About TFA

The Triangle Finnish Association is a social/cultural club made up of Finns, Finnish-Americans, and Friends of Finland living in the Triangle area of North Carolina. TFA members are committed to furthering fellowship among the Finnish-American community and encouraging interest in Finland and Finnish culture in our local communities. We began informally in about 1980, when A. Giggins called together some fellow Finns in the Raleigh area for an Independence Day celebration in her home. These December gatherings continued, growing in size year by year. The club became formalized in 1991, when the name Triangle Finnish Association was adopted, board members nominated, and officers elected.

Over the past several years TFA has established a Finnish presence in the area by meeting together on special occasions like Independence Day, Laskiainen (Shrove Tuesday), and Juhannus (Midsummer Day), and by participating in the annual Raleigh International Festival, introducing roughly 25,000 people who attend each year to some of the unique traditions of Finland. The Finnish booths at the festival have featured presentations on Juhannus, name day traditions, Christmas customs in the land of the Joulupukki, and the wonders of the sauna (including construction of a full-scale sauna in the Raleigh Civic Center).

Though all meetings are open to anyone who would like to participate, we do have a Board to make sure the books are kept up, mailings are done, and events are planned.

 

The TFA Board 2008

Position

Officer

President

Eeva Bettis

President Elect

Lotta Peltola-Nelms

Secretary

Tiina Folley

Treasurer

Timo Palo

International Festival

Timo Palo

Web Master

Riitta Virtaranta


        

2008

Triangle Finnish Association

Membership Form

 

Please mail this form with a check by February 1st, 2008 to:

Triangle Finnish Association

c/o Timo Palo

825 E. Chestnut Ct., Fuquay Varina, NC 27526

 

___________________________________        Home Telephone ________________________

Name(s)                                                                 If you don’t want your phone number published in our

                                                                              Membership list, write “PRIVATE” next to the number.

________________________________________________________________                        

Street Address                                                                                       

 

__________________________________­______________________________                           

City                                                     State               Zip                                                                 

 

E-mail address _______________________________________________________________

 

Children (names and ages) ______________________________________________________

Please check as appropriate:

 

[  ] Permanent resident(s)                                        [  ] Visiting/temporary resident(s)

                                                                                    (until __________________)

 

[  ] Working in the Triangle area                              [  ] Studying in the Triangle area

      Where employed/type of work:                               School and major or degree:

 

____________________________________________________________________________

 

If you are Finnish or of Finnish ancestry, what was your family’s hometown or region in Finland?

 

____________________________________________________________________________

 

Any special interests you have or special skills you might want to share with the group
(e.g., musical interests, crafts, writing, design, etc.)

 

____________________________________________________________________________

 

We need everyone to be more involved in planning and participating with running the TFA. Please check the areas where you will help:

 

Participate on the TFA board    _______                 

Coordinate events/parties          _______                 

Annual membership dues                               Family/Household            -         $20.00
                                                                     Individual                         -         $15.00

                                                                     Dues enclosed                       $________

 

Please, make checks payable to Triangle Finnish Association.  Thank You!

 

 

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