The FINNISH AMERICAN CHAMBER of COMMERCE MIDWEST

Sisu, Suomi, and the Finnish Language!

2011-07-20T03:37:00.000-07:00

By Julie Badel

“Fools rush in where angels fear to tread” cautions the old adage. And so, a couple of years ago, I located a Finnish language class at a local university and began the struggle to learn what many regard as an impossible language to learn in a classroom as an adult. This perception ignores that indefinable Finnish characteristic known as sisu—an indefatigable sense of determination.

An Internet article actually bears the subtitle, “Who’s afraid of Finnish?” The answer, of course, is all adults of sound mind who did not learn Finnish in their childhood. My grandmother knew that. She spoke nothing but Finnish to her grandchildren in what I now know to be a not very successful attempt to force us to learn the language. I discovered many years after her death that she spoke perfect English, a language I thought she did not know at all, when I heard her speaking with a cousin’s fiancé.

But apart from learning the names of many kinds of food, a few swear words, and the simple declarative sentence, “I am going to bed” (“minä menen nukkumaan”), I remained devoid of linguistic ability in Finnish.

So, armed with a lesson book bearing the off-putting moniker, “Finnish for Foreigners,” I leapt into the fray in a beginning Finnish class. It was the most terrifying of textbooks—the second page of this tome lists 17 diphthongs, which one must memorize at the outset to know whether to pronounce two vowels as separate sounds or as one. What my mother taught me about Finnish—every letter is pronounced—turned out to be quite true. However, she never warned me about the similar sounding words distinguished only by a single letter. While “kuka” means “who,” adding another “k” to form the word “kukka” instead means “flower.” How about trying to pronounce “täytyy” (meaning “must”)?

The second rule on pronunciation is equally simple—the emphasis is always on the first syllable, a concept quite foreign to native English speakers when the first syllable contains a short vowel, such as “anteeksi,” meaning “sorry.” And how can an American mouth possibly emphasize the correct syllables when dealing with a word like “mannerheimintiella,” meaning “on the Mannerheim road”? This serves as a simple example of the Finnish habit of stringing words and case endings together to form a new word or phrase.

Worst of all are the sheer number of cases for nouns, some of which find no parallels in the English language. Finnish has fifteen cases for nouns, three of which are “inner” local cases, denoting prepositions such as in and into, and three “outer” local cases. Perhaps the most perplexing of cases is called the partitive, often used to refer to an indefinite quantity of things.

To be fair, some aspects of Finnish are easier than other languages. For example, nouns do not have a gender. So the Finnish word “hän” means both “he” and “she.” There are fewer letters in the Finnish alphabet than the English one. And Finnish uses many words borrowed from other languages. Who couldn’t recognize “banaani”and “kasetti?” Finally, the order of words in a sentence is not critical, unlike other languages, such as German.

Despite the near impossibility of learning our mother tongue, the most beautiful language in the world, an inexpressible pleasure results from being able to eke out a simple Finnish sentence and to understand one in return. But one thing is for certain—it takes a heap of sisu to learn Finnish!

Julie Badel is the current chairman of the Finlandia University Finnish Council in America. She lives in Chicago and is an attorney with Epstein, Becker, and Green and a member of the Finnish-American Chamber of Commerce-Midwest.

Reprinted with permission from the Fall/Winter 2010 issue of the Finlandia University (www.finlandia.edu) Bridge magazine

Baarikärpäset - Friday, 11/5/10, 6pm - Elephant & Castle (111 W. Adams, Chicago - Loop)

2010-11-05T08:15:00.000-07:00

Hello friends of the FACC,

In an effort to find a new Loop venue that is both affordable and "cozy," tomorrow's Baarikärpäset gathering will take place at the 111 West Adams St location of Elephant & Castle starting at 6 pm.

Website and location are also below for easier reference.

Elephant & Castle (next to Club Quarters)
111 West Adams Street
Chicago, IL 60603
(312) 236-6658

http://www.elephantcastle.com/chicago_adams

The pub is five blocks directly east of Union Station on W Adams St (seven blocks away from Ogilvie). The Monroe Blue line EL stop is two blocks away, as is the Quincy/Wells stop for the Pink/Brown/Orange/Purple lines. The Monroe Red line EL stop is three blocks away. Parking garages are located at 145 South Wells St ($11 for up to five hours) and 131 S Dearborn St ($14 for up to six hours) - parking information is not guaranteed up-to-date but gives an idea of Friday evening parking in the Loop.

We look forward to seeing you there!
FACC-Midwest

FACC-Midwest 50th Anniversary Reception, with Maria Pappas, Chicago, IL - Tuesday November 2, 2010 at 3-5 pm

2010-11-01T13:00:00.000-07:00

Please join the Finnish-American Chamber of Commerce, Midwest's 50th Anniversary Reception at the office of Maria Pappas.

Proudly founded in 1960, the Finnish American Chamber of Commerce, Midwest will provide complimentary Finnish snacks and drinks.

Speakers will include: Maria Pappas (Cook Country Treasurer), Olavi Goos (Finnish Honorary Council, Tony Johansson, President, FACC-Midwest and select corporate members).

The event will take place at the office of Maria Pappas on Tuesday, November 2nd from 3 ‐ 5 pm 118 N Clark St, Chicago IL 60602.

Finnish Film - Recipes for Disaster (Katastrofin aineksia) - November 17, 2010, UW-Milwaukee Nordic Film Festival

2010-10-27T18:59:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, November 17, 7:00 p.m.

This is a film about climate change. About catastrophe. And it's funny, painfully funny. Concerned about the world's addiction to oil, and its disastrous environmental consequences, filmmaker John Webster convinces his wife and two young sons to go on an "oil diet" for one year to reduce their carbon footprint. Recipes for Disaster chronicles their efforts on a month by month basis, revealing the personal difficulties involved in making such a radical change in lifestyle, and the surprising extent to which petroleum-based products figure in our everyday lives.

(John Webster, Finland, in Finnish and English w/Eng st., 85 min, 2008) (Icarus Films)

Shown in conjunction with the Share the Earth Environmental Film Series

You can see the full program at www.nordicfilmfestival.uwm.edu

There will also be information about the Nordic countries accessible throughout the festival - and will follow up with a speaker series in the spring 2011.

The films will be shown at the Union Theater on campus 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd (2nd floor), Milwaukee,

Additional information uwm.nordicfilm.com 414 - 229 9547.

Winner of the Best Documentary Film at the 2009 Jussi Awards, Katastrofin Aineskia shows that at the core of the impending climate catastrophe are those little failures that we as individuals make every day and which are so much a part of human nature that often lead to disaster. This film shows thirteen of these little recipes for disaster as it follows the life of a family that tries to live a full year using only green products and services. Its Awards include the Jussi prize for Best Documentary Film and Best Film in 2009.

Baarikärpäset - October 1, 2010 Uberstein Bucktown (Octoberfest Gathering)

2010-09-30T15:55:00.000-07:00

Hello friends of the FACC,

In the transnational spirit of Oktoberfest, tomorrow's Baarikärpäset gathering will meet this time at the new location of überstein in Bucktown at 1745 W North Ave (North Ave & Wood St). People will start to gather at this location around 6 pm for at least the next couple of hours. Website and location are also below for easier reference. Feel free to use Onni Hart as a point of contact: (312) 929-8141.

