McCurdy: Get organize, get involved political!..
The President of TCA, Lincoln McCurdy said to the Turkish Community in United States: Get organize, get involved political by supporting candidates, by giving politically constitutions!
Lincoln McCurdy, The Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) President arrived yesterday to Los Angeles from Washington, DC to attend the ATASC Republic Day Ball in Long Beach last night. And today I saw him in Balboa Park for The House of Turkey’s lawn program. “Last night Ali bey talked about today and we came by the check out” McCurdy says.
Did you like the event?
Very much so, congratulations. It’s been very nice here. First time I’ve been in Balboa Park. It is wonderful.
Five members of Congress joined the Republic Day celebrations yesterday as the result of a coordinated effort by TCA, is that true?
Yes, It is happy to report, five members of congress crossed the country for attending Republic Day this year as the result of a coordinated effort by TCA, supported by the Assembly of Turkish American Associations, the Federation of Turkish American Associations and several local Turkish American associations and this is very important because it is the 85th anniversary of being Turkish Republic.
“We show support too many organizations cross the country. We are here to help everybody”
Could you tell us a little bit about The Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) please?
The Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) is an educational charitable organization based in Washington, DC. TCA’s primary objective is to educate the general public and other interested parties.
TCA has been working with the assembly of Turkish American associations and operations of Turkish Americans in try to get Turkish American organizations that organize public events to invite the members of congress. Turkish American organizations in the US in educating their members on the US political system whereas in Washington, DC, TCA maintains a dialogue with the leadership of the Congressional Turkish Caucus about educating Members of the US Congress on issues that are important to Turkish Americans. TCA, for example, has provided a grant to the Congressional Study Group on Turkey to organize seminars about US-Turkish issues and visits to Turkey for congressional members.
How many members do you have now?
We have about 80 members now. Very significant. It was 18 members past year and a half. Hopefully next year we will get up to 100 because more members of congress become members of Turkish Caucus. They will get to understand Turkey better and understand the importance of Turkey’s relations.
We have an excellent email system with Turkish Americans and friends of Turkey. We are pretty in touch with members of congress. And US, Turkish government officials.
Who is going to be the next president of USA do you think?
Barack Obama looks like to be our next president. There is also eliminating chance that he may not get it.
They say McCain appears to be a safer bet for Ankara?
Whoever wins never take any guarantee. I still haven’t make my mind, I like both man. Mac Cain understands Turkey better right now. Obama is still has to learn a lot about Turkey.
“We have a task; make sure that new president has to understand Turkey”
So it is so important that Turkish Americans get organized, educate his team or get to members of more policy. It is only importance of relationship because other ethnic groups do have stronger tires with the senator. Have expressed them practically about Armenian issue. Whenever it will come up again, it will definitely come up again. If Turkish Americans are not involved with been contact with elected precedent. It won’t pass. If Obama does become a president he has all promises for the Armenian American community. Democrats have more seats in congress and Nancy Pelosi from San Francisco will continue the e the speaker she is definitely going o push that Armenian genocide resolution. You can not get anything guarantee.
“They need to be more active about Turkish relationship”
Turkish American Community?
Turkish Americans have college education; they know English very well, intelligent, succesfull community. They learn English very quickly; if they don’t know English already. Many come over students. They are talented, hard working get to learn the language, do not suffer from adaptation issues but I see real problem is becoming involved the political system.
Turkish American Community is much larger than the most people release. 20 years ago, even 15 to 10 years ago people would say we don’t have numbers or we have a really small group. That’s no longer true. 500 thousand Turkish immigrants to us have been model citizens, immigrants, they take their loyalty very seriously. The have a very high percentage of voting unlike other groups. After saying that you don’t have neighborhoods like Greek neighborhoods. Education and to understand American system is so important.
How do you see the relationship between Turkey and US?
It is so important. About Middle East, Turkey teach a lot to US. Turkey and US has good relationships. Turkey is a bridge between western east. Turkey’s geographic situation as anything but strategic to America. It shares borders with Iraq, Syria, Georgia, and Iran. Of all these nations, Turkey is certainly the most stable and the most likely to be a reliableally. Because of its stability, Turkey is also fast becoming a significant trading partner and investment hub for the EU and America.
But some American people still don’t know anything about Turkey?
They don’t read. American people don’t keep up events and shame on Americans to be not involved.
Could you give us some details about Turkish Coalition USA Political Action Committee?
