Florida Estos

Far exceeding the attendance guesstimates of the Kesk Florida Eesti Seltsi (KFES) juhatus/Estonian Society of Central Florida Board, 71 guests attended the association’s celebration of the 101st anniversary of the Republic of Estonia. The weather and the setting couldn’t have been more perfect: It was another grand blue sky hot sunny day as we gathered in the lovely ballroom in the beautifully situated Feather Sound Country Club in Clearwater, Florida. Starting with cocktails at 11:00 am, the event was well paced to its 3:00 pm conclusion giving guests plenty of time to enjoy our engaging program, delicious lunch, and spirited conversations.

Lisa A. Mets, KFES asepresident/Estonian Society of Central Florida vice president (we decided not to elect a president this year), served as emcee for the formal program. She welcomed four distinguished guests who joined us in our celebration: Hr. Jaak Treiman, Eesti Vabariigi Aukonsul/Estonian Honorary Consul in Los Angeles; pr. Kaie Põhi Latterner, Eesti Vabariigi Aukonsul/Estonian Honorary Consul in St. Petersburg (FL) for the northern counties of Florida; The Honorable Mrs. Kairi Künka, Eesti Vabariigi Peakonsul/Estonian Consul General in New York; and Ms. Kersti Eesmaa, Konsulaarosakonna peadirektor/the Director General of the Consular Department, Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who brought greetings to our assembly. KFES was especially honored and privileged to introduce our beloved member, Kaie, as the Estonian Honorary Consul, St. Petersburg (northern counties of Florida); the Honorary Consulate was officially re-opened when Kaie took her oath of office on Friday evening, February 22, 2019, in her home. You may read the Foreign Ministry’s press release about the event here. KFES was especially delighted too to welcome back Lgp. pr. Künka, who had participated in the KFES celebration of EV100 last year.

In response to Ms. Eesmaa’s greetings, Lisa asked Ms. Eesmaa to convey the gratitude of Kesk Florida Eesti Selts for the recognition conveyed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Citizen’s Day, November 26, 2018, on the organization we know and love as KLENK: Kesk Lääne Eesti Noorte Koondis, affectionately called Kesk Lääne Endise Noorte Koondis, now 60 years old. Many KFES members lived in the Midwest and were active participants and organizers of KLENK gatherings. In 2011, to keep KLENK alive, Kesk Florida Eesti Selts hosted KLENK in St. Petersburg and transformed KLENK for snowbirds. Out of that the KLENK-IEP Caribbean cruise was born under the amazing leadership of Anne and Rein Luning. Many of us will be on the ship when the KLENK cruise sets sail for its third voyage on March 2, 2019. We thank and applaud the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for choosing KLENK as a recipient of this distinguished award.

Lisa designed her remarks around this theme: Why do we do what we do when we celebrate Estonian Independence Day? After all, the format of our program likely matches the programs hosted by numerous other Estonian associations taking place across America this month. Do we do what we do because it has always been done this way? What is the thought behind each element in our program? Lisa guided the guests through each step in the program with introductory remarks primarily focusing on Estonia’s history and culture. Kaie Põhi Latterner accompanied all of the musical elements of our program.

The first element in our program was the singing of the national anthem of the United States, not only because we live here but to pay tribute to a country whose ideals we share. Honoring Estonia’s spiritual and faith-based traditions, Monika Orumaa Craig led us in prayer, the second element in our program. The third element was a keynote address by Eesti Vabariigi Peakonsul/Estonian Consul General Künka. Pr. Künka delivered her address in Estonian; a printed English translation was available so all the guests could follow along. It was significant that pr. Künka made her remarks in Estonian: 2019 is the year of the Estonian language, kicked off on January 24, 2019, at a conference in Tallinn titled, “The Century of Estonian as the state language.”

In her remarks, pr. Künka noted that Mart Meri, a member of the board of the Estonian Institute, expressed a dream of “increasing the number of Estonian language speakers in the world to at least 1.5 million.” [Kesk Florida Eesti Selts is doing its part! Our musical program featured songs sung in Estonian by Rein Männik and our usual energetic Estonian Ühislaul/sing-a-along. Three of our favorite songs were enjoyed: Viljandi Paadimees, Ma Tahaksin Kodus Olla and Kungla Rahvas.] Pr. Künka concluded her remarks saying, “We have to continue working for the security and prosperity of our country, preserving its rich cultural heritage and keeping our language, all together, Estonians at home and abroad.” In today’s program, Kesk Florida Eesti Selts, celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, recommitted itself to doing just that.

