newsletter of the finnish american cultural

UutisetNEWSLETTER OF THE FINNISH AMERICAN

CULTURAL ACTIVITIES, INC.Sysskuu/September 2013

Finnish American Chamber of CommercePresented by Jouko SipilaForourSeptemberprogram,JoukoSipilawilltellusabouttheFinnishAmericanChamberof CommerceMinnesotawhichwasfoundedin2010topromotebusi-ness,financial,professional,andtraderelationsbetweenFinlandandMinnesota.

FACCMNisagroupof Finnish,American,orFinnish-AmericanbusinesspeoplecommittedtoenhancingbusinessrelationshipsbetweenFinlandandMinnesota.Jouko,presidentof thisorganization,willtalkabouthowFACCMNprovidesinformationandadvicetoMin-nesotabusinesspeopleaboutbusinessopportunitiesinFinland,fostersrelationshipsbetweencompaniesandpeoplewhoareinterestedinFinnish-Minnesotatrade,anddevelopsnewopportunitiesforFinnish-relatedbusinessesinMinnesota.

JoukowasborninFinlandandfirstcametoMinnesotaasahighschoolexchangestudent.HereturnedtoMinnesotatoattendSt.CloudStateUniversity,wherehemethisfuturewifeKimberly.AfterSCSU,JoukoattendedtheUniversityof MinnesotaearninganMBAdegree.In2008,theSipilafamily(Jouko,

Kim,andchildrenAnna-MayaandMarko)movedbacktoMinnesota.For15yearsJoukopursuedacareerinbanking,firstatNorwest(beforeitbecameWellsFargo)thenatmajorbanks(MerrillLynch,DeutscheBank,andBarclaysCapital)inNewYorkandLondon.Asanentrepreneuroutsideof bankingandfinance,JoukostartedIceColdCrime,acompanythattranslatesandpublishesFinnishcrimefiction.ICCexpectsitstenthbooktocomeoutthisfall.

Program In Brief

Finnish-American Chamber of Commerce

Jouko SIpila

September 20, 7:30 p.m.International Institute

1694 Como Ave., St. PaulIf you need transportation, call

Marianne Wargelin (612) 374-2718

Jouko Sipila celebrates the connections between Minnesota and Finland and his birthday with his son in Helsinki this summer.

FinnishAmericanCulturalActivities,Inc. 2 September2013

President: Bud Berry (651) [email protected]

Vice President/Program Chair: Janie Ahola (651) [email protected]

Secretary: Ruth Erkkila (651) 454-5441 [email protected]

Treasurer/Publicity: Edith Boos(612) [email protected]

Hospitality: Richard Harju(612) [email protected]

Member-at Large:John Rova (612) [email protected]

Editor:Jeanne Swope(612) [email protected]

Graphic Design:Beth Jarvis(763) [email protected]

Contributing Writers: Kara Middleton, Joan Dwyer, Gil Kinnunen, Urho Rahkola, Bud Berry

Membership/Mailing:Urho and Pam Rahkola [email protected](651) 429-3319

FACA 2012-2013Board of Directors

FACA NewsletterCommittee

President’s MessageBy Bud Berry

Theendof summermarksthebeginningof anewyearforFACAandthefirstboardmeetingwithnewly-electedboardmembers.SeetheBoardNotesinthisnewsletterfordetailsaboutthemeeting.If youhavesomeideasforspeakersand/ortopicsforFACAprograms,pleasecontactJanieAhola,Vice-PresidentandProgramChair,orshareyourcommentswithanyof theboardmembers.Ourphonenumbersandemailaddressesarelistedtotheleftof thispage,andarealsoavail-ableontheFACAwebsite,www.finnfaca.org/facaweb2_006.htmFACAmeetingsareopentothepublic.PleaseconsiderinvitingfriendswhoareinterestedinorcuriousaboutFinnishorFinnish-Americanculturetobeyourguestsatafuturemeeting.

