Armenian National Committee of Utah
Orem, UT 84058
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Contact: Sarkis Bekearian
E-mail: sbekearian@msn.com
ANCA-WR Chapter Focus: Utah ANC Leads Community Outreach
Salt Lake City, UT – Outside of the state of California, the ANCA-WR
consists of numerous burgeoning communities and corresponding local ANC
chapters. One such chapter is the Utah ANC, which serves the interests of
the local community and strives to raise awareness on issues of concern to
Armenian Americans. Complementing the work of the Utah ANC, the Utah
Armenian American community enjoys the organizational presence of the
Armenian Relief Society “Hamaspure” Chapter which organizes annual social,
cultural and community events, and the local Homenetmen “Spitak” chapter.
“The Utah ANC is an integral component of the local Armenian American
community,” stated Utah ANC Chairman Sarkis Bekearian. “We plan to continue
working here in Utah to assist the community in becoming more engaged in
reaching out to their elected officials,” he added.
By employing a grassroots approach, the Utah ANC has successfully reached
out to the community in raising awareness of H. Res. 106 and S. Res. 106,
the Armenian Genocide Resolutions in the House and Senate. Speaking to the
universal humanitarian importance associated with ending the cycle of
genocide, Armenian and non-Armenian Americans of Utah alike have called,
faxed, and emailed their local Congressmen and Senators to become cosponsors
of H. Res. 106 and S. Res. 106. Senator Orin Hatch (R-UT) has received
correspondence from Utah constituents, and in epitomizing the very essence
of grassroots advocacy, Congressman Chris Cannon’s (R-UT-03) office received
dozens of signed and hand-written letters from district constituents urging
him to cosponsor H. Res. 106. Congressman Jim Matheson (D-UT-02) was one of
the earliest supporters of H. Res. 106, joining onto the resolution as a
cosponsor on January 31, 2007.
Additionally, former Governor Leavitt signed Utah’s official proclamation
recognizing the Armenian Genocide. Utah is now one of 40 states in the
United States that officially has recognized the Armenian Genocide. The
Utah ANC plans to continue its advocacy efforts at all levels of government
to raise awareness of both Armenian Genocide resolutions and plans to
schedule district meetings in August with Utah’s Congressional and
Senatorial Delegation.
“As a grassroots organization firmly committed to energizing all of our
local communities, we are extremely pleased to see the vibrant leadership
and efforts of the Utah ANC,” stated Andrew Kzirian, Executive Director of
the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR). “The
Utah ANC’s strong role in raising awareness of the Armenian Genocide
resolution is a testament to the spirit of advocacy that we hold so dear,”
he added.
Consisting of over 2000 Armenian Americans, the Armenian American community
of Utah consists of families from all over the world that have settled in
major cities from Salt Lake City to Provo to Ogden and their surrounding
suburbs. The Utah ANC is committed to continuing outreach and community
building in the area, and looks forward to planning a Town Hall meeting to
discuss issues impacting Armenian Americans in the near future.
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most
influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working in
coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout
the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA
actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad
range of issues.
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Photo Caption: President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan and First Lady Bella
Kocharyan are joined by (left to right) Mrs. Karen Huntsman (wife of
Benefactor John Huntsman, Sr.), wife of then Utah Governor Michael Leavitt
Jacalyn Smith Leavitt, then Utah Governor and current U.S. Secretary of
Health and Human Services Michael Levitt, and Utah Activists Hasmik and Ara
Bekearian at the Capitol Building in Salt Lake City, Utah.