The Icelandic Canadian - 01.09.1981, Page 11

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
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reported “no definite reply had come from
the papers. Further developments therefore
had to be laid over until in the fall.”
At meeting after meeting Hjalmur gave
reports showing progress or non-progress
with the Icelandic papers (“the impossible
takes a little longer!” seemed to be his
motto). Finally on October 11, he reported
that Fleimskringla was prepared to allot 2 - 3
columns for our purposes (later Logberg
agreed reluctantly to participate.) The Club
would be responsible for filling these
columns and editing them. This would
encourage club members and others to exer-
cise their literary talents — if any. The
committee was to rotate monthly with
FIjalmur as chairman throughout. Mrs.
Salverson had to be away for a time and
Flelen Sigurdson (Mrs. L.A.S.) was ap-
pointed in her place; also Sigrun Lindal
(Mrs. Hannes L.).
The first column appeared Nov. 12,
1941. Hjalmur having written to several
capable people outside the city, some good
articles were sent in. On the appearance of
the columns the “committee was given a
hearty vote of thanks, for getting the project
off the ground, hampered as they had been
by lack of enthusiasm from some mem-
bers”.
At the meeting April 5, Hjalmur reported
that the English sections in the papers were
not very satisfactory as the editors had not
shown great enthusiasm (they were worried
that people would complain about too much
in English in the papers). Hjalmur suggested
that the Club start a paper of its own —
either a mimeographed news letter or a
quarterly magazine (to be sold for 25c a
copy — the balance of the cost to be covered
by advertising). At the next meeting he
showed samples of publications for con-
sideration. At subsequent meetings discus-
sions proceeded pro and con. At one point
the president said flatly, “We are not going
into the publishing business!” Mrs. Salver-
son looked at Hjalmur, and shook her head
as if to say “What’s the use!” But Hjalmur
had great tenacity of purpose and did not
give in easily. He reminded them that the
destitute Icelandic pioneers had immedi-
ately started a news letter which was carried
around the community by hand and a little
later started the paper “Framfari” in the
midst of a terrible epidemic, in New Ice-
land. “Why should we not venture forth in
this courageous spirit even if there were no
funds on hand to finance the project?”
So progress was made. A committee was
struck to look further into this matter: H. F.
Danielson, Sigrun Lindal, Helen Sigurd-
son, Mrs. Bjorn Petursson. At the general
meeting, May 31, 1942, Dr. Sigurdson
asked for an amendment to the minutes as
follows: “That the reasons for the renewed
efforts to publish a paper of our own and
discontinue the English sections in the Ice-
landic papers are not only that the papers are
not widely read by members (as stated
before at meetings); but also that the editors
of the papers had failed to co-operate fully
with the committee on the English sec-
tions”.
Hjalmur brought estimates of cost from a
few firms, for a 32-page mimeographed
magazine, at $125.00 for 600 copies —
printing the magazine would be more; and a
cover in two colours would be $116.35;
additional copies would cost extra. Esti-
mated cost from Viking Press for a similar
printing job (but 500 copies) would be
$125.00 tax included. Some of the com-
mittee had already secured some promises
of advertisements, which would be sold at
$20.00 a page. The magazine would be sold
for 25c a copy. There should be a demand
for it in the Icelandic settlements in Canada
and the U.S.A. Hjalmur moved that the
Club discontinue the English sections in the
papers and establish our own magazine. The
motion was carried.
Mrs. Laura G. Salverson was elected
Editor in Chief; Grace Reykda, Business
manager; Hjalmur Danielson, Circulation