ODA History

HISTORY OF THE OTTAWA DIPLOMATIC ASSOCIATION
By Gokcen Kaya,
Former Vice President of the O.D.A and the Steering Committee member for the Revival of the O.D.A

Having been one of the founding members of the revived Ottawa Diplomatic Association (O.D.A.) and having such a great honor to have served as the Vice President of the O.D.A Executive Committee, during its first two years (1999-2000) it is an immense privilege for me to contribute to the website of the Ottawa Diplomatic Association with an article on the history of the Ottawa Diplomatic Association.

Although a Diplomatic Association has indeed existed prior to the present Ottawa Diplomatic Association, it had ceased its activities for a long time probably due to lack of interest. The last Treasurer of the former Association, who was from the Hungarian Embassy, handed over to his successor, Third Secretary Norbert Konkoly some 2000 CDN Dollars belonging to the Association. Mr. Konkoly sent a letter to all the Embassies and High Commissions in Ottawa informing about the money belonging to the former Association and called for a meeting at the National Press Club. It was seen at that meeting that there was enough interest to revive the old Association and on 30^th January 1998, the following persons formed a Steering Committee with a view to reviving it. (The names are in alphabetical order and as it appears in the by-laws of the Ottawa Diplomatic Association)

Mr. Osman Cetintas First Counsellor, Embassy of Turkey
Mr. Roy Christensen Press Counsellor, European Union
Ms. Omelda Dasent First Secretary, Eastern Caribbean High Commission
Mrs. Vera Maria Fernandes Minister-Counsellor, Embassy of Portugal
H.E. Dr. Fecadu Gadamu Ambassador, Embassy of Ethiopia
Mr. Constantine Giovas First Counsellor, Embassy of Greece
Ms. Gök?en Kaya First Secretary, Embassy of Turkey
Mr. Norbert Konkoly Third Secretary, Embassy of Hungary
Mr. Bhupindar Liddar Editor, Diplomat and International
Ms. Esmeralda Reyna Second Secretary, Embassy of Mexico
H.E. John Thomoglou Ambassador, Greece

What brought the above-mentioned people together was the conviction that an Association of Diplomats in Ottawa would provide the excellent means to promote friendship among its members as well as promote relations between its members and all levels of Government in Canada.

The Steering Committee held several meetings mainly at the member’s residences in order to draft the by-laws of the Ottawa Diplomatic Association. Ambassador John Thomoglou brought the sample copies of the Bylaws of Corps Consular Associations in Toronto and Vancouver. Serious debates took place on each and every article of the Draft by-laws. I must mention that all of us thoroughly enjoyed these meetings and being part of this special endeavor. Everyone contributed with new and great ideas. Mr. Roy Christensen from the European Commission was of enormous help in editing the articles and Ms. Omelda Dasent who was the acting secretary had to re-type the by-laws for each meeting. We also needed a logo for the Association and everyone agreed with the idea that it should include the globe and the Canadian maple leaf. I was delighted to bring these ideas together and design the present logo which was approved by the Steering Committee.

Finally, the Draft by-laws was also ready and on October 12, 1998, The Steering Committee of the Ottawa Diplomatic Association sent a letter to all the Embassies and High Commissions in Ottawa and informed that ODA had been revived and its re-launching would take place on November 18, 1998 at the Sheraton Ottawa Hotel. The Draft by-laws of the ODA was attached to that letter so that it could be reviewed by the prospective members until the first General Assembly of the revived ODA. Mr. Bhupindar Liddar was very kind to arrange the re-launching ceremony for us and he encouraged all our efforts from the beginning. The turnout was absolutely beyond our expectations and it really showed that there indeed was an interest and need for such an Association in Ottawa.

Following the encouraging re-launching ceremony, the first General Assembly of the Ottawa Diplomatic Association was held on January 19, 1999, at the National Press Club. The meeting ratified the Steering Committee’s proposed Bylaws and elected an Executive Committee to manage the affairs of the Association. The General Assembly was very kind to elect almost all the members of the Steering Committee as its first Executive Committee. Mr. Osman ?etintas, First Counselor of the Turkish Embassy and Ms. Esmeralda Reyna, Second Secretary of the Embassy of Mexico had already left Canada as their postings had ended. Mr. Roy Christensen from the European Commission and Mr. Bhupindar Liddar, Editor of Diplomat and International elected as honorary members according to the by-laws and continued to support and help the Ottawa Diplomatic Association all along.

Mr. John Thomoglou, Ambassador of Greece who took this endeavor as dearly as the rest of the members of the Steering Committee, was elected as the first President of the revived Ottawa Diplomatic Association. We are thankful to him for sparing his time from his busy schedule and working with us to revive the Ottawa Diplomatic Association.

We also owe a special gratitude to Mr. Alan Dudoit, the former Chief of Protocol at the DFAIT, for his guidance and encouragement in all our activities. It was through his initiative that the Right Honorable Mr. Romeo LeBlanc accepted to be the Patron of the Ottawa Diplomatic Association and so graciously offered to host the First Annual O.D.A. Ball at the Rideau Hall in June 1999. It was a memorable event for all the participants and it truly reflected the traditional Balls in its entire splendor. It also prompted the registration of new members to the ODA in no time.

We should also thank Mr. Yves Ducharme, Mayor of Hull who has always collaborated with the Ottawa Diplomatic Association and offered his valuable support in every way. The cocktail party he organized for the newly established O.D.A. at Salon Royal, Casino de Hull, on May 10 1999, and the yearly Sugar Bush Trips in March are just a few examples of his generosity towards the O.D.A.

The O.D.A. organized several social and cultural activities as well as interesting lectures in 1999 which set a tradition for the following years. O.D.A.’s next President, Mr. Miroslav Mikolasik, Ambassador of Slovakia, elected in January 2000, at the Second General Assembly of The O.D.A. worked hard together with the rest of the members of the Executive Committee to improve and institutionalize all these activities.

I wish to extend my sincere thanks and congratulations to all the members of the O.D.A. Executive Committee past and present for their efforts in making the Ottawa Diplomatic Association work. I am sure they all agree that it is such a fulfilling experience.