Lögberg-Heimskringla - 10.09.2004, Side 3

Lögberg-Heimskringla • Föstudagur 10. september 2004 • 3
Davíð Oddsson and
r
Halldór Asgrimsson
switch positions
Davíð Oddsson and
Halldór Ásgrímsson will switch
positions in the Icelandic gov-
emment September 15.
When the coalition govem-
ment of the Independent Party-
and the Progressive Party was
formed last summer it was
decided that Halldór Ásgríms-
son would become the Prime
Minister 15 September 2004
and that the Independent Party
would take over the Ministry
for Foreign Affairs and the
Ministry of Environment.
Recently Prime Minister Davíð
Oddsson announced that he
would become the Minister for
Foreign Affairs and Halldór
Ásgrímsson announced that the
Minister of Environment Siv
Friðleifsdóttir would step
down. Sigríður Anna
Þórðardóttir of the Independent
Party will replace her.
Earlier this summer Davíð
Oddsson underwent two surger-
ies and his right kidney and his
thyroid were removed. He has
been the leader of the Indepen-
dent Party since 1991. He was
the Mayor of Reykjavík 1982 -
1991 and has been the Prime
Minister since 30 April 1991 or
for 13 years, four and a half
months.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MORGUNBLAÐIÐ
Halldór Ásgrímsson (left) and Davíð Oddsson will switch posi-
tions on September 15.
VIP Fund exceeds goal
The Valuing Icelandic
Presence (VIP) Fund has
recently passed $1.7 million
dollars in donations.
The VIP Fund, begun in
2000, is intended to preserve
and enhance the Icelandic
presence at the University of
Manitoba, supporting both the
Icelandic Collection at the
University library and the
Department of Icelandic.
According to the Fund
Committee’s most recent
report, during the past year the
committee has allocated a fur-
ther $31,165 of which $8,165
went to the Libraries to com-
plete the renovations account
for the Iceland Reading Room
and $23,000 to the Depart-
ment for the second academic
position. These bring thé total
disbursements from the Fund
as at June 16, 2004 to
$822,067.
Continuing receipt of
donations and investment of
funds as part of the University
of Manitoba Trust have added
considerably to the account
balances of the VIP Fund.
At June 16, 2004 the three
components (the nature of
which was described in the
September 26, 2003 issue of
Lögberg-Heimskringlá) were
as follows:
Capital $902,811.45
Capitalized Revenue 8,474.75
Current Revenue 38,638.01
Total $949,924.21
This means that the grand
surn of some $1,771,991 has
been received through dona-
tions and investments from
which the physical facilities of
the Iceland Reading Room
and the Collection have been
created, signifícant funds have
been provided to sustain the
important second academic
position in the Department
over the past several years and
the present ftnancial balance
of $949,924 created.
As noted in its previous
report, this Fund is an ongoing
account within the University
Trust and will continue to ben-
efit from both further dona-
tions, some of which have
been pledged as part of the
VIP Millennium Campaign,
and further returns from the
investments of the Trust. The
three major donors from Ice-
land, namely the Government
of Iceland, Eimskip and the
University-Eimskip Fund have
played a seminal role in this
fundraising without which its
success would have, at best,
been muted. But the commu-
nity at large should take great
pride in its own success in
establishing this important
Fund in support of the Ice-
landic presence at the Univer-
sity of Manitoba. Its future
looks bright indeed.
Best to live in Gimli
Gimli and Portage la
Prairie are two of the best 20
retirement communities in
Canada, according to
50Plus Magazine.
Gimli, the capitol of New
Iceland, is praised for
Islendingadagurinn, the Ice-
landic Festival of Manitoba,
recreational opportunities,
low-cost residential accom-
modations and the infra-
ICELANDIC NATIONAL LEAGUE
OF NORTH AMERICA
103 - 94 1ST AVENUE, GIMLI MANITOBA
FUNDRAISER
TO BE DRAWN AT BETEL HOME - 212 Manchester Ave. Selkirk, MB
16 JANUARY 2005 at 1:30 PM
1 st Draw - Framed Print by Cal Jolly of Utah Retail Value $250
2nd Draw - Complete Saga of lcelanders - 5 volumes Retail Value $450
3rd Draw - 27" Toshiba TV Retail Value $500
4th Draw - Trip for two to lceland from Minneapolis, $1000 CDN, 2 nights
at Bjorg Hotel, 1 day tour around Reykjavlk, Admission to
Blue Lagoon, Transport from and retum to airport at Keflavik
by Luxury Tours Retail Value $4284
Dates to be confirmed with ICELANDAIR. Seasonal restrictions may apply.
6000 tickets printed. License # MGCC2977RF.
All draws open to all tlcket holders.
Price $5.00 CDN each
Tickets available from INL Gimli Office 204-642-5897, e-mail: inl@mts.net;
Garry Oddleifson 204-255-1422, e-mail: goddleifson@mts.net;
or contact your club president
New Ströndin
program
The second instalment of
the Ströndin Intemet Radio
program is now available
online. The entire show was
recorded during the íslendin-
gadagurinn weekend in Gimli,
Manitoba, and includes inter-
views with Pat Peacock, Loma
Tergesen and Guy Maddin.
The show is 28 minutes long,
with Karen Vopnfjord as host
and interviewer.
To listen to the program,
visit www.pennan.ca/SIR/.
NDCA plans
exchange
with Iceland
The North Dakota Council
on the Arts (NDCA) plans to
forge a relationship and cultur-
al exchange between North
Dakota and Iceland.
This month, NDCA folk-
lorist Tróyd Geist will travel to
Iceland to conduct fieldwork
to locate and identify folk
artists in Iceland. He will meet
with representatives from the
University of Iceland, the Arni
Magnusson Institute and the
Icelandic Emigration Center in
Hofsós.
The plan is to hold a folk-
lore or folk art class exploring
and comparing traditions
found in North Dakota and
Iceland. Folk artists from
North Dakota would travel to
lceland for the class or work-
shop June 20 - 23 next year.
A second class is planned
for August 2006, during the
Deuce of August Celebration
in Mountain, ND, in which
artists from Iceland would visit
North Dakota.
Geist is looking for people
from North Dakota and Ice-
land who leamed folklore or
folk art in family or communi-
ty environment (as opposed to
a school or course) to possibly
present workshops. Those
interested are encouraged to
contact him by phone (701)
328-7590 or e-mail
tgeist@state.nd.us.
structure.
Furthermore Gimli is
one of 13 finalists in the UN-
endorsed competition for
International Awards for
Liveable Communities.
Gimli is the only North
American community in the
20,000 and under popula-
tion category. The winners
will be announced in Octo-
ber.
Betel Home Foundation
Gimli
Selkirk
/7 G^aÁVtkm
GaAincj,
m
GMnaÍitUf 89 tjeaM
o^ Gontúuroui Gcne
k/itUiH títe GonumaUttf.
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