Finnish American Chamber of Commerce Minnesota Invites You to a Social Hour and Hockey Game

ComeandwatchMikkoKoivu,NiklasBäckström,MikaelGranlund,andErikHaulatakeonNHL2013draftpick#2AlexanderBarkov,Jr.,andSeanBergenheimof theFloridaPanthers.WillweseeMikaelGranlunddotheilmaveivi?OK,sowhoisAlex-anderBarkov,Jr.?WhatwillformerGopherErikHaulado?

Details:MinnesotaWildvs.FloridaPanthers.Friday,November15,2013,at7:00p.m.Socialhourat5:00p.m.XcelEnergyCenter,St.Paul.

Wewillgettogetherforasocialhourbeforethegame—moredetailstocome.

Around50peopleattendedtheFACCMNMinnesotaWildSocialHourandGamelastyear.Canwemakea100thisyear?Actnowtosecuretickets.Wemaybeabletoacceptlatersignups,butgroupsit-tingisnotguaranteed.Ourseatswillbeinthelowerbowl,Section125-126.Toregister,gotohttp://wildfinns.eventbrite.comTopaybycheck,emailJoukoandmailcheckpayabletoFACC-MNto:JoukoSipilaFinnish-AmericanChamberof CommerceMinnesota5780ProvidenceCurve,Independence,MN55359

FinnishAmericanCulturalActivities,Inc 3 September2013

Board NotesBy Ruth Erkkila

Conversational Finnish ClassTuesdays, 4:00-5:25 p.m.

St. Anthony LibraryCorner of Como and Carter Ave.

St. PaulEveryone is welcome.

For more information, please call Urho Rahkola at ( 651) 429-3319

TheFACABoardof DirectorsmetAugust14,7:00p.m.,atPerkinsRestaurantinRoseville.PresentwereBudBerry,RichardHarju,EdithBoos,JanieAhola,andRuthErkkila.JohnRovawasnotpresent.Janie,RuthandJohnarenewtotheBoard.Janie'stermwillbetwoyears;JohnandRuthwillservethree-yearterms.

Officersforthenextyearwillbe:PresidentBudBerry,VicePresidentJanieAhola,TreasurerEdithBoos,SecretaryRuthErkkila,HospitalityChairRichardHarju.

Dutiesof officersandcommitteechairswerere-viewed.Theby-lawslistamembershipcommittee;Budwillconsiderapossiblechairforthiscommit-tee.

Thevicepresident/programchairhasprogramsforSeptemberandOctober.InOctober,Mari-anneWargelinwilltalkaboutFinnFest2014,tobeheldinMinneapolis.

ThenextboardmeetingwillbeWednesday,Sep-tember18at7:00p.m.October FACA Program to Feature FinnFest 2014 PlansInOctober,ourprogrampresenterwillbeK.MarianneWargelin,Presidentof FinnFestUSAandHonoraryConsulof FinlandintheTwinCit-ies.ShewilltalkaboutplansforFinnFest2014,anewkindof FinnFestfeaturingeventsonseveraldatesandinseveralplaces.

Asof July,planninghadbegunforeventsinclud-ingacelebrationof the150thanniversaryof themodernFinnishimmigrationtotheU.S.onoraboutMemorialDay2014inCokato,MN;eventsinMinneapolisAugust10–12;eventsinHelsinki,Finland,August28toSeptember1;andaRussianRiverCruise(includingKarelia)September1–13.

Salolampi Phonathon September 24-26

TheannualSalolampiFoundationPhonathonwillbeSeptember24,25,and26.Thedateswerechosentoavoidconflictswithholidayhubbub,FinnFestplanning,inclementweather,andmajorelections.Therewillalsobelongerdaylighthoursforeaseof drivingdowntownforon-sitecallers.

TheneedforscholarshipsforSalolampiLanguageVillagecampersincreaseseveryyear.TuitioncostsareestablishedbyConcordiaLanguageVillageandriseconsistentlyeachyear,makingitmoredifficultforfamiliesandyouthtoattendSalolampiandex-perienceFinnishlanguageandculture.Therefore,theBoardof Directorsof theSalolampiFounda-tionhaselectedtoincreasescholarshipstohelpdefraytuitioncosts.

