Dear Board Member

As an AGBU Chapter, it has been difficult for us to witness all that has been transpiring in recent months regarding the Melkonian Educational  Institute (MEI). As a Chapter in close proximity to the MEI, we were never exposed to the fact that it was in great difficulty, and that it had been a  subject of discussion during a number of Board meetings (about which we later learned that there was no great need for discussion). As an AGBU Chapter, it is difficult for us to react against the decisions of a Board that undertakes such decisions in an opaque, top-down manner, unfortunately, this happens to be the Board of the same organization that we have been serving, so diligently for so many years now, never  depending financially, but instead, raised hundreds of thousands of francs from our members and friends at large in Switzerland, for different  projects, whether in Switzerland or elsewhere including Armenia.

As a responsible AGBU Chapter, we now feel the need to express our opinion against our Board, which no longer is a true or effective representative of it's so-called "members". Membership was denied to AGBU "members", after a surprise change of statutes at a General  Assembly meeting in Los Angeles in 1996. Was our Board at that time preparing for such moves as the sale of the MEI? Did our Board subvert  the position of it's faithful subsidiaries? Did our Board fool it's members? Regardless of whether or not there is truth to this statement, the fact of  the matter remains that AGBU must now deal with what is a widely shared negative perception surrounding it's actions: The AGBU Board alone has been directly responsible for creating this perception.

As an AGBU Chapter, we write this letter in order to convey our protest to the members of the AGBU Board, The MEI should not be sold. Why did the Board not warn it's members at large that there was a problem with MEI? Why was a special Committee not formed with a few "wise" men and women, to figure out a saving scheme? Why was the advice of one of it's Emerit Members, in the name of Mr. Haygachen Ouzounian not taken? After all, it was he and Mr. Aram Kalaydjian, who built the only income-producing building that the AGBU has worldwide, on the grounds of the MEI, in order to secure a sufficient income for the institution. In his first article, there are a few suggestions for saving the MEI, none appear to have been duly considered.

What is the ulterior motive of our Board in the sale of the Melkonian? The lack of clearly applied logic and problem solving lo this issue leaves the critical mind with few viable explanations to consider; how could this issue be solely one about money? This would be simply too crude vis-avis the honorable legacy of the AGBU that we have served for so many years.

It is stated in the AGBU position paper that the income from the sale of the MEI (once it has been sold, of course), will be re-directed toward opening programs (like a camp) in Armenia. Why has there been no consideration of dispensing with Camp Nubar, since whoever comes out from Camp Nubar does not speak any better Armenian than when they go in? Camp Nubar is not serving much of an overarching purpose either, if you look at it relative to the official rationale that you apply to the closure of the MET. It is Serving the kids of a few well-to-do families who do not know what To do with their kids in the summers. Sell Camp Nubar and transfer it to Armenia. This is the kind of alternative that we believe has  been considered - and these are the type of questions that should be posed before dispensing with a gem like the ME1. All the many lifelong, loyal  people who have served AGBU, and more importantly - given their money to AGBU — should have been notified, included and considered. MEI can and will serve many, many Armenian children of not so well-to-do families, who have a hope of growing up in an Armenian environment, speaking and reading our language. No matter what is said today in Europe (and elsewhere) we believe this is still critically important. We have a  Western Armenian language that should be preserved, disseminated and perpetuated.
 

Administrative changes should most definitely be implemented. Once again, our Board should be held responsible for this because they never  really took the effort to effectuate checks and balances on its present administration, It is so easy to close and sell everything and walk away, but  the contrary is the Challenge — and we cannot imagine any president or board who could walk away from such a challenge!

It is a shame for our name, and a shame for the greatest institution of the Diaspora — the AGBU. Once such schools are closed, specially schools  in which the Armenian language is a critical tool, the average existing (as well as potential future) donor has every right to ask: of what use is the  AGBU?
Our Swiss Chapter is willing to give part of it's yearly benefit toward the continuity of the MEI, So far we have contributed on an annual basis, taking care of the tuition of a few students. Now that we have been advised of this critical situation, we are presenting our willingness to do much  more. We firmly believe that had the AGBU chapters all over the world been properly, responsibly and clearly advised of the "problem" of MEI, the current situation and uproar would not exist today, and our total support of yourself Mr. Setrakian and your entire Board would have been constructive and overwhelming. Such a huge world-wide uproar has never been seen before in the AGBU. Shouldn't the public opinion  (member-opinion) be taken into consideration, or are we living in a dictatorial environment, so un-democratic!

Unfortunately, today we have lost a member of the AGBU family in Europe, namely the Belgian Chapter and it's President, Mr. Vartkess Knadjian, who has resigned extremely disappointed and discouraged by the Board. We will be thinking now of what future steps we should be taking for our future. Things are not looking bright for the AGBU, it is unfortunate to say.


On behalf of the
Swiss Chapter of the AGBU

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