TAWSF
T A W S F
President Vural Cengiz & Orhan Kaymakcalan- ATAA's 26th Annual Convention
-ATAA BALL CHICAGO 2005-
By Meltem B. Kiziltug
26th ATAA Awards Banquet and Annual Turkish Republic Ball took place at Palmer House Hilton in Chicago.
From ATAA's Press Release:
"On October 29, 1923, Turkey was proclaimed an independent, secular democracy, under the resolute leadership of the republic's first president, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Following the War of Independence, the Turkish Republic was shaped based on the establishment of a constitution and a parliamentary assembly. Thanks to the vision and determination of Kemal Ataturk and the Turkish people, Turkey has advanced as a model, embracing its cultural heritage, while simultaneously moving forward and creating a progressive society. Each year on October 29, Turks around the world gather to celebrate the establishment of the Turkish Republic. The Assembly of Turkish American Associations extends its best wishes to Turks and Turkish-Americans, both at home and abroad, on this day of celebration of the founding of our republic."
The graceful Grand Ballroom of Palmer House has awakened by the dynamite group of Turkish entertainers, Nukhet Duru and Cenk Eren along with their band on Saturday, November 19th, 2005.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Nukhet Duru, the never aging lady, and Cenk Eren, whom made the stage so close and available to all the guests, on behalf of the Turkish Community in Chicago. I should not bypass the handsome, Burak on the vocals if I got his name right. Through the chitchats in the ladies room, I assure you that He got acknowledged among the Turkish ladies during the night! Also, Thanks to him and the wonderful band.
As soon as Nukhet and Cenk hit the stage with their splendid performance, the guests were flooded to the dance floor. A huge group of party lover audience took Cenk by surprise. Cenk must have stereotyped and associated Chicago's Cold weather with a Cold Crowd in his mind. However, he confessed that to his surprise the audience was so unexpectedly energized. TAWSF Vice President, Ayhan Lash and TAWSF member, Asuman Alp have never left the dance floor, especially the frontlines of the stage. Poor husbands, Nick and Ercan, had to go along with their wife's verve all night as always. The tail of the group; Zeynep and Dr. Erol Yorulmazoglu, Mualla and Sami Salievski, Dilek and Dr. Serhan Alkan, Seniha, Yuksel and Elif Karatas, Leyla Meyanci and her friend Sky Baxter, Meltem and Arif Kiziltug also danced all night. Thank God, there was not a professional belly dancer that night whose job would have been in danger after Zeynep's (TAWSF member) impromptu. Her performance thrilled the crowd even more. The next day, on Turkish Airlines; Zeynep, coincidentally happened to be on the same flight with the returning group of entertainers and they all enjoyed meeting again and sharing the moments of her show from the night before. Sami, who is the long time support to TAWSF, was sweet as ever and showed that he could make a real great singer, especially in his handsome tuxedo. He never missed the chance to put his arm around Nukhet and sang the classical Nukhet songs together delightfully by looking bravely into his Mualla's eyes. There was hardly a filled chair in the audience until their last song for the evening. Nukhet could not resist Ercan's wish and sang her classic best of "melankoli". The acoustic in the room was not at its great but melankoli still won the hearts.
This year everyone agreed that there was less talk and shorter wait for the food comparing to the previous years'. The wine was not promptly served which agitated some of the wine enthusiast while the hungry commuters, in another words, suburban folks could not waste another minute to wait for their drinks and went ahead with the dinner in full speed. The bread and butter again ranked number 1 for the most delicious, life-saver, hunger-fighter course, on this year's Ball's menu. The tables were not roomy so the Turkish-American crowd, who generally accustomed with large space felt a bit clostrophic. Although, I personally thought that it made conversation much more possible on the table and so at the end of the night my voice was still stable not horsy. The tight space between the guests also made possible for me to find and save my lost asparagus on Dr. Yorulmazoglu's lap. A lot of participants were present at the rich silent-auction throughout the night. It was fun for me to watch closely the competition over a THY Ticket to Turkey between Savas Er and Ergin Uskup. Eventually Ergin Uskup won the auction and paid $ 1600 for a ticket to Istanbul for two. The ruffle was enriched by the donations from the various Turkish businesses in Chicago Area. For instance, a long time TAWSF supporter, Skylink, Zeynep Kurap has donated a few airline tickets to Turkey.
TAWSF's beloved, long time student affair officer, Semra Prescott has accompanied by her student guests from NIU as always. Semra and recent TAWSF member, Aynur Karacan enjoyed the night together sharing the same table by singing along the songs with their tamed voices. On the other hand, TAWSF member, Sel Yackley, talented fundraiser, kept busy introducing Oz Bengur (www.ozbengur.com) to the guests, who would be the first Turkish American in the United States Congress if he is elected.
The other highlights from the evening; Turkish Ambassador to the US Faruk Logoglu had his good-byes. Our much-appreciated, Consulate General, Naci Koru and his wife, Canan Koru have received their well deserved award for their success on bringing the Turkish Community together and promoting Turkey.
Last but not least, Saturday night, the anniversary ball was a lovely sight to behold as guests came from all across the United States to celebrate this milestone with pomp and circumstance and left feeling lighthearted and fulfilled as depicted by their enthusiastic participation in the evening's events.
Please do not remember TAWSF only at the occasions, events, activities and Remember to help our students through your donations in any day and time.
Sincerely,
Meltem B. Kiziltug
TAWSF Treas.
T A W S F
ATAA President
Vural Cengiz ATAA President
Mr.&Mrs. Cengiz Leyla
Meyanci-Sky Baxter Nick
Lash-Professor.Ayhan Lash(TAWSF)-Jack
Muckerheide -A few TAWSF
Board members and their spouses- Meltem Kiziltug
(Tawsf board) & Zeynep Yorulmazoglu(Tawsf
member) A few TAWSF Board
members Professor
Ayhan Lash - Meltem
Tunar - Meltem Kiziltug NIck &
Professor Ayhan Lash Sel Yackley-Jack
Muckerheide Cenk Eren
& Nukhet
Duru Meltem Tunar
(Tawsf Board - Medya) Cenk Eren
& Nukhet
Duru Aynur
Karacan(Tawsf member)-Semra Prescutt(Tawsf
Board-Studient Affair) (Tawsf
member)Aynur Karacan-Semra Prescutt (Tawsf Student
Affair) Sel (Tawsf
member)-John Yackley Dr.Serhan Alkan
-Meltem(Tawsf
Treas.)&Arif Kiziltug- Professor.Ayhan
Lash Jack
Muckerheide-Meltem Tunar(Tawsf Board-
Medya) Nick Lash-Jack
Muckerheide-Professor Ayhan Lash (TAWSF Vice
President) Sky Baxter-Leyla
Meyanci Nukhet
Duru Meltem(Tawsf
Treas.) & Arif Kiziltug Dr.Yesim
Gulecyuz - Semra Uzkan Zernisan-Ersin
Caglayan Elif Koru-Gizem
Tunca-Leyla Meyanci
Photos
by Meltem Tunar
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