Annual Convention

Friday, May 16, 2014Canada Inn Hotel, Polo Park Location

Winnipeg, Manitoba

HUB OF ICELANDIC NEWS

Grant A. StefansonChairman of the Board

LH BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN ACTION

Grant A. StefansonChairman of the

Board

Elva JónassonSecretary

Dan SnidalTreasurer

LH Board of DirectorsChairperson

Grant A. Stefanson

SecretaryElva Jónasson

TreasurerDan Snidal

DirectorsBrian Tómasson

Claire EckleyGarry OddleifsonJ. Peter Johnson

Margaret KernestedOskar Sigvaldson

Helgi Gunnar Thorvaldson Robbie Rousseau Shawn Bjornsson

Erna PomrenkeBruce Eyford

Alicyn Goodman

MEET OUR STAFFJoan Eyolfson Cadham

Editor

MEET OUR STAFFAudrey Juve Kwasnica

Chief Operations Officer

MEET OUR STAFFCatherine McConnell

Production ManagerLayout & Design Editor

MEET OUR STAFFJodi 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

non-profit 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. Create2. Culture3. Courage4. Brand5. Resources6. Strategy7. 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 the Lögberg Heimskringla wheel rolling.

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?