Uberstein (Bucktown location)
1745 W North Ave
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 252-6053

http://www.ubersteinchicago.com/

It is a 10-minute walk from the Clybourn Station for UP-N and UP-NW Metra lines, a five-minute walk from the Damen Blue Line EL stop and also easily accessible with the Milwaukee Ave (#56), North Ave (#66) and Ashland Ave (#9) buses.

We look forward to seeing you there!
FACC-Midwest

Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, FACC Member article , "Middle Market M&A In The United States: Opportunities and Challenges"

2010-08-30T18:37:00.000-07:00

For a complete PDF version of this article, please email faccmidwest@gmail.com

MIDDLE MARKET M&A IN THE UNITED STATES:

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

By Kevin J. Howley, shareholder and director of Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c. (reinhartlaw.com)

and

Veli-Matti Tarvainen, LL.M., General Counsel of Yara Suomi Oy

M&A practitioners who have been through several business cycles should foresee the opportunity resulting from the current economic downturn. Although the credit crisis has curtailed the normal cycle of acquisitions and divestitures, time marches on. In the United States, private companies are often owned by entrepreneurs and their families, who face generational transitions and corresponding management and tax issues as the founders age, retire and/or pass on, or by private equity funds that have their own self-imposed limited time horizons.

Strategic European buyers with available acquisition capital will have access to an excess inventory of niche companies and market entry opportunities as the economy pulls out of the current cycle. In the decade before the current downturn, the percentage of acquisitions in the United States by foreign buyers increased substantially, driven, no doubt, by the still relatively weak dollar and attractive market access opportunities.

Professionals advising on or pursuing their own first-time entrées to the M&A market in the United States will benefit from knowing the differences and similarities of doing deals in the United States as compared with the European market generally. Though some may have concerns over the potential financial risks and legal pitfalls, as European buyers move through the process, they should find that many of the differences are "pro-buyer" and are intended to prevent the seller from shifting unknown legal risks to the buyer.

Please visit www.faccmidwest.com for links to the entire article, and to read more about the potential for M&A opportunities in the United States and some of the key issues that Finnish and other European buyers should consider in approaching U.S. transactions.

About the Authors:

Kevin J. Howley is a shareholder and director of Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, Chairman of the Business Law Section of the State Bar of Wisconsin and a member of the American Bar Association's Mergers & Acquisitions Section. Mr. Howley has assisted clients in the acquisition, divestiture and operation of companies throughout the United States for over 25 years and has assisted numerous European clients seeking to establish or expand their presence in the United States through acquisitions, with a special emphasis on Finnish and Swedish clients.

Veli-Matti Tarvainen, LL.M. is the General Counsel of Yara Suomi Oy. He has extensive prior experience as General Counsel of quoted companies that continue to have sizeable industrial operations in the United States. He has also worked as the General Counsel for a consultancy firm, which was and remains the largest forestry consultant worldwide. Messrs. Howley and Tarvainen have collaborated on numerous acquisitions and divestitures in the United States and elsewhere over the past 20 years.

2010: Newsweek: Finland Is The Best In The World

2010-08-18T11:33:00.001-07:00

2010-08-18

Photo by the Finnish Sauna Society

Finland is the best country in the world to live in, the Newsweek magazine announces.

In the rating, which includes 100 countries, Finland is ranked as number one, followed by Switzerland and Sweden. Norway is number six, while Russia is number 51.

The rating is based on results within health, life quality, education, economic dynamism and political environment. Finland got a total rating of 89.31 ahead of Switzerland’s 89.0 and Sweden’s 88.93.

http://www.newsweek.com/2010/08/15/interactive-infographic-of-the-worlds-best-countries.html

FACC-Midwest and Nordic Chambers Collaboration Night with the Chicago Fire, September 25, 2010

2010-08-13T13:37:00.000-07:00

Hello FACC-Midwest members and friends,

Please join the Finnish-American Chamber of Commerce, together with other Chicago-based Nordic Chambers of Commerce (Danish, Norwegian and Swedish) for a night of collaboration, networking and soccer! The event will be on September 25, 2010 at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, IL, where the Chicago Fire will play Seattle Sounders at 7pm.

This event will likely have over 50 people in attendance, and will be held on Toyota Park’s Private Party Platform. Cost is $40 and includes a ticket to the game, unlimited catered food and beverage for two hours, and two hours of open bar. There will also be a cash raffle with Chicago Fire prizes.

Please RSVP and send payment to Matt Simons with the Chicago Fire at (708) 496-6764 by September 17th. Since each Chamber is keeping count of attendees, please RSVP at faccmidwest@gmail.com as well.

We are very hopeful to have great attendance for this very unique event with our fellow Nordic friends. If anyone has questions, please call Tony Johansson at (773) 960-0995.

Best Regards,

FACC-Midwest

Barflies/Baarikärpäset - Tonight 8/6/10, 6PM - Topo Gigio

2010-08-06T10:17:00.000-07:00

Barflies meets the first Friday of the month tonight in Old Town, Chicago.

We will meet at the outside bar at Topo Gigio at 6pm. Website and location is below. Please use Annika Hau's mobile phone as a point of contact (312) 841-0970.

1516 North Wells Street
Chicago, IL 60610-1308
(312) 266-9355

www.topogigiochicago.com

Suomi Sydämessä - Finland in our Hearts Festival for expatriate Finns in Turku, July 2-4, 2011

2010-08-03T19:02:00.000-07:00

The Institute of Migration is arranging a Festival “Finland in our Hearts” in Turku for expatriate Finns in July 2-4, 2011. We welcome Finns from near and far to take part in the event. The weblink is www.siirtolaisuusinstituutti.fi/usj/

A committee is currently working on the program, which will include everything from seminars and lectures to pesäpallo and tango. Remember to note this very special event in your calendars.

The city of Turku will be the European Capital of Culture in 2011 together with Tallinn. The Capital of Culture program is the EU’s most significant cultural initiative with great international attention value. Turku has always been the gateway welcoming innovative thinking and perspectives to Finland and offers discoveries and experiences for everyone.

The City plays host to Europe's second oldest rock festival "Ruisrock" and the more recently established urban festival "Down By the Laituri". The summer sets the backdrop for the Medieval Market, the Turku Music Festival and various events along the River Aura. The unique Scandinavian archipelago opens up where the river ends.

For an invite in Finnish, please contact faccmidwest@gmail.com.

JOIN THE FACC-MIDWEST AND FINNISH COMMUNITY IN A MÖLKKY MATCH - SATURDAY, JULY 24TH, 2:30PM

2010-07-20T12:34:00.000-07:00

Dear fellow Finns and friends of the FACC:

Please join us for a game of Finnish lawn bowling, "mölkky" to be organized on Saturday, 24th of July at 2:30 pm. Mölkky has become widely popular in Finland as a fun summer game and the pins are now available even here in the US. For information on the game, please see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%B6lkky.

