Get Involved
The Estonian American National Council, Inc., (EANC), is the nationally-elected central organization of Estonian Americans. EANC helps support and maintain our Estonian heritage and language, Estonian American cultural activities and organizations in the U.S., and works to create awareness of, and support for, Estonia among all Americans. EANC also works in Washington with other like-minded organizations, such as the Joint Baltic American National Committee (JBANC) and the Central and East European Coalition (CEEC) to inform the U.S. Congress and Administration of issues of concern.
The current EANC Council members (Esinduskogu liikmed) include:
- Kristi Allpere - GA
- Aliisa Altau - MD
- Mai-Liis Bartling - CA
- Ave Blithe - NJ
- Marianne Brokaw - M
- Ülle Ederma - NJ
- Marit Davey - CA
- Leif Fritzell - ND
- Arne Kalm - CA
- Gilda Karu - IL
- Mirjam Krull - DC
- Kersti K. Linask - FL
- Maia Linask - VA
- Kadri Linask-Goode - WA
- Epp Meisner - MD
- Monika Orumaa Craig - FL
- Mati Otsmaa - CA
- Matti Prima - NJ
- Erik Puskar - MD
- Aavo Reinfeldt - CA
- Marju Rink-Abel - MD
- Andres Simonson - NJ
- Alvar Soosaar - PA
- Eric Suuberg - RI
- Toomas Tubalkain - OH
- Tiina Urv - MD
- Ilmar Vanderer - NJ
- Tõnu Vanderer - NJ
- Viiu Vanderer - NJ
- Urmas Wompa- NY
EANC is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization sustained by voluntary, tax-deductible contributions from the Estonian American community. These contributions help support Estonian American institutions, activities and special projects such as:
- Singing Revolution documentary and upcoming films, To Breathe As One, about the history of Estonian song festivals, and In the Crosswinds, about Soviet-era deportations in Estonia
- lVaba Eesti Sõna / The Free Estonian Word newspaper published in New York
- The Estonian Archives in the U.S.
- Long Island Estonian Children’s Summer Camp
- Estonian American girl guides and boy scouts
- Estonian American festivals and get-togethers, such as ESTO (the world-wide Estonian festival), and KLENK (Mid-West Estonian Days).
Our Mission
Our mission is to help preserve and promote the Estonian cultural heritage in the United States; to foster ties with, and to represent the interests of, Estonian Americans and their organizations; and to support the maintenance of democratic institutions in, and cultural exchange with, Estonia. We do this by:
- Providing support to U.S. events, projects, and activities that document, maintain or introduce our language, cultural heritage, and history.
- Facilitating the participation of Estonian American youth in activities that enhance their understanding of the Estonian language, culture and heritage.
- Disseminating information to the Estonian American community and organizing congresses of Estonian American organizations to foster coordination and information exchange.
- Maintaining informational contacts with U.S. and Estonian government entities and following developments that affect the well-being of Estonia.
- Working with and supporting organizations with goals similar to that of the EANC, including the Estonian World Council, the Joint Baltic American National Committee (JBANC), and the Central and East European Coalition (CEEC).