ATAA's New President: Günay Evinch (Övünç)

Cuma, 12 Haziran 2009 11:19

Washington DC – It is a great privilege to commence my service as the first American-born President of the Assembly of Turkish American Associations (Türk Amerikan Dernekleri Birliği). I have had the opportunity to serve ATAA first as a student volunteer from 1989-93, then as a contributor to The Turkish Times newspaper from 1993-1996, and since then as Legal Counsel, Secretary General, Capital Region Vice President, and President-Elect.  I thank the Turkish American community for the trust it has placed in me and I hope to honor that trust by serving you to the very best of my abilities in this, our organization’s highest office.  I look forward to meeting with Turkish Americans throughout the nation in the months to come as ATAA escalates its advocacy in support of productive Turkish American integration and strong US.-Turkish relations.  I also look forward to working with my newly elected Directors and Trustees, and our excellent staff. 

Solidarity within Diversity in the Spirit of Atatürk  

This theme represents a fresh start for all of us, as ATAA charts the way with a Turkish American community that is now bursting with political vibrancy, economic power, and cultural diversity.  I invite all Turks to work toward simple, common goals within our diverse communities, to breathe life into our Turkish heritage of tolerance and into the universal principals for which Atatürk stands.  It is in this spirit that the Turkish Republic rose from the ashes of the Ottoman Empire and in which modern Turkey strives to be a global economic power as well as a bulwark of security and stability in Eurasia and the Middle East.  Americans have come to learn that our homeland, Türkiye, is a rare secular democracy where wealth, freedom, culture and geography combine to provide one of the most fascinating and exemplary societies and countries in the world.  In this manner, Turks and Americans are truly kindred nations.  

Key Heritage Community  

The United States, considers Turkey a key partner in an increasingly complex world.  According to the United States Director of National Intelligence, the next 25 years will see the development of an “arc of turbulence” from South America to Sub-Saharan Africa, to the Middle East, Central Asia and Southeast Asia.  Turkey will be just outside and at the top of this arc, insulated from the turmoil due to its culture, security assets, and strong democratic and economic institutions.  Turkish Americans are a key heritage community who can serve as bridges between the two nations.  Turkish Americans are also interlocutors between the Turkish and U.S. governments, to help inform U.S. foreign policy that can otherwise be vulnerable to anti-Turkish ethnic affronts that drive U.S. foreign policy in unproductive directions.  

ATAA is a proud interlocutor, as the voice of reason and credibility in Washington DC for nearly 500,000 Turkish and Turkic Americans nationwide.  Along with our local chapters, ATAA mobilizes thousands of Turkish Americans in civic duty and public advocacy.  The ATAA website gets over 150,000 hits a week.  Each year, the ATAA visits most Congressional offices twice to educate our elected officials about issues important to us.  In 2008, we visited once regarding the future of the Turkmen city of Kirkuk, and again on the Armenian issue.  

No More “Lap-Top Patriotism”

 The era of “defending the cause” by emailing one another gripes and complaints - what I have come to call “lap-top patriotism” - should now draw to a close.  Instead, I am urging all of us to first think about what we can write to our local newspapers, and to our state and federal legislators, and to think about what we can say at our next local school board meetings.  Successful ownership of our Turkish heritage and advocacy requires education, training, hard work and money.  Everyone should do what they are best at, whether meeting with and writing to legislators, meeting with and writing to the media, hosting fundraisers, or organizing and facilitating cultural events and festivals.  Furthermore, Turkish Americans should donate to the ATAA and its chapters.  I donate a nontrivial portion of my salary to support ATAA, ATA-DC, which is my local Turkish-American association, and to other Turkish American groups, causes and political appeals.  I invite all Turkish American leaders and community members to consider doing the same to the best of their financial abilities. 

Power of Knowledge, Money and the Rule of Law  

The ATAA and its local chapters have joined forces with the Turkish Coalition of America (TCA), Turkish Coalition–United States Political Action Committee (TC-USAPAC), and Turkish American Legal Defense Fund (TALDF).  When you supplement ATAA and TCA education and advocacy with TC-USAPAC campaign funding, you enhance access to people’s hearts and minds.  When that is not enough because the rights of Turkish Americans are being violated, then the TALDF is there to guard our Constitutional rights in the judicial system.  

Private Sector Supporting ATAA  

ATAA President Evinch with TOBB President Rifat Hisarciklioglu at the TOBB-DEIK World Turkish Entrepreneurs 2009 Congress in Istanbul. 

As President, I will form a consortium of Turkish American business leaders to serve as a Council of Elders to pool substantial funds to support positive Turkish American integration and strong U.S.-Turkish relations.  

Last month, I spoke at a Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) and Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEK) initiative subtitled, “Turkey, A Global Power”, that brought over 2000 Turkish entrepreneurs and civil society leaders together in Istanbul.  I presented the position that Turkish business must support ATAA, because strong U.S.-Relations means a stronger Turkish economy.  Also, a strong Turkish business presence in the United States means a stronger voice for Turkey in the corridors of power in Washington.  

Everyone agreed, but it seemed they wanted proof.  As fate may have it, two weeks ago, a combined force of ATAA members in California, along with the Turkish American Legal Defense Fund, defeated an Armenian initiated, anti-Turkish bill that would have punished companies that once did business in the Ottoman Empire and who wish to do business in California.  Shortly thereafter, the Turkish American Business Association (TABA), which has over 600 corporate members, joined the ATAA.  

The TOBB-DEIK conference was also the occasion of the 2009 DEIK Congress, and I am proud to announce that an ATAA Chapter, the Canadian Turkish Associations Federation, represented by President Nedim Düzenli, was elected to the DEIK World Turkish Business Council Board of Directors and Chairmanship of the Americas Regional Committee. 

The Turkish Family Abroad   

ATAA President Evinch (far left, second row) at the “Turks Abroad 50th Years Symposium on Immigration and Integration”  

Recently I had the opportunity to participate in a symposium by the Turkish Prime Ministry and Hacettepe University Strategic Research Center (HUSAM) on immigration and integration by Turks abroad.  It was the 50th anniversary mark of the first Turkish workers migration to Europe.  It was also 50 years ago when my father departed from Manisa, Turkey, on a train to Istanbul, on a plane to Genoa, on a ship to New York, and on a Greyhound Bus to Chicago.  Coincidentally, my father’s name was Hüsam.  In concluding my presentation regarding Turkish American integration and effective public advocacy, I offered that each one of us Turkish Americans has a rich heritage in common and a legend to tell.  We are the grandchildren of the Ottomans.  We are the children of the sons and daughters of the new Turkish Republic.  We are Turkish Americans.  

From the ATAA Family to Yours, With Love  

The ATAA is a volunteer organization.  ATAA officers, all volunteers elected by the Turkish American community, sacrifice much of their free time for the Turkish cause for at least their two-year terms.  The position of the President is actually a six-year commitment, including two years as a President-Elect and two years as Past-President.  ATAA officers rely on an equally dedicated ATAA office staff of three professionals at the office, the Website and Communications Director, the Programs Director, and the Accounts and Membership Manager, who work at least 50 hours a week for modest salaries, because they believe in the mission.  

ATAA spouses and children sacrifice equally.  A leader is only as good as his team, they say.  I agree, but add that a leader is as strong as his or her family.  I am forever grateful to my wife and daughter for their support and love.  And, I am joyful to announce that I have a son on the way.  As we all commence the new ATAA term, I wish strength to all my Trustees, Directors, and the ATAA staff and their families.  I wish the Turkish American community happiness and prosperity.  

Evinch Family, Gunay, Lara & Senem