| RAIVAAJA (The Pioneer) A not-for-profit Finnish American newspaper |
Published
by
Raivaaja Foundation, Inc. 640 Townsend Road Groton MA 01450 1-978-345-3822
Editor
Presidentemail: raivaaja@net1plus.com website: www.raivaaja.org Marita Cauthen Dennis Hill |
| Dear Friend of RAIVAAJA, As you probably know, RAIVAAJA, the newspaper, ceased publication in printed form in 2009 after 104 years of providing news and information to the Finnish-American community. At the annual meeting that year the membership voted to transfer all of the assets of the RAIVAAJA Publishing Company, including books, business records, photographs, and other historical documents to the non-profit, tax-exempt Raivaaja Foundation for preservation. The intent of the membership was to ensure that there would be an archive for people to do research – either of a scholarly or of a personal nature. RAIVAAJA, the newspaper, had served for many years as a historical resource for people and organizations seeking information about names, dates, and places related to the early Finnish-American experience in this country, especially in New England and New York. It also responded to requests for family information from people interested in their ancestors who were immigrants to this country -- the types of information that could not easily be found anywhere else. The treasure trove of documents, books, and photographs transferred to the Foundation for safe-keeping now makes us the resource to which people can turn when they seek answers to their questions. We are now confronted with the problem of anything that had been printed on paper in earlier times – especially photographs – beginning to fade and it gradually becoming more difficult to distinguish clearly the faces of people in some of those photographs. The Foundation’s Board would like to digitize its photographic collection so that requests for information could be responded to electronically. But, of course, this would require an expenditure of money that the Foundation does not currently have. We are soliciting private donations from people such as yourself who have been stalwart supporters of RAIVAAJA in the past so that we may begin this important preservation effort. These private donations can also demonstrate to grant-making organizations that there is grass-roots support for the project, and applications for grant money will be looked upon more favorably. We are asking for your help. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to the Raivaaja Foundation. On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Foundation, we thank you for your support. Kiitos! Dennis Hill, President Marita Cauthen, Secretary Robert Hanninen, Treasurer …............................................................................................................................................................................ Yes! I want to help Raivaaja Foundation preserve its historical collection documenting the Finnish-American experience of the last 100 years.. I've enclosed my contribution of $25 __ $50 __ $100 ___ Other:____ Name _________________________________________________________________ Address _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Make your check out to Raivaaja Foundation, Inc. and send it to: Raivaaja Foundation, 640 Townsend Road, Groton, MA 01450-1110 |