BONJOUR L'ESTONIE

Worldwide aspects of the US and Estonian economies

WASHINGTONI EESTI SELTS
WASHINGTON ESTONIAN SOCIETY

Lp. WES-i liikmed ja sõbrad!

Olete ehk mures majanduse tuleviku pärast Eestis, USAs ja ka mujal? Tulge ja kuulake, mida on öelda meie tunnustatud ekspertidel teemal “Eesti ja USA majanduse perspektiivid maailma taustal"! Soovi korral lisage oma nägemus olukorrast. Teeme koos ühe hariva vestlusringi!

Millal: Pühapäeval, 15. novembril 2009 kell 3:30 p.l.
Kus: Calvary luteri kiriku seltskondlikus ruumis (alumisel korrusel), 9545 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910. Kui kiriku peauks juhtub olema suletud, sissepääs on ka kiriku
tagauksest. Seltsi ettekanne toimub vahetult pärast Washingtoni Markuse koguduse jumalateenistust (algab kell 2:00 p.l.), kuhu kõik on teretulnud.

Esinejad:
ANDRES SUTT, Rahvusvahelise Valuutafondi Põhja- ja Baltimaid esindava tegevdirektori vanemnõunik, endine Eesti Panga asepresident -- teeb ülevaate Eesti majanduse olukorrast.
VILJAR LUBI, Eesti Suursaatkonna Washingtonis majandusdiplomaat -- annab ülevaate USA majanduse perspektiividest.
ÜLLE LÕHMUS, Maailmapanga Põhja- ja Baltimaid esindava tegevdirektori vanemnõunik -- teeb lühiülevaate Maailmapanga hinnangutest maailmamajanduse olukorra kohta.

Kaetud on kohvilaud.
Osavõtumaks: Seltsiliikmetele, $5.00 isikult; mitte-liikmetele, $7.00 isikult. (Liikmeks astumise võimalus on kohapeal).

Teretulemast kõigile!
WES-i juhatus

Disko ja tuumasõda

Dear Friends of Estonian and European Culture,

The American Film Institute (AFI) presents the 22nd annual AFI European Union Film Showcase, a selection of 39 top films from EU member states from November 5-24 at AFI Silver Theater (8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, MD 20910).

Please visit also AFI website http://www.afi.com/ which will be updated very soon.

Estonian film for this year is DISCO AND ATOMIC WAR (“Disko ja tuumasõda”) which will be screened on Sunday, November 8, at 9:45 PM and on Tuesday, November 10, at 9:00 PM.

DISCO AND ATOMIC WAR 

Estonian filmmaker Jaak Kilmi (REVOLUTION OF PIGS, part of AFI’s 2006 EU Film Showcase) examines the most important factor in how the Communists lost the Cold War: the West’s one-two punch of disco music and Dallas episodes. Western pop culture, banned in countries like Estonia but easily picked up from Finnish broadcasts with the help of homemade antennas, played a major role in winning the hearts and minds of the then-Soviet citizenry for democracy, in textbook “soft power” fashion. Blending wonderful archival footage, academic interviews and deliriously funny recreations (the best being Kilmi’s rural cousin Urve reading his letters full of Dallas updates to a rapt village audience) Kilmi’s eye-opening and entertaining documentary hits just the right tone between the serious and the surreal.

Estonian filmfest returns for fifth year : 16th-25th of October

DANIELLE MILLEY

Film subjects range from werewolves to political independence

With subjects ranging from werewolves and explorers to political independence and economic prosperity, the Estonian Documentary Film Festival is back for a fifth year in Toronto with a slate of 22 films.

Running from Oct. 16 to 25, the festival - called EstDocs - takes place at various venues in Toronto and Hamilton. Locally, films can be seen at Todmorden Mills and Estonian House in East York.

Organized by a group of volunteers, EstDocs began with just seven films after a film critic from Estonia got in touch with Maimu Mõlder about putting together a film festival in Toronto. (The city is home to the largest Estonian population outside of Estonia).

