THE “GOOD WILL AMBASSADOR OF COLUMBUS” , KRISTINE ALDEMIR
Last December I was invited with my wife to attend the Board of Realtors 2012 President’s Ball at Hilton Columbus- Easton, where Kristine Aldemir was presented with the “Life Time Achievement Award”, the equivalent of Oscar trophy in the Real Estate community. Being a close friend to Kris and her husband Tunç nearly last twenty years, her success and achievements were no surprise to us. I am sure that all of her real estate associates knew that Kristine’s success was a result of long years of hard work, dedication and sacrifice as well as her caring personality and the desire to always exceed her customers expectations. But few people except her close friends and business associates realize how involved she is with the ethnic community; namely the Turkish- Americans of Columbus, Ohio.
Born to Chinese parents, married to a Turk and being an American, Kris always had enjoyed her multi national background. Having lived in Turkey few years after she got married to Tunç, she not only learned the Turkish language, but also adapted Turkish customs and culture with ease. One of the first things they did when they settled in Columbus, was to become an active member of TAACO(Turkish American Association of Central Ohio) and also to join the Turkish Folk Dance Group at the Ohio State University. They both were members of the folk dance group and taught and performed Turkish folklore almost for twenty years. Kris also took an active role in all of the TAACO activities like: picnics, national and ethnic holidays, United Nation days at OSU, food exhibitions, music and movie shows, fund raising drives for students ,earthquake relief funds and flag raising ceremonies at the State Capitol. While getting involved in all of these activities she never took an official position, she was always behind the scenes but everybody knew that Kris was always there.
Over the years she also created two other responsibilities for herself in the community, both with no official titles, but both of utmost importance. The first one is the “Welcome Ambassador to Columbus”, as I call it. Any Turkish visitor to Columbus from Turkey, whether a student, a recent green card holder, a patient who is coming here for treatment or a family from another State who is moving to Columbus, will meet her for orientation. They will most likely be invited to a restaurant for lunch or to Aldemirs’ home for dinner, where all of the newcomers questions about housing, transportation, shopping, restaurants etc will be answered. I don’t know where this free service is announced, but it seems to me that everybody who is coming to Columbus from overseas is somehow referred to her.
The second unofficial title I attribute to her is: ‘‘The Goodwill Angel of Community”. When Kris came to Columbus years ago she met several ladies who were at the age where she is now. She had joined their Turkish American Ladies Auxiliary Association and attended their monthly luncheons. Most of these ladies today have either passed away or living by themselves in their homes or nursing homes with other family members living in other states. If their health permits they still attend the monthly luncheons. You guessed it right !, as it the motto says on her business card: “Never Fear Aldemir is Here”, Kris picks them up from their homes, brings them to the restaurant, helps them with their food selections and brings them back home. And for the ones who can not attend the luncheons she will bring them “to go food”, not to mention that the Goodwill Angel also does their grocery shopping when needed and takes them to doctors and hospital appointments and surgeries when they get sick.
It makes you think then; being a good and caring person for your community is a prerequisite for a successful sales career, or a successful sales career is a by product of a good and caring person. In any case I am happy to know Kris and always to count on her as a good friend.
Cem Özmeral
Past President of TAACO
3.2.2013
Dublin, Ohio
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