“In Memoriam” is the fourth element in our program. In her introductory remarks, Lisa reviewed the history of the Estonian war of independence fought from November 2018 to December 2019; the tragedy of World War II on the Estonian population; and the ultimate sacrifice made by Estonian soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq. All of our guests stood to honor our fallen heroes by singing together “Puhake Paremad Pojad.” The closing element in our formal program was, as always, the singing of the Estonian National Anthem. We stood and heartily sang with joy in our hearts and tears in our eyes “Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm.” Elagu Eesti!

A delicious lunch followed with fabulous service by the Feather Sound Country Club staff. Kaie Põhi Latterner then took over the remainder of the program. She noted that, as the custodian of the book, she brought the lovely History of the Eesti Kroon and placed it on display for all to enjoy. This was a gift to KFES by the author for EV100.

We offered a champagne toast to Estonia: Elagu Eesti! Thank you, Robin and Tõnu Toomepuu, for the champagne.

Then we had fun with the loterii: Triin Karr and her daughter Annika and son Logan drew the winning tickets. Thank you to all our KFES members for bringing contributions to our loterii table!

We engaged in our musical program. Rein Männik, our featured musician this year, serenaded us with several lovely songs, each with a story of significance to Rein.

Ühislaul, as always, was enjoyed by all who end up rocking, rolling and clapping along.

Though we didn’t offer a rahvatants/folk dance program this year, we concluded our musical activity with a huge circle of guests dancing the Perekonna Valss.

Closing remarks were offered by Aukonsul/Honorary Consul Kaie Põhi Latterner. As is customary in Kaie’s remarks, she had all of us standing at the end because we were born in Estonia, we were born to Estonian parents, we married an Estonian, and/or we love an Estonian. That covered 100% of our guests.

Bringing our celebration to an end, we adjourned outside for a group photo on the balcony and conversation that didn’t want to end.

We hope you enjoy our photos. Please plan to join us next year!

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[UPDATE (Jan. 12, 2012): A link to two KLENK 2011 photo galleries located on the Estonian National Association of South Florida (Lõuna Florida Eestlaste Koondis) web site has been added to this article. Links to many of the authors’ presentations also were added today. Please continue reading.]

Setting the record for attendance in the 21st Century, 150 participants responding to the invitation to share their love of Estonia and Estonian culture attended KLENK’s annual Sõpruspäevad and conference in St. Petersburg, Florida’s Magnuson Hotel Marina Cove Conference Center, January 6 and 7, 2012. Co-hosted by the Estonian Society of Central Florida (Kesk Florida Eesti Selts) and the Estonian National Association of South Florida (Lõuna Florida Eestlaste Koondis) and held outside its traditional Midwestern location at a new time of year, old and new friends came together from 15 states (from Florida to Washington and New York to California), Canada and Estonia, and students from Augsburg and Geislingen reunited.

The program was tihe (jam packed). For the first time, sessions were offered mostly in English. Planning Committee members decided it was important to be inclusive to our non-English speaking spouses and friends. They also tested the hypothesis that English might draw participants from KLENK’s next generation, and it did.

To view two amazing collections of photographs of KLENK 2011, taken by the very talented Monica Kallas, please visit the photo gallery posted on the web site of the Estonian National Association of South Florida (Lõuna Florida Eestlaste Koondis (LFEF)). Please click on this link to be re-directed to the LFEK photo galleries:Lõuna Florida Eestlaste Koondis KLENK 2011 Photo Galleries.

To give KLENK 2011 participants time to travel to this new Florida location, Friday was planned as a travel day. The KLENK 2011 Planning Committee scheduled KLENK 2011’s official opening at 5:00 pm, Friday afternoon, January 6, 2012. Lisa Mets, KLENK 2011 Planning Committee chair, launched KLENK 2011 with welcoming remarks. The remarks celebrated KLENK 2011 — in 2012; with KLENK’s 54th program in its 53rd year. Yes, the numbers are right.

