Florida Estos

The Estonian Society of Central Florida/Kesk Florida Eesti Selts gathered on Sunday, November 3, 2019, at the beautiful home of Jüri, Jae, Aldo, Bree, Aleksis and Elliott Toomepuu on the Hillsborough River, in Temple Terrace, Florida. A record 39 participants came together for our annual meeting and to enjoy fellowship, potluck appetizers and desserts, and a fabulous lunch with Korean specialities prepared by the very talented Jae Toomepuu.

Minutes of the Annual Meeting of November 3, 2019

KFES vice president Lisa Mets called the meeting to order at 2:20 pm. The members agreed we did not need to elect another individual to run the meeting (an old Estonian tradition); they confirmed the agenda; and they voted to have all of them serve as vote counters. Today’s annual meeting was a little extra special. Kesk Florida Eesti Selts was founded in November 1978. With a moment of silence we remembered our founder, Henn Rebane, who passed away September 26, 2018. We celebrated the 40th Anniversary of Kesk Florida Eesti Selts with two special kringels baked by Anne Holda and Anneliis Kuusik, and we lifted our glasses in a special toast with champagne, provided once again most generously by Tõnu and Robin Toomepuu.

Remaining order of business

1. The minutes of the KFES annual meeting of November 11, 2018, were approved.
2. The Treasurer’s Report and audited financial statements for 2018-19 were approved. Once again we had a balanced budget, and ended the year a little ahead.
3. Our list of proposed activities for 2019-20 was approved. They are as follows:

Our Annual General Meeting
Sunday, November 3, 2019
2:00 pm
Home of Jüri and Jae Toomepuu

Jõuluõhtusöök ja Jõuluvana
Traditional Estonian-style Christmas dinner with a visit by Santa Claus
Saturday, December 7, 2019
2:00 pm
Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd (we have been here before)
10891 102nd Ave N, Seminole, FL 33778
Reservations and pre-payment will be required by Wednesday, November 27, 2019.
Adults $35 per person
Children under the age of 12 $10 per person [please let us know the children’s names and ages]
[Parents are encouraged to bring wrapped gifts for their own children.]

Eesti suppi ja võileiva lõunasöök
Estonian soup and sandwich lunch
This is a potluck, and we make Estonian-style soups, sandwiches and salads
January 2020 date, time and location to be announced
$10 per person
Children under the age of 12 are free

Eesti Vabariigi Aastapäeva Tähistamine
Celebration of Estonian Independence Day
Saturday, February 22, 2020
11:00 am – 3:00 pm (for the 102nd Anniversary of Estonian Independence)
Feather Sound Country Club
2201 Feather Sound Dr
Clearwater, FL 33762
http://www.fscc.club/
Reservations and pre-payment will be required by February 5, 2020.
Adults $50 per person
Children under the age of 10 $25 per child (children’s portions)

March Potluck
Date, time and location to be announced
$10 per person
Children under the age of 12 are free

April Piknik (potluck; our association provides grilled sausages)
Date and time to be announced
Community Center in the Seminole Isles Condominium Complex
(this is where Anneliis Kuusik lives)
7069 Key Haven Rd.
Seminole, FL 33777
$10 per person
Children under the age of 12 are free

October 2020 Potluck
End of the 2019-20 Year of Activities
Date, time and location to be announced
$10 per person
Children under the age of 12 are free

4. The budget for 2019-20 was approved. Dues will remain at $20 per person. We are the best bargain for activities and meals in Tampa Bay. The cost for all our 2019-20 activities, including dues, is $145 per adult. Please consider sending your dues and fees in one check to Ms. Anneliis Kuusik, KFES Treasurer, this month.

5. The following were elected Members of the KFES Board for 2019-20

President: Lisa Mets
Secretary: Regina Reet Cabrera
Treasurer: Anneliis Kuusik
Membership Coordinator: Marju Dishmey
Member-at-Large: Maare Kuuskvere

Audit Committee for 2019-20:
Jaan Kuuskvere
Erkki Taada
Tõnu Toomepuu

Today we were delighted to welcome back old friends Birgit Lorenzo with Santiago, Isabella and Matteo; Astrid and Heinar Normet, who spent the summer in Estonia; Lily Sinijärv, with her friend Zbigniew, from Orlando; Vaikko Pari, Maria, Kevin and cousin Kimberly; Reet Cabrera’s mother Alli from Estonia and friend Marie from New Jersey; Anne and Ken Holda from Ohio; Rein Allikberg from Cocoa Beach; and new members Merit Alvarez with son Nicholas and Professor Helis Sikk, who is teaching at USF.

The business meeting adjourned at 2:35 pm, and the festivities continued long after that.

Our next event is the following. Remember: We need to be good until then so Jõuluvana will come by to see us!

Jõuluõhtusöök ja Jõuluvana
Traditional Estonian-style Christmas dinner with a visit by Santa Claus
Saturday, December 7, 2019
2:00 pm
Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd (we have been here before)
10891 102nd Ave N, Seminole, FL 33778
Reservations and pre-payment will be required by Wednesday, November 27, 2019.
Adults $35 per person
Children under the age of 12 $10 per person [please let us know the children’s names and ages]
[Parents are encouraged to bring wrapped gifts for their own children.]

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