BONJOUR L'ESTONIE

JBANC founded 50 years ago on April 27, 1961

The Joint Baltic American National Committee, Inc. (JBANC) was founded on April 27, 1961.

The Committee was founded during a period of great political and social upheaval: the Cold War had been going on for 15 years, and would last for another 30. The Berlin Wall would go up in just over three months. JFK had become U.S. President three months earlier. Sierra Leone declared itself independent that day from British rule. Colonialism was crumbling around the world, everywhere but within the expanding Soviet empire.

In 1961 it had been over twenty years since the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania were occupied and illegally annexed by the Soviet Union. The Second World War had ended 16 years earlier in 1945, but the Baltic struggle would continue – in the forests and on the home front, but also across the Baltic Sea and further away across the Atlantic Ocean. The United States, thanks to the Welles Declaration of July 23, 1940, had not and would never legally recognize the Soviet takeover of the Baltic countries nor the legitimacy of Soviet rule. This non-recognition policy would last for over fifty years until 1991.

Lithuanians historically had a larger presence in America than Estonians and Latvians, primarily due to earlier waves of immigration in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Lithuanian American Council was established in 1915, and was reorganized in 1940 to address new wartime concerns and challenges.

The largest migrations, however, of post-war Balts arrived in the United States about ten years prior to JBANC’s founding, following the signing of the Displaced Persons Act into law in 1948 by President Harry Truman. This allowed tens of thousands of Estonians, Latvians, and Lithuanians to come to the United States, mostly between 1948-1952. These newly-arrived Balts joined or set up organizations, schools, and cultural and religious institutions, and thus established their presence throughout the United States, from small farming communities to the largest urban centers, especially in the Northeast and Midwest. It was during this time, in the early 1950’s, when the American Latvian Association and the Estonian American National Council came into being.

Estonians now Finland’s largest immigrant group

Estonians are currently Finland’s largest group of foreign-born residents. According to the Finnish Population Register Centre, there were 28,965 Estonian citizens living in Finland at the end of last year.
      The Estonians narrowly overtook the Russians, who numbered 28,459 at the end of 2010.
     
“People come here from Estonia mainly as labour”, says Antti Saastamoinen of the police immigration unit. Saastamoinen is responsible for registering EU citizens living in Finland.
      “Judging from the labour contracts, construction and cleaning are the biggest sources of employment. It is much rarer for professionals involving high levels of education to come to Finland to work from across the Gulf of Finland.”
     
Estonians are driven to seek work in Finland by their own country’s poor employment situation.
      Urmas Soots, from Otespää, came to Finland to study already in 1990, when Estonia was still part of the Soviet Union.
      “Then I just stayed, as the system became more familiar, and I felt good here. In Estonia the construction industry is so quiet that there would probably not be much work available. All contractors are either here or in Sweden”, says Soots, a 38-year-old construction engineer.

ESK KÜSITLUS / EFC SURVEY

 
Kallis Kanada eesti ühiskonna toetaja, 

Eesti Sihtkapital Kanadas (ESK) palub Teie arvamust Kanada eesti ühiskonna tuleviku kohta järgmiseks 10 aastaks. Teie vastused on väga olulised! Vastates küsimustele saate kujundada Kanada eesti ühiskonna arengusuunda aastani 2020.

Küsimustikus on 23 küsimust ja selle täitmiseks kulub maksimaalselt 10 minutit. Vastamine on anonüümne. Küsitluste tulemused on aluseks arutlusele suurel rahvakoosolekul.
Rahvakoosolek toimub 31 mail 2011a, algusega kell 18.30 Toronto Eesti Majas ESK juhtimisel.

Palume Teie vastuseid 2 maiks 2011a.

Siin on link küsitluse juurde:  Eesti keelne küsitlus 
Suur tänu Teie abi eest!
Teie ESK Juhatus

Hamiltoni Eesti Seltsi Segakoor

Hamiltoni Eesti Seltsi Segakoor kutsub tähistama jõule Seedriorus. Ainulaadne üritus pakub lahedate jõuluaja dzässmuusikat Jack McFadden Trio esituses ja jõululaule, mida laulab HES'i Segakoor. Ette loetakse koori liikmete ja nende sugulaste mälestusi jõulude tähistamisest esmiese Eesti Vabariigi ajal, Nõukogude ajal, tänapäeva Eestis ja Kanadas.
Perede jõulumälestuste kohta tuleb ka audiovisuaalne esitlus. Pärast muusikalist osa toimub einelaud ja vaikne oksjon, mille tulud lähevad Seedrioru Lastesuvelaagrile.
 