The game takes place in Promontory Point park, which is located in Hyde Park at 55th str & S. South Shore Dr (please see map: http://tiny.cc/r3ja2). The "Point" is easily accessible by a direct express bus from downtown Chicago (CTA #6, about 25 minutes travel time) or the Metra train (Metra Electric Line, 55th str stop). For a map of the bus connection, see: http://tiny.cc/a4dpu. There is also plenty of parking available around the park. For the game we will try to set it up on the northern downtown facing shore of the Point, which is about a 2 minute walk away from the park entrance.

We will have a set of mölkky pins for playing, together with a cooler for holding drinks cold. Promontory Point park allows the consumption of alcoholic beverages so if you wish, you may bring some refreshments for the tournament. There is a grocery store 5 blocks away (55th & S. Lake Park), a convenience store 2 blocks away (55th & S. Hyde Park blvd) and several restaurants on 55th street between S. Lake park blvd and the Point. Luckily, the Point also has several water fountains and clean restrooms for freshening up.

If you have any questions about the event, please feel free to contact either the FACC or Annika Hau (annikahau@northwestern.edu). If you have any trouble finding us, please call (312) 841-0970.

We are looking forward to seeing you all on Saturday!

NORDIC FILM FESTS ANNOUNCE CALL FOR ENTRIES FOR 2010-2011 NORDIC FILM FEST SEASON

2010-07-19T15:42:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 19, 2010

NORDIC FILM FESTS ANNOUNCE CALL FOR ENTRIES FOR 2010-2011 NORDIC FILM FEST SEASON

SEATTLE, MINNEAPOLIS, AUSTIN – Today, the Nordic Film Fests announce call for entries for feature, short, and documentary films.

The submission form can be downloaded at www.nordicfilmfest.com

The 2010-2011 Nordic Film Fests are held from September 2010 to May 2011 and span Seattle, Minneapolis, Austin and other cities in the U.S. Feature films, short films, and documentary films are eligible for participation. Films should be made in and/or have a theme originating from the Nordic countries (Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Norway, Sweden). Short films should be under 40 minutes in length and documentary films less than 60 minutes.

The Nordic Film Fests do not charge a submission fee as the main objective is showcasing the beautiful and creative works of Nordic films.

Nordic Film Fests in the U.S.

The Nordic Film Fests in the U.S. are the premier showcase for Nordic films in America and are a great way to gain exposure for your film across this vast country. Held annually in Seattle, Minneapolis, Austin, and several other American cities, the festivals attract a diverse audience of critics and film fans. The Nordic Film Fests have introduced American audiences to some of the most innovative and diverse set of Nordic films of the past decade, including As it is in Heaven (Sweden), The Last Farm (Iceland), Flame & Citron (Denmark), and Harvest Time (Finland).

COOKING WITH FINLANDIA PICTURES - JULY 13

2010-07-15T19:56:00.000-07:00

The Finnish-American Chamber of Commerce Midwest joined Finlandia, and Brown-Forman for a wonderful event, Cooking with Finlandia, at the Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park on Tuesday, July 13th. Sara La Fountain, Finnish/American Chef Extraordinaire and Pekka Pellinen, Finlandia's Global Brand Champion, and world-renouned bartender, entertained a group which included 26 members and friends of the FACC-Midwest.

The FACC-Midwest, would like to thank Sara and Pekka for their passion and energy for their art of cooking and drink making. Additionally, the FACC-Midwest would also like to thank long time Illinois-based supporters of the FACC-Midwest from Brown-Forman/Finlandia: Rhiannon McCollum, Maribel Graham and Nicole Metropulos and the rest of their global team.

Finlandia is produced from all natural glacial spring water in Ilmajoki, Finland. Finlandia Vodka is the only vodka in the world produced without a need for compex purification processes.

The FACC-Midwest also wishes Brown-Forman and Finlandia and happy 40th anniversary and best of luck with their Sustainability 2010 initiative.

Finlandia Vodka is clearly the greatest vodka in the world.

PASSPORT SERVICE AT FINN GRAND FEST JULY 28 - AUGUST 1

2010-07-15T16:18:00.000-07:00

Finn Grand Fest 2010, Sault Ste Marie, July 28^th to August 1^st, 2010

The Finnish embassies and consulates in Canada and the United States will be present in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, to provide passport service for Finns living both in Canada and in the US.

At the Finn Grand Fest the passport application process is virtually the same as at the Finnish embassies and consulates. When submitting the application, not only fingerprints, but also a photo of the applicant will be taken. The application can only be processed if the applicant’s personal data (name, date and place of birth) is up-to-date in the Finnish population register. Also, children born outside of Finland cannot apply for a passport unless their birth and citizenship details are registered into the population register. Passport instructions and fees are available at www.finland.org -> Services for Finns.

Please contact the Consulate General of Finland in Los Angeles by phone (310) 203 9903 ext. 4 or via email passi.los@formin.fi if you are interested in submitting a passport application during the festival. All passport applicants are kindly requested to make an appointment in advance.

BARFLYS TONIGHT AT TOPO GIGIO, 7/2, 6PM

2010-07-02T10:42:00.001-07:00

Hello friends of the FACC,

Tonight's gathering will meet at the outside bar at Topo Gigio at 6pm. Website and location is below. Please use Annika Hau's mobile phone as a point of contact (312) 841-0970.

1516 North Wells Street
Chicago, IL 60610-1308
(312) 266-9355

www.topogigiochicago.com

CONSUL GENERAL RITVA JOLKONEN VISIT PUBLISHED IN CHICAGO SUN TIMES AND SKYLINE, ANN GERBER

2010-07-01T07:01:00.001-07:00

AMBASSADOR RITVA JOLKKONEN, CONSUL GENERAL OF FINLAND, was featured at the June 15 meeting of the Finnish American Chamber of Commerce at the Mid-America Club. Retiring honorary consul Frederick Niemi was cheered and his successor Olli Goos was welcomed. Tony Johansson, president of FACC presided.

http://www.skylinenewspaper.com/News/06-16-2010/Gores_scratch_40-year_itch

FACC Event - Cooking With Finlandia, July 13th at Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park

2010-06-26T11:04:00.000-07:00

The FACC-Midwest invites you to Cooking With Finlandia Vodka, staring renowned Finnish/American Chef Sara La Fountain and Finlandia Global Brand Champion Pekka Pellinen.

The event is hosted by Brown-Forman and Finland Vodka.

100% of ticket sales will be donated by Brown-Forman/Finlandia to Slow Food USA. This event celebrates the 40^th Anniversary of Finlandia Vodka.

When: July 13, 2010 from 7pm – 9:30pm

Where: Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park, 200 North Columbus Drive

Cost: $50 per person includes two appetizers, an entrée, dessert and four cocktails with Finlandia (one with each course).

Important RSVP Information – Please RSVP to faccmidwest@gmail.com. This event holds 100 people. A few tables of 10 are pre-purchased by Brown-Forman/Finlandia for media, customers and charities so seating is limited and first come/first serve. We will accept initial RSVPs until Noon on Wednesday, June 30^th. After this date, we can approach on an individual basis pending availability. Since this is a pre-pay event, the FACC-Midwest will pre-pay seats/tables for all people who have sent a RSVP and collect $50 payment on July 13th. Naturally, if you RSVP and cannot attend we would ask that you honor the commitment to pay $50, or find someone to fill your seat.

