Aims
TAFSUS is a non-profit organization established in 1966 to promote better understanding and friendship between the Turkish and the American communities through educational, cultural and social activities. TAFSUS is an association, which serves the Turkish, the Turkish-American and the American communities in Southeastern Pennsylvania, and South New Jersey.
Activites
TAFSUS is one of the oldest, best-organized and most effective local Turkish -American organization in the nation. Through your support, TAFSUS administers numerous projects.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS: TAFSUS has a well-estbalished education program in 3 parts:
Other educational programs involve supporting scholars of the American Research Institute of Turkey (ARIT) and partially covering the cost of the students who travel to Turkey to study Turkish under the Middle East Center's sponsorship, and Halide Edip Adivar scholarships. |
SOCIAL EVENTS: TAFSUS organizes several social events through the year to help bring the community together such as Republic Day, Dinner, Children's Day, Picnic, and Celebration of one religious holiday.
CHARITY WORK: TAFSUS responds to disasters such as earthquakes in Turkey and emergency situations.
LIBRARY SERVICES: Distribution of the books, the brochures, the posters to the teachers and the school libraries.
CULTURAL PROGRAMS: TAFSUS presents lectures on Turkey with other organizations such as the World Affairs Council, organizes Turkish Nights in diverse locations such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and participates in public events such as the International Children's Festival at the University of Pennsylvania.
COMMUNITY MAILINGS: TAFSUS uses email and U.S. Mail on all TAFSUS prorgams and Turkey related events to the Turkish-American community throughout the year.
SPEAKERS BUREAU: Speakers, slides and written information on Turkey are made available upon request to museums, social and religious organizations.
STUDENT SERVICES: The objective is to provide a relationship between TAFSUS and the Turkish students attending local universities and colleges, and to organize joint programs.
Giving a true and honest image of Turkey is important to all of us, Americans and Turkish Americans and of major importance to our children. With your help TAFSUS will continue to build bridges between the two countries and cultures.
Among TAFSUS' main activities are:
- Teachers Workshops and Sponsorships of Teachers Traveling to Turkey in the summer months.
- Library Services by collection and distribution of informative literature on Turkey to school and public libraries including curriculum guides for teachers.
- Speakers Bureau help by providing slides aand speakers on Turkey upon request.
- Festivals and Cultural Events participation in Philadelphia on various platforms.
- Charity Work by donations for disaster relief such as earthquakes.
- Newsletter as means of communication and dissemination of information twice a year.
- E-mail and print mailings on all events aaand news.
- Social events such as the annual Republic Day Dinner, Annual Picnic, and Various Holidays.
- Media Watch and Response to provide correct and balanced information on Turkey and US-Turkish Relations in the US media and also in the state and federal congress.
Contact
| TAFSUS | Turkish American Friendship Society of United States |
| Address | 3 N. Columbus Blvd 103 Philadelphia, PA 19106 |
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2024 Executive Board
| President | Aylin Sagay |
| Vice President at Large & Treasurer | Ibrahim Onaral |
| Vice President at Large & Secretary | Lale Iskarpatyoti |
| Vice President of Information | Hasan Ayaz |
| Vice President of Social Outreach | Sila Atrek |
| Vice President of Cultural Events | Yasemin Cooper |
| Vice President of Membership | Muhammed Al-Khatib |
| Vice President of Educational Affairs | Gozde Ayaz |
| Vice President of Social Affairs | Selis Diker |
| Vice President of Social Affairs | Belkis B Karakas |
Previous Board Officers
