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A Committee of Champions
Friday, November 16th, 2012
http://asbarez.com/106611/a-committee-of-champions/
The ANCA-Western Region 2012 Banquet Committee
BY PATTYL APOSHIAN KASPARIAN
I'm told character is who you are and what you do when no one is
looking. Maybe. But here's another thought.
Character is what you are exposed to when everyone is watching-when
every move counts, decisions are ambiguous and temptations are
greatest. In other words, character - for better or for worse - is
what you do and how you act when the going gets tough.
To build and develop character is not easy - especially when it comes to
the non-profit sector. When you volunteer your time, energy and
talent, you are at will. No paycheck. No family ties. No pink slip
or boss to reprimand you. When the water boils, you're a free agent.
Walk away and don't look back.
Imagine the character building surrounding the 2012 ANCA-WR Annual
Banquet. Program, honorees, timeline, fundraising, sponsorship, guest
relations and media coupled with history book worthy Presidential,
Congressional and Statewide elections. If any environment can get the
water boiling, this is it!
No need to be a glutton for punishment, but there is a certain
discipline and satisfaction with realizing that choosing the less
convenient and even grueling path pays a higher dividend. To say that
the ANCA-WR office was working over-time this year is an
understatement. In the months leading to the banquet, the ANCA-WR
office was electrifying. Once the elevator doors cracked open, the
energy of the 2nd floor hit hard. It embraced you like a boutique
cardio studio pumped with pure oxygen. Within minutes, you lost track
of time and pending responsibilities and absorbed the natural high of
being a part of a huge victory. For the late comers, the problem
wasn't finding a legal parking space or a seat at the table- it was
finding a seat period!
As highlighted by the hundreds of Facebook and Instragram posts,
articles and pictures, the Annual Banquet was a huge hit. More than
1,000 guests, supporters and friends celebrated the success of the
ANCA-WR with a grand reception dinner and awards ceremony featuring
activists and community leaders who have maintained an extreme level
of commitment to advance the Armenian Cause.
Excellent program.
Extraordinary honorees.
Energized volunteer force.
The success of the annual banquet belongs to our volunteers. This
year, our committee was 20 volunteers strong. Our volunteers joined
our ANCA family from all walks of life and professions. The team
featured a collective force of experience, skill and knowledge. This
year's volunteers energized not only the program but galvanized the
jaded veterans.
New ANCA volunteers jumped on board and took ownership of major
projects. From programming to silent auction to database to decor, the
meeting room continuously erupted with passion and talent. As the
weeks passed and friendships formed over lukewarm coffee and stale
peanuts, the tables turned. Novice members would call the old-timers
with progress reports and instructions. I remember the colorful words
I mentally repeated when I was called in to the office on a Friday
night by the newest member of our ANCA family to help with a project.
As I changed into my never-to-be-worn-in-public Roxy sweats and
slipped on my Havaianas, I realized that the measure of success is not
the banquet itself - but the growth and embrace of our most valued
asset - our supporters and friends.
I skipped and jumped into the ANCA-WR office a few minutes past 9:00
p.m. with the energy of an Olympian. I joined three young, beautiful
and fabulous professionals who drove to Glendale in Friday evening
traffic to help OUR organization. Over greasy In-and-Out burgers and
small talk, we worked past midnight and made sure one more item was
crossed off the banquet to-do list. And the list goes on with examples
galore.
So if there is one sure way to develop character, this committee did
it. We set unprecedented records. We received rave review from
Congressional offices, guests and supporters. We informed, educated
and motivated our grassroots to embrace another year of activism in
our region.
We did well!
To my teammates! We live in a world where we all need to multi-task.
We look for ways to make things easier. We identify apps to help us
juggle life. We outsource. We align forces. We laugh. We yell. We
scream. We throw tantrums. We celebrate. We motivate. And at the
end, we reflect on the power of unity, guided by passion and motivated
by our Cause and we realize, once again, that what we do serves a
two-fold purpose- it builds character and builds our future.
One Nation. One Future. One Cause.
