BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



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          Date of Hearing:  August 25, 2016


           ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT, SPORTS, TOURISM, AND  
                                   INTERNET MEDIA


                                  Kansen Chu, Chair


          HR 62  
          (Achadjian) - As Amended August 22, 2016


          SUBJECT:  The Navasartian Games.


          SUMMARY:  Expresses the Assembly's recognition of the  
          Navasartian Games' impact on Armenian American youth living in  
          California and throughout the United States. Specifically, this  
          Resolution makes the following findings and declarations:  





          1)The Armenian General Athletic Union and Scouts, referred to as  
            Homenetmen, is a nonprofit organization with 30,000 members in  
            five continents. Homenetmen was founded in 1918, and currently  
            has 18 chapters with over 7,000 members in the Western Region  
            of the United States.



          2)It is Homenetmen's mission to prepare exemplary and law  
            abiding citizens by providing physical and health education,  
            endowing the mind and soul with the finest spirit of  
            sportsmanship, and developing and understanding responsibility  
            and honor.








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          3)Since the first chapter in the United States was established  
            in Los Angeles in 1968, Homenetmen has provided Armenian  
            American youth with moral, physical, and social education and  
            has exposed the youth to the Armenian culture and heritage.  
            The Homenetmen experience is one of lasting association,  
            altruism, and benevolence, and Homenetmen's motto, "Elevate  
            yourself and others with you," is a constant reminder of the  
            fundamental objective of this organization.



          4)Homenetmen in the Western United States has over 3,200  
            athletic members who compete in local league competitions as  
            well as major regional athletic programs. These programs are  
            organized and implemented with the help of many selfless  
            parent volunteers who help put programs together for  
            basketball, volleyball, soccer, track and field, tennis,  
            swimming, gymnastics, chess, karate, and table tennis



          5)The Homenetmen athletic program epitomizes the spirit of  
            competition, sportsmanship, and teamwork, while it instills a  
            strong sense of individual identity.



          6)The Homenetmen scouting program provides the Armenian American  
            youth with moral, physical, and social education, exposes  
            scouts to the wealth and treasure of the Armenian culture and  
            heritage, and strives to prepare outstanding law abiding  
            Armenian American citizens.



          7)Among the most prestigious medals that any Homenetmen scout is  








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            able to earn is the St. Mesrob emblem. Introduced in  
            conjunction with the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic  
            Church and the Boy Scouts of America, this emblem honors the  
            fifth century inventor of the Armenian alphabet, Mesrop  
            Mashtots. 
          8)The annual Navasartian Games, Homenetmen's largest athletic  
            event, comprise numerous sports, including basketball,  
            volleyball, soccer, ping pong, track and field, swimming,  
            chess, and softball.


          FISCAL EFFECT: None.


          COMMENTS:  According to the author, "Each year, the Navasartian  
          Games bring together over 3,000 Armenian youth to compete in a  
          number of sports including basketball, volleyball, swimming, and  
          softball. The Games are hosted by the Homenetmen organization  
          whose mission is to prepare outstanding law abiding citizens by  
          providing Armenian American youth with moral, physical, and  
          social education. HR 62 recognizes the significance of youth  
          sports and the impact of the Navasartian Games on Armenian  
          American youth living in California and throughout the United  
          States."


          REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:




          Support


          There is no support on file.












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          Opposition


          There is no opposition on file.




          Analysis Prepared by:Dana Mitchell / A.,E.,S.,T., & I.M. / (916)  
          319-3450