Nighoghosian: Rejoining the AYF

By Vahan Nighoghosian

CHICAGO, Ill.—The Ladies Guild cooking in the kitchen, the clergy preparing their usual Sunday duties, the parishioners on there way to worship, and finally me, walking into Hudaverian Hall. It had been five years since I last attended an AYF meeting. The tiles were the same, red color they had been for the previous 20 years, trophy cases spreading from wall to wall, and names of Armenian organizations on the office doors claiming recognition. They all brought back memories of my childhood growing up in the community. With all these familiar sights, there was something new that caught my eye: The actual youth of the Armenian community. It felt good to see so many young faces present at the meeting. This being the first AYF Joint Junior/Senior meeting of the year, there was a plethora of different types of members. The beginning of 2010 was looking promising for the Chicago “Ararat” AYF Chapter.

Sitting in as a guest to the meeting was very interesting, considering I’ve been a member of the AYF since I was 10 years old. I felt as if I needed to be there. The meeting started promptly as they always do with the singing of “Haratch Nahadag.” Both the Seniors and Juniors summarized topics, points, and minutes of previous meetings, as usual. Some key points discussed were the upcoming National Athletic Tournament (NAT’s) being held in Chicago, AYF Junior Seminar, Camp Haisatan, Winter Olympics in March, and the upcoming Talent Show. The executive did a good job of addressing certain needs and duties that members should consider regarding events held in Chicago. As members, we should put forth efforts to see that all AYF events hosted by the chapter act as a catalyst for functions in other cities.

Many ARF members were also present at the meeting, which showed me that structure and foundation were visible and apparent. They graciously offered a Pita Inn luncheon to all the members of the meeting. The ARF hosted a “Protocol Update” regarding politics and oil, which was held at Shannasarian Hall on March 6. Vice president Deanna Akmakjian encouraged members to join various committees that the executive had set up in respect to the delegation of certain tasks. Greg Bedian was on hand to offer us some insights on Armenian history. His educational on the February 18 revolt of the Armenians against the Soviets was very interesting. According to his lecture, it was the first successful revolt against the Bolsheviks, led by the ARF. We emphatically concluded by singing “Goumbah Goumbah.”

Through and through the meeting was informative, interesting, and in my opinion successful. Important areas were covered, discussed, and reviewed. Many things have changed since the last time I was a member, including communication. Chapter president Shant Papazian informed me that most information, applications, and AYF financial transactions are all now conveniently available online. With the popularity of Facebook, they have formed groups, events, and even pages for the chapter. The new generation is hungry for information as soon as possible and the AYF is responding. Diligent leadership and thorough meetings are key in establishing a strong foundation for the incoming Juniors so that later they can relay their knowledge at the Senior level.

Nonetheless, the AYF did have one new member on this Sunday. I am confident that I can offer much to the organization in the few years I have remaining. It was as though I had never left. The feeling of pride and honor came over me as we closed out the meeting on foot, singing “Mer Hayrenik.” I see the future of the AYF being brighter then ever, whether it be athletics, politics, or culture. We haven’t forgotten where we came from, and we definitely haven’t forgotten where we are going.