FINN SPARK, INC.
Non-profit organization under Section 501(C)3 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code
Kipinästä Liekki – From Spark to Flame!
; Finn Spark future meeting dates:
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 11:00 a.m.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Finn Spark Monthly Meeting page 2009
Sept. 15, 2009 meeting, Maiju Wilson, hostess
Dear Members,
The September meeting was hosted by Maiju Wilson. I wonder if Maiju has ever counted how many Finn Spark meetings she has held in her home. I know they are many. We are very grateful to you, Maiju, for your generosity over so many years.
The Bazaar was the main topic of the meeting. After the official meeting, we enjoyed a beautiful piano recital by talented Francesca Hurst, a Finn Spark member, who is now finishing her doctorate (DMS) in piano performance. Another highlight of the meeting was the pride and joy we all shared as we individually recognized four decorated past Finn Spark presidents, Marianne Parssinen, Ritva Rauanheimo-Butrum, Saga Rinta. and Pirkko Saarinen-Fanelli. As Pirkko was unable to attend the meeting, she had sent us a nice note. The final highlight was the delicious meal prepared by Maiju, Hildegard White, Karin DaHarb, and Tuula Barlow. The recipe for the tasty salmon casserole is on page 34 of Finn Spark's new cookbook.
Click here to access photos of the September 15 ,2009 meeting submitted by Marianne Parsinnen
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May 19, 2009 meeting, Tuula Barlow, hostess
It was a lovely summer like day when we gathered to Barlow’s spacious terrace
to have our last meeting of the season. It was delightful that so many of you were there,
including a couple of spouses, Aarre Pellinen and Riley Elwood. It was very special to
meet one month old Maddox Dallessandro and her mother, Kaija, looking so well!
There was another special guest, Anja Thorne,who accompanied her mother Liisa.
Members were encouraged to think Silent Auction very seriously as one of the
main money makers at the Bazaar. They were asked to bring at least one item to the table
if and while vacationing in Finland.
Then it was time for Marianne to give the gavel and the bell to the next president, Raili Maultsby, which she did with a warm hug and the best wishes to continued success to
Finn Spark under Raili’s leadership!
After a short official meeting, the members enjoyed wonderful summer soup along with
best rye bread directly from Finland, followed by a delicious dessert, vispipuuro (whipped lingonberries). Our best thanks to Tuula and her co- hostesses Karin DaHarb and Riitta Anderson!
Hope to see you all at Maiju Wilson’s on September 17th at 11am.
Thanks for your great support during these wonderful three years!
Hyvaa kesaa teille kaikille!
Marianne
Click here to access photos of the May 19, 2009 meeting submitted by Marianne Parsinnen
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April 28, 2009 Meeting, Laurel Colless, hostess
Our warm thanks to Mrs. Laurel Colless, who traditionally hosted our April meeting, but this time at the beautiful residence instead of the ChanceryAfter the business meeting we enjoyed afternoon coffee and tea with many delicacies masterly prepared by Chef Mikko Kosonen. Mrs Colless introduced the
beautiful brochure of the residence. She invited the members to view the extraordinary artwork that is fully covered in the brochure. She also encouraged members to visit the beautiful garden and sauna building
Maija Wiste conducted the election of the new board: Raili Niskanen-Maultsby as a new President, Adele Hagen and Seija Levela-Johnson as Correspondence Secretaries and Hanna Wagner as Director for three years. Congratulations! Finn Spark is very fortunate to have another strong board going forward to meet new challenges.
Marianne
Click here to access photos of the April 28, 2009 meeting submitted by Marianne Parsinnen
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Finn Spark 60th Anniversary Gala
April 18, 2009 at Embassy of Finland
Program and Menu Click here
Photos: Finn Spark Gala by Leila Takala (85) Click here
Photos: Finn Spark Gala by Sara Thomas (95) Click here
Photos: Finn Spark Gala by Sara Thomas (83) Click here
[The above "links" will open in new browser windows]
Finn Spark celebrated its 60th Anniversary in grand style
Elakoon, Elakoon, Elakoon…to Kipina Kerho (Hurrah three times to Finn Spark!)
was heard loudly and clearly at the request of Minister Anne Lammila, Deputy Chief of Mission from Embassy of Finland! She brought the official greetings and congratulations from the State of Finland wishing the Finn Spark a continued success.
The Keynote Speaker, Mrs. Laurel Colless,spoke about her experiences with Finn Spark admiring the Finnish strong women. She especially remembered the television appearances advertising Christmas Bazaars. She mentioned how pleased Ambassador Lintu had been, when last year there was a chance to mention that the Embassy of Finland here in Washington DC is the first Embassy in the U.S. to earn the Environmental Protection Agency’s prestigious Energy Star for superior energy efficiency.
The President of Finn Spark, Marianne Parssinen, briefly talked about the organization’s history. She said, that just as in many organizations, Kipina Kerho has grown and undergone changes over the span of sixty years. After its corporation, its name officially changed to Finn Spark. From the original 13 founders, membership now stands around 145 here in the United States, and 16 members in our Alumnae Club in Finland.
To make the group more diversified and stronger, it was decided to open the membership to everyone who supports Finn Spark mission. For a number of years the net income of the Bazaars was used to purchase preferably U.S. made medical equipment for donation to hospitals and other health-care facilities in Finland. To name just a few items that were donated for children’s care to several hospitals in Finland, but mainly to the Helsinki University Hospital’s Children’s Unit: Premature Infant Care units; Sudden Infant Death Monitor, Oxygen tents, Fluid Transfer Equipment for Child Heart Surgery; Pulse oximeter, just to name few. Donations for children’s care total over $62,000.
