2014 Campground hosts: Sonny was a solo camp host for a week

I am Finnish by marriage since Sonny is a 2nd generation Finn. His grandparents were born in Finland and immigrated to the US in the early part of the 1900s. We became involved in the United Finnish Kaleva Brothers and Sisters through Sonny's great aunt, Walma Wiitasalo, who lived in Seattle and was a 50+ year member of the Lodge.

The 53rd United Finnish Kaleva Brothers and Sisters Grand Lodge Convention was happening September 18-21. The local Lodge, Seattle #11, where Sonny and I are members, were the hosts. Delegates came from California, Oregon and Washington. Sonny was on his own in the park for a week while I returned to Port Orchard to check on the house and then drove on to Seattle to work on last minute convention details before the activities began last Thursday evening.

This event was 2 years in planning making sure the multitude of details were covered to make it a successful event for the 35 delegates, officers and friends. We held our meetings at the Finn Church in the Crown Hill neighborhood of Seattle and the social events at Hotel Nexus near Northgate. Visitor greetings to the delegates were received from Washington State Governor Inslee, Seattle Mayor Murray, Andrew Nestigen from the Finnish Studies Program at the University of Washington, and Eric Nelson from the Nordic Heritage Museum. Dr Gary London, past President of the Finlandia Foundation Seattle Chapter, opened the Convention Friday morning with a short history of the Kaleva Lodge. Friday evening, after cocktails and a light dinner, "The Backwoods Philosopher", a popular Finnish film was shown. On Saturday afternoon, many visitors went to tour the Nordic Heritage Museum, especially to see the Finn Room exhibit and the old wood sauna. The Convention celebrated its work with a banquet and entertainment on Saturday evening. After professional photographs were taken to commemorate the Convention, Saturday's evening program was filled with music from the Kalevalla Trio, The Evergreen Kanteles and the Finnish Choral Society. Honorary Vice Consul of Finland for WA State, Kristiina Hiukka, shared the MC duties with me. One of Seattle's lodge members has written our 110 year history in poetic verse so Kristiina and I took turns reading in Finnish (Kristiina) and English (me). Sunday morning, there was a "Mostly Finnish" church service followed by a traditional Finnish meal. In all, it was a fun weekend with out many glitches. Seattle Lodge received many positive compliments and breathed a huge sigh of relief at the conclusion. It was so nice to wake up yesterday morning, back in the solitude of Lake Wenatchee under the pines without having convention planning on my shoulders!

Our Lodge graciously provided me with a very comfortable suite for my
stay at Hotel Nexus

Giant, comfy bed with soft pillows.

Watering can shower head.

One of the Lodge members, Liisa Mannery, made 9 of these woven shoes.
They became centerpieces at the banquet filled with flowers.

Meeting Room set up before the delegates arrived.

A box of pretty blue and white party favors made by Rauni Sillanpaa.

Delegate registration.

Delegates at work discussion the Viesti, our organizational newsletter.

Small group meetings

The Grand Lodge Scholarship Committee evaluating the applications.

Finns like a well stocked bar for happy hour!

And, we like to eat several times a day! This was Saturday lunch.

One of Liisa's shoes on the banquet table.

Finnish coffee bread, limpa and pulla. So good with butter spread on
thick!

Relaxing at dinner. Past President Alison Kastama at the front table.

"Backwoods Philosopher". Never was able to get the English sub
titles so those of us who didn't understand the words, admired the
country scenery in the film.