The year during which the 80th anniversary of the Mass Flight of the Baltic peoples was commemorated worldwide is coming to a close. Our newsletter has documented many endeavours and projects which were dedicated to this dramatic historical event. Due to this event, out of a need for handling diaspora heritage in a better way, the Baltic Heritage Network founding group came together almost 20 years ago. The first brainstorming session, in which Estonian historical memory institutions that handle diaspora heritage participated, took place in Tartu on the spring of 2005. This was followed by an international conference in 2006 and the founding of the not-for-profit institution in 2008. Many of those who we started off with are sadly not with us anymore. Those who are still with us have grown older and hopefully wiser as well. New, young blood has joined us. Due to changes in the Baltic diaspora communities, BaltHerNet’s goals and activities must also change. What will remain is support among colleagues and a friendly spirit. We have always had plenty of that. Thank you for this, friends! Wishing you a peaceful holiday season and a happy as well as active new year!
Piret Noorhani