Samkoma

The primary fundraiser for the Icelandic Hekla  Club, Samkoma (coming together), is hosted normally in April.  Samkoma is a gathering for visiting, dining and celebrating Icelandic culture for anyone interested in Iceland.  It has been held almost every spring since 1925.  A raffle is held each year, usually for Icelandair gift certificates, with the winning ticket drawn at Samkoma, and net proceeds are donated to the Val Björnson Icelandic Exchange Scholarship between the University of Minnesota and University of Iceland (Háskóli Íslands) established in 1982.

Sunday, April 26, 2026, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Norway House, 913 E. Franklin Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55404

Samkoma Speakers Through the Years

2025 - Margrét Hallgrímsdóttir, current Director General in the Office of the Prime Minister of Iceland and former Director General of the National Museum of Iceland (Þjóðminjasafn Íslands), Norway House

2024 - D. Sven Lindauer - author, artist, The Arts & Crafts of Ancient Scandinavia, Norway House

2023 - Ambassador of Iceland to the United States, Bergdís Ellertsdóttir and Consul General of Iceland in Winnipeg, Vilhjálmur Wiium, Woman’s Club of Minneapolis

2022 - Stefan Jonasson, Editor, Lögberg-Heimskringla, Icelandic Community Newspaper in North America, Woman’s Club of Minneapolis

2021 - Canceled due to COVID - 19

2020 - Andre Snær Magnason, Icelandic author and climate damage activist On Time and Water, in-person at Woman's Club of Minneapolis canceled due to COVID - 19, moved to Zoom format

2019 - Eleanor Arnason, author,  A Personal Look at Icelandic Folktales, Woman’s Club of Minneapolis

2018 - Steinunn Hrafnsdóttir, Associate Professor of Social Work, Háskóli Íslands, University of Iceland and Ómar Hlynur Kristmundsson, Professor in Public Administration, Háskóli  Íslands, University of Iceland, Woman’s Club or Minneapolis

2017 - Ambassador Geir Haarde, Icelandic Ambassador to the United States, Woman’s Club or Minneapolis

2016 - Lorna Landvik, Local author and comedienne, Woman’s Club of Minneapolis

2015 - Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, Former President of Iceland, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador of Languages of the World and Auður Hauksdóttir, Director of the Vigdís Finnbogadóttir Institute of Foreign Languages (VFI) and Chair of the Vigdís International Centre for Multilingualism and Intercultural Understanding as part of the INLNA Convention at the Hilton Mall of America. 90th anniversary of the founding of the Icelandic Hekla Club

2014 - A Celebration of Icelandic Arts (Selected poems by Bragi Magnusson and Erin Johnson and music selections by Aria Strauss), Bloomington Events Center (aka Knights of Columbus)

2013 - Jere Mackin, President, Minnesota Genealogical Society, Family Stories: Can you Believe Them?, Bloomington Events Center (aka Knights of Columbus)

2012 - Dean Meredith McQuaid, GPSAlliance University of Minnesota, 30th Anniversary of the Val Bjornson Icelandic Exchange Scholarship, Campus Club of the University of Minnesota

2011 -  Bloomington Events Center (aka Knights of Columbus)

2010 - Minnehaha Academy Madrigal, Danish American Center

2009 - Cathy Josephson, Vopnafjörður and the Role It Played in the Settlement of Minnesota, Bloomington Sheraton Hotel

2008 - Dr. Kristín Jónina Taylor, pianist and Jim Reilly, Tenor - Bloomington Sheraton Hotel

2007 - Bill Holm, 25th Anniversary of the Val Björnson Scholarship Fund, Bloomington Sheraton Hotel

2006 - The Crowne Plaza Downtown St. Paul

2005 - Woman's Club of Minneapolis?

2004

2003 - 

2002 - Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, Former President of Iceland, as part of the INLNA Convention, along with the President of the University of Iceland, McNamara Alumni Center, University of Minnesota

2001

2000

1999 - Iceland and Minnesota: Two Universities, When Worlds Collide, Woman’s Club of Minneapolis

1998 - Timothy Miner, Icelandair’s Twin Cities Representative, The Twin Cities, The New Gateway to Iceland, The Inside Story of Icelandair Coming to Town, Jim Reilly, Tenor, Woman’s Club of Minneapolis.

1997 - Helga Þórarinsdóttir, principal viola Sinfóníuhljómsveit Íslands, An Evening of Icelandic Song, Woman’s Club of Minneapolis.

1996 - Bill Holm, A Celebration of Iceland, featuring his songs and stories; Woman’s Club of Minneapolis

1995 - Dr. Sveinbjorn Bjornsson, President University of Iceland, Will Icelanders Speak Icelandic in the Coming Century?; Woman’s Club of Minneapolis

1994 -  Katrin Frimannsdottir, Modern Immigration - A Personal Perspective; Hope Presbyterian Church in Richfield.

1993 - Fjolleikasyning (Variety Show), Hope Presbyterian Church in Richfield.

1992 - Ingthor Isfeld, First Lutheran Church, Winnipeg; music by Sif Tulinius and Sigurbjorn Bernhardsson; Hope Presbyterian Church in Richfield.

1991 - M. Magnus Olafson, Historian, Our Heritage - What is it?; music by ASI Spelmanslag and Traditional Scandinavian Fiddle music; American Swedish Institute

1990 - Jakob Jakobsson - Director of Marine Research Institute of Iceland and Presdient of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, American Swedish Institute.

1989

1988

1987 - Sigrun Stefansdottir - Icelandic Television - Past - Present - Future, American Swedish Institute

1958 - Thor Thors, Ambassador to the United States