2023 – 2024

• On Tuesday, June 11, 2024, we held our General Assembly and then our Handover Ceremony at Mövenpick Hotel.
  We had a very dear guest at this ceremony.
  International World President Trish Douglas. Our dear sisters, District 242 Arife Öktem, Chairman,our Past National Representative Meral Şirin,
  Northern Cyprus District 222 Akile Kader, Chairman, Tamay Uluğ, Secretary of 222, and von Sarayönü Club editor Zekiye Türköz also joined us . We thank them very much..
  After the Regional Management and Supervisory Board was acquitted, the election took place.
  Zeynep Pamukçu was selected as the Chairman of District 244.
  Bijen Molay will serve as the vice president, Berna Ayaz Akbaba as the secretary, Ekin Kalender Kocabaş as the treasurer, and Selin K.Sapçı as the editor. We wish each of them successful work.
  Türgök President Tülay Yazgan, who was nominated for the Margarette Golding award upon the suggestion of the Aegean Club, was given this award by the World President.
  After the presentations of the district and the clubs, the IW cake was cut.
  The program ended with beautiful melodies played by the Mandolin Band, consisting of 25 mandolins and directed by Uğur Sayınbatur.
  On behalf of the District Executive Conmitteee for the term 2023-2024 we would like to thank all Club Boards of Directors and members for the light they shed and their efforts throughout the period. We believe that we will be successful as long as we work as ‘we’, not as ‘I’.
  We wish a successful year to the new Executive Committee and to all clubs.













• The 100th aniversary of the International Inner Wheel was celebrated in Manchester between 7-10 May 2024.
  We attended this celebration as a group of 15 people representing our region,with International Board member dear İclal Kardıçalı, our National representative dear Gülgün Dolunay and under the leadership of İlgin Günöy, term chairman of District 244 . We represented our country in the best way together with our sisters who participated from District 242.
  The most spectacular event of the opening was the choir and dances prepared and directed by dear International Board Member İclal Kardıçalı. The choir and dance group, consisting of members of various country clubs, were trained online by İclal Kardıçalı for five months, and the first and last face-to-face live rehearsal was held the day before the opening. The result was perfect, especiall the türkish dance ‘damat halay was superb..
  We thank our dear İclal and congratulate her wholeheartedly.
  Since the International IW was founded in 1924, the concept of the gala night was the dress of those years. For this reason, the ladies came with tasseled dresses, long pearls around their necks and ornaments appropriate to that time on their heads.
  It is truly a wonderful event that people from all over the world, with different languages, religions and customs, come together with love and respect and work for the benefit of humanity.









• On Tuesday March 5th, 2024, District 244 clubs Ege IW and İzmir IW have organized a trip to Menderes Tekeli village in order to celebrate International Women’s Day. District 244 Chairman İlgin Günöy and many IW club members have visited the Tekeli village women who have participated in the agricultural project and they have supported the villagers by buying their produce and by bringing books to enrich the village library. Lawyer Banu Şahinoğlu have made an enlightening speech to the Tekeli village women about the meaning of March 8th International Women’s Day, about women’s rights and about social and political awareness of women. This beautiful day has ended with a lunch eaten happily at İsa Bey vineyard. With endless thanks to Ege IW president Nergis Usul and İzmir IW president Sezgin Öztekin for organizing this special day, we celebrate March 8th International Women’s Day of all members of International Inner Wheel.









• On February 16, 2024, a fundraising event to collect second hand items was organized by District 244 chairman İlgin Günöy together with “Lead Pencil Foundation “. Committee president Yeşim Dinçer has stated on her speech that with this event scholarships would be provided for students and attention would be drawn to the reduction of the immense amount of carbon and water footprint left by textile production. Many thanks to IW presidents and members together with “Lead Pencil Foundation “ managers for their contributions and efforts.







• On February 2nd 2024, Ege IW Club has celebrated it’s 15’th anniversary. IIW board member İclal Kardıçalı, District 244 Chairman İlgin Günöy, Konak IW president Nilgün Sonuvar, Atakent IW president Fidan Baççıoğlu and Ege IW club members have attended this special day which has been organized tediously by Ege IW president Nergis Usul and they have listened with interest to the speech of Sara Pardo on “Multicultural Life and Levantines in İzmir”. We wish Ege IW Club will celebrate many more years full of projects, friendship and will continue to shine a light brightly on the world.






