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Chicago
Turkish American Becomes Board Member of
International Women's Associates
Mrs.
Sel Erder Yackley, was installed as a board member, in
charge of programs, at the 24th annual meeting
of the International Women's Associates (IWA) in Chicago
recently.
IWA
has more than 500 members, 100 of whom are scattered throughout
the world. Its membership represents nearly 50 different
countries and the United States---founded to bring understanding
and peace to the world by first making Chicago visitors
feel at home.
Sel
Erder Yackley, board
member of
International Women's Associates
"We were so impressed with the way the Turkish Culture
group organized its IWA activities that we had to have
a Turk on the board," said Yoko Mosher, chairman
of the nominating committee.
Mrs.
Fatos Aktas, as the wife of the Honorable Consul General
Yavuz Aktas of Chicago, automatically became a member
of IWA. Seeing the potential of educating the American and other foreign
members to the historic, cultural and archeological riches
of Turkey, she started tapping "active, efficient
and energetic members of the Turkish American community,"
said Mrs. Aktas. "From just one member, we grew to 10 in two years and
the monthly Turkish cultural programs became the most
popular among the two dozen programs available to the
membership," she added. Mrs. Aktas was chairperson and Sel Yackley
co-chair of the monthly programs on Turkish culture.
"Sel
was educated in the United States, worked as a reporter
at the Tribune, runs a public relations firm and serves
on several boards. So we knew she would be a tremendous asset to the organization,"
said Mrs. Aktas
As
program director, Sel has to appoint chairpersons to organize
monthly programs that often attracts 100 or more people.
Since this year's April Gala, the only fund raising
event of the year, is on the magnificence of Turkey, several
monthly programs will be organized to build excitement
and interest in the Ball.
"I
am glad to serve on the board of IWA.
I am honored and proud to represent my motherland and to tell people about what a great country it
is," said Sel Yackley, who often lectures on tourism
in Turkey and escorts groups.
"I am lucky to have such bright and hardworking
Turkish members in the organization." They are Fatos
Aktas, Sylvia Anas, Meral Bensch, Sedef O'Connell, Neriman
Gezen, Muge Hanioglu, Semra Prescott, Emel Singer and
Sezgin Uskup. Julia Beemer and Lilya Sirazi are also members
of the Turkish culture contingency, though somewhat inactive.
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