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EESTI ELU reedel, 18. septembril 2020 — Friday, September 18, 2020
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Vironia ilusal septembrikuu päeval / Vironia on a beautiful September day Vincent Teetsov It was perhaps the closest thing you’ll see to an Estonian academic tailgate party. A gathering of Korporatsioon Vironia’s members in the parking lot of Eesti Maja, enjoying a beautiful Saturday afternoon on the precipice of autumn. It represented something humble and strong about Estonian culture. As the hours passed, one heard funny stories retold by good friends from across generations, just as much as one learned something new from subject matter experts. Each member has one or several things that they’ve devoted their 10,000 hours to, so to speak. Vironia is an academic fraternity after all, and this is the spirit of Estonia’s student organizations. A sharing of ideas and knowledge in a brotherly environment. It was 20 degrees and sunny outside, making necessary precautions and the avoidance of an indoor gathering much easier to achieve. This was the first in-person Vironia gathering after several Zoom õllelauad (a kind of party-like reception, literally translated as “beer table”) over the spring and summer, and the chance to relax and catch up in person was welcome after so long. Still, to be extra careful, a sign-in sheet was used for contact tracing purposes. Hand sanitizer was used regularly. A hearty spread of southern-style barbecue cuisine was set out for everyone, including
smoked brisket, sausage, pulled pork, coleslaw, and macaroni salad. Many plates were filled to fuel the meet-up and activities from 1 to 5 PM. There were a few games of giant jenga (here pronounced “yenga”) that was both aided and impeded by the September breeze and an uprising of sugar-hungry wasps. Vilistlane (a title which means “graduate”, applied to those who have completed their undergraduate studies) Burton Naylor was the champion, in a teetering match against vilistlane Mihkel Kütti. There was a brief cornhole tournament, during which vilistlane Rob Koger won a close final match by a series of 3-pointers and some accidental points pushed in by the opponent. It was a fascinating amalgam of Canadiana, Americana, and “Estoniana” shall we say? Though eestlus would probably be a more accurate word to use. Cornhole is what you would expect to see outside a Blue Jays game, or a Buffalo Bills game, based on the decorations of the raised boards used in this particular cornhole tournament. Yet, attendees were dressed in shirts, blazers, and suits. From above, you could see the many teklid (student caps) and värvilindid (ribbons with Vironia’s fraternity colours). All in violett, must, ja valge. Though it was an informal meet-up, it still retained the original qua lities of this 120 year old organization. There were also some photo-
Korp! Vironia members on a beautiful September day. Photo: Vincent Teetsov
graphs shown of the renovations currently underway in the fraternity room at Tartu College used by the fraternity members of Vironia, Sakala, Frat. Estica, and Ugala. The renovated room is planned to have a fixed space for the executive leadership table, hardwood floors, a new ceiling, and an improved HVAC system, to provide an up-to-date location for meetings and celebrations to take place well into the next 50 years of Tartu College. The coming months are uncertain, even with the cele brations of Vironia’s 120th anniversary year approaching. Members were able to spend some time with a familiar, friendly, and welcoming group. A patriotic association that persevered outside of Estonia during the almost 50 years that it was banned in occupied Estonia. In all this time, it’s an organization that, as far as Canada is concerned, has adapted and brought together a special mix of Estonian and North American practices, but always continues to be a group where its members feel at home.
LEP 2021 postponement and Logo Contest Winner Tervitused Seattlest, The Seattle Estonian Society and West Coast Estonian Days (LEP) organizing committee have a few announcements that we would like to share. First, in light of the current COVID-19 crisis, Seattle LEP 2021 will be postponed. But do not worry, Seattle will be hosting the 35th LEP when it is safe for us all to gather together once again. As we wait and look forward to that time, we will be offering some online events and opportunities to connect virtually. Stay tuned for more information on our website and facebook page, or sign up for our mailings through the contact section on the LEP2021 webpage. Now, on to happier news. Seattle LEP 2021 has a logo! We had so many amazing entries and artists that it took a while to come to a consensus. Our winner is Eiki Martinson! As you can see on the image, we have a Baltic longboat symbolizing our ancestry and the trials and challenges of sailing West to find new opportunities. The five shields represent the five hosting communities of LEP since its beginnings. Finally, the longboat encounters an orca, one of the inhabitants of NW. It symbolizes the natural beauty of WA state and the seas that connect our ancestral and new homes. Congratulations Eiki!
On Sunday, September 13, the Estonian St. Andrew’s Lutheran congregation held its annual service honouring those who have passed, at York Cemetery, with Rev. Kalle Kadakas presiding. He was assisted with song from Liina and Ilmar Lepik and organist Juha Tikkanen on the organ. Photo: AR
And thank you to our Logo Contest sponsors Click And Grow (https://www.clickandgrow.com/) for the prize of a Smart Garden and cornflower pods. We hope you all stay healthy and safe. We will keep you entertained and connected while we all do our best to help get back to normal so we can come together again. Further information and updates as they become available can be found on the LEP 2021 website (www.lep2021.com) and on the “West Coast Estonian Days – LEP 2021 Seattle” Facebook page. We look forward to seeing you soon! THE SEATTLE LEP202X ORGANIZING COMMITTEE info@lep2021.com
Supporting Canadian-Estonian students, enriching our community EFC Scholarship Deadline – October 1 Supporting Canadian-Estonian youth goes to the heart of the vision of the Estonian Foun dation of Canada – to ensure an Estonian future in Canada. In addition to supporting community programming like Estonian heritage schools, choirs and folk-dancing, EFC supports Canadian-Estonian youth directly. The EFC Scho larship is available to post- secondary students in second year or above who have Estonian heritage and is given based on an application which includes a brief personal essay about the meaning of being Estonian. The generous donors to Estonian Foundation of Canada make support for youth in our community possible. EFC invites Canadian students of Estonian heritage who are in second year or above of their chosen post-secondary program to apply for the EFC Scholarship. Application Dead line: October 1, 2020. Applications are available online www.estonianfoundation. ca or by contacting the office at 416-465-5600 or info@estonianfoundation.ca
