SFV Guests and Welcoming CommitteeLee & Lynn Thompson with Ed BrannforsCarol Deskines, Dick Erickson & Torr RosbackSunnie Empie with guestJean Monsebroten visiting with Marita AgnewWendy Sundquist, Torr Rosback, Dick Erickson, & Bill CarlsonEd Brannfors presenting a generous donation from Order of RunebergDick Erickson, Ed Schneble & his better halfPresident Elect, Bill Carlson, thanking Dick Erickson for over a decade of SFHS leadershipPer-Edvin Persson giving thank you gifts to SFHS Board Members with help from SFV Director Johan AuraSyrene ForsmanLarry Sandell, Lee Thompson, Mary Hillman, , & Lynn ThompsonPer-Edvin Persson giving thank you gifts to SFHS Board Members with help from SFV Director Johan AuraLorene Mara inviting SFHS members to the 90th Anniversary of Runeberg Lodge 124Sunny Empie, Leif Holmes & Ron ZentnerMark Hillman enjoying social hourCaterers happy it’s over. Kal Gellein and his talented crew of caterers.John Laakso & Bud SaxbergGunnar Damstrom sings American National AnthemMaria Männistö Singing Songs of SibeliusElaine & Erik StevensSyrene Forsman hanging out with the bandPresident Elect,Bill Carlson, with the three recipients of the SFHS “President’s Award of Excellence”Marita Agnew & Thelma MosebarDick Erickson, Connie Harrington, & Bob OstrandSyrene Forsman, Inge, Laura, & Alicia CarlsonPresident Elect Bill CarlsonTorr Rosback & Ed BrannforsSandi Gaffney, Shirley Jenkins & Jane ElyThelma Mosebar, Larry Sandell & Cami HaskinsOur beloved caterersOur Featured Speaker Jean MonsebrotenPer-Edvin Persson presenting a thank you giftGunnar Damström Sings Canadian National AnthemDon Ostrand & Gunnar DamstromBeverly Huchala, Aleda Enright, & Nancy EricksonSolveig Lozier & Carita Laakso at the Annual Luncheon in 2015. Reserve your seat today.Syrene Forsman Introducing Maria MännistöAnnabelle KergenGeorge Miller Conducting Board ElectionsGunnar DamstromSocial HourDick Erickson holding his award and thank you gift for over a decade of SFHS leadershipSandi Gaffney & Candy EnquistMaria Männistö Singing Songs of SibeliusEtel & Torr Rossback with George NelsonSFV’s new publication “SFV Magasinet”Board Chair of SFV, Per-Edvin PerssonAnnabelle Kergen & Johanna PadieVerna & Bob JacobsonBoard Chair of SFV, Per-Edvin PerssonOur Featured Speaker Jean Monsebroten& Etel RossbackUlf & Harriet Wallendahl with Carita LaaksoGunnar Damstrom Sings Finland’s National Anthem (in Swedish, of course)Ed Brannfors with Nils Holm in backgroundThelma 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.Sunny Empie, Leif Holmes & Ron ZentnerConnie Harrington & Shirley JenkinsFrank & Barbara Sanchez with Gunnar Damstrom trading Swedish Finn secrets at last year’s Annual Luncheon.Volunteers Nino & HannahMark Hillman, Joanne Hilton & Karen LundgrenPresident Elect, Bill Carlson, with the three recipients of the SFHS “President’s Award of Excellence”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.
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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