This Week in Photos

The Beirut AYA Girls Basketball Team celebrating their fifth consecutive victory this spring as the Lebanese Women’s League Champions. Pictured third and seventh from left are AGBU Central Board Member Vasken Yacoubian and AGBU Lebanon District Chairman Avedis Demirdjian respectively.

This month, AGBU is overflowing with news about chapters and members far and wide.

In addition to the landmark agreement by AGBU and the Cypriot Ministry of Education to allow the use of AGBU facilities by the 430 students attending the Aglandjia Gymnasium in Nicosia, Cyprus...

• the organization’s first chapter in Alexandria, Egypt, fetes its local centennial,
• Camp Nubar welcomes a new dynamic director,
• Argentina's second largest city hosts an annual gathering for its national youth,
• Ara Tekian wows Chicago & New York audiences with tales from his trek up Mt. Ararat,
• AGBU school alumnus Alvaro Hagopian heads the Montevideo Philharmonic in Uruguay, and
• AGBU Silicon Valley gears up for the first-ever Global Armenian Technology Congress in San Francisco next month.

Those planning to attend FOCUS 2007 in New York, tickets are selling fast for every event, so visit the official site to secure your place at this global gathering.

Interested in learning more about AGBU's history and accomplishments? Visit the online bookstore for some wonderful items that capture the epic story of AGBU, including a beautifully illustrated history book and a documentary by Manuel Toulajian.

Statement by Berge Setrakian, President of the Armenian General Benevolent Union: Agreement between the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Cyprus and the Armenian General Benevolent Union

As President of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) I welcome the Agreement between the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Cyprus and the AGBU, signed today, 20 June 2007, to temporarily house the Gymnasium of Aglandjia with over 400 students during the 2007/2008 academic year at the designated premises of the Melkonian Education Institute. The temporary relocation of the Gymnasium is necessary in order not to disrupt the normal functioning of the Gymnasium and to allow the authorities concerned to expeditiously complete the urgently required repairs of the existing buildings of the Gymnasium.

AGBU's positive response to the request by the Ministry of Education and Culture was immediate. Furthermore, AGBU has decided to offer the Melkonian premises free of charge with the intent that the substantial rent offered by the Ministry to the AGBU for the temporary accommodation of the Gymnasium should be instead used to defray the cost of the repairs to the Gymnasium's buildings. >>

Cordoba Hosts Third Annual Inter-provincial Festival

AGBU Cordoba held its 3rd annual Armenian Inter-provincial Festival, organized by the "Liga de Jovenes" (Youth League), at the AGBU center on March 3, 2007. >>

Camp Nubar Welcomes New Director

The AGBU Camp Nubar Committee is pleased to announce the appointment of John Ohanian as the new Camp Director of the top-rated Andes, NY, camp facility. >>

First AGBU Chapter Observes 100th Anniversary

Founded in 1907, the AGBU Alexandria chapter marked its 100th anniversary with two community events, which featured three Armenian-themed documentaries from Armenia... >>

Buenos Aires, Argentina. Wednesday, June 27 - Friday, June 29
'14th Week of Armenian Meals' organized by the Ladies Guild
Toronto, Canada. Thursday, June 28 - Monday, July 2
North American Summer Games
New York, USA. Friday, June 29
Pre-FOCUS Bash. Join YPGNY for an Exclusive Club Night Marking the Countdown to FOCUS 2007 (agbu.org/focus) in New York
Sao Paolo, Brazil. Wednesday, July 11 - Sunday, July 15
30th Annual AYA AGBU Regional Games of South America
Beirut, Lebanon. Saturday, July 14 - Sunday, July 15
AYA Folk Dance Group Performances
New York, USA. Thursday, July 26 - Sunday, July 29
AGBU FOCUS

The Armenian General Benevolent Union One Hundred Years of History Vol. 1
- Raymond H. Kevorkian &Vahe Tachjian

Published to commemorate the centenary of the Armenian General Benevolent Union by the Central Board of Directors. Edited by Raymond H. Kevorkian and Vahe Tackjian of the Nubarian Library in Paris.

The Immigrants' Daughter
- Mary Terzian

Mary Terzian’s 1940s memoirs of life in Cairo, seasoned with wit, portray struggles to safeguard her inner self, thwarting parents' obstinate adherence to outdated traditions. Willpower, perseverance, and self-confidence gained through education help her break conventional rules to bloom on her own.

American Oud Master
- George Mgrdichian

This recording contains some of the finest pieces of classical, Armenian folk, and world music performed by the legendary oudist (Middle Eastern lute) George Mgrdichian. Included are rare photographs and music from personal collections, some of which have never been released.