This will be an amazing event, for a terrific cause, at a very reasonable cost. We hope to see many of you there!

Regards,

FACC-Midwest

FINNISH CONDUCTOR, HANNU LINTU AT THE MILLENNIUM PARK 7/28 AND 7/30

2010-06-22T17:10:00.001-07:00

Franz Liszt’s Piano Concert No. 2, which embodies both his creative genius and flamboyant showmanship, shares the program with Stravinsky’s luminous ballet The Fairy’s Kiss ( based on a tale by Hans Christian Andersen), and Tchaikovsky’s joyful Capriccio Italien.

When Wednesday, July 28, 2010, 6:30pm

Friday, July 30, 2010, 6:30pm

Open Rehearsal: Tuesday, July 27, 2010, 11:00am – 1:30pm

Open Rehearsal: Tuesday, July 27, 2010, 3:00pm – 5:30pm

Open Rehearsal: Wednesday, July 28, 2010, 11:00am – 1:30pm

Where - Jay Pritzker Pavilion

Who - Grant Park Orchestra
Hannu Lintu, Conductor
Markus Groh, Piano
What Stravinsky: The Fairy’s Kiss
Liszt: Piano Concert No. 2, A major
Tchaikovsky: Cappriccio Italien

This event is sponsored by: MacArthur Foundation

FINN GRAND FEST 2010 - JULY 28 TO AUGUST 1, SAULT STE. MARIE, ONTARIO

2010-06-20T09:53:00.000-07:00

Members of the FACC-Midwest plan to attend Finn Grand Fest in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. More than 3,000 total people are expected to be in attendance. For information, please contact the FACC-Midwest or visit the following link for information and schedule of events.

http://www.finngrandfest2010.com

Mission of the event is to: To celebrate and promote all things Finnish, including but not limited to Finnish culture, Finnish language, Finnish history, Finnish education, Finnish entertainment and Finnish sporting events.

FACC NEW BUSINESS MEMBER, SIV SJÖHOLM - SUCCESS IS VITALITY

2010-06-20T07:02:00.000-07:00

We’d like to introduce our fresh new member in the FACC.

The Finnish born, yet world traveled Siv Sjöholm has her own Wellness practice here in Chicago. She has a big passion for holistic health and nutrition. She works with clients all over the world privatly and also is a public speaker, giving seminars and offering group wellness programs for corporations here in the US and in Finland.

She has allready started to influence our energies and health in a powerful way here at the FACC and we’re looking forward to upcoming events with her and having her as an active member of the FACC.

If you are an organization or individual interested in taking ”health and Vitality to the next level”, check out her website; Successisvitality.com and be in touch with her for your own or your organizations health goals!

You can read her inspirational newsletter and subscribe to it through this link: http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs005/1102681734336/archive/1103418013520.html

FACC and Siv at Success Is Vitality wishes you a Vibrant and healthy summer!

12TH ANNUAL FACC AUTUMN GOLF CLASSIC - FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2010

2010-06-20T06:49:00.000-07:00

Please save the date for the 12th Annual FACC Autumn Golf Classic. This has always been a very well attended outing and lot of fun.

WHEN: Friday, September 17, 2010

WHERE: Cog Hill Golf and Country Club, Lemont, IL

TIME: Flights go off between 7:30-8:30am on Course Three. If we have more than 36 golfers, flights will carry over to Course One.

WHO: EVERYONE! By popular demand, this event will be played as a SCRAMBLE/Best Ball. We welcome anyone who has an interest in the FACC and golf. It is a goal to bring new golfers to this event every year, and all levels are invited. Non-golfers are welcome to join for lunch at 1:30pm.

PRIZES: We will have terrific prices and would welcome donations from anyone receiving this email.

COORDINATION & CONTACT: Golf-Chair and main contact – Henna Koivisto & Master of Ceremonies – Tage Lindholm

We would appreciate early sign-up or RSVP by July 12th so we can book the appropriate number of tee times.

If you are not on the FACC-Midwest mailing list, have not received registration information and would like to attend please contact Henna Koivisto at koivihe@yahoo.com.

Wishing You All A Fabulous Summer!

FACC-Midwest

FIVB World League: USA Men’s Volleyball VS. Finland - June 25 & 26th, Sears Centre

2010-06-16T12:14:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Men’s National Team – the reigning Olympic gold medalist – will bring its exciting brand of volleyball to Hoffman Estates this summer for the FIVB World League competition. Tickets on sale now! Buy by phone at 1-888-SearsTIX, online at SearsCentre.com or at the Sears Centre Box Office.

For Groups of 10 or more save on your tickets by calling Tony Infusino at 847.649.2225 or emailing Tony.Infusino@searscentre.com

Buy tickets here - http://ev9.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetEventList?groupCode=VB&linkID=global-sears&shopperContext=&caller=&appCode

Parking Cost: $10
Ticket Prices:

Adult Reserved Admission $25

Adult General Admission $18

Groups of 10 or more $15/ person

USAV/Senior/Military Reserved $20

USAV/Senior/Military General Admission $15

All tickets prices go up $3 on the day of the event
Applicable fees will apply to phone and internet ticket purchases

Event URL: usavolleyball.org/events/2878

CONGRATULATIONS TO ANTTI NIEMI AND THE CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS FOR THE FIRST STANLEY CUP IN CHICAGO SINCE 1961

2010-06-11T09:14:00.000-07:00

The Chicago Blackhawks won their first Stanley Cup since 1961 with excellent goaltending from Finnish hero, Antti Niemi. Niemi started and completed every postseason game, compiling 16 wins to lead the Blackhawks to the NHL championships.

This picture is with Antti's wife Jonna.

Link to article from 6/11/10 Iltalehti (in Finnish). http://www.iltalehti.fi/jaakiekko/2010061111839895_jk.shtml

TUESDAY, JUNE 15, 2010 - FACC MIDWEST BOARD MEETING & INAGURATION OF HONORARY CONSUL

2010-06-10T18:46:00.000-07:00

Finnish-American Chamber of Commerce / Midwest

Visit of Consul General Ritva Jolkkonen and Board and General Planning Meeting
Welcome everyone to our next FACC meeting! This time the venue will be the Mid-America Club, which provides spectacular views of the city and lake from the 80th floor of the Aon Center. The evening will begin with a reception at which Consul General Ritva Jolkkonen, visiting from New York City, will be present. She will thank Fred Niemi for his service as Honorary Consul of Finland in Illinois, and officially greet Olli Goos as our new one. FACC's dinner and board meeting will follow, which will include discussion and progress updates from the committees planning events for the remainder of the year. The meeting itself is intended to be shorter than usual.

Date: Tuesday 15 June 2010
Time: 6:00 p.m. reception with Ritva Jolkkonen, followed by board meeting
Place: Mid-America Club, Aon Center 80th floor, 200 E Randolph St, Chicago
Dinner Cost: $30 per person, with rest of the cost being subsidized by FACC
Drink Cost: Everyone is responsible for paying for own drinks
RSVP: to Onni at facc.midwest@gmail.com as soon as possible, preferably by end of business day Wednesday 9 June
We hope you will be able to attend and contribute to making this another great FACC event!

