Ed Brannfors presenting a generous donation from Order of RunebergBoard Chair of SFV, Per-Edvin PerssonThelma 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.Connie Harrington & Shirley JenkinsGunnar Damstrom Sings Finland’s National Anthem (in Swedish, of course)Board Chair of SFV, Per-Edvin PerssonSunny Empie, Leif Holmes & Ron ZentnerSFV Guests and Welcoming CommitteePresident Elect Bill CarlsonPresident Elect, Bill Carlson, thanking Dick Erickson for over a decade of SFHS leadershipSandi Gaffney & Candy EnquistEd Brannfors with Nils Holm in backgroundAnnabelle KergenOur beloved caterersDick Erickson, Connie Harrington, & Bob OstrandElaine & Erik StevensMaria Männistö Singing Songs of SibeliusUlf & Harriet Wallendahl with Carita LaaksoCarol Deskines, Dick Erickson & Torr RosbackSFV’s new publication “SFV Magasinet”Jean Monsebroten visiting with Marita AgnewThelma Mosebar, Larry Sandell & Cami HaskinsMary Hillman putting out the delicious cardamom bread that she baked for the social hourMaria Männistö Singing Songs of SibeliusSyrene Forsman hanging out with the bandVolunteers Nino & HannahSandi Gaffney, Shirley Jenkins & Jane ElySocial HourLee & Lynn Thompson with Ed BrannforsVerna & Bob JacobsonPresident Elect,Bill Carlson, with the three recipients of the SFHS “President’s Award of Excellence”Larry Sandell, Lee Thompson, Mary Hillman, , & Lynn ThompsonOur Featured Speaker Jean MonsebrotenGunnar Damstrom sings American National AnthemBeverly Huchala, Aleda Enright, & Nancy EricksonWendy Sundquist, Torr Rosback, Dick Erickson, & Bill CarlsonGeorge Miller Conducting Board ElectionsMark Hillman enjoying social hourDick Erickson, Ed Schneble & his better halfGunnar Damström Sings Canadian National AnthemSyrene Forsman Introducing Maria MännistöDick Erickson holding his award and thank you gift for over a decade of SFHS leadershipEtel & Torr Rossback with George NelsonSunny Empie, Leif Holmes & Ron ZentnerCaterers happy it’s over. Kal Gellein and his talented crew of caterers.Marita Agnew & Thelma MosebarGunnar DamstromSunnie Empie with guestPer-Edvin Persson giving thank you gifts to SFHS Board Members with help from SFV Director Johan AuraMark Hillman, Joanne Hilton & Karen LundgrenJohn Laakso & Bud SaxbergSyrene ForsmanDon Ostrand & Gunnar DamstromTorr Rosback & Ed BrannforsPer-Edvin Persson presenting a thank you giftPresident Elect, Bill Carlson, with the three recipients of the SFHS “President’s Award of Excellence”Syrene Forsman, Inge, Laura, & Alicia CarlsonOur Featured Speaker Jean MonsebrotenAnnabelle Kergen & Johanna Padie& Etel RossbackSolveig Lozier & Carita Laakso at the Annual Luncheon in 2015. Reserve your seat today.Frank & 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 124Per-Edvin Persson giving thank you gifts to SFHS Board Members with help from SFV Director Johan Aura
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…
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