Posted by atasc on March 8, 2010 at 16:25 pm
During 2010 Census, let them know you are of Turkish origin. ATAA is patrnering with Census Bureau to spearhead the national campaign to count people of Turkish and Turkic heritage throughout America. You should either have recently received your census form or you will receive it shortly. I received mine today. Complete and submit the Census 2010 Form by writing “Turk” in the “Other” box on the Census 2010 form. Watch this video for further detailed explanation on how to fill out the form to be counted as TURK :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_a0C8qA-l8
It is very important for us to know how many Turks are living and voting in America to become a political force to reckon with. Depending on the results of Census 2010, over $400B in federal funding will be available to state and local projects, including diversity programs. In addition, depending on the enumeration of Turks, the Census Bureau may decide to include a “Turkish” box in the 2020 Census. So it is really important for each and every one of us to be counted as having Turkish heritage.
Posted by atasc on January 6, 2010 at 23:15 pm
As part of our student outreach plan, on January 30, ATASC and Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA) brought together students from many Southern California colleges and universities for a lively exchange of ideas and laid the foundations of networking in Los Angeles at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel LAX. There were close to 55 students attending the program.
Students at the outreach
During the program, students were able to discuss issues such as visa and immigration, job search, career decisions, available resources in an informal Q&A setting. The first part of the panel focused on the legal and administrative issues. Mr. Arif Celik, Vice Consul of Turkish Republic in LA and Ms. Emine Ozyurt, Office of the Turkish Educational Attaché, and Mia F. Renaud and Yasemin Elmas, representatives from the LA based Marouf Law Group were among the guests that answered students questions. Following the session, previous ATAA President Ms. Nurten Ural and ATAA President – Elect Mr. Ergun Kirlikovali, discussed political issues and controversies facing Turkish students. The second part of the panel brought together a group of successful Turkish American business people to discuss networking, career and success in the US. Student outreach panel provided an important opportunity for the students to familiarize themselves with ATA-SC and its five chapters. Students indicated that the event was very impressive and successful and they enjoyed the delicious Turkish borek that was served during the panel discussion. Based upon their input, we would like to offer it in other localities in SOuthern California. We thank all the people who attended this day and supported our students.
Posted by atasc on January 6, 2010 at 22:22 pm
Sunday, Jan 31, 2010, 9:30 am-5:00 pm
ATASC held its annual General Assembly (GA) Meeting on Jan 31, 2010 . Roughly 40-45 ATASC members attended the event. ATASC also hosted multiple visitors from ATAA and TCA. Previous ATAA President Ms. Nurten Ural (curently with TCA as well as ATAA), ATAA President-Elect Ergun Kirlikovali, current TCA President Lincoln McCurdy and ATAA Trustee and San Fransisco Honorary Consul Bonnie Jay Kaslan attended the Assembly.
Visitors at the ATASC luncheon
Vega Sankur opened the GA with an update of the ATASC activities in 2009, followed by updates of the five chapters. In 2009, ATASC organized 23 April Children’s Day Celebration, 29 October Turkish Republic Ball and 10 November Ataturk Memorial Ceremony as well as the recent ATASC-ATAA Student Outreach Program. The chapters each organized -on the average- one community event a month. The schools in San Diego and Orange County are thriving while schools in Los Angeles and Ventura currently have low attendance. ATASC and ATASC chapters promised to continue to build their Turkish American communities, to educate public about Turkey and Turkish Americans and to have grassroots advocacy efforts.
For the ATASC Board elections, three very strong candidates had announced their candidacies to be on the ATASC Board. Two of the candidates Burcu Tansu and Sevda Aleckson were at hand during the election and were elected to the two openings by GA acclaimation. In addition, the GA recommended that the third candidate be the person to replace any board member if he/she decides to leave the board. The new ATASC Board is as follows: Naime Berkoz, Aytac Biber, Leyla Cohen, Volkan Duygun, Vega Sankur, Ersin Sengul, Ergun Tamer, Burcu Tansu, Hafize Turgut, Ayse Ulubay and Asuman Yilmaz. The Board will select positions such as Vice President, Corp Secretary, etc during their first meeting on Feb 20, 2009.
Representative McMahon Speaking
The afternoon session started with welcoming words from Honorable Hakan Tekin and then focused on Turkish American Broad Advocacy Network (TABAN) – an ATAA nationwide grassroots education campaign made possible with the sponsorship of Turkish Coalition of America. Keynote speaker Hon. Congressman McMahon, stressed the importance of speaking out and getting involved in the political process. To emphasize the importance of political involvement, Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) President Lincoln McCurdy, gave a presentation on Turkish American issues and Congressional Turkish Caucus. In the second part of the afternoon, previous ATAA President Ms. Nurten Ural, ATAA Civic Engagement Director Yenal Kucuker, and local Grassroots Coordinator Seda Bolulu held an ATAA training workshop/seminar and introduced TABAN’s vision and mission to activate Turkish-Americans in the grassroots efforts. Participants received instructional booklets on advocacy and signed up to join the local grassroots committee to ensure the continuation of these efforts in California.
