Month: April 2024
It never ceases to amaze me how precious our Camp Haiastan is. Our grandparents knew; our parents knew. We finally got the message. For many years it has provided a wholesome atmosphere for our youth, with the backdrop of Armenian culture and preservation of history. How lucky we are to have this oasis.
Since my retirement, I have tried to visit camp a couple of times a week and help the executive director Kenar Charchaflian and caretaker John Miller with the never ending tasks required to keep camp at the top of its game. It is my happy place. This year, retiree Michael Guzelian, with his vast handyman talents, can also be found lending a helping hand every week. I am sure he would attest that there is no better place to spend a few hours each week. I hope our little fraternity grows as our peers start falling into the ranks of the retired.
Mike Guzelian
With the amount of work to be done each year, help is always at hand. There are volunteer days, scheduled each fall with the confidence that there will be enough help to open as well as close down Camp properly at the end of the summer. This is one of the best examples of the “reach” of Camp Haiastan. A simple Facebook post or a call to Stephen Elmasian in Providence and Greg Minasian in Andover is all that is needed. As they say, if camp calls – they will come. We normally have 30+ volunteers on volunteer days. The attendees’ talents are all over the place, but the desire to pay back is the same for all.
The “reach” is not only a New England thing. It is what lures Kevork Khrimian to drive four hours from New York to take down shutters on the cabins and then drive four hours to return home. He will return at the end of the summer to put those same shutters back on the cabins again. Four hours up – four hours back.
Kevork Khrimian on the ladder taking care of the shutters
Our camp experiences are part of our development as diasporan Armenians. Camp’s “reach” does not end in Franklin. In June, I will once again lead a group of volunteers traveling to Armenia to help build homes for the needy. This will be the fourth year my wife Junie and I make this “pilgrimage with a purpose.” (“Pilgrimage with a purpose” is a phrase recently coined by Arpy Coherian, another camp alumna.)
Each year, our Fuller group is made up of Camp Haiastan alumni. This coming summer will be no different. Of course, there are Junie and I, who met at Camp in 1973, along with my sister Anita Mangassarian Bolz, who was a camper in the 60s and a counselor in 1971, and my great niece Rebecca Wyman, who was one of the first “day campers.” She graduated to camper for several years and was a counselor in 2022. Angel Kazandjian Stevens (1987-92) and her son Bobby will also join us. Lastly, with us will be lifelong friend Louise Kanian, who was a camper for several summers in the 60s.
In Armenia, we will be joined once again for the third year by this year’s crop of AYF Interns. They will spend two days working side by side with us, helping a family build a respectable home. The group of 16 interns will include 13 Camp Haiastan alumni. They are everywhere! They bring with them an energy and a light that are an inspiration.
Last year in Armenia, one of the volunteers in our group, Adreena Tamakian Harley (a camp alumna), asked if we could visit the Women’s Resource Center in Yerevan. Her church group back in Michigan wanted to make a donation to this center that supports battered women. When we arrived, by coincidence, out the front door came Lisa Giragosian Iskikian (camp alumna), daughter of the late Penny Giragosian (camp nurse). Lisa was dropping off some children’s clothes at the shelter, which she does routinely. Lisa now lives in Yerevan and supports many groups helping those less fortunate. She brought us inside and introduced us to Ani Jilozian, the Director of Development for the center. We spent some time with Ani, who is a very impressive young lady, originally from Philadelphia. Oh yeah, by the way, she attended Camp Haiastan (1997-2000) as a youngster. Crazy right? The “reach” never ends. Meeting someone as impressive as Ani, who I had nothing in common with except that part of our upbringing was blessed with the Camp Haiastan experience, made me feel proud. I do not know how better to describe it.
Ani Jilozian, director of development for the Women’s Support Center
Along with the Paros Foundation, we raised money last year to renovate a gymnasium at a rural school. We traveled to the school for the ribbon cutting last summer, when I promised that I would raise money to convert a pitiful vacant lot adjacent to the school into a modest soccer field. Over this past year, I did some research on how to get this done. My research brought me to an organization called GOALS – “Girls of Armenia Leadership Soccer.” They run soccer leagues for young girls throughout Armenia.
The CEO of this organization based in Yerevan is Teny Avakian. Teny has dedicated her life to “children, education, human rights and social services.” Of course she attended Camp Haiastan (’95) as a youngster! Hopefully I will be able to collaborate with her on this year’s soccer field project.
Teny Avakian, CEO of “Girls of Armenia Leadership Soccer”
Being at camp routinely these days, I see the dedication of so many much younger than me. Whether it be the Board of Directors, the administrative staff or the summer help, I see firsthand their desire to offer the best summer experience to our youth. Camp acts as a bridge between maturing youngsters and the exemplary Armenians who go on to do wonderful things wherever life takes them – forever extending Camp Haiastan’s “reach.”
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John Mangassarian
John Mangassarian is a former camper, counselor, board member and lifelong supporter of Camp Haiastan.
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By Arpi Arukian, ‘92
BAYSIDE, N.Y.—2024 marks a significant milestone for the tight-knit Holy Martyrs Armenian Day School (HMADS) community: the 30th anniversary of its fundraising pillar, the Friends of HMADS committee. This year’s gala dinner dance will pay tribute to this all-volunteer group of HMADS supporters and proudly celebrate three decades of service and dedication to the school.
In 1994, former school board chairman Nurhan Adarian gathered a group of parents and school supporters who had experienced firsthand the benefits of the quality education and family-like community that HMADS offers – together, they formed the Friends of HMADS committee. Over the years, Friends members made it their mission to ensure the financial stability of their beloved Armenian institution, so that families would reap its benefits for years to come. Little did they realize the impact their hard work and ambition would have, as HMADS continues to thrive!
