In the Summer 2002 Issue of the New World Finn, Among other stories, you will find the following.... You can purchase this issue by sending $5.00 to: NWF, PO Box 432, Cedar Grove WI 53013. What do you know about the Finns of Alaska? We've got quite a history in the USA's mostnorthern state. Plus, we've got quite a present: read about the influence of Finns on the governing of Alaska. Pictured on the right (in 1990) are Niilo Koponen, former representative; Judy Salo, former senator; and Jay Kerttula, former senator and representative. In the article we also profile the work of the current representative from Juneau, Beth Kerttula.           The eventful life story of Laila Rongerude is told on page 5. Laila's journey - from East Karelia to Finland to Sweden to Seattle - is recounted by her friend Lempi Wilson.       "He focuses on the spirit of everyday life as depicted in rituals such as harvesting, ricing, hunting, canoeing and story telling. His work celebrates healthy, peaceful, sustainable living." This is a description of the work of Carl Gawboy. On page 6 of the summer issue, Finnish/Ojibway artist Carl Gawboy tells us more. What is Hilda's big secret? Let Ken Keskinen take you for a wonderful journey in his short story "The Secret" which begins on page 8. Oren Tikkanen says that "The partnership of Tanya's (Stanaway) native-born Finnish voice, style, and song selection with Jerry's (Kippola) eclectic-American musicianship makes for some very appealing music." Read more about Stanaway's excellent new recording in Oren Tikkanen's column on page 10. That's Tanya on the right. Click on her picture and you'll be taken to a website where you can get a taste of her music and order her cd's.   Very few people in Finnish America have heard of a revolutionary film-maker in our midst, Antero Alli of Berkeley, California. He may very well be our own Aki Kaurismaki, but with far more depth ­ plunging into the recesses of the human soul and the unfathomable mysteries of life. Read more about Antero Alli in Harri Siitonen's article on page 11.           Walter Jones' mother was Finnish - his father was Welsh. "I grew up on a farm in the largest concentration of Welsh people in the state, in south central Minnesota. I participated in Welsh customs such as the Gymanfa ganu, where we sang, in parts, the ancient Gambrian hymns." Late in life he made more connections with the Finnish side, including a journey to Finland. Read the thoughtful recollections of Walter Jones starting on page 12.     In New Masters Of The Baltic, page 22, Arthur Ruhl paints a picture of every day life in Finland before and during the civil war in Finland. It is from the point of view of an American of the time. This is our first installment of three. A Finn who lived in America for many years - Oskar Tokoi, pictured on the right- played a major role in Finnish government at that time.