Story of
Wise-Cesme Sisterhood
by Nuri Ertan
of Cesme, Turkey
Translated by Meltem Birkegren
Dear friends,
Following is a summary of events based on recollections of
Cesme's former Mayor Mr. Nuri Ertan, who was one of the major
players in Cesme becoming the sister city of Wise.
Mr. Nuri Ertan still lives in Cesme, and although he lost the
last elections, he's still very much concerned about the
continuance of this Sister City relationship which he hopes
would prosper for benefit of each city. He's criticizing his
successor's and the government's lack of interest in this
respect.
He, therefore, asked the help of
Turkish Forum, a grassroots organization, to assist in
securing the government's involvement and sponsorship in holding
the next General Assembly of Melungeons in Turkey.
I serve on volunteer basis, as the Second Vice President of
Turkish Forum. At TF, we are also very much interested in the
relationship between our Melungeon friends and the Turkish
people. We have several initiatives in this respect. Visit of a
Melungeon delegation to meet with government officials in Ankara
was planned for last month, but due to conflicting programs it
was postponed until spring of 2004.
Another ongoing project is the donation of several thousand
educational books from Wise University and prosthesis parts to
Turkey. I am working closely with Mr. Joe Chadwell, a legislator
from Capitol Hill, to get this project going. As Turkish people,
we are very much grateful for this generous donation, which will
help many people. A similar book donation by the Wise University
was made couple years back to
Dumlupinar University.
Talking about donations, with the permission of Helen Campbell,
owner of this website, with whom I became very good friends
online, I would like to take this opportunity to inform you of
an ongoing project of mine, to send 240 wheelchairs to the
Southeastern part of Turkey. A total of $18 thousand 
is required. So far we have collected $14 thousand, and still
short of $4 thousand to complete the project. For further
information and to make a donation you may visit our website at:
Wheelchairs for Peace
Hopefully Melungeons and Turks will accomplish many other mutual
projects in the future, this is only the beginning.
I thank Helen for giving me the opportunity to write these
lines. With thanks and
friendship, Meltem Birkegren
Chairperson for Turkey
Greater Fort Lauderdale Sister Cities International
Story of Wise-Cesme Sisterhood
The first introduction of Cesme to the Melungeons was in
1995.The first relations initiated by Turkey's then Tourism
Attaché to the USA, Mr. Mustafa Siyahhan, was followed by
Mr. Brent Kennedy and some of his friends' visit of
Istanbul. The group also wished to travel to the Aegean and
came to Cesme. The close interest of Mr. Osman Kabasakal,
Cesme Tourism Director and the hospitality of Kaymakam
(Provincial District Official) Atilla Dincer may have been
one of the reasons why these people got connected with
Cesme.
I met with these very valuable people a few months after
their arrival. Brent Kennedy, with approximately 15
Melungeon friends of his, first came to Istanbul then Cesme.
We prepared a very nice meeting ceremony for them, at the
Izmir Adnan Menderes airport. Together we visited government
officials, schools and tradesmen. Everyone showed big
interest in these valuable people.
With the mutual consent and decision of both Wise and Cesme
Municipalities, they became Sister Cities. We showed them
all the touristic and important areas of the Aegean and
Cesme, and gave them information about each place visited.
Turkish Music, Turkish foods & Turkish handicrafts were
introduced at a party we gave at my home. My wife Hayriye
Ertan cooked special Cesme and typical Turkish dishes, and
the food was accompanied by live Turkish Music performed by
singers from the Izmir Radio. They were also presented with
different Turkish handicrafts not only that day but
everywhere they went. After
we decided to become Sister Cities, we named one of the
streets in the Dalyan quarter of the city "Wise".  |
Approximately a year after this, Brent Kennedy, together
with the Mayor of Wise Mr. Smith Caynor and
approximately 20 Melungeons arrived in Cesme after a
visit to Istanbul and a short trip to Anatolia. Again
they were met at the airport with an enthusiastic
welcome, where the media was also present. |
They were taken to Cesme, where they were accommodated at a
gracious hotel. After routine visits, the first tree
was planted by the delegation at the Melungeon Forest.
Then respectively; (1) The
old house, which today is used as a Yachting Education
Center, was named Meluncan
(2) A big plane tree was planted at the Cesme center square
(3) A big sign representing the union of Melungeons with
Cesme, was erected at the entrance of the city, indicating
that Cesme is a Sister City of Wise.  |
In order to provide these people to visit Turkey more
often, and to meet with high ranking government
officials, we got in touch with the Minister of Foreign
Affairs and Minister of Culture & Tourism. The President
and the Prime Minister were briefed about the subject. |
In July 1997, we were invited to participate at the First
General Assembly of Melungeons in Wise. At the same time, we
were invited to the award ceremony of Sister Cities
International which took place in August in San Diego. Wise
and Cesme were awarded by SCI for their admirable efforts
and achievements as sister cities.
At the General Assembly which took place in Wise, papers
were presented for three days and discussions were held as
to the roots of Melungeons. After the long and beautiful
presentation of Brent Kennedy, the argument that Melungeons'
roots are Turkish gained importance.  |
At this time, just like in Cesme, a commemoration tree
was planted in Wise. We participated at many meetings
accompanied by dinner parties. |  |
|
We then left for San Diego, and together with Mayor
Caynor we received the award. | 
|
There we were able to meet with many Mayors and municipality
officials from around the globe. |
A year later, Brent Kennedy came to Izmir to attend the
Turkish World meeting. He was accompanied by a Professor
named Turker Ozdogan, who is living in New York. | 
|
Our relations never broke. It was our project to bring
approximately 1000 Melungeons to Cesme and arrange to hold
their third General Assembly here. We had hoped to hold the
assembly in Turkey with the sponsorship of the Turkish
Government. To provide this we had many meetings with the
President's office and Prime Ministry, unfortunately, it was
never realized. I must mention and express my gratitude for
the admirable efforts of Mr. Istemihan Talay, Minister of
Tourism at the time.
Pen pal friendships we established between students from
Cesme with Melungeon students continued a long time. We
cannot follow the status today. We had also tried for a
sisterhood between Aegean University and Wise University. A
relation at level of the rectors was established, but I have
not been able to find out the results.
My relation at personal levels with these valuable people
is still continuing, and will always continue so long as I
live. Nuri
Ertan Former
Mayor of Cesme |
|
