Forty three delegates representing nine chapters from the United States and Canada attended the two sessions of the convention held in the Embassy Suites hotel in Southfield, hosted by the Detroit TCA chapter. Following the welcoming remarks by Detroit TCA Chapter Chairperson Nora Azadian, chairman of the Central Board of Directors of TCA US and Canada Dr. Haroutiun Arzoumanian highlighted the previous year’s large scale of activities, such as the TCA Arshag Dickranian School in Los Angeles, Calif., which has an annual turnover of close to $2 million, the Abakaweekly published in Montreal with an annual turnover of about $150,000, the Sponsor a Teacher Program in Armenia that allocates close to $50,000 annually to teachers and staff of five TCA-sponsored schools in Armenia and Karabagh; the Mher Megerdichian Theatrical Group in New York-New Jersey that stages four to five performances annually in the US, Canada and Armenia; publication of books and support to newspapers amounting annually to about $30,000, while the combined cultural events of the chapters amounts to $250,000 annually.
The chairman concluded that while such a magnitude of cultural and educational activities would normally require state sponsorship, the TCA of North America accomplishes the above through the efforts of a dedicated group of volunteers.
Reports of activities from all the chapters were presented and recommendations were discussed in order to improve the organizational procedures and administrative structures of the chapters. Michael Norehad presented a report about the healthy and secure financial investments of the association. An ad hoc committee was set up to pursue the formation of a consultative body of representatives of Tekeyan Cultural Associations and affiliated organizations throughout the world, to increase their cooperation and efficiency of joint activities. The establishment of a website in Montreal is expected to improve communication between and dissemination of information among all the chapters.
The convention commended the role of the Board of Administrators, headed by Maro Bedrosian, in coordinating activities among the chapters in US and Canada, achieving the circulation of artists or book presentations in all of the chapters. As a gesture of appreciation, the convention awarded the Dikran Simsarian Cup to the Board of Administrators, as the year’s most active unit of the association.
On the sidelines of the convention, the delegates, dignitaries of the Detroit-Armenian community and other invited guests were hosted on Friday before the convention by Dr. and Mrs. Garabed Belian and family to a dinner at their residence and a toured their house, which is a veritable museum of art and enjoyed a memorable night in a cultural and genuinely warm environment.
At night, the convention was dedicated to a program honoring Edmond Azadian for 55 years of dedication to the Armenian people worldwide and in particular in the US, as a journalist, writer, art critic, and community leader. A separate report will be released regarding this event.
Many of the delegates attended St. John’s Armenian Apostolic Church on Sunday, September 7, and visited the Alex Manoogian museum adjacent to the church.
