Sunny Empie, Leif Holmes & Ron ZentnerCaterers happy it’s over. Kal Gellein and his talented crew of caterers.Carol Deskines, Dick Erickson & Torr RosbackElaine & Erik StevensPer-Edvin Persson giving thank you gifts to SFHS Board Members with help from SFV Director Johan AuraEd Brannfors with Nils Holm in backgroundSFV’s new publication “SFV Magasinet”President Elect, Bill Carlson, with the three recipients of the SFHS “President’s Award of Excellence”Gunnar Damström Sings Canadian National AnthemGunnar Damstrom Sings Finland’s National Anthem (in Swedish, of course)Our beloved caterersDon Ostrand & Gunnar DamstromSyrene Forsman Introducing Maria MännistöEd Brannfors presenting a generous donation from Order of RunebergUlf & Harriet Wallendahl with Carita LaaksoSolveig Lozier & Carita Laakso at the Annual Luncheon in 2015. Reserve your seat today.Gunnar DamstromPer-Edvin Persson presenting a thank you giftDick Erickson holding his award and thank you gift for over a decade of SFHS leadershipPer-Edvin Persson giving thank you gifts to SFHS Board Members with help from SFV Director Johan AuraSyrene ForsmanOur Featured Speaker Jean MonsebrotenLorene Mara inviting SFHS members to the 90th Anniversary of Runeberg Lodge 124Our Featured Speaker Jean MonsebrotenEtel & Torr Rossback with George NelsonGunnar Damstrom sings American National AnthemSyrene Forsman, Inge, Laura, & Alicia CarlsonThelma 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.Volunteers Nino & HannahDick Erickson, Connie Harrington, & Bob OstrandLee & Lynn Thompson with Ed BrannforsBeverly Huchala, Aleda Enright, & Nancy EricksonWendy Sundquist, Torr Rosback, Dick Erickson, & Bill CarlsonFrank & Barbara Sanchez with Gunnar Damstrom trading Swedish Finn secrets at last year’s Annual Luncheon.President Elect,Bill Carlson, with the three recipients of the SFHS “President’s Award of Excellence”Mark Hillman, Joanne Hilton & Karen Lundgren& Etel RossbackThelma Mosebar, Larry Sandell & Cami HaskinsSocial HourBoard Chair of SFV, Per-Edvin PerssonSandi Gaffney, Shirley Jenkins & Jane ElyLarry Sandell, Lee Thompson, Mary Hillman, , & Lynn ThompsonMarita Agnew & Thelma MosebarConnie Harrington & Shirley JenkinsTorr Rosback & Ed BrannforsBoard Chair of SFV, Per-Edvin PerssonGeorge Miller Conducting Board ElectionsPresident Elect Bill CarlsonSunnie Empie with guestJohn Laakso & Bud SaxbergMaria Männistö Singing Songs of SibeliusMark Hillman enjoying social hourSunny Empie, Leif Holmes & Ron ZentnerSFV Guests and Welcoming CommitteeVerna & Bob JacobsonAnnabelle Kergen & Johanna PadieJean Monsebroten visiting with Marita AgnewDick Erickson, Ed Schneble & his better halfMaria Männistö Singing Songs of SibeliusSandi Gaffney & Candy EnquistPresident Elect, Bill Carlson, thanking Dick Erickson for over a decade of SFHS leadershipMary Hillman putting out the delicious cardamom bread that she baked for the social hourAnnabelle KergenSyrene Forsman hanging out with the band
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…
