Finlandia Foundation Suomi Chapter
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Upcoming Events
Vappu and Our Annual Meeting
Saturday, May 3rd, from 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Fairhaven Park's lower enclosed pavilion
Our annual Vappu gathering will be held on Saturday, May 3rd, from noon until 2:00. It will be held once again in the enclosed lower pavilion at Fairhaven Park. The event will be a potluck, so everyone is encouraged to create and contribute their favorite Finnish dish to be shared with one and all.
We are very delighted to announce that our guest speaker will be Eero Kilpi. He is the Finlandia Foundation National current Lecturer of the Year. The purpose of the Lecturer program is to share the history and culture of Finland and Finnish America with audiences across the U.S. Mr. Kilpi is a leading advocate for Finnish sauna culture in North America, serving as a founding member and former President of the North American Sauna Society, and he is a recognized voice on sauna tradition.
A very important facet of this gathering is to discuss our chapter's new governing structure moving forward. Beginning with the Vappu annual meeting, we will have two board meetings per year which will be open to members and include a coffee hour and opportunity for any member to bring forward an event idea they want to organize.
Board elections.
We are looking for new board members. Officer positions available include president and vice president. We are also looking for at-large board members. Board elections will be by email and are open to all members in good standing (dues paid by April 15). Members do not need to be present at the annual meeting if they vote via email.
Pancake Breakfast and National Nordic Museum
Sunday, March 2
Let's gather together and take a drive down to Seattle for a Swedish pancake and ham breakfast at Seattle's Swedish Club and then enjoy a visit to the National Nordic Museum on Sunday, March 2. We will carpool down to Seattle since a bus charter is so expensive. Plan to meet at 8:30 a.m. near the ticket booth at Bellingham's Civic Stadium where football, soccer and track events are held. We will need a few volunteers who are willing to transport others to these two events.
Breakfast will Include three large Swedish pancakes, two pieces of ham, lingonberries or strawberries, whipped cream, powdered sugar, orange juice, milk and bottomless amounts of coffee. Prices are: Kids - $7.00; members - $11.00; and, non-members - $13. We were able to get a group rate for admission to the National Nordic Museum. Instead of $20 the adult admission rate will be $12 and $10 for seniors. If you plan to participate in this Nordic adventure please let Jeff Eastman know at jeff.eastman@eastmanart.com.
The Spyglass: A Childhood in Finland and Sweden
Written by George Makela
Edited by His Daughter Carol Makela
The book traces Carol Makela's father’s childhood in Helsinki & Inkeroinen in the years leading up to the Winter War and the following three years when he was sent to live with a foster family in Sweden in the early 1940's. The story includes his return to Helsinki and emigration to the United States with his single mother in 1947, arrival in New York City, and travel by train across the United States to Berkeley, California. The memoir culminates in a re-visit to Finland and Sweden with his wife and three daughters (Carol and her sisters).
Carol has highlighted several dominant themes in the memoir which include nature, coming of age and the love of adventure. In the afterword, which Carol wrote during her recent travels through Finland and Sweden, she explores how memories of ancestors live inside of us while she leans into the spirit of hope and renewal for future generations.
Carol will be sharing her father's memoir about his Nordic childhood on Friday, March 28th at 6:00 p.m. at Village Books in Fairhaven. Tickets can be purchased at www.eventbrite.com/e/1135134270159. Her book
is available to purchase on all book-selling websites, including Village Books.
Synopsis: An uncertain future awaits a young Finnish boy as he crosses the Gulf of Bothnia to Sweden while the 1939-40 Winter War rages between Finland and Russia. This is a memoir of wartime, curiosity, coming of age, and a passage to post-WWII America. These tales form a mosaic of memory.
Another upcoming Finnish event:
Ismo is performing in Seattle in May
https://www.ismo.fun/
Welcome to the Finlandia Foundation Suomi Chapter’s website!
The Suomi Chapter serves Finns, Finnish Americans and friends of Finland in Whatcom, Skagit and Island Counties. Annual events include a Juhannus (“midsummer” summer solstice) celebration in June and a Finnish Independence Day celebration in December. We also hold our annual meeting for all members and interested parties in the spring. Check out our events page for more information.
Click the Donate button below to pay your annual dues or donate to Finlandia Foundation Suomi Chapter.
