Welcome New Six Pack! Letter from the Past President

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1 FINNEWS Letter from the Past President her knowledge and skills as well for next year. Our social events coordinator Anne Hamalainen will also continue her up-beat service. Past board member Rich Hammett is not totally stepping down off his duties. He is continuing as a Finnish School teacher for adults. It is just incredible how many of you are willing to offer your time and skills for our organization, with that we have a great year ahead of us! Our new board is also growing stronger with Sanna Lattunen, who has a long history of volunteerism within AFS. As a past president and a long time Finnish School Teacher, she has a lot to give to this organization. Also representing the Finnish School is our new Vice President Minna Koivunen. Katriina Naukkarinen Welcome New Six Pack! I'm very happy to welcome our new President Leena Ringvall and our new board full of active and energetic women. Atlanta Finland Society needs new energy. With a board full of returning or continuing volunteers I'm confident we have the best support for new president and her leadership. As I leave my position I would like to thank the past board volunteers for their work and support. Our secretary Tuula Becker has been more than irreplaceable, not only for AFS but also for other Scandinavian Organizations here in Atlanta. Her commitment and skills will be put to use once again as she continues her duties as a secretary on our new board. Treasurer Jaana Leskinen has served the board for past two years and she is willing to offer I hope all our members join me as I wish good luck and lots of fun to this power six pack as you steer AFS to a new year hopefully full of activities and new members. It has been a great honor serving you past two years! Katriina Naukkarinen From the New President: Leena Ringvall I'm a Finnish elementary school teacher with a passion for traveling. I first came to Atlanta back in 2007 to teach at a public school. During my twoyear stay I also taught at the Finnish school. I met my husband in 2009 and quickly packed our bags and moved to Malaysia for two years. I taught at an international school there in I recently returned to Atlanta after teaching third grade in North Carolina. As of now I'm very happy to settle in Atlanta area for a while and therefore ready take over my new role as the head teacher of the Finnish School and the president of AFS. I look forward to a year of family fun and cultural exchange. Leena Ringvall Fall 2012 Newsletter of the Atlanta Finland Society, Inc. Page 1

2 Pictures from the AFS Events in Year 2011/2012: Finnish-American musicians Sara Pajunen and Jonathan Rundman of the folk duo KAIVAMA were entertaining Atlanta Finns at the Kohtala s last February. What a wonderful evening to celebrate A Valentine s Day with live music! Suomi-koulun opettajat Riikka Hӓrkonen ja Sanna Lattunen edustamassa Suomea Heritage Festivaaleilla. Thank You Anne and Jukka Kohtala hosting the event In your beautiful home. Jessica Metso, Sara ja Rosa Hamalainen joulujuhlassa. Joulujuhlan pӧytӓ tӓynnӓ ihania joululeivonnaisia. Fall 2012 Suomi-koulun oppilaat esittӓvӓt ohjelmaa joulujuhlassa. Newsletter of the Atlanta Finland Society, Inc. Page 2