BAR FLIES

2010-05-05T17:27:00.000-07:00

First Fridays with Finnish Bar Flies! Chicagoland Finnish-American organizations jointly invite all area Finns (and Finns at heart!) to fun & casual bar nights every First Friday of the month. Baarikarpaset will flock to Kitty O'Sheas with absolutely no agenda, program, or responsibilities!

The next get together is June 4th, starting at 5:30 p.m. We'll see you there !

Kitty O'Sheas

720 S. Michigan Ave.

Chicago, IL 60605

312-294-6860

KAIJA SAARIAHO

2010-04-12T05:54:00.000-07:00

Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho, 2008 winner of Northwestern’s $100,000 Nemmers Prize in Music Composition, completes her Bienen School of Music residencies the week of April 12, complete with two concerts of her unique contemporary works at the Pick-Staiger Concert Hall in Evanston.

Music of Kaija Saariaho: An All-Cello Program (with Anssi Karttunen)
When: Thursday, April 15 at 7:30 PM
Contemporary Music Ensemble: A Kaija Saariaho Portrait
When: Friday, April 16 at 7:30 PM

Where: Pick-Staiger Concert Hall –
50 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston, IL 60208

Phone 847.491.5441

Tickets are $7 for the general public, $5 for seniors and Northwestern faculty/staff, and $4 for students. Free parking. Full details and Google map at www.pickstaiger.org/concerts

20TH ANNUAL SCANDINAVIAN FESTIVAL

2010-04-04T16:40:00.000-07:00

20TH ANNUAL SCANDINAVIAN FESTIVAL

Sponsored by the NORDIC COUNCIL OF WISCONSIN

HALES CORNERS LUTHERAN CHURCH,
12300 W. Janesville Road, Hales Corners, WI
Saturday, May 1, 2010 from 10am to 5pm

This year’s entertainment will feature: Stark Duo; Grieg Ladies Singing Society; Lykkeringen Norwegian Folk Dancers; Kipakat- Linde Folk Dancers; Lee Hoofnagle on Finnish Kantele.

There will be arts & crafts and sales exhibits representing Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. Don’t forget about the raffle prizes and the ethnic foods featured from each Scandinavian group. Kids can learn something new about the Vikings.

Due to the huge response we will have Genealogy Specialists available again this year for those interested in learning how to research their Scandinavian family history through the use of the Internet.

The doors are open from 10am to 5pm.
Free parking and handicap accessible
Admission: Adults $6.00
Kids 4-12 $2.00
Kids under 4 Free

Please come and join us for a fun filled day of song, dance, food, and activities. Buy that special something that you have been looking for from one of the Scandinavian sales booths. We hope to see you at Hales Corners Lutheran Church on Saturday, May 1st.

For more information call: 262-895-6419 or 414-425-0846

http://www.nordiccouncil.com/

GREEN DIPLOMACY

2010-04-03T12:20:00.000-07:00

The Ambassador of Finland, Mr. Pekka Lintu, will give a presentation

"Green Diplomacy: Sustainability as Finland's Message in the U.S."

University of Illinois at Chicago
Institute for Environmental and Policy

Lincoln Hall, Room 202
707 South Morgan Street
Chicago, IL 60607

28th of April

3.30 pm

The presentation will give information about the actions what Finnish Government has done to achieve global goals in the sustainable technology and renewable energy field.

Admission is free, RSVP not required.

EUROPEAN DRINKS FESTIVAL

2010-03-12T11:02:00.000-08:00

EuroChicago in cooperation with the European Union Consulates in Chicago presents

European Drinks Festival 2010

Wednesday April 28, 2010
5:00pm to 6:00pm – for professionals
6:00pm to 8:00pm – for general public

Sofitel Chicago Water Tower
20 East Chestnut Street, Chicago

Meet old & new Friends and Partners from the European Countries

Discover Wines, Beers and Spirits from:
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany,
Greece, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Spain and The Netherlands.

Sofitel famed selection of hors d´oeuvres and national snacks will be served
during the tasting session.

RSVP via e-mail to Mrs. Amandine Marcelis: amandine.marcelis@gmail.com

Fee: $30.00 pp – Students with valid ID and over 21: $20.00 pp
Fee at the door on the day of the event: $40.00pp

Kindly write your check to EuroChicago stating names. Check to be received
no later than April 26, 2010 to ensure proper registration.
Address: EuroChicago, c/o Mrs. Amandine Marcelis-Andre, 647 Pleasant Street, Oak Park, IL 60302

For more information please contact EuroChicago at (708) 613-5092or Mrs. Amaia Artaza at (312)782-4588 ext. 204 or conspainchicago@sbcglobal.net

BRAHMS VIOLIN CONCERTO CSO

2010-03-10T08:38:00.000-08:00

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Esa-Pekka Salonen conductor

Christian Tetzlaff violin

Brahms Violin Concerto

Nielsen Symphony No. 5

Thursdy, April 22, 8:00
Friday, April 23, 1:30
Saturday, April 24, 8:00
Tuesday, April 27, 7:30

Tickets

Crowned Musical America's Instrumentalist of the Year in 2005, Christian Tetzlaff shines in one of the most popular violin concertos ever composed. The London Times wrote, "He's a dependably excellent musician, always fusing brain and heart with racing fingers and a huge range of dynamics. The colour variations brought to the Brahms were remarkable." Nielsen's Fifth Symphony breathes in long melodic arcs, adding exciting drama throughout and emerging triumphant at the end.

Salonen is exceptional among today’s musicians in having something unique to communicate to audiences both as a conductor and as a composer. Born in Helsinki, he is currently Music Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. From the 2008/09 season, he will take up the position of Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor of the Philharmonia Orchestra, with which he has maintained a close relationship throughout his conducting career; in addition he has retained the individual voice that first brought him to attention as a composer and each new work is eagerly awaited.
Salonen has been Music Director in Los Angeles since 1992, overseeing the orchestra’s instalment in its new home, the Walt Disney Concert Hall, designed by Frank Gehry. Highlights of his directorship include residencies at the Salzburg Festival, Köln Philharmonie and at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, as well as numerous European tours and guest appearances in Japan. A typically visionary Salonen project with the Philharmonic was a semi-staged production of Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde, directed by Peter Sellars in collaboration with video artist Bill Viola produced as a co-production with the Paris National Opera, and performed in the Walt Disney Concert Hall.
As well as his work in Los Angeles, Salonen has an especially close relationship with the Philharmonia Orchestra in London, where he was Principal Guest Conductor from 1985 to 1994. He is renowned for his performances of contemporary music, including countless world premieres, and he has led critically acclaimed festivals of music by Schoenberg, Stravinsky, Shostakovich, Ligeti and Magnus Lindberg. Esa-Pekka Salonen is one of the founders and Artistic Director of the Baltic Sea Festival – an annual event, which brings celebrated musicians and ensembles to Stockholm to promote unity and ecological awareness among countries around the Baltic Sea.
Salonen’s compositions cover a wide range of styles and genres but are united by their atmospheric and emotive intensity, in many cases featuring dense harmonies. Often they create their own worlds, a characteristic evident from his first large-scale orchestral work, the Saxophone Concerto ...auf den ersten blick und ohne zu wissen (1981-82), which takes its title from a phrase in Kafka. Floof, an experimental work from the same period (revised in 1990) is inspired by science fiction; an ebullient and histrionic work for soprano and ensemble, it is widely performed and broadcast. Also significant from this period is the series of solo works titled Yta (Surface).
The orchestral work LA Variations (1996) heralded a new period of compositional activity for Salonen. Gambit, another orchestral work, was premiered in Amsterdam in 1998, while the song-cycle Five Images after Sappho (1999) was co-commissioned by the Ojai Festival, California and the London Sinfonietta. Among his most important compositions of the new century are the orchestral pieces Insomnia (2002) and Wing on Wing (2004), which appear together on a CD from Deutsche Grammophon.
Current and forthcoming conducting engagements include appearances with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris, New York Philharmonic and Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Salonen records exclusively for Deutsche Grammophon. Releases with Deutsche Grammophon so far include a disc of Salonen works and a DVD of Kaija Saariaho’s opera, L’Amour de loin as well as two CDs with Hélène Grimaud with works by Pärt and Schumann. The first recording of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Salonen for Deutsche Grammophon was released in October 2006. After recording for Sony Classical for many years, Salonen has an extensive discography with repertoire ranging from Mahler and Revueltas to Magnus Lindberg and his own works.
Esa-Pekka Salonen has been the recipient of awards world-wide, including two Royal Philharmonic Society Awards and the 2005 Helsinki Medal. Musical America has named him Musician of the Year 2006.

