Holiday Greetings from MACA eTolbo: January 2014

Holiday Greetings from MACA and 2013 Activities Overview
from Sanj Altan
Greetings for the new year 2014. I wish you and your family the happiest of holidays. I hope you had a healthy, successful and joyful 2013. May your new year 2014 be full of good health, joy and successes of every kind.In extending greetings on behalf of the Mongol-American Cultural Association, I would like to share with you a summary of our major cultural and humanitarian activities in 2013.
We began the traditional year at the New York area Mongolian communities’ Tsagaan sar celebration held on February 2 at the Tangra restaurant in New York city. MACA along with the Mongolian Heritage Foundation and other groups co-sponsored this important event which we hope will develop into a permanent tradition. The MC was Byamba Darinchuluun, with traditional Mongolian food, Tsagaan sar greetings and traditional respect shown to the elders of the community. A special greeting was delivered by H.E. Ambaasador Och Od, Permanent Representative of Mongolia to the United Nations.
MACA was a sponsor of the 7TH ANNUAL MONGOLIAN STUDIES CONFERENCE held on May 3-5, 2013. Twenty seven scholars from Mongolia, Russia, United States, United Kingdom, Australia and South Korea presented their research on art, culture, literature and linguistics. The conference was co-hosted by The Mongolian Cultural Center, The Mongolia Society and The Embassy of Mongolia, Washington, D.C.
MACA was a sponsor of the 49th Annual Memorial Service for the late Dilowa Khutugtu Jamsrangjav Sunday, May 26th, 2013 at the Nitsan Temple, Howell, New Jersey. Nearly 100 people attended the event. In attendance also was Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mongolia to the United States Mr. Bulgaa Altangerel, and H.E. Ambassador Och Od, Permanent Representative of Mongolia to the United Nations. Professor Ch. Dagvadorj provided an explanation of the series of sutras recited by the lamas marking the memorial.
MACA was a sponsor of the Washington Area Mongolian Community’s 10th Annual Mongol Children’s Festival and Competition. The children’s events were held in two stages this year. The first stage was the competition part on May 18th, 2013 at the Mongolian School of the Capital Area in Arlington, VA. The second part was the Festival, Award Ceremony and Celebration Concert held on June 2, 2013 at the Rosslyn Spectrum Theatre in Arlington.
MACA was a sponsor of the first annual Naadam celebration organized by the Mongol Heritage Foundation, the Kalmyk Project organization and others. The celebration was opened by H.E. Ambassador Od Och, Permanent Representative of Mongolia to the United Nations. The event took place on Saturday July 6th at the “Bethesda Fountain” area of Central Park. VA. Nearly 100 people with individuals from all the Mongol communities were in attendance. Traditional Mongolian wrestling was the main attraction. MACA provided the prizes to the winner and runner up of the wrestling competition.
On November 10 we celebrated the 26th annual Chinggis Khan memorial ceremony at the Princeton Marriott where we began with a moment of silence in memory of MACA founders, Prof. Gombojab Hangin, Tsorj Lama and Lopsang Khiyod. This important day gives each of us an opportunity to remember and reflect on the greatest Mongol of history, someone whose profound influence on each of us continues to this day, more than 8 centuries after his founding of the Mongol nation. Chinggeltu and Belig Borjiged organized the Chinggis ritual with Chagaan Baatar as Jinong and Palgi Gyamcho, Eres Salchak, Sibtain, Haas Khereed, Chuluu Ujiyediin, Darjay Gyamcho, Bembe Atschinow and Bayaar Borjiged as Yamutan. Mr. Byambakhuu Darinchuluun served as master of ceremonies and event planner. There were 175 people in attendance with participants from the Hazara, Buryat, Kalmyk, Tuvan, Uvur and Aru Mongol communities. Special greetings were expressed by Mr. Akram Gizabi, Mr. B. Tumenulzii. Ms. Darima Tsybikova, Ms. Tamara Nadbitova, Mr. Eres Salchak and Mr. J. Tegshjargal. The cultural segment consisted of performances by the ‘Ugalz’ and ‘Magtaal’ groups, along with artists Delehei, Sichigma, Erdeni, Adis and Sainkho Namtschylak. The performances represented the music and dance of Mongolia, Southern Mongolia, Kalmykia and Tuva. A successful Mongolian Children’s Aid and Development Fund auction was held, MCed by Byamba Darinchuluun and Tony Ettinger, raising nearly $2,000 for the fund. A special thanks to the MACA board for their continuing support of the annual ceremony as well as our ongoing cultural and humanitarian projects, Chagaan Baatar, Chinggeltu Borjiged, Enghe Chimood, Tony Ettinger, Palgi Gyamcho, and their families. Many thanks to Sasha Nadbitov for capturing the day’s events on film. An edited film story of the day’s highlights will be available on DVD shortly.
MACA was a sponsor of a reception on October 25 hosted by His Excellency Ambassador Och, Permanent Representative of Mongolia to the United Nations, The Friends of Mongolia and Mongolia Connections, honoring Jonathan S. Addleton, Former Ambassador to Mongolia to mark the publication of the 52nd volume in the ADST- ACOR Diplomats and Diplomacy Series MONGOLIA AND THE UNITED STATES A Diplomatic History.
MACA was a sponsor of the 70th Anniversary of Kalmyk Deportation memorial meeting on December 1st, 2013 held by the Kalmyk Project organization at the Tibet House in New York. The guest of honor and speaker was Arkady Goryaev.
On December 7, MACA held the 21th annual memorial ceremony at the Nitsan Temple for the late Tsorj Lama, Gegeen and former Abbot of the Khorgho Sume in Western Sunid. Tsorj Lama was the second president of MACA.
MACA continued educational and scholarship support to several deserving students in Ulaanbaatar.In 2010 the Mongolian Arts Council, chaired by Mr. Jantsannorov, named the first 3 students as recipients of scholarships in the amounts of 1M Tg and two 500K Tg with funds provided by MACA generated through an interest bearing account established in Ulaanbaatar. In 2013, as in past years, nominations were evaluated and scholarships awarded. This program has been ably administered by our director on the ground in UB, Ch. Enghe.
During the year, the MACA web page (www.maca-usa.org) was managed by our able web administrator, Belig Borjiged. The eTolbo version of our newsletter continues to be released through the MACA webpage. It contains articles and information updated on a periodic basis. Thank you very much Belig.
The last thing I might mention is our plans to transition the major responsibility for the planning and implementation of our annual Chinggis Khaan ceremony through a new organization, called the Chinggis Khaan Memorial Foundation. In due course, there will be a call for participation in the new organization, and I urge you to consider joining and contributing to its future success.
I close wishing you a joyful holiday season and much good health and success of every kind in the coming new year.
Sanj Altan