PRESS RELEASE
Date: May 16, 2007
Armenian National Committee of New Jersey
461 Bergen Blvd, Ridgefield, NJ 07657
Contact: Ani Tchaghlasian
Tel: 917-691-5636
PRESS RELEASE
ANC of NJ HOSTS "THINK. SPEAK. ACT." MIXER
RIDGEFIELD, NJ – The Armenian National Committee of New Jersey (ANC
of NJ) hosted a young professionals event entitled "Think. Speak.
Act." to encourage Armenian Americans across the Garden State to
engage in the American political system.
Attended by 30 activists, the event was held at the Holiday Inn in
Saddle Brook on Friday evening, May 12, 2007. Spearheading the
efforts, Ani Tchaghlasian, Chairperson of the ANC of NJ and Armen
Bahadourian, local NJ activist worked to organize the event.
Tchaghlasian, welcomed the activists and introduced Karine
Birazian, ANCA Eastern Region Executive Director, who spoke about
her role as coordinator of the ANCA’s activities in the Eastern
United States. Birazian stressed the importance of contacting
Members of Congress to support the Armenian Genocide Resolutions
and other issues of importance for the Armenian American community.
She spoke of her travels to several parts of the country to meet
with local activists interested in advancing the Armenian Cause.
ANCA Legislative Affairs Director, Raffi N. Karakashian, Esq.,
presented an overview of the national headquarters and its role in
working with the two regional offices and the dozens of local
chapters across the country. He indicated that there was strong
support for the House and Senate versions of the Armenian Genocide
resolutions, but stressed the need for constantly engaging with
Members of Congress to counter the growing pressure from the
Turkish government to delay and derail the measures. Karakashian
also pointed to Sen. Bob Menendez as an example of one of the
closest friends of the Armenian American community for his
principled stand in blocking the nomination of Richard Hoagland to
serve as US Ambassador to Armenia.
Tchaghlasian then introduced special guest Joe Ariyan, Esq.,
Democratic candidate for the 39th district in the NJ State Senate,
currently occupied by Gerald Cardinale. Ariyan expressed his
gratitude to the Armenians of the state who have generously
supported his campaign and encouraged the activists to support the
work of the ANC of NJ.
Following the event, Tchaghlasian commented "this was a wonderful
opportunity to bring in activists throughout the state of NJ to
encourage them to get involved with the ANCA. We are planning to
do more events like this in the future and expand our efforts to
strengthen our grassroots in New Jersey."
The Armenian National Committee of America 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:
Left to Right: ANC of NJ Chairperson Ani Tchaghlasian, ANCA
Legislative Affairs Director, Raffi N. Karakashian, Esq., ANCA
Eastern Region Director, Karine Birazian, and Joe Ariyan, Esq.,
Democratic candidate for the 39th district in the NJ State Senate