Stefan Jonasson, our new INLNA President

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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!

101st Annual General Meeting Held Online

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I’m happy to report that our 101st Annual General Meeting went very well yesterday, May 30. The meeting was held partially electronically due to the need to cancel our convention this year. We all missed being in Gimli, MB, but the meeting must go on!

Our member clubs, affiliates, associates and individual members joined us to review the past year, the finances, pass a bylaw change and other motions. And very importantly our 2020/2021 slate was presented and accepted by our membership.

Congratulations to Stefan Jonasson of Winnipeg, MB, on being proclaimed President!

For now, here is a photo taken by Peter Norman of the Icelandic Canadian Club of Toronto.

Thank you to the board and members of the INLNA for their continued support during my 2 year term as President!

Bev Arason-Gaudet

Past-President

Snorri Deaf 2019 Report

Snorri Deaf is the newest addition to the line-up of Snorri programs.

“The first Snorris Deaf, Júlía Hreinsdóttir and Heiðdís Dögg Eiríksdóttir visited North-Dakota, Manitoba og Minnesota in August 2018 and the visit was an adventure from the beginning to the end. In August 2019 two Snorris from Manitoba, Sylvia Sigurdson and Gordon Wiebe, visited Iceland with their interpretor Signe Badger.”

This report provides an overview of the 2019 trip!

Stephan G. Stephansson Endowment Fund

 The Stephan G. Stephansson Endowment Fund at the University of Iceland

As can be read in the Lögberg-Heimskringla, (August 15th and September 15th, 2019), the University of Iceland has introduced a new initiative on the trans-Atlantic bridge. The establishment of the SGS Endowment Fund was announced on April 20th, 2017, at the opening of the University of Icelandʾs Vigdís International Centre for Multilingualism and Intercultural Understanding ‒ UNESCO Cat. 2 Centre. Stephan Vilberg Benediktson, the grandson of Stephan G., together with his wife Adriana, contributed the founding endowment in the poet’s memory. Other initial donations arrived from Heather Alda & William Ireland, and Mooréa & Glen Gray.

The objective of the fund is to promote scholarly research on the international stage in the field of literature, in memory of Icelandic immigrant poets and writers of North America. In order to cultivate the rich literary heritage, the goal is to establish The Stephan G. Stephansson Professorship in Literature at the University of Iceland’s Vigdís Finnbogadóttur Institute. With its establishment, the experience, culture and history of Icelandic immigrants in North America will be commemorated with a rigorous and long-lasting research focus on the world’s stage.

In 2019, the fundraising enterprise is on track, thanks to recent pledges by Donald K. Johnson and Arni Thorsteinson, and donations by Susan Rodriguez Abbiati, Paul David Benediktson and Stephen Robert Benediktson.  

The University of Iceland enjoys charitable status in Canada, one of only 69 post-secondary institutions outside of the U.S and U.K, and your contributions to this very significant and timely project will be gratefully received.

Donate:

1)     Credit card: https://vigdis.hi.is/en/the-stephan-g-stephansson-endowment-fund/

2)     Wire transfer:

Bank: Landsbankinn hf

Address: Hagatorg, 107 Reykjavik, Iceland

Iban no: IS86 0137 2600 0476 6001 6920 39

Swift code: NBIIISRE

Account holder: University of Iceland

Address: Saemundargata 2, 101 Reyjavik, Iceland

Subject: Canada-nr. 1373 137492

 

Contact person at the University of Iceland:

Dr. Birna Bjarnadóttir

Vigdís Finnbogadóttir Institute

Veröld – House of Vigdís

Brynjólfsgata 1

107 Reykjavík

Email: birna@hi.is

Tel: +354-5254933