Tweet
Eternal memories from AYF tri-regional seminar
http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2013-08-03-eternal-memories-from-ayf-tri-regional-seminar
Published: Saturday August 03, 2013
What I assumed to be just another weekend getaway with AYF members at
AYF Camp, ended up being a once in a lifetime experience. This weekend
wasn't at all ordinary, but instead a weekend that molded and shaped
my understanding of our cause and where we stand, today. It's safe to
say that the weekend of June 6th-9th of 2013 became a life changing
experience for me, as well as for my fellow ungers across North
America.
The weekend began when our ungers from the East Coast and Canada flew
in, uniting all three regions. AYF members who flew in early had the
opportunity to tour and visit our AYF Western Region Central Offices,
where they listened to representatives from our sister organizations,
the Sardarabad Bookstore, and much more. After spending Thursday night
at the Armenian Center in Pasadena, which included a presentation led
by Unger Stepan Keshishian and including talks by representatives of
all three regions about their respective programs in the homeland, the
educational series began. The first one had to do with the history and
growth of AYF Camp by Tamar Yardemian Baboujian. Next, an educational
about the Armenian National Committee of America, including HyeVotes,
Politics, and Advocacy Days, was presented by Tereza Yerimyan. Lastly,
Unger Vicken Hovsepian spoke about the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation in the Western Region. When listening to the questions by
members of the East Coast and Canada, one could already know to expect
an intellectually stimulating and informative weekend. Before heading
over to camp that day, we made a stop at the Montebello Armenian
Genocide Monument in order to pay our respects to our ancestors.
On Friday night, after getting to know everyone a little bit better,
we had our first educational up at camp. We had the privilege of
having our weekend directed by Unger Mourad Topalian. He facilitated
the first lecture on the Social and Political Issues we face in
Armenia. Each AYF member there was challenged to come up with
different problems and obstacles facing our homeland today. I wasn't
too surprised to see that many of us had the same things written down.
Though, it was surprising to hear each member say something different
than the rest.
The next morning was followed by the traditional AYF Camp flag-raising
ceremony and early morning exercises. After breakfast, Unger Giro
Manoyan, the ARF Bureau Political Affairs Director who flew in from
Armenia to join us for the entire weekend, provided us with valuable
information regarding the People's Movement in Armenia and the most
recent elections that took place.
After lunch and some free time, our second activity was facilitated by
Unger Vicken Sosikian. We had an open discussion regarding the
commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. While
sharing ideas and suggestions with Armenian youth regarding the
anniversary, I realized that this is what truly makes the AYF unique.
There were countless agreements as well as disagreements. With every
new idea and comment, however, it became obvious to all of us how much
we were growing in sync with one another as to our strong will to
further our cause. It only made us closer to one another. We even
started a Tri-Regional Genocide Committee by the end of that
discussion. We are an organization that acts, and we did just that.
Before Dinner, Unger Giro Manoyan gave us our second educational of
the day, the Conflicting Policies in our nation, and our Armenia. The
rest of our Saturday prior to our big Khrakhjank/Kef, Ungers Mourad
and Giro also guided us through Hai Tahd (the Armenian Cause), its
next phase for 2013, and deeper social and political issues.
My favorite part of the weekend was what we called the "pre-dance jam
session" before our memorable Khrakhjank. A few of us had taken our
instruments up to camp that weekend. To somehow describe the strong
connection we all felt during the weekend would be what I personally
experienced at that moment. Just outside in the little walkway to the
lodge, I was surrounded by a few ungers, and we all had our
instruments with us. Each of us were from different regions and began
to play our hearts out as we naturally followed each other's beat and
rhythm. Having only met for the first time, it was as though we had
been playing music with each other for years. There was even a moment
when we began to play an Armenian rhythm and melody, and a few of the
ungers who were watching and listening began to dance. Words cannot
describe how I felt, and I only wish that I could go back and relive
that moment.
Once we all got back inside, the music lived on within us. I have
never danced so much shoorchbar (circle-dance) in my life. Looking
around the room, it hit me that, yes, we all had met for the first
time, but we quickly became a family. All of us-ungers from all across
North America-hand in hand, dancing, singing, and laughing together.
However, the night was still young. There was no better way to follow
up our dance than ending the night by singing our hearts out. With our
arms around one another, we sang our revolutionary songs together led
by Unger Krisdapor Arabian. We sang until the sun came up.
This entire weekend was a life-changing experience for me, and I can
safely say for my ungers who were there with me. Traditionally, you
would expect there to be small social cliques from each region.
