EDVARD GRIEG NOTES
SONS OF NORWAY LODGE NO. 6-074
www.edvardgrieglodge.com
Meeting Place:
Lutheran Church in the Foothills
1700 Foothill Blvd.
La Cañada, California
Ord Fra Presidenten
Kjære Venner.
We are progressing into a new exiting phase of our Lodge, namely the move to Lutheran Church in the Foothills, La Canada, starting with our next Cultural Evening, Saturday, September 25. (See page 2 for the address and directions for the church.) The Board plans many new and interesting evenings to promote our Norwegian heritage for the next year. Please try to attend activities as much as you are able. Takk.
By the time you receive this newsletter we will already have completed our move and await your attendance on Sept 25th. Our guest presenters have already been introduced to you in the last newsletter, the Bosworths from Norseman Lodge #91, Thousand Oaks, who will present a great program for you about SN Cultural Skills program. This is no boring presentation, my friends, as they are bringing samples of their projects and the award medals they have achieved…..which we can do as well.
I bring to your attention our October 30 Cultural night which is our annual big fund raiser Silent Auction. Planning ahead, please dig out your extra items that you love but
As our primary fund raiser at this time, we appreciate your donations, and bringing friends and family who might like to bid on some really fine items.
About your donations: please bring clean, clear, appropriate items…i.e. those which you would like to buy, rather than some old decrepit items we might find in attics or garages…Ha. They need not to be Norwegian or Scandinavian origin. Proceeds from our fund raisers go to 1) half camper- ships to Camp Norge for our youth, 2) annual donations to the Norwegian Seaman’s Church, Camp Norge and Edvard Grieg’s Endowment at Glendale Community College. and 3) our treasury for lodge expenses.
Har det bra. And tusen takk.
Jo Ness
PS Please note that the date for the October Cultural Night is the 5th Saturday, October 30, instead of our usual 4th Saturday. As we move into our new “digs” we must honor previous arrangements that the church has made. This is one of them. We are so easy adapting to change, ikke sant? (don’t you think?)
Gratulerer Med Dagen
SEPTEMBER
2 Mary Berglund
10 Frances Quick
12 Vidar Bech
13 Janet Couch
16 Anne Laity
23 John Fleischer
God Bedring Get Well Soon
DeNora Clinton
Bill Davis
Vernie Fletcher
Edna Franett
Astrid Omdal
Jean Parks
Virginia Paulson
Herb Wirtz
LODGE ACTIVITIES
POTLUCK AND CULTURAL EVENING
Saturday, September 25, Social hour – 5:30 p.m. Dinner – 6:30 p.m. at Lutheran Church in the Foothills. The presentation will be on the Cultural Skills Program by members of Norseman Lodge #91 in Thousand Oaks.
BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, October 5 at 7:15 p.m. at Lutheran Church in the Foothills. Refreshments will be provided by Pat Savoie and Yvonne Claypool.
POTLUCK AND SILENT AUCTION
Saturday, October 30 at Lutheran Church in the Foothills. Social hour – 5:30 pm, dinner – 6:30 p.m. Bring a favorite family recipe – or one that you have been wanting to try. The Silent Auction could be a good time to check closets and cupboards for items you no longer want.
BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, November 2 at 7:15 p.m. at Lutheran Church in the Foothills.
LEFSE PARTY
November 6 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lutheran Church in the Foothills.
We will be making lefse for the Julebord and for sale. Our lefse party is a family affair, everyone can help and learn all the steps to its making.
No Cultural Night in November because of Thanksgiving.
BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, December 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the home of Jo Ness, 2619 Fairway Ave., Montrose.
818-249-8102.
The membership is invited to enjoy a mini Jul celebration. Jo has special Jul decorations, food, including a traditional tree. Lots of goodies, candles and good time…after the meeting stuff.
JULEBORD
Saturday, December 11, 6:30 p.m. at Lutheran
Church in the Foothills.
Lutheran Church in the Foothills is at 1700 Foothill Blvd. La Canada. The church is on the south side of Foothill Boulevard, just northeast of the junction of the CA-2 and the I-210 Freeways. Look for the Tower of Redemption Statue, also known as the "Touchdown Statue," which rises over the landscape. Parking is available next to church
From the freeways:
CA-2 NB: Foothill Blvd. offramp. Turn east (R) on Foothill. About 2 blocks, on your right.
I-210 WB: Angeles Crest Hwy exit. Turn south (L). Turn NW (R) on Foothill. About 1 mile.
I-210 EB: Ocean View exit. Turn north (L). Turn east (R) on Foothill. About 0.7 miles.
A Wonderful Surprise
As you all know, I am very active in a Hawaiian dance group. At our last 2010 show (of at least 15 this year at various convalescent facilities, private parties, and other venues), I had a fun surprise.
We were invited to Simi Valley to perform for a club meeting. Guess what? As our leader, Cheryl, came in a lady said “Do you happen to know Jo Ness? Cheryl’s answer was “Yes, she is dancing with us today!” The lady was Dorothy Green of Norseman Lodge #91, Thousand Oaks. She is Past President and every other officer in her lodge and many other offices in our SofN community.
During our audience participation segment she got up because I grabbed her hand and said “come along”. What a hit it was for this group of over 100 ladies who meet regularly to forward their community services. We had a ball with them. Jo
Help Wanted!!
We need help on our phone committee. Three of our loyal committee members are “graduating” from this volunteer job after many faithful years. Nearly every month the ladies phone to their assigned list regarding upcoming lodge activities. It is our way of connecting personally with each lodge member throughout the year. Here is a chance to serve the lodge in an easy way….If you are interested, please contact Committee Chair Yvonne Claypool at (213-748-5612) or Jo Ness at (818) 249-8102. No test, no application, no questionnaire, and no demonstration of dialing ability required. Ha. Just interest in our lodge communication with lodge friends. Mange Takk.
