Other News

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The International Visits Committee is proud to announce the visit to North America of Icelandic author and Civil Engineer Yrsa Sigurðardóttir.

Read Yrsa´s comments on her life as a crime writer in Iceland Click here for Yrsa´s cv Click here for book review Click here for dates and locations

Information may be found on the calendar page and with your local chapter.

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Lögberg-Heimskringla announces the next Ljosanott, Evening of Lights, which will be held at the Fort Garry Hotel, in Winnipeg, on January 31, 2009. Click here for poster.

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INL of NA Calendar for 2009 Available

The 2009 calendar is available now for $10.00 plus shipping. Information here.

 

INL of NA Calendar for 2010

Each year the Icelandic National League of North America creates a themed calendar to sell as a fundraising venture.  The 2010 calendar’s theme is that of visual art – such as printmaking, drawings, photographs of sculptures, carvings, and the like. These calendars are distributed across North America to the Club Chapters who, in turn, sell them to their members and the public as an INL fundraiser.    

For the 2010 calendar, visual artists are invited to submit a maximum of three visual art images.  Submissions will be in an open category, and the theme and images will reflect the discretion of the artist.  This special project is open to all visual artists of Icelandic descent.  The 2010 committee will be accepting images from October 1st to October 31st, 2008.  More information about this project can be found on the INL of NA website or by contacting Julianna Bjornson at jbjornson@shaw.ca or (604)542-0834.

Details here.

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I have a website available for your information regarding a wonderful memorial to the Icelandic Ancestors of Thingvalla Township, North Dakota.

www.thingvalla.org

There is also a monument there for the great poet and man, K.N. Julius.
You can read about it on the website, also.
This is the historical site of the Thingvalla Lutheran Church and the present Thingvalla Cemetery.

Pam Furstenau

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Overview of 2008 Convention in Calgary

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Icelandic Language and Culture Camp

 For those of you who do not know yet I have become the new President of the Icelandic Language and Culture Camp.  This year we have many different programs and activities for the campers to enjoy.  We are offering music classes, drama classes, art classes and of course Icelandic language classes.  Under the directorship of Laurie Corden, Camp Director, as well as, Krissy Ejyolofson and myself we plan on taking the Icelandic Camp in a new direction.

To do this we need the help of the Icelandic community as a whole, not just parts.  That is why I am writing to everyone on the INL list.  Our Icelandic youth need our help.  The camp offers children a chance to connect with their Icelandic roots, to become inspired like we all have by our shared history.  Our goal is to create an excitement about being a Western Icelander and to give the children the tools and knowledge to continue on their lifelong learning of their past.

 What we need to accomplish our goal is support from the clubs and their members.  There are a number of different ways to help out:

 Advertising.

 Not only in print but word of mouth advertising. Letting all your clubs and members know that there is an Icelandic camp.  Unfortunate not many people know that there is an Icelandic Camp available to their children, grandchildren or other kids.

Sponsoring a child.

 For a child to attend camp for the week it costs $250 for day campers or $300 for overnight stays.  Many of us may know a child that could benefit from attending this camp but due to lack of funds may not be able to enjoy camp. That is why I ask the clubs to look at helping out financially some of those kids.

Donations.

 Not every donation needs to be in the form of money.  Don’t get me wrong we would greatly appreciate any monetary donations, our camp needs funds to run a quality camp for our youth.  We would also appreciate donations of people’s time.  If you possess a talent that could be shared with our youngsters such as ponnukokkur making, story telling etc. please feel free to contact myself at (204) 485-5455

So as you can see the camp executive is getting prepared for another great year.  Please circulate this letter to everyone that you feel necessary.  You can also check us out on the internet at www.icelandiccamp.net . If anyone would like to reach me please feel free to reach me at (204) 485-5455 (cell) (204) 482-9232 (h) or bradhirst@hotmail.com .

Thank you for your help and support.

Brad Hirst
President, Icelandic Language and Culture Camp

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It was recently announced that David Gislason, President of the Arborg Esjan INL Chapter will be awarded the Order of Manitoba, the highest honour the province can bestow.  The investiture ceremony will take place at the Ligislature building in Winnipeg on July 10, 2008
Congratulations to David, on behalf of the Executive & Members of the Icelandic National League of North America. 

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Here is the info for the Poetry Contest.  Please pass it on to anyone that
you think might be interested in submitting an entry.
Shelley

Shelley Narfason
The Icelandic Festival of Manitoba
107 94 First Avenue
Gimli, Manitoba R0C 1B1
Phone (204)642-7417 Fax (204)642-9382
email: icefest@mts.net
website: www.icelandicfestival.com

The Dates for the 2008 Islendingadagurinn are August 1st to 4th

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At this time, there are no plans for a Calendar (or other project) for 2011.

I have prepared this information for Chapters that may consider producing a calendar for the INLofNA.
The INLof NA Calendar Project is a model for working together.  The calendar idea was started in 1991 with many purposes in mind:

• Unite chapters
• Give a common goal
• Fundraise
• Preserve history (culture and the Icelandic Way)
• Raise the profile of our heritage
• Educate the public
• Rekindle interest far and wide.

The Calendar has become a very important part of the INL.  This year Julianna Bjornson and Pat Peacock have head up the making a calendar of artwork done by artists of Icelandic origin.  A saleable calendar for the INL has many requirements:
        - representation from all the areas
        - interesting pictures (in most cases in colour)
        - attractive layout
        - subject covered adequately
        - And also very important is the advertising as this can pay for the printing of the calendar.  I ask everyone to please consider all possible people/ businesses that may advertise.
        - Should reflect its Icelandic base with Icelandic Holidays, accents on Icelandic works and of course correct spelling

When I started working on calendars, I knew nothing about producing a calendar.  But with help from a committee, it proved to be the most enjoyable project that I have been involved with.  The steps we took:
        - Establish the theme; get approved at an INL meeting.
        - Establish how the calendar will be done. E.g. a picture of an Icelandic Food, beautifully prepared, decorations etc. with a description about the origin of the food. Pictures should be high quality and in digital format
        - Call for submissions, e.g. Each Chapter choose a food, prepare the write up, submit pictures etc.
        - Choose which pictures will go in the calendar.  Which month will each represent
        - Find a person to do layout – set up so ready to go to a printer.  Lesley from the L-H office is doing the layout for minimal charge this year.
        - Make the final approval of design.
        - Establish the holidays and information that goes on the calendar. (Ron Goodman has been helping with this.)
        - Proofreading, there are many that are good at this!!
        - The ads have been set up by the Marketing director.
        - We have had good experience with two printers.

I am talking Foods here as that idea was received with acceptance at the last INL AGM meeting.  (Recipes did not receive the same approval but sources of recipes or information should be included with this theme)

A sample of the calendar should be available for viewing at the 2010 (the year before the calendar is to be used) INL Convention. This may not be the complete calendar. 

I am available to help with the project.  No committee will be left on their own.  There is a lot of written data that is excellent resource material.  If you want to have some fun, consider this project.

Bless Gwen Mann
403 – 242 9714
lgmann@shaw.ca

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