ATA-DC Events 2007

	ATA-DC’s Ataturk School Celebrates the Holiday Season and the New Year December 16, 2007 Ataturk School students along with their teachers and parents celebrated the holiday season and the New Year at the McLean High School Cafeteria on Sunday, December 16th. Students enjoyed a potluck brunch brought by their parents as they also exchanged symbolic gifts with each other. The teachers also received a gift each from ATA-DC and from the parents for their dedication and selfless efforts for the education of ATATURK School students.

	ATA-DC End of year happyhour and Membership Drive at the RoseMary’s Thyme Bistro December 13, 2007 Roughly 100 Turkish-Americans got together at ATA-DC’s end-of-year happy hour on Thursday December 13 at the RoseMary’s Thyme Bistro, in DC. The happyhour goers gathered at the private room of the Bistro and different from the previous happyhours, this time they enjoyed delicious Turkish food such as off-the-brick oven lahmacun, and Turkish pides with cheese and sujuck just to name a few. ATA-DC had a special membership drive that evening, where people who became members of ATA-DC received a bottle of Kavaklidere wine. The fruit of the evening were 15 new members joining the ATA-DC family. As always there was a drawing at the end of the evening and lucky participants won a $50 gift certificate from the Rose Mary’s Thyme and Turkish festival t-shirts.

	ATA-DC Turkish Movie Nights were a big success December 6, 2007 and December 16, 2007 ATA-DC screened two Turkish movies in the past month, Beynelmilel/The International on Dec. 6th and Dondurmam Gaymak/Ice Cream, I Scream on Dec. 16th. Despite the unpredictable winter weather, both movies attracted an enthusiastic audience. 90 and 130 people, respectively, came to see the movies and requested that ATA-DC continues with the Turkish movie nights. The audience included both Turks and Americans. The next screening will be a joint event of ATA-DC and the Italian Culture Institute. Ferzan Ozpetek’s Kutsal Yurek/Sacred Heart movie will be shown at the Italian Embassy on Wednesday, February 6th.

	ATA-DC happyhour welcoming the ATAA’s Leadership Conference Delegates November 15, 2007 On Thursday, November 15, ATA-DC Happy Hour welcoming the delegates of the ATAA’s Leadership Conference took place at Nick’s Riveside Grille at the Georgetown Harbour. Roughly 100 people attended the evening. Participants included DC area residents as well as other Turkish Americans who came from New York, New Jersey, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, North Carolina, and so on to participate at the ATAA’s convention

	Civil Society Efforts in Education in Turkey Presenting Mother Child Education Foundation (ACEV) November 9, 2007 On Friday, November 9 ATA-DC organized “Civil Society Efforts in Turkey”, which highlighted Mother Child Education Foundation (ACEV) and the Bridge to Turkiye Fund. Derya Akalin, Executive Director of ACEV introduced ACEV’s mission, work program and their “7 is too late” campaign. Ms. Akalin pointed out that in Turkey, only 16% of children between the ages of 3 to 6 receive any form of preschool education, which is way behind many developing countries. Yet, a child's cognitive, social, physical and emotional development is almost completed within the first 6 years of life. For this reason ACEV focuses on providing education to pre-school children and to their mothers and fathers.

	ATA-DC's Annual Republic Day Ball October 26, 2007 This year ATA-DC commemorated the 84th Anniversary of the Republic of Turkey at the Holiday Inn in Georgetown,, where 120 people attended. Famous Turkish Singer, Izel also gave a concert at the Ball. ATA-DC raised $2,045 from donations and the Republic Day Ball proceeds for the Mehmetcik Vakfi. ATA-DC has also decided to donate $1,000. The funds was transferred to the ATATURK Society’s Mehmetcik Vakfi campaign and then matched 100 percent by Turkish Coalition of America

	ATA-DC's 2007 Turkish Festival A Collective Success of the Turkish American Community! October 14, 2007 . On Sunday, October 14, 2007 more than 15,000 people came together to celebrate the Turkish culture in the heart of Washington, DC. The festival-goers experienced many aspects of Turkish culture from the lively folk dancing and musical performances to the coffee fortune reading, delicious Turkish cuisine, colorful arts and crafts vendors and fun kids’ activities. Every year, the Turkish Festival is attracting more and more people, enabling us to promote Turkish culture, history, food, and the natural and historical beauties of Turkey, here, in the capital city of the United States. This year at the festival we had 14 Turkish food vendors, 40 retail vendors, 10 performing groups including 85 performers, more than 100 volunteers who worked all day long, and about 40 sponsors who made the event possible. In the preparation period leading to the festival, more than 600 people attended the three fundraisers organized by ATA-DC’s Festival

	Blue Sky...Blue Sea.....Turquoise Night and Bayram Celebration at MEZE October 12, 2007 ATA-DC celebrated the Ramadan Bayrami at Meze Restaurant. The event was also a fundraiser for the Turkish Festival 2007. More than 150 people attended the evening.

	Ince Belli - Turkish Brunch August 26, 2007 ATA-DC organized a casual brunch to bring together friends and families on a Sunday morning to socialize while enjoying Turkish tea in ince belli glasses and Turkish breakfast. Approximately 150 people including children and families attended the brunch. The menu included Turkish breakfast items including cheese, sucuk, olives, and simit as well as kebabs and kofte. Of course tea was served in incebelli tea glasses. Ilhan Ozulu entertained the guests with his lovely music. More than $2,300 was raised for the Turkish Festival 2007.

	ATA-DC organized a fundraiser party for the Turkish Festival 2007 July 28, 2007 More than 370 people showed up at the fundraiser to support the festival and we were able to raise more than $4,500 for the Turkish Festival 2007

	ATA-DC and the Ataturk School for children joyfully celebrated the Children Bayram May 6, 2007 Ataturk School Children celebrated the Children's bayram at McLean High School. Children performed Poems & Performances, played Games and Activities for All Ages, had fun with a magician, and enjoyed sweet and Savory Turkish Food.

	ATA-DC sponsored the Turkish night at the George Washington University May 1, 2007 ATA-DC Sponsored the Turkish night at the George Washington University, which was organized by the GWU Turkish Student Association. The participants enjoyed Turkish food and folk dancing, as well as slide shows promoting Turkey throughout the evening. More than 200 tickets were sold.

	ATA-DC presented a special screening of Blood and Oil April 2, 2007 ATA-DC in association with the Turkish Student Association at George Washington University presented a special screening of Blood and Oil. The Middle East in World War I, directed by Marty Callaghan. Gunay Evinch, Fulbright Scholar in International Law, also discussed the legal ramifications of the Armenian Revolt (1885-1920) with respect to the Armenian allegation of genocide. A 15-minute version of the movie The Armenian Revolt was shown.

	ATA-DC Young Professional Happy Hours ATA-DC brought together more than 100 young professionals at the informal and friendly gatherings at Vantage Point Rooftop Bar on May 17, 2007, and at Hotel Lombardy on Thursday, March 15, 2007.

	Annual Teachers' Workshop Breaks Records Again March 19, 2007 Our Teachers' Workshop continued to gain popularity. Held at the Turkish Embassy, over 100 local teachers joined for the day-long event. Participants heard from expert speakers, enjoyed a Turkish feast, and won raffle prizes, including a trip to Turkey.