Renee Meriste

United we stand, divided we fall.

2020 is not even halfway done and we have already had many unexpected events.

This week’s occurrences in America touch all of us in many ways and it is very important to remember that we have three different events and three separate crowds in those events every day.

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Published: June 05 2020

35th West Coast Estonian Days

July 16th to July 18th 2021

Seattle is excited to share the extraordinary and breathtaking beauty of our home in the Pacific Northwest as we join our hands, hearts, and voices to celebrate Estonian culture at the Seattle LEP2021.

Since 1953, West Coast Estonians have met to sing, dance, and reconnect with old and make new friends.

Lääneranniku Eesti Päevad or LEP, is our festival of everything Estonian.

The West Coast Estonian League, (WCEL/EOLL) formed in 1954 with the main purpose of preparing and carrying out the West Coast Estonian Days and has grown from 13 founding member organizations to the current 22.

The presidency and board of the league rotates on a two year basis among the five West Coast population centers (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle and Vancouver, BC).

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Published: June 05 2020

Mati Kõiva, a former president of the Estonian American National Council (EANC), and of JBANC, passed away on May 4, 2020 at the age of 84 in Connecticut.

He was a representative of EANC for over forty years and served as EANC president from 1996 – 2006.

During that time, he served as JBANC president for three terms.

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Published: June 05 2020

Photo:  Bishop Thomas Vaga on Memorial Day at the Jarvemetsa  campgrounds.

On Memorial Day, Bishop Thomas Vaga and his family visited the monument established in memory of U.S. veterans of Estonian descent who lost their lives in battle for liberty.

According to Bishop Vaga, the monument at the camp is the first known monument in the United States to be established in honor of Estonian veterans lost in the Vietnam War.

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Published: June 01 2020

Jaanika Peerna, Cultural Affairs Coordinator at the Estonian Consulate General in New York interviews architect Margit Argus, currently based in New York.

Margit Argus with her son.

Jaanika Peerna: What are you up to?

Margit Argus: I am the co-founder and creative partner of KAOS Architects and my company has been operating for 10 years.

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Published: June 01 2020

Audiobooks of Estonian Literary Classics on Smartphones Soon

With 2020 being the Year of Digital Culture in Estonia, the Ministry of Culture is launching the Estonian audiobook market. As a first step, the texts of 50 literary classics, from Oskar Luts' "Kevade" ("Spring") to Indrek Hargla's "Apteeker (Apothecary) Melchior" will be recorded in Estonian, as read by well-known actors.

The first audiobooks will be available to listeners by Midsummer (jaanipäev).

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Published: June 01 2020

Mr. Grayson introducing his family to the SFRC.
Photo source: foreign.senate.gov/hearings

On May 13th, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) held a nomination hearing for five proposed ambassador postings, including the nomination of Mr. William Ellison Grayson of California to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Estonia.

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Published: May 23 2020

The newly-established Estonian Worldwide Youth Network (e-WYN) (Estonian: Ülemaailmne Eesti Noortevõrgustik - ÜENV) is organising the first-ever Youth Virtual Days, to bring together young people with Estonian roots from across the globe!

We want to hear your thoughts!

We invite all those aged 14-30, who speak conversational Estonian, to come discuss and learn with us!

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Published: May 23 2020