This just in from our newly-elected new president, Stefan Jonasson:
“I was elected president of the Icelandic National League of North America at its annual general meeting, which was held by web conference on Saturday, May 31 – a first in the organization’s 101-year history. The annual meeting had originally been scheduled to take place at the league’s annual convention in Gimli, Manitoba, which was to be held in April, but the current pandemic forced us to cancel the convention and we rescheduled the business meeting for the last Saturday in May. While we missed being together, the online meeting went well and delegates were present representing the vast majority of member clubs. Over the course of nearly three hours, participants remained engaged, focused, and respectful, so we were able to transact a considerable amount of business.
These weren’t the conditions under which I expected to assume the presidency, but such is life. The founding president of the INLNA was Rev. Rögnvaldur Pétursson, who was also the founding minister of the Arborg Unitarian Church, the congregation that ordained me; the Unitarian denomination’s field representative in Western Canada, which is another post I held for 11 years; and editor of Heimskringla, one of the predecessors of Lögberg-Heimskringla, the newspaper I now edit. I have been his successor in many endeavours. Ironically enough, the Icelandic National League was founded in the midst of the 1918 flu epidemic, which is generally considered to have continued until 1920.
At the time of its founding, the Icelandic National League identified three primary purposes for its existence: (1) to encourage people of Icelandic descent to become the best possible citizens of their new homeland; (2) to maintain and strengthen the Icelandic language and literature in North America; and (3) to work in cooperation with all Icelanders on both sides of the Atlantic. The INLNA has fulfilled these purposes admirably for more than a century and we will continue to work towards them.
For now, we must do business differently, seeking to fulfill our obligations and remain faithful to the mission and vision of the INLNA. Fortunately, we have tools at our disposal that the founders of this organization couldn’t have even imagined to be possible. I look forward to the coming year aware that it brings not only unique challenges, but also unique opportunities. The theme for this year’s convention drew upon an old Icelandic saying, “Þetta reddast,” which essentially means: “It will work out.” I am confident that things will indeed work out and I look forward to the day when we can again gather in person to celebrate our Icelandic heritage and culture.”
Congratulations Stefan!
