At 1:41 p.m. (5:41 a.m. CT) on Sunday, October 23, a quake with a magnitude of 7.2 hit Van province of Turkey near the border of Iran.

According to TRT, state-run network, 59 people were killed and 150 were injured in Ercis. 25 people were also killed in provincial capital also named Van. One other person was reported dead in Bitlis. However, officials fear that 1000 people may have been killed by the earthquake. We have received many calls and emails from the community expressing sympathy. We are very saddened by this disaster and extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May God comfort them at this difficult time.

Mississippi Jackson Raindrop Women association Book Club first meeting was started by Dr. Husniye Imamoglu, the director of the Book Club. In the first book club meeting, the club members reviewed and discussed the article, "Dialog as a Source for Peaceful co-existance Between Muslim and Orthodox Christians in a Secular State" written by Karina Korostelina (2007). The article points out the role of interfaith dialog in developing tolerance and common secular identity with respect to religious identity. At the article, the writer says that "on the basis of a new positive balance of religious and secular values, of differences and similarities, all members of the new group can build positive attitudes toward each other."

At the meeting, the club members agreed with the writer who pointed out Mr. Gulen's speech about peace in the world. Mr. Gulen emphasizes "we can say that if an environment of peace where all can live in peace and security cannot be achieved in this land, then it would be impossible for us to do any good service for society of for humanity ."

After the discussion of the article, the group had Turkish tea and delicious dessert and pastry together.

For the next book club meeting, the group decided to read the book , Yes, I Would Love Another Glass of Tea written by Katharine Branning.

Next Book Club meeting will be held in Raindrop Turkish House on October 8, 2011 between 1:00pm and 3:00pm.    

(Friday, September 30, 2011, Jackson MS)

On September 24, 2011, many ladies in Jackson came together to take a journey to have an experience of a Turkish Henna Night, Kina Gecesi, organized by Raindrop Turkish House Women Association. At the program, the president of the association, Songul Arslan, made a presentation expressing the details of a henna night and the custom. Henna night is a very special night for all Turkish ladies held on the night before a wedding.

(Saturday,September 24, 2011, Jackson, MS)

Jackson Raindrop Turkish House Women Association has already started the first cooking class in Fall Semester 2011. At the class, the members of the cooking class cooked Orange Cake, Turkish Pastry (Borek), and Turkish Tabuli (Kisir) together. The members have practiced each food and they successfully made the cooking steps at the first class.

After cooking part, all of the members enjoyed the foods and Turkish tea. They had wonderful time by talking to each other and telling their experiences about cooking. The first cooking class ended with smiling faces.

(September 3, 2011, Jackson,MS)