Our Featured Speaker Jean MonsebrotenVolunteers Nino & HannahGunnar DamstromUlf & Harriet Wallendahl with Carita LaaksoPresident Elect Bill CarlsonBeverly Huchala, Aleda Enright, & Nancy EricksonEd Brannfors presenting a generous donation from Order of RunebergGunnar Damstrom Sings Finland’s National Anthem (in Swedish, of course)Dick Erickson holding his award and thank you gift for over a decade of SFHS leadershipSandi Gaffney & Candy EnquistSyrene Forsman, Inge, Laura, & Alicia CarlsonSunnie Empie with guestMark Hillman, Joanne Hilton & Karen LundgrenMaria Männistö Singing Songs of SibeliusBoard Chair of SFV, Per-Edvin PerssonDon Ostrand & Gunnar DamstromConnie Harrington & Shirley JenkinsAnnabelle KergenGeorge Miller Conducting Board ElectionsPresident Elect,Bill Carlson, with the three recipients of the SFHS “President’s Award of Excellence”President Elect, Bill Carlson, with the three recipients of the SFHS “President’s Award of Excellence”Jean Monsebroten visiting with Marita AgnewJohn Laakso & Bud SaxbergVerna & Bob JacobsonSyrene Forsman hanging out with the bandGunnar Damstrom sings American National AnthemDick Erickson, Connie Harrington, & Bob OstrandSyrene ForsmanSFV’s new publication “SFV Magasinet”Torr Rosback & Ed BrannforsMarita Agnew & Thelma MosebarMark Hillman enjoying social hourGunnar Damström Sings Canadian National AnthemSunny Empie, Leif Holmes & Ron ZentnerSunny Empie, Leif Holmes & Ron ZentnerElaine & Erik StevensEd Brannfors with Nils Holm in backgroundOur Featured Speaker Jean MonsebrotenEtel & Torr Rossback with George NelsonFrank & Barbara Sanchez with Gunnar Damstrom trading Swedish Finn secrets at last year’s Annual Luncheon.Lorene Mara inviting SFHS members to the 90th Anniversary of Runeberg Lodge 124Lee & Lynn Thompson with Ed BrannforsWendy Sundquist, Torr Rosback, Dick Erickson, & Bill CarlsonSyrene Forsman Introducing Maria MännistöPresident Elect, Bill Carlson, thanking Dick Erickson for over a decade of SFHS leadershipBoard Chair of SFV, Per-Edvin PerssonAnnabelle Kergen & Johanna Padie& Etel RossbackSFV Guests and Welcoming CommitteeMaria Männistö Singing Songs of SibeliusCarol Deskines, Dick Erickson & Torr RosbackSandi Gaffney, Shirley Jenkins & Jane ElyThelma Mosebar, Larry Sandell & Cami HaskinsSocial HourDick Erickson, Ed Schneble & his better halfThelma 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.Larry Sandell, Lee Thompson, Mary Hillman, , & Lynn ThompsonPer-Edvin Persson presenting a thank you giftOur beloved caterersPer-Edvin Persson giving thank you gifts to SFHS Board Members with help from SFV Director Johan AuraPer-Edvin Persson giving thank you gifts to SFHS Board Members with help from SFV Director Johan AuraSolveig Lozier & Carita Laakso at the Annual Luncheon in 2015. Reserve your seat today.Caterers 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 hour
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.
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