Volunteer Opportunities

FROM YOUR HOME

TRANSLATOR – Looking for both Swedish and Finnish translators for letters and personal writings such as journals, poems, and family stories and/or for library references.

RESEARCHER – You will be asked to find answers to questions received at the SFHS Office.  Looking for Swedish, Finnish, and English readers.  Examples:

  • Question from an architect about who made the stain glass windows for the Swedish Emmaus Lutheran church in Seattle.
  • What is the address of the Finnish Seaman’s Lutheran Church in the Bronx in 1915?

GENEALOGY – Two ways to help:

  1. Work on queries for fellow members.
  2. Research information about emigrants whose lives have been partially documented on DEE records. Your help will give a more complete picture of the emigrant’s life.

ADOPT A PARISH – Choose a parish and fill in the holes of missing information on  existing Parish Primer stories.   We are telling historical stories of parishes around 1880; and not after 1930.  Source information is required. Specifically looking to update sections on:

  • Parish History (name of mother parish, year it became a parish chapel, year it became an independent parish)
  • Land & Livelihood
  • Of Interest Stories (stories unique to the specific parish)
CONTENT WRITER – Two ways to use your writing skills:

1. Ad-hoc, independent writings.  Examples:

  • Stories based on your ideas
  • Family stories – may include life in Finland, emigration stories, life in new country, genealogy research

Result: Final writings to be posted on the SFHS website, featured in the ‘Occasional Dispatch’, membership emails, and/or printed as a library resource.

2. Team-based assignments, project managed with deadlines

  • Topics based on needs of publication
  • Requires teamwork, attendance at Zoom call meetings, status updates with editor, expectation of meeting deadlines
  • Interview with editor

Result: Final work to be in  the Kusiner (Cousins) publications.  To be posted on the SFHS website and printed for members agreeing to pay an additional amount.  Publications to be developed four times each year.

HOST A PARISH COFFEE CALL – Looking for hosts in Finland who can represent a specific parish and its history.  Need to speak English and have access to a computer/laptop with camera and microphone.

 

 

 


ON-SITE (Seattle Office)

  • Bulk Mailing Crew – usually 3 half days per year
  • Librarian Work – maintain our library database, re-shelve books, recommend & acquire resources
  • Old Book Repair – training & professional library supplies provided; high standards expected
  • Assemble new member packets
  • Answer phone calls
  • File records and organize supplies

SPECIAL PROJECTS – Let us know if you are interested in working on a team or leading one of these special projects:

  • Runeberg Records – digitize and assemble materials so information may be posted on the SFHS website
  • Swedish Finn Settlements in Canada and United States – digitize pictures and assemble materials so information may be posted on the SFHS website

Informational and Team Meetings will be held.


Ready to volunteer?   Call SFHS Office at (206) 706-0738 in Seattle or complete & submit the form  below. You will be contacted within 5 business days with additional information.