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ARS WESTERN US CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF SERVICE
www.asbarez.com/index.html?showarticle=41 373_4/10/2009_1
Friday, April 10, 2009
GLENDALE--A capacity group of more than 300 dignitaries, guests,
community members and supporters gathered at the new Embassy Suites
Hotel for an unforgettable evening to mark the Armenian Relief Society
Western US Regional Executive's 25th Anniversary Celebration Dinner
on Sunday, April 5.
Among the many distinguished guests in attendance were Western Prelate
Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, the newly appointed Consul-General of
Armenia to Los Angeles Grigor Hovhannisyan, President of the Armenia
Fund Ara Aghishian, Congressman Adam Schiff, State Assemblyman Paul
Krekorian, Glendale Councilmen Bob Yousefian and Ara Najarian, Glendale
Unified School District Board President Greg Krikorian and School Board
Member Nayiri Nahabedian, as well as representatives of the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation Western US Central Committee headed by its
chairman Avedik Izmirlian, representatives of affiliate organizations,
the chairwoman of the ARS Central Executive Vicky Marashelian,
members of ARS chapters from throughout the western US and others.
The banquet's Mistress of Ceremonies Anahid Oshagan, Esq. welcomed
the attendees and highlighted the achievements of the ARS,
stressing that in 2010, the venerable organization will celebrate
its centennial. Oshagan then invited Arous Melkonian who offered her
opening remarks.
Before his invocation, Prelate Mardirossian praised the ARS for its
almost century of service to the Armenian nation, highlighting
its enormous contribution during the Genocide, the Diaspora
community-building, the earthquake, the Karabakh movement and now in
ensuring that the needs of the Armenian community in Javakhk are met.
As guests dined on a delectable dinner, a video presentation
chronicling the myriad achievements of the organization was presented.
Oshagan invited ARS Western US Regional Executive Chairwoman Rima
Boghosian, who delivered the ARS Regional's message. She then
invited Congressman Schiff, Consul-General Hovhannisyan and others
who delivered their remarks and made proclamation presentations.
Following the presentations, ARS Central Executive chairwoman Vicky
Marashelian presented her congratulations to the Western US Regional
Executive, praising it for a quarter of century of service to the
community.
The evening's program concluded with a traditional candle lighting
ceremony and cutting of the 25th anniversary cake. This was preceded
by a performance by the Armenian Folk Ensemble, under the direction
of Rouben Haroutunian, followed by performances by soloists Salpi
Mayelian and Mary Melkonian.
"I am so very happy and proud with this event. It was a wonderfully
fitting celebration for such a monumental occasion. All aspects of the
evening from the turnout, to the organization, down to the program,
were extremely impressive," said Boghosian.
"I commend all of the Ungerouhis who worked tirelessly to organize
such a magnificent event. All who attended left truly impressed and
pleased," said Marshelian, "We all leave here tonight with a renewed
sense of pride in our ARS and feel reinvigorated to serve it with a
renewed sense of fervor."
The ARS is the largest Armenian humanitarian organization of its
kind within Armenia and throughout the Diaspora. Over the course of
a century, since its founding in New York City New York, in 1910,
the organization has continually expanded and currently has chapters
in 26 countries.
The establishment of the first two ARS-WR chapters west of the
Mississippi River occurred in Fresno in 1915 and Hollywood 1918. The
Region has grown since, to include 26 chapters, five Social Service
Offices, Child Youth and Family Guidance Center, fifteen Saturday
Schools and after school programs and the list goes on. Its Social
Services and the Guidance Centers are open to every member of our
community, Armenians and non-Armenians alike. It also maintains several
programs in Armenia and Artsakh such as: the "Sponsor a Child Program,"
"Food for Orphans Project" as well as other humanitarian assistance
programs in the region. During its 100-year history, the ARS has
worked faithfully and tirelessly to meet the social, humanitarian,
educational, and cultural needs of the Armenian people, in both the
Diaspora and in Armenia. It has established schools, social service
centers, youth camps, and day care kindergartens across the globe and
recently extended its role in the international forum by becoming a
roster member of the United Nations' Economic and Social Committee
(ECOSOC) and an active participant in ECOSOC's many working groups.
www.asbarez.com/index.html?showarticle=41 373_4/10/2009_1
Friday, April 10, 2009
GLENDALE--A capacity group of more than 300 dignitaries, guests,
community members and supporters gathered at the new Embassy Suites
Hotel for an unforgettable evening to mark the Armenian Relief Society
Western US Regional Executive's 25th Anniversary Celebration Dinner
on Sunday, April 5.