ThePhonathonCommitteeneedsvolunteers.Weareseriouslyappealingtoeveryonetocallfel-lowFinnishfolksfromtheLutheranCommunityFoundationindowntownMinneapolisorfromyourownhomes.Weneedpeopletohelpuswithinputtinginformationonacomputer.Thistaskrequiresnopriorcomputerskills,andwesupplythecomputers.Wealsoneedthehelpof peoplewhodonotliketodotelephoneworkbutwouldstuff envelopesandprocessforms.Pleasecon-sidervolunteering.

Youmayhavealreadyreceivedapostcardatthebeginningof September,remindingourFinnishfriendsthatwewillbecallingtoraisescholarshipfunds.Whenyoureceiveyourcall,pleasebegen-erous:yourdollarswillenabletheFinnishcultureandheritagetobepassedontoanewgeneration.Youmayalsodonateonlineatoursecureserver.TheURLissalolampi.com;thefirstscreenhasabuttonfordonate.DonationscanbemadeeitherbyPayPaloracreditcard.

PleasecalloremailLindaorRuthannif youcanhelpinanyway.Linda:(763)[email protected];Ruthann:(612)[email protected]

Welcome New Members!

Tervetuloa!Phillip and Donna Erickson, Plymouth


FACA Members at FinnFest 2013 We have collected comments from FACA members who attended FinnFest 2013 in Hancock and Houghton, MI, in June. FinnFest offered hundreds of possibilities—per-formances, tours, toris, seminars, bonfire, Nordic Walk, too many things to list. Here are a few things that were particularly memorable.

Theopeningceremonywithamixtureof story-tellingandoutstandingperformanceswasade-lightandsetthestageforamemorableFinnFestexperience.Alsothereweremultipleoptionsev-erydaytoexploreandenjoy.Vergene Ollila-Routhe

MywifeandIenjoyedFinnFest,aswehavewithalltheoneswehaveattended(I’vebeento15).Theareaisbeautiful,thepeoplefriendlyandwefeltverywelcometobethere.Itwasawonder-fulvacation!TheFinnFestwaswell-plannedandexecuted.Steve Koivula

IattendedtheMarcelleDoby-Williamsartex-hibitattheJuttilaCenterinHancock.Marcellewasthedaughterof VelmaDoby,whohasalwaysbeenactiveintheFinnishcommu-nityandwasalong-timemember/participantintheearlyFACAgroups.Totherightisoneof myfavoritesof herart.Marcellepassedawayin2010.VelmalivesinBrule,Wisconsin.Karen Luoma-Varichak

AtGusFenton’sGenealogySearchingandFind-ing,Ilearnedthatfirstandsecondclasspassen-gerswhoarrivedinNewYorkHarborwerenotrequiredtogothroughtheinspectionprocessatEllisIsland,andtherewere“shipwars”thatmadeticketsasreasonableas“twoweeks’wages.”ThisinformationcouldexplainwhyIhavefoundonlyoneof myfourgrandparentswhocametoNewYorkHarboratdifferenttimesintheearly1900sintheEllisIslandrecords.Ellen Liddle

The2013FinnFestwasespeciallyenjoyableformebecausemycousinandherhusbandfromSanDiegoflewheretoMinneapolistoattendtheFinnFestwithme.AmongthelecturesthatIattendedwasFrom Minnesota Prairie Wagon to Air Force Two: How a Finnish-American Woman Saved Mrs. Kekkonen from White House Disaster. and Other StoriesbyBarbaraErakko.BarbaraErakkoisthedaughterof ElsieNurmiwhogrewupinFinlay-son,Mn.,andgotajobasatypistatStateDepart-

mentProtocolOffice.WhenFinnishPresidentKekkonencametomeetPresidentKennedy,Elsieaskedherbossinthetypingpoolif shecouldgoseethearrivalof theFinnishpresident.Thebossrepliedthattheyweretoobusytolethergo.Acoupleof hourslaterthebossgotacallfromtheProtocolOfficerwithMrs.KekkonenattheBlairHousesayingthatMrs.Kekkonenwasextremelyupsetandnoonecouldunderstandher.ElsiewasdispatchedtotheBlairHouse.Mrs.KekkonencouldnotfindthedressshewasgoingtoweartothestatedinnerthateveningwiththeKennedys.TheywerethenabletolocatethedressandthatishowElsie’scareerbeganthatledtobeingProtocolOfficeronAirForceTwo.Richard Harju