"We had a good response and we ended up going it a second year," Mõlder said. And it has continued to grow each year since its inception.

Each EstDocs film has a post-screening question and answer session that is led by a moderator. A different one is selected each year from Estonia. This year's post-screening moderator is director and producer Jaak Kilmi.

As in previous years, many of the post-screening discussions will include a live Skype connection with relevant experts or the film's creator in Estonia, allowing the audience to pose questions directly to them. The details are still being finalized about at which locations this will be available.

All of the films, except for "Everest", are in English or have English subtitles, as well Kilmi speaks English.

Kids Euro Festival

Dear Friends of Estonian Culture,

Starting yesterday and lasting until November 9, the Kids Euro Festival is bringing 150 free performances, screenings and workshops, each representing a European country, to venues across the Washington DC region. Registration is required for most events. Please see the web site for a full schedule: www.KidsEuroFestival.org.

The festival will feature some of Europe's best artists and is sure to delight parents, children and grandchildren alike.

This year Estonia will be presented by film studio “Puppet Film” (Nukufilm) and “Cinema bus” (Kinobuss). Workshops and seminars will be held for students and educators. There will also be a public performance on Saturday, October 31 starting at 3 PM at the French Cultural Centre, 4101 Reservoir Road, NW, Washington, DC 20007) and best animation films for children will be screened before the performance at 2 PM.

For more information and registration please visit:
http://www.kidseurofestival.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=131
http://www.kidseurofestival.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=87
Best regards

Terje Raadik
Press and Cultural Affairs Attaché
Embassy of the Republic of Estonia
2131 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington DC, 20008

Phone: (202) 588 0101
Fax: (202) 588 0108

www.estonianfoundation.ca

EESTI SIHTKAPITAL KANADAS (ESK) toetab jätkuvalt Kanada eestlaste tegevust!

Kui keegi teie tuttavatest soovivad saada ESK ringkirja e-posti teel, siis paluge neid võtta ühendust info@estonianfoundation.ca

The NATIONAL ESTONIAN FOUNDATION OF CANADA (NEFC) supports activities, which enrich the Estonian community in Canada!
We hope that you will forward this notice to your friends and family whom you feel may be interested and encourage them to volunteer their contact information to us at info@estonianfoundation.ca , so that we may e-mail the newsletter to them directly in the future.

PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO MAKE A DONATION TODAY!  www.estonianfoundation.ca

West Coast Estonian Days continue a great tradition

The recently concluded West Coast Days show that there continues to be a need for gathering of Estonians and their families to rekindle friendships and bathe in a culture familiar to us.

Now it is true that the attendance has shrunk over the years, but those who come show an amazing amount of loyalty. In this respect the West Coast gatherings differ from ESTO or Laulupidu in Tallinn. The West Coast Estonian Days (or LEP) draw people who have been attending it perhaps even from its inception. Because of its dependable attendance and predictable and varied menu, it has drawn people also from the other side of the continent and even from overseas.

This year’s LEP was held in Seattle, in Washington State. Such have been held every two years starting in 1953 in San Francisco. The site alternates between the major population centers on the West Coast: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle and Vancouver, each with perhaps 100 to 200 families with Estonian roots.

This year’s “Days” were well organized. The events were in a compact area, and the attendees had a choice of budget conscious college student level accommodations, to tourist level motels, all within walking distance of all events. The halls for the events were optimally sized by judging that they were all nearly full or totally full. The chairman of the events, Tom Napa, explained that it was quite a challenge to reserve the halls as much as two years in advance, since it was not known how well LEP would be attended given that Laulupidu and ESTO were also held on the same summer.

