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Call for Candidates to the XXIV Estonian American National COuncil
2026-03-12 00:00 - 2026-04-23 23:59 (America/New_York)
Applications are now being accepted for candidacy to the XXIV Estonian American National Council.

The Estonian American National Council (EANC / Eesti Rahvuskomitee Ühendriikides, ERKÜ) is a nationally elected body of volunteers, and its strength comes from the participation and engagement of our community.

If you are an Estonian American interested in sharing your experience, representing your fellow Estonian Americans, and making a meaningful impact, consider a run for the Estonian American National Council (Eesti Rahvuskomitee Ühendriikides, ERKÜ).

Eligible candidates must be Estonian by descent, or a family member of such an individual, or a resident member of the Estonian American community through family relations. Eligible candidates must be legal residents of the United States and must be at least 21 years old.

Application forms, instructions and further information can be obtained from the EANC website, www.estosite.org; from the Election Committee co-chairs Lya Karm and Maria Pedak-Kari (EANC2026election@estosite.org), or by writing to EANC at erku@estosite.org.

Council members come from across the United States and represent many generations and walks of life within the Estonian diaspora. We believe the Council is strongest when it reflects this diversity of perspectives—across geography, generations, professions, and experiences—because each voice contributes to the shared goal of serving the Estonian American community.Since 1952, the Council has worked to help preserve Estonian heritage, strengthen cultural ties and support the Estonian community in the United States, and to advocate for the interests of Estonian Americans and a free and secure, democratic Estonia.

Serving on the Council is an opportunity to contribute your ideas, experience, and energy to the future of our community. We encourage members of the Estonian American community to consider becoming candidates and helping shape the next chapter of this work.

Council members are elected for a four-year term. Council size may vary from 20 – 50 members, depending on the number of candidates. The Council meets at least once a year, usually in Fall, to review past activities and to vote on the upcoming year’s budget and activity plan. Council members are invited to serve on a number of committees or initiatives during their term.

The Council’s mission is to help preserve, support, and promote Estonian cultural heritage; to foster ties with and to represent the interests of Estonian Americans and their organizations; and to stand for Estonian American interests and those of a democratic and free Estonia.

Application Period for Global Estonian Youth Envoys Summer School in Estonia
2026-03-16 00:00 - 2026-05-05 23:59
Be a global citizen, but stay Estonian!

The 2026 Global Estonian Youth Envoys Summer School in Estonia runs from July 26 – August 2, 2026.

The world is changing, and Estonia with it. We invite you to spend a week seeing and experiencing Estonia’s life and character for yourself — its beauty and its challenges. In doing so, you can become an Estonian youth envoy abroad, knowing the country first-hand, introducing it to others, and opening up avenues for cooperation with Estonia. You will also gain an overview of work and study opportunities in Estonia.

What awaits you?

How does the Estonian state function?We will visit the country’s most important institutions and meet the people who lead the state and shape foreign and security policy every day.

How is the country defended when necessary? The Defence Forces will give us a glimpse into their daily life.

Start-ups and unicorns. How is Estonia’s economy actually faring? Experts will share their insights.

Estonian universities and the labour market. What if I wanted to come to Estonia to work or study…? You will hear about study opportunities at universities and visit companies.

E-state and the AI leap. Is Estonia still a “tiger” — and should it be?

From the wonderful music of Arvo Pärt to Seto leelo singing and the smoke sauna, to the Krulli quarter (come and see where Krulli is, if you don’t know)

And finally…If you ever feel like simply talking about life and Estonia with someone, this is the place — by the campfire, on a bog hike, or simply out on a stroll.

Who are we looking for?

You can apply to the summer school if you are aged 18–30, have Estonian roots, and were born abroad and/or have lived outside Estonia for at least five years. The programme is in Estonian, but we will accommodate the need for English interpretation where possible.

What costs are covered by the programme?

Accommodation in Tallinn (single room)Accommodation outside Tallinn (shared rooms)Breakfast at the hotel and lunches and dinners according to the programmeEvents and transport within EstoniaReturn flights to Tallinn if necessary (in accordance with European Union limits)

Application

Send your CV, completed application form and a free-form essay of up to one page on the topic “My Estonia” in Estonian or English to suvekool@mfa.ee by May 5th at the latest.

Further details are available here — please make sure to read them before applying.

Organizers:

Public Lecture: An Anomaly in the Realist World - Power of a Small Country
2026-04-08 18:30 - 20:00 | Bechtel Conference Center, Encina Hall, 616 Jane Stanford Way, Stanford, California, United States
Stanford University and Vabamu Museum present this hybrid lecture

In person and online

About the event: Lithuania is a country with a millennia-long history and a very strongly developed sense of independence and statehood. Ever since Lithuania declared its independence in 1990, a country of just 2.8 million has stood in support of freedom fighters everywhere. When Russia started the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Lithuania became a model of support, sending equipment, taking in thousands of refugees, and standing with Ukraine on the diplomatic front. It is no secret that if Putin were to shift his march of aggression westward, the Baltic states, and among them Lithuania, could become a potential target. For realists in this world, it is a natural flow of history: the strong do what they can, and the weak suffer what they must. But it is clear that Lithuania is not preparing for demise; it shows that a small country can wield power that is not calculated in numbers of people, square kilometres of territory, or military divisions. In this lecture, Gabrielius Landsbergis will explore what gives a small country its power.

About the speaker: Gabrielius Landsbergis, formerly the minister of foreign affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, is the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Visiting Fellow at FSI, effective September 15, 2025.

