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Turkish American Advocates and Friends of Türkiye:
The 32nd Annual Turkish American National Convention will take place April 12-14, 2012. Unprecedented in Turkish American history, the Annual Convention will be hosted in unity and harmony by America's most established national Turkish American organizations -- the Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA), Federation of Turkish American Associations (FTAA), and Turkish American Community Centers (TACC).
In the spirit of solidarity within diversity, I convened a Joint Planning Committee under the chairmanship of ATAA Past President Günay Evinch with members from all three organizations, which is proud to present a rich menu of seminars, panels and cultural events to help Turkish American grassroots leaders educate, motivate, and mobilize their local communities and to support US-Turkish relations.
On April 12, Grassroots Day, the Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) will host ATAA, FTAA and TACC local chapter leaders at the TCA's new office building near the White House, for a day of training in public advocacy.
On April 13, 2012, Leadership Day, which will take place at the Washington Plaza Hotel, we will delve into the intricacies of US-Turkish relations and public advocacy.
On April 14, 2012, Young Turks Day, Current TV's "Young Turks" talk show host, Cenk Uygur, will provide a program on how to take advantage of your Turkish culture in your advocacy efforts. European Union Turkish politician Hande Bozatli will discuss youth and women's empowerment movements.
Young Turkish American multi-millionaire, Ersal Özdemir, will be the keynote speaker at the Gala, "Night Under the Moon and Stars", which will include high level representation from Congress, the State Department, and White House. Esref Inceoglu Gypsies Group will provide live entertainment, including a repertoire of Turkish meze dining music, as rich Turkish Balkan, Caucuses and Middle Eastern folk and pop.
We are looking forward to seeing you at another successful Turkish American Convention in beautiful Washington DC this month when the cherry trees blossoms are in full bloom and the weather is Turkish delightful!
Ergün Kırlıkovalı
President
Assembly of Turkish American Associations
As of April 12, 2012 - 8:00am EST - The program is subject to change. Please refer to the NLC 2012 page for updates.
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| Thursday - April 12, 2012 |
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TCA GRASSROOTS SEMINAR - Organized by the Turkish Coalition of America |
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Location: 1510 H St. NW Suite 900, Washington, DC 20005
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10:00am |
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Welcoming Remarks
• Lincoln McCurdy, President, Turkish Coalition of America (TCA)
• Günay Evinch, Convention Chairperson
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10:15am |
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Session 1: Turkish American Grassroots in 3D – Part 1
• Moderator, Brian Forni, Consultant for the Turkish Embassy in Washington, D.C
• Lobbying - Mike McMahon, Former Member of Congress
• PACs and Campaign Financing - Lydia Borland, TC-USAPAC
• Turkish American Legal Defense Fund (TALDF) - Bruce Fein, Chief Counsel
• Questions & Answers
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12:00pm |
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Lunch |
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1:30pm |
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Session 2: Turkish American Grassroots in 3D – Part 2
• Moderator, Brian Forni, Consultant for the Turkish Embassy in Washington, D.C
• Public Education & Teachers Workshops - Bonnie Kaslan, Turkish Cultural Foundation (TCF)
• Charitable Fundraising - Senay Ataselim, Turkish Philanthropy Funds (TPF)
• Grant Writing - Pınar Güvenç, NY Grant Company
• Questions & Answers
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3:15pm |
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Coffee Break |
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3:30pm |
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Session 3: The Turkish American Broad Advocacy Network (TABAN) 2012-13 Program
• Yenal Küçüker, ATAA Civic Engagement Director
• Questions & Answers / Interactive Session
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5:00pm |
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Reception |
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| Friday - April 13, 2012 |
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LEADERSHIP DAY |
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Location: Washington Plaza, 10 Thomas Circle Northwest, Washington, DC 20005-4106 |
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9:00am |
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Commencement and National Anthems
- Seçil Göksu, Programs Director, ATAA
- Sebahat Güven, Vice President of Youth Relations, FTAA
- Işılay Davaz, Officer, TACC
Welcoming Remarks and Plenary Session
- Introductions by Dr. Esma Akın, ATAA Trustee
- Günay Evinch, Convention Chairperson
- Ergün Kırlıkovalı, President, Assembly of Turkish American Associations(ATAA)
- Ali Çınar, President, Federation of Turkish American Associations (FTAA)
- Adem Büyükacar, Secretary General, Turkish American Community Centers (TACC)
- Congresswoman Virginia Foxx, US-Turkish Caucus Chairperson
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9:45am-10:40am |
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Session 1: Turkish American Advocacy in 3D
- Introductions
- Moderator Bülent Alirıza, Director, Center for Strategic and International Studies
- The Administration: Kathleen Allegrone, Director, Office of S. European Affairs, U.S. Dept. of State
- Congress: Michael McMahon, Former Member of Congress
- Questions & Answers
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10:40am-11:00am |
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Coffee Break |
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11:00am-12:00pm |
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Session 2: The US-Turkish Partnership in the 21st Century
- Introductions by FTAA Officer Sebahat Guven
- Moderator: Dr. Sinan Ciddi, Executive Director, Institute of Turkish Studies, Georgetown Univ.
- H.E. Namık Tan, Ambassador of Turkey to the United States
- H.E. Ross Wilson, Atlantic Council of the United States
- Questions and Answers
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12:00pm-1:30pm |
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Lunch
- Introduction by Demet Cabbar, ATAA Vice President for Capital Region
- Keynote Speaker: Ahmet Erdengiz, Washington Representative of TRNC
Remembering Rauf Denktaş for an Empowered Turkish Cypriot Future
- Keynote Speaker: Thomas Goltz, Author, Journalist
(Tommy the Turk's) Twenty Year Teaser
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1:30pm-3:30pm |
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Session 3: Diversity and Solidarity in a Global Community
- Introduction
- Günay Evinch, Past President, ATAA
- H.E. Vincent Gray, Mayor of the District of Columbia *
- Emre Oruç, Expert, Directorate for Turks Abroad and Related Communities
- Fırat Yaldız, Expert, Directorate for Turks Abroad and Related Communities
- Sevin Elekdağ, Research Fellow, TCA
- Celal Seçilmiş, Chairperson, World Turkish Business Council, America Committee
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3:30pm-3:50pm |
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Coffee Break |
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3:50pm-5:30pm |
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Session 4: Grassroots: Homegrown, Artificial Turf, Best Practices
- Introduction
- Moderator Brian Forni, Consultant for the Turkish Embassy in Washington, D.C
- Advocacy:
- Yenal Küçüker, ATAA Civic Engagement Director, TABAN
- Beril Ünver, Project Manager for Congressional Outreach, TCA
- Javid Huseynov, President and Co-founder, Pax Turcica
- Paul Moorehead, Drinkler Biddle & Reath, LLP
- Political Fundraising:
- Lincoln McCurdy, Turkish PAC
- Erim Canligil, National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC)
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7:00pm-9:00pm |
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Ambassador’s Reception at Embassy Residence
1606 23rd Street, N.W.. Washington, D.C. 20036 - (For registrants only) |
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| Saturday - April 14, 2012 |
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YOUNG TURKS DAY |
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Location: Washington Plaza, 10 Thomas Circle Northwest, Washington, DC 20005-4106 |
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9:00am-9:05am |
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Commencement
- Seçil Göksu, Programs Director, ATAA
- Sebahat Güven, Vice President of Youth Relations, FTAA
- Işılay Davaz, Officer, TACC
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9:05am-9:45am |
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Welcoming Remarks
- Günay Evinch, Convention Chairperson (Remarks and Introductions)
- Ergün Kırlıkovalı, President, ATAA
- Ali Çınar, President, FTAA
- Adem Büyükacar, Secretary General, TACC
- Semrin Aleckson, Vice-President, George Mason University TSA
- Lela Ross, Project Manager UTSA
- Elchin Abdullayev, Founder and president of Azerbaijani Youth of America (AYA)
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9:45am-10:30am |
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Plenary Session, "Sakın Bulaşma!"
- Introductions by Esra Uğurlu, ATAA Treasurer
- Cenk Uygur, Young Turks "Politically Direct" Talk Show Host, (via pre-recorded video)
- Hürriyet Aydın Ok, Producer, Turkish American TV - "How to Start Your Public Access Television"
- Hikmet Aslan, Former Turkish National Team Soccer Player
Presentation: "Yurtta, Cihanda, Biz Milli Takımız"
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10:30am-10:40am |
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Coffee Break
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10:40am-12:00pm |
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Session 1: Turkish in America Heritage Panel
- Introduction
- Moderator, Feridun Bek, ATAA Regional VP Mid Central Region & President TACAM
- Haris Tarin, Director, Muslim Public Affairs Council (PAC) - "Muslim in America"
- Jason Epstein, American Jewish Committee - "Diversity in America"
- Islom Shakhbandarov, President, Ahiska Turkish American Community Center of Dayton
- Tomris Azeri, President, Azerbaijan Society of America
- Meto Koloski, President, United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD)
- Ajla Delkic, The Advisory Council for Bosnia and Herzegovina (ACBH)
- Questions and Answers
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12:00pm-1:30pm |
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Lunch
- Commencement Remarks:
- Ergün Kırlıkovalı, President, ATAA
- Ali Çınar, President, FTAA
- Adem Büyükacar, Secretary General, TACC
- Keynote Speaker:
Hande Bozatlı, President, Istanbul 2nd District Council EU & Int. Relations Commission
Empowering Youth and Women for a Progressive Türkiye
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1:45pm - 3:00pm |
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Session 2: Turkish Students Survival Guide
- Introduction
- Student Visa Rights and Duties, Efe Poturoglu, Butzel Long Tighe Patton PLLC
- Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, Kareem Shora, US Department of Homeland Security
- Forming and Running a Turkish Student Association, Aylin Sagay
- Transitioning to American Schools, Vince Stumpo, Headmaster, Linden Hall Prep School for Girls
- A Turkish Physician’s Journey, Ulas Çamsari, MD
- A Turkish Lawyer’s Trials of Life, Ayhan Ögmen, Attorney at Law
- A Turkish Engineer Builds High, Gökhan Gelisen, PE
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3:00pm - 3:20pm |
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Coffee Break |
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3:20pm - 5:00pm |
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Turkelicious: The Flavors of Young Turkish Life in America - video presentation |
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7:00pm - 11:00pm |
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Gala - Night Under the Moon and Stars
- Commencement by Protocol Team
- National Anthems
- Welcoming Remarks by:
- Günay Evinch, Convention Chairperson
- Ergün Kırlıkovalı, President, ATAA
- Ali Çınar, President, FTAA
- Adem Büyükacar, Secretary General, TACC
- H.E. Namık Tan, Ambassador of Turkey to the United States
- Dinner
- Keynote Speaker: Ersal Özdemir, Chairman and CEO, Keystone Group
- Live Entertainment by Eşref İnceoğlu & New York Gypsy All Stars
(* invited)
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 The Washington Plaza Hotel is located at 10 Thomas Circle Northwest, Washington, DC 20005-4106. Hotel is five blocks from the White House and Washington Convention Center; minutes from major museums, monuments, and attractions. Close to the city’s best shopping and hottest nightlife; a short walk from the McPherson Square Metro Station; four miles from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). For information and reservations, please call 202.842.1300 or visit www.washingtonplazahotel.com.
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