English (just below) Finnish (scroll down or click here )
Research paper involving members of Finn Spark ( scroll further down or click here)
Mission:
The mission of Finn Spark, Inc. (Kipinä-Kerho) is to engage in charitable, educational, and cultural activities; to raise funds to benefit the elderly and children’s causes; and to give scholarships to educational and cultural institutions in Finland and in the United States.
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Organization:
Finn Spark Inc was founded on February 3, 1949, as Kipinä-Kerho by Edith Sauvola Hart.
It was incorporated in Virginia on April 14, 1994. The Corporation is governed by a Board of eight Directors.
Generally, there are nine meetings and newsletters (September – May).
Membership dues, currently $20.00, are due August 15.
Membership is open to any person born in Finland, their spouses and descendants, and any other person who is interested in preserving the Finnish language, culture and traditions.
Membership application (USA) in pdf format Click here
Membership application (Finland/Europe) Click here
Kipina-Kerho (Finn Spark, Inc.)
Jarjesto:
Kipina Kerhon perusti Edith Sauvola Hart, helmikuun 3 pva, 1949.
Jarjesto rekisteroitiin virallisesti Virginiassa nimella Finn Spark, Inc
huhtikuun 14 pva, 1994.
Jarjeston paattava elin on johtokunta, missa on kahdeksan jasenta.
Virallisia kokouksia seka uutiskirjeita on yhdeksan vuodessa (Syyskuu – Toukokuu)
Jasenmaksun ($20.00) eraantymispaiva on elokuun 15 paiva.
Jasenyys on avoinna Suomessa syntyneille, heidan puolisoillensa ja omaisillensa, seka henkiloille jotka ovat kiinostuneet sailyttamaan Suomen kielen, kulttuurin ja perinteet.
Tavoite:
Kipina-Kerhon (Finn Spark, Inc) tehtava on jarjestaa opetukseen ja hyvantekevaisyyteen liittyvia tilaisuuksia ja taten kerata varoja, voidakseen edistaa lasten ja vanhusten hyvinvointia, seka lahjoittaa apurahoja koulutus- seka kulttuuri tarkoituksiin seka Suomessa etta Yhdysvalloissa
Motto: “Kipinasta Liekki”.
An academic paper entitled
"Sauna, Sisu ja Suomi: Representations of Finland Among Finnish-American Women in Washington, D.C. by Emily Channell has been submitted for an anthropological research course at American University.
An abstract is given below and the full 17 page paper can be accessed in pdf format by clicking here Some members of Finn Spark were interviewed by the author in order to obtain material for this paper.
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Sauna, Sisu ja Suomi: Representations of Finland Among Finnish-American Women in Washington, D.C.
by Emily Channell
American University
Comments welcomed
Anthropological Research Methods: Fall 2008
Professor Cymene Howe
December 15, 2008
Abstract
The Finnish-American community in Washington, D.C. is a fairly cohesive immigrant group that manifests its identity in unique ways. Based on Anderson’s “imagined community” and ideas of “culture building,” this identity must be viewed as a confluence of factors that continually create Finnish-American culture. As analyzed among women in the Kipinä Kerho society, this identity is displayed in similar ways to Finns living in Finland and early immigrants from Finland (Suomi). Language use, the sauna, and dual citizenship are three important but contested aspects of Finnish-American identity, and what brings Finns together most strongly is Finnish pride or sisu.
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FINN SPARK, INC.
Non-profit organization under Section 501(C)3 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code
Kipinästä Liekki – From Spark to Flame!
"Calendar" links to dcfinn.org finnish event calendar page which opens in separate browser window
