Florida Estos

Members of the Estonian Society of Central Florida (Kesk Florida Eesti Selts)  attended the January 11 to 13, 2013  performances of the The Sarasota Orchestra conducted by Estonian Anu Tali. Ms. Tali is the Music Director and Conductor of the Nordic Symphony Orchestra. The performance on Sunday afternoon, January 13, 2013, was sold out. The performances were powerful: Not only could one hear stunningly beautiful orchestral music, one could see and feel the music as it was conducted by the superbly gifted Ms. Tali. Her performances concluded with standing ovations by highly appreciative audiences.

The Estonian Society of Central Florida (Kesk Florida Eesti Selts) gathered for its monthly meeting and luncheon at 2:00 pm on Sunday, January 6, 2013, at The Hangar Restaurant and Flight Lounge, 540 1st Street Southeast St. Petersburg, FL 33701. More than 20 members convened to greet each other in the new year. Plans are underway for the KFES celebration of Estonia’s 95th anniversary of independence. Please continue reading this web site for information about our luncheon and how you can make reservations to join us.

Members of the Estonian Society of Central Florida (Kesk Florida Eest Selts) gathered Saturday, December 8, 2012, for their annual verivorst-making party at the home of Leena and Väino Aare in Bradenton, Florida. Although the group was a little smaller this year, the output was just as grand as years past. The day culminated with a celebration of Väino’s 90th birthday.

The Estonian Society of Central Florida (Kesk Florida Eesti Selts) gathered at Midtown Sundries Restaurant, St. Petersburg, Florida, for its monthly meeting and luncheon on December 2, 2012. Since we all have been good boys and girls in 2012–and we had five new children and grandchildren to present–Santa Claus returned to visit us for the first time in many years! Thirty members gathered together and more than half–aged 3 to 90–entertained Santa Claus in verse, song and dance. Photos by Maare Kuuskvere.

On Sunday, November 11, 2012, Väino and Leena Aare, members of the Estonian Society of Central Florida (Kesk Florida Eesti Selts), celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with family and friends. This year is a special year for the couple: In addition to their 60th wedding anniversary, they are both celebrating their 90th birthdays. Undoubtedly they know the secrets to happiness and longevity. Our congratulations and best wishes to the happy couple!

Celebrating Väino and Leena Aare’s 60th wedding anniversary, November 11, 2012, are family members: (left to right) daughter Linda and Linda and Paul’s son Markus; daughter-in-law Hilda and Hilda and Peeter’s daughter Erika; Leena; son Peeter; Väino; Linda and Paul’s daughter Merike; Linda’s husband Paul; and Hilda and Peeter’s daughter Christina.

The Estonian National Association of South Florida (Lõuna Florida Eestlaste Koondis) celebrated its annual fall festival (Sügisfest) on an intermittently cloudy and sunny, breezy afternoon in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Saturday, November 10, 2012. More than 100 Estonians, Estonian-Americans and Estophiles gathered for great food, games and friendship. Joining the celebration were these members from the Estonian Society of Central Florida (Kesk Florida Eesti Selts): Maare and Jaan Kuuskvere, Ants Leinjärv, the Ülle and Don Richards family, Lisa Mets and Erkki Taada. Take a look at the photo of Ants pulling hard in the tug ‘o war!

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The Estonian Society of Central Florida (Kesk Florida Eesti Selts) launched its 2012-13 year with its annual business meeting and luncheon on Sunday, November 4, 2012, at 2:00 pm. They gathered at The Hangar Restaurant and Flight Lounge, 540 1st St SE, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701; telephone: (727) 823-7767. At their annual business meeting, the members approved the Secretary’s and Treasurer’s reports for 2011-12, the 2012-13 budget, their plan of activity for 2012-13, and elected their 2012-13 officers.

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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

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.

With a bachelor’s degree in hand and Kati’s Eckerd College women’s basketball records in the athletic department’s history book, Kati Rausberg says good-bye to her basketball coach, Paul Honsinger, and to her good friends, local Estonians Erkki Taada and Lisa Mets (not pictured).

The last monthly luncheon and meeting of the Estonian Society of Central Florida (Kesk Florida Eesti Selts) before the summer break was held Sunday, May 6, 2012, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm at The Hangar Restaurant and Flight Lounge.

Our featured speaker was Ms. Kati Rausberg (Tallinnast), an international business and management major and member of the women’s basketball team at Eckerd College. Kati, who is graduating from Eckerd College on May 20, 2012, will be leaving us to return to Estonia. Kati, who has been participating in Estonian Society of Central Florida (KFES) activities these past two years, described how she made her way to Eckerd College and St. Petersburg. Playing basketball “her whole life,” Kati has always been interested in pursuing a professional basketball career. She knows too, though, the value of a college education. At Eckerd College, Kati found a way to play basketball — where she broke school 3-point shot percentage and scoring records — and earn her bachelor’s degree in international business and management. When Kati returns to Estonia this summer, she will be playing in the European championships. She also hopes to secure an agent and begin her professional basketball career. Asked about her long-term plans, Kati leaves the door open to return to the United States to earn a master’s degree. In closing, Kati thanked members for welcoming into our Estonian community her and her family members and friends who visited her here. We all made Kati feel like she was a member of our family. Members celebrated Kati with a graduation cupcake cake and delivered a personalized graduation card to her at the conclusion of the meeting. We will miss Kati and wish her well. Kati hopes members visiting Estonia will look her up so she may welcome us there in return for our kindnesses here.

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Although the Estonian Society of Central Florida (Kesk Florida Eesti Selts) is not scheduled to meet again until October 7, 2012, stay tuned to informal activities that will be taking place in the summer season. Those of us weathering the summer in the Tampa Bay region will likely gather to celebrate Jaanipäev in mid-June. We will send notice by email when we pull together our plans. If you would like to participate in planning our Jaanipäev celebration, please “Leave a comment” on this blog.

Ms. Silva Jensen, who recently received a copy of the film The Great Waltz starring Miliza Korjus, one of Estonia’s most famous operatic singers, invites members to join her for a screening on Sunday, July 15, 2012. If you are interested in attending, please send Silva an email at sjensen5@verizon.net.