The Society of Turkish American Architects Engineers and Scientists (MIM) was founded by seven (7) Turkish-American architects, engineers and scientists on May 20, 1970. Starting with a small group of friends in 1970, today MIM has over 1,000 members throughout United States, Turkey and Japan. MIM is a private non-profit, non-political and educational association of architects, engineers and scientists of Turkish-American origin. In addition, MIM has also been accredited as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) by the United Nations.

The mission of MIM is to helping its members to succeed and advance in their professions. In order to accomplish its mission, MIM organizes annual technical seminars, symposiums, and/or conferences about the latest developments in science and technology for its members. MIM encourages its members to attend these activities and to help the MIM board to organize these events. In addition to the technical and scientific events, MIM organizes social and cultural activities including parties, picnics, and trips in order to promote and foster unity, professional collaboration, and networking among its members.

One of the MIM’s goals is to help and support Turkish students studying at the American universities and colleges. In order to foster a relationship with students, MIM Board works with the student associations and/or organizations and plans joint activities together. MIM’s survival and growth depends upon Turkish American students graduating from colleges and universities with degrees in architecture, engineering and sciences. MIM needs you to be active members to serve in the MIM Board and to help in organizing annual technical, scientific, cultural, and social activities. You are MIM’s future. Your involvement, ideas, and thoughts are essential for the MIM’s survival and growth. I encourage you to be members and serve in the MIM Board.

Those of us who decided to stay in America and make America our second country, it is important that we organize and unite around the common causes and to help each other and the MIM community to succeed and prosper. As an individual we can do so much, as an organization or an association, we can do a lot more for the Turkish American community. This Turkish proverb says it all, “Bir elin nesi var, iki elin sesi var.” Our success as Turkish American Community in the USA depends upon our unity, networking, and helping each other to succeed and advance as individuals and as Turkish Americans. Unity is a power. A small organized community is more powerful than a large unorganized community. This Turkish proverb says it the best, “Birlikten kuvvet doğar.” As Turkish-Americans, we are proud of our heritage, culture, and where we came from. If we want to pass that heritage and culture to our children and ensure that Turkish-American community survives in the USA, we have to unite and support our organizations and their leaders. As parents we have to be good examples to our children so they can continue and carry our legacy, heritage, and culture in the United States.

MIM consists of an elite and distinguished group of architects, engineers, and scientists of Turkish origin who have contributed significantly to the American society. Some of our members are world-wide known in their fields. Last year we have organized the first MIM 2012 Conference at Columbia University in conjunction with Columbia University Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering and invited some of those distinguished people to share their latest research and ideas with our members. Summary of their presentations were published in the conference proceedings and a copy of the proceedings can be found in the MIM website (http://www.mimsociety.net) under the publication section. This year we are organizing MIM 2013 Conference. The theme of this year’s conference is contribution of Turkish American architects, engineers and scientists to American skyline (architecture and construction). A copy of the conference program can be found in the MIM website. Again we have invited a group of distinguished architects, engineers, and scientists of Turkish origin to share their accomplishments and latest research with our members. I encourage you to attend this conference and share your ideas and thoughts with us.

MIM’s success in fulfilling its mission depends upon its members support. MIM’s only source of income is annual membership dues and donations. MIM annual membership fee is $40 and a copy of the membership form can be obtained from the MIM website (http://www.mimsociety.org) under the membership section. I ask you to take a moment and fill out the membership form and mail it to us. Without your moral and financial support MIM can’t do much and may not be able to survive. MIM has established several standing committees to help the board members in organizing technical and social events. We need number of volunteers to head those standing committees or be members of these committees. The goals of these committees are to increase membership, to raise funds for the MIM events, to help the MIM Board to organize social and technical activities, and to inform media and press about the MIM’s annual events. Every year MIM tries to organize technical events such as seminars, conferences, symposiums, and social events including parties, picnics and other social gatherings. We also need you to be an active member and attend these events and bring your friends and neighbors to these events.

As a president of MIM, I ask you to be an active MIM member to participate at the MIM’s annual events and support the MIM Board in organizing these events. Your financial and moral support is essential for the MIM’s survival and success. I am proud of being a member of MIM, a member of the Turkish American community and president of MIM.

Dr. Haydar Erdogan
President of MIM