AYF Concludes Convention, Sets New Priorities

GLENDALE—On the weekend of September 14-16, over 50 Armenian Youth Federation delegates representing fourteen chapters from across the western United States convened at AYF Camp Big Pines for the organization’s annual three day conference in order to set the goals and direction for the upcoming fiscal year.

“The AYF Annual Convention is an opportunity for delegates from across California, Arizona and Texas to come together and deliberate the critical issues facing our local communities, our people and our homeland,” said Tro Krikorian one of the co-chairs elected to run the meeting. ‘The discussions that took place this weekend reiterated the important role we play as Armenian-American youth within our own communities and set the direction and agenda for our upcoming fiscal year.”

During the course of the convention, delegates evaluated and expanded the organization’s ongoing programs and initiatives, such as the AYF Youth Corps program, Haytoug Magazine and the With Our Soldiers Campaign, a year-long effort to raise money to assist the medical needs of injured veterans of the Artsakh war. Delegates also assessed and engaged in critical discussions about the state of the AYF, the importance of enhancing community activism and developed innovative recommendations about strengthening the organization’s presence in the homeland.

Additionally, the Convention set aside special agenda items to discuss the developments and solutions surrounding the crisis of Armenians in Syria, as well as the fast-approaching 100th commemoratory year of the Armenian Genocide. The meeting came to the agreement that the AYF will put immediate priority on doing everything in its power to partner with its sister organizations in raising monetary efforts and public awareness about the detrimental situation facing the Syrian Armenian community today.

Joining the delegates were invited guests and representatives from the AYF Juniors Central Council, the AYF Camp Management Board, the ARF Youth Board and select ARF Executive members. The AYF Executive Director Serouj Aprahamian, and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Western Region Central Committee representative Shant Baboujian also attended the meeting.

The Convention concluded with the election of the organization’s new Central Executive. This year’s body will consist of seven members from across California, whose function is to govern the administrative and organizational aspects of the AYF.

The regional administrative body will consist of the following elected members; Chairperson Avo Shanlian, Secretary Verginie Touloumian, Treasurer Tamar Sadorian, and Advisors Aleena Sivazlian, Carina Khanjian, Levon Abrahamian and Raffi Senekeremian.

This seven-person team looks forward to setting in motion the course for the 2012-2013 fiscal year outlined by the Convention and effectively combat the critical issues faces the community and the homeland.

Founded in 1933, the Armenian Youth Federation is the largest and most influential Armenian American youth organization in the United States, working to advance the social, political, educational and cultural awareness of Armenian-American youth.