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Finlandia Foundation is the largest private source of support for Finnish culture in the United States. Finlandia Foundation, Florida Chapter, Inc. is an independent organization associated with Finlandia Foundation National.

FFFC President
Dr. Kaarina Langeland

Dear Members and FFFC Friends,

I hope you are all healthy and happy and managing to make the best of this corona pandemic. In Finland, we are having now in July a rather safe situation, thanks to the proactive Finnish government and to the Finnish people who have been diligently obeying the distancing orders.

Cultural characteristics of the Finns, such as lack of small talk, a sense of personal space and the belief in authority and practical consensus have turned out to be rather positive factors during this crisis. The national health care system has worked well, and we can rest assured that everyone gets the care they need irrespective of their economic circumstances.

In this world-wide crisis, Finland has shown that it punches far above its weight. Long before corona, our chapter chose as the new theme for the season 2020-2021 : “Finland punches above its weight in global progress.” Finland’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Jukka Salovaara, has written an article about it. We hope, he will also be the guest speaker at the Annual Meeting at the end of January.

Before the snowbirds started to fly to Finland, the Chapter board was working hard in arranging program for the next season. Without any idea of the looming pandemic, we had found the brand-new luxurious, Hilton Majesty Ball Room for the Roaring 20s Charity Gala on November 19, 2022. Please save the date! The food will be delicious, and there will be champagne and wine and lots of entertainment. Broadway singer Melodee Bahr and the five-man Driftwood Band will be performing. The ticket price will take into account the corona situation so that everybody can come.

I hope to see you all at the gala. Welcome!

Tervehdys, hyvät FFFC:n jäsenet ja ystävät,

Koronakriisin takia maailma ei ollut pysähtynyt, vaikka siltä tuntuikin maaliskuussa, kun saavuin Finnairin viimeisellä lennolla Helsinkiin. Ihmisiä ei liikkunut kaduilla kuten ennen, ei autoja, ja jos joku tuli vastaan, niin suureksi hämmästyksekseni hän kiersi minut kaukaa ihan kuin minulla olisi ollut rutto. Suomessa oli jo maaliskuun alusta lähtien olleet voimassa kovat rajoitukset, ja ihmiset noudattivat annettuja poikkeuslain määräyksiä tunnontarkasti kansalliseen kulttuuriimmekin kuuluvaa etäisyyttä pitäen ja yhteishengessä.

Floridassa korona ei vielä ollut ehtinyt aiheuttaa paljoa levottomuutta. Finlandia Foundation Florida Chapterin aktiivinen johtokunta sai rauhassa valmistella syksyn suurta gaalaa ja kauden muuta ohjelmaa. Suomi on pärjännyt koko maailman mittakaavassa useimmilla aloilla todella hyvin. Yhdistys valitsi kauden teemaksi ”Suomi kokoaan suurempi Euroopassa ja maailmalla”. Aihetta käsittelee lehdessämme Yhdistyneiden Kansakuntien pysyvä Suomen suurlähettiläs Jukka Salovaara, joka myös tullee juhlapuhujaksi vuosikokoukseen 2021 tammikuussa.

Syksyn stipendigaalan aiheeksi valittiin Roaring 20s, Iloinen 20-luku. Hilton hotellissa on juuri valmistunut upea, suuri Majesty Ball Room, joka sopii Roaring 20s gaalan juhlavaksi pitopaikaksi. Ruuan ja juoman suhteen Hilton panee parastaan. Elämme myös toivossa, että pandemiatilanne on jo rauhoittunut niin että voimme järjestää hyväntekeväisyysgaalan marraskuun 19. päivänä 2022. Merkitkää muistiin! Ja sitten iloitaan! Lipun hintakin pyritään syksyllä tarkistamaan koronan vaatimusten mukaisesti.

Sydämellisesti tervetuloa!



FINLANDIA FOUNDATION FLORIDA CHAPTER IS A TAX EXEMPT ORGANIZATION

Membership Fees 2019

Individual Members
$20 Dollars
per person annually

Family membership
$30 Dollars
for the whole family

Student Membership
$5  Dollars annually

Individual Lifetime Membership 
$200 Dollars

Make out your check to Finlandia Foundation Florida Chapter

and mail it to
Kaarina Langeland
7030 Half Moon Circle, apt. 417
Hypoluxo, FL 334362

EVENTS

.



