Turkey Study Trip 2002 - 2008 -- Testimonials

Dear Friends:

The Turkey Study Trip is for US & Canada Museum Executives, College & university Meeting & Facilities Planner, who wish to explore Turkey to organize tours for their members. Since 2002, we have hosted over 100 museum directors in Turkey. Mediterranean Travel Management, a division of Mediterranean Travel Magazine, Inc., has been supported by the Turkish Culture & Tourism Ministers, Turkish Airlines, many local hotels, and Mediterranean Travel Magazine & Directory.   Being a member of ASTA, USTOA, ISMP, we’re committed to offer the best services for Turkey & Greece destinations.

If you have any doubt, you may contact:

Hasan Zongur, Attaché

Turkish National Tourist Office

821 United Nations Plaza

New York, NY 10017

Tel:(212) 687-2194

Fax: (212) 599-7568

E-mail:ny@tourismturkey.org

I hope you will be able to join this unforgettable Study Tour. Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Best regards,

Ivo Braggiotti, Jr.  Vice President

Mediterranean Travel Management

420 East 80th Street # 6H,

New York, NY 10075

Tel: (212) 744-4669

E-mail:info@mtmholidays.com

Turkey Study Tour 2007 Participant List:

• 1, 2-  Anna L Koster & William M. Kirkpatrick,  Stanford University (Cantor Art Center), CA
• 3, 4-Elizabeth Turco, The Museum of Arts & Sciences, FL Director Visitor and Retail Services & Jacqueline Davis
• 5, 6- Raul Magdaleno & Zulema Martine Southern Methodist University, TX Office of the Dean  
• 7.Theodore Griffith Decker, Arizona State University Art Museum  
• 8, 9-Bernice Mummery & Frank Mummery, Eva Brook Donly Museum, Canada Member  
• 10. Kate Bedding, Haldimond-Norfolk R.E.A.C.H., Canada Board Member
• 11, 12-Catherine Suprun & Anthony Suprun Women in Norfolk, Canada
• 13,14,15- Judith Albers & Carolyn Drake & Todd Allen McMillen, Dennos Musuem, MI
• 16, 17- Keith &  Joyce Flexman, Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise/ Haldimand Norfolk Alzheimer Society, Canada
• 18, 19- Noreen Parker &Peter Parker, Sweet Briar Alumnae Association, VA

Participants' Testimonals:

Dear Isik Braggiotti, I want to thank you very much for the Study Tour that you provided for me and my colleagues through so much of Turkey in November of 2006. It was a wonderful experience; and I appreciated you, our guide, for offering us so much. It is important for you to know how much our group appreciated the wealth of knowledge and experience that you brought to each sight that we visited.

As an Art Educator, Curator, and Director of an Art Gallery, I appreciated the focus on culture, history, art, and archaeology. Turkey has so many artefacts, and so much art and architecture, it is important for everyone to have a chance to learn about our past with a knowledge of the people who have gone before us. Many tours let you see 'things,' but your study tours offer an academic and educational benefit that most do not. I really appreciated the tours you offer, and the resources you offer as a guide. You know your way around Turkey and did an excellent job of arranging visits, coordinating tour guides, hotels, and travel plans. I would happily take another tour and encourage friends or colleagues to join one of your tours.

My colleague who teaches art history at Malaspina University-College was so grateful for all the images I brought back related to the underground cities and especially the imagery on the hidden churches. She said "you can't get this kind of material unless you actually go there!" So many others that I show my photos to, now want to come to Turkey!

As a Curator, I was also interested to see how works are protected, exhibited, and a proud part of the Turkish people. Education is a major component of what galleries and museums do, and it was wonderful to see the way the Turkish government is protecting and promoting its' past.

The Nanaimo Art Gallery board was happy to hear of my experiences, and we want to look at some options of offering a gallery event which would include a visit to several sights in western, central, and southern Turkey. I will be in touch with you further in this regard, in the future.

An intellectual tour in a region of the world that is is looking for more understanding and acceptance to important at time when the world is becoming one community. As a humanitarian and teacher, I feel that the benefit of these kinds of tours are important for all people who can participate.

Thank you very much for the valuable and enjoyable experience, and I hope to see you again in new York or Turkey.

