For the second year, the AGBU New England District and YP Boston teamed up to sponsor a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for Armenian university students in the Boston area. Those not able to travel home for the holiday were invited to the AGBU Watertown Center, where they had the opportunity to meet with the District Chair, Ara Balikian, as well as other committee members, and discuss ways in which AGBU can support their Armenian Club activities.

(left to right) YPNC Co-Chair Greg Nemet, Chairman of the NKR National Assembly Ashot Ghulian, NKR Permanent Representative to the USA & Canada Robert Avetisyan, and YPNC Marketing Director David Ojakian meet in Sacramento, California.

Yesterday, members of the AGBU Young Professionals of Northern California (YPNC) proudly represented AGBU during a meeting with both diplomats from the Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR) and California state officials.

Karabakh Assembly Chairman Ashot Ghulian invited YPNC Co-Chair Greg Nemet and YPNC Marketing Director David Ojakian to meet with him in the state capital of Sacramento. Also present was Permanent Representative of NKR to the United States and Canada Robert Avetisyan, Assembly Member of the Central Coast Katcho Achadjian, and California State Senator Kevin DeLeon. Together, they discussed local to global issues, including YPNC’s initiatives in California, current affairs in Karabakh and AGBU’s work around the world.

To learn more about YPNC, find them on Facebook or email agbuypnc@hotmail.com.

Back in 2011, the AGBU France District’s UGAB Jeunes group gathered 32 excited and dedicated volunteers ages 18 to 26 and embarked on a one-month mission to Armenia and Karabakh named “Terre de Vie” (Armenia, Land of Life) ready to implement their humanitarian, educational, environmental and social mission. The positive results of the journey, coupled with the incredible bonds they created with both each other and the homeland has led them to organize the trip once again next summer.

Check out the cool video they have created to get the buzz going. In fact, if you live in France and wish to join them, visit their Facebook page to get in touch and be a part of something amazing.

After an invigorating week of meetings and inaugurations, AGBU is excited to post the following album filled with hundreds of photos documenting its 87th General Assembly. Delegates and supporters totaling over 300 from 26 countries spent a full week in Armenia and Karabakh from October 14 to 21, 2012, celebrating the organization’s many accomplishments and planning ahead for a challenging future.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/agbu/collections/72157631913503978/

Click here to download the PDF (3.24MB) of the October 2012 edition of AGBU Melbourne’s Nor Tsayn Newsletter.

There’s just no debating it: students of the AGBU Alexander Primary School in Sydney, Australia, are some of the strongest public speakers in their district.

This month, for the eighth year in a row, the school’s debate team took home the winning title in the Forest District Interschool Debating Competition. During what was at times a nail-biting event, each student delivered strong arguments and rebuttals while friends and family proudly looked on. They finally scored winning points when they were presented with the topic “wisdom is better than strength.” Their reply – that wisdom may bring success in life, but it’s useless without strength of character – put the trophy in their hands. Mrs. Meaghan Terrey, the team coordinator, praised the group, remarking, “I am justly proud of their efforts and congratulate them on their researching of the topics, their presentation and delivery skills. They have learned a great deal.” She also noted that all the school’s students played an important role in supporting the team – and they all look forward to celebrating together!

AGBU is now accepting applications for its 2013 Summer Internship Program, putting the amazing opportunity to live and work in the world’s most exciting cities within reach for Armenian college students.

Each internship program destination – Moscow, New York and Yerevan – offers participants something different, but equally rewarding. In Yerevan, students meet with government officials who are leading the country into the future, while tours of Armenia’s historical landmarks and a four-day journey to Karabakh bring them closer to their past. In Moscow, participants attend seminars with executives at global companies and look forward to a mid-summer trip to St. Petersburg, a favorite annual tradition. In New York, a series of social events and networking activities give meaning to the phrase “the city that never sleeps.”

No matter what city they’re in, AGBU interns are always among their diasporan peers, who quickly become lifelong friends. They’re also positioning themselves for careers – in recent years, AGBU proudly congratulated many interns who were offered jobs at their host institutions. Wherever their internships take them, every student leaves the program with the resources, skills, and strong resumes they need to succeed.

For more information on the AGBU Summer Internship Program, please visit: http://agbu-internship.org/ or call (212) 319-6383.

The competitive selective process is already underway. All interested students are urged to apply now. Scholarships are awarded based on need and academic merit.

Application deadlines and contact information for each program are listed in the ad here.

Later that night during the farewell dinner, hundreds of AGBU guests, inspired by all that they saw and learned this past week, donated and pledged $250,000 on the spot toward the AGBU Syria Emergency Relief Fund. AGBU is continuing its efforts in Syria to help the greater Armenian community caught in a realm of chaos overwhelming the country and you can help by donating here.

More exciting coverage and photos to come, but in the meantime, enjoy this video with highlights from the spectacular concert sponsored by AGBU at the Karen Demirchian Sports & Concert Complex in Yerevan on October 19, 2012, which was attended by RA President & First Lady Serj and Rita Sargsyan, and a number of high-ranking dignitaries. http://youtu.be/Uwd90O_SPV8 Performers included Shusan Petrosyan, the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra, the AGBU Nork Children’s Center students and more.

Click here to download the PDF (2.64MB) of the August 2012 AGBU Armenia Newsletter.

AGBU President Berge Setrakian gave his much-anticipated State of the Union address to launch the two days of Chapter and YP meetings that began yesterday morning at the American University of Armenia (AUA), and later led the AGBU delegation to Holy Etchmiadzin to witness the inauguration of the Vatche & Tamar Manoukian Library (Madenataran), attended by RA President and First Lady Serzh and Rita Sargsyan, His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, and of course the benefactors themselves.

Along with Central Board and Europe District members, Setrakian also attended the opening of the new library at the French University of Armenia, which was funded by AGBU.

After last night’s gala banquet at Florence Restaurant, everyone was enthused and ready for another full day, which began earlier this morning with a visit to Armenia’s Parliament. National Assembly Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan addressed the AGBU delegates.

More coverage to come next week as we highlight more events with even more photos. Stay tuned!