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Monthly
Newsletter
August 31, 2010
Issue 8 |
Assembly
of Turkish American Associations
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The ATAA serves as an
information resource center for its members and component associations
throughout the United States, while working locally and nationwide to
develop an informed and effective Turkish American citizenry. The
ATAA is a major resource for experts, policy makers, and media who seek
a deeper and broader understanding of U.S.-Turkish relations. The
ATAA is a recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization formed under the
laws of the District of Columbia. To learn more about ATAA, please
visit us at www.ataa.org |
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Dear Turkish
American Community and Friends of Türkiye:
The first year of my two-year presidential term
ended in July. I would like to thank you for your strong
support to ATAA and the Turkish American cause. ATAA raised
well over $150,000 from membership fees and donations this past
year. ATAA received over $100,000 in private grants.
ATAA's trust fund was rebalanced to recover more than $200,000, as
we aim to top $1 million by next year and enhance our interest
income which is critical to funding our operations.
I would also like to thank all who attended the
Annual Delegates Meeting, at which the ATAA Delegates approved the
budget, accepted the membership of new local organizations, and
charted the course for 2010-11. The Delegates Meeting also
included the presentation of new members of the Board of
Directors. ATAA is proud that nine of the fifteen members are
women, as ATAA defends equality, supports empowerment, and
encourages the best of the Turkish American community to take
leadership roles.
Furthermore, I would like to invite you all,
particularly east coast Turks, to our ATAA Fundraiser on September 25, 2010, at the residence of Trustee Esma Akin in
Virginia, as we seek to top $30,000 that evening.
Driven by dedicated members, local leaders, staff
and volunteers, ATAA produced excellent results with economic
efficiency you can be proud of!
The ATAA Turkish American Broad Advocacy Network
(TABAN) effectively expressed the voice of Turkish American
grassroots on Capitol Hill on critical issues. The ATAA
Student Outreach Program provided seminars and guidance counseling
to over 500 Turkish students. The ATAA MediaWatchNow.com program mobilized 150 critical thinkers and up to 10,000 grassroots
writers to educate the media and fight anti-Turkish defamation and
racism. The ATAA Census 2010 SayTurk program motivated
Turkish and Turkic Americans nationwide to identify themselves as a
"Turk" in the census form and amplify the Turkish
American presence. The ATAA website received on average over 150,000 hits per week, while each ATAA
electronic communication reached over 40,000 people. ATAA's
perspective on issues was published in over 120 news articles, of
which over 20 were major national and international media.
We will remember the Armenian Resolution (H.Res.
252) which controversially passed 23-22, as a turning point in
Turkish American public advocacy, as Turkish Americans have started
to take charge of their own history and destiny. H.Res. 252
was also a message to Congress on other matters that may be taken
up against Turkish Americans and Turkey in the future. Should
anyone tell you that Turkish Americans achieved this result because
of this or that lobby's help -- don't believe them. This is
the overwhelming achievement of Turkish American grassroots,
including the combined efforts of ATAA, FTAA, TCA and TAA, and our
grassroots organizations nationwide.
ATAA did not rest this past summer. The ATAA
showed "The Armenian Revolt" on Capitol Hill and will
show it again there, as well as on public television
nationwide. The ATAA staff, interns, and Student Committee
mobilized a strong protest against neo-nationalist Greek Cypriot
group CANA. The ATAA legal team prepared and Western Region VP
Maria Cakiraga submitted an in-depth legal memorandum in opposition
to the release of Dashnak JCAG terrorist Hampig Sassounian. Indeed,
the up-and-coming Turkish American advocate rests not from duty,
but finds rest in it!
The year ahead holds many challenges, as a
multi-front anti-Turkish effort is utilizing the legal arena in
support of Armenian claims, Greek Cypriot claims and PKK
terrorism. Fortunately, all of the PKK litigation has
resulted in favor of Turkey, democracy and peace. The Armenian
claims case of Davouyan and Greek Cypriot claims case of Toumazou
have only newly started, and aim to harm US-Turkish relations, and
harass Turkey and people of Turkish heritage. The propaganda
of these cases will seek to influence public opinion and the
legislature against US-Turkish relations, Turkey and people of
Turkish heritage. Furthermore, certain brokers of hatred will
attempt to harm US-Turkish relations, Turkish American - Jewish
American relations, and Turkish-Israeli relations; but ATAA will
stand firmly in support of this long and proven friendship.
