SPRING|2020 Finnish-American Community Comes Together By Katariina Lehtonen FFN Trustee It is said that there is nothing so bad that there isn’t something good as well. It is true also in these hard times of social distancing. Due to the cancellation of Sunday services at the Finnish Lutheran Church of Seattle, Maria Männistö, FFN Performer of the Year in 2007, united Finnish singers into a virtual church choir as part of the live-streamed Palm Sunday service. The choir members from Washington and Oregon connected and practiced the songs virtually and sent their own recordings to Maria. She gathered all of the voices together, and the virtual choir was born. For as long as necessary, the Finnish Lutheran Church Choir plans to perform virtually on Sunday mornings during the virtual church service, followed by the virtual coffee hour where people can exchange their news and thoughts. Information about the church and services is available at finnishlutheranchurch.org. Original logo medallion, Yrjö Paloheimo’s office in Pasadena Updated version Circa 2020 Inspiring, celebrating and connecting the Finnish-American community since 1953 FFN BOARD FFN Offers FFN the organization’s returning to the PRESIDENT founding. The earlier version of Anne-Mari Paster COVID-19 Aid Refreshes design of the FFN the logo art. The [email protected] As an organization, Finlandia logo graphically updated logo is Lexington, MA Logo Art Foundation National has expresses that being phased in VICE PRESIDENT purpose in the as new materials Word from the President Paul O. Halme taken action to help our The Finlandia Foundation has two clasped hands are produced, and Hyvät Ystävät: [email protected] members through one aspect Solvang, CA long used the over wavy lines, FFN is asking all encircled by the chapters to do I am honored to have been elected president TREASURER of this coronavirus crisis. tagline “Hands of Finlandia Foundation National during the Dirk Schulbach FFN has always focused Across the Sea words Finlandia the same in their spring meeting of the FFN board. [email protected] on Finnish culture and the Since 1953” to Foundation. publications, Portland, OR websites and other Get describe its goal of About 20 years SECRETARY next generation, with a long communications as connecting Finland ago, FFN slightly My predecessor, Ossi Rahkonen, ably led the organization for Päivi Anneli Tetri tradition of supporting it becomes possible and Finnish modified the logo seven years, after serving as a trustee for a decade. During his [email protected] to do so. St. Louis, MO scholarships to Finnish- Social America, and to by spinning the tenure as president, Ossi oversaw FFN programs celebrating TRUSTEES American students and mark the year of name and spelling The logo art is two major anniversaries; strengthened ties to organizations Richard Ahola those studying Finnish- out Finlandia found on the [email protected] Foundation website at and offices in Finland; conducted a Joint Chapter Meeting Dundee, NY American topics. for a growing number of FFN-affiliated groups; and improved Are you National in a Finlandia Dennis M. Anderson FFN chapters may have typestyle popular Foundation.org/ the financial health of FFN. His contributions to Finlandia [email protected] following students among their FFN on at the time. logos/ Foundation are many, and are highlighted on page 20. Rochester, MN social Jacqueline Harjula members whose university media? Now, as the Note that use of Planning for the future of Finlandia Foundation was a board [email protected] the registered studies have been adversely Check out phrase goes, priority under Ossi’s direction, and will continue to take Thomaston, ME E-News trademark and impacted by COVID-19 the following “everything old is Katariina Lehtonen Free monthly design is limited precedence as I assume the leadership. Now in its 67th year, FFN and the abrupt closure of new again,” and [email protected] addresses,the links or atfind missive with the to Finlandia is the largest independent supporter of Finnish and Finnish- Lake Oswego, OR Finlandia FFN is refreshing campuses. If so, please let me latest FFN news, its image by Foundation American culture, and we intend to maintain that status even as Peter Makila Foundation.org stories of Finnish National, know prior to June 15. We America and we recognize the challenges we and FFN chapters face, as each [email protected] more: its affiliated Lake Worth, FL would like to see if we can Photos Instagram chapters, or for generation grows further from our roots. offer assistance finlandia Betsey Norgard other purposes [email protected] Finland and foundation.org/ We also, however, see opportunity in expanding our traditional Anne-Mari Paster of Finnish