IwasluckytobeonthemorningtourtotheHankaHomestead.ThisrestoredpioneerFinnish-Americanhomesteadisdeepinthewoods,asitwaswhentheHankassettledthere.Theybuiltormadeeverythingthemselves—tools,sauna,barn,aitta,house,rootcellar,milkhouse(myfavoritething:builtoverastreamsothemilkcanscouldbeloweredinthewatertokeepcool).Withoursocksrolledoverourpants-legsagainstmosqui-tosandticks,welistenedtoreenactorstellthelifestoriesof familymembers—hardship,misfor-tune,fortitude.Thehomesteadisamonumenttoingenuityandsisu.Dramawasprovidedonthetourwhenthebuswerodeinongotthoroughlymiredinafieldwhileturningaroundtofacetheroadout.Alargetractortookthebetterpartof anhourandbrokeseveralchainspullingitout.Suc-cessatlast—wedidnothavetobe“floateddowntheriver”orjointheHankafamilyandsettlein,assomesuggested.Unfortunately,theafternoontourhadtobecancelled. Jeanne Swope

Seitsemän Veliä/ Sept Freres—AlexanderKiviinFrench!ThefamousfirstFinnishnovel,Seven Brothers,isthetake-off pointforthiscartoonmovie,notyetavailableinU.S.format.DirectedanddrawnbyRiittaNelimarkka,Finnishartistandfilmmaker,thecartoonsarefunny,thecharacters’facesandexpressionsveryFinnish,thescenerybeautiful,thestoryaction-packed.Thenarration,inacoolsophisticatedFrenchvoice,providedcontrast,andEnglishsubtitleskeptusconnected. Jeanne Swope

IfeltgreatNordicwalkingwithhundredsof otherpeople.Thisisthefirstonewithmorethanfourpeopleusingwalkingsticks.Great!Mary Leukuma


Gathering at FinnFest 2013 of former Finnish War Children who spent years in Sweden and other countries during the early 1940s. Back row, far right: Veijo Paine and Eric Jaakkola, both of whom have spoken about their experiences at FACA.

FACA MembershipA one-year membership provides you with nine is-sues of this newsletter, plus other benefits, for $25. To subscribe or renew, complete this form and mail with your check to FACA, P.O. Box 580708, Min-neapolis, MN 55458-0708. (Check mailing label for membership expiration date.)

Name _______________________________________

Address _____________________________________

City/State/Zip _________________________________

Phone ______________________________________

Email _______________________________________

AhighpointformycousinGlenyceEskeliandmewasHome and Hall: Envisioning a Future for Finlandia University’s Finnish American Heritage Center.Atthisreception,PhilipJohnson,Presidentof Finlandia,JimKurtti,Directorof theCenter,andarchitectDavidSalmelarevealedplansforanadditiontothebuilding—thebuildingcontentshaveout-grownthespace.WealsoparticularlyenjoyedtheRedMetalRadioShowpresentThe Strike inthehistoricCalumetTheaterinCalumet,MI—thecopperstrikeof 1913reportedasitmighthavebeenif radionewscoveragehadbeenavailableatthattime.Evelyn Eskeli

Myhusband,Ed,andIwereonlyatFinnfestfortwodays,andthoughweenjoyedlisteningtomusicatthetori andtheSaturdaynightdancewithFinnHallandAmeriikan Poijat andhelpingoutintheSalolampiboothandteachingaclassonFinn-ishverbs,oneof thehighlightsof ourtripwasgettingtoknowthefamilythatwestayedwith.NancyandJerrySmithof Hancock,openeduptheirhometousandmadeusfeelverywelcome.Wearrivedasstrangersandleftasfriends.Tiina Watts

Sami at the Juhannus bonfire in Toivola, Mi. Photo by Gloria Thorpe.

