We are on a roll – Everything is a sell out!
I am not kidding –Thank you for a great Þorrablót and so many of you showing up. It was a sell out and, most importantly, everyone had a great time. If it continues like this we will need to find a bigger venue for our gatherings. Worth mentioning is the boost in interest from members and friends of the organization. To elaborate a little bit and to make a long story short, we are working on writing rules and regulations for our “Scholarship/Travel Fund”, which has started a very interesting discussions among the board members on what our organization stands for and what should be our short and long term goals. The debate stands between a social organization providing gatherings for people of Icelandic origins and their friends OR something more? What does “something more” mean; well we do not know yet but something more than a social club. Do we have the means and energy to set up scholarship fund, organize a film festival, establish a library with books and films, start an art-fair, forming educational groups, having sport outings and competitions? If you would like to state your opinion and/or partake in the debate, please write Steinar, our editor, so we can post your thoughts in the newsletter and on the NEW webpage, which brings me to the future and what is in the pipeline. Work has started on a new webpage under the management of our new Webmaster, Marc Johnson, who has hired a designer to take us into the future. We do not have a launching date but we will have the same URL. Our next “get together” is the 17th of June celebration on the 17th of June. Steinar and Katrín have been so kind to offer their backyard in Belvidere for this party so make sure you take them up on the offer. The Greater Chicago Icelandic Open will be on the 12th of August at Indian Boundary Golf Course playing Texas Scramble in teams of two. If you need a partner we will find you one. We are probably going to sell out again (Maximum 24 players). Then there is Scandinavian Day in September and this time we are not going to sell out of the food?. There is more but I am running out of space. More information on all of this, elsewhere in the newsletter – See you later this summer.
Gleðilegt Sumar
Einar Steinsson, President
Association Affairs
Iceland´s Independence Day June 17'th The Annual Icelandic Independence Day celebration will be held at 2pm on June 17 at Steinar and Katrin’s house. We will have moon jump for the kids, and provide beverages and food. The address is 11966 Old Oak Lane, Belvidere, Illinois. Take 90 west to Riverside exit in Rockford. Take a right on Riverside and follow for about 2-3 miles past a large soccer sports complex. Take left on Olson road and then right on Orth road. Follow Orth road for 2 miles, go past Beloit road and turn right on Old Oak Lane. The house is the first house on the right. In order for us to organize the event, please call 815.547.8857 or e-mail Katrin Heidar if you plan to attend.
Gleðilega Þjóðhátíð!
The Second Annual Greater Chicago Icelandic Open
We'll have our annual golf tournament August 12th, at 2 PM. We encourage you to sign up as soon as possible, since we're predicting a sold out event! Maximum number of players is 24 (we already have 10 committed). The format will be the same as last year, Texas Scramble (Best Ball) without handicap, in teams of two players. What will be different from our first Greater Chicago Icelandic Open is the location. We will play a very nice course: Indian Boundary Golf Course, 8600 W. Forest Preserve Avenue, Chicago, Phone: 773.625.9630. "Redesigned by renowned golf architect Dick Nugent Indian Boundary is a track suited for all levels of golfers. With its heavily-wooded layout and strategically placed water and sand the course is both scenic and challenging. You'll find that golfing at Indian Boundary offers a great golf experience right in your neighborhood." Indian Boundary is an 18-hole course but we'll only play the first 9 holes. We recommend you have "touched" a golf club in your life and you know the white ball is supposed to go into the hole... But we welcome everyone, handicap or "handicapped" :-) The fee is $30 per person; carts are $16, but walking is quite feasible. We'll have prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, longest drive, closest to pin, and maybe, a car for hole in one (if you have a car you like to donate let us know), and lots of free stuff and lots of fun. After playing, we'll have an awards ceremony and some food and drinks. Let's give the current holders of the Greater Chicago Icelandic Open trophy, Tom and Ásgeir, a worthy competition this year, but, most importantly, let's all enjoy each other's company and have a wonderful golf outing.
To sign up send your check to Larry Shaw, 147 N. Buckingham Drive, Prestbury-Aurora, IL 60506, ASAP, deadline July 15, 2006. If you need a partner to play with we'll find you one.
Review of Þorrablót 2006
This year’s Þorrablot was a success. Ninety six people attended and the association broke even. Main reason may have been low ticket price in addition to the location. Þorrablot 2007 will be held on February third in the clubhouse in Prestbury.
Scandinavian Day
We will once again be participating in the Scandinavian Day on September 10 2006. The plan is to stick to the successful rice pudding and other Icelandic delicacies.Web Page
The Association is currently having a web designer upgrading the webpage, making it more appealing and user-friendly. We look forward to seeing the final outcome.Letter to the Association
SINE members
We received an e-mail from a travel agent in NY who some of use have used in the past. She is offering lower airfares from the USA for members of SINE. In addition, she can be helpful to help out with travel plans for anybody traveling abroad or domestic.
Thorunn Matthias Bigler (Ms)
TMB Travel in association w/Protravel Int.
10 East 53rd Street, 21st floor
New York, NY 10022
Tel: 212 702 2648
Toll Free 877-702 2600 ext 648
Fax 646 792 4876
e-mail Thorunn@protravelinc.com
VIRTUOSO Agency
News You Can Use
Learn Icelandic Online
It was in the news recently that many are now studying Icelandic online. The program has been developed at the University of Iceland and there seems to be great interest in it. Many have started online and the continued their studies in Iceland. Kolbrún Friðriksdóttir, program director for Icelandic Online, says the program was developed by University of Iceland in collaboration with the Sigurd Nordal Institute, Department of Icelandic at UI and six other Universities around the globe. The program is open to everyone and is free of charge. It is divided in two parts and is the equivalent of two semesters of Icelandic study at the University of Iceland.
Most of the students who use the program are living abroad for instance in Canada where there are many Icelandic descendents.
Icelandic Elections in Chicago (Orland Park)
The Iceland’s Vice Consulate for the Chicago area is located on15750 S. Harlem Ave, Orland Park. You can go there and vote until May 27, 2006 Bring your valid Icelandic passport and then you're responsible for mailing your vote. Many of us are planning to go on May 20th at 10:30 am but you can call 708-429-1126 to arrange for a different time. If you're joining us, you must let me know since the Consulate needs to know how many of us there will be.
Icelandic Blues Player at the Chicago Blues Festival June 10, 2006
Zora Young the famous blues singer has invited Halldór Bragason to accompany her and her band on the big stage on the Chicago Blues Festival on Saturday June 10. 750000 people attend the festival each year and it is estimated that about 100000 people will be at the festival when Halldór plays with the band. The last time he played at the festival was back in 1993 when he and his band Friends of Dori played with Pinetop Perkins on the Veranda.