For these reasons, solidarity within diversity in
the Turkish American community has never been as important as
today. We should determine our common interests and cooperate
in support of a strong Turkish Republic and strong US-Turkish
relations. I welcome you to view my most recent interview on
Bloomberg regarding Turkish American public advocacy in the new
era.
Günay Evinch
President
Assembly of Turkish American Associations
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ATAA Assures California Prison
Parole Board
Denies
Parole to Armenian Terrorist Sassounian
On August 4,
2010, the California Prison Parole Board denied Armenian terrorist
Hampig Sassounian parole. The Assembly of Turkish American Associations
(ATAA), representing over 500,000 Turkish and Turkic Americans
nationwide, participated in the hearing, submitting a Statement in
Opposition to the Parole of Sassounian. Click here to read the
ATAA's statement and here to read the
supporting documents.
The ATAA
actively participates in judicial processes to support the conviction
and sentencing of terrorists with a view toward achieving complete
justice for the victims. ATAA is pleased that Sassounian was denied
parole, as he and his followers continue to be a threat to the public.
ATAA will appear at Sassounian's next parole hearing in 2013 to make
sure that he remains behind bars for life. [read]
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ATAA Shows Its
Support for Turkish Cypriots
Under the leadership of ATAA, Turkish youth held a candle-light vigil
in front of the Turkish Embassy during the 36th anniversary of the
Cyprus Peace Operation. The Vigil was a response to the extremist
Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) and their protest of the 1974
Peace Operation. (To view CANA's messages of hatred, click here.)
Ambassador
Namık Tan visited the youth activists and thanked them for their
support and dedication. Among the activists were ATAA Civic Engagement
Director Yenal Küçüker, Yurter Özcan, Duygu Özcan and several other
Turkish Americans from Washington DC area universities. The Vigil
prevented CANA members from protesting directly in front of the
Embassy the next day.
Kıbrıs
BarıŞ Harekatı'nın
36'ncı yıldönümünde Türkiye'nin VaŞington
Büyükelçiliği önünde Türk gençleri gece nöbeti tuttular.
ATAA'nın destek ve yönlendirmesi çerçevesinde ellerinde Türk,
Amerikan ve Kıbrıs bayraklarıyla büyükelçilik önünde
toplanan grup Büyükelçi Namık Tan tarafindan ziyaret edildi.
Büyükelçi Tan, elçiliklerine sahip çıkan tutumları nedeniyle
gençleri kutladı.
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ATAA Screens the
'Armenian Revolt' Documentary
As part of its
mission, ATAA screened the "Armenian Revolt" documentary in
Congress. Following ANCA's Capitol Hill premiere of the so called
Armenian Genocide documentary "Aghet", on July 21st, ATAA's
swift response informed 45 people about the historical facts of the
events of 1915.
The
hour long documentary, produced by Marty Callaghan was shown on
July 28th in the Rayburn House Office Building. Bruce Fein, the former
Special Assistant to the Assistant Attorney General, gave the opening
remarks and answered questions following the documentary. Fein
indicated that under international law, events of 1915 cannot be
categorized as "genocide". Participants were given
copies of the "Armenian Revolt" DVD and other sources
free of charge.
Türk-Amerikan Dernekleri Kurulu (ATAA), ABD'deki en
güçlü Ermeni örgütü ANCA'nın gerçekleŞtirdiği
"Aghet - Bir Soykırım" adlı film gösterimi
sonrasında Amerikan Kongresi'nde "Ermeni
İsyanı" belgeselini gösterime sundu. ATAA,
Osmanlı İmparatorluğu'nun parçalanma sürecine
girdiği yıllardan itibaren doğudaki Ermeni
isyanlarını konu edinen belgeselle soykırım
iddialarına karŞılık
tarihsel bilgileri ortaya koydu. Belgesel gösterimi öncesinde, eski ABD
BaŞkanı Ronald
Reagan'ın danıŞman kadrosundaki
hukukçu isimlerden Bruce Fein, Ermeni soykırım
iddialarını yorumlayan bir açılıŞ konuŞması yaptı.
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ATAA Remembers Korean
War Veterans in Armistice Day
The ceremony, which took place at the Korean War
Memorial on the National Mall, Washington D.C, marked the 57th
anniversary of the Armistice Day. Korean War Veterans and Korean
Defense Forces were honored and remembered for their service. Turkey
was one of the larger participants in the U.N alliance, committing
nearly 5,500 troops. Turkish Military Defense Attaché Office and ATAA -
represented by Capitol Region VP Demet Cabbar and Civic Engagement Director
Yenal Küçüker attended the ceremony and laid a wreath to honor the
memory of the Turkish soldiers who fought in Korea.
