Annual Meetings

Los Angeles Hosts 2011 Annual Meeting
AIWA’s 2011 Annual Meeting, organized by the Los Angeles Affiliate, was held on May 14 and hosted by Savey Tufenkian at her lovely home in Glendale. Approximately 100 guests gathered to celebrate the 20th year of AIWA, which was established in 1991 to serve the interests of Armenian women worldwide.

AIWA Board members seated L-R Christina Jabarian, Diane Cabraloff President, Lily Balian, Barbara Merguerian, Eva Medzorian, Savey Tufenkian, Elizabeth Agbabian, Hermine Janoyan. Standing L-R Argine Jean Kelegian, Michelle Shrikian, Anita Tashjian, Ani Aivazian

Diane Cabraloff, president of the Los Angeles Affiliate, conducted the meeting and expressed her thanks and appreciation to members and their friends  of  Directors in Boston reviewing the progress of programs and activities during the past year, including projects in Armenia, representation in the United Nations, archives and publications, and activities of the New England, Los Angeles, and Armenia affiliates. A warm round of applause greeted her announcement that $27,000 in scholarships had been awarded to 15 students for the current (2010-2011) academic year.

Cabraloff introduced two founders and members of the Board of Directors from Boston, Barbara Merguerian, Vice President/Archives, and Eva Medzorian, Armenia Liaison.  “It is a distinct pleasure and truly an honor to have two of the founders of AIWA join us,” stated Cabraloff, “and to bring messages from our national Board and from Armenia.”  Merguerian and Medzorian brought members up to date on the status of AIWA, reporting on current and future events in Boston and Armenia.

A highlight of the afternoon was the informative address by Dr. Linda Hovanessian Larsen, Associate Professor of Radiology, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Larsen captured everyone’s interest with her candid remarks focusing on breast cancer awareness, early detection, and prognosis.

The climax of the afternoon was the presentation by Diane Cabraloff of the Hasmik Mgrdichian Scholarship Awards to two recipients.  Cabraloff was joined by Hasmik Mgrdichian’s granddaughter Lysa Grigorian in presenting the two $2,500 scholarships.  Recipients were Janine Tuccinardi, presently a senior at Cal State Marcos pursuing a teaching degree; and Ani Kardashian, a third year medical student at the University of California, San Francisco.