Samuel Der-Yeghiayan, the first Armenian immigrant to be appointed to the federal bench in the United States, received a rousing ovation from over 100 legal scholars, judges, law professors, lawyers and law students from the United States and Canada, as he was the keynote speaker at the Armenian Bar Association’s 21st Annual National Meeting on May 15, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois.
 
The meeting was punctuated by legal seminars, receptions, city tours and a meeting of the Board of Governors. Those in attendance were treated to a number of activities, including a tour of the Federal Court Building with an in-chambers meeting with Judge Der-Yeghiayan, a tour of the new Modern Art Wing at the Art Institute of Chicago, an architectural river boat cruise, and a Chicago Cubs baseball game at Wrigley Field.
 
"Our 21st Annual Meeting was a great success," said Amy Hoogasian, ArmenBar Secretary and the meeting organizer. "We were able to provide our members with presentations from many outstanding legal scholars and an opportunity to experience the wonderful city of Chicago," said Hoogasian.
 
The legal seminars featured outstanding speakers on topics of interest to the Armenian legal community, including Protection of Armenian Cultural Heritage Worldwide. The panelists included Dr. Rachel Goshgarian, Director of the Zohrab Center, Mary Hoogasian, Co-Founder of Save the ArQ, and Karnig Kerkonian, Esq., the managing partner of Kerkonian, LLC. Among many interesting topics discussed was the future of the Armenian Quarter in Jerusalem. That portion of cultural heritage and real estate in the Holy City, controlled by the Armenian Church for centuries, is at risk of being lost due to the gradual dissipation of citizens of Armenian descent living there.
 
A panel on Electronic Discovery and Privacy Issues on the Internet was presented by Jim Nahikian, Principal of Nahikian Global Intellectual Property and Technology Law Group, Mark Nomellini, a partner at Kirkland and Ellis, and Larry "Bud" Conner, Senior Electronic Discovery Consultant, Applied Discovery Lexis/Nexis. The panel tackled the important emerging issue of discovery in civil cases in conjunction with the ever changing landscape of electronic communications.
 
An Armenia update was presented by Sara Anjargolian, Esq. and Kevork Bardakjian, Professor and Director of Armenia Studies at the University of Michigan. Anjargolian discussed economic, sociologic and legal perspectives, and her lecture included a presentation of many of her critically acclaimed photos documenting poverty in Armenia. Professor Bardakjian provided an insightful lecture on relations among Armenia, Turkey and the Diaspora.
 
Rick Hartunian, the newly appointed U.S. Attorney from Albany, New York, was also a guest speaker at the meeting, and gave a fascinating account of his ascent to his current position..
 
The meeting was held at the Union League Club of Chicago, located in the heart of the downtown financial district. The ULC has a 130-year history of assistance to the cultural, political and social growth of Chicago, and was an excellent venue for the meeting.
 
Der-Yeghiayan has been a federal court judge for the Northern District of Illinois since 2003, having been nominated for the position by George W. Bush. Prior to being appointed to the Federal bench, Der-Yeghiayan had a distinguished career as a trial attorney, district counsel and district director handling immigration matters. He received many awards during his legal career including the Frank J. McGarr award of the Federal Bar Association as the Outstanding Federal Government Attorney in Chicago and the District Counsel of the Year Award from the Commissioner of the INS and Attorney General Janet Reno in 1998.
 
Der-Yeghiayan’s keynote speech entitled "Celebrating Armenian Heritage: Baba Ghanoush is the New Guacamole" was inspiring, thought provoking and humorous. In a special ceremony, he was awarded a plaque acknowledging his many years of service to the community.
 
As is customary, the meeting provided members with valuable continuing legal education units. ArmenBar is a preferred provider of MCLE credits in California, New York and Pennsylvania.
 
The meeting was presided over by Sonya Nersessian, from Boston, Massachusetts, who concluded her second term as chair of the organization. The meeting provided an opportunity for the Board of Governors to meet, set the agenda of the organization, update the membership on recent activities and accomplishments, and vote on issues of importance to the organization.
 
Betty Jamgotchian, who served as Executive Director for ArmenBar for six years, was given an award of appreciation from the Board at the luncheon. Jamgotchian, from Glendale, California, retired from her position this year. In a touching ceremony, she thanked everyone for allowing her to serve such a great organization in a leadership role.
 
Edvin Minassian from Glendale, California was unanimously voted by the Board as ArmenBar’s Chairman. Christine Engustian from Providence, Rhode Island and Garo Ghazarian, Dean of the Peoples College of Law in Los Angeles were voted in as Vice-Chairs. Amy Hoogasian from Chicago became Secretary, and Sara Bedirian from Beverly Hills retained her position as Treasurer.
 
A Friday evening reception was held at the Union League Club, and a Saturday evening dinner reception took place at the Armenian owned and award winning NAHA Restaurant.
 
ArmenBar will next meet in Providence, Rhode Island the weekend of October 9, 2010 for its Midyear National meeting.