Õp. Nelli Vahter, Linda Einpaul, Loit Maripuu and Lisa Mets officially opened KLENK Friday evening with a memorial program honoring KLENK founders who passed away in 2011: Gunnar Auksi, Urve Auksi and Reet Ülper Maripuu. Their spirit and legacy inspired the weekend.

Two themes provided the framework for Saturday’s lectures and theatrical skit. Views and Experiences of Estonian Americans and Estonians in America in Light of 20 Years of Estonian Independence shaped the morning’s presentations; the afternoon’s presentations highlighted topics that are Distinctively Estonian. KLENK 2011 Planning Committee Chair Lisa Mets introduced the framework and laid the stage for each speaker through her introductions.

A welcome from the presidents of the two Florida Estonian associations started Saturday morning’s program. Tõnu Toomepuu brought greetings from the Estonian Society of Central Florida (Kesk Florida Eesti Selts), which organized all arrangements. Arno Kallas brought greetings from the Estonian National Association of South Florida (Lõuna Florida Eestlaste Koondis).

Saturday morning’s academic program began with an engaging conversation on Responses to the 2011 Survey by the Estonian American National Council (Eesti Rahvuskomitee Ühendriikides), led by ERKÜ members Monika Orumaa, Kersti Linask, and Arne Kalm (the chair of ERKÜ’s new strategic planning committee). An article from the Estonian American National Council (Eesti Rahvuskomitee Ühendrikkes (ERKÜ)) is forthcoming.

Professor Ain Haas then shared his research findings built on interviews with Välis-eestlased (Estonian émigrés) who are returning to live in Estonia. The audience was fascinated by the interviewees’ colorful reports of their experiences. Ain Haas’s information in English and Estonian can be found through these three links:
Translation of “Läänest tulnute ootused, üllatused, soovitused” [Expectations, Surprises, and Recommendations of Those Coming from the West]
Tables from Baltic Migration Study
Läänest tulnute ootused, üllatused ja soovitused

Providing excellent advice to members of the audience—for themselves and their family members—financial planner, wealth advisor and Worth columnist Carina Diamond encouraged everyone to reflect on their retirement plans. This session provided a rare opportunity for individuals to hear from a financial planner on retirement planning.

Maintaining the program’s fast pace over lunch, editor Carl Orav presented the outline of his new book recently released in English in the United States and Estonian in Estonia, We Were Estonian Soldiers: World War II exploits of classmates from the Estonian Military Technical Academy. Carl’s presentation was well received as evidenced by the book sales that followed his session. Click on this link to view the outline of Carl Orav’s remarks: We Were Estonian Soldiers.

Sirje Kiin, the 2011 prize winning author recognized by the Marie Under and Artur Adson Memorial Foundation, kicked off the afternoon’s lectures with her insight into Marie Under, Estonia’s esteemed poet who sadly was never recognized with a Nobel Prize in literature. The outline of Sirje Kiin’s remarks can be found through this link to her presentation slides: Marie Under: Why Didn’t She Win a Nobel Prize?

Ms. Kiin also continues to be a columnist for Elukiri, which is published monthly in Estonia. Ms. Kiin’s February 2012 column mentions her impressions from KLENK 2011: Kiri Ameerikast.

Linda Einpaul introduced the program’s next speaker, Taavo Virkhaus, Conductor Emeritus of the Huntsville (AL) Symphony Orchestra. With the visual aid of DVDs, Taavo captivated the audience with three brilliant musical segments showing him conducting the Eesti Riiklik Sümfooniaorkester in 1988, 1990 and 1994.

In Estonian, Helve and Heiki Parts presented The Flower Vendor as a theatrical interlude. The skit needed no translation and absolutely charmed everyone.

In response to media stories about recent survey results of Estonians and their views on religion, Jüri Toomepuu explored the elements of maausk, including its translation. This link leads to the full text of Jüri Toomepuu’s remarks: Maausk, the belief system of indigenous Estonians.

Pulling the day’s themes together into one–An Estonian American working in Estonia at a unique institution situated in Estonia– Eric Sibul closed the afternoon with his lecture on highlights from the Baltic Defence College. Slides outlining Eric Sibul’s presentation may be viewed through this link: Highlights from the Baltic Defence College.