For elderly care, for example The Finnish-American Rest Home was the recipient of Finn Spark’s donations for many years. Donations to them total approximately 26K.
Gradually the scope has been expanded to include donations to schools and organizations involved in education both in Finland and in the United States Support has been given to Suomi-College (Finlandia University ) in Hancock, Michigan During the years they have received Finn Spark grants totaling approximately 16K, Salolampi Language Village in Concord, Minnesota has been recipient of approximately 18K., and of course the Finnish Language School Association in Arlington, VA has received approximately 26K.
This is just to name few recipients, however, the list is long, and each year Finn Spark receives very diversified applications.
The President very proudly announced that Finn Spark has donated during the years close to $400,000.
She read the congratulations that Finn Spark had received
from the following organizations and friends: Finlandia University,
Salolampi, Suomen Naisyhdistys and Suomen Kukkasrahasto, Helsinki, Finland, The Finnish Language School Association, Tello & Esa Anttila and Marjut Lindroos, the alumnae members of Finland. Ossi Rahkonen, President of Finlandia Foundation’s local Chapter as well as Trustee of Finlandia Foundation National brought their warm greetings and congratulations.
The other highlights of the evening were the performances by Soprano Meri Siirala accompanied by Stefan Brodd. Meri delighted the guests with her songs: Oskar Merikanto’s Kun Paiva Paistaa; Jean Sibelius’ Varen flyktar hastigt and Geroge Gershwin’s Summertime. The Atlantic Echo Quartet, serenaded the past presidents after they were introduced by new President-elect, Raili Niskanen-Maultsby and each received a lovely rose from Finn Spark Board Director, Tony Neville. The quartet sang Niin mina neitonen sinulle laulan; Vanha Pelargonia and to everyone’s delight, Sibelius’ Finlandia. Kent Washburn played beautiful tunes during the cocktail hour.
After a delicious buffet dinner prepared by Mia Hagman, the tunes of Helmut Licht Duo invited many dancers to the floor.
The evening was a great success, which was masterfully led by one of our past presidents, Desmond O’Rourke
Marianne Parssinen
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Finn Spark Monthly Meeting web page 2009
March 17, 2009 Meeting Karin Rahkonen, Hostess
March meeting
It was a lovely spring day when 22 of our members gathered at
Karin Rahkonen’s home for our March meeting.
We voted on the grants, and are quite sure that there will be many happy recipients again.
We enjoyed listening to Tony Neville and Desmond O’Rourke reading
Irish poems in honor of the St. Patrick’s Day.
But most of all, we truly enjoyed the wonderful lunch that Karin had prepared with her co-hostess Eva Neuland. Thank you so much Karin and Eva! We are very excited about our upcoming Gala!
Someone once said:Work like you don’t need the money,
Love like you’ve never been hurt,
Dance line nobody’s watching,
Sing like nobody’s listening,
Live like it’s Heaven on Earth,
Marianne
Click here to access photos of the March 17, 2009 meeting submitted by Marianne Parssinen
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February 19, 2009 Meeting Joanne Blum, hostess
Many thanks to Joanne Blum for hosting the meeting in her home and to her assistants Sirkka Singleton and Ritva Butrum for their assistance in preparing our luncheon and a wonderful birthday cake for our member Irene Nelson.
Our 60th Anniversary will be celebrated with a Gala evening on April 18 at the Embassy. Members will receive invitations and reservation forms with the next newsletter. Guests are welcome.
Most of the meeting time was spent in discussion of the grant requests and board recommendations regarding them. The discussion was lively at times and everyone was encouraged to express themselves. Over the course of this membership year, Finn Spark will donate approximately $17,500 to charitable groups in the United States and Finland. Voting for the specific amounts going to this year’s applicants will take place at the March meeting and via mail prior to the meeting for those who cannot attend in person.
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January 22, 2009 Meeting Leena Thomas, hostess
Our warm thanks go to Leena Thomas for hosting our January
meeting, and to her most capable co-hostesses, Tuula Barlow and Karin DaHarb,
who helped Leena to serve us delicious pea soup followed by
pannukakku with jam and whipped cream.
Marianne brought warm regards from Etel Valtasaari, whom she had briefly met at Stockmann’s and Tello Anttila, with whom she had a chance to talk on the phone. She had also visited Hotel Helka, and was impressed by it’s beautiful rooms.
As a program in our meeting we had Emily Channell’s presentation on her paper “Sauna, Sisu ja Suomi: Representation of Finland Among Finnish-American Women in Washington, D.C.” Emily concludes her paper like this: “ Throughout this project, I have discovered strong connections among three groups of Finns: Finns living in Finland, early immigrants from Finland who arrived in the U.S. in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and “recent” immigrants from Finland, these members of Kipina-Kerho who are part of the middle-and upper-class Washington, D.C. area society. All of the people in these groups share a pride in being Finnish and this unique ability to preserve, the sisu that has always held the numerous “imagined communities” of Finland together. While the Finnish-American community must be defined as having a constantly changing culture and identity in order to recognize the process that creates it, there are certain tenets of Finnishness that allow Kipina-Kerho to exist and provide its members with a space to share this Finnishness. As the “sparks” of this club age, however, new Finnish-American identities will be born
among their children, and it remains to be seen if these identities will have the same foundation as those of their mothers.”
Emily is an anthropological student at the American University.
(webmaster's note: The complete text of Emily Channell's paper can be found by clicking here
Click here to access photos of January 22, 2009 meeting submitted by Maiju Wilson.
Click here to access photos of January 22, 1009 meeting submitted by Marianne Parssinen
Click here to access web page of meetings in year 2008