Among the many distinguished guests in attendance were Western Prelate
Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, the newly appointed Consul-General of
Armenia to Los Angeles Grigor Hovhannisyan, President of the Armenia
Fund Ara Aghishian, Congressman Adam Schiff, State Assemblyman Paul
Krekorian, Glendale Councilmen Bob Yousefian and Ara Najarian, Glendale
Unified School District Board President Greg Krikorian and School Board
Member Nayiri Nahabedian, as well as representatives of the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation Western US Central Committee headed by its
chairman Avedik Izmirlian, representatives of affiliate organizations,
the chairwoman of the ARS Central Executive Vicky Marashelian,
members of ARS chapters from throughout the western US and others.
The banquet's Mistress of Ceremonies Anahid Oshagan, Esq. welcomed
the attendees and highlighted the achievements of the ARS,
stressing that in 2010, the venerable organization will celebrate
its centennial. Oshagan then invited Arous Melkonian who offered her
opening remarks.
Before his invocation, Prelate Mardirossian praised the ARS for its
almost century of service to the Armenian nation, highlighting
its enormous contribution during the Genocide, the Diaspora
community-building, the earthquake, the Karabakh movement and now in
ensuring that the needs of the Armenian community in Javakhk are met.
As guests dined on a delectable dinner, a video presentation
chronicling the myriad achievements of the organization was presented.
Oshagan invited ARS Western US Regional Executive Chairwoman Rima
Boghosian, who delivered the ARS Regional's message. She then
invited Congressman Schiff, Consul-General Hovhannisyan and others
who delivered their remarks and made proclamation presentations.
Following the presentations, ARS Central Executive chairwoman Vicky
Marashelian presented her congratulations to the Western US Regional
Executive, praising it for a quarter of century of service to the
community.
The evening's program concluded with a traditional candle lighting
ceremony and cutting of the 25th anniversary cake. This was preceded
by a performance by the Armenian Folk Ensemble, under the direction
of Rouben Haroutunian, followed by performances by soloists Salpi
Mayelian and Mary Melkonian.
"I am so very happy and proud with this event. It was a wonderfully
fitting celebration for such a monumental occasion. All aspects of the
evening from the turnout, to the organization, down to the program,
were extremely impressive," said Boghosian.
"I commend all of the Ungerouhis who worked tirelessly to organize
such a magnificent event. All who attended left truly impressed and
pleased," said Marshelian, "We all leave here tonight with a renewed
sense of pride in our ARS and feel reinvigorated to serve it with a
renewed sense of fervor."
The ARS is the largest Armenian humanitarian organization of its
kind within Armenia and throughout the Diaspora. Over the course of
a century, since its founding in New York City New York, in 1910,
the organization has continually expanded and currently has chapters
in 26 countries.
The establishment of the first two ARS-WR chapters west of the
Mississippi River occurred in Fresno in 1915 and Hollywood 1918. The
Region has grown since, to include 26 chapters, five Social Service
Offices, Child Youth and Family Guidance Center, fifteen Saturday
Schools and after school programs and the list goes on. Its Social
Services and the Guidance Centers are open to every member of our
community, Armenians and non-Armenians alike. It also maintains several
programs in Armenia and Artsakh such as: the "Sponsor a Child Program,"
"Food for Orphans Project" as well as other humanitarian assistance
programs in the region. During its 100-year history, the ARS has
worked faithfully and tirelessly to meet the social, humanitarian,
educational, and cultural needs of the Armenian people, in both the
Diaspora and in Armenia. It has established schools, social service
centers, youth camps, and day care kindergartens across the globe and
recently extended its role in the international forum by becoming a
roster member of the United Nations' Economic and Social Committee
(ECOSOC) and an active participant in ECOSOC's many working groups.