The dinner programs Friday and Saturday evenings featured traditional Estonian folk music, folk dance, and sing-alongs. Highlights included performances by Siilikesed, Ain Haas’s Estonian and Latvian folk music group from Indianapolis; and Saare Vikat, New York’s folk dance group directed by Liisi Vanaselja. Chicago’s Estonian House’s folk dance teacher, Estonian Sirje Press, led audience participation in Perekonna Valss. Sing-alongs were led by vocalist Enn Kiilaspea, key boardist Taavo Virkhaus, and accordionist and force majeure for both evenings’ programs, Kaie Põhi Latterner.

KLENK 2011 was honored to be joined by the Honorable Sten Schwede, Estonian Consul General in New York, and the recently appointed Honorary Consul in Atlanta, Aadu Allpere, and their family members. Planning Committee members felt privileged to be their hosts.

During Saturday’s dinner program, Peakonsul Schwede offered remarks and graciously recognized and thanked KLENK 2011 planning committee members Lisa Mets, who chaired the KLENK 2011 planning committee; and Maare Kuuskvere, Evi Kallas, Rein Raja and Tõnu Toomepuu, who served in the planning committee’s leadership positions.

Many attended the KLENK conference for their first time. Peakonsul Schwede’s participation in KLENK 2011 from its start Friday evening through its annual meeting on Sunday morning made all attendees feel they were part of something special.

Indeed, the KLENK 2011 Planning Committee itself wanted everyone to feel special. Supplementing the morning coffee break was kringel baked by KFES members Maare Kuuskvere, Kersti Linask, Ingrid Shipotofsky and Malle Sibul. Leena Aare, Maare Kuuskvere and Lisa Mets baked piparkoogid for the afternoon break. Traditional Estonian rye bread was a deliciously wonderful surprise at dinner Saturday night. Tiiu Slankis and Norma Jean Rebane made the lovely floral centerpieces.

Ingrid Shipotofsky and Monika Orumaa were in charge of this year’s KLENK loterii. The overflowing loterii tables gave the impression that everyone made a contribution! Thank you!

KLENK 2011 concluded with Sunday morning’s annual meeting. A record 30 participants provided excellent suggestions for future meetings and they took two actions. They voted to hold KLENK 2012 in Michigan and resolved to encourage KLENK, KFES, LFEK and ERKÜ to work together on future programs extending from the model introduced this weekend.

To bring KLENK 2011 to a close and to express her appreciation to planning committee members, program presenters and annual meeting participants, KLENK 2011 planning committee chair Lisa Mets hosted a champagne reception outside her hotel room on a point overlooking Tampa Bay and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. The clear blue sky and 73 degrees temperature provided the perfect ending to a wonderful conference.

KLENK 2011 was made possible through these generous sponsors: Eckerd College, Estonian American National Council (ERKÜ), Estonian Society of Central Florida (KFES), Estonian National Association of South Florida (LFEK), and the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church of Central Florida (E.E.L.K.-Kesk Florida). Jaan and Maare Kuuskvere and Lisa and Erkki Taada were private sponsors. Saare Vikat was generously supported by the NY Eesti Abistamiskomitee.

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Dear KLENK 2011 Registrants,

Happy New Year! Head uut aastat!

The KLENK 2011 Planning Committee and program presenters are looking forward to your arrival at the Magnuson Hotel Marina Cove, St. Petersburg, Florida, this week. Here is some information you may find helpful.

1. Some of you will be checking into the hotel Thursday afternoon, January 5, 2012. The KLENK 2011 Planning Committee would like you to know about the following two opportunities on Thursday evening.

a. The Salvador Dali Museum, located in downtown St. Petersburg, is open late on Thursday evenings and offers a reduced admission ($10) after 5:00 pm. That is quite a good deal.

b. Some of us will be having dinner at The Hangar Restaurant and Flight Lounge at 5:00 pm on Thursday. The restaurant, with free and ample parking, is located across the street from the Dali. The menu is varied and reasonably priced, so it would be easy for you to have a quick dinner before going to the museum if you decide you would like to do so. Please send us an email–KLENKFlorida@gmail.com–to let us know if you would like us to keep an eye out for you in the restaurant.

2. The KLENK 2011 Planning Committee will look forward to welcoming you after 3:00 pm, Friday, January 6, 2012, in the Nautilus Room in the Conference Center, Magnuson Hotel Marina Cove. We will have name tags and songbooks/lauliks with the KLENK program/kava. Our program will start promptly at 5:00 pm in the Sand and Sun Rooms next to the Nautilus Room.

