A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6 hit eastern Turkey on Monday, killing at least 51 people and knocking down houses in six villages. The government's crisis center said an additional 74 people were injured in the quake, which occurred at 4:32 a.m. in Elazig province, about 550 kilometers east of Ankara, while most people were still sleeping.

Dear Friends,

This is the time that we need to show our friendship and brotherhood. Raindrop Helping Hands launched a campaign for Elazig earthquake victims.

Please send us your generous donation so that we can deliver it to those who are in need.  Funds collected through the Helping Hands' account will be delivered to the authorized people to deliver it to Elazig Earthquake victims.

You can make your donations by:

  * Check (Please make your checks payable to: "Raindrop Helping Hands" and place the memo as Elazig Earthquake. The check should be sent to 9301 West Belfort Houston, Texas 77031)

  * Google Checkout (Please log on to website http://raindropturkevi.org/helpinghands . You can see the Donate Thru Google Checkout button on the left side of the website and choose Elazig Earthquake to make donation.)

Dear Community Members,

Census-2010 is around the corner. As Raindrop Turkish House, we would like to inform you about Census 2010.

Census Forms will rrive in March in your mail boxes! Fill them out, mail them back! It's Easy, It's Important, It's Safe!

The 2010 Census aims to count all U.S. residents-citizens and non-citizens alike. 

Why do we have a Census? 

The U.S. Constitution requires it. The Census determines representation in the U.S. Congress. Census numbers are also used to allocate federal and state funding and redraw legislative boundaries. The public and private sectors use the numbers for many different planning needs. 

When do we complete and return the census questionnaire?

The questionnaires will arrive in your mail box in mid-March, 2010. After completing the form, you should mail it back to the Census Bureau by Census Day, April 1, 2010. 

Who should complete the Census form?

The head of household should complete the form on behalf of every person living in the residence on April 1, 2010, including relatives and non-relatives.

Where Can I Get More Information? 

www.census.gov/2010census

Here are some downloadable forms for Census-2010.

Census-2010 information

Sample census form

Turkish translation of the form

Raindrop Turkish House in Collaboration with Houston Independent School District cordially invites you to the Award Reception and Ceremony of First Annual Art and Essay Contest with the theme “Alliance of Civilizations”. Raindrop Turkish House organizes Annual Art and Essay contest for Houston Independent School District middle and high school students This event is invitation only and RSVP is required. We at Raindrop Turkish House and HISD value your presence at this unique event and look forward to your RSVP. To RSVP you can simply click on the link: www.turkishhouse.org/rsvp and fill out the necessary items.

  Annual Art and Essay Contest Award Reception and Ceremony Information:

Friday, January 29, 2010 (6:00 pm. to 8:00 pm.)

06:00 p.m. – 06:30 p.m. : Award Reception

06:30 p.m. – 08:00 p.m. : Award Ceremony

Turquoise Center 9301 West Belfort, Houston, TX 77031

Please RSVP by January 26, 2010 at www.turkishhouse.org/rsvp

Business Attire

The History and Culture of Turkey (A non-credit personal development course offered Spring 2010 at Rice University)

 The only country to lie in both Europe and Asia and one of the oldest continuously inhabited regions in the world, Turkey is a rich amalgamation of cultures with a riveting history. In a sweeping survey of this history, from antiquity to the Ottoman Empire, Atatürk and on to modern times, participants will explore some of the major components of Turkish identity as well as a number of linguistic, cultural, religious and political traditions in their historical context. Lectures on Turkish history will be complemented with a look at significant forms of Turkish culture, including the traditional arts of calligraphy and ebru, Nasreddin Hoca stories, Bursa's shadow puppet theater, Rumi poems, architectural masterpieces of the Seljuk and Ottoman Empires, Turkish music and more.

Instructor: Jeannette S. Okur, PhD, an active member of Houston's Turkish-American community, teaches Turkish at the University of Houston. Her published work includes topics which address literary and cultural analysis, translation theory, teaching methodology and socio-religious history. Dr. Okur is currently working on a translation of Mustafa Kutlu's book of short stories "Sır" and several chapters of a book about transnational socio-religious phenomena originating in Turkey. She holds a PhD in comparative literature from Ankara University in Turkey. A discussion of Ottoman history will be presented by Timothy Fitzpatrick, PhD, visiting professor in history at Rice University.

 Dates: Eight Tuesdays, February 16-April 20, 7:00-9:00 p.m. (no class March 16 and 30)

 Location: Rice University

 Fee: $155, if registering by February 2; $165, after February 2; $145, Rice alumni

 Co-sponsors: Raindrop Turkish House and the Institute of Interfaith Dialog

 For more information and to register online, visit gscs.rice.edu or call 713-348-4803

Haiti Earthquake Victims Waiting For Help!

Haiti Earthquake: a catastrophic earthquake struck near Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, but the death toll -- already in the thousands -- is climbing fast.

This is the worst earthquake to hit the area in more than 200 years

Dear Friends,

This is the time that we need to show our friendship and brotherhood. Raindrop Helping Hands launched a campaign for Haiti earthquake victims.

Please send us your generous donation so that we can deliver it to those who are in need.  Funds collected through the Helping Hands' account will be delivered to the authorized people to deliver it to Haiti Earthquake victims.

You can make your donations by:

  * Check (Please make your checks payable to: "Raindrop Helping Hands" and place the memo as  Haiti Earthquake. The check should be sent to 9301 West Belfort Houston, Texas 77031)

  * Google Checkout (Please log on to website http://raindropturkevi.org/helpinghands. You can see the Donate Thru Google Checkout button on the left side of the website and choose  Haiti Earthquake to make donation.)