Page 13 of 18

Volunteers Needed

Has Imanta been good to you or your organization this year? Now we need your help: Imanta is looking for volunteers for our Casino on March 13th and 14th at Baccarat Casino in downtown Edmonton. There are day shifts and evening shifts available. No experience necessary! Meet other Imanta members! All volunteers will be provided a free meal! Remember: Casino funds are vital to our scholarship and seniors programs, so if you can help us out please contact us at imantaedmonton@gmail.com. And if you know someone who would fill a shift, please pass on the word.

Shifts available for both days:

Cashier –           10:30 AM to 7:00 PM    or     6:45 PM to 3:15 AM
Chip Runner     10:30 AM to 6:30 PM    or     6:30 PM to 3:15 AM
Count Room      11:30 PM to 3:30 AM

 

 

March 2015 Newsletter

Edmonton Latvian Society
IMANTA

Edmontonas Latviešu Biedrība

March 2015

Hello everyone,

For those of you who don’t know, March is our anniversary month. IMANTA was founded on March 4th, 1947, and registered as a society a few days later on March 8th.

Much has changed over the years. Ten years ago, we rewrote our by-laws in English and adopted English as our business language. This was controversial at the time but it was made necessary by our changing membership and by our connection to casino funding, to which we send regular reports. Despite the changes, IMANTA has remained true to its mandate of connecting Latvians in
Edmonton and area over the years. We are still a Latvian society, and the oldest active Latvian organisation in Canada.

Our spring meeting and get-together will be held on Sunday, March 29th,
at 1 pm at the Laurier Heights Hall at 14405 – 85 Avenue. A light lunch will be served – we’re calling it A Taste of Latvia.

If anyone in your family has taken part in our scholarship program, our taxi program or the monthly children’s activity group, or if you’ve attended any of our other events, come out on March 29th ! We are encouraged by the turnout of young children and families at the children’s group and welcome new ideas and suggestions.

We have a source of good funding for community activities but we don’t know what the community wants. Līgo this year? English or Latvian language lessons? Sports? We need your input.

If you are unable to attend, please write to us at imantaedmonton@gmail.com Seniors, remember that you can phone Yellow Cab and use taxi vouchers for transportation to meetings, doctors’ appointments or any other event. Our transportation program is well-used and we’re able to offer it through our casino funding. If you need vouchers, please phone Ena at 780-468-2728.

IMANTA has supported several local organisations over the years. We review donation requests twice a year, in May and in November. If you’re involved with a non-profit group, please write to imantaedmonton@gmail.com to request an application form. The deadline is May 1st.

IMANTA also supports a scholarship at NAIT. Information is available at http://www.nait.ca
The next application deadline is August 30, 2015.

If anyone is still wondering where to buy Latvian products in Edmonton, several items can be found at European Market & Produce at different times of the year. 6607 – 177 Street

Remember – we’re on Facebook – Post your comments or share your news.

Other links:
http://www.latviansongfest2015.org
http://www.latviansonline.com
http://www.lnak.org

November Independence Day Celebration & October 2014 Newsletter

November 2014 Invitation

(Please click on invitation to enlarge)

We are very pleased that Juris Ķeniņš, a well-known Latvian and Canadian cellist from Toronto, will be visiting Edmonton and performing at our November celebration. Juris and his wife spent 4 weeks in Riga this fall on a visit that included a concert and lecture tour. The program for us will feature music by Latvian composers. Pianist Renna Hoang will also perform.

We have changed venues to accommodate the program and because of this, tickets MUST be purchased in advance. The Polish Hall has a strict catering policy.  Seating will be limited and we need to have a confirmed number of guests to ensure that we can cover the cost of dinner.

A ticket order form is attached.  Please note the RSVP deadline of November 8th. Tickets will be mailed starting October 25th.

If you have further questions, please phone any member of Imanta’s executive or email : imantaedmonton@gmail.com

Transportation for Seniors: This is available to seniors through our casino funding. Please take advantage of it! Phone Yellow Cab at 780-462-3456 for a ride. If you have no vouchers, they are available at every event and the driver will come in with you to fill one out. You will be given another voucher to use for your return trip.

THANK YOU to all our members who volunteered at our Casino in July. Through this program we are able to offer scholarships, the seniors’ program, events in cooperation with other organisations, and other special events.

Sandis Kondrats, our favourite Latvian sculptor and now living in Seattle, was back in Edmonton in early July 2014 to take part in Sand on Whyte, a
sand-carving exhibit in Old Strathcona. Those who attended the festival and met with him were able to see the art form in which he excels.

Two of IMANTA’s staunchest supporters and hardest workers are leaving Edmonton for a milder climate. Daina Bruners, IMANTA’s former president, and her mother, Vilma, have contributed to our Latvian society for so many years, in too many ways to count. Daina was instrumental in modernising IMANTA and revising its constitution to keep up with the reality of our local Latvian society.
We will miss them greatly and wish them all the best as they settle into their new home on Vancouver Island!

November Ticket form and membership form