3 Atlanta Finland Society Annual Meeting at Best Friends Park, Gwinnett, GA September 23, 2012 Present: Tuula Becker, Arja Hanninen, George Lane, Jaana Leskinen, Margareta Martin, Katriina Naukkarinen, Minna Koivunen The meeting was called to order by President Katriina Naukkarinen at 1:50 pm. Katriina Naukkarinen acted as chairperson and George Lane as secretary for this meeting. Annual Report: Jaana reported there are 46 paid members. Katriina reported on the activities from the past year, including the Christmas party with 150 people at the Cross and Crown Lutheran Church, the Valentine party at the Kohtala s home with the Finnish-American band, Kaivama, the 2 evenings of Finnish music at Georgia State University in April with the Finnish Ambassador in attendance, and smaller social gatherings. AFS also participated at other Scandinavian events in Atlanta. Finnish School: The school classes for were held at Hembree Park in one of the covered gazebos initially and then inside the recreation center building. There were about 10 children in 2 classes. At the same time Rich Hammett conducted classes for adults at the same location. There is a meeting of the school people at 4 pm on Sept. 23 to plan for the year. Financial: Jaana completed the profit and loss statement and the balance sheet and closed the books prior to the meeting but the auditors were not able to finish the audit in time for the meeting. The audit is near completion and the financial results may be ready for distribution when these minutes are distributed to the members. It is expected that the budget for will be very similar to Members of the Board for : The following were approved. President Leena Ringvall Vice President Minna Koivunen Treasurer Jaana Leskinen Secretary Tuula Becker Chair of Finnish School Leena Ringvall Finnish School Repr. Sanna Lattunen Event Coordinator Anne Hamalainen Auditors for : Arja Hanninen and George Lane were approved. History of the Society: Margareta is near completing a history of the Finnish presence in Atlanta. It will include information about the Finnish societies and Finnish companies. This will be published in a paperback book with color photos. AFS is contributing $500 to offset some of the publication costs. Christmas Party: It was strongly recommended that the new Board act quickly to set a date and location for the Christmas party. Sunday Dec. 9 or 16 were suggested. Those present were happy with the Cross and Crown Church and the non-cooked meal. It was suggested that there be a charge for big events like the Christmas party. An amount of $10 per person was suggested. Other: Margareta suggested that AFS participate in Fernbank s Winter Wonderland. This will be similar to the Festival of Trees show. There is a media presentation about this activity at the Fernbank Museum on Nov. 15. Margareta also suggested that AFS support the Finlandia Foundation s Performer of the Year. The meeting concluded at 3:30pm Respectfully submitted by George Lane Fall 2012 Newsletter of the Atlanta Finland Society, Inc. Page 3

4 Olen Leena Ringvall, AFS:n uusi puheenjohtaja ja Suomi-koulun opettaja. "Vielӓ pari kuukautta sitten valittelin miehelleni, kuinka tylsӓӓ osa-aikaopiskelijan ja osaaikatyontekijӓn elӓmӓ on, kun ei ole kavereita eika edes ruisleipӓӓ. Osallistuttuani Finnish American Chamber of Commercen Finnish Education Symposiumiin , elӓmӓni heitti kerralla u-kӓӓnnoksen. Lӓhdin seminaarista kotiin pӓӓ tӓynnӓ uusia ajatuksia ja laukussa ruislimppu. Osa saattaa minut muistaakin vuosilta Suomi-koulun Muskarin ja Nipsujen opettajana. Palattuani Atlantan seudulle viime kesӓna 2012 olin onnesta soikeana nӓkiessani tuttuja naamoja edelleen tӓӓllӓ. Olen asunut Virginiassa, Pohjois-Carolinassa, Atlantassa ja Malesiassa. Kaikista nӓista paikoista on Atlannan seudun Suomi-yhteiso jӓӓnyt lӓmpimimmin mieleeni, ja siksi otan ilolla vastaan uuden vastuutehtӓvӓni. Talouden ailahteluista johtuen expat -yhteison jӓseniӓ on muuttanut takaisin Suomeen, ja huomattavasti harvempi lӓhtee enӓӓ ulkomaille. Tӓmӓ muutos nӓkyy erityisesti Suomi-koululla, Fall 2012 jonka oppilasmӓӓrӓ on tippunut niin hurjasti, ettӓ koulun toiminta melkein kaatui omaan mahdottomuuteensa. Sisukkaalla yrityksellӓ ja sinnikkӓilla jӓsenillӓ koulun toiminta pyorӓhti kuitenkin kӓyntiin, mutta muutosten myotӓ myos kouluun tarvitaan uusi ajatusmalli: "Yhteistӓ kivaa koko perheen voimin". Vaikka oppilasmӓӓrӓ ryhmissӓ on kutistunut, on ikӓhaarukka myos kasvanut. Nӓin ollen jokaisen paikallaolevan vanhemman apua tarvitaan, sillӓ lasten kielen puhuminen ja ymmӓrtӓminen on hyvin eri tasoilla. Koulukerroilla lapset jakaantuvat 0-3v. muskariryhmӓӓn ja viidestӓ ikӓvuodesta ylospӓin koululaisten ryhmӓӓn. Ryhmӓt saavat opetusta Suomen kielellӓ noin tunnin, jonka jӓlkeen ryhmӓt yhdistyvӓt ja koko perheen leikki voi alkaa. Meillӓhan on vain yksi pelisӓӓnto - puhutaan suomea! Menin itse naimisiin huhtikuussa 2012 amerikkalaisen mieheni kanssa. Paivӓӓ ennen tuomarin eteen astumista luin lehdessӓ tutkimuksesta, jonka mukaan Suomen kieli on viidenneksi vaikein kieli oppia englantia aidinkielenӓӓn puhuvalle. Sanoinkin silloin miehelleni, etta onnea vaan valinnallesi (Kuinka hyvӓ sitten loppujen lopuksi onkaan, ettei appivanhemmat puhu samaa kieltӓ...nӓhtӓvӓksi jӓӓ). Tӓstӓ ajatuksesta herӓsi kuitenkin mielenkiinto kielimuurin ylittӓviӓ aktiviteettaja kohtaan, ja ennen kaikkea kulttuurielӓmysten jakamiseen. Tata kӓytӓntoӓ mielessӓ pitӓen lӓhden mielenkiinnolla vetamaan uutta AFS:n kautta. Vien mieheni Akӓslompolon kaamokseen joulun jӓlkeiseksi viikoksi, joten hӓn saattaa olla eri mieltӓ kanssani tulevaisuudessa, mutta mitӓpӓ hӓn ei tekisi kulttuurielӓmysmatkailun nimissӓ. Viimeisenӓ vielӓ kantapӓӓn kautta opittua elӓmӓnfilosofiaa: kuinka tӓrkeӓӓ onkaan tietaa omat juurensa ja kulttuuriperimansa. Lapset eivӓt sitӓ opi, ellei heitӓ siihen altisteta. Aitini kiukkuaa joka vuosi puhelimessa, kun unohdan hӓnen nimipӓivӓnsӓ. Koska viimeksi lӓhetit nimipӓivӓkortin? Koska viimeksi kuuntelit Sibeliuksen Finlandia-hymnin? Koska luit lapsillesi viimeksi Kunnaksen Koiramaen veljeksistӓ?" Newsletter of the Atlanta Finland Society, Inc. Leena Ringvall Page 4

