Members of a Markerville charity organization originally founded to provide aid to those in need recently got together to celebrate the group's 120th anniversary.Vonin, whose name means ìhopeî in Icelandic, was founded as a ladies aid society on Nov. 26, 1891 in Calgary (then part of the North-West Territories) by a group of Icelandic women who had settled in the area after arriving from Iceland via North Dakota with their families. Five years later the group's original members settled in the Markerville area where the group remains active today.On the group's 100th anniversary in 1991, Red Deer's Dr. Sveinn Thordarson and Edmonton's Ninna Campbell spent countless hours translating the group's minutes in order to understand the group's past accomplishments. Vonin meeting minutes had been recorded in Icelandic until 1977.The society's original mission was to educate youth about the Christian faith, help the less fortunate, assist those suffering from illnesses or hardship, and to support the Christian Church. Vonin members provided assistance to new immigrants and to neighbours who had lost their homes to fire.Through the building of the Fensala Hall in 1903 and the Markerville Lutheran Church in 1907, Vonin members also helped to build their community. The group's donations helped the church purchase an organ, lecture, nameplate, hymnals and a hymnal cabinet. Members also made regular donations to the church, tended to the Tindastoll Cemetery grounds, fundraised at Markerville's annual Icelandic picnic, helped neighbours experiencing hardship, donated to other charitable groups as well as local projects, and purchased Christmas gifts for local seniors.While the group's involvement in social assistance and promoting Christian education has waned over the years, it continues to play an integral role in the community. Since the 1960s, group members have promoted their culture at Red Deer's Folk Festival, and similar events in Innisfail and Spruce View.Group membership was originally restricted to women of Icelandic descent but in 1975, it was decided to open membership to any woman interested in Vonin activities.In 1987 Vonin collaborated with the Stephan G. Stephansson Society and Stephansson House historic site staff to sew a Fjallkona (Icelandic for ìmaid of the mountainsî) costume and purchase a crown from Iceland for the Fjallkona, who has been crowned in Markerville since 1978. Vonin members also provided and repaired the historical costumes worn by Stephansson House and Hola School staff between 1991 and 2001.The group also took part in the Women of Aspenland Project with the Central Alberta Museums Network. The project began in 1995 as a way to recognize the contribution of local women.Vonin continues to assist with special celebrations in the community, raise money in memory of past members, and fundraise for the restoration of Markerville Lutheran Church and Fensala Hall.Many current Vonin members are related to the original Icelandic settlers or are married to their descendants. Others are new members to the community with no connection to the group's founders. But the hard work and traditions of the original members continue.
