[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 142 (Tuesday, October 21, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2038]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           TRIBUTE TO THE THOUSAND OAKS SISTER CITY COMMITTEE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRAD SHERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 21, 1997

  Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the exemplary 
sister city effort between Thousand Oaks, CA and the City of Spitak in 
Armenia. In December 1988, Spitak was devastated by an earthquake which 
killed half its population. Thousand Oaks residents, led by Dr. Michael 
Hagopian, a prominent Armenian-American, coordinated a disaster relief 
effort by appealing to the community for donations and supplies.
  The efforts were met with overwhelming community response which led 
to the formation of the Thousand Oaks Sister City Committee, a 
permanent link between the cities of Spitak and Thousand Oaks. Mayor 
Robert Lewis of Thousand Oaks and Mayor Arsen Ohanian of Spitak 
formally established sister city ties in 1992.
  That same year, then-Mayor Alex Fiore of Thousand Oaks helped launch 
a fund raising drive to rehabilitate an apartment building in Spitak 
which housed 20 displaced families. Thousand Oaks residents and 
businesses provided $30,000 in this effort.
  Since 1994 the Thousand Oaks Sister City Committee has sponsored 
Armenian-American cultural programs and educational and humanitarian 
efforts, including the Dr. Michael Hagopian Scholarship Fund. The 
committee has funded a community center and hostel while providing 
donations to orphans and families in Spitak.
  The Thousand Oaks Sister City Committee has also sponsored exchange 
visits for students and representatives, including Mayor Suren 
Avetisyan and Sister City coordinator Edward Sarkisyan. Several 
committee members travel regularly between Thousand Oaks and Spitak.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize, in particular, several 
dedicated Thousand Oaks Sister City Committee founders and supporters, 
who have made great contributions to the sister city effort, including 
Mrs. Lauren Balekian, Mrs. Katie Bedrosian, Mrs. Annabelle Lee 
Darakjian, Mr. Raymond A. Garcia, Mr. Don Goodrow, Dr. Michael 
Hagopian, Mr. Sark Keochekian, Mrs. Judy Lazar, Mr. Michael Markey, Mr. 
Vasken Melkonian, Dr. Andrew Mikaelian, Ms. Caroline R. Milton, Mrs. 
Frances Prince, and Mrs. Nora Sahagian.
  From the devastation of the 1988 earthquake was born a strong 
relationship between two geographically distant peoples. The efforts of 
residents of the Thousand Oaks community, on behalf of those in Spitak, 
has created an everlasting bond between Americans and the people of 
Armenia and Artsakh.

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