Event PortfolioEvent Portfolioby Mae Sonmezy

TURKISH PARADE

May 24, 2008, New York City

The 27th Annual Turkish Day Parade organized by the Federation of Turkish American Associations (FTAA) took a place in New YorkCity on May 24th.

Thousands of Turkish people traveled to New York on Saturday from the neighboring cities and states to take part in the paradeThousands of Turkish people traveled to New York on Saturday from the neighboring cities and states to take part in the parade.Among the participants were parliamentarians, mayors and governors from Turkiye along with Mehmet Samsar, the New York TurkishConsul General and Turkish Ambassador to United States, Nabi Sensoy.

Parade participants, including students and teachers from Turkish schools in the area, carried Turkish flag all along the walk fromMadison Avenue to 56th street leaving the area covered with red and whiteMadison Avenue to 56th street, leaving the area covered with red and white.

Turkish soccer fans in the US showed their support for their teams in Turkiye dragging along big flags during the parade. The participants looked excited about the event as they had a chance to come together in such a huge number, representing Turkiye

and the Turkish culture. The event has been a great experience and also an opportunity to enjoy their time as some of the famous singers from Azerbaijan

and Turkiye sang for the crowd.

TURKISH PARADE (continued)(continued)

May 24, 2008, New York City

The two hour parade organized by Federation of Turkish AmericanAssociations symbolized the solidarity among the Turkish people in theUnited States.

The parade ended with speeches related to the significance of the dayand its importance in terms of bringing the Turkish Americans together.

CONFERENCE WITH Prof OKTAY SINANOGLUProf. OKTAY SINANOGLU

October 22, 2008 – Havermeyer Hall, Colombia University, New York City

Oktay Sinanoğlu is a Turkish scientist of theoretical chemistry andmolecular biology.

He was the youngest person in the past century to attain a status ofHe was the youngest person in the past century to attain a status ofprofessor when he earned the status at the age of 28.

He has been nominated to Nobel award in chemistry twice. Discussion on the importance of the native language to protect

ti litnationality.

“OVERVIEW OF TURKISH-AMERICAN-ISRAELI RELATIONS”RELATIONS

Lecture - November 20, 2008 – Turkish Center, New York City

Under the Auspices of The Consulate General of the Republic of Turkey in New York Mustafa Akşin, and Ambassador and Mr. NaimGüleryüz, invited to a lecture.

The discussion about “Overview of Turkish-American-Israeli Relations” and “Glimpses of Jewish Life in Turkish Society”The discussion about Overview of Turkish American Israeli Relations and Glimpses of Jewish Life in Turkish Society . 1992 marks the five hundredth anniversary of this most gracious welcome of Sephardim to Turkish lands. Turkish Jews felt it was

both fitting and proper to launch an extensive celebration in Turkey, in the United States and in Europe. Jewish history is full of sad events which are marked by commemorations and memorial services. But now there was a major event to

l b t T l b t b th th 500th i f th l i f th S h di J t th Ott E i d th ficelebrate. To celebrate both the 500th anniversary of the welcoming of the Sephardic Jews to the Ottoman Empire and the fivecenturies of continuous and peaceful life in Turkey.

The Quincentennial Foundation was established in 1989 by a group of 113 Turkish citizens, Jews and Moslems alike. Founded andheadquarted in Istanbul the Quincentennial Foundation is planning a three year (1990 - 1992) cultural and academic program bothwithin Turkey and abroad mainly in the U.S, Canada and Mexico on the American continent; France, United Kingdom and Italy inEurope.

“OVERVIEW OF TURKISH-AMERICAN-ISRAELI RELATIONS”RELATIONS

(continued)

Lecture - November 20, 2008 – Turkish Center, New York City

The Foundation embarked on a very ambitious program as befits thegreatness of the occasion. What Turkish Jews lack in numbers theymake up in enthusiasm and commitment. And they toward theirp yvision with great excitement.

This program has been designed to bring the diverse and rich legacyof Turkish Jewry to a greater audience.

WHO ARE AHISKA TURKS?

64. Anniversary – December 13, 2008 – Turkish Center, New York City

The event was organized under the Turkish Coalition of America. Thisyear was the 64th year anniversary to exit Georgia. The purpose ofthe event was, to welcome to fifteen thousand Ahiska Turks to,America. We would like to get to know Ahiska Turks better in Turkishworld.

Our goal was to show how strong human beings can be, how muchthey endure and not break We want to learn how you kept yourthey endure and not break. We want to learn how you kept yourlanguage, customs and identities as Turks under incredible tortureand pressure.

NY Former congressman and Turkish Coalition of Americarepresentative and Turkish Consul of New York attended the eventrepresentative and Turkish Consul of New York attended the event.The Mesketihan Turks came as a group of about fifty people withtheir traditional food

ASALA MURDERS

Film Screening – March 17, 2009 – Turkish Center, New York City

“Asala Murders” film screening by Zeynep Kececiler and a lecturefeaturing Bruce Fein, Resident Scholar, Turkish Coalition of America,sponsored by Turkish Coalition of America.p y

KOREAN WAR VETERANS

Remembrance – April 25, 2009 – Turkish Center, New York City

The Korean War Veterans from the Corporal Allan F. KivlehanChapter, Staten Island and the Central Long Island Chapter.

In remembrance of the FORGOTTEN War - a full throttle of aIn remembrance of the FORGOTTEN War a full throttle of astruggle for people and a country, most people never heard ofSouth Korea.

90 minutes about the Korean War, the way these Honorablesoldiers saw it and what they know of Turkish troops in Koreasoldiers saw it and what they know of Turkish troops in Korea.

“JOURNEY OF FAITH” PREMIERE

Film Screening – May 8, 2009 – Lighthouse Theater, New York City

Victoria Barrett, owner of Shenandoah Films, producer and screenwriter, introduced New York City viewers to “Journey of Faith”, adocumentary tracing the rich trail of Christianity through the ages iny g y g gTurkey. The film travels to fourteen biblical locations on thisextraordinary journey.

The event was organized and hosted by Istanbul University AlumniAssociation of USA (IUMEZUSA) at the Lighthouse Theater in NewAssociation of USA (IUMEZUSA) at the Lighthouse Theater in NewYork City. A number of Turkish-Americans, as well as Americansattended the screening of “Journey of Faith”, made possible with thesupport of the Turkish Cultural Foundation, ATAA, TADF, FB USA andBICOM.BICOM.

“REMEMBERING EDWARD TASHJI”

Educational Lecture – June 10, 2009 – Turkish Center, New York City

A remembrance program organized in in honor of Edward Tashji, forthe first time since his death in 2005.

Called "A Friend of Turks“ Edward Tashji was a man of principle whoCalled A Friend of Turks , Edward Tashji was a man of principle whorefused to follow the safe, familiar pro-Armenian drumbeat; he madeup his own mind, and turned into a Truth-Seeker of the first order.

Learning to speak Turkish after 50, Tashji was buried in a Turkishcemetery His house full of memorabilia is now called “Museum ofcemetery. His house, full of memorabilia, is now called Museum ofTurkish Friendship”

Prof. Dr. Ömer Turan gave a detailed speech about Tashji’s dedicatedlife along with a video of Tashji’s personal photographs documentinghi fi ht i t th A i li b t th ll d “ id ”his fight against the Armenian lie about the so-called “genocide”and his love of the Turks.

CULTURAL HERITAGE OFMACEDONIA & TURKEYMACEDONIA & TURKEY

Turkish-Macedonian Cultural Evening – October 9, 2009 – Turkish Center, New York Cityy

Over 200 Turkish-Americans and Macedonian-Americans and friendsgathered to experience the rich cultures of Turkey andMacedonia. Attendees enjoyed Turkish and Macedonian foods,j y ,folklore, and music.

IUMEZUSA was proud to partner with United Macedonian Diaspora(UMD) to link our communities and learn about each other’scultures Many Turks have roots in Macedonia including thecultures. Many Turks have roots in Macedonia, including theFounder of modern-day Turkey, Kemal Mustafa Ataturk.

Both organizations pledged to work together to strengthen U.S.-Turkish-Macedonian relations.Th U it d St t d T k M d i ’ t t i it The United States and Turkey are Macedonia’s top supporters in itsefforts to join NATO and other Euro-Atlantic institutions.

“ATATURK ALIVE IN HIS OWN WORDS”

71ST Commemoration of Ataturk – November 10, 2009 – Turkish Center, New York City

Held under the auspices of the Consulate General Republic of Turkey,the commemoration was organized by IUMEZUSA, the Turkish-American Architects and Engineers Society (MIM) and the Federationg y ( )of Turkish-American Associations (FTAA)

Prof. Talat Halman of Bilkent University honored ourcommemoration of the founder of our Republic . The very firstMinister of Culture of our homeland presented a dramatic reading ofMinister of Culture of our homeland presented a dramatic reading ofscores of Atatürk’s well-known and seldom-quoted statements. Theslides, featured authentic photographs, an exciting dimension to theexperience of the great leader’s thoughts coming alive.The slide program consisted entirely of quotations from Atatürk’sThe slide program consisted entirely of quotations from Atatürk sspeeches and statements about his ideas and ideals.

34 MILLION FRIENDS OF UNFPA

Lecture by Jane Roberts & Nuriye Ortayli – December 8, 2009 – Lighthouse Theater, New York City

Jane Roberts and Nuriye Ortayli from the United NationsPopulation Fund spoke about UNFPA’s programs and women'sstatus, reproductive health, population and development, p , p p pissues in western Asia to alumni of Istanbul University and tothe Turkish-American New York area community.

Jane Roberts is a co-founder of 34 Million Friends of UNFPA in2002 when the Bush Administration first announced they2002 when the Bush Administration first announced theywould withhold the $34 million that Congress allocated toUNFPA. Today the total amount of blocked funds stands atover $200 million. The idea behind this project is to ask 34million Americans to donate at least $1 and in turn, send amillion Americans to donate at least $1 and in turn, send amessage that Americans support UNFPA.

FIRST U.N. ATATURK SYMPOSIUM: TRANSFORMATION OF A NATION'S CONSCIENCE TRANSFORMATION OF A NATION S CONSCIENCE

Symposium – December 18, 2009 – United Nations, Conf. Room C, New York City

The event was organized by the Permanent Mission Of Turkey to theUnited Nations and IUMEZUSA

Vamik D Volkan M D is a Turkish-Cypriot emeritus professor ofVamik D. Volkan, M.D. is a Turkish Cypriot emeritus professor ofpsychiatry at the University Of Virginia School Of Medicine. He spokeabout his psychoanalysis on the personality of Ataturk and the motivesof his actions that changed the history of Turkey.

Justin A McCarthy is a professor of history at the University of Louisville Justin A. McCarthy is a professor of history at the University of Louisville.He concentrated on the “Without Ataturk there would be no Turks”topic.

Prof. Arnold Reisman is a great fan of ATATURK and Modern Turkey. Hisf th t l ti i i d b At t k i th R bli ffocus was on the art revolution inspired by Ataturk in the Republic ofTurkey, and its phenomenal impact on science in general and Turkishuniversities in particular.

FIRST U.N. ATATURK SYMPOSIUM: TRANSFORMATION OF A NATION'S CONSCIENCE

Symposium – December 18, 2009 – United Nations, Conf. Room 2, New York City

TRANSFORMATION OF A NATION S CONSCIENCE

George Gawrych is an associate professor of Middle East history atBaylor University . His speech was focused on Atatürk and theTurkish War of Independence from 1919 to1923. In 1989 he wonpthe Biennial Award for the Best Published Article in Turkish Studies,awarded by the Turkish Studies Association of North America.

Umut Uzer, the moderator of this symposium, is an assistantprofessor at University of Maryland University College and aprofessor at University of Maryland University College and apostdoctoral fellow at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies,Harvard University . Dr. Uzer is the author of several books andscientific journals on International relations and diplomacy.

OUR LESSON: ATATURK

Movie Premiere – May 18, 2010 – Manhattan School of Visual Arts, New York City

JEWISH-TURKISH RELATIONS THROUGHOUT HISTORY

Conference – November 14, 2010 – Northwestern UniversityThe McCormick Tribune Center, Evanston, IL

HISTORY

Jewish-Turkish Relations Throughout History: From the 15th centurySpanish Inquisition to the Holocaust

A discussion about remarkable — and widely unknown — eventsA discussion about remarkable and widely unknown eventsthat shaped Jewish-Turkish relations throughout history at the handsof visionaries like Sultan Bayezid II, Einstein, Ataturk, and TurkishDiplomats, Behiç Erkin, Namık Kemal Yolga, Necdet Kent, andSelahattin ÜlkümenSelahattin Ülkümen