3. If you are bringing something for the loterii table–such as a book, CD, DVD, chocolate, eesti pärase asi, easily packable item, etc/jne–please pass it on to Ms. Ingrid Shipotofsky or Ms. Monika Orumaa when you arrive in the Conference Center Friday or Saturday. We are grateful for every donation to the loterii table; we will conduct the loterii on Saturday night.

4. If you are arriving on Saturday, please pick up your materials after 8:15 am in the lobby of the Conference Center. We will start the program promptly at 9:00 am. If you are arriving for the Saturday evening dinner program as your first event, please arrive at 6:00 pm.

5. If you are still in the hotel on Sunday morning, we hope you will join us for the KLENK annual business meeting. Plans for KLENK 2012 and future KLENKs will be discussed and your input will be valuable.

6. Weather: Well, the northerners sent a frigid jet stream down our way for the first time this winter so this week is off to a windy and chilly start. Weather forecasters are telling us in the 7-day forecast that we will have sunny days and be warming up 64 degrees on Friday and 69 degrees on Saturday. You can stay tuned to our extended weather forecast through this link: National Weather Service.

7. Clothing: Please feel free to wear business casual attire. That means men’s suits and ties are optional. Because of air conditioning and the cooler weather, men’s sports coats and ladies’ sweaters will be comfortable in the hotel. When the sun goes down, an overcoat will serve you well. Some KLENK members like to get dressed up on Saturday night, so feel free to follow that tradition if you like.

8. Photographs: We will be taking photographs throughout the conference and posting them on the web and sending them to Vaba Eesti Sõna afterwards. If you do not want to be included in any photos, please be sure to let us know.

9. For your convenience, the KLENK 2011 Program/Kava, updated January 3, 2012, is available here: KLENK 2011 Program/Kava, updated January 3, 2012. While nearly all Saturday lecture sessions are in English, Estonian may be spoken in Prof. Ain Haas’s lecture and the theatrical skit.

You may be breaking a record in attendance at KLENK: Over 140 individuals–from across the US and Canada–are pre-registered! Thank you so much for your overwhelming positive response to the KLENK 2011 program and location. We hope you enjoy the conference as much as we have enjoyed making the preparations.

Please feel free to send an email to KLENKFlorida@gmail.com with any questions you may have.

Safe travels! See you soon! Nägemiseni!

KLENK 2011 Planning Committee

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KESK-LÄÄNE EESTI NOORTE KOONDIS (KLENK)
(Estonian Society of the Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Ontario, Wisconsin)
KESK FLORIDA EESTI SELTS (KFES)
(Estonian Society of Central Florida)
LÕUNA FLORIDA EESTLASTE KOONDIS (LFEK)
(Estonian National Association of South Florida)

invite all who share a love of Estonia and Estonian culture to KLENK 2011, which will be held Friday-Saturday, January 6-7, 2012, in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Registrants may pick up their nametags, programs and songbooks/laulikud after 3:00 pm Friday afternoon in the Nautilus Room of the Conference Center. We will start our program at 5:00 pm Friday afternoon and continue all day Saturday and Saturday evening. The annual KLENK business meeting and planning session will be held at 10:00 am Sunday morning, January 8, 2012; the results of the recent ERKÜ survey will enlighten that conversation. View the KLENK 2011 program by clicking on this link: KLENK 2011 Program/Kava, updated January 3, 2012.

Come a few days early or linger a few days longer, we have lots of area attractions to offer KLENK participants (please view our link to area attractions on this web site). Need assistance? Former KFES President Henn Rebane is offering “concierge services.” Send Henn an email at henn@rebane.com.

(Shortcut to the KLENK 2011 Registration Form).

Founded in 1958, this will be the 54th year that KLENK (Estonian Society of the Midwest) hosts its annual conference on Estonian culture and fellowship. By popular vote at KLENK 2010 in Chicago, KLENK members decided to host KLENK 2011 outside its traditional Thanksgiving weekend midwestern region. For the first time, KLENK will be co-hosted by the Kesk Florida Eesti Selts (Estonian Society of Central Florida) and the Lõuna Florida Eestlaste Koondis (Estonian National Association of South Florida).