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2016 TAFSUS Board Ibrahim Onaral, President & Treasurer Lale Iskarpatyoti, Past President & Secretary Hasan Ayaz VP of Public Relations Birtan Collier, VP of Education Mohammed Al-Khatib,VP of Social Affairs Wallis Urmenyhazi, VP of Cultural Affairs Gozde Ayaz, VP of Student Affairs Sila Yesilsoy, VP of Database Youth Affairs Suzan Aydin, VP of Membership Selin Sakarcan, VP of Communications |
2015 TAFSUS Board Ibrahim Onaral, President & Treasurer Lale Iskarpatyoti, Past President & Secretary Hasan Ayaz VP of Public Relations Birtan Collier, VP of Education Mohammed Al-Khatib, VP of Social Affairs Aylin Sagay, VP of Database Wallis Urmenyhazi, VP of Cultural Affairs Gozde Ayaz, VP of Student Affairs & Secretary Sila Yesilsoy, VP of Youth Affairs Suzan Aydin, VP of Membership Selin Sakarcan, VP of Communications |
2014 TAFSUS Board Lale Iskarpatyoti, President Ibrahim Onaral, Treasurer Hasan Ayaz VP of Public Relations Birtan Collier, VP of Education Mohammed Al-Khatib, , VP of Social Affairs Aylin Sagay, VP of Membership Wallis Urmenyhazi, VP of Cultural Affairs Gozde Ayaz, VP of Student Affairs & Secretary Sila Yesilsoy, VP of Youth Affairs Dilek Arig, Director, ATA School |
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2013 TAFSUS Board Lale Iskarpatyoti, President Ibrahim Onaral, Treasurer Hasan Ayaz VP of Public Relations Birtan Collier, VP of Education Mohammed Al-Khatib, , VP of Social Affairs Aylin Sagay, VP of Membership Wallis Urmenyhazi, VP of Cultural Affairs Gozde Ayaz, VP of Student Affairs & Secretary Sila Yesilsoy, VP of Youth Affairs Dilek Arig, Director, ATA School |
2012 TAFSUS Board Hasan Ayaz, President Ibrahim Onaral, Treasurer Lale Iskarpatyoti VP of Public Relations & Secretary Birtan Collier, VP of Education Mohammed Al-Khatib, , VP of Community Affairs Aylin Sagay, VP of Membership Wallis Urmenyhazi, VP of Cultural Affairs Esra Ugurlu, VP of Social Affairs Gozde Ayaz, VP of Student Affairs Utku K. Ercan, VP of Database Sila Yesilsoy, Youth Coordinator Dilek Arig, Director, ATA School |
2011 TAFSUS Board Hasan Ayaz, President Ibrahim Onaral, Treasurer Lale Iskarpatyoti VP of Community Affairs & Secretary Birtan Collier, VP of Second Education Mohammed Al-Khatib, VP of Membership Wallis Urmenyhazi, VP of Cultural Affairs Esra Ugurlu, VP of Social Affairs Gozde Ayaz, VP of Student Affairs and Website Ceren Kesici, Youth Coordinator Dilek Arig, Director, ATA School |
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2010 TAFSUS Board Ibrahim Onaral, President Lale Iskarpatyoti, Treasurer Birtan Collier, VP of Second Education Mohammed Al-Khatib, VP of Membership Wallis Urmenyhazi, VP of Cultural Affairs Hasan Ayaz, VP of Student Affairs and Website Ece Gumus, VP of Community Outreach Gozde Ayaz, VP of Student Affairs Esra Ugurlu, VP of Young Professionals Ceren Kesici, Youth Coordinator Dilek Arig, Director, ATA School |
2009 TAFSUS Board Ibrahim Onaral, President Lale Iskarpatyoti, Treasurer Serap Menda, VP of Information Mohammed Al-Khatib, VP of Membership Wallis Urmenyhazi, VP of Cultural Affairs Suzan Aydin, VP of Community Outreach Birtan Collier, VP of Second Education Hasan Ayaz, VP of Student Affairs and Website Ceren Kesici, Youth Coordinator Dilek Arig, Director, ATA School |
2008 TAFSUS Board Lale Iskarpatyoti, President Nihat Bilgutay, Vice President At-Large Serap Menda, Treasurer Hasan Karatas, Secretary and VP of Public Relations Ibrahim Onaral, VP of Social and Membership Suzan Aydin, VP of Community Outreach Wallis Urmenyhazi, VP of Cultural Hasan Ayaz, VP of Student and Website Canan Bilgutay, VP of Second Generation Birtan Collier, VP of Second Education |
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2007 TAFSUS Board Lale Iskarpatyoti, President Nihat Bilgutay, VP-At-Large Hasan Karatas, Secretary Aysen Ozezer, Treasurer Serap Menda, VP Information Meltem Pusat-Gonnella, VP Public Affairs Ibrahim Onaral, VP Social and Membership Wallis Urmenyhazi, VP Cultural Hasan Ayaz, VP Student Affairs Canan Bilgutay, VP Second Generation Birtan Collier, VP Education |
