Armenian Assembly of America
122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: info@aaainc.org
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 12, 2004
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: ckojoian@aaainc.org
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY LEADERS CONVENE IN CALIFORNIA
Board Members Review Year, Lay Groundwork for 2005
San Francisco, CA – Led by Chairman Anthony Barsamian, the Armenian
Assembly Board of Directors convened on November 6 at the Sir Francis
Drake Hotel for a full day of business meetings that included an in
depth look at Assembly operations in the Washington, Los Angeles and
Yerevan offices.
“The San Francisco session was extremely productive and has reaffirmed
the Board’s commitment to the Assembly’s goals,” said Barsamian.
“During the meeting, Members raised key questions regarding the
Assembly’s current and long-term initiatives which we will continue
to look at in the month’s ahead.”
Looking at the year ahead, the Board approved the 2005 operating
budget and set a preliminary agenda for the coming year. To that end,
they also discussed the Assembly’s efforts to co-sponsor the 90th
anniversary and subsequent commemorations of the Armenian Genocide
in our nation’s capital under the auspices of the Armenian Caucus
and Armenian Embassy.
Meeting participants included Board of Trustees President Carolyn Mugar
and Board of Directors Members Murat Acemoglu, Bryan Ardouny, Berge
Ayvazian, Lisa Esayian, Edele Hovnanian, Lisa Kalustian, Van Krikorian,
Richard Mushegain, Gail O’Reilly, Annie Totah and Peter Vosbikian.
Executive Director Ross Vartian, along with Deputy Executive Director
Peter Abajian and Finance Director Colleen Clancy, were also on hand
to provide the group additional information on the following program
areas: Development and Membership, Finance, Government Affairs,
Grassroots, Internship and Public Affairs.
Prior to the weekend meeting, Board of Directors Treasurer Berge
Ayvazian on November 5 moderated a panel discussion on Armenia’s
Economic Development which was held at the hotel. Panelists
included Adam Kablanian of Virage Logic, Tony Moryoyan of Viasphere
International, Board Member Gail O’Reilly of Made in Armenia Direct
and Anahid Yeremian of CRD Support Committee. The event attracted a
high community turnout and was organized by the Assembly’s Northern
California Regional Council.
The Council also helped plan a Saturday night dinner for supporters,
which was hosted at the home of Development Co-Chair Suzanne Abnous
and her husband, Fellow Trustee Razmik Abnous. More than 50 people
attended the event in Danville, CA which welcomed more than two dozen
new members.
Barsamian and Mugar thanked the Abnous’ for opening their home to the
Assembly and presented the couple with a gift created by a child in
Armenia. “We’re extremely grateful to Suzanne and Razmik for hosting
such a lovely evening,” said Mugar. “We also thank members of the
Northern California Regional Council for their contributions to the
evening’s success.”
The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness
of Armenian issues. It is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt membership
organization.
NR#2004-098
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