Armenian Assembly of America
122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
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PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 9, 2005
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
Email: [email protected]
ASSEMBLY BOARD OF TRUSTEES CONVENE FOR ANNUAL MEETING IN FLORIDA
Organization Officials & Supporters Review Year, Discuss Future Agenda
Boca Raton, FL – The Armenian Assembly held its annual national meeting
in Boca Raton, Florida last week to review operations in Washington,
Los Angeles and Yerevan, launch new initiatives and honor those who
have served the Armenian cause with distinction.
The 33rd annual Board of Trustees meeting was held March 4-5 at the
Boca Raton Resort and Club and included two full days of business
meetings.
As the first order of business, Board of Trustees Chairman Hirair
Hovnanian welcomed participants and thanked them for their involvement
in the meeting. Reflecting on the standard for the Assembly’s
three decades of service to the Armenian people, Hovnanian said
it was imperative to continually “strive for perfection in all the
Assembly does.” He also challenged each member to grow the Assembly
exponentially, so that the organization can better support the citizens
of Armenia and Karabakh to face the enormous challenges ahead.
Looking ahead, participants reviewed the Assembly’s legislative
priorities which include: maintaining robust assistance to Armenia and
Karabakh, maintaining U.S. military assistance parity for Armenia and
Azerbaijan, further promoting U.S.-Armenia trade relations, confronting
Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades and reasserting the basis for Nagorno
Karbakh’s self-determination. In addition, the Assembly reiterated
its pledge to secure U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide and
actively participate in community-wide commemorations of the 90th
anniversary. To achieve these goals and others, including assisting
Armenian communities in war-torn Iraq, Assembly leaders said they will
need to rely more strongly on members and activists across the country.
Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Co-Chair Frank Pallone,
Jr. (D-NJ), who attended and participated in the events, addressed
supporters during the Friday night welcoming reception. Pallone
discussed the recent public declarations by U.S. Ambassador to Armenia
John Evans, who candidly affirmed the Armenian Genocide during his
visit with Armenian communities across the U.S. Pallone said Evans’
remarks did not contradict U.S. policy, but rather articulated
the same message that the Bush Administration has set forth in the
President’s annual April 24 proclamations. Pallone again pledged to
pursue U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide.
Also during the meeting, the following Trustees Officers were
re-elected for 2005: Chairman Hirair Hovnanian, President Carolyn
Mugar, Vice President Gerard L. Cafesjian, Vice President Robert
A. Kaloosdian, Vice President Noubar Afeyan, Vice President Joyce
Stein, Secretary Peter Vosbikian, Counselor Robert A. Kaloosdian and
Solicitor Albert Momjian. Edele Hovnanian was elected Treasurer,
a position previously held by Afeyan.
Assembly officials also welcomed two new members to the Board of
Directors – Associate Trustee Lu Ann Ohanian of Belmont, Massachusetts
and former Director John Waters of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Ohanian,
a longtime Assembly supporter, serves as Development Co-Chair. Waters,
who was not in attendance, is Vice President of the Cafesjian Family
Foundation which is headed by Assembly Life Trustee and well-known
Armenian issues advocate Gerard L. Cafesjian.
Ohanian and Waters replace outgoing Board of Directors Members Charles
Barsam, who was not present, Public Affairs Chair Arda Haratunian
and former Development Chair and Treasurer Gail O’Reilly.
Barsam, a longtime Fellow Trustee who resides in Huntington Beach,
California, was commended for his five-year service to the Assembly,
which included a stint as Development Co-Chair.
Fellow Trustee Arda Haratunian, a former Assembly intern who lives
in Manhasset, New York, was recognized for her service on the Board
of Directors which spans over a decade. Haratunian was specifically
commended for her contributions to the Assembly’s Public Affairs
Program.
Similarly, Life Trustee Gail O’Reilly was saluted for her work
with the Board of Directors which began in 1993. O’Reilly, who
lives in Winchester, Massachusetts and joined the organization after
participating in the Assembly-led Mission to Armenia, served separately
as Development Co-Chair and Treasurer during her tenure.
Both O’Reilly and Haratunian were presented with certificates from
the Armenia Tree Project.
As is customary, the Trustees Weekend closed with a Saturday night
dinner banquet held in the hotel’s elegant ballroom. Board of
Directors Member Peter Vosbikian presided over the event which
recognized former Canadian Parliamentarian Sarkis Assadourian and
longtime Assembly volunteer Mary Atamian.
