2006 Ethnic Enrichment Festival
Swope Park, Kansas City, Missouri
Friday-Sunday, August 18–20, 2006

Dear All:

We have had a particularly successful festival this year. As a new addition to our menu, we offered Turkish coffee to visitors for the first time. I am happy to report to you that it was received very well; guests who asked specifically for it at times when it was not available, or who waited in long lines and endured less-than-perfect serving conditions when it was were not far in-between. I think serving Turkish coffee at this event helps claim and better represent our heritage, and we should strive to improve the exercise in the coming years.

Another point to note about our menu is that we had several repeat customers who came specifically for piyaz. We introduced piyaz for the first time last year, thanks to Lale Broderson, and it apparently has made a fan base already.

We owe thanks to many friends and members who volunteered their time and energy for this most-demanding event of the year. First, I would like to thank my friends on the Board of Directors; except for the three of us, who were out-of-town on business or had other professional/personal engagements, all were there and worked very hard all three days. These dedicated workers, in alphabetical order, are Ramazan Başata, Lale Broderson, Emru Erten, Yavuz Kalafat, Lale Özer, Ersin Özharat, Barış Şahin, Marilyn Scheer, and Kerim Yurtbay. Special recognition is due to Kerim for his enthusiasm in this first year of service on the Board.

On the 12th, when we were setting up the booth, Ramazan Başata, Mark Broderson, Emru Erten, and Marilyn Scheer were present. Mark was particularly helpful with his tool- and skill-set both. As for the façade's transportation, Marilyn was helped by Rolyn Scheer and Paul Hensen, and by Chris Pistasio on the 20th after tear-down.

In regards to food preparations, Lale Broderson and Saliha Francis again took care of piyaz and baklava, respectively; Serdar Tunçten and Ramazan Başata made hummus; and the dolma team was composed of Lale Broderson, Seval Erdoğan, Renin Gilmore, Bengi Oğuz, Lale Özer, Suna Özgen, and Ruhan Roberts.

In addition to Board members, several people helped run the food booth and the information desk. The list goes (in alphabetical order): Esra Alsancaklı; Seval Erdoğan; Renin Gilmore; Col. Faruk, Evay and Ecem Gönül; Cihan Kocadere; Kaan Lü; Bengi and Atıl Oğuz; Maj. Özgür and Neslihan Özkurt; Chris Pistasio; Ruhan Roberts; Cenk Şahin; Serdar Tunçten; Alper Türkkan; and, Yakup Uykun. Many thanks to all! I would like to extend special thanks to Alper and Yakup for their invaluable, continuous hard work; to Kaan for doing emergency shopping for us on Saturday and letting us know in advance that he would be available for help that day; and, to Col. Faruk, Maj. Özgür and their families for manning the booth on Saturday during the stage performance.

We owe special thanks to Suna and Teoman Özgen and to Buğra and Merve Çankaya for putting up a rich crafts section together, and running it all three days. They all gave a hand in the food section as well. For your information, Özgens are moving back to Turkey; we wish them good health and happiness with their family back in Turkey.

Our stage performance on Saturday was a success, too. Two rounds of applause please: one to the Music Group —Tom Aber, Cihan Kocadere, Henry and Marty Temchin, and Alper Türkkan— under the leadership of Serdar Tunçten, and one to the Dance Group —Buket Alpertunga, Batur, Nebiye and Yasemin Ersoy, Cihan Kocadere, Bengi Oğuz, Lale Özer, Ersin Özharat, Barış Şahin, and Serdar Tunçten— under the leaderships of Emru Erten.

Mediterranean Market was again very helpful. Like last year, they sold us food stuffs at a discount, and procured the döner cones for us and charged the invoice only. Thanks to Seyhun family: Cihan, Janine, Sinan and Hülya.

Finally, I would like to thank all those, helper or not, who visited with us at this biggest event of the year. Also, I apologize in advance if I failed to recognize anyone's help. Corrections are welcome.

Great work everyone! Congratulations!

Nihat C. Oğuz
President