The meeting was called to order by President Lin Lougheed (T-16). The
meeting was attended by Board members Mike Jewell (T-01), Linda Scheffer
(T-08), Sandy Anderson (T-13), Dave Bloch (T-02), and Marcia Gnuse
(T-13). Other Akradaslar members present were Dave Weinman, (Staff,
T-01), Jean Lavid Fromberg (T-08/09), Kathy Scruggs (T-02) and John
Wintrol (T-02).
II. Treasurer's Report
Linda Scheffer reported that as of August 9, 2000, Arkadaslar has
$4,994.00 on hand (including the promised $2,750 2000 contributions.)
Presently, our membership is 328 members. Membership in NPCA in 2000
presently totals 77 members.
III. Contributions
Linda reported that so far in 2000, 77 members have contributed $3,800
to the Turkish Earthquake Relief Fund. We are holding these funds hoping
we can get additional contributions to total $5,000 so we can receive a
plaque from the Yardimci Gurubu acknowledging Arkadaslar's aid. In 1999,
179 of our members contributed $13,336.31 so we feel we can add $1,200
this year. This fall we will be sending our 2000 contributions to the
Sevinc Abla Okulu ($1,500), the Beekeeping Project ($750) and the
Hacettepe Hospital Erik Olson Fund ($500). A letter will accompany the
contribution explaining that our gift-giving policies are under review
and that the level of support in the future may change. This will enable
us to determine other sources for our generosity where small amounts of
money could make an impact.
Dave Bloch recommended contacting the State Department, AID, retired
military groups and Turkish associations in the U.S. particularly
student associations to help identify needy organizations in Turkey. It
was also suggested that we contact RPCVs living in Turkey who could
follow up on our projects.
John Wintrol pointed out that Sevinc Abla Okulu has had a long
relationship with Arkadaslar and several of our members have visited the
school. It is this kind of a relationship that we want to foster.
The board expressed an interest in working on small specific projects
focusing on education, development, and social services. Dave Bloch
asked the board to consider scholarship funds for students within
Turkey.
To help support our on-going projects, the Board recommended adding
$5.00 to the cost of the Cumhuriyet Bayrami dinner.
The Board agreed that we shouldn't be humble about our ability to
raise over $40,000 for Turkish projects and that we should advertise the
fact at every opportunity. Lin Lougheed is still talking with NPCA to
see how our members can get tax deductions for charitable gifts to
Arkadaslar.
IV. Activities:
Membership Drive
Lin Lougheed said we needed to get the 500 potential members of
Arkadaslar signed up and that we should broaden our membership base to
include all friends of Turkey whether they were past Peace Corps
volunteers or not. But the crucial issue is to get our own volunteers on
the roll. He proposed a program used by another professional
organization. At the time of membership renewal, a current member gives
a gift of a membership to a new member. The gift membership only costs
1/2 the full membership. The current member pays $20 + $10 and we get a
new member. Once you are a member, you will likely maintain your
membership.
Sandy Anderson proposed getting the regional groups active in
promoting membership in their regions. No action was taken. We decided
to think of a variety of ways to attract new members.
Cumhuriyet Bayrami Dinners
Sandy Anderson brought print-outs of regional groups which were given to
the regional representatives on the board and those guests who
volunteered to help.
Region 1/2 Northeast: Dave
Bloch
Region 3 East Central: Ed
Block
Region 4 South: Kathy
Scruggs
Region 5 North Central: Jean Lavid Fromberg
Region 6 South Central: Mike
Jewell
Region 7 Plains: Sandy
Anderson
Region 9 Northwest: Linda
Scheffer
Region 10: Pacific: Marcia
Demkowicz Gnuse
Region 11: International: Lin
Lougheed
The regional representatives will contact people in the region to
drum up interest in their organizing the bayram dinner this year. The
Board will provide labels, offer suggestions, and cover mailing
expenses.
We encourage all local groups holding bayram dinners to send us
photos, menus, and stories about your evening. These will be reproduced
in the newsletter and on the web page.
Washington area Cumhuriyet Bayrami Dinner
Dave Weinman and Mike Jewell made arrangements for our local dinner to
be held at Kazan's in McLean, VA. It will be held on Republic Day
itself, Sunday, October 29th at 6:00pm. The dinner will be preceded by
an opportunity to view handmade rugs and carpets from a cooperative near
Cappadocia. Ten percent of the profits of any carpet purchased that
evening will be donated by the cooperative to an earthquake relief fund.
Listserve
We are still looking for someone to take over the responsibility of
running the listserve from Sandy Anderson. The listserve now has over
400 members. Sandy did all the hard work of getting it going; now it's a
piece of cake. Any volunteers should contact Sandy. turkeydost@aol.com
V. Events
40th Reunion
We will need to talk to NPCA to get a sense of what they are planning
before we can go any further. We need a volunteer to coordinate our
plans.
Hasna
Katherine Scruggs told us about an organization founded by a friend of
hers that brings Turkish, Kurdish, and Arabic speaking youth from SE
Turkey together to learn skills like building earthquake-free houses.
They are spending a month in Washington, D.C. and Kathy is looking for
local volunteers who will host them for dinners or weekends.
Next meeting
The next meeting will be held at 5:30 PM Sunday, October 29th at Kazan
Restaurant, 6813 Redmond Drive, McLean, VA, (703) 734-1960. The short
meeting will take place 30 minutes before the Cumhuriyet Bayrami dinner.
