The 74th annual ACYOA General Assembly took place over Zoom on Saturday, May 22, 2021. This year’s General Assembly took place virtually due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It was chaired by Mary Keutelian and vice-chaired by Alisha Panthier, both from St. Gregory Church of Chicago, IL.
The day began with an opening prayer and requiem serve led by Primate of the Eastern Diocese, Bishop Daniel Findikyan, assisted by Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian of St. Peter Church in Watervliet, NY. Following the requiem service, Bishop Daniel addressed the General Assembly where he welcomed the participants and praised the ability of youth to challenge norms and to adapt and embrace a virtual world during COVID-19.
Later in the day, Kim Bardakian and Shake Derderian, co-chairs of the ACYOA 75th Anniversary host committee, gave a presentation on the ACYOA 75th +1 Anniversary Celebration, which will take place in September 2022. The ACYOA celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2021, but the Anniversary Celebration was postponed to 2022 due to the pandemic.
Rita Katanjian of St. Sarkis Church in Carrollton, TX, gave a video presentation on the 2022 ACYOA General Assembly and Sports Weekend, which will be held in May 2022 and hosted by the St. Sarkis ACYOA Seniors.
Elections took place for the Central Council, Nominating Committee, and Auditing Committee.
Remaining on the ACYOA Central Council are Sona Dagley of Holy Translators Church in Framingham, MA, Alina Grigorian of St. Mesrob Church in Racine, WI, Rafael Grigoryan of Armenian Church of Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL, and Melissa Mardoian of Sts. Joachim and Anne Church in Palos Heights, IL.
Newly elected Central Council members are Christine Beylerian of St. Leon Church in Fair Lawn, NJ, Ani Misirliyan of St. John Church in Southfield, MI, and Andrew Yenicag of the Armenian Church of the Holy Martyrs in Bayside, NY.
The Central Council would like to extend a special appreciation to its outgoing Central Council members: Nora Knadjian of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Chicago, IL, Nick Tashjian of St. Leon Church in Fair Lawn, NJ, and Arsen Yelegen of St. Gregory the Enlightener Church in White Plains, NY.
Alex Dayenian of St. George Church in Waukegan, IL, Natalie Mardoian of Sts. Joachim and Anne in Palos Heights, IL, and Madeline Ovassapian of Sts. Joachim and Anne in Palos Heights, IL were elected to the Nominating Committee.
Zaven Dadian of St. John Church in Southfield, MI, Stephen Hollisian of Holy Trinity Church in Cambridge, MA, and Donnie Rask of St. John the Baptist in Greenfield, WI were elected to the Auditing Committee.
Fr. Simeon Odabashian, Diocesan Vicar, gave a final message and prayer to conclude the gathering.
Click here to view screenshots of the 2021 virtual ACYOA Assembly.
By Arsen Yelegen