FFFC Charity Gala 2022: Roaring 20's
 
November 19, 2022 @ 6:00pm


Tickets  FFFC Board Members

All Welcome!
 

New Majestic Ballroom
West Palm Beach Hilton
150 Australian Avenue
West Palm Beach, FL
   
FFFC Club Meeting
March 12, 2020 6pm at Kerhotalo
Lecture and Music Performance
   
Anna-Lisa Jakobsson-Zaffken 40-vuotis-taiteilijajuhlakonsertti Ystävänpäivänä
 
Helmikuun 15, 2020 kello 6:30pm Suomi Talolla

Säestäjänä Dr. Bob Sharon

Liput $30, (Suomi talo, KKCAR, FFFC johtokunnan jäsenet)

Kaikki tervetulleita
 

Suomi Talo, Lantana
   
Finlandia Foundation Florida Chapter Vuosikokous/Annual Meeting January 23, 2020 6:00 pm
at Kerhotalo
   
Finlandia Foundation Florida Chapter 65-juhlavuotisgaala

"NORTHERN LIGHTS"


Lauantaina 23. marraskuuta, 2019
kello 6pm - 11pm


Atlantis Country Club
190 Atlantis Boulevard
Atlantis FL 33464

Gourmet-illallinen, ohjelmaa, tanssia ja upea arvonta

Liput $65/henkilö, osta omasi Konsulaatista, KKCARista, Polar Bakerystä tai Kaarina Langelandilta 561-855-8381

Juhlan suojelijana kunniakonsuli Peter Makila
 

March Meeting

Kerhotalo, Thursday, March 7, 2019, at 6 pm

Dr. Marja I Urponen will speak about the FFFC 2018-2019 theme
‘Equality for All – Finland as a Forerunner in the World’

   
 

Vuosikokous - Annual Meeting

Kerhotalo, Thursday, January 31, 2019, at 6 pm
featuring Juli Wood, saxophonist and vocalist

TAAS ON JOULUJUHLAN AIKA!
CHRISTMAS PARTY IS SOON HERE!

When:            Thursday, December 13, 2018, at 6 pm.
Place:              Suomi Talo, 301 West Central Blvd, Lantana, FL 33461


Menu:             Kaikki joulun herkut entiseen tapaan, 
Traditional FFFC Christmas    Food
with glogg,  gravad lax, Jouko’s Princess Cake 
Program:       Joulumusiikkia, yhteislaulua ja hyvää joulutunnelmaa!


Accordion music, Sing-a-long and Full Xmas Swing!

SYDÄMELLISESTI TERVETULOA!  OTTAKAA YSTÄVÄNNEKIN MUKAAN!
WELCOME!  BRING YOUR FRIENDS ALONG TO SUOMI TALO!

Tickets $15 in advance (at the door $20)

Honorary Consulate, Palm Beach Bakery and Café, Suomi Talo, Kaarina 561 855 8381
   
Klikkaa kuvaa Kuvapankin kuviin

Click the ad for photos in USAsuomeki PictureBank
 
   
 
   
   
  Stipendit haettavissa (englanninkieliset hakemukset) Apply by February 1, 2017
 

Two $1000 scholarships to undergraduate
College Students studying in Florida
Application should include:

1. Cover letter explaining why you should get the scholarship
2. Resume
3. Name of college
4. Field of study/major
5. A 3.0 GPA is required

Two $1000 scholarships for youth from 7-17 years old
a 2- week Finnish language course in Salolampi Village, MN
(In addition FFN contribution $500 for travel and $ 300)

Applications: www.salolampi.org
Mail all applications before February 1, 2017 to:
Dr. Kaarina Langeland
7030 Half Moon circle, apt. 417
Hypoluxo, FL 33462
Tel. 561 855 8381

Finlandia Foundation National grants and scholarships:
Deadline February 1, 2017
Full guidelines and applications are available at:
www.FinlandiaFoundation.org  
   
 

2016 Charity Gala ”Vappu in November”
Traditional Finnish Spring Celebration


Friday, November 18, 2016

Atlantis Country Club
1900, Atlantis Blvd, Atlantis

  Click the photo for more pictures...

