Tweet
Burbank Community Honors Rep. Adam Schiff
asbarez
Saturday, May 12th, 2012
ANCA Burbank members with Rep. Adam Schiff
Rep. Schiff, Burbank Mayor Join Local Officials and Armenian Americans
to Honor City Clerk Margarita Campos, Sarkis Nikogosian, Zareh
Sinanyan, Talar Kossakian
BURBANK - Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and a host of state and local
legislators and their staff joined more than 300 Armenian American
community members from throughout the area to celebrate Armenian
National Committee of America Burbank successes and recommit to
expanding the role of the local ANCA in all aspects of civic and
community life.
The May 4th gala reception, held at the beautiful Arbat Hall,
attracted veteran community leaders and more recent ANCA Burbank
activists, with proceeds to benefit the youth and civic education
programs of the ANCA Endowment Fund. Throughout the evening, speakers
and participants hailed the achievements of the local ANCA to broaden
Armenian American participation in Burbank civic life along with
campaigns on the state and federal level to advance the views and
values of the Armenian nation.
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Burbank Mayor Dave Golonski are joined by
ANCA Burbank Secretary Annette Kargodorian, Banquet Mistress of
Ceremonies Nanneh Chehras, ANCA Burbank Chairwoman Silva Kechichian
and Banquet Chairwoman Souzy Ohanian.
There was no shortage of local legislators and candidates joining in
the gala celebration in support of ANCA Burbank efforts, including
Burbank Mayor Dave Golonski, Vice Mayor Emily Gabel-Luddy, Burbank
City Councilmembers Dr. David Gordon and Jess Telamantess, Glendale
City Councilman Ara Najarian, and Glendale City Clerk Ardashes
Kassakhian. They were joined by a number of Glendale and Burbank
School Board members, including Ted Bunch, Dave Kemp, Debbie Kukta,
Roberta Reynolds, Larry Applebaum, and Nairi Nahabedian. Burbank
Policy Chief Scott LaChasse, Captain Denis Cremins, and Burbank city
representatives were also on hand, along with State Assembly
candidates Adrin Nazarian and Greg Krikorian, who currently serves as
chairman of the Glendale School Board. Also on hand for the
celebration were ANCA Western Region Chairwoman Nora Hovsepian, ANCA
Western Region Board members and staff including Executive Director
William Bairamian, ANCA Telethon 2012 Executive Director Armen
Carapetian, ANCA Hollywood Chairman Paul Seradarian, ANCA Glendale
Chairman Berj Karapetian, CAAD Executive Board member Zanku Armenian,
SCAD President Armond Aghakhanian, and representatives from a host of
Armenian American organizations including the ACF, ARS, and AYF.
Congressman Adam Schiff; ANCA's Elizabeth Chouldjian Offer Washington
DC perspectives on Politics and Community Activism
Rep. Adam Schiff with ANCA Burbank honorees Sarkis Nikogosian, Zareh
Sinanyan, Esq., City Clerk Margarita Campos, and Talar Kossakian.
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), a favorite with the local Armenian American
community for his leadership on efforts to secure Congressional
affirmation of the Armenian Genocide and promote high levels of U.S.
aid to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, was eloquent in his remarks
detailing Congressional efforts to address the difficult economic
times facing the nation. He then outlined a series of Congressional
initiatives and strategies addressing U.S. affirmation of the Armenian
Genocide, and the December, 2011, passage of House legislation, H.
Res. 306 which calls on Turkey to return the thousands of confiscated
Christian churches to the Armenian, Greek, Assyrian and Aramean
(Syriac) communities. On the foreign aid front, Rep. Schiff discussed
an expanded focus on U.S. assistance to the Armenian community in the
Republic of Georgia, citing his recent discussion of the plight of the
Samtskhe-Javakheti Armenian populations with Republic of Georgia
President Mikhail Saakashvili.
Rep. Schiff spoke of the important and effective role groups like the
ANCA play in Burbank's civic life. `Through your grassroots activism,
we have made great progress on issues, and we have a lot more work to
do. But without an incredible ANCA staff in Washington, and
incredible ANCA organizations throughout the Western Region and around
the country, all we have accomplished would have been absolutely
impossible,' explained Rep. Schiff.
Watch Rep. Schiff's complete remarks.
