By: Goodman, Reich, Gordon, Fletcher, Cunningham, Ellison, Warsame, Jenkins, Cano, Bender, Schroeder, Johnson, and Palmisano Declaring august 23, 2019 “Marianne Wargelin Day” Whereas: Marianne Wargelin is nationally recognized as a scholar of Finnish American history; and Whereas: Marianne Wargelin has created connections between Minneapolis and Finland for over 50 years; including her work to establish meaningful relationships between Minneapolis and our sister city of Kuopio, Finland; a partnership established in 1972; and Whereas: Marianne Wargelin was the Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Reunion of Sisters, a cultural and scholarly exchange between Finland and the United States at the University of Minnesota; and Whereas: Marianne Wargelin served on the Advisory Board to create the Government of Finland/David and Nancy Speer Visiting Professorship of Finnish Studies at the University of Minnesota; and Whereas: Marianne Wargelin was pivotal in bringing Former President and Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Martti Ahtisaari, to Minneapolis in 2010; and Whereas: Marianne Wargelin was instrumental in creating the Finnish American Chamber of Commerce Minnesota in 2010; and Whereas: Marianne Wargelin served as President of FinnFest USA since 2004 and was crucial in bringing FinnFest USA to Minneapolis in 1983, 2002, 2014, and 2017; and Whereas: Marianne Wargelin was instrumental in working with the Minnesota Orchestra to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Republic of Finland which included a visit by the Finnish President, Sauli Niinistö in September of 2017; and Whereas: Marianne Wargelin helped create an exhibition at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts with Jennifer Komar Olivarez that commemorated the 150th anniversary of the first Finnish immigrants arriving in the United States; and Whereas: Marianne Wargelin served as the Honorary Consul of Finland in Minneapolis for the past 20 years; —NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED— That the Mayor and City Council do hereby declare Friday, August 23, 2019, as “Marianne Wargelin Day” in the City of Minneapolis, acknowledging, celebrating, and honoring the important role she has played in establishing and maintaining connections with Finland and our Sister City, Kuopio. Passed this the twenty-third Day of August, 2019 _______________________________________ Lisa Bender, President of the Council Approved: _______________________________________ Jacob Frey, Mayor Attest: _______________________________________ Casey Joe Carl, City Clerk .