Ventura Events
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Bayram Picnic
Sunday Sept 12, 2010
980 Aranmoor Dr
Westlake Village, CA 91361 |
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Southern California Events
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VATAN with your help and donations now supports a nonprofit organization that helps kids and moms in Ventura County. Prototypes Women Center, more info prototypes.org
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ATASC President
Vega Sankur's message. |
Classifieds
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VATAN is not responsible from
resulting business transactions
due to these classified ads
Where in the world is
Matt Lauer? |
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Backgammon - Tavla - Tournament 2010 |
| Cem's House Camarillo,
CA |
| 2010-03-21 |
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ATASC Elections 2010 & Grassroots Advocacy Seminar |
| Courtyard Marriott Hotel (at LAX airport) Los Angeles,
CA |
| 2010-01-31 |
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School End / Elections / Holiday Celebration |
| UU Church Ventura,
CA |
| 2009-12-06 |
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14th Annual Multicultural Oxnard Festival |
| Oxnard,
CA |
| 2009-10-03 |
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School Opening and Bayram Celebration |
| UU Church Ventura,
CA |
| 2009-09-27 |
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12th Turkish Festival, Monterey |
| Monterey,
CA |
| 2009-08-01 |
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Journey of Faith LA Premiere |
| All Saints Episcopal Church Beverly Hills,
CA |
| 2009-06-24 |
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The First Turkic American Advocacy Workshop |
| South Coast Chinese Cultural Center Irvine,
CA |
| 2009-06-20 |
| This seminar is designed to inform Turkish & Turkic American community members about civic engagement, public and political activism in their consituencies. The three hour program comprised of two presentations and an open workshop for exercising the presented concepts and skills for successful advocacy campaigns. |
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Farewell for Nur, Irmak & Ayhan |
| Ventura,
CA |
| 2009-06-19 |
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World Art Expo 09 |
| Marriott Hotel Brea,
CA |
| 2009-06-12 |
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Memorial Day Picnic 2009 |
| Thille Park Ventura,
CA |
| 2009-05-25 |
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Portola Elementary School Carnaval |
| Ventura,
CA |
| 2009-05-16 |
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TALL Mother's Day Luncheon |
| Mullholland Estates Beverly Hills,
CA |
| 2009-05-09 |
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Silent Auction & Children's Day Celebration |
| UU Church Ventura,
CA |
| 2009-05-03 |
| We had over 45 bidders, 85 people and raised over $1200 for our school for VATAN's first silent auction. Thank you to those who brought yummies, donated items and those who also bid on items. We are a community of great Turks and Americans. |
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April 23rd, Children's Day Celebration by LATAA |
| Marina Park Auditorium Santa Monica,
CA |
| 2009-04-25 |
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Backgammon Tournament 2009 |
| UU Church Ventura,
CA |
| 2009-03-22 |
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Turkish Breakfast and Borek-Baklava Class |
| Vega's Kitchen Ventura,
CA |
| 2009-02-26 |
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Turkish Tea at Monte Vista Highschool |
| Monte Vista Highschool Camarillo,
CA |
| 2009-02-26 |
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Yasemin Kumral at VATAN School |
| UU Church Ventura,
CA |
| 2009-02-22 |
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Valentine's Day Dinner 2009 |
| Greek Restaurant Ventura,
CA |
| 2009-02-14 |
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ATASC Elections 2009 |
| Carson,
CA |
| 2009-01-18 |
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School Opening for Winter Quarter 2009 |
| UU Church Ventura,
CA |
| 2009-01-11 |
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VATAN Fal (Coffee Readings) and Tarot Day |
| Leyla's Home Westlake Village,
CA |
| 2008-12-13 |
| Fal: Turkish Coffee, turn over the cup and then have your fortunes to be told, what fun. More than 40 ladies gathered at Leyla's house to have their fortunes told by either coffee grinds and or Tarot Cards. With traditional Turkish pastries, savories, baklava, sweets, tea, coffe, it was fabulous event. We all had enormous fun and now know whet 2009 will bring. VATAN raised upwards of $500 through donations. For pictures go to Fal Photos. |
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Bayram Luncheon & General Assembly Elections 2008 |
| UU Church Ventura,
CA |
| 2008-12-07 |
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VATAN School 2nd Workshop |
| Ventura,
CA |
| 2008-10-12 |
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Multicultural Oxnard Festival |
| Oxnard,
CA |
| 2008-10-04 |
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Turkish School Opening |
| Ventura,
CA |
| 2008-09-28 |
| Ventura American Turkish Association (VATAN) opened a Turkish School in Ventura today. There were 16 students registered and ready to go. The room was decorated with Turkish Flags, Ataturk Portrait and other symbols of theTurkish Republic.