EMPLOYMENT LAW SEMINAR

2010-03-09T19:56:00.000-08:00

The Ten Employment Law Issues Employers Should Be Most Concerned About In the Early Months of 2010

Monday, March 22, 2010

7:30am-8:00am - Registration and Breakfast

8:00am-9:30am - Program

Doubletree Hotel Chicago - Oak Brook

1909 Spring Road

Oak Brook, IL 60523

Fee $20

To register, please click here

Please RSVP by March 18, 2010

AGENDA:

* The Employee Free Choice Act is coming, and your company needs to be prepared.
* Planning ahead will help to protect your company's trade secrets.
* More employees will be protected as "disabled" under the ADA and will need accommodation.
* Your employee handbook should be up to date with current legal requirements.
* The FMLA provides for additional types of leave for employees whose family members have military duty.
* Your risks in the digital age increase as social networking grows.
* The increased use of employer provided technology in employees' off hours poses additional risks in complying with wage-hour laws.
* Your risks of a discrimination/retaliation lawsuit have increased.
* What your risks are in misclassifying a worker as an independent contractor.
* What your company needs for an enforceable release of claims.

SPEAKERS:

Peter A. Steinmeyer, Member, Epstein Becker & Green, P.C., Chicago - Mr. Steinmeyer is a Member of the Firm in the Labor & Employment practice. He is Co-Chair of the firm's Non-Competes, Unfair Competition and Trade Secrets Practice Group and practices all aspects of labor and employment law. He has published numerous articles, including "Rethinking Restrictive Covenant Enforceability in Illinois," Law 360, 10/09; "Preventing the Misappropriation of Trade Secrets through Proactive Policies and Procedures," Labor & Employment Law, Vol. 46, No. 4, 05/09; and "Drafting Enforceable Noncompetition Agreements in Illinois," Illinois Bar Journal, 04/09. He is also a co-author of the blog, http://www.tradesecretsnoncompetelaw.com/

Jason A. Schmidt, Senior Associate, Epstein Becker & Green, P.C., Chicago - Mr. Schmidt is a Senior Associate of the Firm in the Labor & Employment practice. He represents clients in a wide range of employment law matters, including statutory discrimination claims, labor arbitrations and matters involving restrictive covenants and trade secrets. He has spoken on employment-law and litigation-related topics, both at regularly-scheduled EBG client briefings, as well as outside seminars. He also authored several articles on employment law issues and is a frequent contributor to the firm's http://www.tradesecretsnoncompetelaw.com/ blog.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact LaKeisha Brookins at 312.499.1426 or lbrookins@ebglaw.com.

Epstein Becker & Green, P.C., will request certification of 1 hour of CLE credit from the Illinois Supreme Court's MCLE Board for this program.

Note: Please note that in order to receive full credit for attending this briefing, the registrant must be present for the entire session. Full scholarships to attend EBG Events will be granted to nonprofit organizations, public sector employees and unemployed attorneys. To apply, send your request, stating the reason for your interest, along with the completed registration form. Attorney Advertising.

About EpsteinBeckerGreenEpsteinBeckerGreen is uncompromising in its pursuit of legal excellence and client service in its areas of practice: Health Care and Life Sciences, Labor and Employment, Litigation, Real Estate, Business Law, Employee Benefits and Immigration. The Firm is also known for its service to clients in the health, hospitality, financial services and energy industries, among others, representing entities from Fortune 100 companies to startups. Our commitment to these practices and industries reflects the founders’ belief in focused proficiency paired with seasoned experience.

OTAVALA NEWSLETTER

2010-03-09T19:45:00.000-08:00

Dear Friend,

If your year is anything like ours, time is just flying by. We want to make sure that you keep up to date on what Otavala has to offer you. This quarter we have an article from Tomi Wahlstrom, our lead consultant, and another article from associate consultant Ryan H Simmons.

Enjoy,

Otavala Consulting Team, http://www.otavala.com/

Why is Managing Conflict So Important?

By: Tomi Wahlstrom, Lead Consultant

Every business that employs people regardless of size and industry experiences interpersonal and organizational conflict. This conflict is caused by multiple inter-related variables and circumstances. For example, some of these causes include constant changes in the competitive environment, increasing diversity among employees, and limited resources. As a result of these changing variables managing conflict is important in many ways. First, it is important because unmanaged conflict can have expensive legal consequences as people seek litigation as a way to resolve disputes. Second, managing conflict is important because high level of negative conflict can cause employee dissatisfaction and expensive turnover as well as decreased productivity. Lastly, managing conflict is important because when done well it can become a catalyst for creativity and innovation as well as organizational learning. It can become a strategic advantage as a company becomes a learning organization capable of benefiting from different points of views. Employees of a learning organization feel open to express opinions and make suggestions that lead to improvements without the fear of conflict.

Conflict is usually a symptom of an underlying problem and not just a problem in itself. It can be a symptom of weak organizational design, ineffective communication, bad leadership, dysfunctional organizational culture, or poor selection of employees. When a consultant is called upon to address organizational conflict, these underlying causes are often addressed rather than the conflict itself. Conflict mediation is only an immediate intervention for acute negative conflict that needs to be resolved before these underlying issues can be safely addressed. This is very similar to the work of a psychotherapist. An individual who sees a therapist for depression or anxiety is often not directly treated for these symptoms outside of some immediate medication stabilizing mood to give strength to deal with therapy. Rather, the issues of dysfunctional relationships, ineffective lifestyle choices, and lacking coping skills are address in the course of therapy. Similarly, when a patient sees a physician for high cholesterol, the underlying lifestyle issues such as lack of exercise and bad diet are addressed. Cholesterol medication alone is not sufficient remedy if these underlying causes are not addressed. Conflict that is resolved through legal action at courts never works as the underlying causes are not addressed and parties are left with resentment. Only a systematic process of management consulting with some immediate conflict mediation can resolve the issues permanently and in a sustainable fashion.

