Icelandic Hekla Club

A non-profit 501(c)(3) celebrating all things Icelandic, based in Minneapolis & St. Paul, Minnesota, USA

The Icelandic Hekla Club takes its name from one of the most well-known and active volcanoes in Iceland. Located on the south side of the island, standing 4,882 feet (1,491 metres) above sea level, it is known to have erupted some 20 - 30 times since settlement in 874, with the most recent being February 2000. The name is Icelandic for “a short-hooded cloak," referring to the nearly perpetual cloud cover over its summit.

Hekla Club celebrated its 100th anniversary on January 30, 2025. Thanks to Michele Ode for our wonderful centennial logo.

Sailing into the Next 100 Years

HeklaClub-PressKit_2025-Feb27.pptx.pdf

COMING SPECIAL EVENTS

HEKLA CLUB CENTENNIAL MEMORABILIA FOR SALE

Items are available at in-person events or by contacting info@HeklaClub.org.

Anniversary Mugs

Each mug is individually made by Deneen Pottery in St. Paul, Minnesota and are available for $20 each.

Centennial Logo Cling Stickers

$3 each or 2 for $5, transparent background, logo is white

2025 - 2026 Schedule of Events

In-person membership meetings are held at the Danish American Center,

Danebo Lounge.

We offer both in-person and Zoom membership meetings.

SUMMER 2025

Saturday and Sunday, July 26 and 27 - Minneota 150th Celebration headquartered at Minneota Opera Hall (The Big Store) and St. Paul's Church. Dianne O'Konski, Jeannie Entenza, Pat Brennecke, Kathryn Rothman coordination with Society for the Preservation of Minneota Heritage (SPMH). Volunteers needed. Vendor table to focus on travel to Iceland and Hekla centennial sales items.

Friday and Saturday, August 1 and 2 - The Deuce of August Icelandic Celebration, Mountain, ND. Doug Rutford coordinating, with assistance from Dianne O'Konski and Jeannie Entenza. Volunteers needed. Travel expenses on your own. https://www.thedeuce.org/

Friday through Wednesday, August 13 - 20 - the traveling Njal's Saga Tapestry, Danish American Center, Minneapolis. Dianne O'Konski coordinating with Susan Jakobson of the DAC and Claudia Petúrsson from Hvöllsvellir, Iceland. Volunteers needed. https://danishamericancenter.org/membership/event-calendar/#!event/2025/8/13/icelandic-embroidery-exhibition-15th-to-20

Saturday, September 13, 10:00 - 4:30 - Nordic Music Fest, Victoria, Minnesota. Sonia Srichai and Adine Stokes coordinating. Volunteers needed. Vendor table to focus on travel to Iceland and Hekla centennial sales items.

2025 - 2026 MEMBERSHIP YEAR

Saturday, September 20, 10:30 am - Membership Meeting, Welcome & Organizational Meeting; continuing 100th Anniversary celebrations

Friday, October 3 - Sunday, October 26 - LEIF (Leifur Eiríksson International Fest), primarily Mindekirken, Norway House and DAC. https://www.leifmn.org/

Tuesday, October 21, 11:00 lunch, 12 noon program - Icelandic program for LEIF

Saturday, October 18, 10:30 a.m., program introduction of 2025 - 2026 scholar, Mímir

Saturday, November 15 , 10:30 a.m., program TBA

Sunday, December 7, 11:00 - 2:00 pm, in-person Jólabarnaball, by invitation only

Saturday, January 17, 10:30 a.m., program TBA

Saturday, February 21, 10:30 a.m., TBA

Saturday, March 21, 10:30 a.m., program TBA

Sunday, April Samkoma, in-person, TBD

Saturday, May 16, 10:30 a.m., Annual Meeting; election of officers, determination of donations.

2025 Hekla Club Donation recipient is:

$4,000.00 - to the Val Bjornson Icelandic Exchange Scholarship

at the University of Minnesota and University of Iceland. This brings Hekla's total contribution to over $50,000, assisting some 94 students!

Congratulations to this outstanding opportunity!

Become a member or renew your membership for 2024 - 2025. Check out the Membership page for information and registration.

The 2025 INLNA Calendar is still available!

This Special Anniversary edition celebrate's the 150th anniversary of Nýja Ísland (the colony of New Iceland).

$10 each, payment may be in-person or via PayPal to info@heklaclub.org or via Venmo @Hekla-Club

The 2026 INLNA Calendar will follow on the legacy of those brave Icelandic settlers, and focus on "INFLUENCERS"… those descendants who have made a significant contribution to their new country, and the world outside of their Icelandic communities.

Following in the steps of several Icelandic women's groups in the area, the Icelandic Hekla Club was founded on January 30, 1925 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and is the oldest, continuously meeting Icelandic organization in the United States. In 2024, it is proud to begin celebrating 100 years of bringing people and Iceland together.

The Icelandic Hekla Club is organized exclusively for educational, cultural, and charitable purposes. The purposes of this corporation include, among others:

To educate the public through the promotion of Icelandic educational and cultural opportunities.
To cooperate and/or participate, wherever possible, in activities that support and promote Icelandic social, educational, and cultural themes.
To promote fellowship among members and involve the Icelandic community cooperative endeavors that support connections between Minnesota and Iceland
To provide a means of reaching those of Icelandic descent and those interested in Iceland.
Additionally the Icelandic Hekla Club works to support the Val Bjornson Icelandic Exchange Scholarship between the University of Minnesota and Haskóli Íslands (University of Iceland).

The Icelandic Hekla Club enjoys Public Charity non-profit status 509 (a)(2) under the United States Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3) and is open to anyone of any age or gender, regardless of ethnic origins.