Bill Alli, a Turkish American who served in the Korean
War and who is a member of the Korean War Veterans Armistice Day
Coordinating Committee, indicated that this ceremony symbolized the
American Turkish friendship and sacrifices.
Kore
SavaŞının 57inci
yıldönümü dolayısıyla Washington'da yapılan anma
törenine katılan ATAA Washington Bölge Temsilcisi ve BaŞkan
Yardımcısı Demet Cabbar ve Sivil Katılım
Direktörü Yenal Küçüker, Türk Silahlı Kuvvetler Askeri AteŞesi eŞliğinde Türkiye
anıtına çelenk koydular. Türk Amerikalı Kore Gazisi ve
Anma Töreni Koordinasyon Komitesi üyesi Bill Alli törenin Türk Amerikan
dostluğunun bir göstergesi olduğunu belirtti.
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In Memoriam of
General Fred Haynes
A great soldier, Major General Fred Haynes witnessed the
great heroic success of the Turkish Brigade in the Korean War and
became a good friend of Turkey. After that he worked as a military
attaché in American Embassy in Ankara. He also played a significant
role in Turkish history, too. Colonel Alparslan Turkes wanted
to borrow money from USA during the coup d'etat in 1950s and Major
General Fred Haynes helped him to get the loan he asked for. Also he
played a very significant role in the Turkish- American relations after
the coup d'etats such as becoming the president of American Friends of
Turkey. We, as ATAA, are deeply sorry for his death. May he
rest in peace.
Tümgeneral
Fred Haynes, Kore savaŞında Türk
Tugayı'nın kahramanlıklarına Şahit olarak bir Türk
dostu olmuŞtur. Ankara'daki
Amerikan Konsolosluğunda askeri ateŞe olarak çalıŞan Haynes, aynı
zamanda ihtilal sırasında Albay Alparslan TürkeŞ ile Amerika'dan
Türkiye'ye para yardımında bulunmasına da
yardımcı olmuŞtur. Daha sonra da
Amerikan-Türk Dostluk Konseyi baŞkanı
olarak, Türkiye-Amerika iliŞkilerinde
çok önemli rol oynayan Haynes hayata gözlerini yumdu. Acılı
ailesine sabır ve baŞsağlığı
diliyoruz.
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Summer Interns Contribute to ATAA's
Success
Begum Kardesler, a
student at George Washington University interned at ATAA during July.
She helped organize the ATAA library, conducted membership outreach,
and assisted with organizing ATAA's Annual Delegates Meeting. Begum
will be completing her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science in
May 2011.
Merjan
Bubernack completed her ATAA internship in August. She too helped
with membership outreach, updating student associations information,
updating the ATAA library, and preparing materials for the ATAA Board
for the next administration year. Merjan also designed a fundraising
calendar for ATAA. She will be graduating from Allentown Central
Catholic High School in Pennsylvania next year and plans to pursue a
career in international business.
ATAA's
Internship Program allowed three Turkish-American students to gain
additional exposure to the Turkish-American community and the inner
workings of a non-profit organization. ATAA will begin accepting
applications for the 2011 Internship Program in April next year.
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Opportunities to Advertise in the ATAA E-Newsletter
The
ATAA e-Newsletter reaches approximately 16,000 individuals throughout
the United States, Canada and Turkey. The ATAA is
now accepting banner ads from businesses that wish to reach the
Turkish-American community. For advertising rates and
options or other advertising-related inquiries, please e-mail to advertising@ataa.org.
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ATAA Component Association Spotlight |
The Turkish
American Association for Cultural Exchange (TAACE)
The Turkish American Association for Cultural Exchange
(TAACE) was founded in 1991 in Chicago. TAACE is a non-profit
organization and an active member of the Turkish-American community in
the Chicago area.
The Association's sole objective is to promote Turkish
culture and heritage in the United States by organizing, participating,
and supporting cultural events and activities in an objective and
efficient manner. Almost exclusively, all TAACE activities
involve sharing and promoting the Turkish traditional and cultural
values across the Chicago area.
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News from ATAA Component Associations |
Happy Hour with Congresswoman Jean
Schmidt
On June
29, 2010, American Turkish Association of Washington, DC hosted a happy
hour event at Café Eight restaurant with all Turkish
Americans from Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC. Representative
Jean Schmidt from Ohio's 2nd Congressional District also joined the
event and emphasized the importance of Turkish American relationships.
