Scandinavian Heritage Foundation

President's Message

November 2007 – February 2008

To Catch Life Anew….

In a new compilation of ten contemporary Swedish women poets, there is a line in one by Barbro Dahlin about regaining a hold on living, roughly translated as “to catch life anew”.* In my past three years as your President, I believe that SHF has experienced that sort of revitalization. After having resolved site issues and laying the solid basis for a capital campaign, the project has sprung --- refreshed --- from the ground.

There is real momentum in the capital campaign. Some of our Founders, with renewed confidence, have expanded their contributions. Some formerly skeptical board members have rejoined the effort. Our Development Director, the formidable and engaging Aase Beaulieu, is seeing a change in prospective donors, who are no longer showing any doubt that the Center will be built.

As I mentioned at our Annual Meeting in September, I know that some of our members have been waiting “in the wings” to see whether this dream will finally become a reality. It is happening. We have expanded architectural and engineering details; we have a strong partnership with Anderson Construction where we will be working with them every step of the way on a design/build contract; we have corporate in-kind contributions’ commitments and are talking with others; we are developing a productive relationship with Washington County’s Office of Planning; we are seeking funds from Scandinavian governments as well as private foundations; and SHF’s Executive Director, Mike O’Bryant, has assembled a “dream team” which is poised to execute the programming, volunteer coordination and leadership to bring it all to a sustainable fruition.

If you've been sitting on the sidelines, it's time to become a valued part of this revitalization and "catch life anew.”

As for me, I have chosen to participate to the fullest extent, as has the Board of Directors. While I may be stepping down as your President in March, I will be there for the Grand Opening which I expect to rival IKEA’s lines-around-the-block opening. I will be a volunteer docent in the years to come for exhibits, concerts, international film premieres, and --- yes --- a buyer for the imaginative Scandinavian-designed items in the gift shop. Meatballs are always good (and I will eat my extra share), but it is the vibrant, alive Scandinavian culture which will have found a hub on Oleson Road.

To Framtid (the “future” in Icelandic),

Kris

* Eva Claeson, trans. To Catch Life Anew: 10 Swedish Women Poets. Intro. Ia Dubois. Durham: Oyster River Press, 2006.

Mission Statement
Preserve, Communicate and Celebrate Scandinavian
Heritage and Culture

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