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PRESS RELEASE
Friday, May 15, 2009
AGBU SCDC Chair Berj Shahbazian Visits AGBU Central Office in New York
and Meets with President Berge Setrakian
On April 16, 2009, AGBU Southern California District Committee (SCDC)
Chair Berj Shahbazian visited the AGBU Central Office in New York to
become better acquainted with AGBU’s operations and worldwide programs,
especially those targeting the youth, to help promote them within the
district, and also to implement organizational initiatives that will
continue to align the SCDC’s operational practices with those of the
Central Office.
During his New York visit, Shahbazian was accompanied by Sinan Sinanian,
AGBU Central Board of Directors member and Chairman of the AGBU
Manoogian-Demirdjian School’s Board of Trustees.
AGBU President Setrakian welcomed Shahbazian to the AGBU Central Office
in midtown Manhattan, along with Yervant Demirjian, member of the
Central Board of Directors, and executive officers of the AGBU
headquarters. The meeting entailed a comprehensive overview of AGBU’s
organizational structure and worldwide programs and operations, followed
by individual in-depth meetings with the education, programs,
accounting, development, and press office departments and personnel.
"The AGBU Southern California District Committee (SCDC) will remain
committed to our root promise – to preserve and promote the Armenian
identity and heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian
programs. This commitment will not just be in words, rather in our deeds
and the hours we will vest into our beloved community. Today, there is
nothing rarer and dearer to our hearts than to help our Armenian
community prosper by remaining true to our roots," Shahbazian said about
his role as SCDC Chair.
Berj Shabazian is well-known figure and contributing member of the
Armenian community in California. He is actively involved in several
Diocesan and community organization, was appointed to chair SCDC in
January and he was joined by several young and energetic new members.
Through a concerted effort, the AGBU Southern California District had
taken the initiative of expanding its activities, with added focus on
programs that reach out to the new generation and address their needs
and expectations in the context of the new and global outlook of AGBU.
On April 3, SCDC organized a banquet attended by leading members of
Southern California’s AGBU community and members of the clergy. The
gathering attracted hundreds of AGBU volunteers from every segment of
the SCDC family to exchange ideas about the new challenges and
opportunities for the local Armenian-American community.
With chapters in Glendale, Pasadena, Orange County, San Diego and San
Fernando, AGBU SCDC oversees a host of cultural, youth and educational
programs that include the Generation Next Mentorship Program, the
Ardavazt Theater Group, Sardarabad Dance Ensemble, the Hye Geen
movement, Asbeds, Young Professionals (Orange County & Los Angeles),
scouts, athletic teams, and a local Ladies’ Committee. SCDC carries on
AGBU’s mission and maintains a prominent role in one of the largest and
most vibrant Armenian communities in the world. Southern California is
also home to two of AGBU’s leading day schools, the Manoogian-Demirdjian
School (MDS) in Canoga Park and the AGBU Pasadena High School, which is
the first new day school to have been established in the Armenian
diaspora during the last decade.
Established in 1906, AGBU () is the world’s largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU
preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through
educational, cultural and humanitarian programs, annually touching the
lives of some 400,000 Armenians on six continents.