The school opening ceremony began with theTurkish National Anthem (Istiklal Marsi) sang by the parents. Turkish Educational Attache Mr. Nazmi Ak gave a short speech about the importance of these schools to educate young Turkish Americans in our language, culture, history, music and arts. Ms. Yurdagul Edwards, VATAN School Director, welcomed the students and introduced the two teachers, Ms. Mine Erten and Mr. Murat Avsar and Assistant Teacher Mr. Orhan Erten. The students received their Bayram presents and then lined up to go to their classes. While the students were in class, learning Turkish and facts about Turkey, most of the parents stayed around in the green area, talking to old friends and making new ones.
We, at VATAN, are very excited to be able to provide this service to our community and to have so much interest and support from parents. Due to the demand, we will add one more class starting on Oct 12; a special class for teenagers--13-16 years old.
Thanks are due to VATAN BOD members, VATAN school director and teachers, as well as the parents who helped us set up and clean up. It was a total team effort. Special thanks are due to Mr. Nazmi Ak, Ms. Ayse Sule Ulubay and Ms. Emine Bozyurt driving all the way from LA to contribute to our celebration; and Ms. Gulcihan Talay and Ms. Mine Erten for the absolutely delicious "kurabiye" and "pogacas"; and to Lisette Borg who went out of her way to secure the schoolrooms.
VATAN thanks Turkish Cultural Foundation for their generous contribution to VATAN School.
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Turkish Pavilion at the Middle Eastern Festival |
| Santa Barbara,
CA |
| 2008-08-23 |
| VATAN Organization Brought Turkish Hospitality to Santa Barbara
Ventura American Turkish Association offered a Turkish Pavilion during the 2 day Santa Barbara Middle Eastern Festival. They offered information, travel tips, brochures as well as the typical Turkish hospitality to all the guests.
VATAN was founded at the end of 2007 with the goals of presenting Turkey and Turkish Culture to the public and building a community of the Turkish Americans in Ventura County. There has been monthly community activities to accomplish these goals, the August event being the Turkish stands at the festival.
VATAN table was the focus point of the Turkish people wanting to meet and chat as well as the American visitors wanting to know more about Turkey. The tea served from a traditional samavor, and the cookies, savories (Thanks Gulcihan), borek (Thanks Ayse Sule) and baklava (Thanks Vedat) were very popular with the crowds. People picked up numerous brochures provided by Turkish Tourism Organizations and got their numerous questions answered by the VATAN members.
VATAN also had 5 vendors selling Turkish goods.
Mürvet Thiele -
Aynur Avºar- www.artizana.com
Hafize Turgut -
Nilay Engin - http://www.theturkishstore.com/
Nilufer -
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Turkish Food Cooking Class I |
| Ventura,
CA |
| 2008-07-19 |
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Movie Night - Dondurmam Gaymak |
| UU Church Ventura,
CA |
| 2008-06-22 |
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Turkey101 at Monte Vista School |
| Monte Vista School Camarillo,
CA |
| 2008-06-11 |
| VATAN member Vega Sankur went to Monte Vista School at the invitation of Social Sciences teacher Ms. Marylin Haas to talk to 6th graders about Turkey . Ms. Haas was recipient of a scholarship to visit Turkey in the summer of 2007; and started a penpal program with Turkish students to bridge the two cultures. The 65 6th graders have been part of a Penpal program with the ATASC Arslanbey students in Turkey and had been writing letters and preparing scrapbooks as part of their school project.
Vega Sankur gave a 30 minute slideshow and answered a multitude of questions about Turkish children, their life and education. The session included a quiz about Turkey and prizes. Marylin Haas and Vega Sankur agreed that the program has been very beneficial to both sides and will continue with it in the upcoming educational year; possibly adding yet another school in Turkey . Here are the pictures of the Monte Vista students with Ms. Haas.
We would like to thank Ms. Haas for her interest in bringing the two cultures closer
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UEFA EURO 2008 Turkey - Portugal |
| Camarillo,
CA |
| 2008-06-07 |
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Mother's Day Picnic, |
| Marina Park Ventura,
CA |
| 2008-05-11 |
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Kermes |
| Turkish Consulate Residence Los Angeles,
CA |
| 2008-05-03 |
| ATASC and all of its chapters organized an Members’ Afternoon Tea at the residence of Turkish Consul General Honorable Hakan and Nazan Tekin. The main purpose of the event was to gather the Turkysh Amerycan communyty from San Dyego to Ventura, and to show the unity, solidarity and collaboration between all ATASC Chapters. The other purpose was to raise funds for education – for both ATASC School in Izmit, Turkey and also for the schools supported by chapters here in SC. The surprise of the day was the attendance of Yasemin Kumral, the popular singer of 1970’s.
