Annual Convention
Friday, May 16, 2014
Canada Inn Hotel, Polo Park Location
Winnipeg, Manitoba
HUB OF ICELANDIC NEWS
Grant A. Stefanson
Chairman of the Board
LH BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN ACTION
Grant A. Stefanson
Chairman of the Board
Elva Jónasson
Secretary
Dan Snidal
Treasurer
LH Board of Directors
Chairperson
Grant A. Stefanson
Secretary
Elva Jónasson
Treasurer
Dan Snidal
Directors
Brian Tómasson
Claire Eckley
Garry Oddleifson
J. Peter Johnson
Margaret Kernested
Oskar Sigvaldson
Helgi Gunnar Thorvaldson
Robbie Rousseau
Shawn Bjornsson
Erna Pomrenke
Bruce Eyford
Alicyn Goodman
MEET OUR STAFF
Joan Eyolfson Cadham
Editor
MEET OUR STAFF
Audrey Juve Kwasnica
Chief Operations Officer
MEET OUR STAFF
Catherine McConnell
Production Manager
Layout & Design Editor
MEET OUR STAFF
Jodi Dunlop
Advertising Representative /
Production Assistant
VOLUNTEERS ARE THE LIFEBLOOD
OF ANY ORGANIZATION
• Associate Editors and Writers
• Subscribers – Members and owners of the
newspaper
HUG THE HUB
HUG THE HUB
• In order to remain strong, the LH must
maintain the strength of each of its spokes.
• There are many spokes that feed into the
hub.
• The LH provides a vital communications link
for the Icelandic community of North America
and between the Icelandic communities in
North America and Iceland.
HUG THE HUB
• The LH also connects a number of
important organizations, including the INL,
Icelandic Festivals, Icelandic Canadian
Fron, the Icelandic Government and
Governments in Canada.
• We are in the business of expanding the
tent.
HUG THE HUB
• We are an inclusive organization that is
constantly looking for opportunities to
partner with likeminded Icelandic cultural
organizations.
HISTORY – KNOW WHO YOU ARE
AND WHERE YOU COME FROM…
It’s the only way to know where you’re headed
• The LH has a rich history. When the
Icelandic immigrants settled in Canada
and in particular in the Winnipeg and
Interlake regions of what became the
Province of Manitoba, two newspapers
were established.
HISTORY – KNOW WHO YOU ARE
AND WHERE YOU COME FROM…
It’s the only way to know where you’re headed
• The Heimskringla Newspaper was
established in 1886. Heimskringla refers
to one of the best known old Norse Kings’
sagas and was written by Snorri Sturluson
nearly 100 years ago.
• The Lögberg Newspaper was founded in
1888. Lögberg means “law rock”.
HISTORY – KNOW WHO YOU ARE
AND WHERE YOU COME FROM…
It’s the only way to know where you’re headed
• This is the rock formation in Iceland in the
Thingvellir location where the country’s
and possibly the world’s first parliament
took place.
• It is also near the location where the north
american geographic plate is separating
from the euroasian plate and is quite an
amazing place to visit.
HISTORY – KNOW WHO YOU ARE
AND WHERE YOU COME FROM…
It’s the only way to know where you’re headed
• In 1959, the Heimskringla and Lögberg
newspapers merged into one newspaper,
known as Lögberg Heimskringla.
• Dr. P.H.T. Thorlakson was instrumental in
cementing the merger.
• For many years, the newspaper was
published on a weekly basis.
HISTORY – KNOW WHO YOU ARE
AND WHERE YOU COME FROM…
It’s the only way to know where you’re headed
• About 10 years ago, the newspaper
switched to being published twice
monthly.
• We are the longest continuously published
cultural newspaper in Canada and one of
the oldest continuously published
newspapers in all of North America.
NUTS AND BOLTS OF THE
LH MACHINE
The whole is the sum of its parts. Every Part Counts.
• Subscriptions
- Total: 1,600
-
Canada: 1,400
USA: 150
Iceland: 25, although the forecast is for more
International: 10
Web readers only: 150
NUTS AND BOLTS OF THE
LH MACHINE
The whole is the sum of its parts. Every Part Counts.
• The LH presence on social media
- Facebook and Twitter. What’s next?
- Blog?
- Instagram?
• Annual Revenue and Expenses
- Essentially cancel each other out annually.
NUTS AND BOLTS OF THE
LH MACHINE
The whole is the sum of its parts. Every Part Counts.
REVENUES
• LH Future Fund
- Winnipeg Foundation – provides annual revenues to the
operations of the newspaper.
- LH Icelandic Open Golf Tournament – provides revenues
that support the operations of the newspaper.
- Donations – annual donations are made by many
subscribers and supporters.
- Bequests that flow from estate planning are encouraged.
NUTS AND BOLTS OF THE
LH MACHINE
The whole is the sum of its parts. Every Part Counts.
• Fundraising
- Approximately 60% of the revenues are generated by
operations and 40% are from donations and
fundraising initiatives.
- Keep the fun in fundraising.
- For instance, the LH celebrates its birthday annually
and is currently 127 years young!
THE FUTURE
• We are living in the future. I’ll tell you how
I know. I read it in the paper 15 years
ago. We are all driving rocket ships and
talking with our minds…
John Prine
THE FUTURE
• Challenges abound for any cultural nonprofit organization.
• Increasing competition.
• We have a secret weapon though…
PASSION CAPITAL
• It is a term taken out of a book written by
Paul Alofs. It has been described as
“today’s business bible for success”. The
book talks about how passion capital is
different then just simple human capital.
PASSION CAPITAL
• It concludes with the following statement:
“Passion is a gift, a gift that you can give
to yourself, your company, your cause or
your country. Own your passion. Build
your passion capital. Become a passion
capitalist and you will be in possession of
the world’s most valuable asset.”
PASSION CAPITAL
• Alof breaks down passion capital into
seven principals all of which apply in a
non-profit setting and all of which
need to be developed at our
newspaper:
PASSION CAPITAL
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Create
Culture
Courage
Brand
Resources
Strategy
Persistence
PASSION CAPITAL
• Complacency is a threat to even the
strongest brand.
• Everybody here believes in Icelandic
culture otherwise you wouldn’t be
here.
PASSION CAPITAL
• The LH his passionate about Icelandic
culture.
• We welcome new ideas, new readers,
new subscribers and new volunteers.
• We intend to keep the LH story
relevant as it continues to unfold.
WHO… ME?
• Hug the hub and keep
Heimskringla wheel rolling.
the
Lögberg
WHO… ME?
• Support your cultural newspaper.
• Help keep the newspaper alive and
relevant:
1. Subscribe now.
2. Read it.
3. Write for it.
WHO… ME?
4. Advertise in it.
5. Donate to it.
6. Volunteer at it.
7. Love it!
WHO… ME?
• Thanks.
Enjoy the rest of the
convention.
• Questions?