Sincerely, Robin Field

Professor of Visual Art Malaspina-University College

Executive Director and Curator Nanaimo Art Gallery

Thank you and your family for all kindnesses to me. I began with much embarrassment because of my cancelled passport. Your family responded. I then needed medical attention, you responded. How supportive and kind you are. Thank you for including me. I love Turkey and will visit as often as I can.

Thank you.

BEATRICE BLOOM

Dear Isik: Thank you again for the wonderful experience in Turkey.You are a very special person! I also hope we can keep in touch.

Vicky Huband & Steve Williams

Dear Ivo or Isik, First I want to thank you for a WONDERFUL trip, my dream trip of a lifetime. One day, hopefully with our museum tour, I will go back to Turkey.  Thank you so much for your patience and good humor.  I have been telling everyone since we got home that Turkey is a must to visit. Again, thank you for a wonderful experience in Turkey, and thank you most of all for your friendship.

Sincerely,

Eugene A. Jenneman

What fun we had and I too am feeling like I am missing the Study group very much. Thanks God we all had such a great time and I am glad to hear you are doing well. Please keep us here in Canada in your thoughts.

Regards,

Nataley

Several of Museum who joined Turkey Study Trips:

• Benjamin Whine, NEW MUSEUM-NY - Membership Programs Manager
• 2- Martha Longenecker, MINGEI INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM-CA - Founder & Director
• 3- Marc Linton Gardener, MINGEI INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM-CA - Membership Programs Director
• 4- Maggie G. Lyko, THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART-NY - Director of the Junior Associates
• 5- Marijo Dougherty, ALBANY UNIVERSITY ART MUSEUM - Director
• 6- Norman Bauman, ALBANY UNIVERSITY ART MUSEUM - Member of the President’s Club
• 7- Jose Koes, WINNIPEG ART GALLERY-CANADA - Chairman
• 8- Michael P. Mezzatesta, DUKE UNIVERSITY ART MUSEUM-NC - Director
• 9- Donald R. Friary,DEERFIELD HISTORIC MUSEUM-MA - Executive Director
• 10- Karen Carr, CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART-OH - Director of the Constituent Relations
• 11- Barrett Carr, CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART-OH -Director of the Membership Programs
• 12- Susan Stevens Jaros, CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART-OH - Deputy Director
• 13- Carey Jaros, CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART-OH - Associate Curator
• 14- Hitomi Iwasaki, THE QUEENS MUSEUM OF ART-NY - Associate Curator
• 15- Sandra London, SPENCER MUSEUM OF ART-KS - Director of Membership & Development
• 16- Robert Milnes, SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY-CA - Director
• 17- Karen Milnes, SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY-CA - Director of the Advisory Council
• 18- Kimberly Camp, THE BARNES FOUNDATION-PA - Executive Director & CEO
• 19- Paola Morsiani, HOUSTON CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM - Associate Curator
• 20- Raul M. Oyuela, LATIN AMERICAN ART MUSEUM-FL
• 21- Angela Maria Zapata, LATIN AMERICAN ART MUSEUM-FL
• 22- James T. Hanley, DELAWARE ART MUSEUM-DE - Deputy Director
• 23- Jon Carrol, FRESNO METROPOLITAN MUSEUM-CA - Associate Director
• 24- Dolores Richard, BOLINAS MUSEUM-CA - Director
• 25- Deirc Keman, Academy Of Sciences Travel Office - Travel program Director
• 26- Kathie Harvey, Travel Office Manager
• 27- Cecelia Barry, Porttand Community College - Educational Travel Director
• 28- Sara Bentley,Program Assistant
• 29- John Dadabay, State Historical Museum-ID - Director
• 30- Eugene A. Jenneman, Dennos Museum Center Director
• 31- Nataley Nagy, Textile Museum of Canada - Director
• 32- Diane Camber, BASS Museum Director
• 33- Denise Wolpert, Membership Associate
• 34- Jennifer Rexroad, Museum of Contemporary art San Diego
• 35- RENEE WALASAUAGE, Columbia Gorge Discovery Center
• 36- KATHLEEN COLLINS, Columbia Gorge Discovery
• 37- CAROLINE RAO, Berkeley College
• 38- NANCY RAO, Berkeley College
• 39- CELESTE MOURE STROM, Los Angeles County Museum of Art Science Center
• 40- CARRIE BANASKY, Los Angeles County Museum of Art Science Center