| A brand new website was created by Hasan Ayaz for TAFSUS with the changed web address of www.tafsus.net
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| January 6, 2008 marked the opening day of the new TAFSUS ATA School where 22 students between the ages of 6 and 14 started to learn Turkish language, history and culture. This program, founded through the leadership of Lale Iskarpatyoti and Dilek Arig, is sponsored primarily by TAFSUS with significant donations from the Turkish Cultural Foundation and Prime Labels, with in-kind support from the Turkish Consulate General in New York. In it's second semester which started in October, 2008, Turkish language classes were expanded to 3-5 year olds as well as adults, with an enrollment of over 40 students across all age groups.
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| TAFSUS co-sponsored with World Affairs Council "The Portrait of Turkey" program for select high school students from Greater Philadelphia high schools for an intensive study of Turkey.
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| TAFSUS supported travel to Turkey of the Community College of Philadelphia professors and students during 2008.
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| A Turkish Night was organized and held by TAFSUS VP Wallis Urmenyhazi for the community at Divan Turkish Kitchen on February 26, 2008. The main purpose was to bring members of the local community together and enjoy Turkish food while supporting a Turkish restaurant.
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| TAFSUS organized a Bowling Night for Young Professionals (over age 21) on February 28, 2008 at Lucky Strike Lanes.
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| Turkish Americans Gaining Power through Grassroots program was held on March 8, 2008 at Drexel University's Bossone Auditorium with Alison Block of ATAA and Lincoln McCurdy of Turkish Coalition of America making presentations to the community.
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| TAFSUS members joined Drexel Turkish Student Association on March 13, 2008 for A Night on The Mediterranean to celebrate the cultures of Italy, Sicily, Israel and Turkey.
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| Another Turkish Night was organized by TAFSUS VP Wallis Urmenyhazi on March 27, 2008 at Kilyos Fish and Grill Restaurant with a menu of fish imported from Turkey and an invitation to join the singing of Turkish folk songs by all who came.
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| Lale Iskarpatyoti made a brief presentation on Turkey at the International House on March 28 on the opening of a photography exhibit by Philadelphia photographers David and Lisa U'Prichard called "Turkey: Modern, Secular, Ancient and Sacred".
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| TAFSUS participated in the Turkish Festival held on April 19, 2008 along the Parkway organized by AT-COM, TAFSUS, TAMCA, Selimiye and Murat Mosques, Drexel and UPenn TSAs.
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| TAFSUS volunteers helped TAFSUS-OKUMUS Fellow, Prema Deshmukh to organize a Turkish Delight: A Celebration of Republic of Turkey all day program on May 3, 2008 at the University of Pennyslvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. This event took place throughout the museum with food and mosaic demonstrations, showing of Turkish films, Turkish music and dance, Turkish crafts and arts exhibit. It was financially supported by the Turkish Cultural Foundation. Turkish Consul General Mehmet Samsar and Deputy Consul Basar Sen attended. Middle East Center at UPenn and The World Affairs Council were also co-sponsors.
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| TAFSUS supported 1 scholar at the American Research Institute of Turkey(ARIT)
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| A Turkish Night with Open Mike was organized by TAFSUS VP Wallis Urmenyhazi at the Konak Restaurant on May 8, 2008.
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| TAFSUS provided 5 TAFSUS-OKUMUS Fellowships to 5 teachers for a 2 week study tour of Turkey in July through the Education Dept. of the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia. This brings the total number of teachers sent to Turkey to 54.
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| Lale Iskarpatyoti, Ibrahim Onaral and Birtan Collier attended the dinner for Margaret Lonzetta on June 10, on the occasion of her retirement from the World Affairs Council after a 35 year career. Birtan Collier thanked Margaret on behalf of the Turkish American community and TAFSUS board as she was the creator and executor of the TAFSUS education programs for 3 decades.
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| Long time TAFSUS member, President and VP At-Large, and Head of Computer and Electrical Engineering Dept at Drexel University, Professor Nihat Bilgutay passed away on July 1, 2008 after a debilitating illness. TAFSUS community collected at his house during the evening of his death to remember and celebrate Nihat Bilgutay's life. He was buried in Kusadasi, Turkey. A Memorial Service held at Drexel University on December 11, 2008.
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| TAFSUS Candy Holiday Luncheon was organized by TAFSUS VP Wallis Urmenyhazi at Konak Restaurant on October 4, 2008. Candies were distributed to children.
