Armenian Church of Southwest Florida Releases 2015-2016 Calendar
By Carole Meghreblian
FLArmenians Naples Contributor
The Armenian Church of Southwest Florida (ACSWFL) is pleased to announce the beginning of our mission parish services for the 2015-2016 season. Badarak is celebrated during the months of November, January, February, and March, to accommodate our seasonal parishioners.
All services are held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 3901 Davis Blvd., Naples, Florida 34104.
- NOVEMBER: Our first service will be held on Saturday, November 7, 2015 at 1:30 pm. Fr. Hovnan Demerjian from St. Hagop Armenian Church in Pinellas Park will officiate. Baby Emmie Elizabeth Esayian will be blessed by Fr. Hovnan after the service. A light luncheon will follow.
- JANUARY: On Sunday, January 17, 2016, Arshen Aivazian, formally of St. Paul Armenian Church in Fresno, California, will celebrate the Divine Liturgy. Service will be followed by Khachahankist (Comfort in the Cross) followed by fellowship.
- FEBRUARY: On Sunday, February 21, 2016, His Eminence Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, accompanied by Fr. Tateos Abdalian, will celebrate Holy Badarak. Following the Service, Serpazan will be the guest of honor at a banquet celebrating the 15th Anniversary of the Armenian Church of Southwest Florida at Vanderbilt Country Club in Naples, FL. For reservations, please see below.
- MARCH: On Sunday, March 13, 2016, Fr. Garabed Kouchakian, formerly of St. John Church in Detroit, Michigan will celebrate Badarak. Service will be followed by the annual Lenten Luncheon in the Church hall featuring delicious Armenian dishes prepared by the ladies of the mission parish.
For further information about the ACSWFL, please contact FLArmenians.com Naples Contributor Carole Meghreblian at (239) 348-3804 or carolemeghreblian@gmail.com. We look forward to welcoming you and your family to Southwest Florida!
Armenian Assembly of America Welcomes Jewish Council for Public Affairs’ Call for U.S. Reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide
WASHINGTON, D.C. – During the Jewish Council for Public Affairs’ (JCPA) annual Town Hall meeting last month, the JCPA adopted a resolution acknowledging the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, and called on Congress and the White House to recognize the Armenian Genocide. This is the first time that a policy position on the Armenian Genocide has been adopted by the JCPA.
“The Armenian Assembly of America thanks the JCPA for adopting this important resolution and for advancing efforts for U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide,” stated Assembly Board Co-Chairman Anthony Barsamian. “The Armenian American community is grateful to the JCPA for the adoption of this historic resolution. The unity of millions of Jewish and Armenian Americans in standing up for the truth is an important step along the path of justice,” Barsamian said.
Among its findings, the JCPA resolution states, “We must not let the politics of the moment, or the U.S. government’s relationship with Turkey, sway our moral obligation to recognize the suffering of the Armenian people.” The resolution also calls upon “the Congress and the President to officially recognize what started in 1915 at the hands of the Ottoman Turks, and resulted in the killing and deportation of approximately 1.5 million Armenians, as the Armenian Genocide.”
The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), which operates under the JCPA, presented and passed the resolution at the JCPA annual Town Hall meeting. The national resolution was prompted by JCRC branches in Boston, Palm Beach, and Providence, with support from Atlanta and other chapters. The Atlanta JCRC adopted the draft resolution on the Armenian Genocide on August 18, 2015 during their local town hall meeting, which featured a presentation by Armenian Assembly State Chair for Georgia Dr. Vahan Kassabian.
“I am very pleased that the JCPA leadership and chapters across the country stand in support of U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide,” stated Assembly Board Member Annie Totah. “This resolution reinforces the cause of genocide prevention and amplifies the voice of those who shout ‘Never Again,'” Totah said.
As the Assembly previously reported, the Jewish American community has rallied in support of Armenian Genocide recognition throughout the centennial year. However, the grassroots movement of Jewish American support is founded in years of work by the Armenian Assembly Board and State Chairs throughout the country. Many cite 2007 as the turning point in the Jewish American community’s support of U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide when the JCRC of Greater Boston sparked the recognition process, which resulted in a tidal wave of support behind Boston Anti-Defamation League (ADL) director Andrew Tarsy who was fired for acknowledging the Armenian Genocide.