5 I'm Leena Ringvall, the new president of AFS and the Finnish School teacher. "A few month ago I was still complaining to my husband how boring my life had become: a parttime student and a part-time worker with no friends and no rye bread. After attending Finnish Education Symposium organized by the Finnish American Chamber of Commerce on September 6th, 2012, my life made a complete u-turn. Some of you might remember me from as one of the teachers from the Finnish School. After returning to Atlanta area last summer 2012 I was thrilled to find out that some of the familiar faces were still living here. I've lived in Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, and Malaysia and out of them all, Atlanta Finnish community has a special place in my heart. Therefore I'm excited to step in my new role. Due to the economy a lot of the families head back to Finland and even less take on the adventure of moving overseas. The change is most visible at the Finnish School. At some point we all thought it was going to be a mission impossible to keep the school alive but due to persistant members of AFS and their dedication, the school is back on! The school has a new mission Family Fun in the Community. Even though the amount of students per group has reduced the age gap within the group has extended. Therefore we need all the parent support available during the school hours. Kids are devided into two groups: 0-3 year olds & Kindergarten and up. The groups get Finnish language instruction for about an hour and after that both groups and families share games together. We only have one rule - we all need to (try to) speak Finnish. I got married in April, 2012 to my American husband. A day before going to the court house I read about a research on a newspaper. How about Finnish is the fifth hardest language for a native English-speaker to learn? I looked at my husband and thought "Good luck to you" (It might a blessing not to share the same language with your in-laws one might think, or at least we shall see). Later on this made me think about activities that would help him understand the culture over the language barrier. What is important in a culture? This is the view that I'd like to emphasize during my season as the president. I'm taking my husband to Northern Finland the week after Christmas with five feet of snow and an hour of daylight. In the name of cultural experiences, we'll see if he still shares this view after this trip." Leena Ringvall Minna Koivunen, Vice President My family and I moved to Atlanta area from Jyväskylä in the beginning of July 2011 planning to have a one year adventure in the USA. Eventually we, like many other Finnish expatriates here and everywhere, decided to stay a bit longer. My husband works with Metso and I am a stay-at-home mom marveling the wonders of everyday life so different from (yet in some ways so similar to) life in Finland. Our two children were students of the Atlanta Finnish School last year. As a family we like to travel and play board or outdoor games. I enjoy volunteering at my children s schools in Fulton County. I have recently (re)discovered the joy of working out, I also enjoy playing golf and long walks with friends. I have a Master s degree in Business Administration from the Jyväskylä University School of Business and Economics. My professional background is in Educational Research, Entrepreneurship Education and Information and Communications Technology. I am really looking forward to working with the board members and meeting new people at various AFS events! Minna Koivunen Fall 2012 Newsletter of the Atlanta Finland Society, Inc. Page 5