The Hamilton Estonian Society Mixed Choir will present its Christmas Celebration at Seedrioru. This will be a unique event, mixing smooth Christmas jazz with the Jack McFadden Trio and carols sung by the HES choir. There will also be readings about Christmas' past, present and future written by present members of the HES choir and relatives who have experienced what Christmas was like during "Esimene Vabariigi Eesti", Soviet Times, and nowadays in both Canada and Estonia. There will also be an audio-visual presentation of family Christmas celebration memories.
A reception after the musical portion of the afternoon will accompany a silent auction, with proceeds going to the Children's Camp. 
 
Sissepääs/Admission: Vabatahtlik annetus/ Donation
Please bring along a toy as a donation to underprivileged children in Estonia.
Information:    Linda Montgomery, [email protected], Norman Reintamm, [email protected]
Facebook Event: Click Here

The Singing Revolution has been accepted for national television broadcast ...

Dear TSR Friends,

We are very excited to announce that The Singing Revolution has been accepted for national television broadcast across the United States on PBS stations. This is yet another benchmark for the film’s reach, and it has all happened with the support of friends like you. Thank you. We now have the opportunity to share this story with millions more people.

And once again we need your help.  We need underwriting sponsors to maximize the number of people who will see The Singing Revolution. Underwriting support allows us to hire a marketing service that specializes in reaching PBS programming executives. This service means the difference between playing on a small number of stations versus reaching most of the U.S.

If you know of a group, business, organization, or individual that would be in a position to financially sponsor the film, please pass this information on to them or contact us directly. We need to raise $100,000, and sponsorships of $25,000 or more will receive on-air promotion at the beginning and end of the program.

Vintage Estonia : Christmas ornaments

Vintage Estonia showcases the creative talent, graphic design and illustrations of Axel Roosman, produced when he was a young man living in Estonia between the years 1918 ~ 1940. These vintage ads are now available on T-shirts, hoodies, tank tops, mugs, aprons and other items, that make for a truly unique gift giving experience to share with friends and family.

NOW you can pick your own shirt styles and colours. Take note however, that dark colours like black, brown and navy will not always be the best colour choice for your apparel item as the images will not show up as well. Click on the Flag and Products Icon to see the product categories. Happy shopping!

Christmas Fairs at the Toronto Estonian House

Get into the Holiday Spirit: Two Christmas Fairs at the Toronto Estonian House on November 13th, 2010!

Baltic and Friends Christmas Fair
Laupäeval, 13. novembril kell 9.00-15.00/ Saturday, November 13th from 9am - 3pm
Toronto Eesti Majas/Toronto Estonian House
Featuring Baltic & Scandinavian artists, exhibitors, imports, foods, beverages, door prizes!  $2 admission; under 16 Free. 
Please contact Siiri Ruccella for more information.  Baltic and Friends is very happy to welcome new talented artists, craftsmen, and entrepreneurs to take part in this event!  Siiri Ruccella - [email protected], (416)602-1596.

Eesti Gaiderite Kogu Kanada Koondise Mini-Jõululaat/ Estonian Girl Guides in Canada Annual Christmas Fair
Laupäeval, 13. novembril kell 9.00-13.00 Toronto Eesti Majas keskmises saalis/ Saturday, November 13th from 9am to 1pm Toronto Estonian House Crystal Hall. 
Müügil jõuluvorstid, piparkoogid, pirukad, koogid, saiad, kinkeesemeid ja palju, palju muud.  Hubasest kohvikust saadaval maitsvaid võileibu, pirukaid, hapukapsaid, suppi.  Sissepääs $1.00

Older Estonian expats urged to consider returning

When the nation says it wants Estonians to come home, it is making clear that invitation has no age restrictions. 

Minister of Social Affairs Hanno Pevkur, who is on a visit to Toronto's sizable Estonian community, including the Ehatare retirement home, said that Estonia stands willing to provide all facets of assistance and support.

"Estonia has a bilateral agreement with Canada on social affairs that ensures the rights of everyone regardless of whether they live in Canada or Estonia. Estonian retirement homes are becoming better and better every year and Estonians living in Canada could give serious consideration to returning to Estonia," said Pevkur.  

Pevkur also met with administrators of one of Canada's biggest hospitals, Sunnybrook, regarding possible exchange of workforce. 

Sunnybrook is already working with the Tallinn Children's Hospital, and this visit generated ideas for offering patients at smaller hospitals better care through the use of telemedicine.

