Lögberg-Heimskringla - 15.11.2012, Qupperneq 3

Visit us on the web at http://www.lh-inc.ca
Lögberg-Heimskringla • 15. nóvember 2012 • 3
The ICCE held their Annual General Meeting in the afternoon of
October 21 where the new
Executive Board was elected.
The board has only one change
this time round, Barb Beirnes,
as Phoning Chairperson.
Two Bursary recipients,
Sophie Olsen and Jolene
Helgason, read their essays on
what being Icelandic means to
them. The other bursary recip-
ient is Nathan Robock who gave
his acceptance speech at the Leif
Eiriksson dinner. It certainly
made us proud to hear these
young people so enthusiastic
about their Icelandic heritage
and we can see future Board
members amongst them. We
wish them success in their
studies. Congratulations to all
three recipients.
Bev announced that our Club
is to be involved with Snorri
West this summer, hosting four
Icelandic students in July.
This was a very busy year
and club members are looking
forward to our Christmas Party
on November 18 and lots of
planning for 2013.
News
Over the past few months Fjóla has been showing up at many events sponsored by various Icelandic organizations. She
participated at Íslendingadagurinn in Gimli,
has attended the Jon Sigurdsson Chapter IODE
meetings in Winnipeg, and even went to the
INL conference in Brandon. People have been
wondering who is she and why’s she so visible.
Fjóla is the creation of sisters Helga Sigurdson
and Lilja Mann, a unique 17” porcelain collector’s
doll, dressed in the elegant Icelandic national
dress, the upphlutur. The blonde, blue-eyed
beauty’s black and white upphlutur were custom-
designed and crafted by Helga and Lilja, who have
donated her to the Jon Sigurdsson Chapter IODE.
She will be used to raise funds for the Children’s
Rehabilitation Hospital for the purchase of an
adaptive bicycle for a child with disabilities.
Many people have been tantalized by Fjóla, asking to purchase her. Although she is not for sale,
she will be raffled off. Along with her raffle tickets, Fjóla will continue to attend events. The raffle
will take place at Íslendingadagurinn in Gimli on August 4, 2013.
Karen Botting
Winnipeg, MB
Christkindlmarkt
Traditional German Christmas market with crafts, bakery, café,
German imports and entertainment
Fort Garry Place Mall• 81 Garry Street• Winnipeg
November 30 - December 2, 2012
Free admission
Call 204-989-8300 or email: gccmb@hotmail.com
The doll Fjóla with her creators
Helga Sigurdson and Lilja Mann
photo: kendra jónaSSon
Before assembling for what was generally conceded to be the final meeting of the Foam Lake Solskin
Ladies’ Aid, part of the group toured the
Douglas House museum and posed with
the group’s most recent gift to the Foam
Lake community, a 100-year-old wed-
ding dress and the mannequin who now
wears it. The dress had been worn by
Bjorg Gudmundson and passed down to
Anna Helgason, daughter of Ingimundar
Eiriksson, one of the first settlers. Anna
donated the dress to the Solskins.
The Solskins were formed on
February 14, 1926. Social fundraising
events were held at Bradrajorg Hall
where the first Icelanders had established
the original Foam Lake settlement.
Nine women attended the first
meeting. The organization grew, but fell to
nine members on the books on Tuesday,
October 9, when the seven members
present voted, “reluctantly” to disband.
Solskin was organized to act as a social
club for the women, with no business
conducted at some meetings, and as a
way to support elderly Icelanders. The
second objective was quickly widened to
supporting the entire community and, in
later years, the September meeting was
devoted to parcelling out all the money
that had been raised in the previous year
and donating it to various projects for the
betterment of the entire community
The Solskins have held a range
of fundraisers over the years since
they held their first pie social in 1926.
However, their tradition has been the
raffle of a handmade quilt. The original
ones were made from pure wool and
members also raised money by charging
$3 to recover a quilt. In 1948, they sold
quilts for $25.
With the advent of free health
services, access to seniors’ housing and
nursing homes, and grants available for
many projects, the need for the Solskin
donations has decreased, said members.
And there is no longer a need for a
specific club to provide women with an
opportunity for social visiting.
There were few orders of business
at the final meeting. Following the vote
to disband, members voted to donate
their current books to the Foam
Lake Museum. The earlier books are
already there. The Solskins also voted
unanimously to turn their final bank
balance over to the Foam Lake Water
Park project. “It will serve every part
of the community. It will benefit
the youngsters, and that’s what we
have tried to do over the years,” the
members said.
The Solskins also agreed that
they would try to reunite once a year,
probably in June, just for coffee and
the social visit that was once such an
integral part of the organization.
End of an era – Solskin disbands
Above: Members of the Foam
Lake Solskin Ladies’ Aid pose
with the Icelandic wedding
dress they donated to the local
museum
Joan Eyolfson Cadham
Foam Lake, SK
photoS: joan eyolfSon cadham
ICCE holds AGM
Linda Cornell
Edmonton, AB
The ICCE executive: back row from left: Eric Oddleifson,
Linda Cornell, Shawna-Fay Schroeter, Joedy Englesby,
Barbara Beirnes, Diane Robock, Susan Hallett, Charles
Grant. Seated from left: Tanya Hofforth with baby Mark,
Bev Arason-Gaudet, Pat Bond, Solli Sigurdson.
photo: linda cornell
During the ICCE AGM, two Bursary recipi-ents, Sophie Olsen and
Jolene Helgason, read their es-
says (see page 5). The third bur-
sary recipient, Nathan Robock,
gave his acceptance speech at
the Leif Eiriksson dinner.
Nathan has been studying at
Grant MacEwan University in
Edmonton for about four years
in a wide variety of disciplines
and has now decided to focus
on mathematics as it has always
been a strong area of interest for
him. He plans to work towards
his PhD in this area. He is
involved in research, tutors
other students, and enjoys his
time at University very much.
Nathan is an Arnfinson,
which used to be spelled
Arnfinnson but was changed
by his great-grandfather, Sigfus
(Fusie) Arnfinson. His great
great-grandparents and their
children came from Iceland
and settled in Manitoba. They
were raised in the Lundar
area, where some of the
Arnfinnson clan remain today.
Great-grandfather Fusie was a
member of the ICCE and his
great-aunt Illa was one of the
Fjalkonas during that time.
Nathan has volunteered
with the ICCE at casinos,
Heritage Days, and the library.
He hopes to participate in the
Snorri Program someday.
Although he says he does not
know a great deal about the
Icelandic heritage and his
Icelandic roots, he has become
very interested in them.
Linda Cornell
Edmonton, AB
Nathan Robock earns ICCE scholarship
Have you met Fjóla?
Left: The final meeting of the
Foam Lake Solskins