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Knights and Daughters of Vartan Hold Grand Convocation in Boston

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  • Knights and Daughters of Vartan Hold Grand Convocation in Boston

    The Armenian Mirror-Spectator, MA
    Aug 29 2009


    Knights and Daughters of Vartan Hold Grand Convocation in Boston


    BOSTON ' `Boston Knights Light the Way' was the theme for the 91st
    Knights of Vartan and 69th Daughters of Vartan Grand Convocation held
    at the Westin Copley Place Hotel, during the week of June 30 ` July 5,
    hosted by Ararat #1 Knights Lodge, Commander Nelson Stepanian, and
    Arpie #9 Daughters Otyag (chapter) of Boston and Donna Deranian,
    matron.


    The Convocation Committee was headed by Robert M. Avakian and a team
    of Ararat Lodge and Arpie Otyag members.

    Two days of intense business meetings were held separately by the
    Knights and Daughters, during which delegates deliberated on various
    current issues and election of the officers for the ensuing year. The
    Knights reelected Haig K. Deranian as grand commander, Charles
    S. Guleserian as vice commander, Jack Medzorian as grand chaplain, Ara
    Balikian Esq. as grand secretary, Edward Juskalian as grand treasurer
    (new candidate), Sarkis Gennetian as grand master of ceremonies and
    Arto Kurkjian as grand sentinel. The Daughters elected a new Grand
    Council, replacing the outgoing Grand Council headed by Grand Matron
    Anita Arslanian. The new council is headed by Grand Matron Melene
    Ouzounian and includes Geraldine Tahajian, Peggy Kalemkarian, Salpy
    Adams, Betty Farsakian, Kathy Bedrosian and Rozine Bedoyan.

    Awards

    The Knights made special recognition awards during its meetings to
    honor individual members who demonstrated exemplary service during the
    year. These included Antranik Cingoz from San Francisco, who
    personally raised over $100,000 from friends and associates all over
    the world for the Knights of Vartan Armenia School Support
    Project. Also recognized were the efforts of Michael Gulbankian for
    his past service on the Armenia Adopt a School Project, James
    Kalustian and state Rep. Peter Koutoujian for their efforts in
    spearheading the Armenian Heritage Park and Genocide Memorial on
    Boston's Rose Kennedy Greenway.

    During the meetings, donations made during the year 2008-09 by the
    Knights and Daughters to various Armenian charitable and humanitarian
    causes in their local communities and Armenia were reported, totaling
    $543,341. The various lodges of the Knights made donations which
    totaled $477,094, including $133,916 for the Armenia School Support
    Project (matched nine for one by the World Bank) and a container of
    medical equipment and supplies for Karabagh valued at $296,500 (this
    was the sixth container shipped for a grand total value of $2,500,000
    in this effort). The Daughters reported donations of $66,255,
    including support of the Fuller program for housing in Armenia.

    Armenia School Support Project

    In his annual report, the Armenia School Support Committee Chairman
    Levon Karakashian pointed out that since its inception in the year
    2000, the project has raised $1,937,558, which has been matched by the
    World Bank to total $19,375,576 of construction work performed for 187
    needy school projects in Armenia. The funds raised by the Knights of
    Vartan came from individual lodges, members, non-members and
    charitable foundations in the USA and abroad. The members applauded
    the work of the committee for their efforts in this flagship program
    of the Knights and Daughters of Vartan in serving critical needs of
    schools in Armenia.

