Category Archives: News
OPEN LETTER: Planning for the 99th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in South Florida
Dear South Florida Armenian Community,
April 24, 2014 is coming up soon and this year for the 99th commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, we will be holding two events:
- A Walk-a-thon at Mizner Park in Boca Raton, FL on April 12th. More info to follow separately later.
- Requiem Prayer/Hokehankist followed by program at St. David Church in Boca Raton, FL on April 24th.
For the program event, this year the idea is to not only remember the massacres of 1915, but to showcase our conquest: “We survived . . . and not only did we live on, but we flourished”. So we want to honor our martyrs, and celebrate our perseverance through the performing arts. Accordingly, this email is to solicit and recruit any kind of performance for the program – it could be anything from a skit, to a dance, to a song, to a YouTube video or any other creative idea (including inspirations from TV). The sky is the limit, and the guidelines are very simple (please see form below).
So please take this opportunity to participate, or seek others that you know that can participate in this program. Let us honor our victims by giving something back – FROM US, as a community. We owe it to the innocent blood lost.
Please email the application to agc1915@gmail.com by March 20th or sooner.
Looking forward to seeing you on April 12th AND 24th,
Sincerely,
Armenian Genocide Commemoration (AGC) Inc.
AGC Inc is non-profit organization whose purpose is to observe the Armenian Genocide, as well as bring awareness to the public on all Genocides. The committee was incorporated in February 2014 and is comprised of representatives from the following South Florida organizations: St. David Armenian Church, St. Mary Armenian Church, Armenian Assembly of America, Armenian National Committee of America, Armenian Relief Society, Florida Armenians, Homenetmen, Armenian Revolutionary Federation, and Knights of Vartan.
The 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi: Spotlight Armenia
By Grant Pakhtigian
March 3, 2014
The year 2014 was in play for the last weekend at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. While much of the attention was on men’s ice hockey, many Armenian Americans followed the four-member Team Armenia. With thoughts of Gold, Silver and Bronze, each competitor hoped to capture and write his and her name in the record books.
Katya Galystyan (Getty Images)
As we think of the XXII Olympiad, we can point to a breakthrough competitor, Katya Galystyan who trail-blazed through this year’s cross-country event-the 10K. Born in 1993, on the first of January, Galystyan is the only woman to represent Armenia at the Sochi games. She placed 64th out of 76 competitors.
Arman Serabrakian
Another bright star is Armenian-American Arman Serabrakian. A dual citizen and second year medical student at Temple University in Pennsylvania, Serebrakian had the support of his fellow Armenian and American compatriots. “This is truly one of the best moments of my life, and I am happy to share it with my Temple family,” he said according to a university announcement. Arman is Armenia’s top ranked alpine skier. While an undergraduate student at the University of Colorado, he achieved four top-10 NCAA finishes. But getting to Sochi wasn’t easy. Online fundraisers were held by his supporters through friends of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), to help cover his trip and other expenses. FLArmenians was proud to contribute a nominal sum to assist the young Serabrakian achieve his life-long dream of being an Olympian. He competed in men’s giant slalom, the high-speed roller coaster of skiing. Clocks have long held speeds of 70-90 MPH in the downhill. Arman’s placement of 54 and 42, combined for 46th place overall, and took 2-hour heats on three different runs, totaling approximately 6+/- hours in competition. Then, as the Olympics came to a close, Arman received some exciting news. “Holy moly…I will be FLAG BEARER for the closing ceremony tonight. Wow what an honor!” he wrote on his Facebook page.
Sergey Mikayelyan
Olympian Sergey Mikayelyan raced through the men’s skiathlon and wound up on the other end as the number 46 pacer. With his six-days-a-week training sessions and only 21 years old, he has shown these Winter Games that he is a skier to be reckoned with now and in years to come. Sochi was Mikayelyan’s second Olympic experience, as he participated in the last Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Colombia at the tender age of 17.
