BURBANK CITY OFFICIALS, EDUCATORS, COMMISSIONERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS KICK-OFF 2004 WITH ANC-BURBANK

January 7, 2004 - Burbank, Ca. - Extending the Christmas celebrations another week, members of the Burbank City Council, Board of Education, Police Commission, Traffic and Transportation Committee, Water and Power Board, Landlord Tenant Commission, Youth Endowment Services Fund Advisory Committee, Department of Library Services, BUSD principals, educators and administrators, as well as leaders from community groups such as the Boys and Girls Club, Burbank Human Relations Council and the St. Joseph Medical Center Spiritual Care Department, joined the Armenian National Committee of Burbank on the evening of January 7, 2004 at an event billed "The Only Post-New Year Christmas Party in Town."

"The evening was a great opportunity not only to update our city leaders on ANC-Burbank activities but also to reiterate the Armenian community's interest in working with them on initiatives that will strengthen our City and communities," commented Peter Musurlian, ANC-Burbank Chairperson.

The annual mixer took place in the warm atmosphere of an Armenian-owned business in Burbank, Café Elegante, providing an opportunity for Burbank officials and community members to spend time with members of the Armenian community, including members of the ANC, the Armenian Cultural Foundation, the Armenian Relief Society and Homenetmen.

Musurlian opened the evening with welcoming remarks and updated the audience about the variety of activities conducted by the ANC last year, including increasing Armenian community participation in local City Council and Board of Education elections, participating in Make a Difference Day, the KPFK Fund drive, the Library Literacy Program's Trivia Challenge, organizing Armenian Genocide commemorative activities and a special screening for Burbank officials of "Ararat," the first major motion picture depicting the Armenian Genocide.

Musurlian also introduced projects that ANC-Burbank will be working on in 2004, highlighting the most immediate one led by Paul Krekorian, member of the Burbank Board of Education, and his wife Tamar - a library book drive aimed at collecting new and gently used books to augment the Armenian book collections at Burbank public libraries. Krekorian spoke to the audience about the ANC's grassroots strength locally and nationwide, presenting the book drive as an example of an initiative that benefits both the City of Burbank and the Armenian community.

Present at the event were City Councilmember Jef Vander Borght, City Clerk Margarita Campos, Board of Education members Dave Kemp and Ted Bunch, as well as Community Development Director, Sue Georgino, Assistant Superintendent, Alexis Sheehy, Library Services Director, Sharon Cohen, and Barbara Paul from the Office of Senator Jack Scott. The evening ended with the introduction of ANC-Burbank committee chairpersons, emphasizing the local ANC's commitment to increasing the Armenian community's participation in the civic life of the city.

For more information or to join an ANC-Burbank committee call (818) 562-1918 or e-mail webmaster@burbankanc.org.