Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 25, 2006
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: [email protected]
ASSEMBLY LEADERS CONVENE IN WASHINGTON FOR ANNUAL TRUSTEES MEETING
Announce Approval of Board Merger
Washington, DC – In an effort to streamline the effectiveness of the
organization, Armenian Assembly Trustees added their support to the
merger of the Board of Trustees and the Board of Directors into one
governing body.
The approved merger was announced during the Assembly’s Annual
Trustees Meeting, led by Chairman Hirair Hovnanian, in Washington, DC
last month. Nominating Committee Chair Van Krikorian reported that an
overwhelming 90 percent of Assembly Trustee Members voted to approve
the historic merger.
The vote by the Trustees followed the official approval of the Board
of Directors Members and comes after careful deliberation in which the
Assembly concluded that given the complex issues confronting all of
us, such a merge would provide increased efficiency and greater
effectiveness to best address today’s demands and meet tomorrow’s
challenges.
“We had an outstanding meeting and appreciate the continued support of
our membership,” said Hovnanian. “We have important work to do in
Washington for the benefit of the Armenian people and I was pleased to
be in the company of such dedicated activists,” he continued.
The merged Board includes the following Members:
Hirair Hovnanian – Chairman
Carolyn G. Mugar – President
Robert A. Kaloosdian – Counselor and Vice Chair
Edele Hovnanian – Treasurer
Van Krikorian – Counselor
Anthony Barsamian – Board of Directors Chairman (through June 30th,
2006)/Executive Committee Member
Lisa Kalustian – Secretary
Joyce Stein – Assistant Secretary
Lisa Esayian – Executive Committee Member
Jirair Haratunian – Executive Committee Member
Annie Totah – Executive Committee Member
Peter Vosbikian – Executive Committee Member
Albert Momjian – Solicitor
Berge Ayvazian
Daniel Ajamian
Noubar Afeyan
Gerard L. Cafesjian
Lu Ann Ohanian
Richard Mushegain
John Waters
Also during the Annual Trustees Meeting, Assembly leaders reviewed
operations in the Washington, Los Angeles and Yerevan offices and
discussed the 2006 operating budget, received updates on legislation
pending before Congress, the ongoing Massachusetts lawsuit, the
Mission to Armenia and the Armenia Tree Project. Having concluded its
official business, the Assembly honored one of its own, outgoing Board
of Directors Member Ralph Tufenkian.
Outgoing Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian thanked
Tufenkian for his longstanding support and commitment to the Assembly
and said that in honor of his service, the Assembly planted 10 trees
in Armenia in Tufenkian’s name.
Executive Committee Member Lisa Esayian also presented an award to
ARAMAC State Chair for Kansas Alex Kotoyantz for his grassroots
activism and ongoing work to strengthen the Kansas-Armenia
partnership.
The Armenian Assembly is the largest Washington-based nationwide
organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian
issue. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
### NR#2006-035
Photographs available on the Assembly’s Web site at the following link:
/2006-035-1.JPG
Caption: Armenian Assembly Board of Trustees Chairman Hirair
Hovnanian, center, with Members of the Board of Trustees and Assembly
Executive Director Bryan Ardouny, top row second, from left.
/2006-035-2.JPG
Caption: L to R: Outgoing Board of Directors Member Ralph Tufenkian,
Board of Trustees President Carolyn Mugar, Board of Trustees Chairman
Hirair Hovnanian and Outgoing Board of Directors Chairman Anthony
Barsamian.
ress/2006-035/2006-035-3.JPG
Caption: ARAMAC State Chair for Kansas Alex Kotoyantz flanked by Board
of Trustees Executive Committee Member Lisa Esayian and Executive
Director Bryan Ardouny.