Artur Yeghoyan (Getty Images)
The fourth Olympian from Armenia is Artur Yeghoyan. At 23, he has a fruitful career ahead of him. Cross-country is one of the races he competes in, along with the 15K and men’s skiathlon.
In addition, Yerevan got some extra attention during these Olympics. Given its proximity to Sochi, the Japanese women’s figure skating team apparently chose to practice in the Armenian capital, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Although team Armenian did not win any medals in the 2014 Winter Games they represented their country well. 1994 was the year Armenians popped the cork, realizing they were on the grand stage of the Olympics. History tells us that the Summer Games have been more productive than the Winter events for the tiny republic in the South Caucasus. Since 1996’s summer games in Atlanta, the colors of red, blue and orange have earned 12 medals; nine bronze, two silver and one gold.
Armenian Assembly of America Annual Trustees Meeting & Banquet Honoring Former Board Chairman Michael Haratunian March 14-17, 2014
Featuring Author Dr. H. Martin Deranian, Near East Foundation Board Chairman Shant Mardirossian, South Florida Filmmaker Bared Maronian
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) South Florida Regional Council (SFRC) is pleased to announce that the annual trustees meeting and banquet will be held at the Marriott at Boca Center in Boca Raton, Florida March 14-17, 2014. Members, supporters and friends are all invited to a sunny weekend retreat packed with a wonderful lineup of events with past and present leaders of the Assembly and the greater Armenian American community.
A welcome reception will be held Friday evening, bringing together members and friends from across the country. Later, guests are invited to “Kef Night Boca,” an evening of fun, dancing and entertainment presented by local Florida Armenians.
On Saturday, March 15, the Assembly’s annual trustees meeting and luncheon will be held from 9:00AM-12:30PM. Following lunch, the Assembly is delighted to present three distinguished Armenian American community leaders. From Worcester, Massachusetts, Dr. H. Martin Deranian, author of “President Calvin Coolidge and the Armenian Orphan Rug,” will discuss his recent book and community efforts to have the Coolidge Rug released and displayed in Washington, D.C. Chairman of the board of directors of the Near East Foundation (NEF), Shant Mardirossian, will deliver a compelling presentation on the Armenian Genocide and efforts of the NEF to help save the survivors. Local South Florida filmmaker, Bared Maronian, will provide a presentation and clips of his award-winning film “Orphans of the Genocide,” which has been broadcast by Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in several states and featured in Armenian communities across the globe. South Florida is home to some of the genocide survivors featured in the film. The Assembly is privileged to present this diverse panel of speakers to the south Florida community. Presentations will be held from 12:30PM-2:00PM and are free and open to the public.
Saturday evening, members, supporters and friends are all invited to the Assembly’s annual dinner and banquet, where former chairman of the board, Michael Haratunian, will be officially honored. A participant of the Airlie conferences that established the Armenian Assembly of America in 1972, Haratunian served as a member of the board of directors for several years including four years as chairman. See Michael’s full biography here. The dinner and banquet will feature remarks from Assembly board members, executive director Bryan Ardouny and community leaders.
Members are also invited to the 22nd annual St. David Armenian Church charity golf tournament at the Via Mizner golf and country club in Boca Raton on Monday, March 17. For more information on the golf tournament please click here or call St. David Armenian Church at (561) 994-2335.
All Assembly events will be held at the Marriott at Boca Center. Major donor packages are available at the following levels: Benefactor ($1,000) receives two complimentary tickets to the banquet; Pillar ($2,500) receives two complimentary tickets to all events including the major donor brunch on Sunday; Torchbearer ($5,000) receives four complimentary tickets to all events including the major donor brunch on Sunday; and Guardian ($10,000) receives eight complimentary tickets to all events including the major donor brunch on Sunday.
Hotel arrangements can be made by calling 1-800-228-9290 or click here to get the special Assembly room rate of only $159.00. To RSVP for the Friday reception or the Saturday luncheon, or to book table reservations for the Saturday evening banquet, please contact Assembly SFRC Chair Carol Norigian at southflaaa@gmail.com.
Florida Armenians 