On Sunday afternoon, September 12, the Solheim Retirement Home in Eagle Rock honored many of its supporters at the annual recognition dinner.
Among those receiving awards were Sons of Norway members Chester and Carol Weiche, Carl Voien and John Danielson, Jr. Chester was especially recognized for his endowment which was used for remodeling of the Chapel.
It was an enjoyable event with games, musical entertainment, a program and awards, and of course, the delicious catered dinner.
Norwegian journalist quits during live radio broadcast.
A Norwegian radio journalist quit on the air today after complaining about her job and saying she would not read the day’s news because “nothing important has happened” anyway. Pia Beathe Pedersen accused her employers at the regional radio station of public broadcaster NRK of putting too much pressure on the staff.
She said in the live broadcast that she was “quitting and walking away” because she “wanted to be able to eat properly again and be able to breathe”.
She ended her nearly two-minute announcement by saying there would not be any news on Saturday.
The reporter had worked at NRK for 18 months. NRK spokesman Oeyvind Werner Oefsti said her actions were a surprise.
Norway News 9/11/2010
MARITIME AGREEMENT
Russia and Norway signed an agreement Wednesday on their maritime border in the energy- rich Barents Sea, ending a dispute that has dragged on for decades.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said after the signing that the deal would strengthen stability in the region and enhance economic cooperation between the two neighbors.
Interest in the Arctic region has intensified amid evidence that global warming is shrinking the sea ice, opening up new shipping lanes and opportunities to explore rich oil and gas deposits.
Russia claims a large part of the Arctic seabed as its own. The United States, Canada, Denmark and Norway have also been trying to assert jurisdiction over parts of the Arctic, which is believed to contain as much as a quarter of the Earth's undiscovered oil and gas. Los Angeles Times 9/16/2010 electricity and in the measurement of radio waves,
IT ALL BEGAN IN CANTON, SOUTH DAKOTA
Their grandparents, both on their father’s and mother’s side, had emigrated from Norway and settled in the Upper Midwest during the 1860s and‘70s. In the closing years of the nineteenth century, the two families, one from Minnesota and the other from Wisconsin, would move further West to make their home in Canton, South Dakota. Those two families lived on the same street in that small town, and their sons were born in 1901, within two months of one another. At the time the town’s population numbered only a few thousand, and in fact is about the same size today. While most of the residents traced their family roots to countries in northern Europe, Norwegians constituted the largest national group. In fact, the first person to establish a homestead in the town, in 1862, was a Norwegian immigrant by the name of James Wahl. And it was he who was reputed to have given the town its name, based on a common belief of the time that the town was located exactly opposite Canton, China, on the other side of the earth.
However, this story is not about a small town set down on the farmland prairies in the southeastern corner of South Dakota. Rather it is about two boys of Norwegian ancestry whose interest in science began in their early years and carried them on to international acclaim. Born in Canton, six weeks apart in 1901, they grew up in homes across the street from each other. They attended local schools, and were members of the same Boy Scout troop. Together they persuaded a family friend, a student in electrical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, to teach them about electricity. Before long they had established a telegraph line linking their two homes. They later became interested in radio, and after one of them moved away during their high school years, they continued in touch with their own amateur radio network, later known as “ham radio.”
Upon graduation from high school and now living in separate states, one would go on to St. Olaf College, only to transfer after one year to the University of South Dakota, while the other enrolled at the University of Minnesota. They would be reunited again, when both received their Master’s Degrees from the University of Minnesota in 1923. From there, for one after a year at the University of Chicago it was on to Yale for a Ph.D. in Physics. For the other, a year of teaching at Princeton was followed by enrollment in the doctoral program at the Johns Hopkins University, from which he received his doctoral degree, also in Physics. Even as graduate students their pioneering work in photo-
respectively, was beginning to attract attention in the scientific world.
Thus it is not surprising that these two boyhood friends of Norwegian ancestry, both from Canton, South Dakota, would go on to international acclaim in science. At the age of twenty-nine, Earnest O. Lawrence was named a full professor at the University of California where he embarked on a career in nuclear physics, being awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1939 for his role in the development of the cyclotron. Incidentally, by his own admission what led Lawrence to the development of the cyclotron was a research report written by a Norwegian engineer, Rolf Widerboe by name. Merle Tuve also received numerous awards from scientific organizations and foreign governments, particularly for his research on the use of radio waves for measurements in the upper atmosphere and on shock waves in measuring the earth’s interior.
Lawrence’s professional career was spent entirely at the University of California and in extensive involvement with its several laboratories and nuclear research. Tuve, upon receiving his Ph.D., took a position as a research scientist at the Carnegie Institution in Washington, DC, becoming Director of the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism two decades later and then serving an additional twenty years at Carnegie until his retirement in 1966. During the early 1940s he took a leave of absence to direct research related to the U.S. war effort at John Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Laboratory under the aegis of the National Defense Research Committee.
Both Ernest Lawrence and Merle Tuve made major contributions to the victories over Germany and Japan during World War II. Lawrence was a leading figure in the development of the atomic bomb, which was dropped on both Hiroshima and Nagasaki. And following the war he was an advocate for the development of even more powerful weapons, including the hydrogen or thermonuclear bomb. When it came to the use of atomic weapons, however, Merle Tuve took a different position. Although he was well aware of the potential of atomic fission prior to World War II, and served briefly on a government committee to determine the efficacy of creating atomic bombs, he preferred to participate in the war effort in the development of more conventional weapons. His experimentation with radio waves was a major factor in the development of radar and of the proximity fuse and its application in anti-aircraft defense.
