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TACA's
Women's Branch Initiates Monthly Activities
By Sel Erder Yackley, Midwest Correspondent,
The Turkish Times-The inaugural event organized by the Women's
Branch of Chicago's TACA was a big success, according to Neriman Gezen,
organizer of the Art Show held at TACA's building on North Harlem Avenue,
Chicago's northwest side last month. More than 70 ladies attended the
afternoon tea where works of Turkish female artists were displayed. Fatos
Aktas, wife of Hon. Consul General, Yavuz Aktas, was the brainchild of
this event during which she displayed some of her landscape scenes in
oils. Also helping with the day's events were Hatice Dinc, member of TACA
board and Sezgin Uskup, a long time resident of the Chicago area. Mrs.
Aktas is instrumental in organizing a women's branch of TACA which will
have monthly activities in the building.
The Art Exhibit
included works by Mrs. Aktas, Meltem Tunar, Inci Arslan, Yasemin Kackar,
Pelin Yazar Canez, and Huma Gruaz. The variety of art on display was "highly
pleasing to the eye," according to Ms. Gezen. They included Turkish motives,
landscapes from such places as Sydney, Chicago, Istanbul, oils, water
colors, Karagoz and Mevlevi influenced paintings and abstract works. Moderator
Sezgin Uskup urged those in the audience to help rejuvenate the women's
group in support of TACA.
Daughter
Selin and Fatos Aktas pose infront of the landscape scenes painted
by Mrs. Aktas, wife of Hon. Consul General Yavuz Aktas of Chicago.
More than 70 people attended the art exhibit by five talented Turkish
female artists. |
Refreshments
and home cooked appetizers were provided by Mrs. Aktas, Ms. Gezen, Mrs.
Uskup, Perihan Jasinski, Maral Bencsch, Meral Atac, Muge Hanioglu and
Yurdagul Ozgen. A La Turka resaurant donated table clothes. This event
raised around $700 for TACA. "Not only did we have a great time, but this
became the beginning of much to come," said Mrs. Aktas. "This was strictly
a way to recognize talented female artists in the Turkish community,"
said Ms. Gezen. "This was exhibit only, there were no sale of items."
More than
20 volunteers gathered at the home of Consul General Yavuz Aktas in April
to give TACA a shot in the arm. The re-organized Women's branch of TACA
is ready to help the leadership with official diplomatic functions as
well as membership enrollment, fund raising, cultural events and redecorating
and maintenance of the building on North Harlem Avenue. The general assembly
meeting for the election of new officers will be Sunday, April 28th.
The year-old
TACA board, under the leadership of Mehmet Celebi, has been asking for
help. Already this young group of Turkish Americans has organized more
than 35 activities involving nearly 3,500 participants. The www.tacaonline.org
website is an excellent instrument of communication, according to Hakan
Hazneci, the creator and maintainer of the site. Calendar of activities
is a big help to avoid multiple functions in one week, according to Celebi.
"We also try to get the world out via email." Our services include posting
jobs, items for sale as well as monthly evening functions and community
alert announcements. "Since everyone on the board is working, the Women's
Branch, will be an excellent addition to our organization," said Celebi.
Neriman Gezen,
Sezgin Uskup and Maral Bensch were chosen as tri-chair for this branch
and the first task was to get the building ready for the 23 Nisan children's
bayram celebration. May's activity by the Women's group is the reception
for Ambassador Faruk Lologlu's wife and other visiting dignitaries.
" Our long
term plans are on an ongoing basis...We have decided to organize an activity
a month---mostly on Sundays. Below is a sampling a flexible scheduled
submitted to TACA board to make sure there is no conflict on dates. These
will be on TACA's calendar of events," said Mrs. Uskup.
April
21-23 Nisan Cocuklar Bayrami (reception.beverage.favors for children)
May 11-Brunch/Reception for Elci ve Bakanlarin hanimlari 11 a.m. at TACA
bldg
May 11-whatever needs to be done at the Dinner Dance
June-spring cleanup and decorating the building
July-helping with TACA picnic
August-possible Rummage Sale
Sept-an afternoon tea for Turkish ladies and friends
Oct 26-Help with Cumhuriyet Balosu
Nov 10-Ataturk gunu
Dec. 8-Bayram yemegi
Jan 12-03-Dinner Dance
Feb 16-Youth (talebelere) Bayram Yemegi and Valentine's Day celebration
Mar 16-Brunch
April 20-03-23 Nisan Bayrami again
May 19--03-Youth celebration function
Most of these
activities will result in raising funds for TACA. Anyone wanting to volunteer
to help with TACA activities should contact Maral Bensch at 773 388-1394…or
email Sel Yackley at seliko@earthlink.net
Berikoy
Team Attended ATC Conference
Tracy
Lavin, Special to The Turkish Times-Beriköy Team members
attended the American Turkish Conference in Washington, D.C. to host a
workshop on sustainability with guest panelists: MIT Professor Jan Wampler;
Director of Habitat for Humanity International, Tom Jones, and Owner of
First Renaissance Ventures, Martin Erim. The conference coverage was hugely
successful and prosperous and a thank you is owed to ATC's generous booth
and workshop contribution. Additionally, Naci Saribas, Minister Counselor,
Turkish Deputy Chief of Mission, is held in high esteem for his professionalism,
but also his heart for Beriköy and we are gracious for his support.
