the super sixth district - sofn6.org
TRANSCRIPT
Ord fra Presidenten
The first quarter of 2019 has been busy for Dis-
trict Six. Many lodges installed new officers.
Thank you to all who have stepped up to serve
their lodges. We also held many member semi-
nars throughout the District. There were 6 differ-
ent events held. Each one was a bit different, but
each shared all the resources available to mem-
bers of Sons of Norway. Zone 8 Colorado had
every one of their lodge presidents attend even
though the roads were snowy and icy. Even
Lodge President Barbara Firth from Vestafjell, in
Grand Junction, came by bus over 200 miles to
attend the event. I was lucky enough to attend
four of these events and had the pleasure to
meet many positive, enthusiastic, future thinking
lodge leaders and members. It was exciting to
hear and share all the wonderful things happen-
ing in our district.
Lodge leaders have also been busy submitting
their annual Lodge achievement forms and log-
ging hours on the FraternalsGive website. I look
forward to reviewing the documents. We have
done a great job getting our lodge D17 financial
forms in. Currently we have 44 out of 48 lodges
compliant. May 15th is the deadline for submis-
sion of Lodge corporation forms and submission
of the IRS 990‘s by both lodges and lodge asso-
ciations. Some are already coming in. Please
get these items in.
District Six communication is a goal of the dis-
trict board, and the goal regarding a member di-
rect e-mail list is reality due to our Communica-
tions team. We are using this distribution list ju-
diciously and just for items of District-wide inter-
est. The Communications team and Cultural Di-
rector, Judy Immel, have produced a great Cul-
tural newsletter, which was delivered last month.
I hope you enjoyed it.
Membership, year to date, is going well. We are
positive so far this year. Great job everyone!
District Six was given a shout-out by CEO Eivind
Heiberg for 96% of our lodges recruiting at least
one new member during 2018.
Great job everyone!
Plans for the 2020 convention in Mesa are un-
derway, as well as the International Convention
and Lodge meeting, being held in Norway. In ad-
dition the big news is Sons of Norway will be cel-
ebrating 125 years. Headquarters has a commit-
tee which is developing branding items, special
items and events for the celebration. District Six
will have a committee to develop ideas for the
local lodges and the District celebration.
And last, but not least, our Camp Norge Sons of
Norway District Six Recreation Center Board of
Directors are planning many events in celebra-
tion of their 60 -year Anniversary, this August.
Trollfjell Language Heritage Camp and Folke-
høgskule are busy planning for the summer
camp events at Camp Norge. And coming this
year, in addition to Rosemaling and dance clas-
ses, is Camp Oldefjell. Be part of the fun.
We have a lot going on in District Six. Thanks to
all our members, volunteers and leaders that
continue to make District Six, the Super Sixth.
CA—UT—NV—AZ—CO—HI—NM
The SUPER
SIXTH DISTRICT
SPRING 2019 NEWSLETTER
Luella Grangaard
Time is Running Out!!
Youth Half Camperships Available
for District Six Members
The District provides ½ camperships to youth in our district for Camp Trollfjell ages 8-13 and Trollfjell Folkehøgskule, ages 14-17. Camp is held at the Recreation Center, Camp Norge, Alta, CA. This year Trollfjell Folkenhøgskule will be from June 23-July 6, 2019 and Camp Trollfjell will be from July 7-20, 2019. The amount of the half camperships for 2019 is $450.00. The application form is available on the District Six Website. All applications must be received by April 15
th. Please send the applications
to District Six Campership Committee, c/o Luella Grangaard, PO Box 832, Morongo Valley, CA 92256.
It is time to sign up for 2019 camp!!!
The District Six Recreation Center was estab-lished in 1958 as a Corporation. Henry T. Gunderson, Walter Lee and Mel Nore advanced $8,200.00 in loans to purchase the property be-cause the District had only a bank balance of $5,000. Total sales price was $13,500 for 29.5 acres. This wooded property, at Alta, CA, con-sisted of the main house and a barn. These rep-resentatives were also assured of water rights to the spring, which supplies water to the camp. Acreage was increased to 46 acres when the State of California needed to trade property for the new Interstate 80.
Delegates had begun talking about having a camp for its members during the 1954 conven-tion in Santa Cruz. A resolution to proceed with the acquisition of a camp facility for our mem-bers and their families was passed during the 1958 Van Nuys convention. The District Com-mittee of the above three men wanted to locate a site to be situated so that all members of Dis-trict Six might be able to use it. They also con-sidered other designated states beyond the Cali-fornia border.
