ST. LOUIS, Mo.—More than two dozen delegates representing 13 of the region’s chapters from the Armenian Youth Federation —Youth Organization of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (AYF-YOARF) Eastern Region USA recently gathered in the mid-west for its 85th Annual Convention. The five-day December convention took place in Clayton, Missouri from December 26 to 30. Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) representatives included unger Hayg Oshagan of the ARF Central Committee and ARF adviser to the AYF Central Executive, ungerouhi Sarine Adishian.
In his remarks, unger Oshagan discussed how the ARF Eastern U.S invests in its youth and its many programs, not only overseas but also in our own backyards. Unger Oshagan also discussed the significance of maintaining the AYF’s successful programs, strengthening new directions and possible changes that could take place. In her address, ungerouhi Adishian stressed that the organization’s agenda is the convention’s to create and said adapting to change is fundamental to the AYF-YOARF.
Other guests included ungerouhi Janet Haroian of the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) Eastern Region USA, Baron Dave Hamparian of AYF Camp Haiastan, Daron Topouzian of the AYF Olympics Governing Body, yeghpayr Garo Tashian of the Homenetmen Eastern US, unger Dikran Khodanian of the AYF Western US, and unger Alek Ohanian of AYF Canada.
The delegates of the Annual Convention, the highest legislative body of the organization, reviewed and analyzed the work carried out by the chapters and committees of 2018, discussed new objectives for the organization, and adopted resolutions for the organization’s 2019 regional and international agenda.
The group discussed the Velvet Revolution, the 85th Anniversary of the AYF-YOARF, the 100th Anniversary of Armenia’s First Republic, the Armenian Cultural Association of America (ACAA) Artsakh Fund’s Arajamugh redevelopment project, the AYF Internship in Armenia, the current state and future of Javakhk, membership, AYF junior members, AYF Camp Haiastan, ANCA, the importance of the Western Armenian language and more.
Each day during the convention, delegates started their meetings at 9:15 a.m. and ended past midnight in an effort to accomplish their goals and conclude the convention’s detailed agenda. As part of tradition, money money that was raised from fines were donated to a non-profit organization or cause; this year over $1,800 will be donated to the Women’s Support Center in Armenia. Support from local organizations included a dinner at the Saint Gregory Armenian Community Center hosted by the ARS Granite City “Rubena” Chapter.
The 85th Annual Convention presented the AYF-YOARF with new resolutions and goals to accomplish in the region and in Armenia.
The newly elected 2019 AYF-YOARF Central Executive consists of Kenar Charchaflian (Worcester, MA), Nareh Mkrtschjan (Providence, RI), Aram Tramblian (Washington, DC), Meghri Dervartanian (Greater Boston), Garin Bedian (Chicago, IL), Vrej Dawli (Chicago, IL) and Vartenie Kachichian (New Jersey).
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