Armenian National Committee – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
ancwr@anca.org

PRESS RELEASE
March 19, 2008
Contact: Ani Garabedian

ANC-WR Attends Luncheon honoring Assembly Speaker-Elect Karen Bass

– Hundreds of Women Participate in Support of First Woman and
First African American Woman to be Speaker of California State
Assembly

Los Angeles, CA – Several Armenian National Committee – Western Region
(ANC-WR) board and staff members attended a luncheon honoring
California Assembly Speaker – Elect Karen Bass on Monday, March 17,
2008. The event took place at the Ebell of Los Angeles and was
attended by hundreds of women marking this historic occasion with the
newly elected California Assembly Speaker.

"Karen Bass is an inspirational, influential and strong woman who
serves as a great role model for all American women and the
accomplishments they can achieve," remarked Souzi Zerounian, ANC-WR
Board member. "Her efforts in advancing important state issues such
as foster care are truly admirable," she added.

During the luncheon Bass shared her insights regarding current issues
within the State of California and how she plans on improving current
conditions such as the California deficit and financial cuts made to
the California Education system.

Karen Bass represents the 47th Assembly district of California and has
been a member of the State Assembly since 2005. Bass is the first
African American woman to be elected to the position of Assembly
Speaker. A long time advocate on several important issues including
education and foster care reform, Bass, a Democrat, has also served as
a California Co-chair of Barack Obama’s Presidential Campaign as well
as California African Americans for Obama. The Armenian National
Committee of America announced its endorsement of Presidential hopeful
Barack Obama in January 2008.

The Armenian National Committee – Western Region is the largest and
most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in
the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of
offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States
and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANC-WR advances
the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of
issues.

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Photo caption: Speaker-Elect Assembly Member Karen Bass (center)
joined by Rose Nazarian-Fagerian, Aida Dimejian, Souzi
Zerounian-Khanzadian and Ani Garabedian (from left to right)