Lögberg-Heimskringla - 24.04.1981, Síða 3

WINNIPEG, FÖSTUDAGUR 24. APRÍL 1981-3
Vestur-Islendingar
gather in Reykjavík
On March 17th, the
Þjóðræknisfélag (the Icelandic Na-
tional League) in Reykjavík spon-
sored a special evening of speeches,
music, coffee and cakes for the pur-
pose of gathering together all of the
Western-Icelanders in the city and
making them feel at home. The
event was organized by the presi-
dent of the Þjóðræknisfélag,
Ásgrímur Jónasson and his wife
Þórey Sveinbergsdóttir, with the
help of Melvin and Svava Mclnnis,
and it took place in the beautiful
banquet room at Hótel Borg. By 8:30
roughly 75 guests had arrived and
shortly thereafter Ásgrímur started
the evening's proceedings by
greeting the guests, announcing the
intention of the Þjóðræknisfélag in
sponsoring this affair and discussing
a few matters of interest to
members. Among other things, he
brought attention to the fact that
this year there are more charter
flights to Canada scheduled than
ever, including the popular charters
(1 this year) to Winnipeg and no less
than six similar flights to Toronto.
Various other travel packages he
described are optional and would
allow any interested Icelanders to
see a great deal of Canada in the
space of a few weeks. There seems
to be immense interest in these
many of those present had had somé
experience with learning Icelandic
as a second language -themselves.
Next, Ásgrímur introduced Jón
Ásgeirsson, the former editor of this
paper, who has this winter been
engaged with the Icelandic Red
Cross and their efforts to raise
money for relief in Africa. Last sum-
mer, Jón toured widely over both
Canada and the United States in
company with Sigfús Halldórsson,
Guðmundur Jónsson and Bill Holm,
who entertained Western Icelanders
from Ontario to California with
Continued on page 8
JOIN
ICELANDIC
CANADIAN FRÓN
Send membership fee of
$3.00 singie or $5.00 couple
to
Post Office Box No. X
St. James Post Office
Winnipeg, Man.
R3J 0H0
charters, and we can expect to have
a large number of Icelanders
visiting in Vesturheimi during this
coming summer.
Having finished this introduction,
Ásgrímur handed the microphone
over to Glen Jakobson, whom he
described as a young Vestur-
íslendingur and former employee of
Lögberg-Heimskringla, who had
come to Iceland in the fall and had
since been studying Icelandic at the
University. This young gentleman
then proceeded'to display what he
had learned of the language by
delivering a short and highly
ungrammatical speech in Icelandic
conveying greetings from America,
thanks to the Þjóðræknisfélag for
doing their part to keep intact such
good relations between Iceland and
the West, and some of his impres-
sions of Iceland. This speech was
well accepted despite its linguistic
imperfections, possibly because
From left: Linda Breckman,
Melvin Mclnnis, Linda Kris-
tiansson.
(Photo, Þórey Sveinbergsdóttir)
NEWICELANDIC COINS
Flrst year proof set
On January lst 1981 a currency
reform took place in Iceland involving a
100-fold increase in the value of the króna.
The reform included a complete currency
exchange, new notes and coins being put
into circulation. On the occasion of this
reform, the Central Bank of Iceland is
issuing this proof set of the new coins struck
in base metal with frosted relief.
AIl coins in the set bear the date 1981
- the first year of issue. Of special interest
are the designs which show various marine
animals on the obverse and Iceland’s land-
wights or guardian spirits on the reverse.
This special issue is limited to 15.000
sets, specially produced by the Royal Mint
in London, where Icelandic coins have been
struck for over 40 years.
Tbe proof coins are available in sets
only. Each set is sealed in a transparent
plastic case with attractive outer wrapper
and information card in English and
Icelandic.
X
Address.
Town____
State/Province
ZipCode
Price per set: U.S. $ 32.00 Can. $ 38.00.
Price includes handling, surface mail and
insurance.
Complete the order form below to
obtain this special issue and send with your
remittance to:
The Chief Cashier, Central Bank of Icelaind,
P.O. Box 160, 121 REYKJAVÍK, Iceland.
co
ÍNI
oi
m

ORDERFORM
Please send_________proof sets of the
new coinage of the Republic of Iceland.
Total remittance enclosed________
Name_____________________________