However, we were all one unit and one family for the entire
weekend-one region and one chapter. We all felt an amazing sense of
belonging; we were home, surrounded by members of a beautiful
organization. Even after the educationals had finished, we still
engaged in conversation to come up with ideas and ways to help improve
everything from politics, to recognition, the ARF, and even to our AYF
Juniors. Words cannot describe how incredible it was to be surrounded
by people who felt the same way I did-who finished my sentences, and
had the same sense of optimism.
http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2013-08-03-eternal-memories-from-ayf-tri-regional-seminar
Published: Saturday August 03, 2013
What I assumed to be just another weekend getaway with AYF members at
AYF Camp, ended up being a once in a lifetime experience. This weekend
wasn't at all ordinary, but instead a weekend that molded and shaped
my understanding of our cause and where we stand, today. It's safe to
say that the weekend of June 6th-9th of 2013 became a life changing
experience for me, as well as for my fellow ungers across North
America.
The weekend began when our ungers from the East Coast and Canada flew
in, uniting all three regions. AYF members who flew in early had the
opportunity to tour and visit our AYF Western Region Central Offices,
where they listened to representatives from our sister organizations,
the Sardarabad Bookstore, and much more. After spending Thursday night
at the Armenian Center in Pasadena, which included a presentation led
by Unger Stepan Keshishian and including talks by representatives of
all three regions about their respective programs in the homeland, the
educational series began. The first one had to do with the history and
growth of AYF Camp by Tamar Yardemian Baboujian. Next, an educational
about the Armenian National Committee of America, including HyeVotes,
Politics, and Advocacy Days, was presented by Tereza Yerimyan. Lastly,
Unger Vicken Hovsepian spoke about the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation in the Western Region. When listening to the questions by
members of the East Coast and Canada, one could already know to expect
an intellectually stimulating and informative weekend. Before heading
over to camp that day, we made a stop at the Montebello Armenian
Genocide Monument in order to pay our respects to our ancestors.
On Friday night, after getting to know everyone a little bit better,
we had our first educational up at camp. We had the privilege of
having our weekend directed by Unger Mourad Topalian. He facilitated
the first lecture on the Social and Political Issues we face in
Armenia. Each AYF member there was challenged to come up with
different problems and obstacles facing our homeland today. I wasn't
too surprised to see that many of us had the same things written down.
Though, it was surprising to hear each member say something different
than the rest.
The next morning was followed by the traditional AYF Camp flag-raising
ceremony and early morning exercises. After breakfast, Unger Giro
Manoyan, the ARF Bureau Political Affairs Director who flew in from
Armenia to join us for the entire weekend, provided us with valuable
information regarding the People's Movement in Armenia and the most
recent elections that took place.
After lunch and some free time, our second activity was facilitated by
Unger Vicken Sosikian. We had an open discussion regarding the
commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. While
sharing ideas and suggestions with Armenian youth regarding the
anniversary, I realized that this is what truly makes the AYF unique.
There were countless agreements as well as disagreements. With every
new idea and comment, however, it became obvious to all of us how much
we were growing in sync with one another as to our strong will to
further our cause. It only made us closer to one another. We even
started a Tri-Regional Genocide Committee by the end of that
discussion. We are an organization that acts, and we did just that.
Before Dinner, Unger Giro Manoyan gave us our second educational of
the day, the Conflicting Policies in our nation, and our Armenia. The
rest of our Saturday prior to our big Khrakhjank/Kef, Ungers Mourad
and Giro also guided us through Hai Tahd (the Armenian Cause), its
next phase for 2013, and deeper social and political issues.
My favorite part of the weekend was what we called the "pre-dance jam
session" before our memorable Khrakhjank. A few of us had taken our
instruments up to camp that weekend. To somehow describe the strong
connection we all felt during the weekend would be what I personally
experienced at that moment. Just outside in the little walkway to the
lodge, I was surrounded by a few ungers, and we all had our
instruments with us. Each of us were from different regions and began
to play our hearts out as we naturally followed each other's beat and
rhythm. Having only met for the first time, it was as though we had
been playing music with each other for years. There was even a moment
when we began to play an Armenian rhythm and melody, and a few of the
ungers who were watching and listening began to dance. Words cannot
describe how I felt, and I only wish that I could go back and relive
that moment.
Once we all got back inside, the music lived on within us. I have
never danced so much shoorchbar (circle-dance) in my life. Looking
around the room, it hit me that, yes, we all had met for the first
time, but we quickly became a family. All of us-ungers from all across
North America-hand in hand, dancing, singing, and laughing together.
However, the night was still young. There was no better way to follow
up our dance than ending the night by singing our hearts out. With our
arms around one another, we sang our revolutionary songs together led
by Unger Krisdapor Arabian. We sang until the sun came up.
This entire weekend was a life-changing experience for me, and I can
safely say for my ungers who were there with me. Traditionally, you
would expect there to be small social cliques from each region.
However, we were all one unit and one family for the entire
weekend-one region and one chapter. We all felt an amazing sense of
belonging; we were home, surrounded by members of a beautiful
organization. Even after the educationals had finished, we still
engaged in conversation to come up with ideas and ways to help improve
everything from politics, to recognition, the ARF, and even to our AYF
Juniors. Words cannot describe how incredible it was to be surrounded
by people who felt the same way I did-who finished my sentences, and
had the same sense of optimism.