ANCA Communications Director Elizabeth Chouldjian, who had travelled
from Washington, DC to join in ANCA Burbank's gala celebration,
touched on, what she termed, the `3 C's' necessary to successfully
advocate issues in the nation's capital - a just Cause; Courage to
pursue that cause; and the Capital - both human and financial - to
advance the community's key concerns. To that end, Chouldjian
discussed the vital role of ANCA Endowment supported programs
including the Capital Gateway Program and the Leo Sarkisian Internship
program, which assist university students and recent graduates in
their exploration of careers in public policy, as well as the Hyevotes
regional initiative (http://www.hyevotes.org) to increase Armenian
American participation in the electoral process.
Watch Chouldjian's remarks.
In appreciation of their participation and presentations, Rep. Schiff
and Chouldjian received beautifully framed images of Armenian churches
and religious relics, confiscated by the Turkish government -
illustrating the Armenian American community's commitment to secure
the return of these historic treasures in the ongoing campaign of
justice for the Armenian Genocide.
City Clerk Margarita Campos, Sarkis Nikogosian, Zareh Sinanyan, Talar
Kossakian Honored
The ANCA Burbank continued its tradition of honoring local leaders in
government, business, grassroots activism and youth issues with
Burbank City Clerk Margarita Campos, local business owner Sarkis
Nikogosian, ANCA Western Region Board Member Zareh J. Sinanyan, Esq.
and AYF leader Talar Kossakian given top honors for 2012, in
recognition of their years of selfless service to the Burbank
community in each of their categories.
Burbank City Clerk Margarita Campos received the `William Saroyan'
Legislator of the Year Award for her years of service to the local
community, working tirelessly to facilitate broader voter registration
and participation, particularly among those who recently became U.S.
citizens.
The owner and proprietor of the beautiful Arbat Banquet Hall, Sarkis
Nikogosian, received the `Levon Shant' Businessman of the Year Award
for his active participation in Burbank's busy business life and his
ongoing support for Armenian community efforts in Southern California
and projects in Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh over the past 30 years.
ANCA Western Region Board member Zareh J. Sinanyan, Esq. received the
`Vahan Cardashian' Community Leader of the Year Award for his
consistent and dedicated leadership within both the Armenian American
community and Burbank civic life.
Local AYF member Talar Kossakian received the `Karekin Njdeh' Youth
Activist of the Year Award for her work with the AYF and ANC in
reaching out to local Armenian youth groups, including the Burbank
High School Armenian Club, which presented an Armenian Genocide
awareness video during the April 24th Burbank City Council
commemoration.
Steadfastly Serving the Burbank Community
A consistent theme throughout the gala banquet was the critical role
of grassroots participation in the success of the local ANCA. This
was particularly true in the ANCA Burbank video, prepared by Horizon
Armenian Television's Vartan Esmaielian, which spotlighted the diverse
programs undertaken by the local chapter. Watch the complete video.
Banquet Chairwoman Souzy Ohanian reflected on the extensive support
and respect the local ANCA receives from community leaders and
activists alike. `The Burbank ANC chapter has experienced a period of
remarkable growth over the past few years. This growth can be
attributed to the ANCA's role as an effective grassroots organization
serving the city's Armenian-American community. The Burbank ANC
Chapter strives to bring the people of its city together to work
towards the common goal of making Burbank a better place to live and
work.'
The evening's Mistress of Ceremonies, Nanneh Chehras concurred, noting
`I've been a member of ANCA Burbank for several years, and there is
never a shortage of work. It seems as if the second you're done with
one project, you already have 10 e-mails for the next. A few flyers,
press releases, and several meetings later that project is done and
the cycle continues. But this is the beautiful thing about the entire
ANC organization. We don't run out of ideas.'
ANCA Burbank Chairwoman Silva Kechichian thanked attendees for their
`wholehearted and unwavering support for the ANCA,' observing that it
is a `testament to the powerful and unifying mission and message of
our organization - a mission to defend the rights of the Armenian
nation in the halls of Congress, in the CA State Capitol and here in
our fair city of Burbank; a message of community pride, of community
power and of community progress - relayed by the most vibrant and
effective spokespeople of the Armenian Cause - you. Each and every
one of you.'
Watch Kechichian's remarks.
http://youtu.be/RhMU91WV0×8
The ANCA Burbank placed special focus on the talent of local youth
with the opening of the festivities by the Homenetmen `Sipan' Chapter
Scouts, followed by the national anthems sung by Nairi Balian. During
the course of the evening, students from Lilia's Dance Studio
performed a series of beautiful Armenian traditional dances.
