The Icelandic Canadian - 01.06.2000, Page 17

Vol. 55 #4
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
315
The disbursable income from the Multiculturalism Fund, along with annual subventions of a
part of the income of the ILL Fund, has been used in the recent years to augment the funds provid-
ed by the University to support a second position in the Department, lately held by Dr. Daisy
Neijmann and, latterly, Ms. Kristin Johannsdottir. It is significant to note, however, that the use of
the income from the Multiculturalism Fund is not limited to the support of an appointment but
rather, in its purpose, includes the wide range of other related Canadian-Icelandic activities identi-
fied in the last quoted paragraph above.
The Capstone
The magnificent efforts of all those who organized and supported both the original endowment
campaign and the later HIP campaign, and the continuing support for both Department and
Collection by the University, have well and truly laid the foundation for, and constructed the two
pillars essential to the support of a continuing Icelandic Presence at The University of Manitoba -
with all the importance that that has for the sustained interest ( both scholarly and lay) in, and preser-
vation and enhancement of Icelandic culture and heritage in Manitoba, in Canada and in North
America - and, indeed, internationally.
But the structure was still incomplete: it lacked an arch and keystone - a "capstone" of all these
endeavours.
On December 1 1, 1995, a meeting was convened of individuals from the Icelandic communi-
ty and the University to discuss the future of what became referred to as the Icelandic Presence at
the University of Manitoba.13 "The focus of the discussion was on how best to assure the continu-
ing presence and enhance it."
A statement approved by that group on the state of Icelandic affairs at the University appeared
subsequently in both Logberg-Heimskringla and The Icelandic Canadian. (See end note 10). In sum-
mary, that group concluded that the disbursable incomes available from the already established
funds were in total inadequate to sustain the quality that both the University and the community had
come to expect from both Department and Collection. For on-going stability and progress of the
Department it was believed that a minimum of two full-time positions were required. To compen-
sate for the difficulties that inflation and inadequate grants had inflicted on the acquisition funds of
the library and the inadequate space for the use of resources, additional endowment for acquisitions
and new space and facilities were needed.
From the outset it was the firm view of many that the needs of both the Department and
Collection would best be provided through a combined fund-raising effort. Agreement on just how
to do this and share the proceeds was reached between the Faculty of Arts and the Libraries, an
agreement that subsequently became Schedule B to the formal Terms of Reference which govern
the use of the monies to be raised. Discussions proceeded with the conclusion that what was need-
ed was a new campaign to raise initially the sum of $1,650,000 for three purposes:
• additional endowment in the sum of $650,000 to augment the funding available for the sec-
ond position in the Department;
Adalstein Kristjanson Niel Bardal T. Ken Thorlakson