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Armenian Youth Federation-YOARF Eastern US
80 Bigelow Ave
Watertown, MA 02472
Tel. (617) 923-1933
Fax (617) 924-1933
www.ayf.org
PRESS RELEASE ~ October 25, 2006
(617) 923-1933
AYF-YOARF Hosts Annual Senior Seminar at Camp Haiastan
WATERTOWN, Mass. - From October 6 to 8, Armenian Youth Federation (AYF)
members from across the Eastern Region gathered at Camp Haiastan in Franklin,
Mass., for an annual seminar, this year focused on knowledge and activism.
Over 40 AYF senior members from Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New Jersey, New
York, Boston, Albany, Chicago and Providence attended five lectures and
various night activities organized by the AYF Seminar Committee.
"Senior Seminar is one of many events we have on the AYF calendar and
actually one of the best ones," said AYF Seminar Committee chairperson Nora
Keomurjian, "It provides our membership the unique opportunity to really get
to know one another, which they otherwise do not have at the larger events."
The first lecture on Saturday, "The AYFer: Birth of Activism," was given by
Dr. Ara Chalian from Philadelphia. Attendees spent the full session
discussing the role of AYF leadership in the Armenian community and what
exactly that should be. In a discussion format the group considered issues
of what leadership is and talked about successful examples.
Following Chalian was Dr. Asbed Kochikian who presented "Modern Armenia:
Challenges from Within and Without." The lecture focused on the political
scene in Armenia, with a lively discussion about the problems, their source
and the future direction of politics as they affect the people in Armenia.
The afternoon session featured a lecture titled "The Lebanese Israeli
Conflict and its Effect on the Armenian Community: What Does the Future
Bring?" Given by Jirayr Beujekian, the talk covered historical and
contemporary issues in the Lebanese Armenian community and its future
directions.
The final session of the day was given by Kochikian who outlined
"Nagorno-Karabakh Yesturday and Today." During the lecture Kochikian gave a
detailed historical account of the conflict in its political dimension.
After the lecture, all attendees were divided into groups for a game based
on the Karabagh war.
"The topics were intriguing, which made for interesting conversations," said
AYF Central Executive member Lauren Da Silva, "The lecturers discussed
current affairs, which opened the mind of the attendees."
During the evening, the group went out to Pinz, a bowling ally/arcade, to
spend some time relaxing after a long day of discussion and capture the
flag. Following the outing, members returned to camp where they sang
Armenian patriotic songs by the bonfire.
The following morning, the final lecture was given by the AYF Central Hai
Tahd Council, with Washington AYF member Vahan Callan. The group discussed
Hai Tahd activism by students on university campuses. In his portion, Callan
outlined his experience in Michigan starting a campus Armenian club. The
group also outlined other methods of becoming active: supporting fellow
student groups with similar goals, and attending and organizing lectures.
"This year's senior seminar was a great way to bring together the leaders of
the AYF community," said New Jersey AYF member and seminar attendee Serge
Kechichian, "The discussions and lecturers were very informative and
worthwhile."
PHOTO CAPTIONS
Seminar 1: Over 40 AYF senior members attended lectures and various night
activities organized by the AYF Seminar Committee
Seminar 3: Dr. Asbed Kochikian (center) presented a lecture on modern
Armenian politics, bring to light the problems, their source and the future
direction of politics in the Republic
80 Bigelow Ave
Watertown, MA 02472
Tel. (617) 923-1933
Fax (617) 924-1933
www.ayf.org
PRESS RELEASE ~ October 25, 2006
(617) 923-1933
AYF-YOARF Hosts Annual Senior Seminar at Camp Haiastan
WATERTOWN, Mass. - From October 6 to 8, Armenian Youth Federation (AYF)
members from across the Eastern Region gathered at Camp Haiastan in Franklin,
Mass., for an annual seminar, this year focused on knowledge and activism.
Over 40 AYF senior members from Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New Jersey, New
York, Boston, Albany, Chicago and Providence attended five lectures and
various night activities organized by the AYF Seminar Committee.
"Senior Seminar is one of many events we have on the AYF calendar and
actually one of the best ones," said AYF Seminar Committee chairperson Nora
Keomurjian, "It provides our membership the unique opportunity to really get
to know one another, which they otherwise do not have at the larger events."
The first lecture on Saturday, "The AYFer: Birth of Activism," was given by
Dr. Ara Chalian from Philadelphia. Attendees spent the full session
discussing the role of AYF leadership in the Armenian community and what
exactly that should be. In a discussion format the group considered issues
of what leadership is and talked about successful examples.
Following Chalian was Dr. Asbed Kochikian who presented "Modern Armenia:
Challenges from Within and Without." The lecture focused on the political
scene in Armenia, with a lively discussion about the problems, their source
and the future direction of politics as they affect the people in Armenia.
The afternoon session featured a lecture titled "The Lebanese Israeli
Conflict and its Effect on the Armenian Community: What Does the Future
Bring?" Given by Jirayr Beujekian, the talk covered historical and
contemporary issues in the Lebanese Armenian community and its future
directions.
The final session of the day was given by Kochikian who outlined
"Nagorno-Karabakh Yesturday and Today." During the lecture Kochikian gave a
detailed historical account of the conflict in its political dimension.
After the lecture, all attendees were divided into groups for a game based
on the Karabagh war.
"The topics were intriguing, which made for interesting conversations," said
AYF Central Executive member Lauren Da Silva, "The lecturers discussed
current affairs, which opened the mind of the attendees."
During the evening, the group went out to Pinz, a bowling ally/arcade, to
spend some time relaxing after a long day of discussion and capture the
flag. Following the outing, members returned to camp where they sang
Armenian patriotic songs by the bonfire.
The following morning, the final lecture was given by the AYF Central Hai
Tahd Council, with Washington AYF member Vahan Callan. The group discussed
Hai Tahd activism by students on university campuses. In his portion, Callan
outlined his experience in Michigan starting a campus Armenian club. The
group also outlined other methods of becoming active: supporting fellow
student groups with similar goals, and attending and organizing lectures.
"This year's senior seminar was a great way to bring together the leaders of
the AYF community," said New Jersey AYF member and seminar attendee Serge
Kechichian, "The discussions and lecturers were very informative and
worthwhile."
PHOTO CAPTIONS
Seminar 1: Over 40 AYF senior members attended lectures and various night
activities organized by the AYF Seminar Committee
Seminar 3: Dr. Asbed Kochikian (center) presented a lecture on modern
Armenian politics, bring to light the problems, their source and the future
direction of politics in the Republic