“We are proud that the Jewish Council for Public Affairs adopted this policy position on the Armenian Genocide, reflecting our deep solidarity with the Armenian American community,” Jeremy Burton, Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater Boston told the Assembly. “The ties between the Jewish and Armenian peoples are today stronger than ever, and will continue to strengthen,” Burton said.
In addition to its findings, the JCPA resolution on the Armenian Genocide calls upon the wider Jewish community relations field to consult and work with national Armenian organizations, major Jewish organizations, and interfaith coalition partners to further the aim of U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide. JCPA calls on the President to recognize the Armenian Genocide, in addition to urging congressional representatives to support resolutions in Congress that call for recognition.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
How Armenian American Candidates Fared in the 2015 Election
By Taniel Koushakjian
FLArmenians Managing Editor
*Updated 6:37pm.
**Updated Thursday, November 12, 2015 at 11:18am.
Although 2015 is not a national election year, Tuesday, November 3rd was Election Day in the United States, where non-federal candidates vied for several state and municipal seats. National attention was focused on marquee races for Kentucky Governor and control for the Virginia legislature, but Armenian Americans were watching smaller contests on the East Coast.
There were eight Armenian Americans on the ballot in the 2015 U.S. elections, one each in Florida, Maine, and Virginia, and five in New Jersey.
Beginning in the Sunshine State, Mark Samuelian was running for Miami Beach City Commissioner in Group VI, a non-partisan seat. Samuelian, originally from Boston, MA, ran a solid, grassroots campaign but fell just 77 votes short of victory. The Miami Herald recommended Samuelian, however, Florida Armenians withheld their endorsement. “It is telling when an Armenian American candidate fails to win the endorsement of the state’s largest Armenian American organization,” stated Florida Armenians Public Affairs Director Arsine Kaloustian. “We wish Mark the best of luck in his future endeavors,” Kaloustian said.
At the opposite end of Interstate-95, the Pine Tree State had a more well-known candidate on the ballot. Lawyer and author of “Nowhere, A Story of Exile,” Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte ran a successful campaign as a Democrat for Westbrook City Council Ward III. “As a child, first coming to the U.S. as an Armenian refugee from Baku, Azerbaijan, I was always in awe of the American democratic process,” Turcotte said in an email statement to FLArmenians.com. “It inspired me to vote the very minute I could, becoming an American citizen at the age of 19. So, to actually run for office and garner 64% of the vote has been an incredibly meaningful and emotional process for me. I am very thankful to receive the people’s support and hope to make them proud in the years to come,” Turcotte said.
With her decisive victory, Turcotte becomes the city’s youngest and only female councilman. She is also the first Armenian refugee from Azerbaijan to win an election in the United States.
In Connecticut, Republican challenger for mayor of Newington Roy Zartarian unseated the Democratic incumbent 54% to 46%. In fact, on Tuesday night Republican’s swept the Newington mayor’s office, city council, and school board. “Our statement on our materials was, ‘Had enough already?'” Zartarian told the Hartford Courant. “People in Newington have had enough. Now it’s up to us to make this right.”
In the Garden State, five Armenian Americans were on the ballot in Bergen County, New Jersey. Haworth City Councilman Glenn Poosikian, the Democratic incumbent, was elected to his fourth term. Independent challenger Roger Tashjian was also elected to the Oradell City Council. In Old Tappan, John Shahdanian II won a seat on the City’s Board of Education. Unfortunately, Paramus Board of Education candidate Kohar Boyadjian and River Vale Board of Education candidate Dr. Armine Lulejian-Manookian were unsuccessful in their bids.
Finally, in the Old Dominion State, Democrat Martin
Mooradian, Jr. ran an unsuccessful campaign for State Assembly District 27. This Richmond-based, safe-Republican seat is home to a large Armenian American community. However, the majority of Armenian Americans in Richmond are registered Republicans. While Mooradian won the endorsement of the Armenian American community of Richmond, the district’s demographics were too much for the young Mooradian to overcome.
In total five out of nine Armenian American candidates on the ballot in 2015 won election, an 80% success rate. On the winning side, one incumbent retained his seat, while four challengers were successful. On the losing side were four political newcomers, but it’s too early to tell if they will seek office again in the future.
*This article was updated to reflect the fact that the Miami Herald recommendation for Mark Samuelian is their equivalent of an endorsement.
**This article was updated with Roy Zartarian’s election results.
Florida Armenians 