May 2010 Volume No. 12 Issue No.1
From the President’s Desk
Ash for Britannia!
This is one of many jokes going around in Iceland. Britain: Iceland way are you sending us ash and closing down our airspace? Iceland: Is that not what you asked for? Britain: No Cash, not Ash, Cash! Iceland: Ups, sorry we do not have C in our alphabet.
The volcanic eruption is no laughing matter and neither is the financial meltdown but these are just some of the ways people use to copy with the fiascoes that continue to plague our lovely country. The latest news from Iceland is that we are prosecuting and jailing some of the bankers and business people who may have been responsible for the financial meltdown. A major clean up is our only hope to build a better society – anything less, we will end up with the same or similar system we had. Hopefully, Iceland will do it right this time.
Moving away from Iceland to our community I am happy to announce the Icelandic government appointed me the Vice Consul and at the same time the former Vice Consul, Aristotle Halikias, to the Consul. We met our Ambassador Hjálmar Hannesson and his wife Anna Birgisdóttir for lunch May 15th where Hjálmar gave us our "Letter of Ordinance" along with an identification card from the US State Department. The contact information for me and Mr. Halikias is below. Hopefully, this will strengthen our community and relationship with Iceland and Icelanders.
Have a great summer and, hopefully, I will see you at one of our events in the next few months. The first being the 17th of June celebration on the 12th where we will enjoy our specially imported and famous lamb hot dogs with Icelandic condiments such as “steiktur laukur & remólaði’. You can have ‘eina með öllu’ or two :)
Einar Steinsson
President
From the Editor:
Happy upcoming summer everyone! I wanted to take this opportunity to invite everyone to share your Iceland story. If you want to tell us how you are related to the island or simply why you are interested in Iceland, please send me one to two paragraphs to siggyosk@gmail.com and I’ll include it in the next newsletter.
If you have not paid your membership please do so ASAP, so that you can enjoy the upcoming festivities. You can pay on our web page and fill out the membership form or send us a check with the form ( click on link to the left or use attached form). The membership fee is $25 for a family and $15 for an individual or student.
Iceland's Independence Day '17di júní'– by the Lake, Saturday June 12. Icelandic Hot Dogs!
All members are invited to celebrate our independence day at the same location as last year in Burnham Park around Promontory Point, known locally as The Point. Please join us for a picnic style festival and a fun afternoon by the Lake. The IAC will offer hot dogs from Iceland, Icelandic style. Last year, despite the cold weather, we had close to 40 people show up – This year we’re in for sunshine and hope to see all of you for ‘pylsa (pulsa) með öllu’! Otherwise, the event is a BYO so please bring drinks and other food or plate you'd like to share. Also, make sure to bring other picnic gear: blankets, lawn chairs, sunscreen, umbrellas... We'll meet at 3PM, Saturday June 12 and, of course, we'll have a parade with flags and balloons. A beach with a life guard is close by for those who want to bring swim suits and go for a dive. Sign up by emailing einarandlena@ameritech.net or call 773-489-4621. Directions and Parking: The Point is off 55th Street, East of Lake Shore Drive (LSD). Use 5500 S Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60637 for driving directions (mapquest.com; google, etc.). You’ll find a parking lot on 55th street, by Bar Loui, or you can park on the street. The walk to the Point takes about 6 minutes through a tunnel, which passes under Lake Shore Drive at the east end of 55th street. Upon emerging from the tunnel you’ll see a statue and a fountain. Turn right and walk south until you see our flag. We’ll try to find a spot as close to the field house as possible. For more information, photos, and the history of the Promontory Point, check out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Promontory_Point_(Chicago)
The 6th Greater Chicago Icelandic Open August 1st @ 2:00PM
We sold out again last year with 32 players who all showed up but then The Greater Chicago Icelandic Open had to be postponed due to rain. This is the first time we have had this happen and hopefully the last. We did play two weeks later and had a great time. Martin and Jessica Brunback took first place, Goran Aronsson and Eve Keepings the second, and Kathy and Stephanie Mehl won the third place. Brandon Burk won the closest to the pin and the longest putt, Martin won the longest drive for men, and Stephanie Mehl won the longest drive for women. This year we have moved the tee times up to 2PM on Sunday the 1st of August and again we will have limited spots. $38 per player includes cart, prizes, and a sleeve of golf balls. We are securing the yet to be won Hole in One prize, a ticket to Iceland with Icelandair – maybe this will be the year...?