More than any other single factor, the proximity fuse was responsible for the destruction of the rockets and “buzz bombs” deployed during the Battle of Britain and later, for anti-missile defense against nuclear warheads.
While relationships between these two boyhood friends remained civil if not close throughout their lives, their views on ethical or political issues, as they related to weaponry and war were different. Ernest Lawrence died in 1958 at the age of fifty-seven years; Merle Tuve passed away nearly twenty-five years later, in 1982.
Richard C. Gilman
Pasadena, California
Dr. Gilman may be reached at rcgilman@earthlink.net
English in Borderland Schools
Ten Norwegian and ten Russian teachers from towns in the Norwegian-Russian border area will get higher education in English. The teachers come from the Norwegian municipality of Sør-Varanger and the town of Zapolyarny on the Kola Peninsula. The project is called “English in Borderland Schools” and is co-financed by the Norwegian Barents Secretariat.
Bodø University College and the Pedagogical University in Murmansk are responsible for the teaching, Bodø University College’s web site reads.
The twenty participants are going to meet four times a year, two times in Kirkenes and two times in Zapolyarny. Their Norwegian and Russian pupils from 5th and 6th grades will also meet each other as part of the project.
The aim of the project is that teachers of English on both sides of the border shall learn from each other’s experience and practices in teaching. Norway News 9/14/2010
Edvard Grieg Lodge #6-074
Board of Officers 2010-2011
President Jo Ness JNess2619@gmail.com
Vice President Vacant
Counselor Dorothy Bakken
Secretary Mim Johnson
Asst. Secretary Elaine Lundby
Membership Secretary Anne Marie Nassif annenassif@att.net
Treasurer Margaret Shuler alsvid1@hotmail.com
Historian Pat Savoie patriciasavoie@sbcglobal.net
Youth Director Judith Gabriel Vinje Jgabriel.vinje@gmail.com
Insurance Representative Dennis Burreson 800-448-2499
EDVARD GRIEG LODGE WEB SITE www.edvardgrieglodge.com Dan Christensen, webmaster
6TH DISTRICT WEB SITE www.sofn6.com CAMP NORGE
www.campnorge.com
KALENDAREN
Saturday, September 25
Potluck and Cultural Evening
Tuesday, October 5
Board Meeting
Saturday, October 30
Potluck and Cultural Evening
Tuesday, November 2
Board Meeting
Saturday, November 6
Lefse Party
Monday, October 11, 2010
Summer Newsletter 2010
EDVARD GRIEG NOTES
SONS OF NORWAY LODGE NO. 6-074
www.edvardgrieglodge.com
Meeting Place:
Lutheran Church in the Foothills
1700 Foothill Blvd.
La Cañada, California
SUMMER 2010
Ord Fra Presidenten
Dear Friends: Kjære Venner:
ANNOUNCEMENT:
WE ARE MOVING TO LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE FOOTHILLS, 1700 FOOTHILL BLVD. LA CANADA.
OUR FIRST CULTURAL EVENING HERE WILL BE Saturday, September 25, 2010, 5:30 pm social hour, 6:30 pm pot luck dinner, short meeting, and Cultural Program.
PLEASE NOTE THIS CHANGE ON YOUR CALENDARS.
Parking is available on the east side of the church, the sidewalk to the social hall is well lighted, and the meeting hall is spacious and on one level.
Special guests are Karen and David Bosworth, Norseman Lodge #71, Thousand Oaks, CA.
Their well known talents include any and all arts and crafts projects earned in the Sons of Norway Cultural Skills Program. Trust me, it will be a wonderful and enlightening program.
The purpose is to inform our membership that any of us can choose from the variety of cultural skills programs that SofN offers; be completed on one’s own effort and time; and feel really good getting the beautiful medals.
It’s impressive, my friends. PS I received my first medal from completing Level 1 of Norwegian Literature after taking a class from our own Pat Savoie.
Har det bra, Jo Ness
Jo Ness and Cara Clove were the lodge’s delegates to the District 6 Convention in Modesto in June. A report on the convention starts on page 2.
The new District 6 Officers are:
President: Lyle Berge
Vice President: Mary Beth Ingvoldstad
Secretary: Wendy Winkelman
Treasurer: Roger Espeland
Public Relations Officer: Erik Pappa
Our Zone 5 Director: Ordale Johnson
Some facts: Sons of Norway founders in 1895 numbered 18; the Order now has 67,000 members in USA, Canada and Norway. District 6 has 54 lodges, however, a few were unable to send delegates. The District covers Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, and Utah, and Hawaii, however there are no lodges there.
Gratulerer Med Dagen
Belated greetings to those with July birthdays.
JULY
1 Carrie Engevik
1 Jean Wildern
2 Penny Eidem
3 Sally Hamilton
3 Evelyn Riveness
6 Eileen Wirtz
6 Barbara Yeager
8 Reidun Hedenstad
12 Brit Trydal
13 Greta Moses
15 Deanna Anderson
17 Solrun Cammarata
18 Judith Hammer
19 Virginia Paulson
20 Bethel Trammell
27 Cara Clove
27 Robin Niles
28 Richard Gilman
30 Carl Voien
31 Vera Osnes
AUGUST
1 Raymond Bentson
3 Henrik Lovdokken
10 Mimi Chen
10 Berit Jansta
18 Daniel Christensen
18 Gloria Larson
18 Jan Lovold
21 Kristen Guritz
22 Joan De Graffenried
23 Elizabeth Danielson
26 Patricia Lowe
28 Roger Moses
30 Margrethe Rankin
God Bedring (Get Well Soon)
DeNora Clinton, Bill Davis, Vernie Fletcher, Edna Franett, Astrid Omdal, Jean Parks, Virginia Paulson, Herb Wirtz
TIL MINNE
Muriel Bandy, a member of Edvard Grieg Lodge, passed away on August 11. Our condolences to Muriel’s family and many friends.