National Estonian Foundation of Canada´s current newsletter

Toronto:
 

Eesti Pensionäride Klubi Torontos
Kohvilaua Koosviibimine
toimub neljapäeval, 17. septembril 2009.a. kell 1.00 p.l.
Eesti Majas Torontos, 958 Broadview Ave.
Tulge Kõik!
Kavas: Pensionäri pajatusi ja tervitus - Heikki Paara
Ühislaule - Toivo Kõheliku klaverisaatel
Vaimulik - õpetaja Kalle Kadakas - Kõne
Muusika - Andres Raudsepp tütre Järviga
Mõttemõlgutusi etlejailt pensionäridelt
Lõunalaual on ikka tuntud hõrgutisi, teed ja kohvi.
Armsad pensionärid!  Tooge kaasa sõbrad ja tuttavad!
Pääsmed $12.- Klubi liikmeile $10.- Klubi likkmemaks on $10.- astas
 

---

Vancouver:
 

Malle Lauluõhtu/ Song Night
18. septembril, 2009 kell 19:00/ September 18th, 2009 at 7pm
Meie Kodu, 6520 Oak St., Vancouver ON

Everyone is welcome.  Coffee and tea will be provided.  Participants are asked to bring along some goodies for sharing with others.  For more information on Vancouver events:
www.estonianevents.com
 

---

New York:
 

NY Eesti Maja hooaja avapidu, "T-särk Seljas"/ NY Estonian House Fall Season Opening "T-Shirt Party"
18. septembril 2009 kell 7õ/ September 18, 2009 at 7pm
New Yorgi Eesti Majas/New York Estonian House
Algusega kell 7õhtul.  Riietus: T-särk.  Õhtul kell 9 esineb bänd "The Detected".
Sissepääs $20.00 (pileti hinnas T-särk), Tuled oma särgiga, pilet $10.00

Photo Courtesy of New York Estonian House Website
Doors open at 7pm.  Dress code: T-shirt.  Live music starts at 9pm with "The Detected".  Music: original contemporary/blues rock, standard contemporary and classic rock cover songs.
Cover $20.00 (includes tshirt).  Wear your own t-shirt cover $10.00
More information: www.estonianhousenewyork.com

August 23, 2009 MRP anniversary/ Baltic Way solidarity events in Washington, DC

---11:00 a.m. - Lithuanian Embassy opens doors (2622 16th St., NW)
---12:00 noon - Baltic Way Song Transmission at Lithuanian Embassy
---2:00 p.m. - DC Baltic Way links up on Mass Ave. bt. Estonian and Latvian Embassies
---2:30 p.m. - Georgian solidarity event at Georgian Embassy (2209 Mass Ave., NW)
---Mass. Ave. embassies are open until 4:00 p.m. with exhibits and information.

This year August 23 will mark the 70th year since the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact (MRP) between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. That agreement between Stalin and Hitler doomed half of Europe to decades of misery under foreign tyranny.

On August 23, 1979, the Baltic Appeal was sent by 45 persons from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to demand the MRP’s and its secret protocols' public disclosure and annulment, and the restoration of the independence of the Baltic countries, then occupied by the Soviet Union. This was an important step on the road to back to freedom.

August 23 also marks the 20th anniversary of the Baltic Way, which united the nations of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania against Soviet oppression and occupation. On that day in 1989, over a quarter of the populations of the three Baltic countries joined hands for nearly 400 miles to demonstrate their love of freedom.

On Sunday, August 23, 2009 those events will be remembered in a half day commemoration and celebration in Washington, DC in which the Baltic Way will be recreated.

You are invited to join that day to remember, take part and link hands in the 2009 Baltic Way, and to show solidarity with our friends in Central and Eastern Europe, including those in the country of Georgia, who have suffered a year since the Russian invasion and occupation of their territories.

For more information on the 1989 Baltic Way, please see: http://www.balticway.net

For 2009 Baltic Way events in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania: http://www.balticway.net/index.php?page=naujienos&hl=en

For 2009 Baltic Way in DC event information, please contact JBANC at the address below or visit: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=111863782117

Karl Altau
Managing Director
Joint Baltic American National Committee, Inc.
Representing: Estonian American National Council, Inc., American Latvian
Association, Inc., Lithuanian American Council, Inc.
400 Hurley Avenue
Rockville, MD 20850
tel. 301-340-1954
jbanc@jbanc.org
http://jbanc.org
http://twitter.com/JBANCchatter

Baltia Air Lines executes agreement to buy Boeing 747

Start-up Baltia Air Lines Wednesday announced that it has executed the final Aircraft Purchase Agreement for its first Boeing 747.