Three Finns who participated in the Nordic Walk. Urho Rahkola, Carol Backman, and Carol’s cousin Cheryl (Boroo) Neeb of Carnation, Washington. Photo by Karen Luoma-Varichak

Marj Brown (Bend, OR) and Gloria Thorpe (Minne-apolis) stand next to big chairs at Finlandia University. Photo by Karen Luoma-Varichak


May Progrtam RecapBy Kara Middleton

Thelastprogramof 2012-2013onMay17thbeganwithFACA’sannualmeeting.Agendaitemsconsistedof anauditor’sreportandelectionof threenewmemberstotheFACAboard.

Aftertheannualmeetingwasadjourned,FACAmembersandguestsweredelightedbyanexpositionof FinnishandAmericanculturaldifferencesbyourguestspeaker,MattiKoivula.AnativeFinnandUniver-sityof MinnesotaPhDstudent,MattigaveatalkentitledNavigating the Cul-tural Landscape of America: One Finn’s Experience.

AstudyabroadprogramthatbroughthimtoSpringfield,Missouri,in2002,ledtocontinuedstudiesinKansasCity,Kansas,wherehemethiswife,Angela,andlatertoMinneapolis,wheretheyarenowbothcompletingPhDwork.

Withentertainingcandor,MattidescribedsomeAmericansocialritualsthatarebafflingtotheun-initiated.Hewassurprisedtodiscover,forexam-ple,thatthecommonAmericangreeting,“how’sitgoing,”isnotactuallyaninvitationforastatusreportof anykind.“InFinland,”heexplained,“if someonesaystoyou,‘how’sitgoing,’theyreallywanttoknow.”

Healsospokeof theenormousportionsservedinAmericanrestaurants,theconstantneedtobeproductive,andclaimedthattunaisthemostpopularpizzatoppinginFinland.Hetoldof beingalarmedwhenthepolicecalledhisapartment.Hewasthentotallyamazedwhenhisroommatetoldhimtohangup!Thecallerwasseekingfinancialdonations.(GoodFinnshavelittlecontactwiththepolice.)

Of theFinnisheducationalsystem,hesaidstu-dentscalltheirteachersbyfirstnamesor“teach-er”andit’snotconsideredrude.

Mattisavedforlastastoryof hisexperiencewiththeAmericanversionof themostsacredof allFinnishrituals,thesauna.ThesaunaattheUniver-sityof Minnesota’sRecCenterwasthelocationatwhich,onefatefulday,Mattiwalkedinand

proceededtousethesaunathewayonewouldreasonablyusesuchasaunainFinland:naked,andthrowingasmuchwaterontherocksasneces-sarytomaketheroomsufficientlyhotbyFinn-ishstandards.Thisincidentendedwiththeothersauna-goersrunningoutwhilecursinghimundertheirbreath.

TheFACAaudiencewasthoroughlyentertainedbythisstory,astheywerebyhistalkingeneral.Itwasaperfectendingtoayearof engagingpro-gramming.

Followingthetalk,membersandguestswereservedmansikka kakkufromtheFestivalof Na-tions,reindeersandwiches,cheeseandcrackers,andpulla.

Harlan Stoehr, out-going FACA secretary, visits with friends.

Elsie Leisio enjoys straw-berry shortcake and coffee.

Jeanne Swope demonstrates new FACA website. (Below)


Pieniä Paloja• MotherNaturegreen-lightedthestartof the

autumnnorthernlightsseason,astheskiescamealiveinnorthernFinlandmid-August.Evidenceof heightenedsolaractivitycouldbeclearlyseeninareassuchasMuonioandSodankyläinFinnishLaplandandstretchedevenfurthersouthtoKemi.Northernlightscanbeseeninsummerbutautumnwithitsshorterdaysandlongernightssetsthestageforthenaturalextravaganzaof light.

• GovernmentindebtednessisprojectedtorisesubstantiallyinFinlandduetoasharpfallintaxrevenue,Helsingin Sanomat reportedinAu-gust.Thegovernmentisexpectedtoborrowanadditional900millioneurotocompensateforlower-than-anticipatedrevenue,duetodecreasedvalue-addedtaxaswellasdecliningincome,capitalandcorporatetaxes.Additionalmoneywillbeborrowedtofacilitatetheex-pansionof Helsinki-VantaaAirport.