2006 TAFSUS Board Nihat Bilgutay, President Hasan Karatas, Secretary Birtan Collier, Treasurer Serap Menda, VP Membership & Information, e-mails Lale Iskarpatyoti, VP Public Affairs Dilek Arig, VP Social and Cultural Ibrahim Onaral, VP Social and Cultural Wallis Urmenyhazi, VP Social and Cultural |
2005 TAFSUS Board Nihat Bilgutay, President Hasan Karatas, VP Information Birtan Collier, Secretary and Treasurer Ibrahim Onaral, VP Membership Lale Iskarpatyoti, VP Public Affairs Jason Iskarpatyoti, VP Production Dilek Arig, VP Social and Cultural Serap Menda, VP Social and Cultural plus TAFSUS e-mails Wallis Urmenyhazi, VP Social and Cultural |
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2004 TAFSUS board Ibrahim Onaral, President Hasan Karatas, VP Information Birtan Collier, Secretary and Treasurer Suzan Aydin, VP Membership Nihat Bilgutay, VP Public Affairs Jason Iskarpatyoti, VP Production Serap Menda, VP Social and Cultural Gulcin Bal, VP Social and Cultural Wallis Urmenyhazi, VP Social and Cultural |
2003 TAFSUS Board Ibrahim Onaral, President Hasan Karatas, VP Information Services Birtan Collier, Secretary and Treasurer Belgin Cuhaci, VP Administration Suzan Aydin, VP Membership Nihat Bilgutay, VP Public Affairs Brian Menda, VP Production Wallis Urmenyhazi, Social and Cultural Timur Atilgan, Social and Cultural Rahsan Canturk, Social and Cultural |
2002 TAFSUS Board Hasan Karatas, President and VP Information Services Birtan Collier, Secretary and Treasurer Belgin Cuhaci, VP Administration Suzan Aydin, VP Membership Nihat Bilgutay, VP Public Affairs Selin Ozezer, VP Production Nilgun Anadolu, VP Social and Cultural Wallis Urmenyhazi, VP Social and Cultural Lale Iskarpatyoti, ATAA's Regional VP |
| 2001 TAFSUS Board Akin Oktem, President Birtan Collier, Secretary Aysen Ozezer, Treasurer Belgin Cuhaci, VP Administration Serap Menda, VP Membership Hasan Karatas, VP Information Services Nihat Bilgutay, VP Public Affairs Selin Ozezer, VP Production Suzan Aydin, VP Social and Cultural Brenda Alpar, VP Social and Cultural Lale Iskarpatyoti, ATAA's Regional VP |
2000 TAFSUS Board Birtan Collier, President Hasan Karatas, Secretary Aysen Ozezer, Treasurer Belgin Cuhaci, VP Administration Mohammed Al-Khatib, VP Membership Turkay Arig, VP Information Services Ali Selvi, VP Media and Public Relations Nermin Ucar, VP Production Suzan Aydin, VP Social and Cultural Gulcin Bal, VP Social and Cultural Brenda Alpar, VP Social and Cultural Lale Iskarpatyoti, ATAA's Regional VP |
1999 TAFSUS Board Kenan Umar,President Hasan Karatas, Secretary Tayfun Tastepe, Treasurer Birtan Collier, VP Administration Mohammed Al-Khatib, VP Membership Gulcin Bal, VP Membership, New Jersey Turkay Arig, VP Information Services Armagan Ozdinc, VP Media relations Suzan Aydin, VP Social and Cultural Aysen Ozezer, VP Social and Cultural Serap Menda, VP Social and Cultural Nermin Ucar, VP Production Ali Selvi, VP Sunday Lectures Lale Iskarpatyoti, ATAA's Regional VP |
| 1998 TAFSUS Board Kenan Umar,President Hasan Karatas, Secretary Tayfun Tastepe, Treasurer Birtan Collier, VP Administration Mohammed Al-Khatib, VP Membership Gulcin Bal, VP Membership, New Jersey Turkay Arig, VP Information Services Armagan Ozdinc, VP Media relations Suzan Aydin, VP Social and Cultural Aysen Ozezer, VP Social and Cultural Serap Menda, VP Social and Cultural Nermin Ucar, VP Production Ali Selvi, VP Sunday Lectures Lale Iskarpatyoti, ATAA's Regional VP |
Founders & Past LeadersNejat Tezcan, Founder and PresidentUlker Tezcan, Founder Kenan Umar, Founder and President Hasip Tanyol, President Ayfer Karwoski, President Nejat Aydin, President Suzan Aydin, President Ahmet Yolacan, President Ayhan Ozer, President Hasan Ozbekhan, President Mirat Gurol, President |
Founders & Past Presidents(Turkish American Friendship Society of Philadelphia)Nejat Aydin, President Sedat Munis, President Hasip Tanyol, President |
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We recognize and appreciate the hard work and commitment of all past founders and presidents and their dedication to the organization. Our sincere thanks to all individuals who brought TAFSUS to its present stage.
