The Estonian Society of Central Florida (Kesk Florida Eesti Selts) welcomes Estonians, Estonian-Americans, Estonians-living-anywhere-abroad and friends of Estonia as members and visitors. The purposes of the Estonian Society are to provide education about Estonia and Estonians, promote cultural exchange, and to provide opportunities for Estonians and friends of Estonia to gather and enjoy Estonian culture and traditions and to promote their continuity.
KFES History. The Estonian Society of Central Florida (Kesk Florida Eesti Selts) was founded unofficially in February 1969, when 27 Estonians gathered to celebrate Estonian Independence Day in the home of Norma Jean and Henn Rebane in St. Petersburg, Florida. The number of celebrants grew to more than 70 in February 1975, motivating the group to hold its first organizational meeting on April 4, 1975, to formally establish Kesk Florida Eesti Selts. The history of the founding and evolution of the Estonian Society of Central Florida/Kesk Florida Eesti Selts (KFES) was first written in Estonian in 1978 by Hilja Pohl, a founding KFES member. Her history is included in the KFES archival materials (1972-1997) stored in Archives and Special Collections at the University of Minnesota, in the Elmer L. Andersen Library, 222 – 21st Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55455. https://floridaestos.blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/kfes-history-by-hilja-pohl-veeb-1978.pdf
KFES’s founding and history are closely tied to the founding and evolution of the St. Petersburg (FL) International Folk Fair Society (SPIFFS), officially founded in 1975. Energetic and engaged KFES members were among SPIFFS’ founding members and contributed to SPIFFS’ early success. The Estonian booth with its welcoming hosts, colorful displays and delightful treats was an annual highlight for SPIFFS’ folk festival visitors.
Leena Aare, a long-serving KFES Secretary, wrote KFES’s history in English for Estonians in America 1945-1995: Exiles in a Land of Promise (pages 207-208), which was published in 2016 by the Estonian American National Council, Washington, DC. KFES’s archival materials from 1998-2009 are stored in the Eesti Arhiiv Ühendriikides, 607 East 7th Street, Lakewood, NJ 08701. https://floridaestos.blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/history-of-kfes-leena-aare-2016.pdf
KFES Põhikiri (Bylaws of the Estonian Society of Central Florida. In 1978, Kesk Florida Eesti Selts adopted its Põhikiri. It is written only in Estonian. It has not been revised since its adoption. https://floridaestos.blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/kfes-pohikiri-1.pdf
KFES Operations and Activities. The operations and activities of the Estonian Society of Central Florida/Kesk Florida Eesti Selts are guided by the KFES Bylaws adopted in 1978. The membership year runs from November to October. Dues-paying members hold voting rights. The annual business meeting takes place each November. Board members and auditors serve one-year terms and are elected or re-elected at the annual meeting. KFES members elect the President, Board members and auditors. The President and Board determine who will serve in the positions for vice presidents, secretary, treasurer and member-at-large. KFES members also vote to set membership dues, accept the outcomes of the prior year’s activities and budget, and approve the proposed activities and budget for the upcoming year.
Members of the Estonian Society of Central Florida paid annual membership dues of $20.00 per adult until dues were suspended starting 2020-2021. The Board members, with ideas from the membership, plan each year’s activities. Until the pandemic struck starting March 2020, meetings over lunch, often with invited speakers, were generally held November, December, January, February, March, April, and October. Special events celebrated the December holidays with Jõuluvana (Santa Claus); Estonian soups, salads and sandwiches luncheon prepared by members according to traditional Estonian recipes in January; Estonian Independence Day (Eesti Vabariigi Aastapäev) in February; a smorgasbord potluck luncheon in March; and St. John’s Day (Jaanipäev) with an early picnic in late April. In light of the pandemic, the association suspended activities for the 2020-2021 association year. Plans for 2021-2022 were made based on the ever changing coronavirus context and guided by safety as a priority. Meeting and event planning starting in 2022-23 follow the planning process that was in place prior to the pandemic.
KFES Communications. KFES utilizes three avenues to disseminate information to its members and friends. (1) Board members may send emails to an email list maintained by the KFES Board. To join the email list, write to kfes1918@yahoo.com. (2) Launched in 2010 and continually maintained by KFES member Lisa A. Mets, information is posted on this KFES website, floridaestos.blog. (3) Information and photographs are posted by KFES members and friends on the private KFES Facebook Page (Kesk Florida Eestlased), which KFES member Birgit Delaidatti launched in 2022 and continually manages.
KFES Board. Active Board members for 2023-24 are listed below:
President: This position is open.
Vice President: Inne Joonsar
The position of a second Vice President is open.
KFES expresses its deep gratitude to Moonika Mägi for her service as a Vice President starting in 2021 and acting as President for 2022-23. We are thankful to Moonika, an energetic KFES member who has always gone the extra mile for us and continues as an active member.
Secretary: Triin Karr
Treasurer: Heikki Joonsar
Member-at-Large: This position is open.
Auditors: Jaan Kuuskvere, Erkki Taada and Tõnu Toomepuu; the positions of two members-at-large are open.
For more information about the Estonian Society of Central Florida, please contact Secretary Triin Karr by email to Triin.
The Former Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church of Central Florida: Many of the members of the Estonian Society of Central Florida and local Estonians were members of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church of Central Florida, which worshipped in St. Petersburg, more recently on Christmas Eve and Easter Sunday. Those services are no longer held; the congregation has retired. We mourn the deaths of our beloved pastor Rev. Priit Rebane and his wife Judy, who passed away in 2022.
Florida Estos 