Florida Estos

Midwest Estonian Association Sõpruspäevad
KLENK’s Late Summer Soiree
KLENK-i Hilissuve Sõpruspäevad
“Estonian Vignettes”
“Eesti Jutud”
Arts + Music + History + Science
Kunst + Muusika + Ajalugu + Teadus
August 10-11, 2012

KLENK 2012 Sõpruspäevad were successfully celebrated at the beautiful historic Dearborn Inn (Michigan) August 10-11, 2012. Please visit Enn Kiilaspea’s review published August 18, 2012, KLENK’i “Hilissuvine kohtumine”, at Eesti Elu; and Aime Andra’s September 6, 2012 column, Muusikaline KLENK 2012 and Ool Pärdi’s September 6, 2012 column, Minu Vaated – KLENK 2012 in Vaba Eesti Sõna.

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Since 1958, Estonians in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, Ontario and Wisconsin have come to this annual “moveable feast” to enjoy fellowship and share our Estonian heritage through lectures and
partaking in Estonian music and folk dancing. This gathering, known as “KLENK” was always a 3-day event held in late November during the U.S. Thanksgiving weekend.

Rather than waiting for November with its cold, often dreary weather, the KLENK 2012 committee in Michigan chose to hold a “Late Summer Soirée” instead. From Friday afternoon to Saturday evening, August 10 and 11, 2012, KLENK 2012 welcomed Estonians and non-Estonians alike to this English language event, at the historical and elegant Dearborn Inn, conveniently located next to the highly acclaimed Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village.

Featured at this special event were Marina Kaljurand, Estonian Ambassador Plenipotentiary to the United States, Canada and Mexico; Maestro Taavo Virkhaus, Director Emeritus of the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra, Huntsville, Alabama; Tiit Telmet, award-winning graphic designer, Toronto, Ontario; Maestro Viljar Weimann of the Shoals Symphony at UNA, Florence, Alabama; and classical musician Heiki Palm, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa.

KLENK 2012 co-chairs were Linda Einpaul of Deaborn and Loit Maripuu of Ann Arbor.

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K L E N K 2011
“Kesk-Lääne Eesti Noorte Koondis”
“Midwestern Estonian Youth Association”

Since 1958, the Estos in the Midwestern United States, as well as some from Canada and Estonia, have met annually to share our culture via lectures and enjoy fellowship by partaking in Estonian songs and dances.

KLENK 2011, for the first time, was held in sunny and warm St. Petersburg, Florida January 6-7, 2012. See the KLENK 2011 related story on this web site.