Jan. 20, 2025 Friends of Finland

The Friends of Finland (FoF) board of directors would like to update our community on the most recent changes within the organization. Most of the community is aware that a new Executive Director was hired for a short peri­od of time. A situation like this is usually handled as an Interim (probational) position to make sure that the new hire is a good fit for the organization. After 2 months, a progress review, and feedback from the new hire and employees, it was decided that the arrange­ment was not upholding the mission of the Friends of Finland Organization, and the board of directors unanimously voted to ter­minate employment for that position.

Since last summer, there has been a turnover of all FoF board members. As of January 20th, the Friends of Finland board of direc­tors (most of us one to three weeks seated) are all fresh and plan to shepherd the organization forward with a new start. We realize that there have been de­layed community commu­nications, confusion, and uncertainty in the direc­tion the organization has been headed in the past 7 months. We apologize to the community mem­bers, employees (current & past), contractors, Crys­tal Bay Township Board, grantors and stakeholders, and others that may have been affected by the tur­moil. We recognize that the previous board navigated through an unprecedented and difficult situation that any volunteer board would find challenging.

Moving forward, as a new board of directors’ team, our plan is to focus on the mission of FoF while re­sponsibly and prudently gaining an understanding of where the organization is and to cooperatively build a good working relationship between employees, Crys­tal Bay Township, and the FoF board members. Our aspirations are to keep in mind the desires of the community and the ways in which the Clair Nelson Community Center building provides value to all of us. This process of rebuilding organizational finances, trust, and goodwill, as well as providing a place for healing and renewal, will take time.

With gratitude and hope, Friends of Finland Board (Carrie Walters, David Abazs, Kelly Ulrich, Kurt Mead, Lucy Carlson, Joe Walewski)