Executive Secretary Nancy Basmajian at
acyoa@armeniandiocese.org.
ACYOA members and young Armenains will also have the chance to get
together this fall in Boston, when the ACYOA chapter at the Holy Trinity
Church of Cambridge, MA, hosts the Archbishop’s Tournament.
Besides planning ACYOA programming, during their fall meeting the
Central Council members discussed other projects, including
participation in the upcoming meeting of the Standing Committee of
Oriental Orthodox Youth of America (SCOOYA) and sending representatives
to a Pan-American Youth Meeting to be held in October. That meeting
will bring together youth leaders from the Eastern Diocese, Western
Diocese, and Canadian Diocese to help increase communication and discuss
common challenges that face the youth of the Armenian Church.
After their business meeting, on Sunday, September 12, all seven ACYOA
Central Council members worshipped with the parishioners at the St.
Sahag and St. Mesrob Church, after which they joined the parish for its
annual parish picnic.
— 9/28/04
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News
and Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): Members of the Central Council of the Armenian
Church Youth Organization of America (ACYOA) gather in Wynnewood, PA,
for a planning meeting on September 11, 2004.
PHOTO CAPTION (2): During a recent meeting, the ACYOA Central Council
set goals and objectives for the coming year, which include supporting
local parishes in establishing ACYOA chapters and formulating a
fund-raising strategy.
PHOTO CAPTION (3): The St. Sahag and St. Mesrob Church of Wynnewood,
PA, welcomed the ACYOA Central Council members during its annual picnic
on September 12, 2004.
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