ARS Eastern US Holds Successful 84^th Annual Convention in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

Delegates and guests from across the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) Eastern US met in Ft. Lauderdale, FL for the 84th Annual Regional Convention from July 15-18 at the Ramada Beach Resort Hotel. The event hosted by the ARS Florida Soseh chapter.

At the opening ceremony, ARS Florida Soseh chapter chairwoman Ossana Tanielian welcomed all convention delegates and guests to Florida, where the convention has not been held since 1992. Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan began the convention’s opening ceremony with an invocation and kind words of strong support for the ARS. Hayg Oshagan of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Eastern Region Central Committee also remarked on the strength of the ARS and the community’s long-time reliance and respect for this nearly 100-year old humanitarian organization. Also wishing good luck and good work to the ARS Eastern US convention delegates were Hermine Manoogian on behalf of Hamazkayin Eastern Region, Vahram Tanielian on behalf of Homenetmen Eastern Region, and Rev. Vazken Bekiarian of St. Gregory’s Armenian Apostolic Church.

Speaking on behalf of the ARS Eastern US Board of Regional Directors, chairwoman Georgi-Ann Oshagan thanked the host chapter for its hard work in preparing for the convention throughout the past year and asked the delegates, “What programs and plans will the ARS Eastern US bring to our communities during the next year to advance the life of the Armenian people here at home and far away in the homeland that is so hear to our hearts?”

During the convention, Houri Nadjarian represented the ARS Inc. Central Executive Board, Anna Bulgarian represented ARS of Canada, and Angele Manoogian of Florida and Maro Asatourian of Washington, DC were guests of the ARS Eastern US Board of Regional Directors.

The convention began its deliberations by electing chairwomen, secretaries, and committees. Lucy Essajanian of the ARS Cambridge chapter was elected as the English-language chairwoman and Mayda Melkonian of the ARS Watertown Leola Sassouni chapter was elected Armenian-language chairwoman. The Armenian secretaries were Taline Mavelian of the ARS New Jersey Agnouni chapter and Hermine Manoogian of the ARS Detroit Sybille chapter. English secretaries were Ani Michaelian of the ARS Racine Sosseh chapter and Aida Gharibian of the ARS Hudson County, NJ Shakeh chapter.

Credentials Committee members were Hermine Manoogian of the ARS Detroit Sybille chapter, Anahis Tcholakian of the ARS New York Mayr chapter; and Yeran Manjikian of the ARS Watertown Leola Sassouni chapter.

Nominating Committee members were Knar Kiledjian from the ARS Hudson County, NJ Shakeh chapter; Pearl Bargamian from the ARS Providence Arax chapter; Sandra Vartanian of the ARS New York Erebouni; Rita Baljian of the ARS Detroit Tsolig chapter; and Hasmig Sarhadian of the ARS New Jersey Spitak chapter.

Resolutions Committee members were Anahid Sarafian of the ARS Chicago Zabel chapter; Alicia Michaelian of the ARS Racine Sosseh chapter; and Rosemary Khachadoorian of the ARS Cambridge chapter.

Correspondence Committee members were Ossana Tanielian of the ARS Florida Soseh chapter; Dzaghig Pounardjian of the ARS Cleveland Artsakh chapter; and Van Karoghlanian of the ARS Providence Arax chapter.

Auditing and Budgeting Committee members were Mimi Parseghian of the ARS Lowell Lusintak chapter; Silva Sagherian of the ARS Detroit Tsolig chapter; and Silva Sedrakian of the ARS Watertown Leola Sassouni chapter.

Convention Parliamentarian was Arppie Charkoudian of the ARS Springfield Ararat chapter and Sergeant at Arms was Sona Garapetian of the ARS Hartford chapter.

In addition to the two guests invited by the ARS Eastern US Board of Regional Directors, the convention elected the following individuals as convention guests: Siran Der-Bedrossian of the ARS Florida Soseh chapter; Astrid Sarafian of the ARS Cambridge chapter; Yeretzgeen Anahid Bekiarian, and Armenian Youth Federation Greater Boston Nejdeh chapter member Dzovig Essajanian.

During the convention deliberations, delegates heard the annual report of the ARS Eastern US Board of Regional Directors and approved a budget for region’s 2004-2005 fiscal year activities. There was also time for some social fun, when delegates boarded the “Jungle Queen” on Friday and cruised the Intercoastal waterway on the way to enjoy a barbeque dinner and variety show.

On Saturday, the convention elected four Board of Regional Directors members to join the three members who were elected at last year’s Convention. Re-elected to a second two-year term were Nayiri Balanian of the ARS Philadelphia Ani chapter and Silva Kouyoumdjian of the ARS Hudson County, NJ Shakeh chapter. Elected to the ARS Board of Regional Directors for their first two-year term were Lucy Essajanian of the ARS Cambridge chapter and Anahid Sarafian of the ARS Chicago Zabel chapter. They join Georgi-Ann Oshagan of the ARS Detroit Maro chatper; Shakeh Basmajian of the ARS Detroit Tsolig chapter; and Salpi Sarafian of the ARS Cambridge chapter who are entering the second year of their second term.

Departing Board member Marlene Vichabian of the ARS Providence Arax chapter addressed the convention with a fond farewell, remarking on how proud she was to serve the ARS Eastern US as a board member for four years. On behalf of the board, Georgi-Ann Oshagan noted the fine contributions of Anahis Mekenajian of the ARS Watertown Leola Sassouni chapter who decided not to seek a second two-year term after completing her first term and was unable to attend the convention.

The convention culminated in a well-attended banquet and dinner dance at the Ramada Beach Resort Hotel with Floridians Steve Iskenderian and his band.

The ARS Board of Regional Directors thanks the ARS Florida Soseh chapter and, in particular, appreciates the hard work of Siran Der-Bedrossian and Bedros Der-Bedrossian for enhancing the convention experience for everyone in attendance and being of such service to the ARS Eastern US during everyone’s stay in Florida.

For more information about the ARS Eastern US, visit the Region’s Web site at www.arseastus.org, email arseastus@aol.com, call (617) 926-3801, or write to ARS Eastern US, 80 Bigelow Ave., Watertown, MA 02472.