America, about-ffn/ Bovey, MN FFN chapter as approved [email protected] activities: newsletters/ Anne-Mari Paster Finnish-American membership base to welcome recent Finnish Tim Nurvala by Finlandia [email protected] transplants and expatriates, as well as friends of Finland---those [email protected] Foundation FacebookShare finlandia Gladwyne, PA Your instagram.com/ National. who are interested in modern Finland and its culture, education, Sisu foundation Teuvo Pulkkinen national/ business and the arts. Of course, it is vital to develop a strong [email protected] connection with all ages and it is important that we increase San Diego, CA Join the new FFN Facebook group Tarja Silverman for inspiring multi-generational involvement and support. articles, [email protected] Greystone, NY As always, the spring board meeting agenda was full, and in stories and photos Anita Häkkilä Smiley that express the this newsletter you’ll read about the 2020 grant and scholarship uniquely Finnish [email protected] trait of sisu: awards, and program decisions we made due to the impact of Preston, CT facebook.com/groups/ COVID-19. In fact, because of travel restrictions the meeting Eeva Syvanen ShareYourSisu itself was conducted remotely, via Zoom. [email protected] San Diego, CA The FFN Facebook I look forward to launching initiatives that will increase our Hilary-Joy Virtanen page carries news and Finland, endowment and stakeholder base so that we may build on [email protected] of Finnish America Hancock, MI our existing programs and offer new and exciting reasons to events,art, recipes, funmusic facts: and fun Hanna Wagner participate in and support Finlandia Foundation. Please stay [email protected] facebook.com/finlandia. Washington, D.C. tuned, and feel free to contact me with your thoughts. foundation. national/ Michel Wendell [email protected] Austin, TX The newsletter is produced twice yearly by theFFN Communications Committee: Jacqueline Harjula, chair, and Katariina Lehtonen, Betsey Norgard and Tarja Silverman Additionally, FFN produces a monthly, free e-news; sign up to receive it at the FFN website. Submit chapter news and other items of interest and photos to: On the cover, virtual choir: FFN Communications Manager Kath Usitalo, newsletter editor [email protected] From left to right by row, from top: Erica Presley, Maria CONTACT Finlandia Foundation National FinlandiaFoundation.org Männistö, Aino Bakos, Yvonne Vollan; Marja Hall, Ilkka Kallio, Ilkka Maria Kizirian, Assistant to the Board of Trustees [email protected] 626.795.2081 Lähdesmäki, Katariina Lehtonen; Eva Männistö, Anne Karppinen, Heikki Männistö, 2 MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 92046 Pasadena, CA 91109-2046 PLEASE INFORM US OF A CHANGE OF NAME OR ADDRESS Satu Mikkola; Mark Hillman and Mary Hillman, Candace McKenna, Marta Kuivinen Brown 3 COVID-19 Affects Youth Programs Lecturer of the Year Extended Soiva through Special Music Camp June 2021 Music By Dennis Anderson Programs FFN Trustee and Soiva Director Continue With profound sadness the decision was made —with By Hilary-Joy Virtanen a popular, engaging team, presenting first coordinate with chapters whose input from Hanne Lund, our Finnish faculty member FFN Trustee and LOY Chair as “Meet the Finn Cooks” at chapters engagements were cancelled or who were and trip coordinator—to cancel Soiva International After the postponement of several in Minnesota, Illinois (above), and at already working to finalize a program. Following a performance last spring at the home of the Consulate General of Music Camp, which had been scheduled for engagements due to COVID-19, FinnFunn Weekend. The Minnesota We will also welcome the potential for Finland in Los Angeles, Jussi Makkonen and Nazig Azezian presented a copy of Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, for Soile Anderson and Eleanor Ostman residents have been teaching the art of additional appearances as schedules and The Blue Bird to Ambassador of Finland to the U.S. Kirsti Kauppi; June 12-21, 2020. will extend their Lecturer of the Year making Karjalan piirakka and other the budget permit. Teuvo Pulkkinen is at left. tenure—which was to have concluded at There were two contributing factors. The first and Finnish foods to students of all ages. If you have any questions, please contact the end of June 2020—with engagements Finnish cellist Jussi Makkonen and pianist Nazig Azezian are in the midst most important was that with the rampant increase While we must simply wait for the LOY Chair Hilary Virtanen at 906-483- tentatively available through June 30, of a three-year program of tours to Finlandia Foundation chapters, under in COVID-19 infections worldwide, it was deemed pandemic to subside, FFN is committed