As in previous years, the awards ceremony at the 98th annual
convention of the Icelandic National League of North America highlighted the brilliant
array of contributions to the wellbeing of the Icelandic community by the
various individuals who were recognized. It was moving to listen to each
award’s presenter, read about each honoree in the program, and then listen to
recipients express their thanks for their award when, in point of fact, it
should have been us thanking them.
Healthy organizations recognize and appreciate the good work
of their leaders and other volunteers, so it’s heartening to see the efforts
the INLNA puts into acknowledging them through the Laurence S.G. Johnson
Lifetime Achievement Award, its honorary memberships, and the new Joan Inga
Eyjolfson Cadham Award for contributions through literature, arts and media. As
in the past, this year’s worthy recipients earned their awards through hard
work and dedication – some locally, some regionally, some internationally.
When the ceremony was over, however, I found myself
wondering why we sometimes wait so long to publicly appreciate the work of our
leaders. I’m thinking here about public institutions and voluntary associations
in general, not just the INLNA or its member clubs. I was reminded of a
deceased ministerial colleague who used to ask why honorary degrees were given
out towards the end of their recipients’ careers when it would have been better
to have honoured them somewhere closer to the midpoint.
Our society’s wellbeing is dependent on the contributions of
countless individuals who step forward to offer leadership in the public arena,
most on a purely voluntary basis, and I’m struck by how quick we can be
sometimes to demand more or criticize imperfections while being much slower to
offer words of appreciation. Gratitude is a spiritual discipline that seems to
be in short supply these days and it is best cultivated through conscious inner
reflection and outward expressions of appreciation.
So I’d like to thank the board of the Icelandic National
League of North America as well as the board of its partner in the old country,
Þjóðræknisfélag Íslendinga, for their indefatigable efforts on behalf of our
shared Icelandic culture and heritage, both individually and collectively, not
to mention the energy they put into bringing our communities together to
“connect the pieces.” I’m not prepared to wait until their efforts are just one
part of a lifetime achievement – I want to thank them now. And, while I’m at
it, I’d like to extend my appreciation to the Icelandic Communities Association
of Northeast North Dakota for organizing a magnificent convention this year.
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| Sunna Furstenau, President of the Icelandic National League of North America |
I would especially like to highlight and celebrate the
extraordinary leadership of the INLNA’s president, Sunna Furstenau, who is
surely one of the most remarkable leaders in the league’s nearly century-long
history. The energy, enthusiasm, and organizational skills she brings to her
work, including both a robust vision and attention to detail, are rarely found
in a single individual. Add to this her grace, positivity and tenacity, and you
have a force that’s as powerful as a prairie windstorm and as gentle as a
summer breeze.
I don’t quite fathom how Sunna juggles it all. In addition
to guiding the work of the INLNA, she has led the development of Icelandic
Roots from a simple genealogical database to a comprehensive cultural
institution, strengthened ties between North America and Iceland, visited
numerous Icelandic communities, supported local initiatives and international
programs, and she has still found time to be a devoted spouse, mother and amma.
She has both a deep sense of her roots and an expansive imagination, which are
reflected in her creativity and drive.
No institution lasts forever without reinventing itself. Indeed,
voluntary associations need to renew their vision and clarify their purpose
every generation or their existential clock will begin ticking. In Sunna Furstenau,
the Icelandic National League of North America has a once-in-a-generation
leader whose presence has helped to reinvigorate the league and reset its
clock. Our appreciation of Sunna’s leadership shouldn’t wait for some far-off
awards ceremony. We should appreciate it and offer our gratitude now.
This post appears as the editorial in the May 15, 2017, issue of
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