The Greater Chicago Icelandic Open is a 9-hole best ball tournament in teams of two players, with many of the teams being a couple or a parent and a child. We give a trophy for first place, medals for 1st 2nd and 3rd places, plus various prizes for the Longest Drive men/women, Closest to the Pin, Longest Putt, and Hole in One. The tournament is held at Highland Woods golf course in Hoffman Estate. If you are interested email me at einarandlena@amreitech.net or just send your check to Larry. We are also in the process of setting up a payment option on our web page.
Keep it in the short,
Einar Steinsson
News from Vasa Park
Route 31, South Elgin, Illinois along the beautiful Fox River
7 miles south of 1-90 Northwest Tollway or 5 miles North of Il. Rt. 64 North Ave.
The Fifth Annual Scandinavian Midsommar Celebration is on Saturday, June 19, 2010 - 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Bring your own picnic basket and beverage or purchase Scandinavian clubs vending specialties, pop and water.
We will have a booth selling pop and Icelandic water. We can use all the help we can get in this booth. The proceeds benefit our Scholarship Fund and it is just a lot of fun proudly selling our wares. There are many events for children - games, crafts (Icelandic Krila), pony decorating and rides, musical entertainment - and - Vikings. The evening ends with a bonfire and Aquavit - a bonfire in your throat.
Admission is $5.00 for adults, children 12 and under are free and there is free parking on the grounds.
The 31st Annual Scandinavian Day Festival is Sunday, September 12, 2010 - 9.00 AM to 5.00 PM
This event begins with a church service and then a parade with flags carried by people in traditional dress culminating with soloists singing each national anthem. There are many more vendors at this event and the park often hosts around 2,000 in attendance. We will have the beverage booth for this celebration as well.
Admission is $10.00 for adults, children 12 and under are free and parking is free.
For free admission, wear full traditional Scandinavian dress or costume and spend a few minutes in the VIP/Culture tent sharing the significance and history of your attire.
These are both great events for kids - celebrating our Scandinavian ways. If you can come either time and could spare a few minutes, we need help in the beverage booth for both days. For midsommar I need brave souls to help me teach Krila (finger knitting) and for Scandinavian Day I need flag bearers for the parade and an anthem singer. Please contact Joni Shaw - Ammajoni@msn.com or 630-466-5555.
----IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL MEMBERS-----
Congratulations to the New Consul and the new Vice Consul for Iceland
Saturday the 15th of May our Ambassador Hjálmar Hannesson came from Washington to Chicago and appointed a new Consul and a new Vice Consul for Iceland. The new Consul is Mr. Aristotle Halikias and the new Vice Consul is Mr. Einar Steinsson.
Icelandic Consulate
Aristotle Halikias
2221 Camden Court, Suite 200
Oak Brook, IL 60523
Ahalikias@icred.com,
Phone (630) 560-8090
Fax (630) 684-0290.
Vice Consul
Einar Steinsson
c/o KarenZupko & Associates, Inc
625 North Michigan Ave, Suite 2225
Chicago, IL 60611
esteinsson@karenzupko.com,
Phone (312) 642-5616
Fax (312) 642-5571
All membership dues and þorrablót’s admissions should be paid via Paypal or sent to our treasurer Larry Shaw.
The Icelandic Association of Chicago cordially invites all Icelanders, descendants of Iceland and friends of Iceland to join our organization. Please forward a copy of this Membership Form to anyone interested in joining, or provide us with that person´s name and address.
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Icelandic Association of Chicago
2010 Membership Form
Date_______________________
Full Name of member/s____________________________________________
Name of child/children_____________________________________________
Address_________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip-code_______________________________________________
Phone Number_____________________ E-mail_________________________
New Member__________ Renewal Member___________
Annual Membership fees: Individual/students: $15.00, Family: $25.00
Make payable to: Icelandic Association of Chicago
Please mail your check and completed form to our Treasurer:
Lawrence O. Shaw,
147 N. Buckingham Drive
Sugar Grove, IL 60554
Farsælda Frón - The Icelandic Association of Chicago Newsletter. Editor: Siggy Jonsson (Sigríður Ósk Sigurdarðóttir), E-mail: siggyosk@gmail.com & Website: www.IcelandChicago.org. Correspondence: The Icelandic Association of Chicago, Einar Steinsson President.