Following the presentations and awards ceremony, singing sensation
Koko Hayitian entertained the audience with American standards and
Armenian dance and patriotic songs.
asbarez
Saturday, May 12th, 2012
ANCA Burbank members with Rep. Adam Schiff
Rep. Schiff, Burbank Mayor Join Local Officials and Armenian Americans
to Honor City Clerk Margarita Campos, Sarkis Nikogosian, Zareh
Sinanyan, Talar Kossakian
BURBANK - Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and a host of state and local
legislators and their staff joined more than 300 Armenian American
community members from throughout the area to celebrate Armenian
National Committee of America Burbank successes and recommit to
expanding the role of the local ANCA in all aspects of civic and
community life.
The May 4th gala reception, held at the beautiful Arbat Hall,
attracted veteran community leaders and more recent ANCA Burbank
activists, with proceeds to benefit the youth and civic education
programs of the ANCA Endowment Fund. Throughout the evening, speakers
and participants hailed the achievements of the local ANCA to broaden
Armenian American participation in Burbank civic life along with
campaigns on the state and federal level to advance the views and
values of the Armenian nation.
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Burbank Mayor Dave Golonski are joined by
ANCA Burbank Secretary Annette Kargodorian, Banquet Mistress of
Ceremonies Nanneh Chehras, ANCA Burbank Chairwoman Silva Kechichian
and Banquet Chairwoman Souzy Ohanian.
There was no shortage of local legislators and candidates joining in
the gala celebration in support of ANCA Burbank efforts, including
Burbank Mayor Dave Golonski, Vice Mayor Emily Gabel-Luddy, Burbank
City Councilmembers Dr. David Gordon and Jess Telamantess, Glendale
City Councilman Ara Najarian, and Glendale City Clerk Ardashes
Kassakhian. They were joined by a number of Glendale and Burbank
School Board members, including Ted Bunch, Dave Kemp, Debbie Kukta,
Roberta Reynolds, Larry Applebaum, and Nairi Nahabedian. Burbank
Policy Chief Scott LaChasse, Captain Denis Cremins, and Burbank city
representatives were also on hand, along with State Assembly
candidates Adrin Nazarian and Greg Krikorian, who currently serves as
chairman of the Glendale School Board. Also on hand for the
celebration were ANCA Western Region Chairwoman Nora Hovsepian, ANCA
Western Region Board members and staff including Executive Director
William Bairamian, ANCA Telethon 2012 Executive Director Armen
Carapetian, ANCA Hollywood Chairman Paul Seradarian, ANCA Glendale
Chairman Berj Karapetian, CAAD Executive Board member Zanku Armenian,
SCAD President Armond Aghakhanian, and representatives from a host of
Armenian American organizations including the ACF, ARS, and AYF.
Congressman Adam Schiff; ANCA's Elizabeth Chouldjian Offer Washington
DC perspectives on Politics and Community Activism
Rep. Adam Schiff with ANCA Burbank honorees Sarkis Nikogosian, Zareh
Sinanyan, Esq., City Clerk Margarita Campos, and Talar Kossakian.
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), a favorite with the local Armenian American
community for his leadership on efforts to secure Congressional
affirmation of the Armenian Genocide and promote high levels of U.S.
aid to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, was eloquent in his remarks
detailing Congressional efforts to address the difficult economic
times facing the nation. He then outlined a series of Congressional
initiatives and strategies addressing U.S. affirmation of the Armenian
Genocide, and the December, 2011, passage of House legislation, H.
Res. 306 which calls on Turkey to return the thousands of confiscated
Christian churches to the Armenian, Greek, Assyrian and Aramean
(Syriac) communities. On the foreign aid front, Rep. Schiff discussed
an expanded focus on U.S. assistance to the Armenian community in the
Republic of Georgia, citing his recent discussion of the plight of the
Samtskhe-Javakheti Armenian populations with Republic of Georgia
President Mikhail Saakashvili.
Rep. Schiff spoke of the important and effective role groups like the
ANCA play in Burbank's civic life. `Through your grassroots activism,
we have made great progress on issues, and we have a lot more work to
do. But without an incredible ANCA staff in Washington, and
incredible ANCA organizations throughout the Western Region and around
the country, all we have accomplished would have been absolutely
impossible,' explained Rep. Schiff.
Watch Rep. Schiff's complete remarks.
