December 31, 2014
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President Berge Setrakian’s Year End Greeting

The excitement and festivities of Christmas and the year’s end will soon be behind us as we stand at the threshold of a new year with an unprecedented number and magnitude of challenges facing Armenia on domestic and regional fronts, while our communities, particularly in Syria and Iraq, continue to be torn apart by ravaging military conflicts in the Middle East with no end in sight.

We are also bracing ourselves for the unset of a new era in the history of our nation, the start of the second centennial of the crime of genocide perpetrated against our nation and against humanity. A multitude and a wide range of events and activities are in the works nationwide and worldwide to mark this new benchmark in the long and sustained struggle for awareness, recognition, retribution and emergence of the resolve to prevent similar crimes against humanity now and in the future.

During the post Genocide decades the Armenian diaspora has gradually taken shape. It has changed, moved, evolved and turned into strong well integrated and established communities that constitute a magnificent human and economic potential that should be organized and harnessed to the development of our homeland, and for the mutual benefit of Armenia and the diaspora.

The Armenian General Benevolent Union believes that this is a historical moment for us and it is imperative for our organizations nationally to take a hard look at our missions, priorities, organizational structures, operational practices, and governances to converge and redirect our resources to address the challenges of our global Armenian community comprised of Armenia, the diaspora and the Armenian Church with its expanding reach, in the context of the evolving modern global realities nationally and internationally.

On our part we are taking decisive steps in that direction and for the long haul, through organizational restructuring, creating appropriate operational models, prioritizing programs, and developing partnerships.

On this occasion, rather than just send a traditional new year’s message and good wishes, I would like to call upon our membership and entities around the world to embrace the new vision of our organization as it takes shape, to expand their outlook beyond their local concerns, and to actively take part in the collective projects and programs that shall benefit our nation as a whole.

While there is much to consider on the road before us, I am assured through the commitment of our benefactors, members and countless volunteers that we are capable to engage the future and take on each of these challenges. Following the footsteps of our founders and our forefathers, we must adapt our thinking and redirect our efforts to the demands of the time. Only then, can we truly make a difference.

In this spirit I salute you all and convey my sincere thanks and best wishes for a heathy and prosperous New Year to the members, donors, and friends of the Armenian General Benevolent Union. May 2015 be filled with happiness and success.

Berge Setrakian,

President

December 31, 2014

To view the message in Armenian, please click here.

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