Hackensack, NJ – On Saturday, April 29, 2023, over 70 members and supporters of the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) of Eastern USA gathered at the Hackensack University Medical Center for its regional seminar.
The ARS anthem was led by MaryAnne Bonjuklian, who then presented Caroline Chamavonian, chairman of the ARS of Eastern USA.
According to a press release distributed by the ARS, Chamavonian noted in her opening remarks that the last in-person seminar was held in 2019. Since then, however, she said the ARS “provided thousands of dollars worth of scholarships to young scholars. Our chapters worked in the community during the pandemic to support the elderly and thank our medical heroes. We extended our healing hands to our community members in Lebanon before and after the Beirut port explosion. We supported the work of the Central Executive Board in Artsakh and the work of our sister region in Syria.”
Cynthia Ruggerio, Esq., gave the first talk of the day on "Resonating Patterns of Cultural Destruction and Genocide." Ruggerio spoke about Lemkin's coining of the term "genocide" and the role of cultural destruction; recurring patterns from the past to the present; church destruction; the denialist narrative; the Artsakh blockade; and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and international deficiencies.
Dr. Kim Hekimian, assistant professor of nutrition in pediatrics (gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition) at Columbia University Medical Center's Institute of Human Nutrition, lectured on "Women's Health in Armenia." Hekimian provided a lifetime view, emphasizing the intergenerational implications of malnutrition. She also reviewed the primary causes of death in recent years, with coronary heart disease ranking first.
A workshop on legislative procedures was presented by Seda Aghamianz, a member of the ARS of Eastern USA Regional Executive Board. “The understanding of parliamentary procedures is essential during meetings to ensure that the decision-making process is fair, efficient and effective, allowing for the best possible outcomes for the meeting,” she explained.
The seminar concluded with a presentation on "Armenian Women's Rights and Roles Throughout History" by long standing ARS member Valentine Berberian and past ARS United Nations interns Taleen Nigdelian, Nory Boiatchian, Talar Hovsepian, and Arev Ebrimian on "Armenian Women's Rights and Roles Throughout History."
The Regional Board thanked all guests as well as the New Jersey "Agnouni," "Armenouhi," and "Shakeh" Chapters for their efforts in organizing the event.