President Elect Bill CarlsonVolunteers Nino & HannahOur beloved caterersPresident Elect, Bill Carlson, thanking Dick Erickson for over a decade of SFHS leadership& Etel RossbackSyrene Forsman, Inge, Laura, & Alicia CarlsonJean Monsebroten visiting with Marita AgnewLarry Sandell, Lee Thompson, Mary Hillman, , & Lynn ThompsonJohn Laakso & Bud SaxbergTorr Rosback & Ed BrannforsOur Featured Speaker Jean MonsebrotenPer-Edvin Persson giving thank you gifts to SFHS Board Members with help from SFV Director Johan AuraCarol Deskines, Dick Erickson & Torr RosbackVerna & Bob JacobsonSunnie Empie with guestGunnar Damstrom Sings Finland’s National Anthem (in Swedish, of course)Dick Erickson, Connie Harrington, & Bob OstrandSFV Guests and Welcoming CommitteeSFV’s new publication “SFV Magasinet”Marita Agnew & Thelma MosebarThelma Mosebar, Syrene Forsman & Dick Erickson enjoy during the social hour at the 2015 Annual Luncheon. This year’s luncheon is March 12, 2016. We would love to see you there.Our Featured Speaker Jean MonsebrotenBoard Chair of SFV, Per-Edvin PerssonSyrene ForsmanSyrene Forsman hanging out with the bandLee & Lynn Thompson with Ed BrannforsMark Hillman, Joanne Hilton & Karen LundgrenSocial HourPresident Elect, Bill Carlson, with the three recipients of the SFHS “President’s Award of Excellence”Ulf & Harriet Wallendahl with Carita LaaksoMark Hillman enjoying social hourFrank & Barbara Sanchez with Gunnar Damstrom trading Swedish Finn secrets at last year’s Annual Luncheon.Sunny Empie, Leif Holmes & Ron ZentnerGeorge Miller Conducting Board ElectionsElaine & Erik StevensPer-Edvin Persson presenting a thank you giftEd Brannfors with Nils Holm in backgroundBoard Chair of SFV, Per-Edvin PerssonMaria Männistö Singing Songs of SibeliusLorene Mara inviting SFHS members to the 90th Anniversary of Runeberg Lodge 124Annabelle Kergen & Johanna PadieSolveig Lozier & Carita Laakso at the Annual Luncheon in 2015. Reserve your seat today.Gunnar Damström Sings Canadian National AnthemDick Erickson, Ed Schneble & his better halfPresident Elect,Bill Carlson, with the three recipients of the SFHS “President’s Award of Excellence”Annabelle KergenPer-Edvin Persson giving thank you gifts to SFHS Board Members with help from SFV Director Johan AuraConnie Harrington & Shirley JenkinsSyrene Forsman Introducing Maria MännistöMaria Männistö Singing Songs of SibeliusCaterers happy it’s over. Kal Gellein and his talented crew of caterers.Mary Hillman putting out the delicious cardamom bread that she baked for the social hourGunnar DamstromEd Brannfors presenting a generous donation from Order of RunebergDon Ostrand & Gunnar DamstromEtel & Torr Rossback with George NelsonBeverly Huchala, Aleda Enright, & Nancy EricksonWendy Sundquist, Torr Rosback, Dick Erickson, & Bill CarlsonGunnar Damstrom sings American National AnthemSunny Empie, Leif Holmes & Ron ZentnerThelma Mosebar, Larry Sandell & Cami HaskinsSandi Gaffney, Shirley Jenkins & Jane ElySandi Gaffney & Candy EnquistDick Erickson holding his award and thank you gift for over a decade of SFHS leadership
Relive the Social Hour in Two Minutes
SFHS members spent an hour and a half socializing before heading downstairs to lunch. We would like you to experience a taste of the luncheon wherever in the world you may be. The hour and a half has been edited to a 2 minute time lapse to make that possible.
This year’s luncheon was a resounding success! It started off with good conversation, coffee and cardamom bread accompanied by the accordion trio of Lars, Leif, & Lena (some of you may know Lena by the name of Sunnie Empie. We then enjoyed a delicious meal prepared by our Swedish Finn Chef, Kal Gellein. The guests were serenaded during lunch by Maria Männistö singing songs of Sibelius. Jean Monsebroten, our featured guest, gave an interesting talk on “The Swedish Finns of Coos Bay.” The talk interspersed Jean’s own memories of her family along with accounts of what life was like for the immigrants. Our honored guests from Svenska folkskolans vänner (SFV) gave some wonderful gifts to the board. The Board Chair of SFV, Per-Edvin Persson, told us a little about the history of SFV and why it is important today. He stressed the importance of SFHS and SFV maintaining close ties. The luncheon was adjourned after outgoing President, Dick Erickson, gave awards to Syrene Forsman and Gunnar Damstrom for their unwavering support of the SFHS mission. Dick was surprised by President Elect Bill Carlson handing out his own award to Dick Erickson for over a decade of SFHS Leadership.
On May 13, 1848 university students gathered in a meadow near Helsingfors to celebrate a spring festival. A choir, conducted by Fredrik Pacius, gave the first…