“The transformation from private retreat to District Recreation Cen-ter was a tremendous job for the District Officers; these were over-seeing our new District which was growing at a very rapid rate…. It was then decided that there should be a Recreation Center Board of Directors to oversee the conversion and to administer the camp. The Articles of Incorpora-tion of the District Six Recreation Center were filed with the State of California on June 1, 1959.”**
The governing body was established at the 1960 convention in Sacramento. There were nine members elected, with Walter Lee as the first President of this Board. The conversion to an operating camp took a while as there were many projects to complete.
The buildings were very old, the septic tank was too small and the County issued specific require-ments. Work parties, utilizing lodge members, began with converting a swimming pool into a septic tank, constructing a stairway, bathhouse, sidewalks, putting in a lawn and building a social hall for dining and meeting. The barn was con-verted into a dormitory and other dorms were also built. In 1970, a water reservoir was con-structed to assist the Dutch Flat Fire Depart-ment. At Camp Norge, this is used as the swim-ming pool. The spring for the water supply for Camp use was rebuilt during this era.
The annual Language/Heritage Camp for chil-dren was first held in the 1960’s. Kretsstevner were first held at Camp Norge in the early 1970’s, as were three-day weekends to cele-brate Memorial Day and America’s Independ-ence Day. The rosemaling seminars began in 1984; Norwegian folkdance classes followed in 1985.
Construction of the first two Cozy-cabins for our multi-use Camp has been completed. Additional-ly, the completion of the Heritage Hall with kitch-en, handicap bathroom facilities and seating for approximately one hundred was completed in 2010. Special thanks to much hard work by members of the Board of Directors, and the overwhelming generosity of our District Six lodg-es and members. This beautiful, modern, air conditioned Heritage Hall will accommodate seminars, dinners, language camp students and socials for many years to come. “Penny’s Stab-bur” was completed in 2015.
The current Board of Directors has been able to function much easier with a working budget. At the 2018 Convention the delegates passed a resolution to give 16% of the dues received by the District to the Rec Center. In addition there is ongoing revenue from the cell phone tower agreement and the ongoing use by members and specific groups. The Recreation Center Board also changed the non-profit status with the IRS filing to a 501 (c ) 2.
DISTRICT SIX RECREATION CENTER
(CAMP NORGE)
Celebrates Its 60th
Birthday This Year
Compiled by Penny Joseph Knudsen, and updated by Luella Grangaard
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT . . . 2019 CAMP OLDFJELL
WHO? “CAMP” FOR THE “OLD FOLKS” IN DISTRICT SIX
WHAT? FUN . . . FOOD . . . FELLOWSHIP . . . CLASSES
EARN NORWEGIAN CULTURAL PINS
WHEN? THURSDAY/FRIDAY/SATURDAY/SUNDAY,
SEPTEMBER 10-15, 2019
WHERE? CAMP NORGE, ALTA, CA
WHY? WHY NOT? CAMP NORGE IS FOR EVERYONE!
NOT JUST FOR KIDS!
HOW? REGISTRATION FORMS AND CLASS INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON THE DISTRICT WEBSITE www.sonf6.org PLEASE CHECK THE WEBSITE OF-TEN, AS MORE SPECIFIC INFORMATION WILL BE ADDED AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE ACTUAL CAMP DATES.
CLASSES (with teachers, as of April 1, 2019):
TABLET WEAVING (morning class - 4 spaces remaining)
ROSEMALING (morning class – 6 spaces remaining)
HARDANGER (afternoon class - 6 spaces remaining)
VIKING APRON (Thursday and Friday all day, only, - 6 spaces remaining)
DANCE (after dinner – 15 spaces remaining)
COOKING (2 instructors will lead cooking Norwegian food for camp meals)
MUSIC (afternoon class)
LITERATURE (afternoon class – see December’s Cultural Newsletter for book selections)
CLASSES (still needing teachers, as of April 1, 2019)
WOODCARVING
VIKING WIRE KNITTING
As you can see, there will be 10 classes offered. Each class will have a limit of 8 students. If there are more than 8 people signed up for any one class, then I will try to schedule a second session.
►Viking Apron students will need to bring their own sewing machine and a basic sewing kit. There will be a $50.00 material fee which will cover the fabric and pattern for the apron. Color selections for the fabric will be posted on the District Six website soon. Please make your color choice when
you send in your reservation along with your material fee. Please pay for the material fee separately, (from the registration fee).
I look forward to meeting all of you, and having a great time at Camp Oldfjell!