As a Liautaud Fellow, Landsbergis will be deeply enmeshed in the daily intellectual life of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, (FSI), with simultaneous affiliations with The Europe Center (TEC), and the Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law (CDDRL).

Prior to his appointment at Stanford, Landsbergis served as the minister of foreign affairs of the Republic of Lithuania. Previously, he was the chairman of the Homeland Union Party while concurrently a member of the Lithuanian Parliament. Before assuming these roles, Landsbergis was also a member of the European Parliament and began his career as a diplomat for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania.

Landsbergis’ tenure serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs was defined by a value-based approach to foreign policy. During his time in office, he cemented deepening transatlantic relations, sustained support for Ukraine, and the elevation of global partnerships as strategic pillars of Lithuania’s foreign policy.

All CISAC events are scheduled using the Pacific Time Zone.

No filming or recording without express permission from speaker.

Preliminary List of Candidates to EANC's XXIV Announced
2026-05-07 08:00 - 17:00
Estonian Americans interested in joining the Estonian American National Council can apply to be a candidate by submitting their completed application to eanc2026elections@estosite.org no later than April 23rd.

Read more about the Estonian American National Council and how to get involved here.

Download application here

Connecticut Estonian Society 75+1 Anniversary Celebration
2026-06-06 00:00 - 23:59
SAVE THE DATE!

LEP2026 - West Coast Estonian Days 2026
2026-06-26 00:00 - 2026-06-28 23:59 | San Francisco, CA
Lääneranniku Eesti Päevad 2026

This summer, we invite you to join us in San Francisco for the West Coast Estonian Days!

A celebration of culture and the ways it connects us

What brings us together, across generations and across distances? Our theme is “Kultuur hoiab meid” or “Carried by Culture.” Culture is the braid of strands that come together – music, dance, language, community, history, and resilience – to which we all bring our own ideas, experiences, and sensibilities, but still are held together and sustained by what we share.

Welcome to new friends and old

For over 70 years, the festival has brought us together – especially from the Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver Estonian communities – to sing, dance, and share our love for Estonian culture and language. Next year, we invite Estonians, Estonian-Americans, and friends of Estonia based anywhere in the world to join us in the City by the Bay for a meeting to celebrate the innovative and resilient spirit that unites us across generations.

PROGRAM:

Saturday | Rahvapidu in beautiful Marin County, an outdoor laulu-, tantsu-, ja külapidu in honor of Jaanipäev with a European village feel, for the whole family.

Sunday | Estonians cherish our language a living vehicle for arts and culture. The Festival of Words explores this through a variety of performances and activities. We will also share our culture with the local public at Union Square in a showcase of Estonian song and dance. We’ll close LEP2026 with an elegant Gala Evening, including dinner, special performances, dancing, and socializing.

Daily | Late evening pub nights (salakõrts), exhibits, opportunities for special meetings and gatherings, and kids’ activities!

LEP Festival Pass now on sale!

The LEP Festival Pass is now on sale – and from now through the end of February, it is available at a discount.

The pass will give you entrance to all events at the West Coast Estonian Days from Friday, June 28 to Sunday, June 30 – three fully packed days of song, dance, film, talks, networking, workshops, exhibits, the opening reception, folk festival, and more in San Francisco.

(The only exceptions are noted at the link – the Gala Concert is a separate ticket that we look forward to sharing more about in upcoming days. Transportation to the folk festival is also sold separately.)

Explore our brochure and look for announcements about our special guests in the coming days and weeks. As organizers, we are dedicated to bringing you an event that will feed you and connect you, with as many experiences as we can offer – we hope you will take advantage of this best price and join us in San Francisco.

PRE-EVENTS!

Thursday | Before the festival opens, join us for a film showing at the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive.

Friday | We’ll host a Resilience Conference, a forum for hot topics and business networking before an Opening Reception on the 36th floor of the Grand Hyatt.

POST-ATTRACTIONS

Monday | After the festival, stay to enjoy a Wine Country Tour and the natural beauty and wine-tasting opportunities in the area of the Napa and Sonoma Valleys.

WHERE TO STAY

Introducing our festival accommodations. Located in the heart of the city on Union Square, the Grand Hyatt is the perfect jumping-off point for exploring San Francisco’s top attractions. Organizers are pleased to be able to offer a special rate starting at $174 during the festival. Take a virtual tour.

Book your accommodations

This is your festival! Have an activity, idea, or connection to bring to the festival? Let us know!

Singers and dancers – we hope you will join us! If you are not yet in touch, please contact us for more information about performing opportunities.

Volunteer – Send us a message or join our WhatsApp group to get involved!

Estonian Scouting and Guiding International Jamboree in USA
2026-08-08 08:00 - 2026-08-16 17:00 | Järvemetsa, 71 Olev Drive, Jackson, NJ, 08527, United States
Kutse Suurlaagrisse!

Hellakesed, hundud, gaidid, skaudid, juhid! Meil on hea meel kutsuda teid Järvemetsa 70. sünnipäeva ja suurlaagri tähistamisele 2026. suvel!

We’re thrilled to invite you to this year’s Estonian Girl Guides and Boy Scouts Jamboree in celebration of Järvemetsa’s 70th Anniversary! We’re expecting a big turnout, with friends from across the USA, Eesti & Canada – including familiar faces from over the years, and plenty of new friends to meet!

We hope YOU will be there!

This year’s camp name, Ajakaja, is coincidentally [but fittingly] a palindrome, symbolizing the “echo of time.”

Ajakaja calls on us to honor our history, celebrate enduring traditions, and recognize the legacy carried forward by every generation of gaidid & skaudid.

As the years pass, the spirit of guiding and scouting endures, echoing across time.
