AMAA Elects New Board Members, President and Officers

Joe Zeronian, Ed.D. newly elected President of the AMAA

            In accordance with the appropriate policies and procedures, the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) elected its new Board members, President and officers.

            On October 15, 2011, at the Annual Meeting of the Association, held in Los Angeles, CA, the names of the following nine individuals were announced, who were elected by the general membership to serve on the Board of Directors as the Class of 2014: Bryan Bedrosian, Anita Buchakjian, Nazareth Darakjian, M.D., Robert Hekemian, Sr., Louis Kurkjian, Kenneth Kevorkian, Lori Muncherian, Harold Nahigian and Arsine Bedrosian Phillips, Esq. The new Board members were installed on Sunday, October 16, during the AMAA Annual Meeting Worship Service, which was held at the United Armenian Congregational Church of Los Angeles.

            On December 3, the Board of Directors elected its officers and approved the Executive Committee as follows: Joseph Zeronian, Ed.D., President; Nazareth Darakjian, M.D. and Peter Kougasian, Esq., Vice Presidents; Thomas Momjian Esq., and Arsine Phillips, Esq., Secretaries; Nurhan Helvacian, Ph.D., Treasurer; Anita Buchakjian, Assistant Treasurer; Berjouhy Gulesserian, Advisor; Levon Filian, Executive Director; Albert Momjian, Esq., Solicitor; and Joyce Stein, Representative of the Stephen Philibosian Foundation.

            The AMAA was founded in Worcester, MA in 1918 and incorporated in New York in 1920 with the purpose of strengthening and supporting the Armenian people in their Christian faith and to encourage religious education as well as literary and philanthropic work.  Since its founding, the AMAA has expanded its programs of educational, evangelistic, relief, social services, church and child care ministries to 24 countries around the world.  For further information about the AMAA ministries, please go to www.amaa.org or call the AMAA headquarters at 201-265-2607.

AMAA LA Orphan and Child Care Presents CHILDREN HELPING CHILDREN

Jazz Sensation Grace Kelly in concert to Benefit Avedisian School in Yerevan

AMAA hosts concert to benefit Avedisian School in Yerevan

Children at The Avedisian School

The Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) will present Jazz sensation Grace Kelly in concert on Saturday, January 21, 2012 at the National Heritage Museum in Lexington, MA. The 19 year old saxophonist, singer, composer and arranger has played at Lincoln Center and was voted Best Jazz Act in Boston for the past four years. Her latest album, Grace, marks a new direction for her into Gospel Jazz. For more information on Ms. Kelly, please visit her website at www.gracekellymusic.com.

Grace Kelly

Cocktails will start at 6:30 p.m. followed by the Concert at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35 per person or $20 for students with IDs. Proceeds from the Concert will benefit the Avedisian School in Armenia.

For more information on the Concert or how to purchase tickets, please visit www.amaa.org.

Wine and Cheese Garden Party to Support the AMAA’s Work with Armenian Children in Lebanon and Syria

On Saturday October 22, the Friends of the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) Peninsula Chapter held a Wine and

Committee Members of AMAA Peninsula chapter

Cheese Garden Party to raise funds for the AMAA’s ongoing work supporting the educational needs of Armenian children in Lebanon and Syria.  Co-chaired by Kris Gulesserian of Los Altos and Nina Tashjian of Saratoga, this inaugural event was held on a beautiful California evening at the home of Ike and Kris Gulesserian.  The Indian summer evening enabled guests to gather outdoors as they enjoyed an array of domestic and imported gourmet cheeses, specialty hors d’oeuvres, and a selection of California wines. Complementing the wonderful food and wine was the beautiful décor, reminiscent of a California vineyard.

“We are thrilled to have the support of so many members of the Bay Area Armenian community for the important work of the AMAA,” said
Peninsula Chapter co-chairs Kris Gulesserian and Nina Tashjian.  “Our chapter has successfully supported the educational needs of a number of Armenian youth in Beirut and Syria for many years.  Education is so critical for these young Armenians – and we are pleased and humbled to be able to help make a difference in their lives.”

Some of the guests at the party

Mr. Levon Filian, the Executive Director of the AMAA, was able to attend the event and show his support for the work of the Peninsula
Chapter.  In his remarks at the party, Mr. Filian, a beneficiary of the AMAA himself, spoke about the worldwide mission of the AMAA and the dual purpose that the AMAA served in his life – both educational and spiritual.  No stranger to the Bay Area, Mr. Filian spent many years as an active member of the community in Northern California, serving as as a deacon, elder, and moderator at Calvary Armenian Church in San Francisco.

Mr. Filian’s son Ari Jon attended the fundraiser as well. Ari Jon recently spent some time interning with the AMAA in Armenia. During the
event, Ari Jon shared his experiences from Armenia with the guests, speaking eloquently about the resilience of the Armenian people and the inspiration he drew from his time in the country.

The Wine and Cheese Garden Party was successful in educating new audiences about the work of the AMAA Peninsula Chapter and in attracting new supporters to the cause.

The Friends of the AMAA Peninsula Chapter will also hold its annual Christmas Luncheon in December in Hillsborough, CA.  Members of the AMAA Peninsula Chapter’s Committee include Alina Balabanian, Nora Balabanian, Anahid Gulesserian, Kris Gulesserian, Margo Gulesserian, Arpi Haleblian, Lara Khoury, Aline Richards, and Nina Tashjian.

