PRESS OFFICE
Department of Communications
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. 160; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: jakeg@armeniandiocese.org
Website:
February 6, 2007
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DIOCESAN COUNCIL ALLOTS $35,000 TO ACYOA
At their regular bi-monthly meeting on Saturday, January 27, 2007, at the
St. Nersess Seminary in New Rochelle, New York, the Central Council of the
Armenian Church Youth Organization of America announced an unprecedented
grant of $35,000 from the Diocesan Council.
The money will be used to subsidize the Diocese’s young adult ministry
programming. Along with the funds, the Diocesan Council also expressed
appreciation for the ACYOA’s assistance with the phone calling campaign
during the 2006 Archbishop’s Annual Appeal.
"The Council is most appreciative of the role that the ACYOA and its Central
Council has played in this year’s Primate’s Appeal," wrote Diocesan Council
Treasurer James Kalustian in a letter to ACYOA Chair Greg Andonian. "The
members and leadership of the ACYOA have more than met your commitment and
it has made a big difference. Your dedication, hard work and commitment are
examples for all of us."
The youth of the church were asked to take an active part in the 2007
Archbishop’s Annual Appeal by Dr. Sam Mikaelian, who spearheaded the
campaign and had seen other organizations use young leaders to successfully
help with fundraising.
"I thought we should give it a try. So, we gathered together a few young
people from various regions, did a one-day training workshop, and the
results were wonderful," he said. "While we’re not able to isolate and
identify exactly how much was raised through the telephone campaign, we know
that we exceeded our overall goal. I have no doubt that these young people
played an important role in our success."
FUNDING ANNUAL PROJECTS
The ACYOA plans to use the money to fund three crucial annual initiatives:
the Armenia Service Program (ASP), which takes place every summer; the ACYOA
National Young Adult Leadership Conference, which takes place during Lent;
and ACYOA Regional Conferences, usually held in the fall.
The ASP is one of the most life-changing programs offered by the ACYOA.
Each summer, about 25 young adults travel to Armenia through the ASP trip.
They go not as tourists, but as Christians putting their faith into action
through service projects. This year the participants will work at a
children’s camp in Vanadzor. The result of the trip is usually the same:
The experience deepens participants’ connection to the homeland and enriches
their lives greatly.
For the past eight years, young people from throughout the Diocese have
participated in the annual Leadership Conference, a weekend which includes
leadership training, Christian education, spiritual growth, and fellowship.
The ACYOA does not charge participants for the conference, and the
additional funding will enable more young leaders to attend, especially
those who will need to travel by air.
While the Leadership Conference is critical on a national level, the ACYOA
Regional Conferences are crucial in the organization’s grass-roots
campaigns. They provide for a meaningful "think tank" setting in which
young Armenians to gather together in with others in their area to think,
talk, and delve into their faith. These conferences can be very costly, and
the grant will help relieve parishes’ expenses in sending delegates.
"Thanks in large measure to the efforts of our Primate, Archbishop Khajag
Barsamian, the quality and quantity of our programs have improved greatly.
He has listened to us, encouraged us, supported us and spent time with us —
and so has the Diocesan Council," said ACYOA Chair Andonian, who noted that
different members of the Council attended all the ACYOA meetings last year.
"That’s really something. We were glad to put our fundraising campaign on
hold to help with the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal, but we never thought we’d
receive this kind of gift. The council will ensure that this contribution
will be utilized effectively and efficiently to maximize the strengthening
of the ACYOA in the lives of it’s members."
— 2/6/06
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News and
Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): The ACYOA Central Council, joined by ACYOA Executive
Secretary Nancy Basmajian, following their meeting at the St. Nersess
Seminary in New Rochelle, New York, on January 27, 2007, during which it was
announced that they will receive a $35,000 grant from the Diocesan Council
to strengthen Diocesan programming for young adults.
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