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Alumni & Friends

Finnish Council of America

Vision

Furthering the understanding of the Finnish Culture in America (FUFCA).

Mission

Established in 1983, Finlandia University’s Finnish Council in America strives to preserve, maintain, and promote Finnish cultural heritage through support of the University and the Finnish American Community.

Goals for 2022-23
  • Collaborate with Finnish American Heritage Center staff and Finlandia University;
  • Assist with the local Finnish festivals, the Price of Freedom Museum exhibit, and the Finnish American Folk School;
  • Expand educational services to the community
2023 Council Meeting Dates at Finlandia
  • Wednesday Evening, June 21, Reception
  • Thursday, June 22, Annual Meeting

Welcome to our new council members!

  • Jeanne Kemppainen, Durham, NC
  • Paul Knuti, Embarrass, MN
  • Kathleen Maki-Harmon, Presque Isle, MI
  • Robin Alanen Mosher, Galesburg, MI
  • Jennifer Pihlaja, Washington, DC
Franklin-Rahkonen named new chair of Finnish Council of America

Dr. Sharon Franklin-Rahkonen has been named the new leader of the Finnish Council of America. Franklin-Rahkonen will serve as council chair, a position previously held by John Niska, who will now lead outreach on behalf of the organization.

After serving on the council’s board for many years and as secretary on its executive committee, Franklin-Rahkonen shared appreciation and insight into the council’s initiatives moving forward.

“I am very pleased to be asked to head the Finnish Council. We look forward to collaborating […]

To read the full release, visit here!

Sharon Franklin-Rahkonen, Ph.D.


Finnish Council Meeting June 2022

Become a Member

Please fill out this application form to submit your application to join the Finnish Council of America today. Applications are accepted year-round and voted on by the current council.

As a member of the Council, your responsibilities are to participate in the council by:

  1. Attending the annual summer meeting in Hancock, Michigan; usually in July
  2. Becoming a participating member of one of the four committees (Academic, Heritage Center, Historical, Outreach)
  3. Supporting the University and Heritage center (financial, time)
  4. Attending area Finnish-American events
  5. Communicating with the council’s executive committee anything that will help promote the university or Heritage Center

History

The concept was conceived by Dr. Ralph Jalkanen, then President of Suomi College, in the early 1980s and guided to fruition over many months of careful consideration. Dr. Jalkanen’s original proposal for the Council stated:

BE IT RESOLVED that a Finnish Council be established of an undetermined number of persons to have as its focus and concern the Finnish heritage programs, curricula and interests of Suomi College, with the right to review, and receive reports of those activities, to make recommendations thereon and to provide or obtain resources to develop its proposals and actions, and to report annually thereon to the Board of Trustees.

The multifaceted purpose of the FCA was listed:

  1. To identify and review the faith and ideals of the founders of the college and early Finnish-American leaders;
  2. To explore the articulation of the programs and purposes of the tradition in relation to the life of the college and the Finnish-American community throughout their history in America;
  1. To examine the values of contemporary Finnish culture and to determine how best to nurture these values  in the process of enculturation;
  2. To maintain the best values of Finnish culture and heritage at Suomi college by establishing a climate and base of support for development.

During the latter part of 1982 and the first six months of 1983, Dr. Jalkanen‘s focus was on recruitment and targeted dissemination of information.  He identified Suomi’s initial charge, “To preserve and enhance its Finnish tradition”, and maintained that the college had established the FCA  “to ensure that the Finnish flavor isn’t lost in the American melting pot.” By July 1983, the FCA was 40 members strong with 22 attending the initial meeting at Suomi College.

Dr. Ralph Jalkanen

2022-2023 Officers, Committee Chairs & Council Members

Officers

Chair: Sharon Franklin-Rahkonen
Vice-Chair: Fern Malila
Recording Secretary: Kristiina Vanhala
Corresponding Secretary: Mary Pekkala
Past Chair: John M. Niska

Committee Chairs

Campus and Academic:  Marvin Makinen
Heritage Center:  Carl Rahkonen
History:  Candace Koski Janners
Outreach:  Kathleen Maki-Harmon and John M. Niska

Finnish Council Members

Steve Aho
Robin Mosher Alanen
Evelyn Anderson
Julie Badel
Joy Dorvinen
Sharon Franklin-Rahkonen
Dave Holli
Steve Holli
Candace Koski Janners
Jeanne Kemppainen
John Kiltinen
Pauline Kiltinen
Paul Knuti
Jorma Lankinen
Kathleen Maki-Harmon
John Makinen
Marvin W. Makinen
Fern Malila
Keith Meyers
Arlene Morrissey
Michael Nakkula
Leslie Niemi
John M. Niska
Norma Nominelli
Kristin Ojaniemi
Mary Pekkala
Jennifer Pihlaja
Allan Poikonen
Tuula Poikonen
Carl Rahkonen
Cheryl Rogers
Daniel Sarya
Henrik Työppönen
Kristiina Vanhala
Barbara Worrall

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