To learn more about the AMAA, including how you can support its work, please visit www.amaa.org.

AMAA Invites you to Bring Christmas Joy to our children in Armenia & Karabagh

AMAA NJ Orphan & Child Care Brunch On December 8, 2011 to benefit Emergency Medical Needs of Children in Armenia

16th Annual Children Helping Children Luncheon to Take Place at Wellesley Country Club

Wellesley Hills, MA — The Boston area Orphan and Child Care Committee of the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) announces its 16^th Annual Children Helping Children Luncheon, to take place on Thursday, October 27, 2011 at the Wellesley Country Club.   The luncheon will feature a raffle and both live and silent auctions, and will be hosted by celebrity guest host Mike Wankum of Channel 5 News.  Auction items this year will include tickets and memorabilia from all major Boston sports teams, amazing diamond jewelry, framed art prints, oriental rugs, dinner for 8, and much, much more.  All proceeds from the event are donated to the AMAA’s Orphan and Child Care Fund to benefit needy children in Armenia.  Individuals or businesses wishing to donate goods or services, or those wishing to purchase a ticket for the event may do so by contacting Michele Simourian at 508-785-0569.        

 Founded in 1918, the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) is a nonprofit, charitable organization that provides services to underprivileged youth through education, relief and mission ministries.  AMAA is a nonsectarian Christian organization that renders its services to those in need without discrimination.  AMAA operates in twenty-four countries and often partners with other relief agencies to aid disaster stricken areas throughout the world.  For additional information, visit www.amaa.org

AMAA James G. Jameson Essay Contest Open to High School and College Students

The Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) has announced it will once again sponsor the James G. Jameson Essay Contest.  Topics should touch upon some aspect of Armenian heritage such as religion, literature, language, history, culture, geography, economy or history.

Awards will be made in two categories: High School contestants and College/University contestants. The deadline for entries is SEPTEMBER 1, 2011.

All Armenian or part-Armenian students from North America are eligible.  Only unpublished entries will be accepted.  The winner in each category will be awarded $500.00, provided from the income of a special fund established by Mr. & Mrs. James G. Jameson of Brookline, MA.

The essays should be written in English and have a length of 1,000 to 2,000 words.  A contestant is allowed no more than one entry per year, and only one member of a family may receive an award in a five-year period.  If no submitted essay is considered sufficiently meritorious, no award will be granted that year.
Entries and/or inquiries should be directed to:

James G. Jameson Essay Contest
Armenian Missionary Association of America, Inc.
31 West Century Road
Paramus, NJ 07652

AMAA Spring Concert Delights Audience in NYC

L to R: Natalie Aroyan-Vocalist, Ben Larson-Cellist, Nazig Tchakarian-violinist, Hayk Arsenyan-Pianist and Aleksandr Nazaryan-Violist

One of the most eagerly anticipated events sponsored by the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) each year is the Spring Concert held at the Armenian Evangelical Church of New York.  Benefitting the AMAA’s Summer Camps inArmeniaand Karabagh, the Concert was held on May 15 and featured a varied program of classical and Armenian music.

AMAA Board member Peter Kougasian, Esq. gave the opening remarks. Lucy Janjigian, Board member and National Chair of the AMAA Summer Camp and Christmas Committee, brought greetings. Levon Filian, Executive Director of the AMAA, welcomed everyone and thanked the Armenian Evangelical Church of New York for hosting the event.

The young performers included Natalie Zabel Aroyan, an Armenian-Australian soprano, who was awarded first place in the Opera Foundation New York competition;  violinist Nazig Tchakarian, an international soloist who made her Carnegie Hall debut in May, 2008; violist Aleksandr Nazaryan, a graduate of the Julliard School of Music; cellist Benjamin Larsen, an international performer; and pianist Hayk Arsenyan, a native Armenian who is currently on the faculty of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.

Natalie Aroyan-Soloist & Hayk Arsenyan-Pianist

The afternoon’s program combined classical and Armenian repertoire.  The Concert began with Dvorak’s Piano Quartet #1 (opus 23 in D major). The piece proved to be a perfect vehicle to display the precision and artistic nuance of the ensemble.  Next were two Chopin piano etudes:  opus 10, number 6, a meditative piece that has been described as “full of stifled sorrow,” and opus 10, number 5, also called the “black key etude” because the right-hand part is played entirely on the black keys.  Mr. Arsenyan executed both etudes with technical excellence and artistic soulfulness. Ms. Aroyan displayed her vocal gifts with moving interpretations of pieces by Massenet and Catalani.  Mr. Arsenyan then displayed his gift of interpretation for contemporary music by performing the modern, polyphonic “Suite for Piano” by Alan Hovhaness.

The conclusion — and apotheosis — of the program were three songs performed a capella by Ms. Aroyan:  the familiar spiritual “Park Dank” (Give Thanks), the soulful “Groong” (Crane) by Komidas, and the loving “Ay Vart” by Spendiarian.  It would be impossible to select three songs which could so pefectly convey the virtuosity of the soloist, the exceptional accoustics of theNew YorkChurch, or the spirituality of the performance.

In closing, Summer Camp and Christmas Committee Chair Elbiz Baghdikian expressed the mood perfectly by saying that the Concert, like the closing songs themselves, was “about our faith and giving thanks, and about us not knowing about our world, and about our need to love each other.  This really spoke about why we are here today – reaching out to each other as good Christians and as human beings.”