New York-based Baltia aims to become the leading U.S. airline flying between major U.S. cities and Eastern European cities, such as Moscow, St. Petersburg, Riga (Latvia), Vilnius (Lithuania), Tallinn (Estonia), Minsk (Belarus) and Kiev (Ukraine).

The airline announced a letter of intent to buy a 747 on Aug. 4.

Baltia actually dates to 1989, but its financing collapsed with the disintegration of the Soviet Union two years later, according to an account on the Airline Blog. The blog has more details on what Baltia's been doing for the past two decades and also reports the start-up will buy the 747 from an unnamed American carrier.

Fly SAS from US to Tallinn - Low fares

SAS is offering more low fares than ever from more than 60 US cities to many destinations in Scandinavia and Finland. Looking for a European getaway? We are also offering great deals from our US gateways to many cities throughout Europe. We have just extended our sale to give those of you who have not already taken advantage of this great offer the opportunity to do so. Book your trip now for travel starting from August 17 - December 16, 2009. Sale ends August 25, 2009.   Low fares *Price examples are each way based on required roundtrip purchase; taxes, fees are additional; restrictions apply.     Washington D.C.           Milan/Riga/Tallinn/Vilnius/Gdansk/Warsaw     $ 274*     Chicago           Birmingham/Dublin/Manchester/Geneva/ Madrid/Rome/Riga/Tallinn/Vilnius/Gdansk/ Warsaw/Milan/Zurich     $ 274*   >> Click to read more about this offer incl. terms & conditions

EGO Golf Tournament

On Saturday, September the 19th, the EGO Golf Tournament will take place, presented by EGO (Estonian Golf Club of Ontario) and NEFC (National Estonian Foundation of Canada), at Mill Run Golf Club (269 Durham Road 8, Uxbridge).

Registration deadline is August 21th.

The registration forms including payments should be sent to Sven Lilleoru, 67 Elmwood Ave, Toronto, ON, M2N 3L8. Fees: $140 ($95 for youth under 25).

Contact: estoniangolfontario@gmail.com

Estonian Foundation : Pildid Jõekääru Perepaevast

There has been added a new photo album to the ESK website containing the photos of the Jõekääru Family Day, held on July 26th.

http://www.estonianfoundation.ca/gallery

The photos were taken by Prof Peeter Põldre.

Children put together a fantastic performance, which will be remembered for a long time!

55-nda Aasta Eesti Mängud Lakewoodis

Eesti Spordiliidu korraldusel peetakse Eesti Mängud Lakewood, NJ-s, 31. juulil - 2. augustil 2009. a. Mängude kava on järgmine:

* Reedel, 31. juulil:  kell 11:00 e.l. - Golfi vôistlused 10-ne minutilise gruppide vahega Lakewood Country Club’is, www.thelakewoodcountryclub.com , korraldavad Andrus Ers  ja Eddie Tomson;

- 7:30 p.l. - Keeglimängu (bowling'u) vôistlused Brunswick Lakewood Lanes'is (732-364-8080), 101 Locust Street, Lakewood, NJ, korraldab Toomas Tomson (847-271-6426);
- 10:00 p.l. - Tants noortele DJ saatel Eesti Majas, korraldab Markus Maasikas.

