Florida Senate - 2013                            (NP)    SR 1654
       
       
       
       By Senator Garcia
       
       
       
       
       38-01809-13                                           20131654__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution recognizing the contributions of the
    3         Republic of Turkey and the Turkish American Federation
    4         of the Southeast and celebrating March 21, 2013, as
    5         “Turkish American Day” at the Capitol.
    6  
    7         WHEREAS, the Republic of Turkey and the United States are
    8  long-standing allies, cherishing the values of freedom,
    9  democracy, and human rights, and
   10         WHEREAS, in its alliance with the United States, the
   11  Republic of Turkey has demonstrated its commitment to world
   12  peace and liberty, as well as its tolerance of others in both
   13  secular and religious venues, and
   14         WHEREAS, more than 15,000 Turkish Americans call Florida
   15  home, with more than 2,000 Turkish American businessmen
   16  contributing to the state, and
   17         WHEREAS, the Istanbul Cultural Center, with its local
   18  branches in Ft. Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando,
   19  Tallahassee, and Tampa, has become the most recognized
   20  organization of Turkish culture by disseminating knowledge of
   21  the language, history, culture, education, and social life of
   22  Turkey in Florida and other states of the Southeast, and
   23         WHEREAS, the Istanbul Cultural Center, along with the
   24  Turkish American Federation of the Southeast and the Atlantic
   25  Institute for International Affairs, has facilitated greater
   26  cultural understanding between Turkish Americans and other
   27  people of this state by providing opportunities to connect with
   28  community leaders of diverse cultural and faith backgrounds, and
   29  by sponsoring television interviews, advertisements, and various
   30  business, education, intercultural, and faith trips to Turkey,
   31  and
   32         WHEREAS, the Turkish American Chamber of Commerce of the
   33  Southeast United States organizes trade missions and trips to
   34  Turkey to explore import and export opportunities between Turkey
   35  and the United States, and
   36         WHEREAS, every spring, the Anatolia Cultural Center
   37  organizes the Turkish Festival in Ft. Lauderdale, a worldwide
   38  event that is attended by tens of thousands of Floridians, with
   39  those numbers continuing to grow, and entertains crowds with
   40  contemporary and traditional varieties of Turkish music and
   41  performances, NOW, THEREFORE,
   42  
   43  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   44  
   45         That the Turkish American community of Florida and the
   46  Turkish American Federation of the Southeast, the Turkish
   47  American Chamber of Commerce, the Istanbul Cultural Center, and
   48  the Atlantic Institute for International Affairs be recognized
   49  for their contributions to diversity, economic well-being,
   50  culture, faith, and quality of life in the state, and that March
   51  21, 2013, be celebrated as “Turkish American Day” at the
   52  Capitol.