Vaba Eesti Sõna has served the Estonian-American community for 73 years. Born during the period of post-war Estonian emigration to the US, it has served as a unifying voice for Estonian-Americans, wherever they might live. It is the chronicle for our activities in this country, and it is the only real “archive” of these activities, of our major events, celebrations, and sadly, losses from our community. Vaba Eesti Sõna is where this information is recorded in a well-organized, and searchable form.
While steadfastly maintaining its weekly publishing schedule for 73 years, Vaba Eesti Sõna has nonetheless still changed in many ways. Whether it is our brand-new internet presence (you should check it out, if you have not yet done so!), or an increasing emphasis on information regarding events in Eesti, or a commitment to making sure that a portion of its content is available in English to all in our community, Vaba Eesti Sõna strives to be relevant, and hopes to find support (and subscribers!) among new generations of Estonian-Americans.
Vaba Eesti Sõna is published by the Nordic Press, Inc., which has always put service to its Estonian-American constituency ahead of profit. Recognizing this historical fact, Nordic Press shareholders this year have approved a transition of the publishing operation to a formal not-for-profit status. Vaba Eesti Sõna will continue to appear as it always has. At the same time, it will continue emphasizing and improving its new internet presence alongside its traditional printed form. While some readers prefer the online format, others prefer the traditional paper format that can be held in hand and browsed in a leisurely fashion.
The transition to a non-profit will be a period of challenge for Vaba Eesti Sõna. It is because of this that we must turn to you, our readers and supporters, for assistance. Each and every subscription is an important source of income; without these we cannot survive for very long. The loss of many members of our community who had been dedicated subscribers means that we need to look to a new generation of subscribers, while keeping those who have supported us for many years, to maintain our financial strength.
If you are already a subscriber, thank you! This message will first reach mostly those who are already subscribers, whose help we would like to enlist in expanding our reach. Can we ask that you reach out to others whom you know, who might wish to sample Vaba Eesti Sõna or reacquaint themselves with it? Suggesting to them that they subscribe is great, but better yet, make an investment in the future of Estonian-Americans and buy them a gift subscription (the details are on pg 6, or can be found on our new website – vabaeestisona.com). We all know that many younger members of our community are very busy, and this small step might be just what is needed to get them even more strongly engaged with their Estonian-American community.
We also ask you to consider making a donation or bequest to Vaba Eesti Sõna that can ensure that we start our journey as a non-profit with a strong financial base. Until the transition is finalized later this year, you can contribute to us through the Estonian-American National Council, who will then pass on the contributions. This is particularly important now since there will be some one-time expenses in making the transition.
We hope that you share with all of us the enthusiasm in ensuring that Vaba Eesti Sõna can be a part of our Estonian-American community for many years to come. We cannot do it without your help. We need your utmost support to ensure the continued existence of Vaba Eesti Sõna.
On behalf of the Board of Vaba Eesti Sõna,
Eric Suuberg, President
