Florida Estos

The 2019-20 Juhatus/Board of Kesk Florida Eesti Selts (KFES)/Estonian Society of Central Florida hosted the peakoosolek/annual meeting, virtually through Zoom, on Sunday, September 26, 2021, from 4:00-5:00 pm Eastern Time. Nineteen voting members, constituting a quorum, participated in the meeting.

The meeting agenda included reports from the President, Treasurer, and Auditors. The members voted to accept the Auditors’ report; elected the new president and Board members below; and voted on other matters brought before the membership.

2020-21 (Sept-Oct 2021) and 2021-2022 (Nov 2021-Oct 2022) Board:

President: Merit Laansalu Alvarez

Vice Presidents (2): Inne Joonsar and Moonika Mägi

Secretary: Triin Karr

Treasurer: Heikki Joonsar

The Auditors were re-elected.

The new contact for the KFES/Estonian Society of Central Florida is Triin Karr, Secretary. You may send all inquiries to Triin through email to Triin.

The new President led a lively conversation with members offering suggestions for the upcoming year. The new Board will be emailing a survey to the full Estonian Society of Central Florida members’ and friends’ email list inviting recipients to share updated contact information, affirm their continuing interest in communications, and offer suggestions for program activities and locations. Please stay tuned to your email in October, and please participate in the survey!

The members expressed their appreciation to the 2019-20 outgoing Board for their service and their gratitude to the members who have stepped forward into their new roles commencing today as Board members.



2019-20 KFES Juhatus/Board

On August 28, 2021, the 2019-20 Juhatus/Board of Kesk Florida Eesti Selts (KFES)/Estonian Society of Central Florida emailed a scheduling poll to the voting membership and, on September 1, 2021, based on responses received, announced the peakoosolek/annual meeting will be held:

Sunday, September 26, 2021

4:00-5:00 pm Eastern Time

On September 1, 2021, a zoom link was emailed to the voting membership.

The meeting agenda will include reports from the President, Treasurer, and Auditors. The members will be asked to vote to accept the Auditors’ report; to elect a new president and Board members, who will assume their roles effective following the meeting; and to vote on any other matters brought before the membership.

2019-20 KFES Juhatus/Board

Dear Members and Friends of the Estonian Society of Central Florida/Kesk Florida Eesti Selts,

In Spring 2020, the pandemic (Covid-19) sent our association into our usual summer hiatus early and in hiatus we have continued since then. We were unable to mount the annual members’ meeting and new elections in November 2020 due to outside demands placed on the members of the KFES Juhatus/Board and a lack of volunteers during the demanding pandemic time.

The 2019-2020 Board invites you–the members of our association–again, as we did in November 2020 and spring 2021, to offer your assistance by taking the lead in offering information and programming to our membership and by volunteering to serve in elected Board positions. We are confident you have good ideas and the means to keep our members engaged and our Selts/Association ongoing.

We mourn the loss of family and friends who have fallen this past year and we share your grief. We hope you have been, are and continue to be in good health. May we look forward with optimism.

The 2019-2020 Juhatus

Lühiajaline konsulaarmissioon St. Petersburgis, FL.

Eesti Vabariigi Peakonsulaat viib 14. ja 15. mail 2021 läbi konsulaarmissiooni St. Petersburgis, Floridas.

Eesti kodanikel on võimalik taotleda uut passi või ID-kaarti, uuendada aeguvaid dokumente ning saada kätte eelnevalt tellitud dokumente.

https://newyork.mfa.ee/et/

Peakonsuli vastuvõtt toimub aadressil 241 173rd Avenue East, North Redington Beach, FL 33708.

Vajalik eelnev registreerimine Eesti aukonsul St. Petersburgis, FL, pr. Kaie Põhi Latterneri e-postiaadressil kaiet@earthlink.net.

Consular Visit to St. Petersburg, FL.

The Consulate General of Estonia in New York will conduct a consular visit to St. Petersburg, Florida, on May 14–15, 2021.

Estonian citizens will be able to apply for a passport or ID-Card, renew their passport or ID-Card and receive previously ordered documents

https://newyork.mfa.ee/estonian-passport-and-id-card/

The Consul General will conduct business at 241 173rd Avenue East, North Redington Beach, FL 33708.

Please pre-register for an appointment by e-mailing the Honorary Consul in St. Petersburg, FL, Ms. Kaie Põhi Latterner at kaiet@earthlink.net.