29 Haziran
2010 tarihinde Washington DC Türk Amerikan Derneği , Virginia,
Maryland ve DC deki Türkleri bir araya
getirdi. Davetliler arasında konuŞmalarıyla
herkesi etkileyen Ohio Millletvekili Jean Schmidt, Türk Amerikan iliŞkilerinin önemini
hakkında konuŞtu. ATA-DC baŞkanı Demet
Cabbar, Jean Schmidt'e üzerinde Türk Bayrağı olan bir Şapka hediye etti.
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Turkish American Student Alliance
Besides all of
the other Turkish American associations, there is a new alliance forming
only for Turkish American students ranging from ages 16-25 by
Turkish American Cultural Association in Michigan, TACAM. Although
there are many college-based Turkish American Associations, Turkish
American Student Alliance not only is nationwide but also educates
students about Turkey. TASA will create the unity within the Turkish
Youth in America. TASA will plan trips to Turkey as well as give
internship and scholarship opportunities to its members.
Michigan Türk Amerikan Kültür Derneği, TACAM,
Amerika'daki 16-25 yaŞ arasındaki bütün Türk Amerikalıları aynı çatı
altında toplamak için Türk Amerikan Öğrenci Birliği
(Turkish American Student Association, TASA) isimli yeni bir projeye baŞladı.
Amerika çapında tüm Türk Amerikalıları bir araya
getirip, onları Türkiye hakkında bilgilendirmeyi amaçlayan
TASSA, üyelerine kendi etnik kökleriyle ilgili
eğitmeyi,Türkiye gezileri, staj ve burs imkanları da
sağlamayı planlıyor.
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TACAM Independence Day Trip to
Chicago
TACAM met with
General Consul Kenan Ipek and Leaders of the Turkish American
Associations from July 2nd to July 4th to strengthen the relationship
between the Turkish Consulate and Turkish Community in Chicago. The
meeting with Consul Kenan Ipek was also a farewell to him since he will
be Turkey's next Ambassador to Ethiopia. Also the meetings were
followed by happy hour events with Turkish-American Chicago Assocation
(TACA), Turkish American Chamber of Commerce & Industry Midwest and
Turkish American Women Scholarship Fund.
Michigan
Türk Amerikan Kültür Derneği (TACAM), diğer Türk Amerikan
Birliklerinin dernek baŞkanları, BaŞkonsolos Kenan
İpek ile 2-4 Temmuz tarihleri arasında Şikago da bir
araya geldiler. Etkinliklere Türk Amerikan Şikago Birliği,
Ortabatı Türk Amerikan Tarım ve Endüstri Hazinesi, Türk
Amerikan Kadın Burs Fonu katıldılar.
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ATAA'nın TABAN faaliyetleri hız
kazandı
Hurriyet USA, August 16, 2010
ATAA'nın TABAN Faaliyetleri Kongre
Tatiliyle Birlikte Hız Kazandı
Turkish NY, August 16, 2010
ATAA'dan Ermeni Teröristin Şartlı
Tahliyesini Engelleme Hamlesi
TurkishNY, August 6, 2010
Documentary on Armenian revolt in Ottoman
Empire screened at the US Congress
APA, July 29, 2010
The "Armenian Revolt" screened at
the U.S. Congress
TODAY.AZ, July 29, 2010
ABD Kongresi'nde belgesel savaŞı
HaberTurk, July 29, 2010
ABD Kongresi'nde 'belgesel savaŞı'
Radikal, July 29, 2010
Film on Armenian Revolt to BeScreened at U.S. Congress
Poten Partners, July 25, 2010
Film on Armenian Revolt to BeScreened at U.S. Congress
TurkishWeekly, July 23, 2010
ABD Kongresi'nde Ermeni iddiaları
belgeseli
CNNTurk, July 23, 2010
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Turkish Night Celebration
September 3, 2010, 5:15pm-8:15pm
Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA
Organized by the Turkish American Friendship Society of US.
For more information: www.tafsus.net
Empowering the
Turkish Americans
TACA Grassroots - Public Outreach Program
Wednesday, September 8, 2010, 6:30-8:30pm
Chicago, IL
For more information: www.tacaonline.org
8th
Annual Turkish Festival
October 3, 2010, 11:00am-7:00pm
Washington, DC
Organized by American Turkish Association of Washington, DC.
For more information: turkishfestival.org
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By becoming a member you will be part of a
network of Turkish-Americans and friends of Turkey who care about the
historic relationship between the two countries and who are aware
of the crucial role each one of us plays in strengthening the
relationship and promoting an accurate and fair picture of Turkey and
Turks. Please visit www.ataa.org for
more information. |
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