Patricia Lowe, a member of Edvard Grieg Lodge, passed away on August 14. Our condolences to Pat’s family and many friends.
LODGE ACTIVITIES
BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, September 7 at 7:30 p.m. at Lutheran Church in the Foothills, 1700 Foothill Blvd. La Cañada, CA 91011.
POTLUCK AND CULTURAL EVENING
Saturday, September 25, Social hour – 5:30 p.m. Dinner – 6:30 p.m. at Lutheran Church in the Foothills. The presentation will be on the Cultural Skills Program by members of Norseman Lodge #91 in Thousand Oaks.
BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, October 5 at 7:30 p.m. at Lutheran Church in the Foothills.
Report on District 6 Convention
June 23-26, 2010
Hosted by Garborg Lodge #56, Modesto
What a great convention we had in ‘beautiful downtown Modesto” – actually in the heart of agriculture. This town has a small, but wonderful feeling with lots of restaurants, clubs, activities, arts, etc, and a sophisticated hotel where we stayed in the middle of this longtime farming town, a Doubletree Hotel. There were around 170 voting delegates, but over 200 at dinners/banquets and other evening activities. Jo Ness and Cara Clove were our delegates.
It was a well organized and thorough event. Garborg Lodge #56 did an outstanding job Although it is expected that little gifties, kjotchies, candies, and table favors appear at our seats every morning Garborg’s convention committee had wonderful things appear at every break, meal and other excuse to regale us with their local articles. They asked for and received much support for the convention from their community.
The business of the convention was in the hands of the President Janie Kelly and she did herself proud. Everything proceeded smoothly with a modicum of negativity. As is the pattern I’ve experienced in years of conventions, there were lots of jokes and laughter. Yes, there is a business agenda, but there is also a freedom of expression sometimes bordering on the absurd but always pertaining to ourselves….. in other words, although we love our Norwegian heritage and membership in Sons of Norway and have serious agendas, we still don’t take ourselves so seriously…there’s always a joke and a laugh.
Our Lodge has been honored several ways. Of greatest note, we received a Plaque for Family Lodge of the Year 2008. Two years ago at the Convention we were awarded the first ever Family Lodge of the Year 2006. We are so proud of our volunteers who help us obtain this recognition regarding service to family activities. Lodge of the Year Awards were presented to us as Bronze and Silver Awardees. This is recognition for lodges pursuing the goals and objectives of Sons of Norway through their own projects to improve their own lodge organization.
The service to Sons of Norway by our beloved LaVonne Kerfoot was recognized on the convention floor, much to our happiness. She and Amon Johnson will be on the Memorial Service list and be recognized at the next convention.
We have two famous artists in our midst. In the Arts and Crafts Competition, Diane Langill won 1st, 2nd, and 3rd ribbons for her three rosemaling entries. All three were purchased by delegates, among whom was Cara Clove. Jo wanted to buy one, but a member from another lodge was so eager for it that she gave in; however, she has ordered another one from Diane. Judith Gabriel Vinje, our talented weaver/crafter, also swept the field for Weaving winning 1st, 2nd and 3rd places.
Ahoy, Reindeer
The antlered animals weren’t made for this – to stumble onto a boat in the middle of an autumn night and bump and sway on the water for six hours until they attain solid ground again and resume their overland migration a winter refuge. In Norway, both reindeer and their seminomadic herders, members of the indigenous Sami, are struggling to find their balance as development intrudes on traditional grazing lands, changing the way humans and animals mover
For centuries the Sami have seasonally driven reindeer between grassy feeding grounds on the coast and lichen-rich tundra in the interior. Unlike the tiny wild population to the south, the 250,000 northern reindeer are semidomesticated, raised principally for the sale of their meat. The income helps support about 3,000 herders, nowadays a small fraction of Norway’s Sami population of 50,000.
But no longer can herds drift as easily as clouds. A glut of holiday cabins, oil and gas complexes, military ranges, windmill farms, and power lines has fragmented migration corridors. To adapt, the Sami are shifting grazing areas and using boats as well as trucks to maneuver herds. With the loss of pastureland, some worry that the culture’s long dependence on reindeer will slowly vanish, destined for tales told by elders.
National Geographic – November 2009
British girl’s balloon reaches family in Norway
A fundraising balloon, released at a village fete in the UK, has been found by a family in Norway, more than 600 miles from home. The blue balloon was sent on its long journey from North Somerset by 10- year-old Beccy Filer in a bid to raise money to buy equipment for her school. Just a day later, an unidentified floating object was spotted at Farsund on Norway’s south coast by the Oyri family, who have a holiday cabin in the area. Seeing that it was about to fall into the sea, the family grabbed their boat and went out to investigate.
“It was a beautiful morning with no breeze. As the children were getting dressed we could see it gently falling down from the sky,” said Vibeke Oyri in a report by the BBC. “We could see something attached underneath and our kids were very curious so we decided to take the boat out about 200m from the shore to investigate. It was a stroke of luck we got to it quickly otherwise the note would have been unreadable,” she added. On the tag were Beccy’s address and a message reading: “When you get this, please send it back.” A week later a letter was received in Somerset, much to the Filer’s surprise. “We’d entered the balloon race a while back and hadn’t thought anymore about it, said Beccy’s mother Tanya Filer.”When the letter arrived I asked her if she’d been writing to a pen friend.”
“When she opened it she said ‘mummy my balloon’s got to Norway’. I said ‘don’t be so ridiculous.’ Then she showed me the letter. Everyone thought the winning balloon had been found in Peterborough but we think this is the winner now,” she added.
