General & Past Events
Every year, Banou organizes and hosts a series of recurring- and one-time events that are designed to cater to our community members and to help us achieve the goals of our organization. Our special events will be announced to general public through this website and to our members via mail-in invitations.
Our general and recurring events are listed below, and be sure to scroll down the page for a list of our past events as well.
General & Recurring Events
The list below provides an overview of our recurring events that we hope will help you learn more about what we do:
Banou's Annual Nowruz Gala
Our organization's main event has always been our Nowruz Gala, held during the Month of March prior to Nowruz, with an attendance exceeding 600 guests and participants. Each year, we honor an active member of the Iranian-American community that has been recognized for outstanding achievement. Some of the past honorees include Professor Ehsan Yarshater, Mrs. Anousheh Ansari, and Master Mahmoud Farshchian, just to name a few. The festive mood of our Nowruz Gala has always been accompanied by talented and popular musicians such as Omid, Moein, Sheila, and Shahram Shabpareh.
Weekly Gatherings for Seniors (every Thursday)
Beginning in May 2010 and after many months of planning and preparation, Banou is proud to announce that it has successfully secured a permanent location for a weekly gathering and get-together program, mainly targeted for the Iranian-American senior and retiree communities in providing them a place to meet and socialize with their fellow friends and compatriots, and to be able to enjoy each other's company as well as attend educational and entertainment events designed specifically for them. Held every Thursday (12 noon to 5 p.m.) at the First Baptist Church located at 351 Englewood Avenue, Englewood, NJ 07631, these weekly events are free of charge and open to all.
For more information and to read event policies, please click here to view our flyer (in Persian)., and to see the list of related events for the current month.
Mothers' Day Luncheon (Ladies Only)
Held the second week of May, this event gives an excellent opportunities to our female members to meet, catch up with each other, and renew friendships in a fun and relaxed environment over an exquisite lunch at a local restaurant reserved exclusively for our participants. Furthermore, we use this event to raise awareness of women's medical needs through the invitation of distinguished physicians to discuss the latest in women's health and medical research.
Atlantic City Day Trip
Our annual Atlantic City Trip is a comprehensive transportation and entertainment package designed to alleviate part of your everyday stress, even if it only last for just a day! Banou's chartered and luxurious bus will depart in the morning from our gathering point in Northern New Jersey to Atlantic City for a day full of fun, relaxation, and sea-side walks spent with friends and loved ones. If you would like to catch the latest in Iranian movies, we even showcase recent and critically-acclaimed films (depending upon availability of video equipment and movie rights) in the bus so to help you pass the time on our way to Atlantic City and back. Although we will be back before the end of the day, your memories will last for months, if not years! Please note that given capacity constraints, each trip will be limited to approximately 50 guests on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Medical Seminars
Since 2008, Banou has organized and hosted an annual seminar on public health and awareness. During this educational event, which is also open to non-members, various medical issues and the latest research in regard to topics of interest are discussed and presented by prominent Iranian-American physicians and researchers.
Past Events
Banou is proud of the fact that our events and activities have been growing in popularity and have been recognized by our community at large for their disciplined organization and success. Below you will find a sample list of our past events:
Mothers' Day Luncheon 2016
Held on May 8, 2016 - Samdan Restaurant
Nowruz Gala 2016
Held on March 11, 2016 - Rockleigh Country Club
Musical Guest: Faramarz Asef
Eighth Annual Medical Seminars on Public Health and Awareness 2015
Held on September 27, 2015 - Rockleigh Country Club (Lunch, Music, and Medical Presentations)
Guest Speakers:
1. Dr. Masood Khatamee (Medical Prevention)
2. Dr. Shervin Mortazavi & Dr. Nader Moaven (Dementia and Memory Loss)
3. Mr. Jamshid Irani, Esq. (Patients Legal Matters)
Mothers' Day Luncheon 2015
Held on May 11, 2015 - Samdan Restaurant
Nowruz Gala 2015
Held on March 13, 2015 - Rockleigh Country Club
Musical Guest: Bijan Mortazavi
Banou Honoree Program
Friday, November 14, 2014 - Rockleigh Country Club
A memorable evening in the honor of Banou's special guest Dr. S.M. Asgari
