ARMENIAN PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY ANNOUNCES INITIATIVES FOR 2010
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Feb 26th, 2010
GLENDALE-The Armenian Professional Society (APS) installed its new
Executive Board and announced an active program of initiatives for
2010 at its annual organizational meeting on Saturday, January 16,
2010, held at the Brandview Collection banquet hall in Glendale.
Outgoing President Ruben Buchak recapped a successful year marked by
a well-attended banquet in November honoring Dr. Vartan Gregorian of
the Carnegie Corporation as Professional of the Year. Buchak remarked,
"The APS has been reinvigorated and is coming off three outstanding
Professional of the Year banquets, enhancing the relevance of this
important organization, which is now celebrating its fifty-second
year. At the banquet honoring Gregorian, scholarships were awarded to
Michael Khatchig Kulhanjian, a PhD candidate in Electrical Engineering
at the University of Buffalo, Vartanoush Torossian, a student in
Broadcast Cinema at Art College School of Design, and Tadeh Zirakian,
PhD candidate in Civil and Structural Engineering at UC Irvine.
During a fine dinner of varied cuisines, soprano Lusine Marukyan
presented a musical performance of classical and Armenian vocal works
with piano accompaniment. An appreciative audience responded to the
extraordinary display of musical talent and soulful delivery with
enthusiastic applause.
Roupen Berberian of the Past Presidents Council presented the slate of
Executive Board members who were nominated by the Council and approved
in accordance with APS by-laws. The incoming Executive Board members
for 2010 are President Stephan Bagboudarian, First Vice President
Shahan Minassian, Second Vice President Susan Garabedian, Treasurer
Bruce Roat, and Scholarship Fund Chair Sylva Manoogian.
Bagboudarian outlined his goals of enhancing the program of monthly
professional meetings and cultural events, collaborating with
appropriate organizations on activities of mutual interest, growing
the organization’s membership, and increasing the dollar amount of
scholarships. He continued, "One of our continuous goals must be
expanding on genocide recognition," and commented that the upcoming
retrospective exhibition of Arshile Gorky’s artwork at the Museum of
Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Los Angeles would provide a catalyst for
wider recognition of the Armenian Genocide among the general public.
Bruce Roat followed with a brief presentation on the recently launched
Friends of Arshile Gorky campaign at MOCA, which will provide
essential support for the momentous retrospective exhibition and
related educational programs and outreach efforts. He commented that
APS is planning an event for April 30 at which MOCA representatives
would provide a fascinating preview of the exhibition and programs.
Roat also gave a brief presentation on the National Association
for Armenian Studies and Research, on whose board he also serves,
commenting: "NAASR is an important organization doing valuable work
to support Armenian Studies nationwide, one that APS members should
be aware of and that we hope to collaborate with on future programs."
Vaughn Gregor, Founding Member of APS and long-standing member of
its Past Presidents Council, commented: "When we nominate the slate
for the Executive Board, the Past Presidents Council takes this very
seriously. We’re very proud of the strong group we have to lead APS
forward and want to thank Ruben Buchak and his team for the great
job they did last year."
Upcoming APS events will include a presentation on California’s Green
Initiative by Lisa Kalustian, Chief Deputy Director of the Office of
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, on Friday, February 26, at 7:30 pm in
Glendale. On Saturday, March 13, at 8 pm, APS members and guests will
enjoy a concert by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra at Walt
Disney Concert Hall. A dinner meeting on April 30 in Glendale will
feature a special preview of the upcoming exhibition of Arshile Gorky:
A Retrospective at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles.
Future events will be announced as they are organized.
The Armenian Professional Society is an independent, non-partisan
organization founded in 1958 to promote fellowship among Armenian
professionals and to encourage and foster higher education in young
Armenians. APS activities include annual grants and scholarships
to universities in Armenia, and to graduate students in the United
States; conducting regularly scheduled meetings that cover a range of
professional, cultural, and other topics of interest to its membership;
sponsoring social events; and holding an annual banquet to honor a
Professional of the Year who has provided outstanding service to the
Armenian community.
Additional information about The Armenian Professional Society and
upcoming events is available at (818) 685-9946, apsla@apsla.org,
, or by writing to APS, P. O. Box 10306, Glendale,
CA 91209.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress