|
ONLINE REGISTRATION | CONVENTION BROCHURE | SPONSORSHIP
28th ANNUAL ATAA CONVENTION
PEACE IN THE WORLD
MAY 15-17, 2008 - SHERATON NATIONAL HOTEL, WASHINGTON, D.C.
 In 1979, The Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA) was formed as a response to a need to form cohesive links with the large numbers of loosely scattered Turkish-American organizations throughout the United States. It assumed the role of leadership for these organizations and developed strategic links with Turkish-American communities, large and small at the grassroots level in Washington DC, throughout the United States and beyond.
Overtime, ATAA became uniquely placed to serve as a bridge between Turkey and United States. Today, it facilitates the spread of grassroots ideas and experience in furthering and strengthening Turkish-American relations.
ATAA provides information and educates Turkish-Americans, Americans and business sector throughout its component associations to move toward the direction of fostering an overall sense of cooperation, exemplifying the all-for-one, one for all approach.
The objective of The Assembly of Turkish-American Associations is to coordinate the activities of member Turkish American associations, and individual members of The Assembly for the purpose of presenting a more balanced view of Turkey and of the Turkish people, emphasizing the importance of enhanced understanding between the Turkish and American peoples.
In pursuit of its objectives, ATAA organizes many events throughout the year. ATAA convenes annually with the representatives of their component associations, individual members and participants to address challenges, promote Turkey's economic and strategic position while confronting the adverse effects of rival lobbies and simultaneously, continue developing ties between Turkey and the United States. Among these, the ATAA Annual Convention is a key milestone event which brings together high profile guests from all around the U.S.A and Turkey. This year ATAA will convene and celebrate its 28th Annual Convention.
"Peace at Home, Peace in the World"
 The wise words of the founder of the Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, resonate to this day, and inspire the theme of the 2008 ATAA Annual Convention: "Peace in the World". Join us, along with other Turkish Americans and Friends of Turkey on May 15-17, 2008 in the nation's capital, as we educate ourselves on the issues that concern us. Register now to build relationships with others who are dedicated to realizing Atatürk's vision of "Peace at Home, Peace in the World."
The ATAA convention is the leading annual conference on Turkey organized by a Turkish-American organization. We believe that this year's ATAA convention will provide for an effective platform to highlight Turkey, US-Turkish relations on the one hand, while presenting an educational and motivational experience for Turkish-Americans and friends of Turkey. This year's convention consists of three days that are all designed to serve different audiences and purposes.
We sincerely hope that you will decide to attend this year's ATAA convention. The strength of ATAA comes from the open commitment of Turks, Turkish-Americans and friends of Turkey to the mission, goals and activities of ATAA.
ONLINE REGISTRATION | CONVENTION BROCHURE | SPONSORSHIP
|
THURSDAY - MAY 15, 2008
|
|
|
|
|
8:30am-9:25am
|
Registration
|
|
9:30am-9:40am
|
Opening Remarks
|
|
9:40am-11:45am
|
Advocacy Presentation
Turkish Americans Gaining Power Through Grassroots
Speakers:Nurten Ural, President of ATAA and Allison Block, Advocacy Director
|
|
12:40pm-1:45pm
|
Congressional Luncheon
Senate Mansfield Room (S-207) Senate side of U.S. Capitol
Keynote speaker: Mr. George Hochbrueckner, Former Member of Congress (NY)
Honored guests: Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC); Congresswoman Jean Schmidt (R-OH);Congressman Edward Whitfield (R-KY);Congressman Howard Coble(R-NC)
|
|
2:00pm-5:00pm
|
Congressional Visits (if you like to attend congressional visits and would like ATAA to arrange a meeting with your Representative, please click here)
|
|
5:15pm
|
Bus Leaving
|
|
7:00pm-10:00pm
|
ATA-DC Bar Night
Vantage Point Rooftop Bar, Holiday Inn, 1900 N. Fort Myer Dr., 17th Floor, Rosslyn, Arlington-VA
|
|
|
|
FRIDAY - MAY 16, 2008
|
|
|
|
8:00am-8:45am
|
Registration
|
|
8:50am-9:05am
|
Opening Remarks
|
|
9:00am-9:30am
|
May 19 Turkish Youth Day Celebration
Documentary Screening
The Meaning of May 19;Gunay Evinch, President-elect, ATAA
|
|
9:35am-11:30am
|
Turkey, a Key Country
Turkish Americans, a Key Heritage Community
Matthew J. Bryza, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs
· Mapping the Global Future
Matthew Burrows, Counselor, National Intelligence Council
· Turkish Perspective
Akin Unver, Dr. Marcia Robins - Wilf Young Scholar, Washington Institute for Near East Policy
· US Perspective
Jason Epstein, Founder, Southfive Strategies
|
|
11:35am-1:00pm
|
PKK Terrorism and Iraq
· PKK Modus Operandi and Counter Operations
Ali Koknar, consultant AMK Risk Management
· PKK Financial Support
Samih Teymur, Director of TIPS and General Coordinator of Turkish National Police in USA
· PKK Challenges Ahead
Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, VP of Research Foundation for Defense of Democracies
|
|
1:15pm-2:45pm
|
Ambassador's Luncheon
H.E. Nabi ªensoy, Turkish Ambassador to the U.S.
Galaxy Ballroom, Sheraton National Hotel
|
|
3:00pm-4:30pm
|
Armenian Allegations
· Legal Developments
David Saltzman, Esq. Turkish American Legal Defense Fund
· Executive and Legislative Policy
Lydia Borland, Caspian Consulting
· Diplomacy
Suleyman Gokce, First Counselor, Embassy of the Republic of Turkey
|
|
|
|
|
5:15pm
|
Bus Leaving
|
|
7:30pm-10:00pm
|
Ambassador's Reception
|
|
8:15pm
|
Bus Leaving
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9:00am-9:45am
|
Registration
|
|
9:50am-10:00am
|
Opening Remarks
|
|
10:00am-11:00am
|
US-Turkey Relations: Opportunities and Challenges Ahead
Gunay Evinch, President-elect, ATAA
|
|
11:05am-12:00pm
|
Tentative Turkish Cuisine
|
|
12:15pm-2:15pm
|
Luncheon
|
|
2:30pm-4:00pm
|
The Community Briefings
Meto Koloski, United Macedonian Diaspora
Admir Serifovic, Esq, Bosniak American Advisory Council for Bosnia and Herzegovina
Tomris Azeri, Azerbaijan Association of America
Bedir Memmedli, United States Azerbaijani Network
Javid Huseyinov, Azerbaijan American Council, Turkic Youth Network
Dolkun Kamberi, Uyghur Association
|
|
4:05pm-5:00pm
|
Turkish American Community Interactive
|
|
7:30pm-2:00am
|
ATAA Annual Convention Gala
|
The Sheraton National Hotel is located very close to Reagan National Airport (DCA) at 900 S. Orme Street Arlington, Virginia 22204. Free shuttles to the hotel from the Airport. For reservations, please ATAA office at 202.483.9090.
For more information and program updates please visit us at www.ataa.org
|