 

Discussions also pertained to developments in specific medical care, such as oncology, and exchange of medical know-how. "It is gratifying to see that Estonia has provided a bit of a role model here as to how to arrange post-natal care for newborns," said Pevkur.

Husband and wife, Walters, Kiin, publish books

Jack Walters and his wife, Sirje Kiin, both have recently published books.

Walters, a Dakota State University faculty member has published his first book entitled Positive Management, Increasing Employee Productivity. The book is part of the Strategic Management Series edited by Mason Carpenter.
His wife, Kiin, has published her ninth book. Written in Estonian, Kiin's latest book is entitled, European Travels of Marie Under.

Walters said his book is referred to as an airplane book, because its size is ideal for reading on an airplane. The target audience is mid- to upper-level managers.
Walters said he was approached about writing the book in early 2009. He spent the next nine months writing the book that was published this past June.

"Given the situation, and the global economy, and us being a first-world country, the best productive method is to create a partnership or a collective effort," Walters said.
The idea of positive management started circulating about 10 years ago, Walters said, and definitely merits more study. It's an idea similar to what is presented in the television series Undercover Boss, where the company CEO goes undercover and works in a variety of positions within the company. The CEO typically completes the week with some insight on the company and changes that could be made to improve efficiency.

Walters said the idea of Undercover Boss is based on the idea that the CEO gets isolated from the rest of the company.

Walters said he plans to continue exploring the idea of Positive Management through the publication of papers.
"It's a relatively new idea," he said. "It needs more study."

Seeking native speakers of Estonian for transcription/translation of audio/video

We are a Translation company in New York and are looking for native speakers from Estonia residing in North America for transcription and translation of documentary footage, corporate videos and interviews from Estonian languages and dialects into English. Candidates are required to write excellent English, they must have been raised in Estonia at least until they were 15-16 years old and later on immigrated to the United States or Canada.

This is an independent contractor work at home position that if qualified you can do also during the evenings and or weekends depending on your availability. Applicants need to have high-speed internet at home so that they can download and play digital file formats such as WMV, MPEG-4, QuickTime, MP3, WAV, AIFF, WMA. Please see below the job requirements and instructions on how to apply.

We have a small project starting immediately and look forward to receiving applications asap.

Should you meet the criteria but not be available at present time, please mention this in your application as we are still interested in receiving your application for future reference.
If you know of US or Canada residents native in Estonian that were born and raised in Estonia with near native-level English, it would be great if you could forward this recruitment notice to them.

Looking forward to hearing from you,
Best Regards,

Julie H. Setbon
iProbe Multilingual Solutions, Inc.
[email protected]

Formula driver Sten Pentus came from darkness to light

Estonian racing driver, Sten Pentus, has emerged from almost total obscurity to become one of the leading contenders in the 2010 World Series by Renault 3.5 Championship, which has been racing at the legendary race circuits of Europe this summer. The story of one man’s ambition, his fight against the odds, and the ingredients that have been the keys to his success.

New York - With Sten’s current success, in the high profile and fiercely competitive, World Series by Renault, you would be forgiven for thinking that this determined young Estonian racer had years of top class racing behind him and a wealth of experience under his belt. In reality Sten has only been competing in motorsports since 2001, and in international competition since 2004. Unlike many of his competitors, Sten did not come up through the ranks in a traditional manner with the advantage of learning the ropes from years in the brutal world of European and World Championship karting; in fact he wasn’t even able to participate in a full season of car racing until 2009, due to some mid season injuries in 2008, and lack of budget prior to that.

Sten has not had the luxury of a lot of his contemporaries, who would have grown up and started their careers in a culturally advanced and modern environment. The reason is simple; Sten grew up and was educated in the Baltic state of Estonia which until 1991 was effectively in “darkness” as a Soviet Satellite State. Social and Economic reform began in 1991, and since then Estonia has grown positively from it’s long dark period. The nation has been quick to learn from the culture of Western Europe, although motorsport culture did not develop at anywhere near the same rate as it’s social or business culture. Before Estonia’s independence, opportunities for motorsport involvement were very limited as individuality, imagination and awareness of Western Society were suppressed.

Midfielder Joel Lindpere's goal in the 23rd minute lifts Red Bulls past Toronto FC

In international soccer circles, Estonia is, well, Estonia.

Having said that, the tiny Baltic country is rarely favored in an international match.