Judy Immel, Cultural Director
In honor of the 90th Anniversary of the Roald
Amundsen Lodge #6-48, Sacramento, CA:
A LITTLE SONS OF NORWAY AND ROALD
AMUNDSEN LODGE HISTORY
On January 16th, 1895, 18 Norwegian immigrants in
Minneapolis, Minn. came together and formed a new group whose goals were to protect its members and their families from the financial hardships experienced during times of sickness or death in the family. A noble purpose, to be sure, but over time the mission grew to also include the preservation of Norwegian heritage and culture.
It was clear that our founders and earliest members were great leaders and, I believe, also men of great vision. (From a 2012 Sons of Norway blog)
Norwegian immigrants arrived in the Ranchero Del Paso area, north of Sacramento, before the turn of the 20th Century. They were the forerunners of a hardy group of Norwegians, largely from the geographical area of Trondelag, in the central part of Norway. The area’s largest city was Trondheim, the first capital of Norway. Later, they were to form the nucleus of Roald
Amundsen Lodge in Sacramento. Knut Sanstad and his wife Aline, arrived in 1883, fol-lowed by family members, Alfred, Einar and Haldis Sanstad. Also were Karl Johnson and
Marie M. Nielsen. Other early pioneer members of the lodge arrived as follows: Alfred Ow-
re in 1901, Leif Owre in 1903, Otto Jorstad and Paul Edward Osterli in 1904, Mette and
Olaf Winje and Ole Eid in 1911, and Olaf Skauge in 1914.
On February 18, 1919, a “Norway Club,” under the leadership of Marie M. Nielsen, wife
of Niels J. Nielsen, was organized to bring together women of Norwegian ancestry. After a number of years, men were permitted membership in this exclusive club and on May 17, 1929, a group from Bjornson Lodge in Oakland came to organize a Sons of Norway lodge in Sacra-mento. Formal chartering was accomplished on May 19. The first organizational meeting was
held in the Bethel Lutheran Church. This building was later purchased in March of 1960 and after being remodeled it served as the lodge home until 2001.
The lodge was named after Roald Amundsen (1872-1928), the noted Norwegian polar ex-plorer, who was the first to reach the South Pole on December 14, 1911, where he planted a Norwegian flag. He also made the first ship voyage through the Northwest Passage and was
one of the first to cross the Arctic by air. A few months before the lodge was chartered, Amundsen vanished June 18, 1928, flying in a rescue mission over the Barents Sea while in search of Umberto Nobile, the Italian who designed and piloted the airship “Norge.” Amund-sen was 55 years old at the time he went missing.
The Roald Amundsen Lodge building, “Norway Hall” was sold in 2001 to the Roberts Family Foundation. The lodge currently meets at the Masonic Center in Citrus Heights.
ZONE 8
MEMBER
SEMINARS
2019
ZONE 6
ZONE 5
SONS OF NORWAY
GUARANTEED ISSUE
LIFE INSURANCE:
NO HASSLE COVERAGE!
As the name suggests, a guaranteed issue life insurance policy provides coverage for anyone who applies for it, re-gardless of his or her past or present health concerns. It is often a last resort for those who can’t qualify for other types of life insurance policies, because of their health is-sues or those who don’t have the option to purchase life insurance through their employer. Sons of Norway offers this product, with death benefits up to $25,000 from ages newborn to 85. If you’re looking for life insurance without the hassle of someone delving into your medical history, a guaranteed issue life policy might be right for you. As a general rule, guaranteed issue life insurance certificates are much easier to get than other types of life insurance
policies, as they do not involve medical questions, underwriting or exams, and can be approved im-mediately. If you are a U.S. citizen or a permanent legal resident between newborn and 85, you can receive graded death benefits for the first two years of coverage. If you die within the first two years, for any reason other than an accident, all premiums plus 10% interest will be paid to your beneficiary. If death is due to accidental causes, the full death benefit will be paid. After the two-year graded death benefit period, if you should die for any reason, the full face amount of the policy will be paid to your named beneficiary, tax-free! The application process is simple. NO medical exam is required, and there are no health questions to answer. Your acceptance – regardless of your health – is guaranteed. Plus, your spouse, if he or she is younger than age 85, can get up to $25,000 in guaranteed benefit protection, too. If you still have questions or concerns, you can contact me, Jim Donovan, FIC, Financial Benefits Counsellor, Sons of Norway Insurance, at (760) 440-9905 or email me at [email protected] or contact your own Sons of Norway FBC to find the best options available to you. Make it a great day because you deserve it!
Jim Donovan,
FIC, Financial Benefits Counselor
Just a short reminder. At our 2016 District Convention we established a Scholarship Fund with the
Sons of Norway Foundation. We encourage all donations to our District Scholarship Fund to be
made directly to the Foundation as contributions to this fund are tax deductible where donations
made through the District are not.