Norwaynews.com
Norway to Launch First Satellite in August
The Norwegian AISSat-1 (Automatic Identification System) satellite has been scheduled to launch in August on an Indian rocket, the Norwegian Space Center announced July 5. AISat-1, Norway’s first satellite, aims to provide maritime tracking services with coverage over the High North Seas. The service will be used by ships around the world as a short-range coastal traffic system. Under regional laws, seagoing ships weighing over 300 tons must be fitted with the technology to allow authorities to track movements and to avoid collisions with other boats.
The satellite’s receiver will be a based on a platform built by the University of Toronto. The spacecraft will operate in a polar orbit at an altitude of 600 kilometers and will be managed by the Norwegian Space Centre. The total cost of the project is estimated at $4.6 million.
Norwegian anti-pirate Map-System
In light of the many hijackings of ships in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia, a Norwegian security company has now developed a new method to help avoid pirate attacks.
Jeppesen Marine, in cooperation with Bergen Risk Solutions (BRS), has created an interactive map that includes updated information about hijacking attempts, weather patterns and sea routes. By cross checking this information the system assesses the risk of attack.
For instance, as product manager Bjørn Åge Hjøllo tells Bergens Tidende, pirates are less likely to carry out attacks if waves are higher than a meter and a half. Therefore, by navigating towards areas with higher waves and fewer reported attacks, ships can avoid hijacking attempts.
The up-to-date information featured in the system indicates that more of the attacks now occur outside the Gulf of Aden and more frequently in the Indian Ocean. An analyst with BRS, who monitors the map system, indicates that this change may have come as a result of the increased presence of international navy forces in the area.
The international shipping industry has already taken note of the new map system. Last year the two companies received the "2010 Safety at Sea International Award for Security," and will be featured in the well-known magazine Safety at Sea later this fall. Several companies from around the world have already purchased licenses for the system, or are in the process of testing its utility.
Bergens Tidende / Aftenposten The Norway Post
Norwaynews.com
TENNIS RIVALS MOLLA BJURSTEDT AND MAY SUTTON
GREATEST WOMEN TENNIS PLAYERS TO MEET. That headline in the Los Angeles Times for September 29, 1915, declared what so many were anticipating with great excitement – a match between a little known player from Norway who had just won the United States Singles Championship and a California woman, herself a former champion, who began playing tennis in the backyard of her family home at the southwest corner of North Hill and East Mountain streets in Pasadena.
Molla Bjurstedt was born in Norway where she won a number of championships and captured the bronze medal in tennis for her country at the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm. In 1915 she came to this country, ostensibly to seek work as a masseuse. However, within weeks after her arrival she entered and won the women’s singles championship as an unknown newcomer. That win proved to be the first of eight U.S. singles victories, along with two in women’s doubles, and three in mixed doubles. Altogether she participated in 24 “Grand Slam” finals prior to her retirement in 1929 at the age of forty-five. From the 1920’s on she was known as Molla Mallory, reflecting her recent marriage to Frank Mallory of New York City.
Although born in England, May Sutton moved with her family to the United States when she was just six years old. She and her three sisters learned to play tennis on a court built by their father, and the four girls soon dominated the tennis scene in California. May moved onto the national stage in 1904 when, at age eighteen, she won the United States women’s championship, defeating the two time champion, Elizabeth Moore. In that same year she was a victor in the women’s doubles and a finalist in mixed doubles. As with her subsequent rival from Norway, she began her outstanding career with spectacular and surprising victories.
The following year May Sutton went on to win the women’s singles at Wimbledon, being the first American to do so. She placed second at Wimbledon in 1906, and won again in 1907. Following her marriage in 1912 to Tom Bundy, himself a three-time winner in the U.S. men’s doubles, she went into semi-retirement to raise a family, although remaining very much in the public eye as one of the most outstanding women’s tennis players of her time.
Thus the idea of a match between May Sutton, the champion of a decade earlier, and Molla Bjurstedt, the current reigning champion, generated tremendous interest throughout the tennis world. They met first in San Francisco in mid-November 1915, with Molla Bjurstedt emerging the victor, winning two out of three sets in what was described as the “most desperate struggle ever seen in this country in women’s tennis.” Their second meeting was on Thanksgiving Day in Long Beach, where Sutton, now referred to as May Bundy, won decisively in two sets.
Thus, with each having won a hard-fought victory, the stage was set for a deciding match between the tennis rivals two weeks later on the courts in Long Beach. Playing “the greatest tennis ever seen in these parts,” Bundy handily defeated Bjurstedt by scores of 6-3, 1-6, and 6-2. During her two-month stay in California both Molla Bjurstedt and May Sutton Bundy played in a number of tournaments and exhibitions, facing each other in doubles matches, and on at least one occasion playing together as doubles partners.
Upon leaving California in late December of 1915, Molla Bjurstedt expressed a desire to return to live in Southern California, and there was even a rumor afloat that a prominent Los Angeles physician had offered her a position as a masseuse in his office. Although Bjurstedt did return in February 1917, it was not with the thought of remaining permanently. Rather, she was looking forward to playing once more against Mary Sutton Bundy and avenging her earlier defeat
The match between Bjurstedt and Bundy was scheduled as an exhibition during a series of matches between a team from the east and one from the west. Needless to say, it was the Bjurstedt-Bundy match-up that created the greatest attention. Hotel and country club courts, where tournaments were usually held could not begin to accommodate the anticipated crowd. Thus, a special court was laid down on Bovard Field on the University of California campus, where seating would be available for as many as a thousand spectators.