 
 

2016 October Finnish-English Bilingual Meeting

Thursday, October 20, 2016, 6pm @  Kerhotalo
Dr. Kaarina Langeland: “kunnossa Kaiken Ikää”

Movie "Aatsinki"

XMAS PARTY ´15

Thursday 10th of December, 2015 at 7pm
Pointe Overlook Clubhouse
Potluck Dinner, Christmas Carol and Games

   
  THOUSAND and ONE NIGHTS GALA 2015

Saturday, November 21, 2015 6-11 pm
Place: Atlantis Country Club
190 Atlantis Blvd.

Cost: Only $65 per person

Program: Gourmet Dinner, incl. table wine
FF Performer of the Year Finnish-American Violinist Sara Pajunen
Artistic Oriental Dance
Dance Music: The well known Swinging Band The Driftwoods

Under patronage of Consul Peter Makila
Dress code: festive, men jacket please
Paikka Atlantis Country Club
190 Atlantis Blvd

Click the photo for more pictures...
   
Sibelius 150 Jubilee Meeting With Concert

Thursday, October 22, 2015
7 pm

Kerhotalo
908 Lehto Lane,Lake Worth, FL 33461

Sibelius Goes Global Famous Artists
Anna-Lisa Jakobsson, mezzosoprano
Dr. Robert Sharon, pianist

Refreshments will be served!
Paikka Kerhotalo
908 Lehto Lane,Lake Worth, FL 33461
   
  SCHOLARSHIP REWARDS 2014
 
FFFC Grants were awarded to Jessica Tuttle The University of Central Florida,Orlando, Veera Hietala Northwood University, West Palm Beach and Victoria Rogers, The University of Central Florida, Orlando

 

 

JANUARY 2013 MEETING INFORMATION
Date: Wednesday,  January 23, 2013
Time: 6-8 pm.
Location: Suomi Talo, 301 W. Central Finlandia Ave, Lantana
We warmly welcome Professor Dr. Johanna Lasonen from University of South Florida,Tampa, as our guest speaker.

Theme: Lifelong Learning – “Oppiaikakaikki”
Music Performer: FFFC troubadour Mikko Manninen
Refreshments will be served. All welcome!
 

 

FEBRUARY 2013 MEETING INFORMATION
Date: Thursday, February 21, 2013
Time: 6-8 pm.Location: Suomi Talo
Speaker: FFFC President Kaarina Langeland: American Observations of Finnish culture
Music performer: Unto Haapa-aho (from Finland)
Refreshments! Welcome!!
 

MARCH 2013 INFORMATION
Saturday, March 23, 2013 : FF National 60th Anniversary Gala Celebration with concert
The Westin, Pasadena, CA. Additional Events at Paloheimo Home, Pasadena Museum of History
For details: phone 626-795-2081 or email:
office@finlandiafoundation.org.
Let’s all  head for California in March!
 

 

APRIL 2013 MEETING INFORMATION
Date: Thursday, April 11, 2013
Time: 6-8 pm.
Location: Suomi Talo
Theme: Annual Meeting
 





Friday, November 30, 2013, from 6-11.30 P.M.
CELEBRATION OF FINLAND’S  95th  INDEPENDENCE  DAY

The Annual Charity Gala to benefit educational activities and programs was held on Novembert 30th, 2012 the second time at the Airport Hilton Hotel, West Palm Beach. Almost two hundred guests enjoyed an evening of wonderful music, guest speakers, and fine food.

The evening began with a cocktail hour with delicious hors d’oeuvre by Hilton. Mikko Manninen, the FFFC candidate for the FFN Performer of the Year, delighted the audience with American and Finnish tunes. After the National Anthems the Honorary Guests, Her Excellency Ambassador Ritva Koukku-Ronde from Washington D.C, The FFN President Anita Smiley and the Patron of the Gala, Consul Peter Makila were introduced.  The Celebration of Finland’s 95th Independence Anniversary was a good time to remember how the Finns fought courageously against immense odds and successfully retained the independence. Today, Finland has a globally competitive economy with strong social safety net.

The Finnish-Americans have an important role as ambassadors for Finland and Finnish culture  thus supporting Finlandia Foundations efforts to preserve Finnish Language and Culture in the United States. The lecture on Sibelius and the Finnish Awakening by Dr.Glenda Dawn Goss , the FFN  Lecturer of the Year was a highlighted performance. Floridan Laulumiehet Trio sang serenades to the ladies and Joe Spitale provided good dance music. It was a very successful Charity Gala.

Click the photo on left for more pictures...

