Become a Council Member
The Council is what we make it, and great efforts are made to respond to needs and opportunities in the community. I am excited to see what candidates bring to the table. Volunteering in the Council´s work helps strengthen the community and empower local and national organizations and initiatives. And individually, serving on the Council offers a chance to do new things and meet fellow Estonians from around the country while also honoring the old traditions and customs. Our Estonian culture – Estonian as well as Estonian American – is so special. We all play a part in creating it and preserving the Estonian spirit and community.
Mai-Liis Bartling, EANC president
EANC Election 2026 (ERKÜ XXIIII Esinduskogu valimised)
2026 is a council election year! Members are elected for a four-year term and serve as volunteers. The Council size can vary from 20 to 50 members, depending on the number of candidates. Our Council meets as a whole at least once a year, usually in Autumn, to review the past year's activties and set priorities, activity plans, and the correpsonding budget. Council members collaborate throughout the year on committees, projects, and initiatives of their choice in support of Estonian culture and heritage and standing for the interests of the Estonian American community.
As the world around us poses increasing challenges and uncertainties, EANC is working smarter than ever to strengthen the collective Estonian voice in the United States, to support local Estonian communities, organzations, cultural exchange and youth programs, and to make connections with like-minded organizations and cultivate strong ties with Estonia. The Council gears up for its 75th anniversary in 2027, and we look forward to welcoming new council members in our mission.
Estonians from around the United States are encouraged to get involved in the Esto-American community -- become a candidiate for our representative nation-wide Council or support the activities and EANC mission from afar. We are proud of our diverse and impressive group of individuals who work passionately for this community. Now it is your turn to get involved! We look forward to meeting you!
EANC XXII Council members, Philadelphia 2018
Eligible candidates must be a resident of the United States and be at least 21 years old at the end of the voting period; must be Estonian descent, or a family member of such an individual, or a resident member of the Estonian American community through family relations.
Contact us at erku@estosite.org or out to our Executive Director by phone at +1 (978) 397 0020 for more ways how to get involved in the Council and the Estonian American community.
Official announcements about the 2026 Election will be published in the Estonian-American newspaper Vaba Eesti Sõna, as well as here, on the EANC website and on our Facebook page. Be sure to sign up for the EANC´s Teataja newsletter and e-bulletin, and check our Events calendar frequently for events and opportunities.