Tweet
AN INTERVIEW WITH CAMP HAIASTAN'S NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/08/06/an-interview-with-camp-haiastans-new-executive-director/
By Contributor // August 6, 2013
By Dan Chakmakjian
Camp Haiastan has a place in the hearts of many members of the Armenian
community in the United States and throughout the world.
Although many people contribute their time and effort to the camp
during the year, perhaps the most difficult job belongs to the
executive director. On July 10, I interviewed the new executive
director, David Hamparian, on his recent acceptance of the position
and his history with the camp.
1x1.trans An Interview with Camp Haiastan's New Executive Director
David Hamparian with his family Dan Chakmakjian: How did Camp Haiastan
affect your life when you were young?
David Hamparian: Well, it gave me more confidence. I was really shy
at the time and coming here to camp gave me an opportunity to be away
from home, to deal with being away from home, making new friends,
developing stronger friendships, to learn about being Armenian and
what it meant to me.
DC: Can you share a story or a memory from camp?
DH: There are so many that I probably can't... What happens at camp
stays at camp to a certain extent. But, you know, I can still remember
being really shy and being "snowballed"... Some of those things haven't
changed over the years: Counselors being nice, knowing that you were
shy, and helping you develop and be more of a young adult. So, a lot
of good memories. Too many, too many to list.
DC: What was your favorite thing about the summer of 1990, when you
were summer director?
DH: The end of the summer, when we had a successful year, the kids
learned a lot, the counselors learned a lot, and everybody was safe.
It's just a great sense of satisfaction knowing that we made a
difference in kids' lives. And the counselors grew. There was a lot
of personal growth for the counselors, which I didn't really expect.
Seeing them change and evolve as managers for the first time in many
of their lives was an interesting progression to watch.
DC: How do you think that experience affected your decision to take
the job?
DH: No doubt, it impacted it greatly. Bob Avakian was a mentor
in many ways and at that time it was-I said it then and I'll say
it now-probably the best job I ever had. The most rewarding job
definitely.
DC: What was your first reaction when you were approached about the
executive director position?
DH: I thought they were kidding. [Chuckles] I was entertained by the
thought but I wasn't sure how serious they were. It wasn't something
I'd really been contemplating. I have love for the camp but until the
opportunity was made official, it was in the back of my mind. I had
to think seriously about what I wanted to do, and the more I thought
about it, the more I realized, "This is something I'd love to do."
DC: How does it feel to work at camp again?
DH: It's harder to run [up] the hill than it was back then. [Big smile
and a laugh] The hill seems a little steeper. The kids have changed a
little bit, parents have changed, the perspective on camp has changed.
It's evolved and grown but the core tenants of camp really haven't.
The core programs are still in place, the requirements on counselors,
and the demands place on them. The programs have gotten better
over time.
DC: Do you prefer Baron Dave, or Mr. Hamparian?
DH: I don't like Baron Dave because Baron Dave was in 1990, that's in
the rearview mirror. The Baron title is, to me, only appropriate for
the director of the summer camp-the lower camp. I don't think that
there is another Baron at the camp because without that Baron doing
his job, the rest of the camp doesn't function right. It's integral
and to me it's a title of respect for the person, what I think is
the most important job at the camp. So, I had my day and now I have
a different perspective on things, and we have different issues to
deal with up here [at the executive office].
DC: What are some improvements that you want to see during your tenure?
DH: It's nice to see that there is a little bit more emphasis on the
Armenian School. Baron Hagop has done a great job emphasizing that
it's an Armenian camp and we need to be more Armenian when the chance
is there. It's nice to see that it is being stressed and I think
[the Armenian School teachers] are doing a great job.
The camp has capital issues facing it. The bathrooms are a major
concern that the community has to be made aware of-we're facing
deadlines and major fundraising has to happen before next year to get
that done because it's going to be an expensive project. We need people
to be aware and we need support, financial support, in order to get
the camp open next year. It's a possibility that without this happening
the town won't give us the permit to open. That's first and foremost.
Long-term goal? I'd like to see the camp grow and expand its programs
further into the community. A week ago the founders came and saw the
progress we've made, but we can always make it better [than it was].