 

Wednesday, October 24, 2012 from 6-8 P.M.
Dr.Tiina Ojanen
Finland’s School Success: - Comparisons to the U.S. Education System
Suomi Talo, (Finland House)
301 W. Central Finlandia Blvd., Lantana

2012 FFFC jakoi ensimmäistä kertaa 1000 Dollarin stipendin yliopisto-opiskelua varten. Sen sai lahjakas Teo Kyotikki, joka opiskelee kauppatieteita  Floridan yliopistossa Gainesvillessa .

Tämänvuotiset Salolampi stipendiaatit ovat Justin Weir ja Kim Mustonen, jotka menevat kahden viikon kielikylpykurssille Concordia Language Villageen Minnesotaan.



The Finnish Collection transferred from PBSC to the Suomi Talo

The Finlandia Foundation Florida Chapter collection including Finnish and English books  (over 1000 volumes) has been donated to the Suomi Talo. The PBSC could not store the books any longer since nobody read them. Now they are located at the Suomi Talo library for the easier community use.

Maila Smith is the Volunteer of the Year 2012 for his contributions to Finlandia Foundation.

The Finlandia Foundation Performer of the Year Maria Kizirian's concert in March  was a highlight of the spring program.

In February we organized the Finnish-American Authors' Forum. At this event, author Dr. Steve Lehto discussed his book Shortcut, which is about Michigan Copper Country's mining history. In the lively panel discussion that followed, five other authors--Frank Antilla, Liisa Pasila, Mauno Laurila and John Johnson--presented their memoir books of life in America.

FFFC NEWSLETTER of January. 2012 CAN READ FROM THIS LINK (PDF format, tabloid size paper). The newsletter is in two parts:
Part1
Part2

Translation of the article by Pekka Aukia
Translation of the article by  Paivi Lipponen
 


ROOTS IN FINLAND. Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 6PM at Suomi Talo, Lantana, FL. At that meeting. Mr. Matti Korpinen from Finland will teach us how to conduct the genealogical research of our own to find our roots in Finland.
 


FFFC NEWSLETTER OF SEPT. 2011 CAN READ FROM THIS LINK (PDF format, tabloid size paper)
 

2011 NOVEMBER 18: Annual Charity Gala
to benefit educational and cultural activities and programs
Friday, November 18, 2011, Airport Hilton, West Palm Beach, Florida
Dinner and entertainment, $60 per person
Gentlemen: Jackets, please.

Click to enlarge the poster

Click the photo on left for more pictures... 

2011 OCTOBER 12: Finlandia Foundation National President to speak
Our first program of the 2011-1012 season will be an illustrated talk by the president of : the Finlandia Foundation National, Anita Smiley.

Anita’s life has truly been an endless journey through Finland and Finnish America. Endless because for decades (at least) what she has seen and done and learned will be remembered and appreciated by many, many people.

We are looking forward to Anita's illustrated talk, My Vision  of Finland,  at  Finland House, (Suomi Talo) in Lantana from 6 to 8 P.M. on Wednesday October 12. It is free and open to the public, so please plan to attend and bring others with you, also non-Finns. Coffee and pulla will be served.

THE FINLANDIA FOUNDATION FLORIDA CHAPTER HONORED TIMO VAINIONPAA  AS THE 2011 VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR IN RECOGNITION OF HIS OUTSTANDING SERVICE PROMOTING AND PRESERVING FINNISH CULTURE. TIMO WAS THE SECRETARY OF THE ASSOCIATION  2007-08-09 AND HAS WORKED WITH OUR WEB SITE AND PUBLICITY SINCE THAT.

DEATH'S DOOR
Steven Lehto has recently moved to this area from Michigan and we were pleased that we could include him in our program this year. Steve is a lawyer, professor and historian who has done important research on the Italian Hall tragedy of 1913 and the truth behind it.
He will discuss his research as well as his book on the subject.
THURSDAY MARCH 24TH 2011  6:00 PM
AFCC – KERHO TALO
908 LEHTO LANE
LAKE WORTH

2011, FEBRUARY 3Wilho Saari, Finlandia Foundation National Performer of the Year and a noted kantele virtuoso,  performed at Suomi Talo at 6:00 p.m. Wilho Saari has written more than 2,400 songs for the kantele and has recorded two CDs. He is the fifth-generation of kantele players in his family.

