When you gather more than 500 Camp Haiastan supporters in one place, you are guaranteed to have a good time. That is exactly what happened at the Gala-Tribute Event honoring Camp Haiastan’s Summer Directors on Saturday July 26, at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass. The excitement from this event spilled over into the Road Dedication Ceremony honoring Bob Avakian on Sunday July 27, in Tzamhour Hall at Camp Haiastan. Expectations were high for such a fun-filled, action-packed weekend and both events delivered on all aspects.
The festivities began with a cocktail hour in the lounge overlooking the New England Revolution soccer game taking place on the field below. Guests enjoyed appetizers and drinks while reuniting with former cabin mates, staff members, Summer Directors, and friends. The room was filled with numerous session photos from various years, multiple monitors continuously ran a video highlighting the 32 individuals that served as Summer Directors, and more than 20 silent auction gifts. After the cocktail hour, the room was opened to a stunning, four story atrium space with seating for 450 dinner guests. There was a massive central bar, salad, pasta, a kids’ buffet and carving stations everywhere you looked. There were video monitors featuring the Barons, Digeens and Oriorts that have so faithfully served the Camp for 65 years.
One corner of this impressive space was bustling with activity. This was the location for the debut of the exclusive Camp Haiastan Alex and Ani bracelets and necklaces. With the Camp Haiastan logo and Mount Ararat on one side and the Armenian tri-color on the other, these pieces were being purchased in mass quantities by the attendees. Alex and Ani and the Rafaelian family are donating 100 percent of the jewelry sales to support the preservation of Camp Haiastan. These pieces will not be sold in any Alex and Ani retailer or on their website. They are available for a limited time and will only be sold at Camp Haiastan this summer, at the AYF Olympics in Detroit over Labor Day Weekend, and through the Camp’s website: www.camphaiastan.org.
After dinner, the program to honor the Summer Directors started. Michael Guzelian served as Master of Ceremonies and introduced Mark Alashaian, Michelle Hagopian, and Levon Attarian who each welcomed the guests on behalf of the Camp Haiastan Board of Directors, AYF and ARF, respectively. Mark Alashaian then gave an overview of Camp Haiastan’s 65 year history complete with archival photos, current statistics and descriptions of recent improvements. This was followed by individual recognition of every Summer Director. Each was presented with a beautiful, framed commemorative photo (created and donated by Garo Lachinian) with an inscription of what it means to be a Summer Director at Camp Haiastan. The Summer Directors from 1951 to 2014 include:
K. Merton Bozoian, Detroit, Mich., 1951, 1952, 1959
Sarkis Atamian, Providence, R.I., 1953
Varoujan Azablar, Lexington, Mass., 1954, 1955, 1956
Lucy (Oulohojian) Almasian, Sherborn, Mass., 1957
Armen Manuelian, Rutland, Mass., 1958
Haig Sahatjian, Fresno, Calif., 1960
Vahan Kachadourian, Watertown, Mass., 1961
Harry Kushigian, Warwick, R.I., 1962
Ralph Papazian, Whitinsville, Mass., 1963
Robert Avakian, Franklin, Mass., 1964, 1966
Mesrob Odian, Kinnelon, N.J., 1965
Krikor Pidedjian, Yonkers, N.Y., 1967
Richard Garabedian, Palmer, Mass., 1968
Mitchell Kalpagian, Indianola, Ia., 1969, 1983
Krikor Niziblian, Montreal, Quebec (Canada), 1970, 1971
Gabe Kojoian, Providence, R.I., 1972
Richard Aghababian, Southboro, Mass., 1973
Mossik Hacobian, East Boston, Mass., 1974
Harry Semonian, Marshfield, Mass., 1975, 1976
Andrew Kzirian, Burlington Township, N.J., 1977
Ross Vartian, Manistee, Mich., 1978
Peter Jelalian, Nanuet, N.Y., 1979 to 1982, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 2002 to 2009
Michael Mirakian, Palisades Park, N.J., 1986, 1987
Muriel Parseghian, Lowell, Mass., 1989
David Hamparian, Belmont, Mass., 1990
Robert Gigarjian, Whitinsville, Mass., 1991, 1992
Peter Buchaklian, Racine, Wis., 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
Nevart Mikaelian, Framingham, Mass., 2000, 2001
Sharon Dardarian, Detroit, Mich., 2009
Margo Dinkjian, Fort Lee, N.J., 2010, 2011, 2012
Hagop Soulakian, Hoffman Estates, Ill., 2012, 2013, 2014
Lisa Donabedian-Tafel, Ft. Myers, Fla., 2014
Following this, Baron Peter Jelalian, Camp Haiastan’s 16-year Summer Director veteran, provided “The Director’s Perspective” which included numerous stories and anecdotes from his many summers in Franklin. Next up was David Hamparian, Camp Haiastan’s Executive Director, who described the current state of the Camp. He detailed the many projects that have been completed recently and explained the upcoming Expand and Renew program. As its title implies, this program will expand the capacity of the Camp and renew many of the facilities that date back to the Camp’s opening. The program’s highlights include: the construction of a new facility which will incorporate bathrooms, washstands, and showers; a new septic system; and repurposing of the existing bathrooms, washstands and showers. Additional renovations are also necessary to repair the director’s quarters, infirmary, pool and numerous other facilities throughout the Camp. The minimum fundraising goal of the Expand and Renew program based on preliminary estimates is $750,000. Additional details are available on the Camp’s website.
To kick off the Expand and Renew fundraising efforts, Stepan Kanarian, of the Armenian Youth Foundation, gave the next presentation explaining the organization’s mission and its contributions to Camp Haiastan to date. He then presented the Camp with the Foundation’s latest donation of $100,000.