Seventh Annual Medical Seminars on Public Health and Awareness 2014
Held on September 21, 2014 - Rockleigh Country Club (Lunch, Music, and Medical Presentations)
Guest Speakers:
1. Dr. Masood Khatamee (Post Menopausal Changes)
2. Dr. Shervin Mortazavi & Dr. Nader Moaven (Thyroid Diseases & Thyroid Cancer)
Mothers' Day Luncheon 2014
Held on May 12, 2014 - Samdan Restaurant
Nowruz Gala 2014
Held on March 14, 2014 - Rockleigh Country Club
Musical Guest: Mansour
Banou Honoree Program
Friday, November 15, 2013 - Rockleigh Country Club
A memorable evening in the honor of Banou's special guest Mrs. Eshrat Ahkami
Sixth Annual Medical Seminars on Public Health and Awareness 2013
Held on September 8, 2013 - Rockleigh Country Club (Lunch and Medical Presentations)
Guest Speakers:
1. Dr. Masood Khatamee (Modern Medicine in Persian History)
2. Dr. Shervin Mortazavi (Stroke Prevention & Management Seminar)
Mothers' Day Luncheon 2013
Held on May 13, 2013 - Samdan Restaurant
Nowruz Gala 2013
Held on March 15, 2013 - Rockleigh Country Club
Musical Guest: Leila Forouhar
Banou Honoree Program
Friday, November 16, 2012 - Rockleigh Country Club
A delightful evening honoring Banou's special guest Mrs. Zari Shafaie
Fifth Annual Medical Seminars on Public Health and Awareness 2012
Held on September 9, 2012 - Rockleigh Country Club (Lunch, Music, and Medical Presentations)
Guest Speakers:
1. Dr. Masood Khatamee (Stem Cell Research)
2. Dr. Shervin Mortazavi & Dr. Nader Moaven (Lung Cancer Seminar)
Mothers' Day Luncheon 2012
Held on May 14, 2012 - Samdan Restaurant
Nowruz Gala 2012
Held on March 16, 2012 - Rockleigh Country Club
Musical Guest: Faramarz Asef
Banou Honoree Program
Friday, November 11, 2011 - Rockleigh Country Club
A delightful evening of music and dinner honoring special guest Mrs. Ghodsiran Iromloo
Fourth Annual Medical Seminars on Public Health and Awareness 2011
Held on September 11, 2011 - Rockleigh Country Club (Lunch, Music, and Medical Presentations)
Guest Speakers:
1. Dr. Masood Khatamee (Cervical Cancer Seminar)
2. Dr. Shervin Mortazavi & Dr. Nader Moaven (Cardiovascular Diseases Seminar)
Atlantic City Day Trip 2011
Held on June 6, 2011
Caesars Atlantic City Casino & Resort
Mothers' Day Luncheon 2011
Held on May 9, 2011 - Samdan Restaurant
Nowruz Gala 2011
Held on March 11, 2011 - Rockleigh Country Club
Musical Guest: Bijan Mortazavi
Third Annual Medical Seminars on Public Health and Awareness 2010
Held on September 19, 2010 - Rockleigh Country Club (Lunch, Music, and Medical Presentations)
Guest Speakers:
1. Dr. Masood Khatamee (Ovarian Cancer Seminar)
2. Drs. Shervin Mortazavi and Nader Moaven (Diabetes Seminar)
Mothers' Day Luncheon 2010
Held on May 10, 2010 - Samdan Restaurant
Nowruz Gala 2010
Held on March 12, 2010 - Rockleigh Country Club
Guests of Honor: Gisue & Mojgan Hariri
Musical Guest: Shahram Solati
Second Annual Medical Seminars on Public Health and Awareness 2009
Held on December 13, 2009 - Rockleigh Country Club (Lunch, Music, and Medical Presentations)
Guest Speakers:
1. Dr. Shervin Mortazavi, Medical Director of Bialystoker Medical Center, NY (Prostate Cancer Seminar)
2. Dr. Nader Moaven, Director of Adult Clinic at Clairmont Medical Center, NJ (Osteoporosis Seminar)
Halloween Party 2009
Held on October 25, 2009 - Rockleigh Country Club
Mothers' Day Luncheon 2009
Held on May 11, 2009 - Samdan Restaurant
Nowruz Gala 2009
Held on March 13, 2009 - Rockleigh Country Club
Guest of Honor: Mrs. Behnaz Sarafpour
Musical Guest: Moein
Comedy Performance: Ghasem Goli
First Annual Medical Seminars on Public Health and Awareness 2008
Held on November 30, 2008 - Rockleigh Country Club (Lunch, Music, and Medical Presentations)
Guest Speakers:
1. Dr. Shervin Mortazavi, Medical Director of Bialystoker Medical Center, NY (Breast Cancer Seminar)
2. Dr. Nader Moaven, Director of Adult Clinic at Clairmont Medical Center, NJ (Colon Cancer Seminar)
Halloween Party 2008
Held on October 24, 2008 - Sheraton-Crossroads Hotel
Cash Prizes for Top-3 Costumes
Atlantic City Day Trip 2008
Held on October 5, 2008
Caesars Atlantic City Casino & Resort
Mothers' Day Luncheon 2008
Held on May 12, 2008 - Samdan Restaurant
Nowruz Gala 2008
Held on March 14, 2008 - Rockleigh Country Club
Guest of Honor: Mrs. Anousheh Ansari
Master of Ceremony: Moloud Zehtab
Musical Guest: Omid
Halloween Party 2007
Held on Oct. 26, 2007 - Sheraton-Crossroads Hotel
Cash Prizes for Top-3 Costumes
Mothers' Day Luncheon 2007
Held on May 14, 2007 - Samdan Restaurant
Nowruz Gala 2007
Held on March 16, 2007 - Rockleigh Country Club
Guest of Honor: Prof. Ehsan Yarshater
Master of Ceremony: Moloud Zehtab
Musical Guest: Shahram Shabpareh
Nowruz Gala 2006
Held on March 10, 2006 - Rockleigh Country Club
Guest of Honor: Molud Zehtab
Musical Guest: Sheila
Nowruz Gala 2005
Held on March 18, 2005 - Rockleigh Country Club
Guest of Honor: Master Mahmoud Farshchian
Musical Guest: Roya