Florida Estos

PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR NEXT LUNCHEON MEETING NOVEMBER 3, 2013

The Estonian Society of Central Florida (Kesk Florida Eesti Selts) kicks off its 2013-2014 year of activities with its annual business meeting at 2:00 pm, on Sunday, November 3, 2013. Please join us for lunch and our meeting at The Hangar Restaurant and Flight Lounge, 540 1st St SE, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701; telephone: (727) 823-7767. The restaurant, with a varied affordable menu, is conveniently located at The Albert Whitted Airport, and parking is free and accessible.

Members of the KFES Board and Audit Committee meet to plan the business meeting scheduled for November 3, 2013.

For information about the Kesk Florida Eesti Selts, please contact:
Mr. Rein Raja at (727) 866-2614, raja77@verizon.net
or
Ms. Maare Kuuskvere at (941) 795-6835, jaank@verizon.net

The Estonian Society of Central Florida (Kesk Florida Eesti Selts) resumed its activities after its summer break on Sunday, October 6, 2013 at The Hangar Restaurant and Flight Lounge, 540 1st St SE, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701; telephone: (727) 823-7767. The restaurant, with a varied affordable menu, is conveniently located at The Albert Whitted Airport, and parking is free and accessible.

Nearly 24 members gathered together as they continue to await the return of their snowbird friends who are still scattered about across the United States, Canada and Estonia.

Pastor Priit Rebane began the meeting in remembrance and prayer for two recently departed and much beloved members: Mr. Evald Stein and Mr. Jack Shine. Our deepest sympathies are extended to their wives and families.

Lisa Mets, Honorary Consul of Estonia and KFES Vice President, shared celebratory information: (1) the appointment of Ms. Anu Tali as music director and conductor of the Sarasota Orchestra; (2) the announcement that The Honorable Marina Kaljurand, Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia to the United States, and Mr. Sten Schwede, Consul General of Estonia in New York City, will be participating in the celebration of the 96th Anniversary of Estonian Independence by the Estonian Society of Central Florida (Kesk Florida Eesti Selts) on Saturday, February 22, 2014, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Countryside Country Club in Clearwater, Florida; stay tuned to this website for information about luncheon reservations; (3) the opportunity for KFES members to purchase discounted tickets to join Ambassador Kaljurand and Mr. Schwede in reserved seating at the Friday, February 21, 2014, 8:00 pm performance of the Sarasota Orchestra conducted by Ms. Tali in the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota; and (4) the upcoming tour of the Eesti Riiklik Sümfooniaorkester, which includes performances in Florida between November 13 and 17, 2013. KFES especially thanks ERSO for the beautiful brochures and CDs promoting their orchestra.

KFES was delighted to welcome two special guests to their luncheon: Professor Lembit Nei and his wife Sandra. Professor Nei is a visiting professor at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg (USFSP). He is on leave from his position at Tartu College of Tallinn University of Technology. We look forward to getting well acquainted with the Nei family over the next six months.

KFES Board Member-at-Large Triin Karr and Treasurer Rein Raja

Geri Raja and Erkki Taada

KFES Secretary Maare Kuuskvere and EANC Member Monika Orumaa Craig

KFES President Tõnu Toomepuu and Pastor Priit Rebane

KFES Members

KFES Members

Pastor Priit Rebane

KFES Members

KFES Members

KFES Members

KFES Special Guests: Professor and Mrs. Lembit and Sandra Nei

Geri Raja, Triin Karr and Rein Raja

Ants Leinjärv, Erkki Taada and Lembit Nei

Ants Leinjärv, Erkki Taada, Lembit Nei and Sandra Nei

For information about the Kesk Florida Eesti Selts, please contact:
Mr. Rein Raja at (727) 866-2614, raja77@verizon.net
or
Ms. Maare Kuuskvere at (941) 795-6835, jaank@verizon.net

Taps have sounded for a longtime member of the Estonian Society of Central Florida: our good friend Jack Shine.

Taps always sound sad, but they are especially sad when they sound for a wonderful man and a good friend.

I had the pleasure and privilege to know Jack and his wife Kaari for many years. Together we were members of the Chicago Estonian House mixed marriage group. Every month we met at each other`s house for a wonderful dinner party and together we put on many memorable events for the benefit of the members of the Estonian House.

Jack served his country with great distinction as a United States Marine. After he retired as a Colonel, he remained active in military affairs as a member of the Military Officers Association of America.

Jack and Kaari Shine at a KFES luncheon, January 6, 2013

As we mourn our friend we find consolation in the goodness that was created by everything his life touched and the wonderful memories that he left for us.

Jüri Toomepuu

On Sunday, June 23, 2013, nearly 30 members of the Estonian Society of Central Florida (Kesk Florida Eesti Selts) were invited to the home of Erkki Taada and Lisa Mets, Honorary Consul of Estonia, for a traditional picnic commemorating Võidupüha and celebrating Jaanipäeva eve. Jüri Toomepuu offered remarks underscoring the significance of these two important Estonian national holidays.

The return vacation visit of Kati Rausberg, Eckerd College graduate 2012, and Viive Rebane, SUNY Binghamton graduate 2012, made the afternoon extra special. This past year Kati and Viive were members of professional women’s basketball teams in Belarus (Kati) and Bulgaria (Viive) and Estonia (Kati and Viive). Kati and Viive made rosolje, Estonia’s traditional beet salad, and potato salad, to accompany traditional Jaanipäeva vorstid (sausages). A fabulous afternoon was shared by all!