Grassroots workshop/seminar also emphasized the importance of the 2010 Census, on which Americans of Turkish descent will be able to denote “Turk” as their demographic for the first time. The presentation was followed by a Q&A session, where attendees asked pertinent and engaging questions.
Young Turkish American Grassroot Advocates
We then heard from collaborative community leaders. Dr. Ali Kiran talked about House of Turkey in Balboa Park in San Diego. Sema Basol presented the new Turkish Woman’s Initiative to help Turkish girls to fulfill their potential. Dennis Aytekin asked for support of Izmir Grove project in Long Beach. Bonnie Jay Kaslan presented the very important World Affairs Council (WAC) -TCA partnership about the teacher’s education project.
Posted by atasc on September 4, 2009 at 16:35 pm
TURKISH AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND FRIENDS CELEBRATED THE TURKISH REPUBLIC with a very unifying and fun filled REPUBLIC DAY Ball at Long Beach organized by ATASC with the collaboration of all the ATASC chapters: ATASC-SD, LATAA, OCTAA, TALL, VATAN
The Turkish American Community was present in large numbers to celebrate the 86th anniversary of the establishment of the Turkish Republic. The ball room was well decorated with red and white carnations and Turkish and American Flags befitting the theme of the Ball. ATASC volunteers, including students from UCLA , worked all day to prepare the room and the foyer and were still putting the last touches when the guests started arriving.
ATASC President Vega Sankur accepts the Proclamation from Long Beach
There was a very festive and joyful atmosphere befitting the changes the founding of the Republic brought to people’s lives in Turkey: Freedom, Democracy, Equality, Education and Enlightenement. Master of Ceremonies Demetra George Mustafaoglu opened the event with American and Turkish National Anthems. ATASC President Vega Sankur gave a short welcoming speech reminding all attendees of the importance of this day (and what this celebration is all about). She welcomed guests representing
SCLB President Mike Vaughn reads the Proclamation
Turkish, Azerbaijan, and Northern Cyprus Governments as well as from the offices of Congresswoman Richardson and Assemblymember Blumenthal. The President of Sister Cities Long Beach Mr. Mike Vaughn read the Proclamation of Republic Day by the City of Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster. The Proclamation is in celebration of Turkish Republic Day on October 29, 2009. The council general of Turkey Mr. Hakan Tekin asked the crowd to support the ATASC organization. community, each other and Turkey. US Representative from the 46th District Congressman Dana
Council General Hakan Tekin speaks to the Ball attendee's
Rochbacher followed with a speech in which he reminded all attendees about Turkey’s critical role in this complex region and the strong supportive role it has played for theUS the last 60 years. He commended the Turkish American community for finally finding their voices and becoming more active in advocacy. ATAA President Elect Mr. Ergun Kirlikovali also addressed the attendees about the recent positive news in the legal and advocacy areas by ATAA operating out of Washington DC.
Yore Folk Dance Group
The entertainment started with the Yore Dance Group performing 3 different dances interspersed with music arranged by our skillful DJ Devran Mustafaoglu. The crowd really appreciated the Zeybek and the Black Sea dances. Ms. Demetra George Mustafaoglu conducted the live auction of the two THY (Turk Hava Yollari – Turkish Airlines) tickets and the National Soccer Team (Milli Takim) uniform raising funds for ATASC. Following the auction, Ferhat Atli and his music brought all to the dance floor to dance to beautiful music. The music, dancing and the socializing went on until 1:00 am where the event had to come to an end although some of the guests were still immensely enjoying themselves.
The Dancing continued until early morning.
ATASC would like to recognize all the volunteers who made this ball the elegant and fun event that it was. Asuman Yilmaz, Burcu Tansu, Hafize Turgut, Didem Yilmaz, Yasemin Doker, Maria Cakiroglu, Zinnur Guvenc, Arzu Kocyigit, Aydan Atrek, Gizem, Meltem, Seda and Ilker. You all worked very hard. You have our heartfelt thanks.
CUMHURIYETIMIZE LAYIK BIR BALO OLDU.
HEP BERABER BU MUTLU GUNU KUTLADIK.
ULU ONDERIMIZ ATATURK U ANDIK.
NE MUTLU TURKUM DIYENE.
