Destroy the legacy? I think you've got it backwards, my friend! By transfering the lands to a seperate entity ensures that their original intended purpose (use of the lands for Estonians in Canada) is maintained! It seems to me that doing so will allow non-Estonians to join ESHA, while removing any future possibility of the common lands being used (sold) for anyone else's gain other than Estonian society! You make it sound like you think you're going to lose out on any future profits for yourself!

Wait a minute....isn't that exactly what they want to do? That is, make membership open to all propertyowners?
So what is the problem with protecting the lands? From what I read, that's the logical thing to do:
Move to keep ownership of the lands (and hence the legacy you speak of) within the Estonian society while opening membership to all.

You leave me no choice but to comment on your own ignorant claims and dispel the truth to our fellow readers. I speak here as an individual, representing my own views, not as a member of Joekaaru Suvekodu Selts, of which I am a directing member.

It should be made known that Tonu Naelapea has been contacted with requests to pull your article on the premise that you claim to be sharing the facts, while the truth is, that you are propagating your own views, for your own interests, and these my dear neighbour are lies. Your thoughts might have been better received as an “Opinion” column or perhaps in the comics section. Though, for the Estonians who are knowledgeable about the workings of ESHA and JSS, and who all share a positive interest in preserving and improving our cultural grounds, you have already established yourself as a laughable character.

Tonu Naelapea, if you are reading this (which one would hope you are as the English Editor of the paper), I ask you to reflect on your past decisions in publishing these false accusations against ESHA and JJS. In publishing information that Erik Tanner considers to be factual, one is encouraged to do a background/fact check first and consider that the author is speaking through a very tainted and selfish lens. I hope that in the future, Eesti Elu will re-establish its journalistic integrity and refuse to publish slander, which can be detrimental to all parties involved.

I urge any individuals who are concerned about the material that you have read (mostly lies) from Erik Tanner, to please contact Joekaaru Suvekodu Selts and ESHA directly with your concerns. As both organizations are volunteer-based, their time is spent more effectively planning and working for the greater good of our Estonian Community than as to reply publicly to false accusations and offensive claims. Moreover, Joekaaru as a community and summer camp was built on the foundation of people working together for a greater good, not by sole individuals looking to tear organizations apart.

I think the Estonian community in Canada is facing one of its biggest challenges to date, apart from the fact that they are also about to sell Estonian House. These sorts of moves run counter to the interests we should be promoting to the health and benefit of our community. It is incredible that the Estonian community is allowing itself to be browbeaten into forteiting their cultural heartlands so that someone can make a huge profit from it all and the call it quits. This is potentially a disaster of the same proportions that Hermann Simm brought about to the complete and utter detriment of everything we have stood for these past 60 years. Treason is written all over everyone that gets their grubby hands caught up with this proposal. Shame on you all. Traitors!

This is a clear and well thought out critique. There is no doubt that direct control by stakeholders who actually live there will best ensure the continued health of this envoronment.