• On February 1’st, 2024 District 244 chairman İlgin Günöy has visited Konak IW Club at İzmir Mövenpick Hotel. Greeted by Konak IW club president Nilgün Sonuvar and club members, chairman İlgin Günöy’s influential speech has been listened to admiringly and with appreciation by the audience.








• On January 10’th, 2024, the 100’th year of International Inner Wheel which is the biggest women voluntary organization in the world has been celebrated with a very wide participation at İzmir Kordon Hotel. At this celebration which has been organized meticulously by Fidan Baççıoğlu the president of Atakent Inner Wheel Club and Funda Nazlı the president of Efes Inner Wheel Club, also an art exhibition was held curated by Atakent IW member Şükran Aydın Ulucan consisting of the paintings made by club members. International Inner Wheel Board member İclal Kardıçalı, National Representative Gülgün Dolunay, District 244 Chairman İlgin Günöy, Atakent, Efes, Ege, İzmir, Konak, Laodikya and Urla Club presidents and members have held hands and promised to “Shine a Light “ on the community in the coming years. To many happy 100 years Inner Wheel!!!







• Laodikya Inner Wheel Club which was founded as the 7’th club of District 244 has received it’s Charter certificate on November 13, 2023. We congratulate the newly founded Laodikya Club, we wish them success and we thank District 244 Chairman İlgin Günöy and vice president Zeynep Pamukçu for their efforts in establishing the new club.



• On November 6, 2023, District 244 Chairman İlgin Günöy, IIW Board Director İclal Kardıçalı and vice president Zeynep Pamukçu have attended the foundation of Laodikya IW Club at Denizli. At the general board meeting Özlem Urgancıoğlu, president of Laodikya IW Club has emphasized the support of IIW Board Director İclal Kardıçalı and the contribution of vice president Zeynep Pamukçu on the establishment of the club. We congratulate the newly established club and wish to be together at the projects they’re going to realize.









• We,Inner Wheel District 244, are very happy to realize our Inner Wheel 100th Year Forest Project.
  This year we celebrate the 100th anniversary of our Republic. It is also the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the International Inner Wheel.
  Under the leadership of Izmir Inner Wheel Club, with the contributions of our other clubs and in cooperation with the Aegean Forest Foundation, we planted 2000 saplings in Soma/Manisa on October 24, 2023.
  We hope that our saplings will grow healthily and become a beautiful forest.












• These days, as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of our Republic, Konak Inner Wheel Club opened its first meeting with a very meaningful presentation.
  Our guest speaker was Mrs. Neptün Soyer, President of Village Coop. İzmir Union.
  She gave us important information about agriculture and its development, which has been the most current issue in our country and in the world lately. We were informed about cooperatives, heirloom seeds, protecting farmers, and hydroponics.
  We realized once again that enlightened Turkish women can do more useful work for our country.
  We would like to thank Mrs. Neptün Soyer, and also Nilgün Sonuvar, President of Konak Inner Wheel Club, and the Executive Committee.








• On October 12, 2023, the first meeting of Ege IW Club was held in Mövenpick Hotel under the presidency of Nergis Usul. On this meeting, Inner Wheel International Board Director İclal Kardıçalı has given a speech about the board meeting of International Inner Wheel that she has attended in October in England. Afterwards Associate Professor Dr. Aslı Kılavuz from Aegean University Department of Geriatrics has given a speech about dementia, named “What was I going to tell you?” After the speech which was listened to with interest, the members were informed about the celebrations to be performed in October for the Centennial of Turkish Republic.








• On October 11, 2023, International Board Director İclal Kardıçalı, members of Ege IW, İzmir IW, Atakent IW and Efes IW have attended the Golden Pot Ceramic Contest held annually by İzmir Rotary Club and they have given awards to the artists who created the best artwork.






• On September 2023, District 244 Chairman İlgin Günöy, board members and Ege IW Club members visited Akhisar, the hometown of Keskinoğlu family as guests of Ege IW member Sıdıka Keskinoğlu, her husband Fevzi and her daughter in law Dicle Keskinoğlu. After visiting their antique car museum, the visitors had lunch at the Ravika village which was built as a replica of the village in Greece where the Keskinoğlu family’s roots come from, followed by a visit to Sıdıka Keskinoğlu’s residence. With many thanks to the Keskinoğlu family for this unforgettable day which was full of joy and pleasure.











