Washington, DC-Springtime in our nation’s capitol provided a picturesque backdrop for the 17th Annual National Meeting fo the Armenian Bar Association (Armenbar). Over 100 judges, lawyers, politicians, dignitaries and members of the public attended the meeting at the Embassy Row Hilton near Dupont Circle, and were treated to a number of interesting activities, elegant receptions and excellent substantive panel discussions.
As a special treat, Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee, and Armen Kharazian, Director of Research and Analysis of the Armenian Assembly of America, were co-guests of honor at the meeting luncheon. Hamparian and Kharazian are head of the two most powerful Armenian lobby groups in the United States, and offered encouraging words about the Armenian community and the Republic of Armenia. Kharazian discussed the challenges and opportunities for the Armenian community, and stressed the areas of Genocide recognition and assistance to Armenian, while Hamparian suggested that Armenians overcome their past and become assertive and forceful in their efforts to obtain their goals. Hamparian stressed the importance of activism, especially in topics such as Genocide recognition and prevention.
The schedule of activities started early Friday morning as several members participated in a golf tournament at Raspberry Falls Golf and Hunt Club, a Gary Player signature design course in Leesburg, Virginia. The breathtaking and challenging course included very deep sand traps and hazards, and provided a wonderful day for the golfers. Board member Garo Hovannisian won the “closest to the pin” award.
While the golfers were on the course, Dean Shahinian, Counsel on the U.S. Banking Committee, took approximately 20 members and guests on a guided tour of the Capitol building. Some highlights were viewing the Capitol rotunda, former Supreme Court hearing room and historical murals and artwork.
Friday evening, the Board of Directors met to consider matters of importance to Armenbar, and set the agenda for the coming year. Board members were updated on recent activity by various committees including the Rights Watch, Student Affairs and Membership committees.
The Board meeting was followed by a welcome reception at the majestic Renaissance Mayflower Hotel. Members and guests enjoyed a sumptuous seafood dinner buffet while renewing old friendships, making new ones and networking with colleagues. Members then dispersed into the Washington, DC metro area to enjoy the world renowned night life in the city.
On Saturday, the meeting continued with a full day of informative topics and lectures. Following a general business meeting, presided over by Chairman Gary Moomjian, the membership voted on the appointment of five new Board members. The vote resulted in Federal Judges and Honorary Life Members Dickran Tevrizian and Larry Burns being elected along with Armenbar Vice-Chairman and Chairman elect Frank Zerunyan, a City Councilman from Rolling Hills Estates, California and accomplished attorneys Garo Hovannisian and Sonya Nercessian all joining the Board. Tevrizian, Zerunyan and Hovannisian were on the Board and the election installed them into their second terms.
The first lecture of the day was given by Jacob Bournazian, who gave an informative and spirited discussion of the U.S. Energy market and the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Bournazian has been a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Energy under both the Clinton and the current Bush administrations. Bournazian discussed the current U.S. energy situation, reliance on foreign producers of oil and other energy related prospects, in addition to future trends and possible alternate energy sources.
Speaking next was Olga Ruda, a legal analyst and Deputy Coordinator of the Judicial Reform Focal Area with the American Bar Association’s Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative (ABA/CEELI). She is primarily responsible for managing and the implementation of the Judicial Reform Index, an assessment tool designed to analyze the compliance of a country’s judiciary with fundamental international standards on judicial independence. She spoke of the situation in Armenia, giving constructive criticism and pointing out areas needing improvement in the Armenian judicial system.
The first afternoon panel was on the topic of the Griswold v. Driscoll case in Massachusetts. In the pending case, plaintiffs challenge the Genocide curriculum in the Massachusetts public school system and seek to force the Board of Education to include references to Genocide denial materials. In response to the case, Armenbar assembled a team of attorneys and law firms, including Bingham McCuthcheon and Wilmer Hale. Former Armenbar Treasurer and current Rights Watch Chair Saro Kerkonian was the moderator while Zerunyan gave an overview of Armenbar’s efforts in opposing the case. Ariel Waldman of the Wilmer Hale firm discussed the research of the cases which went into the filing of an amicus brief by Armenbar. David Balabanian, the first Chairman of Armenbar, and a preeminent attorney in California, discussed strategies and considerations in putting together the Amicus brief with Mona Simonian, of his firm.
Genocide reparations was the final topic and the panel was moderated by Thomas Samuelian, current Dean of the Law Department of the American University of Armenia (AUA) in Yerevan. Samuelian is also the former Chairman of Armenbar. He was joined by Manuk Hergnyan, Executive Director of Vem Spyur Media Company in Yerevan, and Hakob Martirosyan,who holds an LLM from AUA. The panel discussed such issues as the return of land to the Armenian community and the Armenian Church, who have evidence in the form of deeds to real property in Turkey. The panel also looked into the projected monetary losses suffered by the Armenians during the Genocide.
On Saturday evening, Armenbar held a lavish reception at the Armenian Embassy. Arman Israelyan, Counsul General of the Embassy gave words of congratulations and encouragement to those in attendance. Lisa Barsoumian was the hostess for the reception, and Moomjian offered a donation of $1,000.00 to the Embassy, pointing out with pride that the members were technically on Armenian soil while in the Embassy.
Nevart Jamgotchian, Armenbar Executive Director Betty Jamgotchian’s mother, and Nicholas Simonian, nephew of Armenbar Treasurer Vicken Simonian, provided musical entertainment with several selections from the grand piano, including the Armenian National Anthem.
On the last day of the meeting, the Board met once again to choose the Officers of the corporation. Zerunyan was appointed Chairman, Melineh Verma of the Wilmer Hale firm was appointed Vice-Chair, Rita Bojalian, an employment specialist with CBS, became Secretary and Edvin Minassian, a certified specialist in worker’s compensation law, became Treasurer.
On Monday, May 1, 2006, several members and guests of Armenbar attended a session of the U.S. Supreme Court, where nine members were sworn in into the court. Shahinian served as the sponsor who presented the qualified Armenian attorneys to the court. Armenbar had the largest number of applicants that day. It was a memorable experience for all in attendance, as they were able to see the court in action, with its two newest members, Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Samuel Alito.
Armenbar will next meet in Philadelphia in mid September, 2006 for its Midyear meeting. The Board of Governors resolved to hold its 2006 Annual National meeting in Santa Monica, California.
Armenbar is the largest group of Attorneys, Judges and law students outside of Armenia. The group has promoted the Rule of Law in the Republic of Armenia, has provided pro bono legal services to needy members of the Armenian Community, provided legal seminars and continuing legal education seminars and serves as a network for the interaction of judges, lawyers and law students of Armenian descent.
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