2011 JANUARY 27: Lee Alperin repeated his presentation entitled The Jews of Finland, which focuses on the treatment of Jews in Finland during the Second World War. His talk  will be delivered at the Jewish Community Center in Boynton Beach, 8500 Jog Road, Boynton Beach, FL 33472, at 2:00 p.m.

2011 JANUARY 7To begin with, Finlandia Foundation National Lecturer of the year 2011, Dr. Carl Rahkonen, an ethnomusicologist on the faculty of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, presented a lecture at Suomi Talo at 6:00 p.m. on Finnish-American Music, sharing his expertise in folk music traditions.

JANUARY 8Dr. Sharon Franklin-Rahkonen, a historian, also on the faculty of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, spoke at Kerhotalo on the Finnish Civil War at 5:00 p.m..

FFFC organized the Annual Gala Dinner in November 2010 with magnificent musical program and Keynote remarks honoring 175 years of Kalevala Click the photo for more pictures...

THE FINLANDIA FOUNDATION FLORIDA CHAPTER NAMED PETER MAKILA  THE 2010 VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR IN RECOGNITION OF HIS OUTSTANDING SERVICE PROMOTING AND PRESERVING THE FINNISH CULTURE.

OUR Programs 2010 NEWSLETTER. YOU CAN READ IT FROM THIS LINK

 

 

FFFC organized the Annual Gala Dinner in November 2009.  Click the photo for more pictures... In picture FFFC president Juha Makipaa, Ex-FF National president John Laine and Honorary Consul of Finland Peter Makila

Seppo Palokas

Seppo Palokas is the Volunteer of the Year 2009 for his contributions to Finlandia Foundation during the years.

International Education and Cultural Meet and Greet
What makes the Finns so successful in educating kids?
Monday, April 6, 2009, 3:30 to 5:30 pm  
Recent results for PISA (Programme for International
Student Assessment) report that Finnish students
outperform all other OECD countries. 
Explore the “Finnish Model” with Virpi Sanders,
International Affairs Coordinator, Project Manager in
Department of Education.
PBCC James L. Wattenbarger Conference Center, Lake Worth Campus
Download presentation here

 

 

Finnish and Finnish American Resources
Finnish Collection

The Finnish Collection, located on the Lake Worth Campus of Palm Beach Community College, is a special collection of materials that include books, music and artifacts available for community use.  The Harold C. Manor Library is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.   Visitor parking is available on the South side in front of the Administration building.  Visit the website below for more information about the library and community resources.
http://www.pbcc.edu/x14791.xml

Finlandia Foundation Florida Foundation presented Susan Saarinen (granddaughter of Eliel and daughter of Eero Saarinen) for a lecture at the Norton Museum of Art on Saturday March 14th at 10:30 a.m.   This was a scholarship fundraising benefit for Finlandia Foundation Florida Chapter.  You can see some photos from this event at this link
 

FFFC was the cultural Organization that helped Lake Worth Middle School to present Finland. The students build the miniature replica of Helsinki Railway Station and learnt Finnish language, habits, songs and dances.
Pictures again available by clicking the picture on the left.
 

FFFC organized the Annual Gala Dinner in November 2008. The keynote speaker was His Excellency Ambassador Pekka Lintu. Magnificent musical program was starred by Cynthia Makris, Raimo Sirkiä and Eino Grön. Click the photo for more pictures...

Terttu Voskressensky is the Volunteer of the Year 2008 for her long time contributions to Finlandia Foundation activities

Click here to see the photos from the events.

.

NEWSLETTER OF MARCH. 2008 CAN READ FROM THIS LINK (PDF format, tabloid size paper)
 

FFFC was be the main organizer of the Events of the December the 6th 2007, the 90th Day of Independence Of Finland in Florida
Click the picture to see Photos.

NEWSLETTER OF SEPT. 2007 CAN READ FROM THIS LINK (PDF format, tabloid size paper)
 

Alice Osman is the Volunteer of the Year 2007 for her contributions to Kaleidoscope.

OUR DECEMBER NEWSLETTER 2006. YOU CAN READ IT FROM THIS LINK

Look at Gala 2006 Event Photos in usasuomeksi.net PictureBank (11/2/2006)

OUR FIRST NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2006 YOU CAN READ IT FROM THIS LINK

__________________________________________________________________
Finlandia Foundation® Florida Chapter
 
P.O Box 210, Lake Worth, FL 33460, U.S.A.
www.finlandiafoundationfl.us email: info@finlandiafoundatonfl.us