In intersectional play the host team handily defeated the team from the east, and May Sutton Bundy prevailed in defeating Molla Bjurstedt in what proved to be a very close match with scores of 7-5 and 9-7. It was Mrs. Bundy’s third victory in four matches between the two rivals, and to all intents and purposes signaled her retirement from competitive tennis at least on the national scene.
Bjurstedt on the other hand continued her dominant play, and having won the women’s national title in 1915 went to repeat for next three years, and won again in 1920, 1921,1922, and finally in 1926.
May Sutton Bundy decided in 1921 to make a comeback and return to national competition on the east coast. In her first major appearance in three years she reached the finals of the New York State championships in July of that year. Her first meeting with Molla Bjurstedt in the east was in the semi- finals of the national championship at Forest Hills, where Bjurstedt prevailed. The Norwegian star also defeated her California rival three times during the 1922 season.
Lest too much be made of that rivalry between Mrs. Bundy and Mrs. Mallory, as they were known in later years, it should be said that both were elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame for their accomplishments in both singles and doubles play in international as well as national competition. Mrs. Bundy’s great career began with her victory in the U.S. singles championship in 1904 and at Wimbledon in 1905 and 1907, and came to a close 42 years later as a quarter-finalist at Wimbledon and in that same year playing with her daughter as one of the top ranked pairs in the national champion- ships in women’s doubles. It was said that May Sutton Bundy continued playing tennis from her home in Santa Monica until her death in 1975 at 89 years of age.
Norwegian born Molla Bjurstedt Mallory made such an impact on tennis in the United States that officials of the United States Lawn Tennis Association sought to have her included as a member of the national team competing in the Olympic Games in Paris in 1924. However, the fact of her residence in this country since 1915, and her marriage to an American citizen, thus making her an American citizen, was insufficient to persuade the International Olympic committee. Her last major victory was in U.S. women’s championships came in 1926, and although she continued to compete both nationally and internationally for another three years, she left the tennis world in 1929, and later lived in Sweden where she died in 1959.
Richard C. Gilman
Pasadena, California
Dr. Gilman may be reached at rcgilman@earthlink.net
EDVARD GRIEG LODGE WEB SITE www.edvardgrieglodge.com Dan Christensen, webmaster
6TH DISTRICT WEB SITE www.sofn6.com CAMP NORGE
www.campnorge.com
Sons of Norway Mission Statement The mission of Sons of Norway is to promote and preserve the heritage and culture of Norway, to celebrate our relationship with other Nordic countries, and to provide quality
insurance and financial products to its members.
SONS OF NORWAY LODGE NO. 6-074
www.edvardgrieglodge.com
Meeting Place:
Lutheran Church in the Foothills
1700 Foothill Blvd.
La Cañada, California
SUMMER 2010
Ord Fra Presidenten
Dear Friends: Kjære Venner:
ANNOUNCEMENT:
WE ARE MOVING TO LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE FOOTHILLS, 1700 FOOTHILL BLVD. LA CANADA.
OUR FIRST CULTURAL EVENING HERE WILL BE Saturday, September 25, 2010, 5:30 pm social hour, 6:30 pm pot luck dinner, short meeting, and Cultural Program.
PLEASE NOTE THIS CHANGE ON YOUR CALENDARS.
Parking is available on the east side of the church, the sidewalk to the social hall is well lighted, and the meeting hall is spacious and on one level.
Special guests are Karen and David Bosworth, Norseman Lodge #71, Thousand Oaks, CA.
Their well known talents include any and all arts and crafts projects earned in the Sons of Norway Cultural Skills Program. Trust me, it will be a wonderful and enlightening program.
The purpose is to inform our membership that any of us can choose from the variety of cultural skills programs that SofN offers; be completed on one’s own effort and time; and feel really good getting the beautiful medals.
It’s impressive, my friends. PS I received my first medal from completing Level 1 of Norwegian Literature after taking a class from our own Pat Savoie.
Har det bra, Jo Ness
Jo Ness and Cara Clove were the lodge’s delegates to the District 6 Convention in Modesto in June. A report on the convention starts on page 2.
The new District 6 Officers are:
President: Lyle Berge
Vice President: Mary Beth Ingvoldstad
Secretary: Wendy Winkelman
Treasurer: Roger Espeland
Public Relations Officer: Erik Pappa
Our Zone 5 Director: Ordale Johnson
Some facts: Sons of Norway founders in 1895 numbered 18; the Order now has 67,000 members in USA, Canada and Norway. District 6 has 54 lodges, however, a few were unable to send delegates. The District covers Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, and Utah, and Hawaii, however there are no lodges there.
Gratulerer Med Dagen
Belated greetings to those with July birthdays.
JULY
1 Carrie Engevik
1 Jean Wildern
2 Penny Eidem
3 Sally Hamilton
3 Evelyn Riveness
6 Eileen Wirtz
6 Barbara Yeager
8 Reidun Hedenstad
12 Brit Trydal
13 Greta Moses
15 Deanna Anderson
17 Solrun Cammarata
18 Judith Hammer
19 Virginia Paulson
20 Bethel Trammell
27 Cara Clove
27 Robin Niles
28 Richard Gilman
30 Carl Voien
31 Vera Osnes
AUGUST
1 Raymond Bentson
3 Henrik Lovdokken
10 Mimi Chen
10 Berit Jansta
18 Daniel Christensen
18 Gloria Larson
18 Jan Lovold
21 Kristen Guritz
22 Joan De Graffenried
23 Elizabeth Danielson
26 Patricia Lowe
28 Roger Moses
30 Margrethe Rankin
God Bedring (Get Well Soon)
DeNora Clinton, Bill Davis, Vernie Fletcher, Edna Franett, Astrid Omdal, Jean Parks, Virginia Paulson, Herb Wirtz
TIL MINNE
Muriel Bandy, a member of Edvard Grieg Lodge, passed away on August 11. Our condolences to Muriel’s family and many friends.
