Why I Joined?
I am an Estonian-American, born in Germany, who grew up in a small community far from North American Estonian organizations. Our little family of four was on its own to keep the Estonian language and customs alive. We spoke Estonian at home and attended Estonian festivals in Toronto and New York. I have visited Estonia more than 20 times, starting in 1971, and lived there for six months in 1990 with my husband and two children. As we continue to regularly visit Tartu for work and personal needs, we bought an apartment in 2002, making Tartu our second home. Despite these strong connections, my own contributions to Estonian-American activities were mainly personal. I realized loving Estonia is not enough. Joining the Estonian American National Council allows me to have a broader influence. The EANC gives all Estonians a collective presence and power in Washington DC and throughout the US to make the concerns and needs of Estonians widely known. We can’t afford to sit on the sidelines as global power structures change. While the Estonian people have quickly moved forward since independence, fears of undue Russian domination and influence continue. The current political climate leaves many Estonians here and abroad uneasy. We all have important roles to play in supporting and encouraging the continued existence of the Estonian Republic and even greater accomplishments by Estonians everywhere. Belonging to the EANC is one more way to make our voices heard.