Yesterday, however, it was, but Red Bulls midfielder Joel Lindpere, having just traveled back from Chicago on Monday following Sunday night’s game against the Fire, decided not to make the long flight even though he was called up for Estonia’s home European Championship qualifier against the Faroe Islands.

Last night, that decision proved the difference in the game.

Lindpere scored the only goal as the second-place Red Bulls extended their lead over third-place Toronto FC to five points with a 1-0 victory before 19,035 fans at Red Bull Arena.

Estonia also fared well. It trailed the Faroe Islands, 1-0, in second-half stoppage time before rallying for a 2-1 victory.

Tide signs Estonian national champion

TUSCALOOSA - University of Alabama men’s tennis coach Billy Pate has announced the signing of Daniil Proskura, who will join the Crimson Tide in January 2011.

Proskura, a native of Tallinn, Estonia, is a national champion by virtue of claiming the Boys 18 Singles title. In international competition, he has posted outstanding results on the junior circuit this summer, most recently defeating the No. 1 junior player in the world and current Wimbledon Juniors defending champion Marton Fucsovics. Proskura won the Pajulahti Cup in Finland, claiming all five matches in straight sets. He also made it to the finals of the Estonian Junior Open in June.

“We’re very excited to have Daniil join us in January,” Pate said. “He is a young, up and coming player who we believe can perform at a high level right away. He has posted great results this summer and displays an exceptionally mature and professional attitude toward his tennis career.”

All rights reserved

Andersen Racing race report

Andersen Racing's Kasemets Finishes Sixth, Jorda 15th In Toronto Firestone Indy Lights Race Sunday

TORONTO, Ontario, July 18 - Andersen Racing's Tonis Kasemets of Mundelein, Ill. clawed his way from ninth to a sixth-place finish in the Toronto 100 Firestone Indy Lights race Sunday morning on the Toronto street circuit. His teammate, Carmen Jorda of Miami, got as high as 12th before retiring after a spin to finish in the same position that she started, 15th.

Kasemets (whose name is pronounced Toe-NEES KAHZ-uh-mets), had his hands full throughout the 50-lap race on the 1.755-mile, 11-turn street course that is very tight and therefore generates single-file racing. The drivers who finished right in front and right behind him set the fastest laps of the race.

Stefan Wilson, who finished fifth, set the fastest lap of the race on lap 17 with a 1:05.8173 (95.993 miles per hour). The driver who finished seventh, Martin Plowman, had the second-fastest lap of the race with a 1:05.9094 (95.859 mph) on lap 43. The fastest lap Kasemets turned in the Andersen Racing No. 5, which is sponsored by Flexovit, Allied Building Products, Northcentral Construction and the Novotel Toronto North York hotel, was a 1:06.3252 (95.258 mph) on lap 42.

Kasemet's fastest race lap was faster than his qualifying speed and even faster than the 1:06.7397 he ran in Sunday's warm-up session, where the native of Parnu, Estonia posted the third-fastest time.

Paavo Järvi at Le Festival de Lanaudiere

Great Music for the Great Outdoors
Amphitheatre de Joliette, 1655, boul. Base-de-Roc, Joliette, Québec
Friday, July 30th, Saturday, July 31, and Sunday, August 1st



Friday, July 30th at 8pm - The Four Schumann Symphonies with Paavo Järvi and Die Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen. 
Following their Beethoven symphony cycle in 2007, which critics hailed as the event of the year, Die Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen under Paavo Järvi returns to the Festival with the four symphonies of Schumann, whose bicentenary is being observed this year.  This is truly a special offering to music lovers as the Amphitheatre will be the only venue in North America where this conductor and orchestra will play this repertory.  Info/ Tickets: Click Here
Saturday, July 31st at 8pm - Hilary Hahn - Beethoven's Violin Concerto - with Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Paavo Järvi (direction)
"Hahn is one of those rare perfromers who can dazzle you with the warmth of her personality and knock you dead with the dexterity of her technique and the emotional depth of her interpretations." (Los Angeles Times).  She joins Paavo Järvi and his orchestra in Beethoven's masterly Violin Concerto.  Info/Tickets: Click Here
Sunday, August 1st at 2pm - Piotr Anderszewski Plays Mozart, with Paavo Järvi and Die Deutsche Kammerphilharmonoie Bremen
For his appearance at the Festival, Piotr Anderszewski plays a concerto brimming with heavenly harmony and Mozartian elegance.  On this upbeat note, the concert closes with Schumann's Symphony no. 3 (Rhenish), the final installment in the Schumann cycle and one of the composer's most exuberant works.  Info/ Tickets: Click Here
 

Dear friends of the Estonian Foundation of Canada

Making a difference in the lives of others is one of the most fulfilling things we can do. Most of us hold our homes, communities, the places we have lived, played, worked, and raised a family, close to our hearts. Many of us want to find a way to give back to these special places. Some want to show their appreciation, others feel a sense of duty, and many just enjoy the feeling of giving back. This year, you can make a difference, too.