There are still several Lodges who are still sending memorial contributions
to me and we do thank you for your donations. However, please send
them directly to the Foundation in the future.
With close to $60,000 in our fund we are a little over half way to being fully
funded. Wouldn’t it be great to reach that goal in the next couple of years?
Lodges – remember the fund when you have that extra few dollars. Mem-
bers – remember the Fund when you want to remember someone or when
you are doing your estate planning.
Fraternally, Bob Sather, District Treasurer
Zone 1Director Adrienne Lincoln
We had a very successful Member Semi-nar February 2, 2019. District Six Zone One Director Adrienne Lincoln gave a presentation on Growing Sons of Norway to 2020 and how to keep members once you get them. Other presenters were: District Six President Luella Grangaard, International Director, Mary Beth Langord Ingvoldstad, Foundation Director, Carl Ingvoldstad, District Six Recreation President, Fred Hymans, and District Six Recreation Board member, Kirby Aasen. There were 28 in attendance. Our pro-gram was very informative and members enjoyed what we covered and will bring it back to their lodges. It’s important for all our lodges to remember why our mem-bers join to begin with! They want to have fun and learn about our Norwegian Cul-ture. Programs on how to do Rosema-ling, Hardanger, wood wittling, cooking Norwegian food, weaving, genealogy, this is what is important to them. If you want to grow your lodges this is what you need to be doing in your meet-ings. Not just sit in a meeting to go over budgets. Remember, this is a key aspect to what the Baby Boomers, Millenniums, X-Generation want. My Lodge Freya is a fantastic example of making it work. Thank you, everyone, for helping .
Zone 2 Director Lotte Sather
Hello Members of Zone 2. The Zone 2 Member Seminar for 2019 is now history. Thank you to our present-ers Mary Beth Ingvoldstad and Kirby Aasen. The information shared was much appreciated by the attendees. Thanks to the attendees for your com-ments. I’m sure by now, those who like it, have had their fill of Corned Beef and Cabbage. With Spring comes plans for Syttende Mai Celebrations. If your lodge is not planning a celebration, plan to attend a neighboring lodge’s event. Events are in the lodge newsletters and some are on the District Six website. Wishing you all a happy Spring!
Join the celebration of Camp Norge’s
60th Anniversary!
Help us celebrate Camp Norge’s sixty years in the Sierras during Kretstevne Weekend—August 31, through September 2, 2019. The celebration will be highlighted by a banquet on Saturday, Aug. 31st. Rooms will go fast. So be sure to reserve your room or RV site early. Call the camp to reserve accommoda-tions at (530) 389-2508. The Camp Board will transform Heritage Hall for the special banquet, which will include a delicious menu, fun entertainment and other surprises. Seating is limited. More details and ticket sales will be announced soon. Direct your
questions to [email protected]
Zone 5 Director Troann Loy
Hi Everyone: I do not know about you but this
year is racing by for me. I have had a great start
to 2019.
I was asked to install the officers of the Norrona
Lodge in Van Nuys. It was my first installation.
Then I went to Peer Gynt Lodge in Culver City to
install their officers, It was one of the last events
at their Lodge before they had to move. The
Lodge was sold and their new location is Mount
Olive Lutheran Church/1343 Ocean Park Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90405. They meet on the 4th
Saturday at 5:00pm. I am sure they would love
to have you come by and join them if you can.
I made my first trip to Nansen Field in San Pedro
for the Ulabrand Lodge Torsk Dinner with live
music and dancing. Then, had the pleasure of
installing Officers for 2 more lodges, Norseman
Lodge in Thousand Oaks and Ivar Aasen lodge
in Santa Barbara. They came together for a dual
installation at the Norseman Lodge.. Last, but
not least, I cannot forget my own Lodge, Fridtjof
Nansen. The second Saturday of the month I will
always be hanging out there
We had our “Members Seminar” at Norrona Lodge. We have some wonderful events coming up and hope you will be able to attend 1) June 9, 2019 Norseman Lodge is celebrating their 50
th Anniversary
2) July Ivar Aasen Lodge will be celebrating their 90
th Anniversary
3)September Norrona Lodge will be celebrating their 75
th Anniversary
Please contact me if you need any further information. Med vennlig hilsen (Best Regards) .
Zone 7 Director Benny Jo Hinchey
Spring is always a great time of year for most
living in Arizona. We are having wonderful
80⁰ weather, before the onslaught of really
hot weather. But while we have been having
good weather, the lodges seem to be wel-
coming Spring with some festivals. The
Scottdale lodge had a Viking Festival in
March and were very happy to have the
Stoughton Dancers perform at their festival.