    Reports were also made by committee chairpersons of other programs,
    which included the Knights of Vartan Fund for Armenian Studies, the
    Knights of Vartan Armenian Research Center at the University of
    Michigan and the annual Times Square Armenian Genocide Commemoration
    Committee. Also reported was the outstanding progress of the Armenian
    Heritage Park and Genocide Memorial on Boston's Rose Kennedy Greenway,
    spearheaded by Knights of Vartan members of the Ararat Lodge #1 in
    Boston who initiated the project and united all of the Armenian
    organizations in Massachusetts to participate. It was reported that
    all approvals are now in hand, final fund raising is in progress and
    ground breaking is expected shortly.
    LobsterFest

    The week was kicked off by various Boston tours and a cocktail
    reception hosted by Grand Commander Haig Deranian and outgoing Grand
    Matron Anita Arslanian but the first official event was the
    LobsterFest, which was held Thursday, June 2, at the site of the USS
    Constitution Museum in Charlestown. After music, hors d'oeuvres, tours
    of Old Ironsides and a lobster meal, Koutoujian, the evening's master
    of ceremonies, informed the group of the Armenian connection with the
    Constitution, based on extensive research done by Dr. Martin
    Deranian. In 1905, the Navy proposed using the ship for target
    practice, but Armenian immigrant and Boston businessman Moses Gulesian
    offered $10,000 to preserve her. Gulesian's gesture made headlines,
    aroused interest, and eventually Congress appropriated funds for
    repairs.

    The Friday, June 3 event began with an unusual exhibition. The host
    lodge Ararat #1 arranged for a special statue display of St. Vartan
    Mamigonian. Many photos were taken with the statue and more than a few
    were startled when the statue changed position. After the visit with
    the living statue, the group moved into the Armenian Cultural and
    Educational Center in Watertown, for an evening of Armenian mezza and
    dancing to the music of the Johnny Berberian Ensemble.
    Grand Banquet

    The week of activities was capped by the July 4 Grand Banquet attended
    by nearly 300 Knights, Daughters and guests to see presentations to
    Man of the Year Hirant Gulian, recognition of the humanitarian work of
    Baroness Caroline Cox and scholarship recipient Garine Ashjian, one of
    six college student winners throughout the United States and Canada
    that the Knights award annually. Deranian addressed the gathering and
    underscored the Knights of Vartan New Vision, which was the subject of
    workshops and meeting sessions. Deranian stated that `¦the Knights
    respect the traditions and beliefs inherent in our heritage, but also
    endeavor to pave the way for new ideas in the coming years.' The
    banquet ended just in time for the group to be able to witness the
    fireworks after the Boston Pops annual concert.


    Grand Commander Haig K. Deranian and seven past grand commanders of
    the Knights of Vartan.
    [caption id="attachment_1734" align="alignright" width="199"
    caption="Man of the Year Hirant Glian and Grand Commander Haig
    K. Deranian"][/caption]
    Convocation Committee

    Upon the conclusion of a busy week, Convocation Chairman Robert
    M. Avakian stated, `We take pride in the fact that we just hosted a
    huge endeavor for our comrades from across the nation and they had a
    great time and went home with fond memories of Boston.' He added, `We
    are especially indebted to the untiring efforts of our convocation
    committee members who took responsibility, most for the first time,
    for the endless details of the convocation.' These were Alice
    Sahakian, Aram Deirmendjian, Artak Kalenjian, Dr. Charles Nargozian,
    David Barber, Donna Deranian, George Elanjian, George Haroutunian,
    Gladys and Harold Partamian, Jirair Demirchian, John Peterson, Michael
    Guleserian, Nelson Stepanian, Paul Boghosian, Paul Ketchoyian, Helen
    and Richard Cherkerzian, Roset Atinizian and Walter Nahabedian.

    The 2010 Grand Convocation will be held July 7`10 in Irvine, Calif.

    The Knights of Vartan, founded in 1916, is an Armenian fraternal
    organization dedicated to the preservation of the rich cultural
    heritage of the Armenian people, and encourages its members to assume
    leadership roles in cultural, educational, religious and charitable
    organizations and activities. The Daughters of Vartan, an affiliated
    organization, was formed in 1933. For more information on the Knights
    and Daughters of Vartan, visit www.knightsofvartan.org.

    http://www.mirrorspectat or.com/2009/08/29/knights-and-daughters-of-vartan- hold-grand-convocation-in-boston/
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