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Eternal memories from AYF tri-regional seminar

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  • Eternal memories from AYF tri-regional seminar

    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.

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