Barsamian presented Assadourian with the Governor George Deukmejian
Award for Public Service for his distinguished service as a Member
of Parliament from 1993 to 2004, for his pioneering promotion of
relations between Canada and Armenia and for his singular achievement
in securing House of Commons Acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide.
Contributing Affiliate Mary Atamian of Worcester, Massachusetts
was honored with the 2005 Award for Outstanding Contributions to
Membership and Development. Board of Trustees President Carolyn Mugar
commended Atamian for her efforts in successfully heading the New
England Regional Council’s fashion show in Massachusetts each year.
Under her leadership, the Council raised almost $120,000 towards
Assembly programs over the years.
Guests enjoyed a special musical performance by New Names of Armenia –
a troupe of young, talented musicians from Armenia. Established in
1989, New Names seeks and promotes gifted musicians from ages 9 to 16
in its program. Later Onnik Dinkjian and the John Berberian Ensemble
kept dancers on their feet with traditional Armenian folk music.
Two special events were also held in conjunction with the Trustees
Weekend. The Assembly’s Legacy Society, which was established in 2004
and allows members to support the organization through a planned
gift, held its inaugural dinner on March 3. Board of Trustees
President Carolyn Mugar, Board of Directors Vice Chair Annie Totah,
Life Trustees James and Marta Batmasian and Fellow Trustee Edgar
Hagopian were inducted into the Legacy Society and presented with a
brooch or lapel pin.
On March 6, Mission to Armenia participants reminisced about their
experiences in the homeland during a reunion brunch at the hotel.
Mission Leader and Board of Directors Vice Chair Annie Totah said it
was wonderful to see so many faces from past Mission trips and hear
their heartfelt stories about their time in Armenia and Karabakh.
The group discussed future Assembly excursions which include the
first-ever Next Leadership Group trip to Armenia in June and the
annual Mission trip in October.
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.
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NR#2005-020
Photographs available on the Assembly’s Web site at the following link:
020-1.jpg
CAPTION: Members of the Assembly’s Board of Directors. Left to right,
front row: Edele Hovnanian, Gail O’Reilly, Jirair Haratunian, Lu Ann
Ohanian, Lisa Esayian, Chairman Anthony Barsamian, Lisa Kalustian,
Annie Totah, Richard Mushegain and Ralph Tufenkian. Second row: Board
of Trustees President Carolyn Mugar and Board of Directors Members
Danny Ajamian, Van Krikorian, Peter Vosbikian and Berge Ayvazian.
CAPTION: Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian, right,
presented former Canadian Parliamentarian Sarkis Assadourian with
the Governor George Deukmejian Award for Public Service during the
Saturday night banquet.
CAPTION: Contributing Affiliate Mary Atamian, left, is the first
recipient of the Assembly’s 2005 Award for Outstanding Contributions
to Membership and Development. The award was presented by outgoing
Board of Directors Member and Life Trustee Gail O’Reilly.
CAPTION: Assembly leaders and supporters saluted outgoing Board
of Directors Members Arda Haratunian, second from left, and Gail
O’Reilly for their years of distinguished service to the Assembly.
Haratunian and O’Reilly are flanked by Board of Directors Chairman
Anthony Barsamian, far left, and Executive Director Ross Vartian.
CAPTION: The Assembly’s Legacy Society held its first annual dinner
for its members on March 3 at the hotel. Left to right: Life Trustee
Gail O’Reilly, Life Trustees James and Marta Batmasian, Board of
Trustees Chairman Hirair Hovnanian, Board of Directors Vice Chair
Annie Totah, Board of Trustees President Carolyn Mugar and Board of
Directors Member Edele Hovnanian.
CAPTION: Assembly members and supporters discussed issues facing
the Armenian-American community and the homeland during the two-day
national meeting.
CAPTION: New Names, an ensemble of gifted musicians from Armenia,
gave a rousing performance during the Saturday night dinner banquet.
CAPTION: Left to right: Assembly Life Trustees Mrs. Charles Talanian,
Irene Vosbikian and Papken Janjigian.
CAPTION: Left to right: Fellow Trustees Lita Chadrjian and Jirair
Haratunian with Associate Trustees Rita and Vartkess Balian.
CAPTION: Left to right: Assembly Life Trustees Elizabeth Kircik,
Leon Kircik and Joe Stein.
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