6 Mark your calendar! Traditional Christmas Celebration is planned on Sunday, December 9, 2012 starting at 2:00 pm. Place: Cross & Crown Lutheran Church 4276 Chamblee Dunwoody Road Chamblee, GA Seppo Hartikainen oli vieraileva pastori/pianisti Floridasta. Suomi-koulun oppilas Anni Koivunen luki jouluevankeliumin. Last year s celebration was a big success and over 100 people attended the service. Seppo Hartikainen was a visiting pastor/piano player from Florida. Event committee is planning to invite him again this year. Invitations and details about the program will be sent later Fall 2012 Newsletter of the Atlanta Finland Society, Inc. Page 6

7 Year 2012/2013 AFS, Inc. Board of Directors Contact Information President/ Suomi-koulu Leena Ringvall Past President Katriina Naukkarinen Vice President Minna Koivunen Treasurer Jaana Leskinen Secretary/Finnews Tuula Becker Event Coordinator Anne Hamalainen Suomi-koulu Sanna Lattunen Auditor George Lane Auditor Arja Hanninen Librarian / Kirjaston hoitaja: Verna Bush Phone: verna@inspiratron2100.com Atlanta Finland Society, Inc. Mailing Address: PO Box , Roswell, GA 30076, USA Please remember to visit our website regularly and get the latest news and updates on upcoming events, etc Website: AFS, Inc. Membership fee is due for a fiscal year August July 2013 Many thanks to all of you who have already received the Membership Renewal Invoice from Treasurer Jaana Leskinen in mail, and already have paid the membership fee for 2012/2013 fiscal year. Many of you are only on our list and we don t have your mailing address. Please fill out the attached Membership Form and update your current contact information to our records. Mail the form to: Jaana Leskinen / Treasurer PO Box , Roswell, GA As a member you will receive the quarterly published FINNEWS and several s about upcoming cultural events in Atlanta area as well as news about Atlanta Finns and also news about Finnish-Americans living in the USA. As an active AFS member you will also get a member discounts to the FACC, Inc. sponsored events (Finland s Independence Day Celebration being one example). Come and learn the Finnish language and the culture of Finland in our Atlanta Finnish school. Visit the library. Stay connected is a hot topic nowadays! Fall 2012 Newsletter of the Atlanta Finland Society, Inc. Page 7

8 Atlanta Finland Society, Inc. (AFS Inc.) Membership Form Family Name First Name Spouse Family Name First Name Street Address City State Zip Home Phone Cell Cell 2 Membership fees 1. AFS Family $25/year $ 2. AFS Student $10/year $ 3. AFS Single $20/year $ Make check payable to: Atlanta Finland Society, Inc Send payment with membership form to: AFS c/o Jaana Leskinen, PO Box , Roswell, Ga I allow AFS to share my contact information with other AFS members. Initials Non-discrimination clause: Atlanta Finland Society, Inc (AFS) is a non-profit organization and admits members of any race, color, nationality, religion, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded to or made available to members of the organization. It does not discriminate on the basis of color, religion, national or ethnic origin in administration of its policies, membership policies, educational programs and other programs, or activities and events. Fall 2012 Newsletter of the Atlanta Finland Society, Inc. Page 8