Lögberg-Heimskringla - 09.09.2005, Blaðsíða 4

4 • Lögberg-Heimskringla • Friday 9 September 2005
Where’s
David Jón Fuller
Managing Editor
I’m sitting here in Lögberg-
HeimsknnglcC s'spacious of-
fice on Portage Avenue and
thinking about knitting. No,
that isn’t just writer’s block as
I sit down in a new chair to pen
my very first editorial — there
is a connection between knit-
ting and this newspaper.
The only thing I know how
to knit is an Icelandic sweat-
er. It’s amazing how difficult
people think that is, especial-
ly when I tell them I can knit
that pattern book...?
a whole sweater in a month.
“Just a month!” they ususally
say, to which I respond, “It’s no
big deal. My mom can knit one
in a weekend.”
The next thing people
usually say is, “Can you knit
me one?” to which I am often
tempted to answer, “Talk to my
mom.”
I like the feel of the thick
Icelandic wool, and since I’m
not particularly dextrous, it’s a
lot easier on my patience than
regular wool. And as for the
complex pattems in the sweat-
er, well, it’s all there in the dia-
gram, and if you can count, you
can knit.
I’ve been reading L-H for
around a decade now, as a sub-
scriber, sometime writer and
employee of the paper. While
the look and feel of the paper
changes with each new person
who comes aboard as editor or
designer, the main thing that
people remember is what they
read in the paper. Certain writ-
ers contribute again and again;
others, sporadically.
Similarly, there are many
voices in the Icelandic commu-
nity. Some of them have been
heard through L-H, some have
not. I think it’s mainly a mat-
ter of finding them and hearing
their stories. Of course, you
can’t knit an Icelandic sweater
with only one colour of wool
— not without. the result be-
ing a bit boring. If every issue
of L-H featured only a lot of
one thing, that would be boring
too.
It’s a problem previous edi-
tors have tackled in their own
ways, and soon I’ll find my
way, too. Gunnur Isfeld used
to refer to the horror of “eight
blank pages” — meaning how
on earth would we fill up each
issue. • And having worked with
Lillian Vilborg MacPherson on
trying to include more news
from all across North Amer-
ica, I know the stories are out
there. Working with Steinþór
Guðbjartsson has added a new
level to it, which is how do we
have regular features in every
issue? (A sports section? Arts
coverage? Other components
people enjoy in a newspaper?)
L-H currently does not pay for
submissions, so finding enough
volunteers to write on an ongo-
ing basis is a challenge.
So, as previous editors
have done before me, I’m ex-
tending an invitation to anyone
with a story idea, lead, hook,
full-blown article, what have
you, to contact me and let me
know about it. I know there are
a lot of different skeins of wool
out there; let’s see what kind of
sweater we can make.
Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor:
The people of Markerville
are right. The picture on page
4 in Issue 15 of Lögberg-Heim-
skringla (August 12,2005) is not
of Pastor and Mrs. Pétur Hjálms-
son but of his parents, Reverend
Hjálmur Pétursson and Helga
Amadóttir. Hjálmur, who was a
member of the Parliament, and
Helga lived in Borgarfjörður.
They had 14 children and 10
of them survived to adulthood.
Pétur and his brother Benedikt
(bom September 23, 1866) emi-
grated to North America.
Most sincerely,
Snorri Þorsteinsson
Hrafnakletti 2,
Borgames, Iceland
* * *
Dear Editor and L-H readers:
As my stay in Gimli has
now ended, I would like to thank
everyone who subscribed and
made pledges.
Although we have a long
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way to go in subscription, a
rough estimate is we only have
1-2% of people of Icelandic de-
scent subscribing to the paper.
The Lögberg-Heimskringla is an
important tool for keeping us all
united and connected; it is our
last link to keeping our culture.
and heritage alive.
If you know someone or
your offspring knows someone
of Icelandic descent, send their
names in to the Lögberg-Heim-
skringla.
Last but not least, we would
appreciate more volunteers to
promote the paper and work in
the office, and on special events
during the year.
I’d like to thank the people
who have volunteered from Ar-
borg and Gimli and Selkirk and
given their time freely to pro-
mote the paper and its objec-
tives.
Thank you and goodbye un-
til next year.
Walter Sopher
Edmonton, AB
* * *
Dear Editor and Staff:
How pleased I am that you
have published a book of the
writings of Lillian Vilborg. I am
one of her admirers and deeply
appreciated all that she wrote.
Though I never met her, I felt
that I did, indeed, know her.
Hún var “sannur Islendin-
gur" og fyrir það er ég þakklá-
tur.
Lögberg-Heimskringla con-
tinues in the splendid legacy she
has left us.
Yours tmly and with grati-
tude,
George Hanson
Port Townsend, WA
New Icelandic
Canadian out
The latest issue of The
Icelandic Canadian magazine
(Vol. 59, No. 3 2005) is now
available. The currrent issue
features a guest editorial by
Heather Alda Ireland; part 2 of
“The Ferry Repossessed” by Er-
ling Palsson, Gudjon Valggeirs-
son and Valentinus Olason; po-
etry by Douglas Henderson and
much more. For more informa-
tion, contact Loma Tergesen at
(204) 642-9650.
A survey among readers of Lögberg - Heimskringla
Please circle your answers
Gender:
Male Female
Are you of Nordic origin: lceland
Norway
Age:
Faeroe Islands Greenland
Denmark Sweden
18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 Over 56
Finland
Marital status: Single Married Other
Occupation: Professional Employed Student Retired Other
How do you plan your travel: Books Internet Travel agency Other
How long holidays do you usually take: I -7 days 7-14 days More than 14 days
Would you consider travel by ferry between Canada and lceland, if such a connection would be an
option: Yes No
If you could travel by ferry to lceland with your own vehicle, would you be interested to continue to
Europe Yes No
What North American harbour would be the most practical for you with respect to boarding (you can
name I - 4 cities)?
I. 2: 3. 4.
Please return completed survey to Lögberg-Heimskringla, 100-283 Portage Avenue.Wpg., MB R3C IY3
Lögberg-
Heimskringla
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MANAGING EDITOR:
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(204) 927-5645
david@lh-inc.ca
LAYOUT EDITOR
David Jón Fuller
(204) 927-5644
brendon@lh-inc.ca
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT: Grant Stefanson
VICE-PRESIDENT: Julianna
Bjornson
TREASURER: Bill Perlmutter
SECRETARY: Elva Jónasson
BOARD MEMBERS:
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