Why I Joined?
"I always wondered why somebody doesn't do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody." - Lily Tomlin
The decision to put my candidacy up for the Estonian American National Committee stemmed from a wish to participate more actively in an Estonian expatriate organization. EANC as a central organization was the ideal choice. I was honored to have received enough votes to be accepted as an EANC delegate and am now participating for the second term. In September of 2013 I also had a chance to start working as an archivist at the Estonian Archives in the U.S., which throughout its half a century of existence has remained a volunteer organization, funded solely by charitable donations from the Estonian community. Being associated with both EANC and EAUS gives me an opportunity to contribute in preserving Estonian cultural heritage in the American melting pot.
Since 1991 when Estonia regained its independence, a certain certain schism remains between “homeland” Estonians and the diaspora. It is our task as Estonian ambassadors to keep the dialogue going between the two schools of thought and keep co-operating in the fields of culture, science, politics and trade. The annual EANC meetings are a great platform for sharing ideas and discussing various topics important to all American Estonians.
“Olen alati mõelnud, et miks keegi ometi midagi ei tee? Ja siis sain aru, et mina olen ka keegi.”
⁃ Lily Tomlin
Otsus kandideerida ERKÜ ridadesse tärkas soovist end aktiivsemalt siduda mõne välis-eesti organisatsiooniga. ERKÜ kui keskne organisatsioon oli ideaalne valik. Mul õnnestus koguda piisav arv hääli ERKÜ delegaadiks saamiseks ja nüüd olen tagasi valitud juba teiseks ametiajaks. 2013.aasta septembris alustasin ka tööd Eesti Arhiiv USAs, mis pool sajandit on eksisteerinud ainult annetustest ja vabatahtlike tööjõuga. Nii ERKÜ kui EAÜ tööst osa võtmine on üheks võimaluseks, kuidas saan anda omapoolse panuse Eesti kultuuripärandi alalhoidmisele Ameerika ´´melting pot´´ koosluses.
Eesti vabariik taaskehtestati 1991.ndal aastal, ent ometi on tänaseni teatud lõhe kodu-eestlaste ja diasporaa vahel. See on üheks meie, kui eestluse esindajate, ülesandeks; et jätkuks dialoog nende kahe koolkonna vahel ja kestaks koostöö kultuuri, teaduse, poliitika ja majanduse vallas. Iga-aastased ERKÜ koosolekud on selleks head platvormid, kus saab mõtteid vahetada ja vestelda kõigil erinevatel Ameerika eestlaste jaoks olulistel teemadel.