Recent Events
A Winter Night in Finland
Independence Day Dinner
Sunday, December 8, 2024
Holiday Inn and Suites Banquet Room
This event was a great time for one and all. The evening began with a happy hour and was followed by a speaker along with an Italian-style dinner. Western Washington University's Dr. Vadja spoke on the origins of the Finnish language and its influence on Tolkien's worlds. His presentation was very informative as well as entertaining. This was not the first time he has spoken to our group and will likely not be the last.
24th Annual Nordic Festival
Saturday, November 2nd
The event was held at the Ferndale Events Center.. It ran from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. It was hosted by the Daughters of Norway - Bellingham. There were vendors there as well as Scandinavian bake goods and coffee. Nordic gifts and crafts were also featured. Everyone was welcome to attend whether or not they are of Scandinavian heritage. Admission price was $5.00 and children under 12 were free.
From Costco to Comedy: My Immigrant Story
By Miska Kajanus
Performed at New Prospect Theater
Saturday, November 16, 2024
It was truly an evening of fun as Miska Kajanus stepped into the spotlight in “My Immigrant Story.” This hilarious and heartwarming comedic monologue unraveled Miska’s extraordinary journey from a quaint town in Finland to the vibrant tapestry of America.
Miska’s adventure began at the tender age of eight when he first set foot in the United States. Returning to Finland, Miska, undeterred by challenges, followed his passion for theatre as told in “My Immigrant Story.” Amidst the comedic chaos, Miska shared anecdotes from his many and varied roles in the entertainment business. It was certainly an evening of laughter and discovery as he brought his unique experiences to life. “My Immigrant Story” was not just a comedy—it was a celebration of fortitude, dreams, and the boundless power of laughter to bridge cultures to create a shared space of joy.
Music
Copyright © Finlandia Association Suomi Chapter - All Rights Reserved
FFSC has been promoting both local and Finnish musicians since its foundation. Concerts have included jazz musician Olli Hirvonen, soprano Maria Mannisto, violinist Kati Valimaa, pianist Marja Kaisla, the Starry Night Quartet, Mt. Baker Youth Symphony, and the Wade King Singers. In 2017 Tapio Holma served as tour guide for the North Stars Chamber Orchestra on their visit to Finland as a part of the centennial celebration of Finland's independence from the USSR.
CONTACT US
Let us know if you would like to join our email list, become a member or volunteer.
P.O. Box 2544, Bellingham, WA 98227
ffsuomi@gmail.com
Everyone is encouraged to offer suggestions for future events that focus on Finnish culture, food, history, etc. If you have ideas, please feel free to submit them to
ffsuomi@gmail.com
Become a member!
Your annual dues help support FFSC's events and newsletter.
We want to hear from you!
Are you a Finlandia Foundation Suomi Chapter member or interested in joining us at any events? Do you read our newsletter? Are you a Finn, Finnish-American, or otherwise have a connection to Finland and are living in the Whatcom, Skagit, San Juan county area? We want to hear from you! Please take some time to fill out a questionnaire about our organization and how we can better serve you.
Finlandia Foundation National was founded by Yrjö A. Paloheimo on January 21, 1953 in Southern California. The idea to form an organization to nurture ties with Finland and promote a sense of Finnishness for younger generations in the U.S. was first conceived by Paloheimo in 1945. However, it took him eight years to gather enough interested individuals to form the first of the current 58 chapters in the national organization.
The Foundation’s mission is to promote Finnish-American culture in the United States and ancestral ties with Finland. The National Chapter celebrated its 60th anniversary in March 2013 in Pasadena, California.
The Finlandia Foundation Suomi Chapter was founded in 2010 and three of the founding members are still active and with the board: Tapio Holma, Asko Hamalainen, and Brend Hunt-Holma. FFSC serves as the local Finlandia Foundation chapter for Whatcom, Skagit, and Island Counties.
Single membership: $30
Family/Couple membership: $45
Supporting membership: $50
Lifetime membership: $300
Please click the Donate button above to pay by PayPal (or credit card). If you prefer, please fill out the membership application and mail to:
Finlandia Foundation Suomi Chapter
P.O. Box 2544
Bellingham, WA 98227
Please email ffsuomi@gmail.com
for other payment options or questions.