Patricia Lowe, a member of Edvard Grieg Lodge, passed away on August 14. Our condolences to Pat’s family and many friends.
LODGE ACTIVITIES
BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, September 7 at 7:30 p.m. at Lutheran Church in the Foothills, 1700 Foothill Blvd. La Cañada, CA 91011.
POTLUCK AND CULTURAL EVENING
Saturday, September 25, Social hour – 5:30 p.m. Dinner – 6:30 p.m. at Lutheran Church in the Foothills. The presentation will be on the Cultural Skills Program by members of Norseman Lodge #91 in Thousand Oaks.
BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, October 5 at 7:30 p.m. at Lutheran Church in the Foothills.
Report on District 6 Convention
June 23-26, 2010
Hosted by Garborg Lodge #56, Modesto
What a great convention we had in ‘beautiful downtown Modesto” – actually in the heart of agriculture. This town has a small, but wonderful feeling with lots of restaurants, clubs, activities, arts, etc, and a sophisticated hotel where we stayed in the middle of this longtime farming town, a Doubletree Hotel. There were around 170 voting delegates, but over 200 at dinners/banquets and other evening activities. Jo Ness and Cara Clove were our delegates.
It was a well organized and thorough event. Garborg Lodge #56 did an outstanding job Although it is expected that little gifties, kjotchies, candies, and table favors appear at our seats every morning Garborg’s convention committee had wonderful things appear at every break, meal and other excuse to regale us with their local articles. They asked for and received much support for the convention from their community.
The business of the convention was in the hands of the President Janie Kelly and she did herself proud. Everything proceeded smoothly with a modicum of negativity. As is the pattern I’ve experienced in years of conventions, there were lots of jokes and laughter. Yes, there is a business agenda, but there is also a freedom of expression sometimes bordering on the absurd but always pertaining to ourselves….. in other words, although we love our Norwegian heritage and membership in Sons of Norway and have serious agendas, we still don’t take ourselves so seriously…there’s always a joke and a laugh.
Our Lodge has been honored several ways. Of greatest note, we received a Plaque for Family Lodge of the Year 2008. Two years ago at the Convention we were awarded the first ever Family Lodge of the Year 2006. We are so proud of our volunteers who help us obtain this recognition regarding service to family activities. Lodge of the Year Awards were presented to us as Bronze and Silver Awardees. This is recognition for lodges pursuing the goals and objectives of Sons of Norway through their own projects to improve their own lodge organization.
The service to Sons of Norway by our beloved LaVonne Kerfoot was recognized on the convention floor, much to our happiness. She and Amon Johnson will be on the Memorial Service list and be recognized at the next convention.
We have two famous artists in our midst. In the Arts and Crafts Competition, Diane Langill won 1st, 2nd, and 3rd ribbons for her three rosemaling entries. All three were purchased by delegates, among whom was Cara Clove. Jo wanted to buy one, but a member from another lodge was so eager for it that she gave in; however, she has ordered another one from Diane. Judith Gabriel Vinje, our talented weaver/crafter, also swept the field for Weaving winning 1st, 2nd and 3rd places.
Ahoy, Reindeer
The antlered animals weren’t made for this – to stumble onto a boat in the middle of an autumn night and bump and sway on the water for six hours until they attain solid ground again and resume their overland migration a winter refuge. In Norway, both reindeer and their seminomadic herders, members of the indigenous Sami, are struggling to find their balance as development intrudes on traditional grazing lands, changing the way humans and animals mover
For centuries the Sami have seasonally driven reindeer between grassy feeding grounds on the coast and lichen-rich tundra in the interior. Unlike the tiny wild population to the south, the 250,000 northern reindeer are semidomesticated, raised principally for the sale of their meat. The income helps support about 3,000 herders, nowadays a small fraction of Norway’s Sami population of 50,000.
But no longer can herds drift as easily as clouds. A glut of holiday cabins, oil and gas complexes, military ranges, windmill farms, and power lines has fragmented migration corridors. To adapt, the Sami are shifting grazing areas and using boats as well as trucks to maneuver herds. With the loss of pastureland, some worry that the culture’s long dependence on reindeer will slowly vanish, destined for tales told by elders.
National Geographic – November 2009
British girl’s balloon reaches family in Norway
A fundraising balloon, released at a village fete in the UK, has been found by a family in Norway, more than 600 miles from home. The blue balloon was sent on its long journey from North Somerset by 10- year-old Beccy Filer in a bid to raise money to buy equipment for her school. Just a day later, an unidentified floating object was spotted at Farsund on Norway’s south coast by the Oyri family, who have a holiday cabin in the area. Seeing that it was about to fall into the sea, the family grabbed their boat and went out to investigate.
“It was a beautiful morning with no breeze. As the children were getting dressed we could see it gently falling down from the sky,” said Vibeke Oyri in a report by the BBC. “We could see something attached underneath and our kids were very curious so we decided to take the boat out about 200m from the shore to investigate. It was a stroke of luck we got to it quickly otherwise the note would have been unreadable,” she added. On the tag were Beccy’s address and a message reading: “When you get this, please send it back.” A week later a letter was received in Somerset, much to the Filer’s surprise. “We’d entered the balloon race a while back and hadn’t thought anymore about it, said Beccy’s mother Tanya Filer.”When the letter arrived I asked her if she’d been writing to a pen friend.”
“When she opened it she said ‘mummy my balloon’s got to Norway’. I said ‘don’t be so ridiculous.’ Then she showed me the letter. Everyone thought the winning balloon had been found in Peterborough but we think this is the winner now,” she added.
