WATERTOWN–Mass.–The 66th international assembly of the Armenian Relief Society Inc. concluded Monday in Saddle Brook–NJ.
The assembly convened last Thursday with the participation of delegates representing 18 countries–guests and observers. For the first time in ARS history–delegates representing the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic ARS organization participated in the meeting.
Following an in-depth evaluation of activities of the past three years–the assembly mapped out the organization’s activities for the upcoming three years–taking into consideration the important role the ARS plays both in Armenia and the Diaspora.
At the conclusion of the assembly–a nine-member central executive was elected comprised of the following ARS leaders:
Gyula Kasabian (Salonica–Greece)
Mayda Karapetian (Philadelphia)
Maro Minassian (Boston)
Houri Najarian (Toronto)
Alvart Petrossian (Yerevan)
Valentine Berberian (Forest Hills–NY)
Rosine Saghdejian (Fresno)
Houri Der-Simonian (Fresno)
Margaret Stepanian (Providence–RI)
For the first–the ARS Central Executive elected a member from Armenia.
The assembly concluded in an optimistic tone for future activities with the pledge of leading the Armenian relief effort into the next millennium and becoming an international force for humanitarian assistance.