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Armenian Assembly of America Annual Trustees Meeting & Banquet Honoring Former Board Chairman Michael Haratunian March 14-17, 2014
Featuring Author Dr. H. Martin Deranian, Near East Foundation Board Chairman Shant Mardirossian, South Florida Filmmaker Bared Maronian
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) South Florida Regional Council (SFRC) is pleased to announce that the annual trustees meeting and banquet will be held at the Marriott at Boca Center in Boca Raton, Florida March 14-17, 2014. Members, supporters and friends are all invited to a sunny weekend retreat packed with a wonderful lineup of events with past and present leaders of the Assembly and the greater Armenian American community.
A welcome reception will be held Friday evening, bringing together members and friends from across the country. Later, guests are invited to “Kef Night Boca,” an evening of fun, dancing and entertainment presented by local Florida Armenians.
On Saturday, March 15, the Assembly’s annual trustees meeting and luncheon will be held from 9:00AM-12:30PM. Following lunch, the Assembly is delighted to present three distinguished Armenian American community leaders. From Worcester, Massachusetts, Dr. H. Martin Deranian, author of “President Calvin Coolidge and the Armenian Orphan Rug,” will discuss his recent book and community efforts to have the Coolidge Rug released and displayed in Washington, D.C. Chairman of the board of directors of the Near East Foundation (NEF), Shant Mardirossian, will deliver a compelling presentation on the Armenian Genocide and efforts of the NEF to help save the survivors. Local South Florida filmmaker, Bared Maronian, will provide a presentation and clips of his award-winning film “Orphans of the Genocide,” which has been broadcast by Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in several states and featured in Armenian communities across the globe. South Florida is home to some of the genocide survivors featured in the film. The Assembly is privileged to present this diverse panel of speakers to the south Florida community. Presentations will be held from 12:30PM-2:00PM and are free and open to the public.
Saturday evening, members, supporters and friends are all invited to the Assembly’s annual dinner and banquet, where former chairman of the board, Michael Haratunian, will be officially honored. A participant of the Airlie conferences that established the Armenian Assembly of America in 1972, Haratunian served as a member of the board of directors for several years including four years as chairman. See Michael’s full biography here. The dinner and banquet will feature remarks from Assembly board members, executive director Bryan Ardouny and community leaders.
Members are also invited to the 22nd annual St. David Armenian Church charity golf tournament at the Via Mizner golf and country club in Boca Raton on Monday, March 17. For more information on the golf tournament please click here or call St. David Armenian Church at (561) 994-2335.
All Assembly events will be held at the Marriott at Boca Center. Major donor packages are available at the following levels: Benefactor ($1,000) receives two complimentary tickets to the banquet; Pillar ($2,500) receives two complimentary tickets to all events including the major donor brunch on Sunday; Torchbearer ($5,000) receives four complimentary tickets to all events including the major donor brunch on Sunday; and Guardian ($10,000) receives eight complimentary tickets to all events including the major donor brunch on Sunday.
Hotel arrangements can be made by calling 1-800-228-9290 or click here to get the special Assembly room rate of only $159.00. To RSVP for the Friday reception or the Saturday luncheon, or to book table reservations for the Saturday evening banquet, please contact Assembly SFRC Chair Carol Norigian at southflaaa@gmail.com.
ACYOA Members Strengthen Faith, Share Ideas at Annual Chapter Workshop in Florida
January 30, 2014
Armenian Church of America (Eastern) News
More than 30 young people representing 14 parishes across the Eastern Diocese gathered in St. Petersburg, Florida, last weekend for the annual Armenian Church Youth Organization of America (ACYOA) Chapter Workshop.
Over the course of three days, from January 24-26, participants built their faith, discussed the accomplishments and setbacks faced by their local ACYOA chapters, shared advice, and brainstormed new programming possibilities.
St. Hagop Church of Pinellas Park, Florida, again hosted this year’s event, with the Rev. Fr. Hovnan Demerjian, parish pastor, serving as the weekend’s chaplain. The sessions were organized by the ACYOA Central Council, with assistance from Lorie Odabashian, coordinator in the Diocese’s Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, who also attended the workshop.
On Friday evening, January 24, participants gathered at St. Hagop Church for dinner and fellowship. This was followed by a service project during which ACYOA members made 200 sandwiches for Pinellas Hope, a local charity that provides shelter and aid to the homeless. An overview of the organization’s work was given by Central Council member Daniel Zalinov and St. Hagop parish council member Mallory Maslar.
The evening concluded with a vespers service led by the Very Rev. Fr. Simeon Odabashian, Diocesan Vicar.
On Saturday, the group convened at the St. Petersburg Marriott for sessions on faith, leadership, and team building.
Fr. Demerjian opened the day with a Bible study on the revelation of Christ. Central Council members Shant Paklaian and Adrienne Ashbahian led a discussion titled “ACYOA: Mission Possible,” where participants shared programming ideas and personal skills that fulfill and build on the mission of the ACYOA. They focused on the organization’s key principles of worship, witness, education, service, and fellowship.
St. Nersess seminarian and former ACYOA Central Council chair Saro Kalayjian spoke about the founding of the ACYOA and explained how it has evolved in its seven-decade history.
Small group discussion led by Central Council members Chelsea Kress and Armen Terjimanian presented problem scenarios ACYOA chapters have encountered in previous years and challenged participants to consider various solutions.
(See PHOTOS on the FLArmenians Facebook Page)
Central Council chair Jon Pelaez and vice chair Ani Grigorian presented a session on strategies for success, during which participants drafted goals for their chapters and filled out a programming calendar listing events they hope to implement in the coming year.
The day concluded with dinner at a local restaurant.
On Sunday morning, the young people took part in the Divine Liturgy at St. Hagop Church and joined the community for an outdoor picnic, which raised funds for Syrian Armenian relief.
“ACYOA Chapter Workshop is my favorite Central Council-sponsored event,” said Aras Mermer of St. Mary Church of Washington, D.C. “I always get new ideas for events, and find out what works and what doesn’t work.”
Aline Beylerian of St. Leon Church of Fair Lawn, New Jersey, said, “I enjoyed meeting new people who share the same love and passion for keeping the Armenian youth connected to their faith and heritage.”
The ACYOA Central Council is now preparing to host Lenten regional retreats in Palos Heights, Illinois, and Fair Lawn, New Jersey on March 29.
Florida Armenians 