Dear Members and Friends of the Estonian Society of Central Florida/Kesk Florida Eesti Selts,

In Spring 2020, the pandemic (Covid-19) sent our association into our usual summer hiatus early and in hiatus we have continued since then. We were unable to mount the annual members’ meeting in November due to outside demands placed on the members of the KFES Juhatus/Board during this demanding pandemic time. As those demands continue on Board members, the Board invites you–the members of our association– again, as we did in November, to offer your assistance by taking the lead in offering information and programming to our membership. We are confident you have good ideas and the means to keep our members engaged.

The celebration of Estonian Independence Day has always been a highlight of our association. We invite you now to explore the celebration of the 103rd Anniversary of Estonian Independence through virtual celebrations offered by the Boston Eesti Selts, Chicago Eesti Maja and Los Angeles Eesti Selts on Sunday, February 21, 2021, and by the Estonian American National Council on Saturday, February 27, 2021. You may find information on their websites which are easily found through your favorite Internet search engines.

We mourn the loss of family and friends who have fallen this past year and we share your grief. We hope you have been, are and continue to be in good health. May we look forward with optimism to better days ahead.

KFES Juhatus 2019-2020

Greetings!

The Estonian Society of Central Florida (Kesk Florida Eesti Selts) is on summer hiatus. Each year, we take a break from formally organized activities while our members and friends enjoy summer vacations near and far from the months of May through September. We hope to resume again in early October. Please stay tuned to our website for an announcement when we plan to be together again in celebration and fellowship.

Please stay well this summer and follow all WHO, CDC and local public health guidelines for your safety and the safety of others.

KFES Juhatus/Board

Dear Friends and Members of the Estonian Society of Central Florida/Kesk Florida Eesti Selts,

This is to let you know that, in light of the projected relentless spreading of COVID-19 over the ensuing months, we are canceling this year’s April picnic.

CANCELED CANCELED CANCELED CANCELED CANCELED

Picnic
Saturday, April 18, 2020
11:00 am to 3:00 pm
[Anneliis Kuusik’s condominium community]

CANCELED CANCELED CANCELED CANCELED CANCELED 

KFES is fully committed to our nation’s public health campaign for social distancing and good hygiene to contain and mitigate the spread. Let’s do our part to stop the spread!

Please stay in communication with each other and lend a helpful hand where needed.

We extend our very best wishes that all stay well!

KFES Juhatus

This is to let you know we are announcing the cancellation of our next event.

CANCELED CANCELED CANCELED CANCELED
Potluck Luncheon
Sunday, March 15, 2020
Lovely Home of Peep and Livija Rebane

Our nation and world are engaging strategies to contain and mitigate the transmission and effects of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) (COVID-19).

An important mitigation strategy at this time is one called “social distancing.”

Though our group is small, we believe in supporting the CDC and Department of Health recommendations that we all individually and collectively avoid large gatherings. For some that means >1,000. For us, that means our number no matter how small.

We extend our deep appreciation to Peep and Livija. They have let us know they will be happy to host us again at a future date when our public health concerns have subsided.

The Estonian Society of Central Florida/Kesk Florida Eesti Selts gathered together on Saturday, February 22, 2020, to celebrate the 102nd Anniversary of Estonian Independence and the 100th Anniversary of the signing of the Tartu Peace Treaty. As Estonia approached the 100th Anniversary of its declaration of independence in 2018, Estonia cleverly declared we would celebrate for three years: 2018 would be the 100th Anniversary of our Declaration of Independence, 2019 would be the 100th Anniversary of our War of Independence, and 2020 would be the 100th Anniversary of the Tartu Peace Treaty. And so, the Estonian Society of Central Florida/Kesk Florida Eesti Selts has been following these themes at its Estonian Independence Day celebrations in 2018, 2019, and 2020.

Our luncheon at the fabulous Feather Sound Country Club in Clearwater, Florida, hosted 55 members and friends of the Estonian Society of Central Florida/Kesk Florida. We were delighted to welcome back members we usually see once or twice a year: Taivo and Anneliis Hurt, Evi and Arno Kallas, Viive and Ken Morin, Henno and Carmen Normet, Rein and Geri Raja, Helen Tammela and David Clauch, and Aino and Ants Tomson. This year we had the opportunity to welcome a new member, Liis Janusauskas; Liis and her husband recently located here from Chicago and we are delighted Liis sought out our community. We were joined by special friends too: Viviana and Tooma Paddrik from Ft. Lauderdale; Piret Komi from Toronto; and Judy Splendore, Kaie Põhi Latterner’s wonderful neighbor. We were delighted our association has hooked in these newer members: Kadri Lindemann-Owens and Mall and John Chaney; Anu Nerska Sheridan’s husband, David, came down from Montreal to join our celebration this year too. No, we did not call out all the names of those who celebrated together this year. We asked the regular members of the Estonian Society of Central Florida/Kesk Florida Eesti Selts to stand and be recognized as the “heart and soul of KFES, who make this association thrive. They are the family members who make it possible for us to call KFES our home.”

