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Spring 2003 (11.1)
Page
64
Business and Opportunities
Azerbaijan
Adopt Reunion
  The AzerbaijanAdopt listserv will be
hosting its second annual reunion - "Celebrating Our Families"
- in Kansas City, Missouri on July 1113, 2003. This listserv
was initiated by Kimi Abernathy in 2001 shortly after the story
of her family's adoption appeared in Azerbaijan International.
[See the article, "A
Home for Inara: At Last, Azerbaijan's First Adoption"
in AI 9.3 (Autumn 2001).]
The AzerbaijanAdopt listserv provides an incredible resource
for families adopting children from Azerbaijan. Currently, the
list has more than 225 members, including families at every stage
of the adoption process: those who are just beginning to research
the possibility of adopting a child, those who are exploring
options among various adoption agencies, those who are nervously
anticipating the approval of their papers so they can make their
first journey to Baku for their court appearance, and those who
are preparing for their second trip to Baku to pick up their
child (or children). Nearly 100 families have already returned
home to the United States; some have already celebrated their
first year as a family - a few families, their second. The members
of the listserv welcome Azerbaijanis as well as others who have
a keen interest in promoting and preserving this country's unique
culture.
This year's reunion in Kansas City is open to all listserv members,
as well as other friends of Azerbaijan who would like to join
them. The reunion was conceived to celebrate the joy of family
and to promote the Azerbaijani heritage of these children.
The reunion will begin on Friday evening, July 11, 2003, with
an optional family social hour. The main social event will take
place on Saturday, July 12, with a luncheon featuring cultural
activities as well as play activities for the children. On Sunday,
July 13, families will be given the opportunity to visit Kansas
City attractions.
This year's reunion includes plans to conduct a silent auction
of paintings by Azerbaijani children who are studying art in
Baku. Many families have indicated that they would love to have
a painting to display in their homes as a connection to Azerbaijan.
The proceeds will be used to improve the conditions in Azerbaijani
orphanages.
For more information about the reunion or to request a registration
form, contact Kathleen Shryock at libertykws@yahoo.com. This
year's reunion is being organized by Jim and Kathleen Shryock
and Judy Shifrin.
Last year's reunion was held in Nashville, Tennessee, attracting
eight families and more than 60 people. [See the article, "Azerbaijani
Adoptees - First-Ever Reunion in the U.S." in AI 10.3
(Autumn 2002).]
To join the AzerbaijanAdopt listserv, go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/azerbaijanadopt/.
Back to Index AI 11.1 (Spring
2003)
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