The causes of conflict can be addressed in a business organization and thus negative conflicts can be managed, resolved, or even transformed into a positive force. Since people are often the main reason for interpersonal and organizational conflict, the way people interact and make decisions together must be addressed. Increased knowledge of differences between people in terms of cultural attitudes, conflict management styles, and psychological types is the first step. The second step is for people to learn skills and techniques to communicate more effectively and focus on issues rather than personalities. When these people skills and abilities are supported by matching organizational structure and culture, as well as effective leadership, increased productivity and profitability occurs. Expensive legal costs are minimized and employee retention improved. Quality of the services and products is increased as people communicate better and make better decisions. This is why conflict is such an important issue in business organizations of all kind, and should be managed, resolved, or transformed.

"In Transition"

By: Ryan H Simmons

If you've been out and around recently, you've heard the term "In Transition". Of course, if you are "In Transition" this means that you are seeking employment: which means you've been recently fired. (Fired/Let-go. Tomato/To-ma-do.) I couldn't help but think to myself, "Why do we say 'in transition'? When you think about it, we are always in some kind of transition".

When we are young, we think about a time when we will just sit and relax. When we do get older, we realize that the time of sitting back and relaxing doesn't really seem to exist. If it does, it doesn't last long. We'll always have some kind of problem or be in some ever-changing situation. The meaning is still has the same connotation: we are searching for the next thing.

In that sense, I guess I'm in transition as well. I am searching for new business, another hobby (that is less expensive than earning educational degrees), and the next event with my friends. I would go so far as to say, if you are not transitioning, I worry for you. To be transitioning is to have movement in your life. Sitting in the same place may be comfortable for a little bit, but gets you nowhere in the long-run. Now... Get in Transition!

INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION

2010-03-09T19:32:00.000-08:00

From left: Honorary Consul Olavi Göös, interior designer Katarina Andersson, singer Karita Mattila, and music student (trumpet) Suvi Keto. Photo credit: Annika Hau.

Being Frugal is Very Fashionable

Celebrating Finnish Independence Day is a cherished tradition in Chicagoland. However, quite a few FACC members have been impacted by the recession, which created new planning challenges in 2009. We looked forward to our annual party, but given the economy, pricey festivities seemed out of style. It was time to reconsider the Independence Day event concept: no more fancy restaurants or lavish catering. Still, we were dreaming of enjoying genuine Finnish Christmas fare, complete with glögg and all the trimmings... Finding a venue that would let us bring in food was quite an adventure. The chosen cozy neighborhood bar was modest from the street, but once inside, our party room was spacious and comfortable. Better yet, our only rental fee was the bar package. Close to downtown Chicago, with free parking and public transportation nearby - just perfect! The feast buffet included home-made leg of pork, Karelian pies, Finnish imports such as dark rye bread, and IKEA's Scandinavian selection. The bar chef - originally from New Orleans – prepared beetroot salad and divine rutabaga casserole. It was a smash hit. A talented Finnish trumpetist played the national anthems and nostalgic marches, and the keynote speech recounted the Winter War miracle. A spirited interview with our guest of honor Karita Mattila was a high note: she is living proof that a world-class opera star can be very down-to-earth, especially in the company of fellow Finns. The raffle again sent one happy winner to Helsinki, courtesy of SAS. Take-aways for future events: Focus on seasonal essentials, forget the fancy details. Team work is essential for success. Thanks to the famous Finnish "talkoo" spirit, the party was a great success; fun was had by all, and for the first time ever, we even made a little profit. Things are definitely looking up for 2010.

HOUSE OF BLUES CHICAGO PRESENTS

2010-03-03T09:13:00.000-08:00

HIM

Friday 04/09/2010

BUY TICKETS

Sonata Arctica

Sunday 04/11/2010

BUY TICKETS

ANNUAL MEETING

2010-03-01T13:58:00.001-08:00

The Finnish American Chamber of Commerce Midwest

Annual Meeting

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Thursday March 11, 2010
6:30 p.m.
Adobo Grill
1610 N. Wells St.

Chicago, IL 60614

Annual meeting is open to everyone.

RSVP to Onni Hart at facc.midwest@gmail.com by 3/8/2010.

ICE SKATING

2010-02-22T11:35:00.000-08:00

The Chicago Area Finnish School invites us to join them on

Saturday 3/20/2010

for

Ice Skating Day

Seven Bridges Ice Arena
http://www.sevenbridgesicearena.com/
6690 S Route 53, Woodridge, IL 60517

1.30 PM-3 PM skating

3 PM-4 PM coffee

RSVP: hanba@sbcglobal.net or (630) 515-1848

BAR FLIES 3/5/2010

2010-02-20T10:04:00.000-08:00

First Fridays with Finnish Bar Flies!

Chicagoland Finnish-American organizations jointly invite all area Finns (and Finns at heart!) to fun & casual bar nights every First Friday of the month. Baarikarpaset will flock to Hackey's Printers Row with absolutely no agenda, program, or responsibilities!

The next get together is March 5th, starting at 5:30 p.m.

We'll see you there!

Hackney's Printers Row, 733 S. Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60605. See map here.

THE EU FILM FESTIVAL

2010-02-20T07:55:00.000-08:00

The 13th Annual European Union Film Festival will open on Friday, March 5, and run through Thursday, April 1, 2010!

The Gene Siskel Film Center welcomes you to the 13th Annual European Union Film Festival, the largest showcase in North America for the cinema of the European Union nations. All 27 EU nations are represented in this year's festival which includes 59 feature films all Chicago premiers.

The 2 films from Finland are:

FORBIDDEN FRUIT (KIELLETTY HEDELMÄ) 2009,

Dome Karukoski, Finland, 104 min.

with Marjut Maristo, Amanda Pilke

March 6th—3:15pm
March 9th—8:00pm

"A surprisingly restrained and superlatively well-acted film that strikes an impressive negotiation in its portrait of liberation vs. repression."--Michael Koresky, IndieWIRE
The Laestadian community, a fundamentalist Lutheran sect that is a major force in Finnish society, provides a fascinating backdrop for this coming-of-age story. Experience-hungry teenager Maria (Pilke) runs off to the big city to taste all the forbidden fruits (sex, alcohol, movies). Her devout friend Raakel (Maristo) is dispatched to bring her back to the fold, but, as she discovers, purity isn't necessarily the strongest armor against temptation. Director Karukoski maintains a remarkably nonjudgmental tone, laced with dry humor and bittersweet irony. In Finnish with English subtitles. 35mm print courtesy of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. (MR)

HELSINKI, FOREVER(HELSINKI, IKUISESTI)2008,

Peter von Bagh, Finland, 75 min.

March 24th—8:00pm
March 28th—5:00pm

"The first eye-popping masterpiece that I saw in 2009 in some ways remains the best."--Jonathan Rosenbaum, Moving Image Source
Critic/historian/archivist von Bagh evokes a hundred years of Helsinki history through a dazzling montage of clips culled from stunning though little-known treasures of Finnish cinema. Compared by critics to Terence Davies's OF TIME AND THE CITY and the cine-essays of Chris Marker, von Bagh's film takes its own distinctively impressionistic approach to intertwining the personal and the historical. Chicago-based critical eminence Jonathan Rosenbaum recently named HELSINKI, FOREVER as one of the ten best films of the decade. In Finnish with English subtitles. Beta SP video courtesy of Illume Ltd. (MR) Critic Jonathan Rosenbaum will introduce and discuss the film at the Wednesday screening.