Vega Sankur for ATASC Board
Posted by atasc on November 11, 2009 at 15:50 pm
- Attendee’s at the 10 Kasim Ceremony
ATASC, Association of Turkish Americans and UCLA Turkish Student Association organized a joint ceremony on the 10 th of November at UCLA to commemorate Ataturk’s life, accomplishments and his legacy. There were more than 90 people who had braved LA evening traffic to attend this ceremony and to pay their respects to the founder of Modern Turkey and to his principles and ideals.
The ceremony followed a program put together by ATASC members; enlivened by frequent audience participation. It opened up with a Moment of Silence followed by the presentation by Vega Sankur. She explained that the purpose of this event is twofold: One is pure rememberance for those of us who are very familiar with his legacy. The other is to inform and educate those who are not as familiar as us such as the first and second generation Turkish Americans and the American Public at large.
Thomas talking about Ataturk's heroism at Anafartalar, Gallipoli Battle
The program followed his youth from Selanik to Istanbul. Vedat Gursoylu played a Rumeli folk song to the accompaniment of the audience. We talked about his heroism at Gallipoli and how that heroism changed the flow of history. The story of the watch that saved his life was recited. During Gallipoli Battle, Ataturk was at the front of his troops when a shrapnel hit him where his heart was. It pierced the watch given to him as a present by the same teacher who also gave him the middle name Kemal (Perfect). His life was thus spared to allow him to save Turkey from enemies and be written into the larger history.
After the map of Sevres Treaty and the situation that led to Ataturk starting the National Resistance Movement, the audience watched a 9 minute video about the Turkish Independence War. It was a good description of the dire situation in Anotolia after WWI, the Sevres Treaty and the Allied invasions. The Turkish Lands were divvied up by the Powers of the day, with the Empire crumbling and the Sultan collaborating with British Forces. It showed how Ataturk and hs commanders built a new Assembly in Ankara as the center of Resistance, built an army and fought all the powers one by one to save the motherland. It reminded us all how sacred that Independence was to us won by blood, sacrifice and great difficulty.
Most of the time was spent to talk about the 15 years of revolutionary change upon his 
Presidency. We discussed his vision for Modern Turkey, and the reforms that resulted from that vision. There was a lot of audience participation where people stated how these effected them, their families and their thinking.
Foremost in his thoughts was Peace, like all War Hero’s who knew firsthand the price of war. He made peace with all the nations that had atacked Turkey. His call to Anzacs is one of the most touching and peaceful adress in history.
His desire for a secular state was to seperate the public institutions (law, education, government) from the influence of religion. He wanted a nation who was free thinking and used scientific reasoning without the cloud of some fundementalist
elements. He did not – as some people claim – banish religion, but elevated it to its proper spritual domain. The other public, legal and educational reforms were discussed one by one. His 10th anniversary speech was broadcast.
His later years was remembered by a Sari Zeybek danced by Vedat and Ergun. The program ended with another moment of silence followed by the Turkish National Anthem.
ATASC thanks UCLA TurkSA for arranging this event and the attendee’s for the lively, intellectual and emotional discussions. We will make 10 Kasim Ceremony a yearly event with interesting programs in which we both honors Ataturk on this day, but also try to educate people on his legacy.
UNUTMADIK, UNUTTURMAYACAGIZ.
Etched in Our Hearts
Posted by atasc on December 24, 2009 at 18:12 pm
ATASC wishes a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of you. We hope for Peace, Love and Prosperity in our families, community, in our lands and throughout the globe. Let the New year bring us all that our hearts desire.
ATASC hepinizin Yeni Yilini kutlar, tatillerinizin neseli gecmesini diler. Butun ailelerimiz, toplumumuz, memleketlerimiz ve dunyamiz baris, sevgi, muhabbet ve zenginlik dolu olsun. Yeni Yil da hersey gonlunuzce olsun.
2009 ATASC Board: Aytac Biber, Leyla Cohen, Volkan Duygun, Metin Mangir, Vega Sankur, Ersin Sengul, Ergun Tamer, Burcu Tansu, Hafize Turgut, Ayse Ulubay, Asuman Yilmaz
Posted by atasc on November 25, 2009 at 14:52 pm
ATASC celebrates Kurban Bayram and Thanksgiving and wishes health, wealth and happiness to all ATASC Community.
ATASC Kurban Bayraminizi ve Sukran Gununuzu kutlar, Hepinize saglik ve mutluluklar diler.
ATASC Chapters are having quite a few events to bring all of you together at these joyous occasions.
San Diego – Nov 28
OCTAA – Dec5
VATAN – Dec 6 Check ATASC Chapter Websites – on the left side – for details
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Ataturk made Peace with all the countries even with the ones we fought only years before: His vision was:
