1. Event PortfolioEvent Portfolio
by Mae Sonmezy

2. 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 York
City 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 Turkish
Consul 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 from
Madison 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.

3. TURKISH PARADE
(continued)(continued)
May 24, 2008, New York City
 The two hour parade organized by Federation of Turkish American
Associations symbolized the solidarity among the Turkish people in the
United States.
 The parade ended with speeches related to the significance of the day
and its importance in terms of bringing the Turkish Americans together.

4. 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 and
molecular 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 of
professor 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.

5. “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. Naim
Güleryüz, 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 five
centuries 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 and
headquarted in Istanbul the Quincentennial Foundation is planning a three year (1990 - 1992) cultural and academic program both
within Turkey and abroad mainly in the U.S, Canada and Mexico on the American continent; France, United Kingdom and Italy in
Europe.

6. “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 the
greatness of the occasion. What Turkish Jews lack in numbers they
make up in enthusiasm and commitment. And they toward theirp y
vision with great excitement.
 This program has been designed to bring the diverse and rich legacy
of Turkish Jewry to a greater audience.

7. WHO ARE AHISKA TURKS?
64. Anniversary – December 13, 2008 – Turkish Center, New York City
 The event was organized under the Turkish Coalition of America. This
year was the 64th year anniversary to exit Georgia. The purpose of
the event was, to welcome to fifteen thousand Ahiska Turks to,
America. We would like to get to know Ahiska Turks better in Turkish
world.
 Our goal was to show how strong human beings can be, how much
they endure and not break We want to learn how you kept yourthey endure and not break. We want to learn how you kept your
language, customs and identities as Turks under incredible torture
and pressure.
 NY Former congressman and Turkish Coalition of America
representative 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 with
their traditional food

8. ASALA MURDERS
Film Screening – March 17, 2009 – Turkish Center, New York City
 “Asala Murders” film screening by Zeynep Kececiler and a lecture
featuring Bruce Fein, Resident Scholar, Turkish Coalition of America,
sponsored by Turkish Coalition of America.p y

9. KOREAN WAR VETERANS
Remembrance – April 25, 2009 – Turkish Center, New York City
 The Korean War Veterans from the Corporal Allan F. Kivlehan
Chapter, 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 a
struggle for people and a country, most people never heard of
South Korea.
 90 minutes about the Korean War, the way these Honorable
soldiers saw it and what they know of Turkish troops in Koreasoldiers saw it and what they know of Turkish troops in Korea.

10. “JOURNEY OF FAITH” PREMIERE
Film Screening – May 8, 2009 – Lighthouse Theater, New York City
 Victoria Barrett, owner of Shenandoah Films, producer and screen
writer, introduced New York City viewers to “Journey of Faith”, a
documentary tracing the rich trail of Christianity through the ages iny g y g g
Turkey. The film travels to fourteen biblical locations on this
extraordinary journey.
 The event was organized and hosted by Istanbul University Alumni
Association of USA (IUMEZUSA) at the Lighthouse Theater in NewAssociation of USA (IUMEZUSA) at the Lighthouse Theater in New
York City. A number of Turkish-Americans, as well as Americans
attended the screening of “Journey of Faith”, made possible with the
support of the Turkish Cultural Foundation, ATAA, TADF, FB USA and
BICOM.BICOM.

11. “REMEMBERING EDWARD TASHJI”
Educational Lecture – June 10, 2009 – Turkish Center, New York City
 A remembrance program organized in in honor of Edward Tashji, for
the 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 who
refused to follow the safe, familiar pro-Armenian drumbeat; he made
up his own mind, and turned into a Truth-Seeker of the first order.
 Learning to speak Turkish after 50, Tashji was buried in a Turkish
cemetery His house full of memorabilia is now called “Museum ofcemetery. His house, full of memorabilia, is now called Museum of
Turkish Friendship”
 Prof. Dr. Ömer Turan gave a detailed speech about Tashji’s dedicated
life along with a video of Tashji’s personal photographs documenting
hi 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.

12. CULTURAL HERITAGE OF
MACEDONIA & TURKEYMACEDONIA & TURKEY
Turkish-Macedonian Cultural Evening – October 9, 2009 – Turkish Center,
New York Cityy
 Over 200 Turkish-Americans and Macedonian-Americans and friends
gathered to experience the rich cultures of Turkey and
Macedonia. 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’s
cultures Many Turks have roots in Macedonia including thecultures. Many Turks have roots in Macedonia, including the
Founder 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 its
efforts to join NATO and other Euro-Atlantic institutions.

13. “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 our
commemoration of the founder of our Republic . The very first
Minister of Culture of our homeland presented a dramatic reading ofMinister of Culture of our homeland presented a dramatic reading of
scores of Atatürk’s well-known and seldom-quoted statements. The
slides, featured authentic photographs, an exciting dimension to the
experience 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 s
speeches and statements about his ideas and ideals.

14. 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 Nations
Population Fund spoke about UNFPA’s programs and women's
status, reproductive health, population and development, p , p p p
issues in western Asia to alumni of Istanbul University and to
the Turkish-American New York area community.
 Jane Roberts is a co-founder of 34 Million Friends of UNFPA in
2002 when the Bush Administration first announced they2002 when the Bush Administration first announced they
would withhold the $34 million that Congress allocated to
UNFPA. Today the total amount of blocked funds stands at
over $200 million. The idea behind this project is to ask 34
million Americans to donate at least $1 and in turn, send amillion Americans to donate at least $1 and in turn, send a
message that Americans support UNFPA.

15. FIRST U.N. ATATURK SYMPOSIUM:
TRANSFORMATION OF A NATION'S CONSCIENCETRANSFORMATION 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 the
United 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 of
psychiatry at the University Of Virginia School Of Medicine. He spoke
about his psychoanalysis on the personality of Ataturk and the motives
of 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. His
f 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 of
Turkey, and its phenomenal impact on science in general and Turkish
universities in particular.

16. 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 at
Baylor University . His speech was focused on Atatürk and the
Turkish War of Independence from 1919 to1923. In 1989 he wonp
the 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 assistant
professor at University of Maryland University College and aprofessor at University of Maryland University College and a
postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies,
Harvard University . Dr. Uzer is the author of several books and
scientific journals on International relations and diplomacy.

17. OUR LESSON: ATATURK
Movie Premiere – May 18, 2010 – Manhattan School of Visual Arts, New York City


18. JEWISH-TURKISH RELATIONS THROUGHOUT
HISTORY
Conference – November 14, 2010 – Northwestern University
The McCormick Tribune Center, Evanston, IL
HISTORY
 Jewish-Turkish Relations Throughout History: From the 15th century
Spanish Inquisition to the Holocaust
 A discussion about remarkable — and widely unknown — eventsA discussion about remarkable and widely unknown events
that shaped Jewish-Turkish relations throughout history at the hands
of visionaries like Sultan Bayezid II, Einstein, Ataturk, and Turkish
Diplomats, Behiç Erkin, Namık Kemal Yolga, Necdet Kent, and
Selahattin ÜlkümenSelahattin Ülkümen
 Speakers:
 Arnold Reisman, Ph.D. PE. “Jewish Refugees from the Spanish
Inquisition and from Nazism: Albert Einstein, Ataturk’s Vision, and
Turkey’s Modernization”Turkey s Modernization
 Mesut Ilgim, “Contribution of the Expelled (heimatlos) Jewish
German Professors to the Turkish Republic’s University Reform”
 Emir Kivircik, “A letter to the Ambassador: The Story of Behic Erkin in
Vichy, France”

19. SECOND U.N. ATATURK SYMPOSIUM:
TRANSFORMATION OF A NATION'S CONSCIENCETRANSFORMATION OF A NATION S CONSCIENCE
Symposium – December 7, 2010 – United Nations, New York City
 The Second Annual Atatürk Symposium, "Atatürk: Leader of a
Nation”program's director Mehves Sonmez, and former president of Istanbul
University Alumni Association of U.S.A., made a welcoming remark at they , g
United Nations, Conference Room 2, and thanked to each of the speakers of
the 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 the
program.
 Panelist 1: Arnold Reisman, Ph.D., Fellow, American Association for the
Advancement of Science
P 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 to
Afghanistan, Associate Research Scholar in the Liechtenstein Institute of the
Woodrow Wilson School of International Affairs, Princeton University.
 Panelist 3: Heath W. Lowry, Ph.D., Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Professor of
Ottoman 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.

20. SECOND U.N. ATATURK SYMPOSIUM:
TRANSFORMATION OF A NATION'S CONSCIENCETRANSFORMATION OF A NATION S CONSCIENCE
Symposium – December 7, 2010 – United Nations, New York City

21. 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 in
the 21st Century”program's organizer Mehves Sonmez, gave a
welcoming speech at the United Nations, Conference Room 4,g p , ,
and thanked each speaker for their participation in the
symposium.
 Moderator: Prof. Justin A. McCarthy - American demographer,
professor of history at the University of Louisville honoraryprofessor of history at the University of Louisville, honorary
doctorate from Boğaziçi University, Turkey, board member of the
Institute of Turkish Studies
 Panelist 1: Dr. Austin Bay - Author, nationally syndicated
columnist IC2 Institute Fellow and adjunct professor Universitycolumnist, IC2 Institute Fellow and adjunct professor University
of 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 of
Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University Medical
School, Author of ‘King of the Mountain: The Nature of Political
Leadership’ and ‘ The Price of Greatness.’
Th Pill f P liti l G t The Pillars of Political Greatness

22. 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

23. FOURTH U.N. ATATURK SYMPOSIUM:
INDUSTRIALIZATION & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN
ATATURK'S REVOLUTION
Symposium – December 11, 2013 – United Nations, New York City
12/11/2013