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You may have
recently read or heard about "Beriköy: Communities Building Communities"
sustainability project in Turkey. Beriköy addresses long-term sustainability
in Economic, Social and Ecologic avenues and is a partnered in part by
Habitat for Humanity International and CEKUL Vakfi. Beriköy was developed
through Massachusetts Institute of Technology Professor Jan Wampler and
students yearlong architectural workshop, which started shortly after
the earthquakes in August of 1999.
Beriköy
went on the road immediately following ATC with Mr. Martin Erim and Ms.
Muzeyyen Akdeniz of First Renaissance Ventures, as they organized and
developed Beriköy's participation in the Department of Commerce "Trade
Opportunities in Turkey" conference. Beriköy was honored by a warm
introduction from Mr. John Breidenstein, the Foreign Commercials Director
at the US Embassy in Ankara.
Beriköy
continues with its fundraising efforts and successes. Recently the Federation
of Turkish American Associations became a project sponsor by donating
a home for one Beriköy family. FTAA recognizes the vision of Beriköy
and serves as a leading example for organizations and individuals to also
sign onto Beriköy.
In honor
of Earth Day we urge you to participate in the future of Turkey and donate
now. Help us sow the seed for the future of Turkey.
If you are
in the United States, your donation is tax deductible through Habitat
for Humanity's website: www.hfhi.org, and click on "Donate Now" Or
Call 800-HABTAT (800-422-4828)
Please Reference:
Turkey Project code #02148. For inquiries write to: info@berikoy.org
or go to: www.berikoy.org
for more information. In honor of Earth day we urge you to participate
in the future of Turkey and donate now. Help us sow the seed for the future
of Turkey.
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ATAA
/ TACS Grassroots & Leadership Conference
Erkut
Gomulu, ATAA VP Northeast-Boston hosted the first
Grassroots and Leadership Conference, entitled "Making Connections
and Building Bridges", organized by The Assembly of Turkish
American Associations (ATAA) and The Turkish American Cultural
Society of New England (TACS) at Marriott Hotel - Copley Place
on Saturday, March 16. The Conference began with the welcoming
remarks by Ambassador Faruk Logoglu, following the opening remarks
by Erkut Gömülü, President of TACS-New England
and V.P.-Northeastern Region of ATAA, and Dr. Orhan Kaymakçalan,
President of ATAA.
In
the first part of the Conference, "Turkish Foreign Policy and
Recent Developments in the World", Prof. Feroz Ahmad from University
of Massachusetts in Boston provided a historical perspective
to Turkey's foreign policy and its role in the world, and Ambassador
(Ret.) Gündüz Aktan, columnist in Turkish daily Radikal,
emphasized current developments affecting Turkey's policy making,
including its membership to the European Union.
The
second part of the Conference was devoted to the issues concerning
the Turkish American community, where Barry Jacobs, Director
of Strategic Studies of the American Jewish Committee, Güler
Köknar, Executive Director of ATAA, and Osman Tat, ATAA's
Assistant Director of Public Affairs gave presentations and
answered questions of the audience.
“Desperate
Hours” Gala a Success in Atlanta
Mona Diamond, Special to The Turkish
Times-The American Jewish Committee has joined the
Turkish American community on January 22, 2002 for an unforgettable
gala of the critically acclaimed film "Desperate Hours."
The American Jewish Committee sponsored the gala evening for
the southeastern premier of the movie depicting the brave contribution
of the Turkish diplomats to the rescue of the European
Jewry during the WW2. Chairperson for the event was Mona Tekin
Diamond, a member of the Turkish American Association of Georgia
and ATAA. The film was chosen as the opening reel for the American
Jewish Committee's "Atlanta Jewish Film Festival."
(L
to R) [Back Row] Dogan Eroglu, Dr. Yavuz Tarcan, Nuran Tarcan,
Dr. Vildan Ercan, Cookie Shapero, Dr. Erdogan Oran, Yuksel
Yesiltepe. [Front Row] Mona Diamond, Gulten Ercan, Dorothy
Yesiltepe. |
A
Celebrity Donor Reception was held at the Ritz Carlton Hotel.
Special
guests included Ambassador Mehmet Ezen, Consul General of Turkey
in New York and Michael Berenbaum of California, writer and
Executive Producer of "Desperate Hours".
"Desperate
Hours" recounts the little known story of Turkey and the
Holocaust. At a time when millions were murdered before the
eyes of an indifferent world, there were some men and governments
who chose to act -- not for praise, not for glory, but in the
name of simple decency. This was the act of several Turkish
diplomats. In doing so they dispelled the myths that people
were powerless to resist the Nazis. "Desperate Hours"
tells the stories of those precious few, who in the face of
utter darkness never lost their sight.
There
was a post-screening desert reception. The audience was made
up of equal members of the American Jewish Committee and the
Turkish American community. The evening brought together Jews
and Moslems in a true spirit of brotherhood. CNN-Turk covered
the gala. A memorable time was had by all who attended.
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