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| A Republic Day Dinner Dance was organized by TAFSUS VP Ibrahim Onaral at Dolce Hotel in King of Prussia on October 25, 2008 with live music, sit down dinner, a program book, and a raffle of various prizes.
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| Lale Iskarpatyoti spoke ob behalf of TAFSUS at the Republic Day Event organized by the Drexel Turkish Student Association on October 30, 2008.
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| TAFSUS members joined Bilgutay family in a public Philadelphia ALS Walk on November 8, 2008 at Citizens Bank Park. A lunch took place afterwards at Konak restaurant with the participants.
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| TAFSUS was one of the 3 participants in the Mediterranean Night, an Evening of Turkish, Greek and Italian music and food at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Friday, November 7, 2008. Wallis made the arrangements on behalf of TAFSUS which included an ongoing Ebru demonstration during the evening. The event was co-sponsored by the Middle East Center of UPenn.
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| TAFSUS Board Member Hasan Ayaz represented Turkey in "Peace Around the World 2008" program at The UPenn Museum on Sunday, December 7 giving information about Turkey's history, language, social customs, holiday traditions and about Ataturk, and how he revolutionized culture and policies, as the first President of the country.
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| Throughout 2008, TAFSUS communicated with the community to inform them of news and developments related to the community and Turkey by e-mail messages.
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-A Kurban Bayrami luncheon was held at the Aldar Bistro on January 15, 2006 with Turkish food and live Turkish music and a raffle.
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-TAFSUS co-sponsored "The 16th,17th and 188th Century Anatolian Carpets Exhibit" at the UPenn's Arthur Ross Gallery January 21 through April 2, 2006. Opening of the exhibit included a lecture by Walter Denny, professor of history of art at the Univ. of Massachusetts.
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-"Turkey: Ancient and Modern" A day long wworkshop for teachers was co-sponsored by the Education Dept of UPenn Museum, Middle East Center at UPenn and the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia on March 25, 2006 . This program was supported by TAFSUS, ATAA, Material Culture and Konak. 39 teachers attended.
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-TAFSUS organized a Turkish Night at the PPhiladelphia Museum of Art on April 7, 2006 with Turkish music, Turkish arts and crafts and tourism brochures on display, TAFSUS flyers and Turkish food being part of the menu. 890 people attended.
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-TAFSUS participated in the Annenberg Centter's Philadelphia International Children's Festival April 30-May 6, 2006 as one of the organizers for hands on arts and crafts activities.
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-TAFSUS provided 6 Okumus-TAFSUS Fellowshiips to teachers for a 2 week study tour of Turkey in July. This brings the total number of educators sent to Turkey to 43.
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-TAFSUS co-sponsored with the World Affairrs Council "The Portrait of Turkey" program for select high school students from Greater Philadelphia area schools for an intensive study of Turkey including a trip to the Turkish Embassy in Washington, D.C.
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-TAFSUS gave donations to the following:
- Rosemont College Political Science Dept. to support a trip to Washington D.C. in connection with the course on Turkish-US relations,
- the Turkish Studies Association for 1 Halide Edip Adivar scholarship,
- the American Research Institute in Turkey(ARIT) for a doctoral student at the Univ. of Chicago to study historical works in the Ottoman archives,
- the Community College of Philadelphia in support of sending 18 professors to Turkey on a study tour,
- the Hepatitis B Foundation to support their educational programs with Turkish researchers, and
- the Philadelphia Museum of Art for support of the Turkish Night program.
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-TAFSUS wrote letters to PBS to protest thhe program "The Armenian Genocide" program which aired on Channel 12
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-TAFSUS organized a Dinner Dance with Turkkish food and music on October 28, 2006 to celebrate the 83rd Anniversary of the Founding of the Turkish Republic at the Crowne Plaza Valley Forge Hotel with proclamations issued by Mayor Street and Governor Rendell. A program book was prepared with 10 advertisers.
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-TAFSUS invited the community to attend a musical evening with Odessa to Istanbul program on December 2, 2006 at Painted Bride Art Center with discounted tickets and food items at Konak Restaurant, next door.
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-Throughout the year, TAFSUS communicated with the Turkish American community to inform them of news and developments related to the community and Turkey.
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-TAFSUS financial books were examined by BBee, Bergvall and Co. and found in good order
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