* Laupäeval, 1. augustil:  kell 9:00 e.l. - Kergejôustiku võistlused noortele ja masteritele Lakewood High School’i staadionil, 855 Somerset Ave (7th St. juures), korraldab Reino Truumees (201-274-4756);
- 10:45 e.l.  - Tennis Pine Park’is Lakewood’i Country Club’i taga, korraldab Eric Pallop (609-658-3305);
- 12:30 p.l. - Ujumise vôistlused Ocean County YMCA’s, 1088 West Whitty Road, Toms River, NJ, 08755-3279  (732-341-9622), korraldab Carl Skonberg (201-891-5337);
- 1:30 p.l. - Võrkpall Eesti Maja platsil, korraldab A.J. Laupa ja Carl-Erik Skonberg;
- 6:15 p.l. - Isiklik auhindade jagamine noortele;
- 7:15 p.l. - Defilee, üldauhindade jagamine parimate sportlastele ja valguspidu Eric Pallop’i korraldusel: esinevad Long Island’i Lastekodu noored ja Chicago'st esineb Esmaspäev, jt. Sellele järgneb tants orkester Esmaspäeva saatel.

* Pühapäeval, 2. augustil:  Vôrkpall ja päevitamine Jenkinson'i rannas, Jenkinson South, Point Pleasant'is.

Perekonnapaev Joekaaru lastelaagris

On Sunday, the July 26th, there will be a Family Day held at Jõekääru Children's Camp in Udora, Ontario, Canada.
The program starts at 11am with the Church Service. It is an opportunity to enjoy the performances of our talented children and take a look at their art skills in Timmase Arthouse.
Everyone is most welcome! Campsite available for tenting.

Additional info and driving directions at www.joekaaru.com

Dr. Endel Sepp, 1921-2009 ; longtime general practitioner made house calls

Head of medical staff at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital

By Joan Giangrasse Kates

Dr. Endel Sepp, a retired physician and past president of the medical staff at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital, left his homeland of Estonia and came to America in the early 1950s.

The longtime general practitioner cared for thousands of patients, from babies to great-grandparents.

"He treated three generations of patients, all within the same family," said his wife of 63 years, Ina.

Dr. Sepp, 88, formerly of Elmhurst, died of congestive heart failure Monday, June 22, at Windsor Park Manor in Carol Stream.

"Endel was one of the most caring and conscientious doctors on our staff," said retired surgeon and former colleague Dr. Arthur LeBeau, an emeritus member of the board of governors at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital. "He had the respect and admiration of his patients and of all of us who had the great pleasure of working with him."

National Estonian Foundation of Canada newsletter/ Eesti Sihtkapitali Kanadas ringkiri

From WNET.ORG/Channel THIRTEEN in New York and WNEB-Channel 61 in Toronto (Rogers):
WORLDFOCUS Four-part Singature Series
THE BALTICS

The week of April 6th, 2009, Worldfocus, the nightly international news program shown nationally on public television (check local listings) will be featuring a four-part Signature Series that examines life in the Baltics, specifically the countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

Worldfocus correspondent Daljit Dhaliwal travels across the region in a four-part "Signature Series." 

The Series includes a look at Latvia, "On the Brink".  Dhaliwal reports on how this tiny nation - a little bigger than West Virginia - is dealing with the recession hitting their country. 
 
As unemployment started to rise, it meant almost everyone in the country knew someone without a job.  Latvia's official unemployment rate is nine and a half percent - the second highest in Europe.  There's a sense of disbelief that the boom times that came with independence could be at an end.  Worldfocus looks behind the headlines to find a people both proud and angry and determined to recover.

In another Signature Series piece, "Estonia: In the Fight," Worldfocus examines Estonia's military after Soviet occupation, with a report on the country's soldiers headed to Afghanistan to fight alongside new allies. 
 
Estonia first sent troops to Afghanistan in 2002.  In 2003 they joined the "Coalition of the Willing" in Iraq.  One hundred and fifty Estonian troops are now in Afghanistan.  The report also delves into Estonians seeing a connection between their long history of occupation and other nations' desire for freedom.

Worldfocus also will report on Lithuania and the country's battles over language and its State language law.


And in the Signature Series report, "E-Stonia," Worldfocus takes a look at the country's national ID card which is full of encrypted digital information that lets it be used for everything from bus passes to tax returns.