In all, the festival includes nine films that were selected to represent their nations in this year's best foreign-language film.

Other notable films include from Sweden "The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo"/ "Men som hatar kvinnor" - based on the international bestseller by Stieg Larsson.

For more information, please visit
http://www.siskelfilmcenter.org/euff2010

The European Union Film Festival, founded by the Gene Siskel Film Center in 1998, in cooperation with the consulates and cultural institutes representing European Union nations in Chicago, has grown to become the largest showcase in North America specifically dedicated to the cinema of the EU. The annual festival program of 60+ feature films, all Chicago premieres, ranges from work by established directors, including some of the most renowned names in world cinema, to the work of first-time and emerging directors and films from nations with developing film industries. The festival annually includes sneak previews of new acquisitions by U.S. distributors prior to theatrical release, current contenders for the Best Foreign-language Film Academy Award, and a great range of new dramas, comedies, and documentaries that will not otherwise be seen in the U.S.

More info from Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago http://www.siskelfilmcenter.org/

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

2010-02-19T20:30:00.000-08:00

The International Visitors Center of Chicago, the International Trade Club of Chicago and the Union League Club of Chicago cordially invite you to attend the Ninth Annual Chicago Celebrates International Women's Day International Fair and Luncheon.
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Monday, March 8, 2010
10:30am- International Fair
Noon- Luncheon featuring Master of Ceremonies: Ms. Dina Bair, Medical Anchor/Reporter, WGN TV
The Union League Club of Chicago
65 W. Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, IL
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"The International Epidemic of Antibiotic Resistance: Women are the Key to Protection and Prevention"
Featuring keynote speaker: Ms. Maryn McKenna
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Maryn McKenna is an independent journalist and author who specializes in public health, medicine and health policy. She writes features for national magazines and news stories for an infectious-disease website. In addition to her new book, Superbug: The Fatal Menace of MRSA, about the rise of drug-resistant staph around the world, she is working on projects on polio eradication and on emergency room overcrowding.
From 1995-2006, she was a national desk writer at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where she was the only U.S. journalist assigned to full-time coverage of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and embedded with a CDC investigative team during the 2001 anthrax-letter attacks. She has reported from the Indian Ocean tsunami and from Hurricane Katrina, as well as from Southeast Asia, India, Africa and the Arctic. She has covered pandemic influenza since 1997, when she wrote the first story in the American media on the potential threat posed by avian flu H5N1.
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Dr. Ana Gil-Garcia, a tenured University Professor at Northeastern Illinois University, author, esteemed community leader, and advocate for Latino educational leaders, will make a special cultural presentation about women in Venezuela, her native country.
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Thank you to our Event Partners-
American Association of University Women-Illinois, Consulate General of Canada in Chicago, Fulbright Association-Chicago Chapter, Heartland International, The Musicians Club of Women, National Association of Women Business Owners-Chicago Area, Organization of Women in International Trade-Chicago, Professional Women's Club of Chicago, The Union League Club of Chicago Authors Group, The US National Committee for UNIFEM (United Nations Development Fund for Women) Chicago Chapter
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Cost-
$60- Luncheon Cost
$75- Display table at the International Fair (non-profit organizations); includes one lunch ticket
$100- Display table at the International Fair (for-profit organizations); includes one lunch ticket
$650- Display table at the fair and 10-top luncheon table Sponsorship opportunities available.
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For more information and to register by Monday, March 1st, please visit http://www.chicagowomensday.org/
Questions? Contact Lexy Sobel, International Visitors Center of Chicago, 312-254-1800 x102 or Lsobel@ivcc.org.
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Limited space available for display tables. The Union League Club of Chicago's dress code is business casual. No jeans or gym shoes allowed.
Labels: international Chicago

CLASSIFIEDS

2010-02-19T20:26:00.000-08:00

Looking for something?

Want to sell, rent or hire?

Please send your classified ad to facc.midwest@gmail.com and we will post it here.

.

2010-02-19T15:36:00.000-08:00

USEFUL LINKS

2010-02-14T12:09:00.000-08:00

FINNISH AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SISTER CHAMBERS

Florida
Helsinki
New York
Northwest
Pacific Coast
Southeast
The Finnish American Business Guild
Washington DC

ABOUT FINLAND

Virtual Finland
eFinland — technology serving people
Finnguide - Finland English information
Finnish Tourist Board
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Travel Guide to Finland
Travel Guide to Finland for Students
U.S. Commercial Service, American Embassy Finland
Weather in Finland
World Factbook-Finland
FINPRO (the Finnish Foreign Trade Association)
Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland
TEKES (National Technology Agency)

CHICAGO

Explore Chicago
Restaurants, events & entertainment in Chicago & suburbs
Chicago Reader (popular alternative weekly)
Chicago Tribune (largest daily newspaper)
Chicago Visitor’s Directory
Chicago Area Radio Stations
Top 30 Tourist Attractions in Chicago
Illinois Bureau of Tourism (statewide travel guide)
Chicago Transit Authority (public transportation)
Chicago Airport Information (O’Hare, Midway, Gary)
Chicago Market Facts 2009 by Crain’s
Crain’s Chicago Business (business weekly)

INTERNATIONAL CHICAGO

International Trade Association
International Trade Club
The Chicago Council on Global Affairs

EuroChicago

DCEO
International Visitors Center

Chicago Sister Citities

Thank You for a Great Event

2009-11-19T01:44:00.001-08:00

I would like to sincerely thank Charles Peterson for hosting the wonderful Sweden Shop event on November 4th. While we did not have as many participants as we would have liked, I feel that the event was very successful. It was great to meet some of our new Finnish students at North Park University, and listen to beautiful music by one of them, Suvi, who performed with Charles' wife. While I cannot tell the difference between a trumpet and a saxophone, the music was absolutely mesmerizing. It was also great to visit the chapel at the university and learn about the school's significant Scandinavian history. I hope that we can have more events like this in the future.

Tomi Wahlstrom

YOU'RE INVITED

2009-06-17T13:21:00.000-07:00

The FACC-Midwest is extending a special invitation to its members, as well as members from other Nordic chambers.

Now all Nordic chambers will be welcome to enjoy events hosted by fellow chambers at the local member price.

Enjoy your common Nordic membership; pay the same as the hosting chamber members. Expand your friendships and network opportunities as your membership benefits continue to multiply!

WELCOME

2009-06-11T13:15:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Finnish-American Chamber of Commerce Midwest Blog Site!

This is intended to be a tool for our members to connect to the Chamber more easily.

We are also planning to post news, event invitations, fun photos, and messages from our members in this space.

We welcome all input you wish to have on the blog. Any funny stories? Business events? Do you need help with anything?

The FACC-Midwest will be posting content we think you will like and find useful, but we hope it won't be just us!

We look forward to hearing from you soon!