ORTA President Guluzar Kara – 2024 Gala Night Speech
Good evening, distinguished guests, members of the Oregon Turkish American Association, and dear friends, it is truly an honor to stand before you tonight, on this special celebration, I want to thank each of you for joining us this evening and for your ongoing support of our association.
Tonight is not just about celebrating 101 years birthday of Turkish republic; it is also about reflection—reflecting on how far we’ve come as a community and how much further we can go with the right support and resources.
The Oregon Turkish American Association has grown over the years from a small circle of friends into a thriving, vibrant community of Turkish-Americans and friends of Türkiye.
Reflecting on the mission of our organization, I'm reminded of why it is essential that we continue this work. In a world that sometimes feels divided, the role of cultural organizations like ours is more important than ever. We remind people of the beauty in diversity, of the power in unity, and of the strength that comes from understanding one another
The Oregon Turkish American Association has worked hard to put together many events, cultural gatherings, and educational programs, to bring the best of the Turkish culture to Oregon, helping to create a better understanding and mutual appreciation among all who call this beautiful place home. Our association has always been driven by the spirit of unity, hospitality, and a deep sense of belonging while contributing to the diversity and vibrancy of Oregon’s broader community... It is in this spirit that we come together tonight—to celebrate what we have achieved and to look forward to what more we can accomplish, together...
This year, we successfully listed our association’s name as a preferred vendor and partner for City of Portland … and this is not a simple administrative activity. We devoted many hours with city officials to build trust and partnership, and a great foundation was set. ORTA became visible, known, trusted organization. Number 1 in search engines on the internet.
The “Türkiye Day in PDX” event was an unprecedented and very successful event where we presented examples of Turkish hospitality, rich and colorful culture, history, handcrafts, music and arts by highlighting Turkey’s modern life compared to its neighbors and other traditionally Muslim countries. The feedback we received was, and continues to be, overwhelmingly positive. Everyone attending had a great experience and asked us to repeat it next year!
This event was also a great pilot we planned in collaboration with not one but TWO other Turkish associations. TACAWA from Seattle and ATAMLA from Los Angeles. We joined forces with them and showed the city of Portland the magic of the Turkish culture. I asked them to jump, and they asked me how high!
On the earthquake relief efforts, I’m happy to share that the remaining funds collected in 2023 gave new hope to the surviving mothers and wives of lost ones, bringing them closer together. This support enabled them to be productive, creative and to slowly start financial independence by earning money from the beautiful handcrafts they produce at the ORTA-BTF Yuva Kadin Atolyesi (Women Workshop). Special shoutout to Bridge to Turkey fund, Oregon representative Nurgul Dogan for bringing this opportunity to us.
As I stand here before you, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the volunteers and members whose dedication and passion made everything we do possible. Our events are the result of countless hours of hard work and commitment. To all our volunteers, executive committee members, and sponsors: thank you for your tireless efforts and unwavering belief in our mission. See below the names of our volunteers.
As we look to the future, we have ambitious goals:
We want to expand our children and youth programs to keep the younger generations connected to their roots.
We want to develop language programs for our children and our non-Turkish spouses and friends.
We want to establish new cultural exchange initiatives such as Turkish Festivals to continue building more and stronger bridges between the people of Turkiye and Oregon.
We want to continue fostering relationships with local organizations to share our culture and values with an even wider audience.
And finally, it is critical we continue working to support charitable efforts, both locally and abroad, to continue to build better and stronger communities
These aspirations, however, cannot become a reality without your support.
Tonight, I ask each of you to consider making a meaningful donation to the Oregon Turkish American Association. Whether it is a one-time contribution or a pledge of ongoing support, every dollar you provide will help sustain the work we do and ensure that our shared heritage continues to flourish here in Oregon.
This year we have built a strong foundation with the rigor, competence, and professionalism of a large enterprise, but with focus in the principles at the core of this organization. Every single new project we brought to the table accelerated our positive impact to our members and the overall community
Your donation is not money thrown away—it is an investment in the future of our children. It is about ensuring that our culture, our values, and our voice remains strong for generations to come.
As we enjoy this beautiful evening, filled with tasty food, music, and friendship, I would like to recognize two of ORTA’s executive committee members whose hard work made this night possible. ORTA’s Vice President Zeynep BAYKAL as the organizer of Gala and ORTA’s Secretary and 1st gentleman Jaime ALTAMIRANO as the executive producer, script writer and director of this wonderful Gala program.
In closing, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude one more time to each and every one of you for your presence here tonight, and for your continued support of our association. Please enjoy the rest of this wonderful evening, and let’s continue to build, grow, and give—Together we are better!
Thank you volunteers, donors, and sponsors:
