Hekla Club Samkoma  
Over 100 attend annual celebration 

Author: Diane Greenwood & Dianne O’Konski, Minneapolis, MN

For the second year, the Icelandic Hekla Club held its Samkoma celebration April 27 at the Norway House in Minneapolis. The event highlighted the 100 years this club has been in existence. The role Samkoma was to play in the future of the club is noted from the onset. Samkoma was mentioned by the Icelandic Hekla Club at its initial meeting on January 30, 1925. According to meeting minutes: “Samkoma was discussed but no action taken in view of the fact that we are just starting out and it would be better not to rush things.”

Not rushing paid off as Samkoma has continued throughout the history of the club. Its venue may have changed, as well as the menu, but it stays true to its Icelandic roots. 

This year’s event began with a social hour where we (over 100 of us) caught up on the latest news from members and friends. Kari Shogren, vice president of the Hekla Club, then invited us to a delicious luncheon buffet.

Elin Hansen, president, introduced video greetings from: Svanhildur Hólm Valsdóttir, Ambassador of Iceland to the United States; Jón Átli Benediktsson, rector of the University of Iceland; Gwen Morgan, president of the Icelandic National League of North America (INLNA); and Douglas Hanson, president of the Icelandic National League of the United States (INLUS).

Adriana Castelo, assistant director of exchange programs at the University of Minnesota, brought in-person greetings from the university’s International Student and Scholar Services. She highlighted the relationship between the Icelandic Hekla Club and the Val Bjornson Student Exchange Scholarship that began in 1982. It was the first formal student exchange agreement for the University of Minnesota.

Jónína Kardal, president of the UMN Iceland Alumni Network, followed Adriana. Her remarks, as well as Jón Atli’s, focused on the student exchange between the University of Minnesota and the University of Iceland. This exchange is formally renewed every five years and will be renewed in 2027 in Iceland. She went on to reminisce as a former Hekla Club member about attending the meetings and events and the importance of the friendships and relationships that were formed. Adriana concluded by announcing Jeannie and Matt Entenza’s donation of $100,000 to the Val Bjornson Fund.

Jeannie Isfeld Entenza, Honorary Consul of Iceland for Minnesota and North Dakota, introduced the keynote speaker, Margrét Hallgrímsdóttir, former director general of the National Museum of Iceland and current director general in the Prime Minister’s Office. In recognition of the Hekla Club being a women’s club until 2019, Margrét acknowledged the role that women have played throughout the history of Iceland. Using the Lady of the Mountain, the female incarnation or personification of Iceland, as a starting point, she highlighted the many roles that women played throughout the history of Iceland. She graciously took questions following her remarks.

The year 2024 marked 80 years since the founding of the Republic of Iceland in 1944. As a remembrance of the occasion, Margrét brought lapel pins for all attendees and the copies of the book Fjallkonan, inspired and instigated by former Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir. Interestingly, each chapter of the book is printed in Icelandic, English, and Polish.

Following her talk, Margrét had the honor of drawing the winner of the raffle held for vouchers worth $1,000 on Icelandair, compliments of the airline. James (Jimmy) Johnson, Honorary Consul of Finland, won the vouchers. He serves the Northern Finnish communities and is based in Virginia, Minnesota. He was not present at the event but was delighted when told. The Hekla Club uses proceeds from sale of tickets to donate to the Val Bjornson Scholarship Fund.

President Elin Hansen ended the event with an acknowledgment and thanks to all who stepped up to serve, by donating their time, talent, and energy to make this centennial celebration a success. She added a special thanks to the people serving on the 100th Anniversary Committee. Getting down to business.