The Estonian Foundation Gala, which will be held at the Palais Royale (Toronto) on May 15th, 2010 beginning at 6pm, promises to be a memorable evening of exquisite dining and entertainment. This is an excellent opportunity to reconnect with old friends or meet and mingle with other community leaders and philanthropic contributors, many of whom attended our first gala in 2008.

The beautiful Palais Royale, renovated and rejuvenated, will be a fitting backdrop to host the 2nd biennial EFC Gala. The Palais Royale, originally opened in 1922 as a dance hall and boat factory, has played host to many famous acts like Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, and the Dorsey Brothers throughout the years. The venue was also used during Esto 84 as "Anchor" nightclub. The return of Palais Royale has given Toronto back its greatest lakefront entertainment venue, and will once again give gala attendees a chance to experience a night to remember along the boardwalk of Lake Ontario.

Joel Lindpere to play at RFK Stadium on Saturday, May 1

The New York Red Bulls, led by their star Estonian playmaker Joel Lindpere, will play a match this Saturday against D.C. United at RFK Stadium. The match is scheduled to begin at 4 PM.
He is a truly gifted player, and is one of the main reasons why New York is leading the Eastern Conference of Major League Soccer.
Additional information about the match can be found on either the Red Bulls’ or DC United’s websites:

www.dcunited.com
www.newyorkredbulls.com

Here is Lindpere’s webpage on Major League Soccer’s website: http://www.majorleaguesoccer.com/player/joel-lindpere

As you may know, he has recorded two “firsts” this year for New York:
1. Scored the inaugural goal in the grand opening of Red Bull Arena (in friendly against Santos of Brazil);
2. Scored the first MLS goal ever recorded at Red Bull Arena (against Chicago). Here is a recap of that match and a description of his great play: http://www.mlssoccer.com/content/recap-lindperes-goal-thrills-rba

I thought your readers would want to be reminded that one of Estonia’s stars is coming to town.

Don Mooers

Toddler left at home alone for 24 hours

SOUTHFIELD - A 16-month old boy was left alone in an apartment in Southfield as his parents remained jailed on suspicion of fraud.

Police said they received a call just before 10 p.m. Wednesday telling them the child was home alone in an apartment located at 12 Mile and Franklin roads.

When officers arrived at the home, they found the child sleeping alone on a bed with a soiled diaper.

"Officers found an apple, partially eaten, next to him," said Lt. Nick Loussia.

Police said it appears the baby may have been home alone for 24 hours.

The baby was taken to the hospital to be checked out.

Upon investigating, police found the parents had been arrested in Macomb County Tuesday evening on identity theft, credit and computer fraud charges.

Sterling Heights police confirmed Danius Vysniauskas, 37, of Estonia and Tatsiana Leichanka, 25, or Russia were arrested on April 20 at the Chase Bank located at 5601 Metro Parkway.

Toronto - Hotdocs Film Festival 2010 : "Disco and Atomic War"

Hotdocs Film Festival 2010: Estonian Film "Disco and Atomic War"
Showtimes:  Friday, April 30th at 9:15pm, The ROM Theatre, OR,
Saturday, May 1st at 2pm, Cumberland 2 Theatre

 

Winner of the Best Documentary prize at the Warsaw International Film Festival, this witty, charming, and provocative film recounts how Estonian engineers fabricating makeshift TV antennas, and rural farm girls updating townspeople on the plot developments on "Dallas", led to the demise of the Soviet Union. Even at the height of the Cold War, the Iron Curtain couldn’t stop the people of Estonia from rigging their Soviet-made televisions to pluck the forbidden cultural fruit broadcast by Finnish TV. Blending dramatic reconstructions with informative interviews and delightfully kitschy archival footage, Jaak Kilmi’s lighthearted film takes the shape of a political thriller as it depicts the incomparable role that the “soft power” of Western popular culture played in shaping the worldview of Soviet children. A totalitarian regime faced off against the temptations of popular culture—and lost.
More info: http://www.hotdocs.ca/film/title/disco_and_atomic_war
 

Jüripäev at Järvemetsa : April, 25th