The Second Pan-Homenetmen Promotional Online Seminar
Three years ago, the first Pan-Homenetmen online conference (November 6 & 13, 2021), laid the foundation for the organization's promotional efforts—aiming to unify, coordinate, and systematize Homenetmen’s promotional resources.
A year ago, in October 2023, the 13th General Assembly of Homenetmen adopted a bylaw article on promotional work as one of the seven key means of achieving the organization's objectives.
The next step was to shape and structure this initiative, define its operational methods and standards, and designate responsible coordinators. This was accomplished through the second Pan-Homenetmen online conference, which took practical and direct steps with both a global and continental approach.
On Saturday, October 19, 2024, at 5:00 PM Beirut time, the second Pan-Homenetmen Promotional Online Conference began. Organized by Homenetmen’s Central (Executive) Committee’s promotional sub-committee, the conference gathered over 50 promotional coordinators and social media managers from 21 regional and solitary regions. Members of the Central (Executive) Committee and representatives of the organizing committee were also present.
Opening
The conference began with a speech by sub-committee member Kouyr Nairy Azarigian, who welcomed the participants and invited Homenetmen Central (Executive) Committee Chairman Yeghpayr Hagop Khatcherian to address the audience.
Speaking to the participants as “volunteer soldiers” (Gamavor Zinvorner) of Homenetmen’s promotional efforts, Yeghpayr Khatcherian emphasized the need to move beyond localized and scattered promotional approaches, presenting Homenetmen as a unified and powerful global organization. He encouraged a common approach to promotional strategies while maintaining the core moral values of Homenetmen.
Following this, a round of introductions took place for sub-committee members and first-time participants.
Presentation on the Past Four Years' Key Activities
The first report was presented by committee member Yeghpayr Njteh Meguerditchian, who outlined the main activities of the promotional sub-committee during the 2019-2023 period and resolutions related to the promotional sector from Homenetmen’s 13th General Assembly.
Strategic Directions for Homenetmen’s Promotional Efforts
The second report was presented by the committee chair, Yeghpayr Dr. Kevork Hagopjian, titled "Strategic Directions for Homenetmen’s Promotion." He highlighted four key areas:
1. Enhancing Homenetmen’s recognition and accessibility.
2. Improving Homenetmen’s digital presence and engagement.
3. Strengthening cooperation with mass media.
4. Reinforcing connections between regions and boosting promotional efforts at regional, continental, and global levels.
How to Ensure Our Network Security
The final topic of the first session was presented by Yeghpayr Shant Demirjian, head of IT for the Central (Executive) Committee, titled "How to Ensure Our Network Security."
All presentations were delivered via PowerPoint.
Group Discussions/Workshops
Following an hour and a half of presentations, participants were divided into three groups—Middle East-Armenia-Artsakh, Europe, and Americas-Australia. They were invited to further discuss the topics and develop promotional strategies tailored to their respective regions, while aligning with Homenetmen’s four main strategic directions.
The Work of the Second Session
A week later, on Saturday, October 26, 2024, at 5:00 PM Beirut time, the second session of the conference resumed and concluded.
Sub-Committee member Kouyr Nairy Azarigian welcomed participants and chaired the session, after which she invited representatives from the discussion groups to present their findings.
Representatives Yeghpayr Raffi Hadidian (Canada), Yeghpayr Andre Dadayian (Paris), and Kouyr Talar Bebejian (Lebanon) presented the results of discussions from their respective regions.
Homenetmen’s Promotional Identity: What to Do and What Not to Do
Sub-Committee member Kouyr Rubina Khayat-Yessayan then presented "Homenetmen’s Visual Identity: Dos and Don’ts," based on a newly developed guideline.
Necessary Implementations
Next, organizing sub-committee member Kouyr Asdghig Ashekian introduced practical methods for executing promotional activities correctly. She presented Homenetmen’s communication and public relations guide, the four-year promotional strategy for 2023-2027, resolutions from the last General Assembly regarding promotional issues, and the organizational calendar.
She also announced the launch of two network platforms: one to connect all regional promotional coordinators and another to provide language support for regions facing difficulties in writing in Armenian.
Closing
The conference concluded with remarks from the Central (Executive) Committee Secretary and promotional sub-committee liaison Yeghpayr Vicken Avakian, who congratulated the organizing committee for their dedicated work and emphasized the establishment of a structured promotional system. He explained that this system follows a pyramid model, starting from the Central (Executive) Committee and expanding to regional, solitary, and chapter-level promotional committees, all working toward the same goal with a shared mission.
Yeghpayr Avakian restated that the participants are part of the “volunteer soldiers (Gamavor Zinvorner) of Homenetmen’s promotional efforts.” He emphasized their role in the broader mission of preserving Armenian identity through modern and effective means, contributing to the development of a strong and dedicated youth for the Armenian nation and homeland.
Finally, the seminar concluded with a commitment to hold an online follow-up meeting in six months to track progress on planned activities.
Two phrases:
The second Pan-Armenian Winter Games were held from February 1-7, 2025, in Jermuk, Aparan and Yerevan, with the participation of 1,348 athletes from 88 cities around the world. Seven different sports were practiced: alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, dance sports, chess and hockey.