This meeting inaugurates the 84th year of the AGBU. Scanning the history of this organization one can only be amazed at the longevity, dedication, generosity and leadership exhibited by its ever faithful members. Through the worst of times and the best of times, the AGBU has never lost its commitment to provide a global service and vision to the Armenian people.
But since our last meeting in November, 1988, the turbulent events that have shaken the Armenian community have seemingly accelerated with such speed and urgency that we have had little time, even energy, to reflect on tomorrow. It is imperative now as we enter the last decade of the 20th Century to fully understand these events that have so changed our lives in order that we may prepare for the awesome responsibilities before us.
With unpredictable political, economic and natural disasters confronting us, we find ourselves being tested again and again. In the process we have discovered our assets and liabilities.
The years of struggle to reestablish centers of Armenian culture throughout a new world has preserved a heritage and secured a diaspora. For most of what we enjoy today we owe a debt of gratitude to a generation who carried across oceans a burning flame of pride and honor in being Armenian. But as the world rapidly now undergoes evolution we find our horizons broadening to a very different challenge, one that demands political astuteness, issue oriented actions, professional skills and financially strong reserves.
Nowhere are these challenges more evident than in the AGBU. It is the worst of times and the best of times.
No one could have imagined the extent to which a civil war in Lebanon, now in its 15th year, would decimate a thriving, productive center of Armenian Culture. Today, we are just in a relief mode, trying to offer some measure of comfort. The possibility of revival has all but faded as over a hundred thousand Armenians have migrated permanently to Europe and North America.
In West Beirut the Alex Manoogian Center serves as classrooms for the handful of students remaining from the Demirjian School and as a shelter for many who have sought safety during heavy shelling. In East Beirut, with their buildings damaged or taken over by the army, the Tarouhi Agopian, Hovagimian-Manoogian and Levon Nazarian school students receive their education in temporary space at the Tekeyan and Garmirian Schools. We are presently subsidizing in Lebanon 1100 school children, 170 teachers and distributing food, medicine and supplies to 2500 families.
We have long ago adjusted to the fate of our two schools in Tehran. By government decree our allowed participation is the funding of two teachers for the Armenian language instruction of 700 students. The Chapter remains active but under heavy restriction. The loss of more and more members as emigration continues will diminish even further our presence in Iran.
Although not life threatening as in Lebanon, the economic depression in South America is very troubling. AGBU, in the last year, has lost almost all its school income in Sao Paulo, Montevideo and Buenos Aires, tripling our subsidy this year. Demoralizing an entire population with inflation rising over 1000%, we are told long lines are forming at foreign embassies as residents look for a better way of life.
In the Middle East, Europe, North and South America education has always been in the forefront of AGBU activities. Some schools have received a new impetus as student enrollments reach all-time highs. The Marie Manoogian School in California has an impatient waiting list, the Melkonian Institute has achieved international status with 284 students from 17 countries attending and our Montreal School is benefiting from a new surge of migration. But today with an enrollment of 6500 students in our network of 21 schools, including 2 new ones in Toronto, Canada and Sydney, Australia and 2 expansions, the Melkonian Institute in Nicosia, Cyprus and the Marie Manoogian School in Canoga Park, California, AGBU has reached the limit of its resources. With formidable increases in depressed regions, the high rate of scholarships and tuition income still falling considerably below expenses even in affluent areas, the Central Board has out of necessity reassessed its policy of encouraging the establishment of any new AGBU Armenian day schools. For the first time in history AGBU has voluntarily closed the high school in South- field, Michigan and is seriously reevaluating the future of two other schools because of rising deficits.
Day schools, Saturday schools, summer camps, athletic games and scholarships have played a major role in our organization's commitment to developing the leaders of tomorrow. But it is becoming only too evident that we must learn to adapt to the contemporary interests of a sophisticated, aware generation if we are to truly achieve our goals.
Designed to stimulate broader participation, a variety of different AGBU programs have been initiated. The Central Board began a lecture series this year on Armenia and Karabagh with over 1500 attending in Chicago, Toronto, Richmond, Phoenix, Cleveland, New York and Philadelphia. The AGBU Alex Manoogian Cultural Fund sponsored the first Armenian History course at New York University that filled to capacity its first two semesters. The President's Club, attracting 60 college students each year, has originated the University of Michigan/AGBU Intensive Armenian Language 6 week credit course in Yerevan and a summer intern program in New York and Los Angeles offering work experience in the fields of finance, health, international affairs and media with Armenian heritage programs evenings and weekends. In Paris our chapter has enrolled 150 weekly participants in language and history classes and 50 college students in a yearly one week summer seminar in Nice discussing current Armenian issues. Three of our schools in Buenos Aires, Montevideo and Sao Paulo established summer trips to Armenia for their students and the AGBU opened a Washington D.C. news bureau generating 120 articles and 2 CNN programs on Armenia that have been disseminated throughout the world.
It is with a sense of urgency that we have generated these new national and international programs as we enter an historic period of transition.
And we are living historic times. After 75 years, we have suddenly been reunited with a homeland and 3 1/2 million Armenians. The tragedy of an earthquake has consumed all our emotions and energies now but the political and social impact of a free Armenia will certainly affect all we do in the future.
