The inaugural group of AGBU Yerevan Summer Intern Program (YSIP) participants have been actively taking advantage of the new YSIP blog and posting great items (including tons of photos) that should be of interest to anyone fascinated with Armenia and how it is viewed through youthful eyes.

Some highlights:

Last Monday, July 23, 2007 local Armenian American professional, Paul Kayaian spoke to the 2007 NY Summer Intern Program (NYSIP) group about strategies for getting a job after college.

On Saturday, April 28, 2007, the Kennedy Library of California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA) was teeming with Armenian academics, who had come to exchange ideas about the Armenian community. The seminar, spearheaded by AGBU's Hye Geen/Forum for Armenian Cultural and Social Studies (FACSS) and Armenian Social Work Caucus at CSULA, was the second event of its kind after its debut in 2006, and the successful turnout promised to make it an annual tradition.

Last Friday, July 20, the Young Professionals (YP) of Toronto hosted a party at 577 to toast the launching of their new website, which will keep members informed about new and upcoming events, seminars and regional YP events--their new home on the World Wide Web is: www.ypto.ca

Today, we go live with AGBU's Official Blog. As with any media project AGBU initiates, AGBU Blog will keep you informed and educated, offering interesting material that you most likely won't find elsewhere.

This dynamic online resources will allow us to:

by John Hughes, ArmeniaNow

She was born in Smyrna, and he in nearby Kasaba, at the dawn of a century that would soon bring defining tragedy to their people. She migrated with her family to New York in 1915. He followed, alone, five years later, a 19 year old with $50 and hopes that a relative's prediction "You'll do well," would be true.

Watch a Video Report of the Alex & Marie Manoogian interment ceremony HERE (5:11)

On Friday, July 13, the earthly remains of Alex Manoogian, National Hero of the Republic of Armenia, Life President of the Armenian General Benevolent Union and national benefactor of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, along with those of his wife, Marie Manoogian, arrived in the homeland via the Paris–Yerevan flight. They had previously been interred in Detroit, Michigan (U.S.A.).

Montreal - At the annual Gala of Excellence of Scouts du Montréal métropolitain (Scouts of Metropolitan Montreal), held this year in the historical chapel of Montreal's Breboeuf College, the AGBU Montreal scout group won several awards, including the coveted Inukshuk. It is the second time AGBU Montreal has been awarded the honor in the 8-year history of the top scouting award.

Angele Karayan, chairlady of the Alex Manoogian Center Ladies Committee, was honored for her fifty years of service to AGBU at a banquet held on Saturday evening, May 12, 2007 at the AGBU Alex Manoogian Center in Pasadena, California. The highlight of the many tributes paid to her was the bestowal of the influential St. Nerses Shnorhali medal, granted by the Holy See of Etchmiadzin.