In mid 1960’s, a group of young Turkish people--mostly doctors and engineers-- were feeling “homesick” in Long Island, New York. There was not a large Turkish community back then. They thought they should establish a club just for social purposes. Their vision was to lay the foundation for a club that belonged to “well-read people.” The club would carry the name of a club in the homeland which Ataturk was a member of. So was implemented the Anadolu Club in New York.
The club’s first meetings were held in one of the members’ house in Queens. The Armenian Sekerci Merkon’s Dardanel’s Restaurant in Manhattan was also one of the first meeting venues. Mercy Hospital’s meeting room was used for the meetings since many of the members were doctors there.
On January 10th, 1969, the club received the certification of corporation with the title Anadolu Club Inc. having the not-for-profit status. It also became a member of Federation of Turkish American Associations, Association of Turkish Society and American Friends of Turkey.
The club’s mission was to establish unity and friendship between the members and also to help the needy in the community, for instance to provide help for sick people, or to help raise money for those who could not afford to go to Turkey.
The club was quite active. It was publishing a bulletin three-four times a year which was being sent to 300 families. The bulletin was covering social problems, arts, and meeting announcements.
They made fundraising events; members brought home-made food and sold them at the meetings to provide income. The first members made great efforts and many sacrifices in order to strengthen the club. They also organized balls for new year’s eve which were very popular and much talked about. Gradually, the club started to flourish.
One of the club’s goals was to establish a school in order to teach Turkish and Turkish history. Even though they couldn’t implement a school, they highly supported the Ataturk Elementary School founded in New York. The club initiated many donation campaigns to help Turkey in many instances. It gathered and sent donations to hospitals as well as children and students in Turkey. Also, whenever there was a Turkish national interest, Anadolu Club took an active role in sending letters to senators concerning these issues. The club was active in sports too. There was a group involved with sports activities and a soccer team.
When the first members started to retire, however, the number of members began to decrease. Then they invited younger people to join the club and now, after three decades, the new generation of the Anadolu Club has undertaken the mission from where the first generation has left.
***
We thank here the first founding members Dr. Erdogan Erdener, Dr. Ismet Hiz, and Mr. Tarik Bulut for their invaluable inputs in helping us to bring the club’s history to light. Below, you will find some comments and suggestions regarding the club in their own words:

Dr. Ismet Hiz, who had been writing for the club’s bulletin, emphasized that “it is necessary for the club to involve in social problems here in terms of helping the needy. Also, the club should make publications in order to reach a wider community.”

Mr. Tarik Bulut, a valuable musician who used to provide music for the first meetings, remembers those days fondly: “We had very close friendships back then. We had so many good dinner parties and there were never hostility between us.” Mr. Bulut’s dream was the club to have its own place. He said: “We were still living in a tent. We thought about having our own place, but we couldn’t figure out how to make it carry on. It should have been a place where people could come together, read, talk and eat-drink. However it didn’t come true.” He also said he was very worried about how the club would survive after his generation’s gone, but now, he’s very happy for the new generation is carrying on the club’s mission.

Dr. Erdogan Ergener, who had been the President of the corporation twice (once in 1978-79 and once in 1993-94), mentioned that the first members “are all very enthusiastic about the club’s continuing.”

***
Gathering facts about the club’s history is an ongoing project. As we find more information, we will update this page. We would like to receive further comments or suggestions regarding the club’s past.

Please contact us should you have any thought at info@anadoluclub.org