1. The American Business Forum in Turkey and the Ritz-Carlton
2. Calling your Congressman…It’s really that easy…
3. Internships at the Hairenik Association
4. 2007 Camp Haiastan Staff Positions Available!
5. 2007 CJC Campership Contest
6. AYF.ORG - Galleries / Member Forums / Online Applications
7. Junior Seminar 2007 - Passport Around the World
8. Midwest Junior Olympics in Racine! July 13-15, 2007
9. 1.5 Million + 1 Vigil/Protest
10. Checkout the new AYFOlympics.org!

News

1. The American Business Forum in Turkey and the Ritz-Carlton
On February 15, an organization calling itself the American Business Forum in Turkey (ABFT), issued a press release announcing that it has been lobbying members of Congress to oppose the Armenian Genocide Resolution.   On its official website (www.abft.net), this organization boasted of having members and supporters among the likes of Microsoft, Oracle, Xerox, Cargill, and other major US corporations.  Thus, it sought to present itself as speaking in the name of corporate America and saying to Congress that big business is opposed to passing the Genocide resolution.
 
One of the companies that stuck out in the list of ABFT supporters and members was Ritz-Carlton Hotels.  They had their logo put on the website as an official "supporter" and a general manager of theirs was listed as an "Alternate Board Member" of the ABFT.  It was decided that the AYF and ANCA would work together to find out whether the Ritz-Carlton actually supported the position of the ABFT.  A letter was sent to corporate headquarters followed by phone calls and local walk-ins to company hotels in every part of the country where Armenian communities existed.  From San Francisco, to Pasadena, to Orange County, to DC, to Boston, and several other major cities, AYF members personally walked in to Ritz-Carltons around the country and demanded to know what the company's position was on this troubling matter.
 
As a result of this activism, Ritz-Carlton contacted the ANCA in early May and informed them that the company in no way supports the position of the ABFT and certainly does not oppose the Genocide resolution.  What's more, they withdrew their General Manager from the ABFT board and demanded that the Ritz-Carlton logo be immediately taken down from their website.  Similar actions were taken by other companies such as Microsoft and Oracle.  Today, if you visit the ABFT site, their are no more corporate logos at all - reducing their veil of their legitimacy to what it really is: just another Turkish website.
 
This victory won on behalf of a coordinated AYF effort around the country shows that, working together strategically, the power of the AYF can accomplish a great deal for our cause.  It also proves, once again, that the Turkish side is dependent on lies, threats and illusions of legitimacy to back their denial campaign.  It is up to all of us to speak the truth and dismantle their false claims every chance we get.

2. Calling your Congressman…It’s really that easy…
Do you know who your Congressman or Senators are?  Have you sent an Action Alert? Have you called him or her lately to ask for support of the Armenian Genocide Resolution? 

If you answered NO to any of these questions, the ANCA is here to help.

We need you to call, because everyday, Turks are calling and asking for their Congressman NOT to support it! 

1. To find out who your Congressman or Senators are, all you need to do is go to www.anca.org and where it says “TAKE ACTION NOW” on the left hand side, type in your zip code.  It will redirect you to another page that will tell you who your Congressman and Senators are.

2. To send an Action Alert on www.anca.org

3. To call your Congressman/Senators

3. Internships at the Hairenik Association
The Hairenik Association, Inc., a multimedia regional news organization, publishing the Armenian-language "Hairenik" weekly since 1899, English-language "The Armenian Weekly" since 1934 and recently Hairenik online with WebTV and online radio capabilities, is seeking highly motivated and energetic young Armenians to apply for internship positions for the summer of 2007. Interns will travel to Boston and will work at the Hairenik Association for six weeks, starting July 9, 2007. Applicants should be at least 17 years old, enrolled in school and available for the entire six
weeks of the internship. Interested individuals can contact the Hairenik Association, Inc. by sending emails to: manager@hairenik.com.

4. 2007 Camp Haiastan Staff Positions Available!
Camp Haiastan is currently looking for staff for it's 2007 Camping Season. The following positions are currently available:

• ASSISTANT SUMMER DIRECTOR – Nine Week Position
• HEAD INSTRUCTOR FOR HYE TIME  - Nine Week Position   
• HEAD INSTRUCTOR FOR AQUATICS – Nine Week Position
• CABIN COUNSELORS – Nine Week Position
• PROGRAM SPECIALISTS/INSTRUCTORS – Nine Week Position
• SUPPORT STAFF – Nine Week Positions
• STAFF-IN-TRAINING: (Minimum 2 Consecutive Sessions - 4 weeks plus pre-camp Staff Training & Orientation -  longer commitment encouraged)

For further information visit www.ayf.org. If you are interested in any of these positions please contact Roy Callan, Executive Director of Camp Haiastan at haicamp@verizon.net!

5. 2007 CJC Campership Contest
As in previous years, the Central Junior Council would like to encourage all AYF members to attend Camp Haiastan. CJC is currently offering a full campership to one AYF member in 2007. The theme for the submission is the same as this year’s Junior Seminar theme, “Passport Around the World.” Please check out the circulars on AYF.ORG for more info. Submissions are due by 5/18/07!