KLENK 2011 Location
To take advantage of the sub-tropical Florida setting, the conference will be held in the Magnuson Hotel Marina Cove, 6800 Sunshine Skyway Lane, St. Petersburg, Florida 33711, which is located on beautiful Tampa Bay at the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. With its sandy beach, heated swimming pool, children’s playground, and setting on Tampa Bay, we hope KLENK participants will find the favorable nightly rate of $79 enticing ($88.48 total per room per night including taxes, up to four occupants at no additional charge). Parking and resort fees are included in the hotel rate. The rate applies up to three days prior to the start of the conference and may be continued up to three days after the conference. Check-in is 4:00 pm; let the hotel know if your travel plans call for an earlier check-in. Call the hotel directly to make your reservation; telephone toll free 800.227.8045; direct 727.867.1151. Let the reservations agent know you are attending the “Estonian Conference.” Hotel reservations must be made by December 16, 2011 to receive the favorable rate in a block of rooms reserved for this conference.

If you would like assistance planning activities before or after KLENK, former KFES President Henn Rebane is offering “concierge services.” Send Henn an email at henn@rebane.com.

PROGRAM: Our Estonian Heritage, Our Future
Lectures, music, dance and theatre: All those are the elements of the KLENK 2011 program. We will celebrate our Estonian heritage, hear from Estonians and Estonian Americans at work in the US and Eesti, and look to our future. To welcome all comers and Estophiles, most lectures will be in English as we honor the Estonian language in our conversations and celebrations.

To remember KLENK founders who passed away in 2011, a special memorial service will initiate our weekend.

KLENK 2011 will also provide an opportunity for friends to renew old acquaintances. We hope those who shared their childhood and early adulthood in places like Augsburg, Geislingen, and other post-war locations will join those organizing reunion tables around this meeting.

KLENK SPONSORS: We are grateful to these association sponsors of our meeting: Estonian American National Council (ERKÜ), Estonian Society of Central Florida (KFES), Estonian National Association of South Florida (LFEK), Eesti Abistamiskomitee for their support of Saare Vikat, and the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church-Central Florida (E.E.L.K.-Kesk Florida). Individual sponsorships have been provided by Jaan and Maare Kuuskvere, Lisa Mets and Erkki Taada, and Sigrid Bratic (Little Greek Restaurant).

REGISTRATION: Please complete and mail the KLENK 2011 Registration Form. To be included in meal counts, registrations must be received by January 2, 2012. No refunds can be given after January 2, 2012.

Questions? Email KLENKFlorida@gmail.com.

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KESK-LÄÄNE EESTI NOORTE KOONDIS (KLENK)
(Estonian Society of the Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Ontario, Wisconsin)
KESK FLORIDA EESTI SELTS (KFES)
(Estonian Society of Central Florida)
LÕUNA FLORIDA EESTLASTE KOONDIS (LFEK)
(Estonian National Association of South Florida)

invite all who share a love of Estonia and Estonian culture to KLENK 2011, which will be held Friday-Saturday, January 6-7, 2012, in St. Petersburg, Florida. We plan to start late Friday afternoon and continue all day Saturday and Saturday evening. The annual KLENK business meeting will be held Sunday morning, January 8, 2012.

Founded in 1958, this will be the 54th year that KLENK (Estonian Society of the Midwest) hosts its annual conference on Estonian culture and fellowship. By popular vote at KLENK 2010 in Chicago, KLENK members decided to host KLENK 2011 outside its traditional Thanksgiving weekend midwestern region. For the first time, KLENK will be co-hosted by the Kesk Florida Eesti Selts (Estonian Society of Central Florida) and the Lõuna Florida Eestlaste Koondis (Estonian National Association of South Florida) since many KLENK members now live as year round residents and snowbirds outside the Midwest. The Florida Estonian associations welcome this opportunity to co-host KLENK 2011 in the southeast and invite all KLENK members and Estophiles beyond KLENK as we hope to make even more new friends in this new setting.