The Consul General of Estonia visited St. Petersburg, Florida, Friday and Saturday, May 24 and 25, 2013, and accepted applications for identity cards, new passports and passport renewals from those with legitimate status in the US. More than 20 families were served during this visit. This was the Consul General’s first official visit to the recently established Honorary Consulate in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The Republic of Estonia’s Honorary Consul Lisa A. Mets and Consul General Sten Schwede, St. Petersburg, Florida, May 24, 2013.

Information for Identity Cards and Passports
Please visit the website of the Consul General of Estonia in New York for information about the application process. Information is available in English and Estonian. http://www.nyc.estemb.org/consular_information/passport

Questions about the Process
If you have questions about identity cards and passports and the process, please contact the Estonian Consulate General in New York:

Telephone: (212) 883-0636
Email: nyconsulate@mfa.ee

To visit the Honorary Consul of Estonia in St. Petersburg, Florida, please make an appointment by contacting:

Lisa A. Mets, Ph.D.
Honorary Consul of Estonia
Honorary Consulate of Estonia
Upham Administration Building
Eckerd College
4200 54th Ave S
St. Petersburg, FL 33711
Telephone: 727.864.8221
Email: metsla@eckerd.edu
Hours by appointment

For directions to the Honorary Consulate of Estonia at Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, Florida, please visit this web site: http://www.eckerd.edu/about/directions.php

When you arrive on campus:
1. Drive past the Gate House.
2. Go up and over the traffic circle to the left.
3. Follow the road to the right.
4. Park in the first parking lot on the right.
5. The Honorary Consulate is located in the one-story building (Upham Administration Building) next to the parking lot.

The official activities of the Estonian Society of Central Florida draw to a close with its May lunch, so the Society may pause for a summer hiatus. The final official gathering this season took place on Sunday, May 5, 2013, at Midtown Sundries, downtown St. Petersburg. More than 30 members came to enjoy fellowship.

Professor Kersti Linask has the full attention of the Estonian Society of Central Florida as she describes her recent sabbatical in Estonia. May 5, 2013

Remarks by Professor Kersti Linask, University of South Florida, were the highlight of the afternoon. Professor Linask recently completed a Fulbright program of study at Tartu University.

After its summer hiatus, members will re-start their activities on October 6, 2013.

To escape the hot, humid June weather, members of the Estonian Society of Central Florida (Kesk Florida Eesti Selts) advance their Jaanipäeva picnic to April. This year, on April 6, 2013, members gathered all bundled up against unseasonably cold and windy weather under the pavilion on beautiful Anna Maria Island. Once again, the Väino and Leena Aare family, masters of the barbecue, grilled a fabulous lunch.

The April Birthday Celebrants (back row): Leena Aare, Maare Kuuskvere, Triin Karr, Monika Orumaa Craig, and Jaan Kuuskvere. April 6, 2013

April is a month when a number of members celebrate their birthdays, so the KFES members joined in chorus to sing, “Nad elagu!”

The Estonian National Association of South Florida (Lõuna Florida Eestlaste Koondis) celebrated the 95th Anniversary of Estonian Independence on Sunday, February 24, 2013, in Atlantis, Florida. A handful of the membership of the Estonian Society of Central Florida made the drive to the east coast to join their festivities. Highlights of the afternoon included an invocation by Pastor Ants Tooming from Estonia; a viewing of the DVD “Tule Tulemine Tallinna: Teekonna Lugu”; commemoration of the fallen heroes (langenute mälestamine) by LFEK President Arno Kallas, Helve Parts and Tuuli Robinson; and the introduction of Florida’s two new Estonian honorary consuls: Lisa A. Mets (St. Petersburg, Florida) and Jorge Viera (Miami).

LFEK President Arno Kallas (center) with Florida’s Estonian Honorary Consuls Lisa A. Mets (St. Petersburg) and Jorge Viera (Miami). February 24, 2013

CELEBRATION OF THE 95TH ANNIVERSARY OF

ESTONIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY

The Estonian Society of Central Florida (Kesk Florida Eesti Selts) celebrated the 95th Anniversary of Estonian Independence Day with a special program, lunch and raffle at the Countryside Country Club in Clearwater, Florida, on Saturday, February 23, 2013.

More than 60 guests celebrated this special anniversary. The program was designed to reflect Estonian values: love of country; faith; the honoring of soldiers and heroes willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for liberty; love of language, music and education; Estonians’ playful spirit; and respect for “Kodu Eestlased” and Välis-Eestlased” who form one family, one nation.

Reflecting on her life as a first generation Estonian American, Mrs. Kaie Põhi Latterner brought us to tears and laughter.

The keynote address was delivered by Mrs. Kaie Põhi Latterner. Additional program participants included KFES President Tõnu Toomepuu, Ms. Monika Orumaa Craig, Mr. Jüri Toomepuu, Mrs. Triin Karr, and Honorary Consul of Estonia Lisa Mets. The raffle was deftly handled by Ms. Marju Cabrera and beautiful table decorations were made by Mrs. Tiiu Slankis. The Estonian Society of Central Florida owes its thanks to Mr. Rein Raja and Mrs. Maare Kuuskvere, who pulled all the strings together to weave the tapestry for the day’s program.

Mrs. Kaie Põhi Latterner delivers the keynote address to the Estonian Society of Central Florida (KFES Eesti Vabariigi 95.a tähistamine), February 23, 2013, Clearwater, Florida.

Eesti Vabariigi 95. sünnipäevale pühendatud kodulehekülg