Mark Alashaian followed this gracious donation by announcing other major donors to the Expand and Renew fund. As seen below, there have been many generous contributors to this fund, including numerous donors that joined the effort at the Gala. This group also consists of members of the $5K Club who have committed to donate $1,000 a year for the next five years to help Camp Haiastan reach its goal. The Board of Directors encourages everyone in the extended Camp Haiastan family to consider joining this growing list of major donors so that Camp Haiastan can expand and improve to better serve our youth and community. The need is great and the time is now – if you are reading this article, you care about Camp Haiastan and your donation is desperately needed so that the septic system phase of the Expand and Renew program can be completed before the 2015 camping season and the new facility can be constructed soon thereafter.
Event Sponsors
Alex and Ani/The Rafaelian Family (Gala-Tribute)
Sidekim Foods (Road Dedication)
Major Supporters ($10,000 and above)
Nancy Guzelian ($100,000)
Armenian Youth Foundation ($100,000)
Neshon Hagopian ($59,000)
The Guzelian Family ($50,000)
Anita Babikian ($40,000)
The Altoonian & Porter Families ($25,000)
Bedrosian, Simonian, & Bahtiarian Families ($11,000)
Rose Narzakian ($10,000) In Memory of Harry Narzakian
Supporters ($5,000 to $9999)
Armen Sr. & Mary Boyajian ($6,150)
Bergen County NJ ARS ($6,000)
Daron & Simone’ Topouzian ($5,075)
Dan & Nicole Apelian ($5,000)
Joe & Ani Berberian ($5,000)
Armen & Esther Chakmakjian ($5,000)
Dadourian Foundation ($5,000)
Leo & Mary Derderian ($5,000)
Vahe & Hasmik Dombalegian ($5,000)
Lisa Donabedian-Tafel ($5,000)
Harry & Katrina Glorikian ($5,000)
Michael & Susan Guzelian ($5,000)
David & Tamar Hamparian ($5,000)
Frank & Barbara Hekimian ($5,000)
The Kassabian Family ($5,000)
Hagop & Eranica Kouyoumdjian ($5,000)
Garo & Melanie Lachinian ($5,000)
David Nahabedian ($5,000)
Claude & Audrey Ohanessian ($5,000)
United Armenian Charities ($5,000)
Expand and Renew $5K Club
Avedis & Rosemary Alashaian
Mark & Nicole Alashaian
Lucy Almasian
Berj & Yvonne Bahtiarian
Gregory & Ellen Bahtiarian
Michael & Florence Bahtiarian
John & Barbara Berberian
Veh & Arpi Bezdikian
Armen & Mary Boyajian
Haig & Katia Buchakjian
Paul & Anya Charchaflian
Pierre & Lisa Charchaflian
Rich & Carolyn Chebookjian
Thomas & Nyree Dardarian
Ara & Margo Dinkjian
Michael & Nouneh Gostanian
Peter & Christine Jelalian
Garo & Melanie Lachinian
John & June Mangassarian
Stephen Mesrobian
Jeff & Beverly Najarian
Dave & Carol Papazian
Mark & Susan Pogharaian
George & Doris Shamlian
Maritza Shamlian
Michael & Karine Shamlian
Melissa Simonian
Arshag & Suzanne Simonian
Haig Toomajanian
James & Donna Wagner
Donations continued to come in throughout the evening and were announced to the crowd to resounding applause. Overall, more than $300,000 of additional donations were received through this event, but there is still more to be raised to achieve the Camp’s goals.
With the presentations complete, the Armenian band began to play and the dancing ensued. Camp stories were reiterated and many camper and staff group photos were taken throughout the night. The festivities went on into the early morning and everyone left with a smile on their face.
But there was no resting on laurels the following day. More than 250 Camp Haiastan supporters gathered in Tzamhour Hall to recognize the many contributions that Bob Avakian has made to Camp Haiastan throughout the years. John Mangassarian served as the Master of Ceremonies based on his numerous years of interaction with Mr. Avakian. Der Gomidas Baghsarian opened with a blessing and was followed by Mark Alashaian, Levon Attarian, Melissa Simonian, and Michelle Hagopian who each welcomed the guests on behalf of the Camp Haiastan Board of Directors, ARF, ARS and AYF, respectively. There were proclamations read by Representative Jeff Roy of the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Andrew Bissanti of the Franklin Town Council each highlighting Bob Avakian’s “Commitment and years of dedicated service to Camp Haiastan and the Town of Franklin.”
The program for the event detailed Mr. Avakian’s more than 60 years of service to Camp Haiastan. He was one of the inaugural campers in 1951, served as a counselor in 1954, was on the Camp Committee from 1954 to 1962, served as Director in 1964 and 1966, was on the Board of Directors from 1967 to 1987 and served as Executive Director from 1987 to 2004. Mr. Avakian has truly done it all at Camp Haiastan.
Peter Jelalian presented Mr. Avakian with a framed replica of the street signs that will now designate the road that runs from Summer Street to the Lower Camp as “Bob Avakian Way.” Mr. Avakian acknowledged and thanked many others for their contributions to Camp’s success and praised the current and future leaders that are carrying on his work. He also recognized his wife Zabel and his daughters Sona and Lori for their support throughout the years. His sister and his grandchildren were also in attendance. The program closed with a standing ovation for Mr. Avakian’s many contributions to Camp Haiastan and his vision towards making the facility what it is today.
Many thanks go out to the numerous volunteers who made these two events possible including the Gala Committee, Road Dedication Committee and Camp Haiastan Board of Directors. It was a historic weekend for Camp Haiastan and one that will help to ensure the future prosperity of our beloved home away from home on the shores of Uncas Pond. Please continue to donate generously so that Camp Haiastan remains “The Greatest Place on Earth” for generations to come.
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Congratulation to Bob Avakian from a long lost cousin!