Kesk Florida Eesti Selts EVA 102 tähistamine. 22. veeb. 2020. Clearwater, FL. Foto: Lisa A. Mets

Our program was simple this year: heartfelt, sometimes tearful, and undeniably uplifting. We began with an a capella performance of the U.S. national anthem, the Star Spangled Banner, by our member Vincent Delaidatti. Vincent took our breath away, singing the national anthem the way it has always been meant to be sung and rarely is. The anthem tells a victorious story, and Vincent sang it convincingly. Bravo and thank you, Vincent! If an organization is seeking someone to open its program with the U.S. national anthem, we highly recommend Vincent without reservation; Vincent is a treasure. Lisa A. Mets, KFES president, followed Vincent. Lisa welcomed guests and offered remarks reviewing the history and significance of our celebration of EV 102 and the 100th anniversary of the Tartu Peace Treaty. We invited Vincent to return to the podium to offer a prayer for Estonia, the traditional invocation at ceremonies such as this one. As is customary, we paused to remember our fallen soldiers. Mrs. Urve Põhi read A. Oengo Kingo’s poem Noor Sõdalane. Closing remarks were offered by Ms. Kaie Põhi Latterner, Estonian Honorary Consul (St. Petersburg, FL), and we concluded on our feet with the singing of the Estonian national anthem, Mu Isamaa, Mu Õnn ja Rõõm. Preceded by a blessing for the meal by Birgit Delaidatti, lunch followed. Ah yes, our fun loterii was held over the luncheon period. Thank you to Triin Sikemäe Karr and her daughter, Annika, for leading that successful activity! Dessert was very special this year. Our member Moonika Mägi, who could not be with us on this day, made not one but three kringels, forming the year 102. Oh my, were they delicious! As in years past, a champagne toast was lifted to Eesti, Elagu Eesti! And this year, in anticipation of Jüri Toomepuu’s 90th birthday in June, we lifted a special champagne toast honoring Jüri for his lifetime commitment to the good of Estonia and our little Kesk Florida Eesti Selts: Elagu, Jüri!

Today was special. Estonians love music and dance and, as Estonians, our Kesk Florida Eesti Selts does too! Rein Männik returned with his guitar and offered a couple ballads to our appreciative ears. Kaie Põhi Latterner picked up her accordion and, with Rein, led our entire group in the singing of a number of our favorite ühislaulud: Ma Tahaksin Kodus Olla, Tallinna Teel, Kungla Rahvas, Viljandi Paadimees, and Jää Vabaks, Eesti Meri. We concluded our musical and dance program with the Perekonna Valss. Several members dressed in Estonian traditional folk dresses; and the beautiful table decorations, each a stylized Eesti sõlg, all made by Anneliis Kuusik, were right on theme.

Next year, (tentatively on 20 February, 2021, same time, same place), the Estonian Society of Central Florida/Kesk Florida Eesti Selts will be celebrating EV103 and the 30th Anniversary of the Restoration of Estonian Independence. Planning is already under way and we hope to make the celebration a little extra special. Please plan to join us; you may even see the return of the Rannapiigad.

Thirty-five hungry members of the Estonian Society of Central Florida/Kesk Florida Eesti Selts gathered for their favorite January annual soup and sandwich lunch on Saturday, January 25, 2020, at 2:00 pm, in the lovely community room at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Seminole, Florida. A fabulous smorgasbord of Estonian-style soups, sandwiches, pasteet, Korean dumplings, meatballs, salads, and desserts were enjoyed. Yes, frikadelli supp, kapsarulli soup, and borscht delighted us all. Heeringa-, kilu- and lõhe kala võileivad were delicious. Tasty kartuli salat and rosolje were on the table too. There were desserts galore with bakers taking advantage of the Florida strawberry season, a little rum for the rum cake, warm bread pudding and unbeatable chocolate chip cookies. Oh my! It was a feast! The highlight of the afternoon was the introduction of Karneelia and Marmeelia Dishmey, accompanied by their proud parents Marju and Dallas Dishmey. Karneelia and Marmeelia are just three months old! Welcome to our community! Enjoy our photos!