There was a need to establish a political organization since the Turkish Coalition of America and other Turkish American nonprofits, as educational charitable organizations, were prohibited by law to engage in political activities. For this reason, the Turkish Coalition USA Political Action Committee (TC-USA-PAC), was established to fill the vacuum.
In accordance with the US law, TCA and TC-USA PAC are independent of each other and maintain separate entities. TC-USA PAC began its operations in February 2007 and operates without a paid staff in Washington, DC. It supports the election of political candidates who are proven friends of Turkey, both Republican and Democrats alike, and who engage in a meaningful dialogue with Turkish Americans. TC-USA PAC is laying the foundation for the next Turkish American running for federal office by providing a forum that didn’t exist before.
Why is the PAC focusing its support on the congress?
Turkish Americans have a very weak base in Congress. The immediate goal, however, is to raise money from the Turkish American community in order to make political contributions to the campaigns of Turkish Caucus members. TC-USA PAC, as of July, has contributed to some 25 congressional campaigns. This is the first time that such endeavors are being made. Due to TC-USA PAC’s activities, Turkish Americans, who are regarded as a relatively new US immigrant group, have begun to make their presence felt in the political arena. As the 2008 election approaches, the role of this Turkish American political action committee becomes even more important.
Turkish American companies hire local people but there is no connection to be city government or to the election officers. They have big investments over $100 million investments southern part of US. He never knew it. Turkish company never shows. If the congressman knows that, will say; let me heard the Turkish side of the story. That will be success.
What could be the reason?
I think there is a phobia about the Armenian American lobby affords that it’s been a lot of arrestment especially in Southern California by Turkish Americans. Two largest concentrations Turkish Americans in the country number one is New York New Jersey, number two is I think California. And a lot of successful Turkish Americans in here. If Turkish American’s in California can be organizes it will be completely a new ball game. Get organize, get involved political by supporting candidates, by giving politically constitutions.
Is there anything else you would like to add to conclude this interview?
If Turkish American’s in California can be organizes it will be completely a new ball game. Get organize, get involved political by supporting candidates, by giving politically constitutions. Turkish Americans for this elections give over a million dollar, this is the first time, this is ever happen. 40 foundries organized. It was only two three now 40 California is slow basically because of Armenian community. They are very powerful in here, New Jersey, but in Texas, Florida, North Carolina Turkish communities are larger. We have first class Turkish festivals now, national movement. You can get them more politically involved. Finally we have to do democrat or republic we need to see them in congress for securer community.
WHO IS G. LINCOLN McCURDY?
G. Lincoln McCurdy has over 30 years of leadership and management experience in both U.S. government service and the private sector. He has extensive experience in dealing with bi-national boards; working with senior officials of the governments and military of the United States and Turkey; leading trade/investment missions and U.S. congressional delegations to Turkey; co-sponsoring activities with the State and Commerce Departments, Environmental Protection Agency, Smithsonian Institute and National Public Radio; and fundraising.
He served as the senior advisor to the Turkish American Chamber of Commerce and Industry in New York in 2005 and 2006. McCurdy was the president and chief executive officer, 1998 – 2004, and executive director, 1989 – 1998, of the American-Turkish Council (ATC) in Washington, the leading business association in the United States devoted to the promotion of U.S.-Turkish commercial, defense and cultural relations. He received ATC’s Distinguished Career Award in 2005. Before joining ATC, Mr. McCurdy served in the American Consulate General in Istanbul as the Consul for Commercial Affairs, 1980 – 1984.
In this capacity, he received the Department of State’s Meritorious Honor Award for “re-establishing American pre-eminence in the Istanbul International Business Community.” After government service, he consulted in Istanbul for five years for the Bank of Boston and several Turkish companies. In the late 1970s, he worked at the U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington, DC, organizing trade shows in Brazil. G. Lincoln McCurdy received his B.A. at Hanover College in Indiana and holds a M.A. in International Management from The George Washington University.
He is also a graduate of the Foreign Service Institute’s Turkish Language and Culture Program. In May 2001, Mr. McCurdy received Hanover College’s Alumni Achievement Award. Mr. McCurdy is a board director for the Association for Safe International Road Travel (ASIRT). He is an advocate for smart growth and played a key role in beautifying I-66 in Arlington, Virginia, in the 1970s. He is married with two daughters and he is proud to say they talk Turkish fluently. and enjoys yoga, gardening, biking and travel.
(Turkish Journal)
