ARS of Eastern US

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Regional Executive Board

The Armenian Relief Society’s Eastern US, Inc. is governed by a volunteer and unpaid Regional Executive Board, who manage the strategy and implementation of the ARS’ mission across the Eastern Region of the United States. The composition of the board is made up of ARS members who are elected during the
Annual Convention to serve for a two-year term. 

Caroline Chamavonian

Chairperson

Caroline Chamavonian has been a member of the ARS “Artemis” Chapter of Philadelphia for 387 years. She has served on the chapter executive board numerous times, holding the positions of the chair, treasurer, secretary, and advisor. She has served on different committees like the scholarship, essay contest and ANEC. From 2009 until 2011, Caroline  served on the Regional Executive Board. From 2011-2019, Caroline was elected during the 71st and 72nd International Conventions to serve on the Central Executive Board, where she first served as the treasurer, then Chairperson.

She is involved in her local community as a member of the St. Gregory Ladies Guild and Hamazkayin.

Ungh. Caroline has a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Temple University and a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from LaSalle University.

She’s been married for 47 years and has two children and two grandchildren. She enjoys spending time with her grandchildren and gives her utmost to advance the mission of the Armenian Relief Society.

Taline Daghlian

Vice-Chairperson

Talin Daghlian, has been an active member of the ARS “Agnouni” chapter of New Jersey for over forty-two years.  In 2006, she was selected as the “Mother of the Year” by her Chapter. She has held various positions on Agnouni’s executive board, including; Treasurer, Recording Secretary and Chairperson and has been elected four terms on the ARS Regional Executive Board, serving as Treasurer and Chairperson. She has been an active member of several ARS committees. 
  
Talin has been an active member of the Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church for decades and received a certificate of Merit in May 2006 from the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America for her dedication and service. She has served as the Co-Director of the Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church Sunday School as well as on the Board of the Nareg Armenian School.  Talin is currently serving on the Nareg Armenian School Board as the elected Chairperson.
 
Talin is a graduate of the American University of Beirut, School of Nursing. She resides in Old Tappan, NJ with her husband Zohrab. Together, they enjoy spending time with their 3 daughters and 7 grandchildren, whom they adore.

Margaret Babikian Medina

Treasurer

Margie Babikian-Medina, has been an active member of the ARS “Bergen County Armenouhi’ chapter of New Jersey for 17 years. She has held positions on Bergen County’s Armenouhi executive board, as Treasurer, and Chairperson. She has served on the ARSUSA board as Treasurer for 4 yrs, as well as several Committees, (Scholarship Committee/Essay Contest/Laison to the ARSEUSA Financial committee).


Margie has served 10 years on the Board of the Nareg Armenian School and member of ANEC board. Margie has been on On-Line Auction Committees for ANCA and for Hamazkayin NJ.

 
Margie has a BA in Russian and French from SUNY Buffalo and an MBA in Computer Science from Baruch College. Margie also holds an international PMP certification from the Project Management Institute.
Margie is married 33 yrs and has 2 Children, Alexandra and Antranik.

Carol Jaffarian

Secretary

Carol Jaffarian is an 18 year member of the ARS “Knar” Chapter of Worcester, where she has served as Secretary.  She holds a Bachelor’s in Nursing from Northeastern University and a Master’s with a Concentration in Primary Care from Boston University.  She is currently an Assistant Professor at the Graduate School of Nursing at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.  She has served as the Project Director of 4 grants, which were collaborative efforts between the ARS and the University of Massachusetts Worcester.  These included the HIV Education and Prevention Project in Armenia and the Women’s Health Needs Assessment Project in Armenia, which were based, primarily, at the ARS Mother-Child Clinic and Birthing Center in Akhourian.  Armenia’s First and Second National HIV Conferences, both collaborative efforts between the ARS and Armenia’s National Center for AIDS Prevention, were held at the conclusion of these grants.  Carol represents the ARS at the United Nations, where she has served as Secretary of the UN NGO Committee on HIV/AIDS, and where she currently serves as Secretary of the UN NGO Health Committee. 

Mary Andonian

Advisor

Mary Andonian has been a member of the ARS “Sosseh” Chapter of Florida for 16 years. She has served as the Chapter’s Chairperson for 4 terms. In 2019, Mary was elected to represent her region at the 72nd International Convention of ARS. She is an active member of the Community serving on the Armenian Cultural Association and Armenian Genocide Committee of Florida. She also serves on the Key Committee of the Armenian Heritage Cruise. Mary received her Business Degree from the University of Barcelona. She enjoys learning new languages and learn about different cultures. She has become fluent in several languages.  She enjoys spending time with her family, which has become a source of inspiration for her. 

Irma Kassabian

advisor

Irma Kassabian has been a member of the ARS “Satenig” Chapter of Washington DC since 2014. She served as the Recording Secretary and Chairperson of her chapter before being elected to serve on the Regional Executive Board. Ungh. Kassabian holds a Bachelor’s in Accounting from Bryant College in Rhode Island and successfully managed the family jewelry manufacturing company for many years.

Seda Aghamianz

Advisor

Seda Aghamianz presently serves as Administrator of The Genocide Education Project. She holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from Boston University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Russian. Ms. Aghamianz has worked within the Armenian community for many organizations including the Armenian Relief Society – Eastern United States, Project SAVE, and the Ani and Narod Memorial Fund. She has been a member of the ARS since 1987 when she joined her mother’s chapter, ARS Boston “Javo”, and then transferred to the ARS Cambridge “Shushi” Chapter. She has held various positions within the chapter (ie Treasurer, Vice-Chair, etc.) and has also served on many ARS committees over the years including the regional scholarship committee. She serves on several Watertown, MA non-profit boards including the Marshall Home Fund (serving as vice-chair and head of allocations) and Watertown for All Ages.

 
Seda has lived in Watertown, MA since her marriage in 1991 and has three children.

Vartouhie
Chiloyan


Executive Director
of ARS Eastern us

After Graduating from Karen Jeppe Armenian College, Ungh. Chiloyan earned her BA in English Language and Literature from the University of Aleppo. Upon graduation, she returned to her alma-mater, as an English Teacher. Her activism with ARS began first at the Syrian Armenian Relief Cross (ARS-Syria), and when she moved to the US, she continued as a member of the ARS “Leola Sassouni” Chapter of Watertown. She has been the Executive Director of the ARS of Eastern US for more than 20 years, where she assists the board by providing administrative support, overseeing strategic operations, and managing programs. Ungh. Chiloyan and her husband are proud parents of three.