ANCA Communications Director Elizabeth Chouldjian, who had travelled
from Washington, DC to join in ANCA Burbank's gala celebration,
touched on, what she termed, the `3 C's' necessary to successfully
advocate issues in the nation's capital - a just Cause; Courage to
pursue that cause; and the Capital - both human and financial - to
advance the community's key concerns. To that end, Chouldjian
discussed the vital role of ANCA Endowment supported programs
including the Capital Gateway Program and the Leo Sarkisian Internship
program, which assist university students and recent graduates in
their exploration of careers in public policy, as well as the Hyevotes
regional initiative (http://www.hyevotes.org) to increase Armenian
American participation in the electoral process.
Watch Chouldjian's remarks.
In appreciation of their participation and presentations, Rep. Schiff
and Chouldjian received beautifully framed images of Armenian churches
and religious relics, confiscated by the Turkish government -
illustrating the Armenian American community's commitment to secure
the return of these historic treasures in the ongoing campaign of
justice for the Armenian Genocide.
City Clerk Margarita Campos, Sarkis Nikogosian, Zareh Sinanyan, Talar
Kossakian Honored
The ANCA Burbank continued its tradition of honoring local leaders in
government, business, grassroots activism and youth issues with
Burbank City Clerk Margarita Campos, local business owner Sarkis
Nikogosian, ANCA Western Region Board Member Zareh J. Sinanyan, Esq.
and AYF leader Talar Kossakian given top honors for 2012, in
recognition of their years of selfless service to the Burbank
community in each of their categories.
Burbank City Clerk Margarita Campos received the `William Saroyan'
Legislator of the Year Award for her years of service to the local
community, working tirelessly to facilitate broader voter registration
and participation, particularly among those who recently became U.S.
citizens.
The owner and proprietor of the beautiful Arbat Banquet Hall, Sarkis
Nikogosian, received the `Levon Shant' Businessman of the Year Award
for his active participation in Burbank's busy business life and his
ongoing support for Armenian community efforts in Southern California
and projects in Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh over the past 30 years.
ANCA Western Region Board member Zareh J. Sinanyan, Esq. received the
`Vahan Cardashian' Community Leader of the Year Award for his
consistent and dedicated leadership within both the Armenian American
community and Burbank civic life.
Local AYF member Talar Kossakian received the `Karekin Njdeh' Youth
Activist of the Year Award for her work with the AYF and ANC in
reaching out to local Armenian youth groups, including the Burbank
High School Armenian Club, which presented an Armenian Genocide
awareness video during the April 24th Burbank City Council
commemoration.
Steadfastly Serving the Burbank Community
A consistent theme throughout the gala banquet was the critical role
of grassroots participation in the success of the local ANCA. This
was particularly true in the ANCA Burbank video, prepared by Horizon
Armenian Television's Vartan Esmaielian, which spotlighted the diverse
programs undertaken by the local chapter. Watch the complete video.
Banquet Chairwoman Souzy Ohanian reflected on the extensive support
and respect the local ANCA receives from community leaders and
activists alike. `The Burbank ANC chapter has experienced a period of
remarkable growth over the past few years. This growth can be
attributed to the ANCA's role as an effective grassroots organization
serving the city's Armenian-American community. The Burbank ANC
Chapter strives to bring the people of its city together to work
towards the common goal of making Burbank a better place to live and
work.'
The evening's Mistress of Ceremonies, Nanneh Chehras concurred, noting
`I've been a member of ANCA Burbank for several years, and there is
never a shortage of work. It seems as if the second you're done with
one project, you already have 10 e-mails for the next. A few flyers,
press releases, and several meetings later that project is done and
the cycle continues. But this is the beautiful thing about the entire
ANC organization. We don't run out of ideas.'
ANCA Burbank Chairwoman Silva Kechichian thanked attendees for their
`wholehearted and unwavering support for the ANCA,' observing that it
is a `testament to the powerful and unifying mission and message of
our organization - a mission to defend the rights of the Armenian
nation in the halls of Congress, in the CA State Capitol and here in
our fair city of Burbank; a message of community pride, of community
power and of community progress - relayed by the most vibrant and
effective spokespeople of the Armenian Cause - you. Each and every
one of you.'
Watch Kechichian's remarks.
http://youtu.be/RhMU91WV0×8
The ANCA Burbank placed special focus on the talent of local youth
with the opening of the festivities by the Homenetmen `Sipan' Chapter
Scouts, followed by the national anthems sung by Nairi Balian. During
the course of the evening, students from Lilia's Dance Studio
performed a series of beautiful Armenian traditional dances.
Following the presentations and awards ceremony, singing sensation
Koko Hayitian entertained the audience with American standards and
Armenian dance and patriotic songs.