The Most Important Source of Support for Finnish Culture in the United States
Board of Directors
The spring 2022 board meeting was held on the campus of Arizona State University. Seated, from left: Eeva Syvanen, Jacqueline Harjula, Betsey Norgard, Anita Smiley and Päivi Tetri. Standing, from left: Richard Ahola, Dirk Schulbach, Tarja Silverman, Peter Makila, Teuvo Pulkkinen, Tim Nurvala, Anne-Mari Paster, Hanna Wagner, Michel Wendell, Katariina Lehtonen, YLB Lauren Tuiskala, Hilary-Joy Virtanen. Not pictured: Dennis Anderson and Paul Halme.
During their fall 2019 board meeting in Helsinki, FFN trustees gathered at the Finnish Literature Society for a coffee reception and recognition of Suomi-Seura. Seated, from left: trustees Anita Smiley, Jacqueline Harjula, Hanna Wagner, Betsey Norgard, Hilary-Joy Virtanen, Katariina Lehtonen and Päivi Tetri. Standing, from left: Suomi-Seura board member Kimmo Kajaste; FFN trustees Paul Halme, Dirk Schulbach and Tim Nurvala; Suomi-Seura’s Markus Aaltonen and Tina Strandberg; FFN trustees Teuvo Pulkkinen, Ossi Rahkonen, Peter Makila, Eeva Syvanen, Tarja Silverman and Anne-Mari Paster; and Tuomas Martikainen of the Migration Institute of Finland.
FFN Officers and Trustees
FFN Trustees serve three-year terms on a rotating basis. Each member of the board serves on a committee dedicated to programs that fulfill the FFN Mission.
In spring of 2019, FFN trustees enjoyed a warm welcome at the House of Finland at Balboa Park, an historic site in San Diego.During their fall 2018 board meeting in Massachusetts, FFN trustees visited the Finnish Center at Saima Park, where they were able to meet with leaders of five FFN chapters from the region.The spring 2018 meeting of the FFN Board was held in the Dallas area, which allowed the trustees to meet members of the “Tex Finns,” the Finnish-American Society of Dallas/Fort Worth, whose members planned an evening celebration of the 65th anniversary of FFN.In September of 2017 the FFN Board met in Minneapolis during FinnFest USA. In honor of the Finland 100 celebration, the event was attended by Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö and his spouse Jenny Haukio. Trustees had opportunities to meet informally with the special guests. Here, from right, FFN Board members Anne-Mari Paster, Ossi Rahkonen and Teuvo Pulkkinen chat with President and Mrs. Niinistö.Trustee Betsey Norgard visits with President NiinistöFrom left, Susan Halme, President Niinistö, and Board members Paul Halme and Päivi Tetri.Trustee Hanna Wagner (at right) with President and Mrs. Niinistö.The 2017 spring board meeting was held in Chicago, and the trustees were able to attend a concert conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen, followed by a meet-and-greet with the maestro which was organized by the Finnish-American Society of the Midwest.
TO CONTACT FFN TRUSTEES, E-MAIL: office@finlandiafoundation.org
For its fall 2016 meeting, the board convened in Washington, D.C. prior to the Joint Chapter Meeting of FFN affiliated organizations. The group visited the Embassy of Finland.The spring 2016 FFN Board meeting was held in Santa Clara, CaliforniaAfter the FFN Board’s November 2015 business meeting in Santa Fe, members were able to visit the New Mexico home of Finlandia Foundation founders Yrjö and Leonora Curtin Paloheimo. Host George Paloheimo (far right) joined the group for dinner at the Acequia Madre House.The FFN board meeting in Seattle in March 2015 was held during the Seattle Symphony’s Sibelius festival. Here the trustees are pictured with their copies of Melody Forest, the children’s book and CD produced by Finnish cellist Jussi Makkonen (seated, left). Pianist Ruusamari Teppo is seated second from right.The board’s November 2014 meeting in the Sunshine State coincided with the Finlandia Foundation Florida Chapter’s 60th Anniversary Gala.