The Friends of HMADS
Today, Friends of HMADS remains a strong force, chaired by Hovannes Malikyan, who also serves on the school board. Committee members include former parents, board members and alumni, whose goal is to raise funds by offering the community an array of cultural and social events. Thanks to their efforts, HMADS maintains an affordable tuition, making it possible for Armenian families to take advantage of this superior learning institution.
Throughout its 30-year history, Friends of HMADS has proudly promoted and hosted Armenian performing arts groups, including Sayat Nova Music School from Yerevan, Navasart Dance Ensemble from France and Nor Serund Armenian Youth Ensemble. It has shared the humor of comedians Vahe Berberian, Krikor Satamian and Kev Orkian. Each fall, the committee also sponsors an annual telethon, which is the school’s second most profitable fundraiser.
International singer Bartev
The end of spring brings with it the most exciting Friends event of the school year: the annual gala dinner dance. On behalf of the entire Friends committee, I cordially invite you to join us on Saturday, June 1, 2024 for this special evening commemorating our milestone anniversary. The celebration, at North Hills Country Club in Long Island, will commence at 7:30 p.m. with a lavish buffet and open bar, followed by a delicious multi-course dinner served at 9:00 p.m.
Musical entertainment will be provided by world-renowned international singer Bartev from Istanbul. Bartev, whose career spans four decades, has been invited to perform for Armenian communities all over the world, including the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia. In 2018, on the 40th anniversary of his musical career, Armenia’s Ministry of Diaspora granted him its highest golden award in recognition of his contributions to Armenian song and music.
Your gala dinner dance contribution of $200 will greatly support the efforts of the Friends committee and HMADS, benefiting future generations of Armenians and helping to preserve our rich culture and heritage. For more information about this highly anticipated event, please contact the school office at (718) 225-4826.
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Guest Contributor
Guest contributions to the Armenian Weekly are informative articles or press releases written and submitted by members of the community.
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The post Friends of HMADS gala: Celebrating the “Pearl” of our school community appeared first on The Armenian Weekly.
BEVERLY HILLS—The Armenian Youth Federation Western United States organized its annual Armenian Genocide protest on April 24 in front of the Turkish Consulate in Beverly Hills as part of an ongoing and newly-launched campaign, “Break the Chains of Genocide.”
This year marked the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, and was dedicated to both demanding proper recognition, reparations, and restitution of the 1.5 million lives lost and land stolen during the 1915 Armenian Genocide, and highlighting how the delayed recognition, reparations, and restitution has led to the continuation of the vicious cycle of Genocide committed against Armenians with the recent 2023 Genocide in Artsakh. The protest is part of a larger ongoing campaign, “Break the Chains of Genocide,” that focuses on highlighting the continuous threat of Genocide of Armenians perpetrated by Azerbaijan and Turkey to spread pan-Turkism and eradicate Christians in the Middle East.
Thousands of Armenian Americans, allies, and friends of the Armenian people attended the protest, including prominent community members, students, and politicians. The event was a powerful exhibit that the Armenian community will not forget the atrocities committed against their ancestors, as well as a reminder that the Republic of Turkey not only continues to deny the Genocide but also actively supports and funds Azerbaijan in its efforts to genocide Armenians from their ancestral homeland in the modern day. The event’s messaging was also very clear in condemning both the Biden and Pashinyan administrations, that both were complicit in enabling genocide and injustices against the Armenian people.
The protest was opened with a prayer led by a representative of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and featured several speakers, including Hakop Hajibekyan, who spoke on behalf of the Armenian Youth Federation Western United States. His moving speech not only paid respect to the victims of the 1915 Genocide and the losses of the 2023 Genocide, but served as a call to action against the recent border disputes in the Tavush region of Armenia Proper.
“President Biden, you have failed Armenia and the Armenian people. You have failed to uphold justice, you have failed to accept the truth, and you have failed to protect the innocent Armenians of Artsakh and Armenia. You are complicit in Genocide, the Armenian youth rejects you,” stated Hajibekyan, addressing the lack of action taken by the United States. He continued by also directing his sentiments to the governments of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey as well. “Pashinyan, your treason to our nation will not go unpunished. Do not think your Azeri oil money – stained with the blood of my brothers and sisters in Artsakh, and now, Tavush – will save you. Aliyev and Erdogan, we, the revolutionary youth, know your secret. We know that you fear us. You fear our resilience. You fear our strength. You fear the truth: that we belong – undeniably – to our lands.”
Other speakers included Areen Tazian, who served as Master of Ceremonies, Gev Iskajyan on behalf of the Armenian National Committee of America, Sarig Armenian on behalf of both the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western United States and Armenian Legal Center for Justice & Human Rights, as well as Samvel Hakobyan, a Yerevan City Councilmember.
The speakers shared powerful messages of solidarity and called for justice on behalf of the victims of the Armenian Genocide and the recent Artsakh Genocide – while emphasizing the need for a new national movement to save Tavush and maintain the current borders of the Republic of Armenia. The underlying message throughout all the speeches emphasized the importance of continuing to raise awareness about this tragedy and the current struggles of the Armenian people.
The AYF-WUS would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to all the attendees, event volunteers, and speakers who made this rally possible. They would also like to extend their gratitude to the Beverly Hills Police Department which ensured the safety of all those present.
Founded in 1933, the Armenian Youth Federation is the largest and most influential Armenian-American youth organization. With chapters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the AYF actively strives to advance the social, political, educational, and cultural awareness of all Armenian-American youth.
For more information, visit the AYF-WUS website.