KLENK 2011 Location

To take advantage of the sub-tropical Florida setting, the conference will be held in the Magnuson Hotel at Marina Cove, 6800 Sunshine Skyway Lane, St. Petersburg, Florida 33711, which is located on beautiful Tampa Bay at the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. With its sandy beach, swimming pool, children’s playground, and setting on Tampa Bay, we hope KLENK participants will find the favorable nightly rate of $79 enticing ($88.48 total per room per night including taxes, up to four occupants at no additional charge). Parking and resort fees are included in the hotel rate. The rate applies up to three days prior to the start of the conference and may be continued up to three days after the conference. Check-in is 4:00 pm; let the hotel know if your travel plans call for an earlier check-in. Call the hotel directly to make your reservation; telephone toll free 800.227.8045; direct 727.867.1151. Let the reservations agent know you are attending the “Estonian Conference.” Hotel reservations must be made by December 16, 2011 to receive the favorable rate in a block of rooms reserved for this conference.

Airlines flying to Tampa International Airport have competitive rates in early January. Some airlines fly to the St. Petersburg Clearwater International Airport, too. Easy car rentals are available at the airports. Super Shuttle at the Tampa Airport offers good round trip rates.

The Program

The KLENK 2011 planning committee is working to complete KLENK’s program. Once again, we hope to offer an engaging program of music, theatre and lectures on Estonian culture in addition to all the wonderful fellowship that takes place in our free time. This year, too, for the first time, acknowledging that English is the language of currency around the world, most lectures will be given in English. Of course, Estonian will be spoken here! Music to our ears, we encourage Estonian, once voted the second most beautiful language in the world (sõida tasa üle silla)!

If you have an idea for a presentation (lecture, music, dance, theatre, visual art exhibition, etc.) that you would like the planning committee to consider for the program, please send an email to KLENKFlorida@gmail.com by October 24, 2011. Please remember that traditionally participants in the program register for KLENK and cover their own travel expenses. This way, we can embrace the many talents of the members of our community on the KLENK program and hold down registration costs for everyone.

The registration form is forthcoming in early November and will be posted on this site. Remember: The deadline for hotel reservations is December 16, 2011.

We hope you will join us at KLENK 2011 Sõpruspäevad, January 6-7, 2012 (and annual business meeting Sunday morning, January 8, 2012), St. Petersburg, Florida!

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The 2:00 pm, Sunday, May 1, 2011, meeting and luncheon of the Estonian Society of Central Florida (Kesk Florida Eesti Selts) was held at the lovely home of Oivi and Jack Dudley, our newest members. While Oivi and Jack had prepared a wonderful luncheon that included freshly baked liha pirukad, members were invited to bring something for the luncheon table, too, and a wonderful smorgasbord was laid. KFES President Tõnu Toomepuu hosted everyone with champagne. See photographs following this report.

At the start of the business meeting, President Toomepuu graciously thanked our hosts, Oivi and Jack; his remarks were punctuated with enthusiastic applause by the entire group in gratitude to Oivi and Jack. KFES had one business item to address: KFES member Lisa Mets, formerly of Michigan and KLENK, reported that KLENK 2010 (Chicago) had voiced support that their next gathering be hosted in Florida in January 2012; otherwise, the midwestern rotation would place KLENK in Indianapolis in November 2011. Preliminary background work has been done, a hotel with very favorable rates has been identified, budget implications for KFES have been reviewed, and volunteers to offer sessions for the two-day program are already coming forward. On motion made and seconded, KFES voted affirmatively to form a committee of volunteers, chaired by Lisa Mets, so that KFES may co-host KLENK in St. Petersburg, Florida, Friday-Saturday, January 6-7, 2012. The business meeting concluded with a report by Mr. Henn Rebane, charter KFES President, on the founding of the KFES. Mr. Rebane and his wife, Norma Jean, were charter members of KFES and the St. Petersburg International Folk Fair Society (SPIFFS) and, for decades, they served as the leadership of the Estonian community in the St. Petersburg/Tampa Bay region. KFES members applauded Mr. and Mrs. Rebane for their service and leadership. The meeting adjourned with dessert.

The members of KFES and our friends will gather next at a picnic on Saturday, June 25, 2011, on Anna Maria Island to celebrate Jaanipäev.

St. John’s Day Celebration
Jaanipäev
June 25, 2011
11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Reserved Pavilion on Anna Maria Island
Participants should plan to bring their own non-alcoholic beverages (park rules) and, to share with others, an appetizer, salad or dessert to accompany hamburgers and hotdogs.
Please direct questions to:
Mr. Rein Raja at (727) 866-2614, raja7@juno.com
or
Ms. Maare Kuuskvere at (941) 795-6835, jaank@verizon.net

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