Jasik Jarahian Announced as Honorary Member of the Year
GLENDALE—The Hyatt Regency Hotel reception hall was the venue where Homenetmen members and supporters converged on Saturday, October 19 to be part of the celebration of the 35th anniversary of the Homenetmen Glendale Ararat Chapter and to witness the declaration of their friend, Jasik Jarahian, as the honorary member of the year.
Guests included the Prelate of Armenian Apostolic Church of Western USA, Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Reverend Fathers of the St. Mary’s Church of Glendale, Homenetmen Central Executive Board members Yeghpayrs Hagop Tufenkian and Viggen Davidian, ARS Central Executive Board member Annie Kechichian, ARF Central Committee member Dr. Viken Yacoubian, Western Prelacy Executive Council Chairperson Rima Boghosian, Homenetmen Regional Chairperson Garnik Abrahamian, ANCA Western Region Board members, Steve Artinian and Armen Abrahamian, ARS Regional Executive Chairperson Lena Bozoyan, Glendale ANC Chairperson Berdj Karapetian Glendale Mayor Dave Weaver and City Council members, Ara Najarian, Zareh Sinanyan and Frank Quintero, City Manager, Scott Ochoa, City Clerk Ardy Kassakhian, City Treasurer, Raffi Manoukian, representatives of local Armenian organizations, and Homenetmen members.
The program commenced with the singing of the American and Armenian national anthems by tenor Raffi Kerbabian, accompanied by Hovsep Torosian on the piano.
The Master of Ceremonies was chapter member and current Homenetmen Regional Executive member Arick Gevorkian, who introduced the guests and invited the Prelate to perform the invocation.
Ararat’s Executive Board Chairperson Tomik Abrahamian, delivered the Chapter Executive Board’s message and mentioned the chapter’s accomplishments, stating “In 1978 Homenetmen Glendale Ararat Chapter was born, and today after 35 years, it bears the torch light to educate future generations, and advances confidently to serve the community.”
Abrahamian thanked all who supported and helped Ararat in its advancements. Afterwards, he thanked those who organized the event, and presented a certificate of appreciation to banquet committee chairperson Evik Nazarian, and the rest of the committee members.
While Congressman Adam Schiff was out of state, guests watched a video message he had submitted to thank Ararat and especially its leaders for their accomplishments, including the ability to provide a safe environment for the young generation. He also congratulated the Chapter Honorary Member of the Year, Jasik Jarahian, for all she does in her service to the organization and the community at large.
Homenetmen Regional Executive Chairperson Garnik Abrahamian and chapter liaison Salpi Jejeian congratulated the chapter on the occasion of its 35th anniversary, and to all the members, who worked and supported to build the chapter. He also presented a plaque to the Chapter Executive Board.
Next, Glendale Mayor Dave Weaver delivered his heartfelt comments. He thanked Ararat for all the work they do to provide a safe environment for the youth.
Later on, Chapter Executive Board’s Chairperson, Tomik Abrahamian, along with the Chapter Executive Board members, Regional and Central Executive Board members announced Ararat’s 2013 honorary member and presented a plaque to long time Homenetmen member Jasik Jarahian, a person with numerous accomplishments and service to the community.
Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian joined the group to convey his blessings, mentioning “Do not look only at Ararat activities in the Glendale area for the last 35 years. The chapter has at least two roots which supply nutrition, the first one as an organization with a century of service, and the second as the organization which raised the flag in Iran, as the Ararat organization in Tehran decades ago. We can attest that the Ararat Chapter, since its birth, has a rich legacy training the youth, and passing on athletic and patriotic education. The founding of Homenetmen Glendale Ararat chapter’s both locations is the best testimony for all its successes.”
The Prelate surprised all those present as he proceeded to bestow upon Jasik Jarahian the medal of “Queen Ashkhen” as appreciation to all that she does voluntarily through Homenetmen and to the community at large.
Hundreds applauded with a standing ovation to both of Jarahian’s awards.
As Jasik Jarahian took the podium, she first expressed her gratitude for receiving both awards and explained that she has followed Homenetmen’s motto, ‘Elevate yourself and others with you” since she was 14 and has served the community through her Homenetmen family. She expressed, “It gave me the opportunity to learn from experienced members to perfect myself as an Armenian and as a member. Organizational life became my lifelong school, and I am grateful and owe to it for all my successes. I am happy and proud that its roots have been strong, and I have been able to pass them on to the next generations.”
Jarahian testified that she is proud that both “Ararat” in Iran and in Glendale have been her true homes.
As the first official portion of the evening concluded, the evening entertainment was provided by the Allen G. orchestra, which played Armenian and international songs and dance music.
The second official portion of the evening was the presentation of the candle lighters. 57 chapter members and supporters, who had become ‘Kavors’ were named one by one. Afterwards the 35th anniversary cake was cut.
