East Coast

Photos by Siiri Lind   It would be difficult for any American choir to sing in Estonian, let alone choose Estonian repertoire to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of Estonia’s independence.    As 2018 draws to a close, it was most appropriate and deeply touching to attend the Downtown Voices Concert, “Voices Over Tallinn”, at St. Paul’s Chapel on November 30th....

Estonians love the forest. The Baltic nation and former Soviet republic is, according to a somewhat contested legend, also home to the first Christmas tree. So when the holidays roll around, it makes sense that many Estonians decamp to the nation’s plentiful forest to cut down their tree, writes Rosie Spikes in Quartzy (qz.com)   This might sound like the most...

EANC Washington, DC Director Karin Shuey (center with glasses) supporting protest at Russian embassy. Photo credit: Nadiya Shaporynska   In the wake of Putin’s recent aggressive action against the Ukrainian navy in the Sea of Azov, there has been an outpouring of support and calls to action from Ukraine’s friends and allies. EANC and the Estonian government were...

Council members, Estonian Society representatives and guests who attended EANC's 2018 annual meeting in Philadelpia.   The EANC’s council for the 2018-2022 term held its first annual meeting in Philadelphia over the weekend of November 3-4, 2018. Twenty-eight of thirty council members attended, along with Estonian Society representatives from seventeen communities around the U.S. (some of whom...

Captive Nations Week demonstration in New York, July 1977. Photo courtesy of the Estonian Archives in the U.S.)   As the newly-elected council takes their seats in November for the next four-year term, it seems like a good time to review how the Estonian American National Council (EANC) came about and some of its political accomplishments over the...

President Kersti Kaljulaid with members of the Los Angeles Estonian community following a her speaking engagement at the USC School of International Relations. Wednesday, October 3, 2016. Photo Credit: Kiino Villand   Last week, the Bay Area was honored with the visit of the President of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid as part of her working visit...

EANC participated in several noteworthy events this month. Thanks to her travel schedule, EANC President Marju Rink-Abel was able to represent the organization at events in Tallinn and Washington while DC Director Karin Shuey participated and coordinated from stateside. On September 18 the Estonian Parliament opened a 10-day showing of the Joint Baltic American National Committee (JBANC) exhibit celebrating the Baltic centennials...

On September 19 at 6 pm, the commemorative service “Don’t Want to Leave, But Cannot Stay – The 1944 Great Exodus from Estonia” will take place at Jaani (St. John’s) Church in Tallinn at the request of the Estonian World Council (ÜEKN).    The Archbishop of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church, Urmas Viilma, and the President of the Estonian Council of Churches, Archbishop...

John McCain in Estonia April 2014. Photo: Tairo Lutter/Postimees   While there has been no shortage of tributes to the late Senator John McCain from many Estonian sources in the last week, EANC would like to highlight a few notable memories of his work in support of Estonia and the Baltic region.    He made five visits...

Estonia’s Consul from New York will be in Los Angeles October 22 and 23 to perform consular duties.    Estonian citizens will be able to apply for a passport or IDCard, renew their passport or ID-Card, and receive previously ordered documents or conduct other consular business.   The Consul will conduct business at the Los Angeles Estonian House, 1306 West 24th...