Speakers: Arnold Reisman, Ph.D. PE. “Jewish Refugees from the Spanish

Inquisition and from Nazism: Albert Einstein, Ataturk’s Vision, andTurkey’s Modernization”Turkey s Modernization

Mesut Ilgim, “Contribution of the Expelled (heimatlos) JewishGerman Professors to the Turkish Republic’s University Reform”

Emir Kivircik, “A letter to the Ambassador: The Story of Behic Erkin inVichy, France”

SECOND U.N. ATATURK SYMPOSIUM: TRANSFORMATION OF A NATION'S CONSCIENCE TRANSFORMATION OF A NATION S CONSCIENCE

Symposium – December 7, 2010 – United Nations, New York City

The Second Annual Atatürk Symposium, "Atatürk: Leader of aNation”program's director Mehves Sonmez, and former president of IstanbulUniversity Alumni Association of U.S.A., made a welcoming remark at they , gUnited Nations, Conference Room 2, and thanked to each of the speakers ofthe symposium.

Mediator: Umut Uzer, Ph.D., Research Professor in Turkish Studies,Department of Political Science University of Utah was the mediator of theDepartment of Political Science, University of Utah was the mediator of theprogram.

Panelist 1: Arnold Reisman, Ph.D., Fellow, American Association for theAdvancement of ScienceP li t 2 R b t W Fi Ph D F U it d St t A b d t Panelist 2: Robert W. Finn, Ph.D., Former United States Ambassador toAfghanistan, Associate Research Scholar in the Liechtenstein Institute of theWoodrow Wilson School of International Affairs, Princeton University.

Panelist 3: Heath W. Lowry, Ph.D., Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Professor ofOttoman and Modern Turkish Studies, Princeton University.

Panelist 4: Prof. Arnold Reisman, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS); Ambassador Robert P. Finn, Former United

States Ambassador to Afghanistan.States Ambassador to Afghanistan.

SECOND U.N. ATATURK SYMPOSIUM: TRANSFORMATION OF A NATION'S CONSCIENCE TRANSFORMATION OF A NATION S CONSCIENCE

Symposium – December 7, 2010 – United Nations, New York City

THIRD U.N. ATATURK SYMPOSIUM: THE LEGACY OF ATATURK IN THE 21ST CENTURYTHE LEGACY OF ATATURK IN THE 21 CENTURY

Symposium – December 6, 2011 – United Nations, New York City

The Third Annual Atatürk Symposium, “The Legacy of Ataturk inthe 21st Century”program's organizer Mehves Sonmez, gave awelcoming speech at the United Nations, Conference Room 4,g p , ,and thanked each speaker for their participation in thesymposium.

Moderator: Prof. Justin A. McCarthy - American demographer,professor of history at the University of Louisville honoraryprofessor of history at the University of Louisville, honorarydoctorate from Boğaziçi University, Turkey, board member of theInstitute of Turkish Studies

Panelist 1: Dr. Austin Bay - Author, nationally syndicatedcolumnist IC2 Institute Fellow and adjunct professor Universitycolumnist, IC2 Institute Fellow and adjunct professor Universityof Texas, Principal in Prophion LLC, Colonel (retired, USAR) Lessons in 21st Century Leadership From the 20th Century's

Greatest Revolutionary

Panelist 2 Prof Arnold M Ludwig Adjunct Professor of Panelist 2: Prof. Arnold M. Ludwig - Adjunct Professor ofPsychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University MedicalSchool, Author of ‘King of the Mountain: The Nature of PoliticalLeadership’ and ‘ The Price of Greatness.’

Th Pill f P liti l G t The Pillars of Political Greatness

THIRD U.N. ATATURK SYMPOSIUM: THE LEGACY OF ATATURK IN THE 21ST CENTURYTHE LEGACY OF ATATURK IN THE 21 CENTURY

Symposium – December 6, 2011 – United Nations, New York City

FOURTH U.N. ATATURK SYMPOSIUM:INDUSTRIALIZATION & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN

ATATURK'S REVOLUTIONSymposium – December 11, 2013 – United Nations, New York City

12/11/2013