From Las Vegas to AYF Tri-Regional Seminar

By Carnie Armenian

The Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) Tri-Regional Seminar: Most see it as an opportunity to attend a series of lectures and debates, to improve our understanding of current events in Armenia, and to learn the details of our organization’s history. This was exactly what my expectations were. Being from Las Vegas, the “Sosse Mayrig” AYF Chapter sits at a distance from the rest of the Western Region. Hearing of the AYF Tri-Regional Seminar, taking place at Camp Haiastan from June 3-8 in little Franklin, Mass., I could not pass up the opportunity. As a member who loves our organization and is wholly dedicated to the Armenian Cause, I am always eager to learn from ungers of our ranks and to bring this knowledge back to the Las Vegas chapter.

Throughout the week, the 80 attendees from the AYF Western Region, Eastern Region, and Canada participated in a number of educationals. Hovsep Avakian (Eastern Central Committee) and Hayg Oshagan (Bureau) held a discussion regarding the goals and struggles our organization has and will encounter. This lecture opened our eyes to the harsh truth that as Armenians we are a dying race. This is why our generation must choose to stand up and continue fighting for a Free, Independent, and United Armenia. It was during this lecture that I saw the passion in my fellow ungers’ eyes grow stronger as the fight within each one of us continues untouched. It is discussions like these, in our nation and across the globe, where we become “re-motivated” and our enthusiasm for the Armenian Cause grows stronger. And as Hagop Der Khatchadourian (Bureau) reinforced in us, “There is no such thing as a dream that is not realizable.” After all, our previous generation could have never imagined an independent Armenia. With this dream now a reality, we must set our sights towards a new dream.

The attendees also had the privilege to be given a lecture by Antranig Kasbarian (Eastern Central Committee) regarding the ARF, and by Dikran Kaligian (Eastern Central Committee) regarding Turkish-Armenian reparations. Additionally, George Aghjayan (Eastern Central Committee) discussed the assurance of the success of the Armenian Diaspora and Jirair Beujekian (executive director of the ARS) discussed the necessity to work with our sister organizations to aid our country.

The weekend’s youngest lecturer, Raffi Sarkissian (published author and Canada ARS Day School vice principal), proved to us that the time to make a difference is now; our celebrated revolutionaries were our age when they chose to step forward to lead the cause. He instilled in us that it does not matter what we do, as long as we contribute to the Armenian nation. And for us the AYF is our greatest source and outlet to benefit the Armenian communities. Sarkissian’s accomplishments at his young age genuinely inspired and proved to our members that we can find a way to make a difference in our communities doing what we love; for him, it has been literature and education.

The Pyunik Band leads as a great example, as they perform in the U.S. and Canada staying true to their Armenian roots. You may have heard their music and appreciate their passion, but from the members’ interactions at the seminar I felt their enduring dedication to our people, to our nation, and to our cause.

The future of our nation is our choice and is in our hands, the hands of young revolutionaries. We can no longer idly stand around; rather, the time has come to take a stance. On the final day, members participated in a round-table discussion regarding how each region operates, what has proven to work and what does not work, and how to ensure the organization will succeed in the future. On behalf of all the attendees, I can say that we learned greatly from the Tri-Regional Seminar, and have a better understanding of the direction of the AYF as well as our nation.

Clearly, our expectations were met and the goals of the agenda were accomplished. But the critical moments where the Tri-Regional Seminar proudly exceeded any and all expectations was when we were able to relive the history of our organization through a tour of the Hairenik Building in Watertown, Mass. We were able to stand in the exact spots where our forefathers established this organization that has added such meaning to our lives. As we laid our eyes on the endless archives and generations of history, we felt the duty we hold to our country, to our fedayis with the same goals in mind, to our ancestors who suffered, and to our lands wrongfully taken from us.

Yes, each of us realized the duties we hold, but seeing that we are not alone in this made the biggest impact on me. As we united in singing revolutionary songs, we guaranteed one another that this is not the end of our path. Our new friendships provided assurance that through each struggle and each fall, we will continue to push each other to always fight for more. We continue to dream of our nation together as one, but for now I am more than satisfied to say that our diaspora has come together, as one.