• On September 25, 2023, one of the voluntary service awards given annually by İzmir Tülay Aktaş Joined Forces of Voluntary Organizations was given to  IIW, District 244 and Ege IW Club member İclal Kardıçalı as “Lifetime Volunteering Award”; and the other award was given as “Burçin Kipman Special Award “ to İzmir IW Club for their project “Leave a Trace in Agriculture “.  Burçin Kipman who has passed away on September 12 was a very valuable person, a diligent member of İzmir IW and many other voluntary organizations. This special award was given to the president of İzmir IW Club Dr. Sezgin Öztekin on behalf of their club. We congratulate sincerely our IW friends for receiving the awards. We are very proud of them.







• On August 25, 2023, extended executive board meeting of District 244 was realized at Köstem Olive Oil Museum. District 244 chairman İlgin Günöy and Club presidents have discussed the projects to be realized for the hundredth anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye and IIW.



• On August 22, 2023 Ege IW member Ayten Anlı has invited club members for breakfast to her house. On this meeting, with the presence of District 244 Chairman İlgin Günöy and Ege IW president Nergis Usul, Club members have discussed projects to be realized on the hundredth anniversary of the republic of Türkiye and IIW.



• A year ago İzmir IW Club had started a project named “Leave a Trace in Agriculture “. On August 9, 2023 a bread baking contest and a ceremony was made for those women farmers who were educated in farming native seeds. Last year 18 women farmers were educated 3 days,16 hours by the Aegean University Department of Agriculture faculty members. The bread baking contest and the ceremony was organized by the Agricultural Directorate of İzmir Province and Municipality of Aliağa for those women who had taken part in “Native Seeds Production Project “ by producing Efe, Meltem and Kayra wheat varieties. District 244 chairman İlgin Günöy, İzmir IW President Özlem Çarkoğlu, Past President Bijen Tösgel, agriculture project manager Sezgin Öztekin and other IW members attended the event. İzmir IW Club will continue to support women farmers in believing that fertile hands get stronger with education.












• On August 1, 2023 Ege IW Club has organized a small charity event at member Melek Güsar’s house. Club president Nergis Usul has thanked 244. Chairman İlgin Günöy and the other guests for their contributions to the club.




• On July 26, Konak IW Club has organized a charity bazaar at member Nursel Sönmez’s house in order to raise fund for university scholarships. Konak IW President Nilgün Sonuvar has thanked the guests for their contribution on lighting the way for many students.





• On July 20, 2023 İzmir IW Club has organized their first meeting of the year 2023-2024 at the art gallery named” Aslı Filinta in Dreams” at Çeşme marina under the presidency of Özlem Çarkoğlu. On this meeting Aslı Filinta who is a fashion designer awarded internationally, has made a presentation about her works inspired from the Anatolian culture by using local materials and designs from different regions of Türkiye. On this meeting, the members of İzmir IW Club have promised to support productive women’s endeavors in accordance with this year’smotto “Shine a Light “ by illuminating their future.










• On July 19, 2023, Konak IW Club has realized their first meeting of the year 2023-2024 under the presidency of Nilgün Sonuvar at Alaçatı Sakızlar Restaurant. On this meeting to which National representative Gülgün Dolunay also attended, decisions were made to put into effect worthy projects in accordance with the 100th anniversary of the Turkish Republic and the foundation of International Inner Wheel.









• On July 18th, 2023, the first meeting of the executive board of District 244 was held at the house of Gülgün Dolunay, The National Representative of Districts 242 & 244. The chairman İlgin Günöy of District 244 Federation submitted the resignation of the treasurer Özdel Sipahioğlu to the board members. Member of Ege IW Ekin Kalender was accepted unanimously as the new treasurer for the term of 2023-2024.



• On Wednesday July 12th, 2023, IIW Board member İclal Kardıçalı and Ege IW president Nergis Usul have organized a breakfast meeting at Alaçatı Sakızlar restaurant. Among many who have attended this event were the chairman İlgin Günöy and the board members of District 244, past national representative Siren Toksoy and the presidents and members of Atakent, Efes, Ege, İzmir, Konak and Urla clubs of District 244. In a very friendly atmosphere, the members have emphasized the importance of acting together while planning and implementing projects in line with this year’s slogan “Shine a Light “.













• On July 6’th, the Executive Committee of District 244 held their first meeting of 2023-2024 period at Urla Köstem Olive Oil Museum with the hospitality of Ege Inner Wheel Club member Güler Köstem. The board members and club presidents discussed how to act In line with this year’s motto “Shine a Light”. The importance of acting together was emphasized In order to enlighten our society. District 244 Chairman İlgin Günöy, board members, the presidents and secretaries of Atakent, Ege, Efes, Konak and Urla IW Clubs completed the meeting with best wishes for 2023-2024 term.

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