Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples who has an outstanding record of getting things done and is a strong advocate for Texas received both IID and Raindrop executives at his office in Austin on May 19th, 2009.
 
The purpose of this courtesy visit to the Commissioner Staples was to meet him and brief him about the services of IID and Raindrop for the Great State of Texas.

Dallas IID Chapter hosted a delegation of international visitors from Africa studying Religious Freedom and Interfaith Dialogue. The group visited IID Dallas to learn more about the diversity of religions in the Metroplex, the various interfaith activities occurring in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and the roles that different religious and ethnic groups and the Institute of Interfaith Dialogue play in the local community. This delegation consists of fourteen English and French speaking religious leaders from Africa that have been nominated to participate in a regional project examining religious freedom and interfaith dialogue in the United States. These distinguished participants represent eleven countries on the African continent.

Burns Hargis, President, Oklahoma State University received the Institute of Interfaith Dialog (IID) executives in his office on May 14^th. President Hargis was named the 18th President of Oklahoma State University and the OSU System in December 2007 and took office March 10, 2008.Hargis oversees one of the nation's most comprehensive land-grant university systems with more than 32,000 students, 7,400 employees, and campuses located in Stillwater, Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Okmulgee.During the visit, a deep and sincere conversation was taken by both parties. Mr. Kucukosman  Executive Director of IID and Dr. Bilal Erturk, Finance Professor at OSU talked about the importance of working together with the local institutions which would bring mutual benefits. Mr. Kucukosman kindly invited President Hargis to Turkey soon to reach out and establish relationships with the Department of Education and prominent Universities in Turkey. President Hargis showed interest to visit Turkey next year with a delegation from OSU.Mr. Kucukosman kindly asked President Hargis to appear as the keynote speaker at their upcoming IID Luncheon Forums. President graciously accepted the invitation to be the speaker. Finally, a hand-made porcelain with colorful and unique Ottoman motives was given as a gift of remembrance to President Hargis.

The President of Rice University, David W. Leebron, delivered a speech entitled 'Universities in the Age of Globalism" on Wednesday, May 13, 2009.

President Leebron began his remarks by underlining the local relationships and commitments of universities that could not be separated from their international and universal character. He pointed out three stages in globalization of the corporate world: transnational, multinational and truly global.

The Institute of Interfaith Dialog organized a unique event hosting more than 70 congregation leaders from 50 different congregations of the three heavenly religions at the "Dinner of Abrahamic Traditions". The event featured Cardinal  Dinardo, Rabbi Samuel E. Karff and Imam Mustafa Yigit of the Houston Blue Mosque as its speakers. By citing their respective scriptures and sources, the speakers talked about the importance of Abrahamic hospitality in each religion and its necessity in establishing dialog and peace between different cultures and religions of the world.

IID Executive Team visited Susan Combs, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts!
Houston, May 2009 

Susan Combs, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts received IID executive team and volunteers at her office in Austin.

A briefing about IID’s contributions to the lives of Texans were given and Comptroller Combs was invited not only to Turkey as part of Friendship Turkey trips but to one of IID events as the speaker as well.

May 12, 2009

The Institute for Interfaith Dialog, Oklahoma City chapter, presented its first Peace and Dialogue Awards at a dinner and ceremony Tuesday at the Petroleum Club in downtown Oklahoma City.
Award recipients are first lady Kim Henry, community service; Attorney General Drew Edmondson, leadership; Secretary of State Susan Savage, government service; Lou Kerr, president of the Kerr Foundation, philanthropy; and Blaise Labbe, KWTV-9 news director, media.

Mayor White started his talk by mentioning that one special thing about people of the Turkish community and of the Gulen Institute is that they are proud of their heritage, at the same time seeking common grounds with other communities. Mayor also said that Houston is the most multi-cultural and multi-ethnic city in the US, which he emphasized is an important asset. During his speech, Mayor White shared some of his memoirs of his numerous trips to Turkey and to other Turkic countries of the Caspian region. He described the city of Istanbul as the most beautiful and most romantic city in the world, where he spent some memorable time with his family.