WASHINGTON, DC - The Armenian Assembly of America (AAA) will hold its 40th Anniversary Gala on September 22, 2012, in downtown Los Angeles, announced the Assembly's Washington and California offices. Founded in 1972 as a Washington-based organization dedicated to promoting Armenian-American interests with the federal and state level government, the Armenian Assembly has served as the community's leading advocate with Congress and the Adminitration on the central issues of the past four decades: Armenia's and Artsakh's independence; strong U.S.-Armenia relations; humanitarian assistance and economic development for Armenia's earthquake-ravaged regions, a just and fair resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict; and U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide. Community leaders first met in 1972 to discuss forming an "assembly" of Armenian-American organizations at the Airlie House in Warrenton, Virginia. Pictured from left to right are: (back row) Vartkes Kassouni, Hirair Hovnanian, Ralph Baker, Garo Garabedian, Armen Topouzian, Avedis Sanjian, Harry Sachaklian, (front row) Lionel Galstaun, Robert A. Kaloosdian, Haig Der Manuelian, Stephen Mugar, Hagop Nersoyan, Dennis Papazian and John Hanessian, Jr. The gala is being held in Los Angeles in tribute to former two-term California governor George Deukmejian and his wife Gloria. As the highest elected official of Armenian parentage in the United States, Governor Deukmejian has served as the role model for succeeding generations of Armenian-Americans who have emulated his example of public service. The former governor will be personally awarding the Armenian Assembly's George Deukmejian Public Service Award to Chuck and Debbie Poochigian, who together exemplify the Armenian-American power couple continuing the tradition of public service in California's legislative and judicial branches of government. Chuck began his career in politics as an appointee of Governor Deukmejian, was elected to the California State Assembly and State Senate, and is presently an Associate Justice of the California Court of Appeals. Debbie who serves on the Fresno County Board of Supervisors comes from a prominent Armenian-American family long active in local politics. She was preceded to the Fresno Country Board of Supervisors by her late father Deran Koligian. On the occasion of the 40th Anniversary Gala, the Armenian Assembly will also be recognizing the contributions of three outstanding members of the California community who have participated in innumerable activities and programs of the Assembly and have been longtime and very active supporters of the organization. The Assembly's Distinguished Humanitarian Award will be presented to Elizabeth Agbabian, Flora Dunaians, and Savey Tufenkian. To join the Armenian Assembly for its 40th Anniversary Gala, in California please contact Aline Maksoudian at amaksoudian@aaainc.org or call 626-577-0025. For additional information, please call the Assembly Washington office at 202-393-3434. Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

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