In Memoriam

Joan Whalen Karvonen

InJulywereceivedwordof thepassingof JoanWhalenKarvonen,motherof DanKarvonen,FinnishinstructorattheUniversityof Minnesota,FinnishGenealogyGroupmember,andfrequentspeakeratFACAmeetings.

JoanAgnesKarvonenof CrystalpassedawaySaturday,July20,2013,afterasix-monthstrugglewithheartdisease.

ShewasraisedintheFinntownareaof Minne-apolisnearGlenwoodAvenue.Joan’sfatherwasof Irishheritageandhermother’sparentswereFinnishimmigrants,whichpromptedhertorefertoherself asa“MickeyFinn.”

Joanwillbesorelymissedbyherthreesons,Joel(Susan),Jeffrey,andDaniel,;grandchildrenShan-nonandSean;brotherJames(Patti)Whalen,;sister-in-lawLoisKarvonen;andahostof rela-tivesandfriends.

Allen R. Harju

AllenR.Harju,age54,of SaintCharles,passedawayThursday,August15,2013.Hewasthesonof RichardandDorisHarjuof St.Paul.HiscareerbroughtAllenandMarytomanyplaces,includingBreauxBridge,Louisiana,Chat-tanooga,Tennessee,andWichita,Kansas.Eachof thecouple’sfivechildrenwasborninadifferentstate.Heissurvivedbyhiswife,Mary(Kelley);childrenRussell(Lindsey)of Omaha,Kelley(Tyler)Bryanof Houston,Alannaof Denver,TylerandRachelbothof St.Charles;hisparents;sisterJudy(Rick)Galliherof Virginia;brotherRobof Minneapolis;mother-in-lawEvelynKelleyof SouthDakota;andmanydearnieces,nephewsandfriends.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

FACA needs your ideas and your helping hand. If you can help with any of the committees or events, please return this form. Thanks!

Program Meeting Hospitality Newsletter Visitor Hospitality Advertising Library Membership Laskiainen Scholarship Pikkujoulu Property Festival of Nations Website Information Phone

Name ____________________________Address __________________________City/State/Zip ______________________Phone ___________________________Email ____________________________

Return to FACA, P.O. Box 580708, Minneapolis, MN 55458-0708 or bring to the next program.

Check Out the FACA Website

Newcalendaritemsarepostedwhenwereceivethemonthe“NewCalendarItems”pageontheFACAwebsite.Wealsopostimportantnewannouncementsonthehomepage.TheURLiswww.finnfaca.org.

Comments,corrections,[email protected].


Finnish American Cultural Activities, Inc.P.O. Box 580708Minneapolis, MN 55458-0708

FACAFinnish American Cultural Activities, Inc. is an organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the cross-cultural heritage of Americans with Finnish ancestry.Information: (612) 374-2718, www.finnfaca.org

Sept 13–15 SalolampiFallWorkWeekend.Formoreinformationandtovolunteer,seesalolampi.org/foundation/workweekend.htmlSept 18FACABoardof Directorsmeeting.7:00p.m.,PerkinsRestaurant,Roseville.Sept 20FACAProgram,7:30p.m.(Seepg.1.)September 24-26SalolampiPhonathon.(Seepg.3.)Sept 28 TheFinnishGenealogyGroupwillmeetatPlymouthApostolicLutheranChurch,begin-ningat9:30a.m.Programwillbeshowandtell,“WhatIdid/foundoverthesummer.”FormoreinformationcontactJoanDwyer:[email protected] 27FinnHallatKramarczuk’sDeli,6:30–9:00p.m.Sept [email protected] 29FriggatTheCedar.7:30p.m.Fordetails,seethecedar.org/events/2013/09/29/friggOct 18FACAProgram,7:30p.m.(Seepg.3.)Nov 1 FinnHallatKramarczuk’sDeli,6:30–9:00p.m.Nov. 15SocialHourandMinnesotaWildhockeygamesponsoredbyFinnishAmericanChamberof CommerceattheExcelEnergyCenter,St.Paul.Socialhourat5:00;gameat7p.m.(Seepage2fordetails.)

August 10–12 FinnFest2014TwinCities.

Photo by Karen Luoma-Varichak

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