Friday, November 16th, 2012
http://asbarez.com/106611/a-committee-of-champions/
The ANCA-Western Region 2012 Banquet Committee
BY PATTYL APOSHIAN KASPARIAN
I'm told character is who you are and what you do when no one is
looking. Maybe. But here's another thought.
Character is what you are exposed to when everyone is watching-when
every move counts, decisions are ambiguous and temptations are
greatest. In other words, character - for better or for worse - is
what you do and how you act when the going gets tough.
To build and develop character is not easy - especially when it comes to
the non-profit sector. When you volunteer your time, energy and
talent, you are at will. No paycheck. No family ties. No pink slip
or boss to reprimand you. When the water boils, you're a free agent.
Walk away and don't look back.
Imagine the character building surrounding the 2012 ANCA-WR Annual
Banquet. Program, honorees, timeline, fundraising, sponsorship, guest
relations and media coupled with history book worthy Presidential,
Congressional and Statewide elections. If any environment can get the
water boiling, this is it!
No need to be a glutton for punishment, but there is a certain
discipline and satisfaction with realizing that choosing the less
convenient and even grueling path pays a higher dividend. To say that
the ANCA-WR office was working over-time this year is an
understatement. In the months leading to the banquet, the ANCA-WR
office was electrifying. Once the elevator doors cracked open, the
energy of the 2nd floor hit hard. It embraced you like a boutique
cardio studio pumped with pure oxygen. Within minutes, you lost track
of time and pending responsibilities and absorbed the natural high of
being a part of a huge victory. For the late comers, the problem
wasn't finding a legal parking space or a seat at the table- it was
finding a seat period!
As highlighted by the hundreds of Facebook and Instragram posts,
articles and pictures, the Annual Banquet was a huge hit. More than
1,000 guests, supporters and friends celebrated the success of the
ANCA-WR with a grand reception dinner and awards ceremony featuring
activists and community leaders who have maintained an extreme level
of commitment to advance the Armenian Cause.
Excellent program.
Extraordinary honorees.
Energized volunteer force.
The success of the annual banquet belongs to our volunteers. This
year, our committee was 20 volunteers strong. Our volunteers joined
our ANCA family from all walks of life and professions. The team
featured a collective force of experience, skill and knowledge. This
year's volunteers energized not only the program but galvanized the
jaded veterans.
New ANCA volunteers jumped on board and took ownership of major
projects. From programming to silent auction to database to decor, the
meeting room continuously erupted with passion and talent. As the
weeks passed and friendships formed over lukewarm coffee and stale
peanuts, the tables turned. Novice members would call the old-timers
with progress reports and instructions. I remember the colorful words
I mentally repeated when I was called in to the office on a Friday
night by the newest member of our ANCA family to help with a project.
As I changed into my never-to-be-worn-in-public Roxy sweats and
slipped on my Havaianas, I realized that the measure of success is not
the banquet itself - but the growth and embrace of our most valued
asset - our supporters and friends.
I skipped and jumped into the ANCA-WR office a few minutes past 9:00
p.m. with the energy of an Olympian. I joined three young, beautiful
and fabulous professionals who drove to Glendale in Friday evening
traffic to help OUR organization. Over greasy In-and-Out burgers and
small talk, we worked past midnight and made sure one more item was
crossed off the banquet to-do list. And the list goes on with examples
galore.
So if there is one sure way to develop character, this committee did
it. We set unprecedented records. We received rave review from
Congressional offices, guests and supporters. We informed, educated
and motivated our grassroots to embrace another year of activism in
our region.
We did well!
To my teammates! We live in a world where we all need to multi-task.
We look for ways to make things easier. We identify apps to help us
juggle life. We outsource. We align forces. We laugh. We yell. We
scream. We throw tantrums. We celebrate. We motivate. And at the
end, we reflect on the power of unity, guided by passion and motivated
by our Cause and we realize, once again, that what we do serves a
two-fold purpose- it builds character and builds our future.
One Nation. One Future. One Cause.