Separated by circumstances beyond our control we have learned all these years to live each of us within our own community. Hanging on to the past, trying to preserve a presence, we have now been thrust into a future of unlimited possibilities. The coming years will be traumatic ones. For 3 1/2 million Armenians, the years of neglect, repression and pain have taken their toll. A revolution, the violent Stalin years, the loss of 200,000 men in World War II, with the ensuing hunger and poverty, a communist system producing little but fear, a fight for Karabagh and a devastating shattering earthquake have damaged an entire society, half our population.
But through all this they have retained a tremendous pioneer spirit, a belief, an endurance, a love of the land, traditions and heritage we could never duplicate. For us they hold the promise of eternity. The merging of the diaspora and Armenia will bring us a vitality, sense of purpose and strength unprecedented in our history.
AGBU’s annual budget is $15,000,000. In 1990/91 we will spend an additional $10,000,000 in Armenia alone, a sum that has come from the generous contributions of
30,000 friends and members. The projects themselves, are the result of long hours spent by volunteers, staff, medical personnel, academicians, architects, engineers and a variety of consultants. Somehow when you ask for Armenia no one refuses.*
It is just one indication of the potential before us. Language, history and a cultural awareness have taken on new dimensions as those eager to offer their services rediscover their heritage in a new light.
These unsettling years have forced us to take a broad view of Armenian community life today. Over and over the issue of unity surfaces these days. However, unity in organizations is not necessarily well served in merging all entities, as some suggest now and then, since competition often encourages creativity and action and the administration of thousands of programs, would, in any case, be prohibitive. But when community wide issues are at stake, personal gratification, internal politics and historic divisions can only negatively affect our ultimate achievements. It is in all our best interests to find common ground for national and international policy and goals. Determined to present a cohesive force, with the exception of one Armenian U.S. government accredited volunteer organization who refused to participate, the AGBU, Armenian Relief Society, the Armenian Missionary Association, the Armenian Cultural Foundation and the Armenian- Engineers and Scientists together submitted an application to the U.S. Agency for International Development for an Armenia Aid grant. Our application was awarded $3,200,000.
United fund raising efforts for Armenia Aid were established throughout the world, except in the United States. Although a few countries have major recovery programs underway, in most cases the united effort has been a dismal failure as individual groups compete to control funds or as the money raised, after two years, remains in bank accounts simply collecting interest. It is doubtful if AGBU would ever again encourage such united efforts under these circumstances.
The limitations of our financial resources are of great concern as every Armenian organization is burdened with requests and obligations beyond expectation. Any new program worthy of effort seems to cost $50,000, school expansions $3,000,000, Armenia aid projects $500,000 to $1,000,000 in contingency funds. These are not sums one can just find by calling a few dedicated friends or expend from an endowment that has been already allocated to existing commitments. The need for greater self-sufficiency in many areas becomes vital if we are to increase our activities in extent and scope. Only aggressive, determined planning and fund raising will generate the necessary new reserves.
At a time when quantity and quality takes on new meaning we find ourselves, and I speak collectively, woefully short on both. The boast of a 2 1/2 million Armenian diaspora has little value when one counts the active number of those who have the resources, expertise or commitment to participate in today's agenda. Disinterest and assimilation have thinned our ranks to less than 20% in any given Armenian community and, even then, many are simply observers. It has become apparent that we are not doing enough to reach out and capture a broader constituency. But to do so we must realize that this new constituency needs to be recruited with respect for their individual interests and capabilities, not simply to adapt to a preconceived, inflexible system.
These are in many ways exciting days - expanding our vision, seeking talent and being challenged at every turn. Of course, that’s nothing new for the AGBU. From the days of Boghos Nubar to the days of Alex Manoogian, AGBU leaders and members have always stood strong in the worst of times and the best of times.
Having been President for 14 months now I can only be amazed by my predecessor's endurance, patience and resourcefulness as the responsibilities seem to magnify each day. It has taken the participation of almost the entire Central Board of Directors to replace Alex Manoogian. But then he is a unique man.
It was eight years and eighteen trips ago that I first visited Armenia with my father. As I went back each year, then twice a year, my parents would always ask when I returned "What is it that you do there?" Explaining that 1 spent most of my time touring the countryside and villages the inevitable answer would be 'The villages, what for?" Naturally, for them it was nothing new. But for me it was a discovery of why being Armenian was so important to my parents. Listening, all my life time, to their stories of the past I never really understood until I saw Armenians on their land, plowing their soil and struggling to build a country.
With all the horrors of repression, my father still remembers his early days in Kassaba with great fondness. His love for his roots permeates his entire body and soul. It's almost as if he owed a debt for the privilege of being Armenian. He has never wavered in that love, his compassion and commitment touching every aspect of Armenian community life.
As President of the AGBU I think he fulfilled all his dreams. Surely he fulfilled ours.
On behalf of the Central Board I would like to thank all the District, Chapters and Special Project Chairmen for their tireless efforts throughout the year. We know it is not an easy task as you devote countless hours to the AGBU, often at the expense of family and business. Thank you to all the members, donors and staff who are truly the heart and pulse of the AGBU. My personal gratitude to my fellow Central Board members for their leadership, commitment and patience.
A very special word of appreciation to Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian, Bishop Khajag Barsamian, Bishop Karekin Nersissian and Bishop Hovnan Derderian for their presence today. Somehow, all of us working together does give life, spirit and hope for the challenges ahead.
*The report of Armenia Recovery Projects has been omitted from the original since it is reviewed in this paper under Earthquake Recovery Programs Report.