Dan Chakmakjian is a member of the AYF Greater Boston Nejdeh chapter.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/08/06/an-interview-with-camp-haiastans-new-executive-director/
By Contributor // August 6, 2013
By Dan Chakmakjian
Camp Haiastan has a place in the hearts of many members of the Armenian
community in the United States and throughout the world.
Although many people contribute their time and effort to the camp
during the year, perhaps the most difficult job belongs to the
executive director. On July 10, I interviewed the new executive
director, David Hamparian, on his recent acceptance of the position
and his history with the camp.
1x1.trans An Interview with Camp Haiastan's New Executive Director
David Hamparian with his family Dan Chakmakjian: How did Camp Haiastan
affect your life when you were young?
David Hamparian: Well, it gave me more confidence. I was really shy
at the time and coming here to camp gave me an opportunity to be away
from home, to deal with being away from home, making new friends,
developing stronger friendships, to learn about being Armenian and
what it meant to me.
DC: Can you share a story or a memory from camp?
DH: There are so many that I probably can't... What happens at camp
stays at camp to a certain extent. But, you know, I can still remember
being really shy and being "snowballed"... Some of those things haven't
changed over the years: Counselors being nice, knowing that you were
shy, and helping you develop and be more of a young adult. So, a lot
of good memories. Too many, too many to list.
DC: What was your favorite thing about the summer of 1990, when you
were summer director?
DH: The end of the summer, when we had a successful year, the kids
learned a lot, the counselors learned a lot, and everybody was safe.
It's just a great sense of satisfaction knowing that we made a
difference in kids' lives. And the counselors grew. There was a lot
of personal growth for the counselors, which I didn't really expect.
Seeing them change and evolve as managers for the first time in many
of their lives was an interesting progression to watch.
DC: How do you think that experience affected your decision to take
the job?
DH: No doubt, it impacted it greatly. Bob Avakian was a mentor
in many ways and at that time it was-I said it then and I'll say
it now-probably the best job I ever had. The most rewarding job
definitely.
DC: What was your first reaction when you were approached about the
executive director position?
DH: I thought they were kidding. [Chuckles] I was entertained by the
thought but I wasn't sure how serious they were. It wasn't something
I'd really been contemplating. I have love for the camp but until the
opportunity was made official, it was in the back of my mind. I had
to think seriously about what I wanted to do, and the more I thought
about it, the more I realized, "This is something I'd love to do."
DC: How does it feel to work at camp again?
DH: It's harder to run [up] the hill than it was back then. [Big smile
and a laugh] The hill seems a little steeper. The kids have changed a
little bit, parents have changed, the perspective on camp has changed.
It's evolved and grown but the core tenants of camp really haven't.
The core programs are still in place, the requirements on counselors,
and the demands place on them. The programs have gotten better
over time.
DC: Do you prefer Baron Dave, or Mr. Hamparian?
DH: I don't like Baron Dave because Baron Dave was in 1990, that's in
the rearview mirror. The Baron title is, to me, only appropriate for
the director of the summer camp-the lower camp. I don't think that
there is another Baron at the camp because without that Baron doing
his job, the rest of the camp doesn't function right. It's integral
and to me it's a title of respect for the person, what I think is
the most important job at the camp. So, I had my day and now I have
a different perspective on things, and we have different issues to
deal with up here [at the executive office].
DC: What are some improvements that you want to see during your tenure?
DH: It's nice to see that there is a little bit more emphasis on the
Armenian School. Baron Hagop has done a great job emphasizing that
it's an Armenian camp and we need to be more Armenian when the chance
is there. It's nice to see that it is being stressed and I think
[the Armenian School teachers] are doing a great job.
The camp has capital issues facing it. The bathrooms are a major
concern that the community has to be made aware of-we're facing
deadlines and major fundraising has to happen before next year to get
that done because it's going to be an expensive project. We need people
to be aware and we need support, financial support, in order to get
the camp open next year. It's a possibility that without this happening
the town won't give us the permit to open. That's first and foremost.
Long-term goal? I'd like to see the camp grow and expand its programs
further into the community. A week ago the founders came and saw the
progress we've made, but we can always make it better [than it was].
Dan Chakmakjian is a member of the AYF Greater Boston Nejdeh chapter.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress