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Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief Launches New Florida Chapter
Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief Launches New Florida Chapter
By Grant Pakhtigian
FLArmenians Guest Contributor
My name is Grant Pakhtigian and I am the new President of the Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief Florida Chapter (SOAR-FL). I am an Armenian-American, but I am a Christian first, and humbly accept my Armenian faith and heritage with great pride and patience.
Today, as we launch our new Florida chapter, we will gather together to celebrate our faith, heritage and Diaspora. Preliminarily, we invite you to join us for an hour each month for reflection and discussion under the direction of our National Chapter President George S. Yacoubian, Jr., J.D., Ph.D.
Several topics will be discussed at our first meeting. We will also have some logistical ideas to discuss for those travelling from a distance. Once we get closer to the meeting date, things will develop more rapidly, and we should all come prepared to discuss issues relevant to the SOAR mission and website.
With this opportunity, we plan to develop a cohesive unit, with support through communications via phone and email. It’s my understanding that we can collect items for shipment to specific Armenian orphanages, and may I suggest to each one of you who go to a Church or school to start a collection drive of your own. Items will be shipped to Armenia through the National Chapter in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Please visit the SOAR website, http://www.soar-us.org, to see what items are needed for Armenian orphans.
As we choose to serve our under privileged youth in Armenia, let us keep in mind mirroring other successful SOAR Chapters. This will give us an opportunity to avoid pitfalls while taking advantage of sister networks across the United States and abroad.
As servants for our orphaned Armenian children in Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh and Javakh, let us give ourselves without reservation of time or effort. “I can do all things through the Lord who strengthens me”, Phillipians 4:13. We will step up for one another when the burden becomes too much, with helping hands and joyful hearts.
Opening up the line of communication is essential, both with fellow Armenians and parents to those in the community. We can lead in our efforts to reach out to fellow Armenians, and engage them in the SOAR mission.
As President of the SOAR Chapter in Florida, my contributions will be as a leader and humble servant. I look to search and encourage fellow Armenians to join the Organization and express their voice without judgment. Further, we wish to fulfill the goals of the SOAR-FL Chapter and utilize the template from SOAR sister organizations across the nation and abroad.
It is with encouragement that I conclude with a debt of gratitude for those considering joining the Organization, and being a part of the volunteers for the SOAR Florida Chapter. Please follow FLArmenians.com for updates on what transpires over the next few weeks and months leading up to our official launch. If you are interested in volunteering and being a part of SOAR-FL, or if you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please contact me at pakhtigian@yahoo.com.
Article: Tallahasse Democrat: Foreign Journalists Spending Time at Democrat
The Tallahassee Democrat
Foreign Journalists Spending Time at Democrat
By Ashley Ames • DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER
Published: May 04. 2011 2:00AM
On April 22, two journalists from halfway across the world walked into the newsroom of the Tallahassee Democrat.
Ofelya Kamavosyan and Mehmet Fatih Oztarsu, both first-time visitors to the United States, are here for three weeks through the International Center for Journalist’s program, New Media, New Challenges: Turkish-Armenian-American Journalist Exchange Program.
Kamavosyan, who hails from Armenia, and Oztarsu, who is from Turkey, will be working as reporters at the Democrat.
ICJ’s program aims to develop professional skills and relationships between media professionals that will foster understanding, effective communication and collaboration between the three countries.
Kamavosyan and Oztarsu are hosted by Democrat staff for the duration of their stay, and at the end of three weeks their hosts will go to conferences in Turkey and Armenia to watch Kamavosyan and Oztarsu present on what they have learned. They are also working on a joint project for their presentation. Kamavosyan and Oztarsu are two out of 12 who were paired to participate in the program.
Mehmet Fatih Oztarsu, left, and Ofelya Kamavosyan are foreign journalists spending three weeks with the Tallahassee Democrat. (Photo by Mehmet Fatih Oztarsu)
Executive Editor Bob Gabordi said he is glad to have the Democrat participating in this partnership.
“We’ve had a long-standing relationship with ICFJ and have hosted journalists through the years from several former Soviet republics and Africa,” he said. “And now this is among the more interesting situations: two journalists from neighboring nations with a long history of distrust are here working together as a team.
“Their countries share a border that is closed to each other, and they have not had normal diplomatic relations for a very long time. Through their shared journalism and mutual respect, perhaps Mehmet and Ofelya can inspire progress. If we can be helpful by providing a common working environment, we are glad to do so.”
Ofelya Kamavosyan
I am an Armenian journalist working for the online daily armar.am. I also have worked for the daily Hayastani Hanrapetutyun (Republic of Armenia) for six years.
I have a bachelor’s in International Relations from Yerevan State University and a master’s in political science from Public Administration Academy of Armenia.
I previously worked at Armenpress News Agency as a correspondent. I cover both political and legal issues and events in Armenia.
I am 30 years old and this is my first time in the United States. During my first week with the Tallahassee Democrat, I have been impressed by the professional approach of the news staff and the extensive technical equipment available to the staff here.
This program is a good opportunity for us to learn how the American media operate, what are the differences and difficulties of our colleagues’ work. Everything is new for me here: the lifestyle, people, culture, nature and even English.
Mehmet Fatih Oztarsu
I am from Malatya, Turkey. I graduated from Baku Caucasus University with a focus on International Relations. I live in Yerevan and cover international politics for Turkish and Armenian media outlets.
I’m a co-author of “Nagorno Karabakh Conflict for 100 Questions,” an academic book for Qafqaz University. I have written another book, “Armenian Chronicles,” about my observations as a Turkish journalist working in Armenia. I am one of few Turks living in Armenia.
I am 25 years old and this is also my first time in the United States. It is a good experience for me. The style of journalism here, especially the business ethics, is very different from what I grew up with in Turkey.
I have found some Armenian people in Tallahassee and look forward to adding their observations to my book, “Armenian Chronicles.” It is scheduled to be published in the fall.
Article: UCF News: UCF Professor Examines Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia and Why the West Should Care
University of Central Florida
UCF Professor Examines Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia and Why the West Should Care
By Angela Rivera, UCF Newsroom
April 15, 2011
The state of three small Eurasian countries and their impact on the West’s energy needs is the focus of Houman A. Sadri’s new book, which he will present at 5 p.m. at the UCF Bookstore Tuesday, April 19.
Photo: UCF College of Sciences - "Global Security Watch: The Caucasus States" is political science associate professor Sadri's third book.
“Global Security Watch: The Caucasus States” is political science associate professor Sadri’s third book. It examines the political and security conditions of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia in relation to regional and global powers as this region becomes a new energy corridor for the West.
The Political Science Graduate Student Society, the UCF Model United Nations Association, and the UCF Bookstore in the John T. Washington Center are sponsoring the event, which is free and open to the public.
Sadri is the founder and coordinator for the UCF Model United Nations program, which introduces students to the world of diplomacy and negotiation. His research interests include politics in the Middle East, terrorism, globalization, American foreign policy, and international relations and organizations.
Sadri has traveled to and conducted research in more than 100 countries in Africa, the Americas, Europe, and Oceania. He published 5 books, more than 40 articles, and has a book forthcoming.
SOURCE: http://news.ucf.edu/UCFnews/index?page=article&id=00240041052a2b5bb012d4490764904e81
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