To the Editor:
The Knights of Vartan have entered a transformational stage with vigorous new programs and goals catered to young professional Armenian men who possess a haygagan sird – Armenian heart. Last year almost all 10 of the new brothers at the local Watertown, MA, Ararat Lodge were under 30 years of age. And the leadership team has brothers in their 30’s and 40’s. The forward-thinking push has been supported nationally, shepherded by the leadership team, as the entire country has recognized that the succession plan is organically rising.
The Knights occupy the distinctive fraternal order space of diaspora Armenian men. As unified ‘brothers’ of charity and spirituality they are at the core of ethnic community-building activities which also support Armenian national ‘good works’. These programs include grant making for Artsakh refugees developing home businesses in their resettlement residences.
The Knights have renovated a number of schools in Armenia and sent in over $500,000 of medical supplies and foodstuffs to Artsakh refugees. At our Times Square Commemoration on April 24, a letter of support from New York’s Mayor Zohran Mamdani was read to great applause to the crowd of 700.
Most importantly, the Knights have become infused with youthful brothers who are seeking the answers to valid questions of how best to ‘grow and safeguard our community’ – including by providing more support for scholarships in Armenia and the US.
Spearheading this focused approach is the new Avak Sbarabed (Grand Commander) Bob Avakian, who was unanimously re-elected to a second term of service. He reported that the Knights have set up a new committee to fundraise from external sources and expand the national membership with like-minded men who care about the future of Armenia and its academic agenda. On the local level, the Knights are focused on building community with family events like their Graduates Night event – celebrated, as another Watertown example, with families at St. James Church, and the forthcoming Cigar Night on September 17 at the Armenian Cultural and Educational Center in the same town.
