Samkoma
The primary fundraiser for the Icelandic Hekla Club, Samkoma (coming together), is hosted normally in April. Samkoma is a gathering for visiting, dining and celebrating Icelandic culture for anyone interested in Iceland. It has been held almost every spring since 1925. A raffle is held each year, usually for Icelandair gift certificates, with the winning ticket drawn at Samkoma, and net proceeds are donated to the Val Björnson Icelandic Exchange Scholarship between the University of Minnesota and University of Iceland (Háskóli Íslands) established in 1982.
Sunday, April 28, 2024, noon - 3:00 pm, Norway House
Norway House is located at 913 E Franklin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55404.
Free parking is available in their parking lot as well as on the street.
The keynote speaker will be D. Sven Lindauer, award winning illustrator, artist, author and woodcarver. Mr. Lindauer will share on the topic of his book (The Art & Crafts of Ancient Scandinavia) including the creation journey behind it and the publishing of the book. This is the first of five books about Ancient Scandinavia that Sven is writing and illustrating. https://www.lindauerart.com/
2023 Speakers, Consul General of Iceland in Winnipeg, Vilhjálmur Wiium and Ambassador of Iceland to the United States, Bergdís Ellertsdóttir.
Raffle drawing for $1,000 in Icelandair gift certificates by Hekla Treasurer, Jean Mendenhall and Ambassador Ellertsdóttir, and the winner is John Hofteig! Proceeds from the raffle benefit the Val Bjornson Icelandic Exchange Scholarship between the University of Minnesota and University of Iceland.
Marta María, 2022 - 2023 Val Bjornson Scholar from Háskóli Íslands currently studing at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities Campus.
Samkoma Speakers Through the Years
2024 - D. Sven Lindauer - author, artist, The Arts & Crafts of Ancient Scandinavia - Norway House
2023 - Consul General of Iceland in Winnipeg, Vilhjálmur Wiium and Ambassador of Iceland to the United States, Bergdís Ellertsdóttir, Woman’s Club of Minneapolis
2022 - Stefan Jonasson, Editor, Lögberg-Heimskringla, Icelandic Community Newspaper in North America, Woman’s Club of Minneapolis
2021 - Canceled due to COVID - 19
2020 - Canceled due to COVID - 19
2019 - Eleanor Arnason, author, A Personal Look at Icelandic Folktales, Woman’s Club of Minneapolis
2018 - Steinunn Hrafnsdóttir, Associate Professor of Social Work, Háskóli Íslands, University of Iceland and Ómar Hlynur Kristmundsson, Professor in Public Administration, Háskóli Íslands, University of Iceland, Woman’s Club or Minneapolis
2017 - Ambassador Geir Haarde, Icelandic Ambassador to the United States, Woman’s Club or Minneapolis
2016 - Lorna Landvik, Local author and comedienne, Woman’s Club of Minneapolis
2015 - Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, Former President of Iceland, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador of Languages of the World and Auður Hauksdóttir, Director of the Vigdís Finnbogadóttir Institute of Foreign Languages (VFI) and Chair of the Vigdís International Centre for Multilingualism and Intercultural Understanding as part of the INLNA Convention at the Hilton Mall of America. 90th anniversary of the founding of the Icelandic Hekla Club
2014 - A Celebration of Icelandic Arts (Selected poems by Bragi Magnusson and Erin Johnson and music selections by Aria Strauss), Bloomington Events Center (aka Knights of Columbus)
2013 - Jere Mackin, President, Minnesota Genealogical Society, Family Stories: Can you Believe Them?, Bloomington Events Center (aka Knights of Columbus)
2012 -
2011 -
2010 - Minnehaha Academy Madrigal, Danish American Center
2009 - Cathy Josephson, Vopnafjörður and the Role It Played in the Settlement of Minnesota, Bloomington Sheraton Hotel
2008 - Dr. Kristín Jónina Taylor, pianist and Jim Reilly, Tenor - Bloomington Sheraton Hotel
2007 - Bill Holm, 25th Anniversary of the Val Björnson Scholarship Fund, Bloomington Sheraton Hotel
2006 - The Crowne Plaza Downtown St. Paul