Mesa lodge was also happy to have the
Stoughton Dancers at their Lodge meeting in
March. Mesa also resumed having their
Scandinavian Festival in March. The Phoe-
nix Scandinavian Dancers performed at the
Mesa Festival. Yuma also had a Scandina-
vian Festival in March. Seems to be the time
of year! I had the pleasure going to Flagstaff
earlier in the year and as always, they had
an interesting program at the meeting. They
are also having meetings in satellite locations
so Scandinavians in other areas can partici-
pate in the Culture and Heritage offered by
the Lodge.
Of course, as late spring approaches a lot of our lodge members seem to disappear to the
Northern reaches. Do you think our 115⁰ summer weather could be chasing them away? While we miss them when they are gone, we wish them all safe travels and a good summer. We always look forward to their return in the fall so we can hear the ad-
ventures of the summer!
Zone 8 Director Bev Moe
I am happy to share two great events that took
place recently, in Zone 8.
1) Our annual BarnalØpet, at Snow Mountain
Ranch “YMCA” Granby CO, was a huge suc-
cess, this year. We had 83 children in attend-
ance. on a wonderful, sunny day,. And many,
many members of the Zone 8 lodges were
there to host this outdoor event. Thank you,
to everyone, who attended!
2) On March 10, I, along
with Rita Ehrmann, Honor-
ary Norwegian Consul in
Denver, had the honor of
presenting a 100-year old
WWII veteran, Mr. Gilbert
Flores, a Norwegian
Commenorative Defense
Medal and a King Harald
V Medal.
Mr. Flores was part of the 474th infantry regiment
sent to Norway in 1945 for the liberation of Nor-
way. Mr. Flores told me that he was sent to
Drummond and transported German war prison-
ers back to Germany. Agnes Omholt was so
touched to tell Mr. Flores that she was a little girl
when he walked up the street in Oslo, and she
remembers the step she was standing on at the
City Building. Mr. Flores responded, “That’s awe-
some!” This was a beautiful ceremony and an
extreme honor for me.
Here, now, for a seasonal bit of Easter fun, (from one of my favorite Norwegian cultural
treasures, Kristin Myrmel, www.norknit.com is
“NORWEGIAN EASTER TRADITIONS”
1) Easter is an important holiday in Norway, giving Norwegians a chance to celebrate the arrival of spring after the long, dark winter. The Norwegian word for Easter is “Paske” (derived from Passover). Norway has the longest Easter Holiday anywhere!
2) Traditionally, Norwegian shops and work places are closed over skjaertorsdag (Maundy Thursday), through the Monday following Easter Sunday, known as the Sec-ond Easter Day. Schools are usually closed for the entire week preceding Easter.
3) Eating Kvikk Lunsj, a sweet Easter choco-late treat is a symbol of national pride.
4) Reading crime stories, often referred to as “Nordic Noir” is almost as much an East-er tradition as eating chocolate!
5) Spending time with family and friends is the most important part of the Easter Hol-iday. Many go to the mountains, to enjoy their cabin, over the Easter holiday.
6) Whether it’s downhill or cross-country, Norwegians like to spend Easter on skiis.
7) Norway is one of the countries in the world with the most newspaper readers. Many publications include challenging quizzes and puzzles, which are very popular with the whole family.
8) Easter eggs are filled with candy and hid-den around the house. A classic treat is Easter marzipan with tutti-frutti sprinkles!
9) Other cultural events like concerts, festi-vals, art exhibitions, and café-hopping are very popular all over the country at Easter time.
10) Another popular pastime in Norway is knitting. Since the 1600’s it has spread to all layers of Norwegian society.
YOUR DISTRICT SIX BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Luella Grangaard [email protected]
Vice President Bruce Fihe [email protected]
Secretary Nancy Madson [email protected]
Treasurer Bob Sather [email protected]
Public Relations Officer (Editor) Kaye Wergedal [email protected]
Cultural Director Judy Immel [email protected]
International Director Mary Beth Ingvoldstad [email protected]
Zone 1 Director Adrienne Lincoln [email protected]
Zone 2 Director Lotte Sather [email protected]
Zone 3 Director Karen Aaker [email protected]
Zone 5 Director Troann Loy [email protected]
Zone 6 Director Ronna Clymens [email protected]
Zone 7 Director Benny Jo Hinchey [email protected]
Zone 8 Director Bev Moe [email protected]
The mission of Sons of Norway is to promote and to preserve the heritage and
culture of Norway, to celebrate our relationship with other Nordic Countries, and
provide quality insurance and financial products to our members.