April 2009 : National Estonian Foundation of Canada Event Listings Newsletter/ Eesti Sihtkapitali Kanadas Sündmuste Ringkiri

Toronto:
 

Estonian House Photo Contest
Every year since 1995 the Estonian House Art Committee Photo Competition and Show has brought together photographers from the Estonian community so they can share their unique perspectives of the world around us.  This year, the Estonian Photo Competition and Show will be held on the weekend of April 25th and 26th, 2009, and there will be two themes for the contest:  1)  Beauty in Enexpected Places, and 2) Growth.

These themes are open to the interpretation of the photographer, but what follows are some examples.  The theme of Beauty in the Unexpected captures the idea of striking scenes found in otherwise day to day settings, or visually stunning elements discovered in places that are less than beautiful (such as run down buildings or rubbish bins).  For Growth, the subject of the photo need not be related to traditional ideas like the growth of plants.  The theme is open to many possibilites, such as the growth of children, the growth of cities and cultures, or less direct interpretations that reveal themselves to the photographer. 

This year's photo competition will also feature a new team with the organizational responsibilites being taken over by Kaarin Lupp, 20, and Nicholas Jones, 26.  Both were drawn to the contest over the years through their interest in photography, and they are eager to make other young photographers from the Estonian community aware of the opportunities the photo contest offers.

For more information, please contact Nicholas Jones at 416 455 4805 or nmdjones@gmail.com
or Kaarin Lupp at 905 889 6440 or kaarin.lupp@gmail.com

The ESTO 2009 Smugglers Notch Ski Weekend is rapidly approaching

Esto skiers : March 12-15, 2009

This year we have selected Smugglers’ Notch, as our Esto Ski Trip location. Compared to other ski resorts… Smugglers’ Notch offers the best overall group value for both kids and adults ! To learn more about the resort log on to www.smuggs.com

The resort has provided us with great 3-night and 2-night packages. “Double” rates apply under normal situations when you are under the maximum people per condo. If you fill your condo to maximum capacity and utilize every bed, you can qualify for the lower “Value” rates.

Lodging package includes :

• 2- Night or 3- Night fully-Equipped Slopeside Condominium Lodging
• 2- Day or 3-Day, 3-Mountain Lift Tickets, X-Country & Snowshoe Trail Passes
• Non-Skier Package (Comp X-country, Snowshoe or Ice Skate Rentals)
• Use of Indoor Pool, Hot Tubs, Tube Sledding Hill, Ice Skating
• Access to FunZone Indoor Activity Area & SmuggsCentral
• Resort Village Daily Activities & Nightly Entertainment

Picturing Whatcom County people : Martin Kuuskmann

Celebrated musician shares his talent with the world, but relishes quiet life in Blaine

PHILIP A. DWYER

Blaine may seem an unlikely place for a world-renowned bassoonist, someone born and reared in Estonia during the Communist era and educated at Ivy League music schools. But between concert tours and twice-monthly teaching gigs in New York City, Martin Kuuskmann relishes returning to his wife and three small children in the quiet seaside city he now calls home.

When he's not traveling, he gives private music lessons on piano, clarinet and other woodwind instruments. Born in Tallinn, Estonia, Kuuskmann received a bachelor's degree in music from the Manhattan School of Music and master's degree from the Yale University School of Music. He and his family moved to Blaine in 2003 to be closer to his wife's family in Vancouver, B.C.

Here is his story, in his own words :

"A tuba player told me when I was 16 to play the bassoon, 'because you are tall enough and Estonia doesn't have enough bassoon players.' Four years later I was playing the bassoon, but I was playing in America.

"I love the West Coast. I grew up in Estonia and Tallinn is right on the sea. I love the fact that I am right near water and the mountains. I love the serenity and the calmness. And I like the people here. It is a very nice lifestyle. My life is crazy with all the travel. I see the big city life all the time. So to me the last place I want to live is in a big city.