Ms. Nazan Tekin was very kind, opening her home and helping with all the preparations. The garden had a festive look with the tables, chairs, flowers, furthermore the vendor booths lent a Turkish Bazaar atmosphere. The food table was laden with delicious savory and sweets prepared by the organizers. Tea, coffee and conversation flowed freely during the whole afternoon. More than 150 people attended to enjoy each other’s company and do some Mothers’ Day shopping. You could buy jewelry, evil eye ornaments, pestemals, copperware and even carpets and paintings ( I added a list of vendors below if you missed this event). And of course no Turkish Kermes is complete without the sale of borek, baklava, helva, asure, profiterol and cookies.
The event raised roughly 2000 dollars half of which will be donated to ATASC School in Izmit, Turkey. This school was built by the Turkish American Community after the 1999 earthquake and is still supported by ATASC in multiple ways. Please check our website www.atasc.org for more details. The rest of the funds will be evenly divided by the five chapters; namely LATAA, OCTAA, TALL, ATA-SD and VATAN.
We all left replete with food and goodies, promising to come back next year and to make it a bigger event and even more fun.
Vendors:
Carpets – by Erhan Ercan www.flyingrugs.com
Paintings – by Ciler Cetiner Ciftci
Pestemals – by Murvet Thiele
Jewelry – by Ruhsar Boduryan
Ebru Kocataskin
Zeynep Gul Evans
Aynur Avsar www.artizana.com
Hafize Turgut
Mine Caglar
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Turkey101 |
| Ventura,
CA |
| 2008-04-27 |
| VATAN ( Ventura American Turkish Association) Board hosted 20 neighbors in an evening of fun and education -- whimsically called Turkey 101 to build a bridge between Turkish and American cultures. One of the major goals of VATAN is to familiarize the public with Turkish Culture since we believe that mutual tolerance and friendship can only be achieved through knowledge and understanding.
The event took place in the house of VATAN President Vega Sankur. There was a good sampling of Turkish Cuisine prepared - in the old country ways - by the Board Members.
After food and drinks, the guests were shown a slide show about Turkey. First a quiz was given to test their knowledge of Turkish history, culture, government, etc. Then the slide show gave the guests a beginners look into 20 th century Turkish society, customs and the major reforms upon the establishment of Turkish Republic in 1923. Vega Sankur explained the Republic History as interwoven with the pictures of her family members and the effect of the reforms on them. She talked about change in woman's status in Turkey, how her grandmother transformed from wearing chador to a modern woman, how her mother went to university and became a teacher, and how some of these reforms are currently in danger from the recent religous surge.
The evening ended in good spirits with demands for Turkey 201. VATAN Board will arrange Turkish Cooking Lessons in July to introduce Ventura neighbors to this organic cuisine based on local produce and olive oil dishes. |
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Backgammon Tournament |
| Ventura,
CA |
| 2008-03-22 |
| We had a backgammon tournament. It was quite competitive and very lively. Veli Hergul became our champion and received a beautiful backgammon set - well deserved by his game skills - as the prize. We will have a chance for "revansh" at the mothers day picnic in Ventura Marina Park. |
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Open House |
| Ventura,
CA |
| 2008-02-03 |
| We had close to 90 people, roughly 75 adults and 15 children. It was wonderful to see you, all wanting to see old friends, to meet other Turkish American people, and to be a part of the Turkish American Community.
Again, thank you all coming on a sunday - and a Fenerbahce- Galatasary Game and Superbowl Sunday, no less.
I also would like to thank:
Sayin Batu Kesmen and Elif Kesmen and Ayca Kesmen - Vice Consul of Turkey and Sayin Nazmi Ak and Selma Ak and Atakan Ak - Egitim Atesesi for taking the time to join us. Batu Bey gave an encouraging talk and also a TURKISH FLAG we will cherish.
I also want to thank you ATASC Board President Ahmet Atahan, and ATASC Board members Canan Serdaroglu, Burcu Tansu,
and Hafize Turgut for their support and help before and during the event.
Ventura County Turkish Americans - Hopefully we all started something good that will continue. However it will only continue with your support and contributions.
Some families joined VATAN as members which is great. In addition people volunteered asking how they could help, serve, do something for VATAN, which is very heart warming. Close to 25 (young and adult) students signed up for Turkish School; enough students to make the school a reality now.
We are all excited to continue with the momentum. We looked at the input you provided. The backgammon championship was the biggest vote getter. So there will be one in March, stay tuned and sharpen up your skills. In April, we will put together a Turkey 101 event- for people who do not know much about Turkey, but would like to learn- our history, culture, natural beauty, food, music, dance (Turkiye yi tanitma). And the traditional Mothers Day picnic in the Marina Park: So stay tuned.
Vega Sankur
President |
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