Apostolic-Lutheran Congregation: M. Pyylampi and M. Saari

Finnish Accident and Sickness Benefit Association: H. Hakala, 0. Hakko, J.

Kalkuri, M. Laitila, E. Lepistö, 0. Länkinen, E. Nikkinen, M. Saari and A.

Tuomikoski

Finnish-American Club: T. Ahola, 0. Lahti, R. Vilmonen and G. Voitti Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church: E. Lepistö Luther League: V. Starkman

Suomi Synod Congregation: H. Metsäpelto and William Palmgard; Sewing Circle:

M. Laitala; Luther Guild: E. Martin, H. Mills and N. Riikola Ely Workers Society: A. Huhta and J. Korpela Ely Educational Committee: A. Huhta

Ely Finnish Reading Club: I. Erickson, C. Kuitunen and A. Ruskala

These groups appointed a joint committee entrusted with the planning of the collection of funds and goods. This activity went on for a full two years, and before it came to an end temporarily in March 1942, more than $3,400 in money as well as quantities of goods, whose value it is impossible to even estimate, had been sent to Finland.

In January 1945 this relief committee was summoned once more to a meeting, at which it was proposed that the activities be resumed. At this meeting J. Porthan was elected chairman, V. Starkman secretary, A. Kivipelto treasurer, and A. Leino, H. and J. Lintula, S. Mäki, H. Pietilä, A. Porthan, S. Ranta and A. Saari to the executive board. Work was resumed with the enthusiasm that had been shown earlier, and it was not until January 1951 that the work was once more at an end.

MFAHS, Chapter 15: The Ely Chapter of the Minnesota Finnish American Historical Society was established with 27 persons present on 28 January 1947. The first chairman was Fabian Mäenpää, with William B. Mäki as secretary and Senja Mäki as treasurer.

Finnish Newspapers : A couple of Finnish newspapers were published for a time in Ely. The first of these, a conservative paper called the Suomalainen attempted an appearance at the turn of the century. Soon beset by economic difficulties, Toivo Hiltunen and some friends of his tried to continue publication of the Suomalainen in 1903 as a pro-labor paper. In August of that year the Työmies published the following news item: "Another paper for the workers: on the 9th of this month the newspaper committee elected at the Duluth workers' meeting had invited attendance at a meeting to discuss the founding of a cooperative workers' paper at Hibbing. Those present at the meeting decided to establish their own workers' paper, to be conducted along socialistic principles. It was unanimously decided to purchase for this purpose the Suomalainen and its presses from the present owners, Hiltunen and Lindberg, of Ely, for

398