“Dialogue, collaboration and unity”: New York Sister Organizations converge for Round Table
DOUGLASTON, New York — On Saturday, November 8, the ARF New York “Armen Garo” Gomideh hosted a special Round Table at St. Sarkis Church, bringing together around 60 members of the New York Sister Organizations for an evening of dialogue, collaboration and unity.
The purpose of the gathering was to share updates, discuss challenges, explore opportunities for collaboration and strengthen community ties among the Armenian organizations that operate under one collective mission in New York. The evening also served as a reminder that we all work under one umbrella: striving for the advancement and unity of the Armenian community.
Representatives from each organization were invited to provide a brief overview of their membership, activities, strengths and areas for growth. Following a communal dinner, the program officially began with welcoming remarks from U. Annette Givelekian, chairwoman of the ARF New York “Armen Garo” Gomideh, who presented an overview of the ARF’s work and the local Gomideh’s yearly initiatives, committees and projects.
She then introduced Chantelle Nasri, who spoke on behalf of the ANC New York Chapter, emphasizing that the Armenian National Committee of America’s (ANCA) work depends entirely on the community’s involvement and dedication. She noted that the ANCA’s advocacy efforts and its work with local representatives require an “army” of people to stand together, stay informed and actively engage in the political process to advance Armenian interests.
The program continued with representatives from the three New York ARS Chapters. U. Lalig Vartanian from the New York “Mayr” Chapter opened by speaking about the ARS as an organization and then focused on her chapter. U. Victoria Hagobian represented the ARS “Erebouni” Chapter, and U. Jackie Marashlian spoke about the ARS “Tsiran” Chapter. Together, they highlighted the humanitarian work and community service carried out by their chapters — each with its own approach, yet united by the same mission of helping others and serving the Armenian people.
Next, U. Isabel Hagobian represented the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF), sharing updates on the AYF Eastern Region and highlighting the two chapters within Armen Garo’s jurisdiction — the Manhattan “Moush” and New York “Hyortik” Chapters. She spoke about the importance of supporting Armenian youth from a young age through programs like the AYF and Homenetmen Scouts, emphasizing that young people need the community’s encouragement, time and presence to stay connected and engaged. In a society filled with distractions and increasing assimilation, she reminded attendees that it is through this guidance that we can cultivate the future leaders of our community.
The Homenetmen of New York was represented by Y. Karekin Shamlian and Y. Serge Avakian, who discussed the organization’s athletic programs and its recent growth in both membership and scouting. They spoke about how Homenetmen fosters discipline, teamwork and community identity through its sports and scouting initiatives.
The evening concluded with a presentation from Dr. Herand Markarian, who reflected on the rich history and accomplishments of Hamazkayin New York, followed by U. Arpy Coherian, who shared updates about the chapter’s current initiatives and the vibrant Nor Yeraz Dance Ensemble.
The program wrapped up with an open discussion, where attendees had the opportunity to ask questions, share insights and discuss future goals and challenges. The conversation sparked new ideas for collaboration, inspired attendees to reconnect with familiar faces and built bridges among organizations that had not interacted in some time.
- Aram Parsehian from the ARF New York Gomideh said, “The ARF New York ‘Armen Garo’ Gomideh was pleased to see the participation of all sister organizations, as the parent of the sister organizations. We were pleased to hear about the great achievements of each organization and its concerns. Living in a diaspora, one of our major concerns as a community is assimilation. Our sister organizations help combat full assimilation as we keep our culture alive in foreign lands while still contributing to the homeland.”
- Kristine Jamgotchian from the ARS New York “Erebouni” Chapter said, “We had a wonderful evening of ungers and ungerouhis coming together to discuss their respective organizations. It was an informative evening where you felt your hayaseroutyoun reignite, and get excited for the present and future.”
The evening left participants energized and united, reminding them that each organization plays a unique but interconnected role in serving the Armenian Cause and community.
The ARF New York “Armen Garo” Gomideh extends heartfelt thanks to all participating organizations for their active engagement, and to Der Nareg and the St. Sarkis Church Board of Trustees for allowing us to host the event at the church. The hope is that this meaningful gathering will become an annual tradition, continuing to strengthen cooperation among New York’s Armenian organizations for years to come.