Norwaynews.com
Norway to Launch First Satellite in August
The Norwegian AISSat-1 (Automatic Identification System) satellite has been scheduled to launch in August on an Indian rocket, the Norwegian Space Center announced July 5. AISat-1, Norway’s first satellite, aims to provide maritime tracking services with coverage over the High North Seas. The service will be used by ships around the world as a short-range coastal traffic system. Under regional laws, seagoing ships weighing over 300 tons must be fitted with the technology to allow authorities to track movements and to avoid collisions with other boats.
The satellite’s receiver will be a based on a platform built by the University of Toronto. The spacecraft will operate in a polar orbit at an altitude of 600 kilometers and will be managed by the Norwegian Space Centre. The total cost of the project is estimated at $4.6 million.
Norwegian anti-pirate Map-System
In light of the many hijackings of ships in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia, a Norwegian security company has now developed a new method to help avoid pirate attacks.
Jeppesen Marine, in cooperation with Bergen Risk Solutions (BRS), has created an interactive map that includes updated information about hijacking attempts, weather patterns and sea routes. By cross checking this information the system assesses the risk of attack.
For instance, as product manager Bjørn Åge Hjøllo tells Bergens Tidende, pirates are less likely to carry out attacks if waves are higher than a meter and a half. Therefore, by navigating towards areas with higher waves and fewer reported attacks, ships can avoid hijacking attempts.
The up-to-date information featured in the system indicates that more of the attacks now occur outside the Gulf of Aden and more frequently in the Indian Ocean. An analyst with BRS, who monitors the map system, indicates that this change may have come as a result of the increased presence of international navy forces in the area.
The international shipping industry has already taken note of the new map system. Last year the two companies received the "2010 Safety at Sea International Award for Security," and will be featured in the well-known magazine Safety at Sea later this fall. Several companies from around the world have already purchased licenses for the system, or are in the process of testing its utility.
Bergens Tidende / Aftenposten The Norway Post
Norwaynews.com
TENNIS RIVALS MOLLA BJURSTEDT AND MAY SUTTON
GREATEST WOMEN TENNIS PLAYERS TO MEET. That headline in the Los Angeles Times for September 29, 1915, declared what so many were anticipating with great excitement – a match between a little known player from Norway who had just won the United States Singles Championship and a California woman, herself a former champion, who began playing tennis in the backyard of her family home at the southwest corner of North Hill and East Mountain streets in Pasadena.
Molla Bjurstedt was born in Norway where she won a number of championships and captured the bronze medal in tennis for her country at the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm. In 1915 she came to this country, ostensibly to seek work as a masseuse. However, within weeks after her arrival she entered and won the women’s singles championship as an unknown newcomer. That win proved to be the first of eight U.S. singles victories, along with two in women’s doubles, and three in mixed doubles. Altogether she participated in 24 “Grand Slam” finals prior to her retirement in 1929 at the age of forty-five. From the 1920’s on she was known as Molla Mallory, reflecting her recent marriage to Frank Mallory of New York City.
Although born in England, May Sutton moved with her family to the United States when she was just six years old. She and her three sisters learned to play tennis on a court built by their father, and the four girls soon dominated the tennis scene in California. May moved onto the national stage in 1904 when, at age eighteen, she won the United States women’s championship, defeating the two time champion, Elizabeth Moore. In that same year she was a victor in the women’s doubles and a finalist in mixed doubles. As with her subsequent rival from Norway, she began her outstanding career with spectacular and surprising victories.
The following year May Sutton went on to win the women’s singles at Wimbledon, being the first American to do so. She placed second at Wimbledon in 1906, and won again in 1907. Following her marriage in 1912 to Tom Bundy, himself a three-time winner in the U.S. men’s doubles, she went into semi-retirement to raise a family, although remaining very much in the public eye as one of the most outstanding women’s tennis players of her time.
Thus the idea of a match between May Sutton, the champion of a decade earlier, and Molla Bjurstedt, the current reigning champion, generated tremendous interest throughout the tennis world. They met first in San Francisco in mid-November 1915, with Molla Bjurstedt emerging the victor, winning two out of three sets in what was described as the “most desperate struggle ever seen in this country in women’s tennis.” Their second meeting was on Thanksgiving Day in Long Beach, where Sutton, now referred to as May Bundy, won decisively in two sets.
Thus, with each having won a hard-fought victory, the stage was set for a deciding match between the tennis rivals two weeks later on the courts in Long Beach. Playing “the greatest tennis ever seen in these parts,” Bundy handily defeated Bjurstedt by scores of 6-3, 1-6, and 6-2. During her two-month stay in California both Molla Bjurstedt and May Sutton Bundy played in a number of tournaments and exhibitions, facing each other in doubles matches, and on at least one occasion playing together as doubles partners.
Upon leaving California in late December of 1915, Molla Bjurstedt expressed a desire to return to live in Southern California, and there was even a rumor afloat that a prominent Los Angeles physician had offered her a position as a masseuse in his office. Although Bjurstedt did return in February 1917, it was not with the thought of remaining permanently. Rather, she was looking forward to playing once more against Mary Sutton Bundy and avenging her earlier defeat
The match between Bjurstedt and Bundy was scheduled as an exhibition during a series of matches between a team from the east and one from the west. Needless to say, it was the Bjurstedt-Bundy match-up that created the greatest attention. Hotel and country club courts, where tournaments were usually held could not begin to accommodate the anticipated crowd. Thus, a special court was laid down on Bovard Field on the University of California campus, where seating would be available for as many as a thousand spectators.
In intersectional play the host team handily defeated the team from the east, and May Sutton Bundy prevailed in defeating Molla Bjurstedt in what proved to be a very close match with scores of 7-5 and 9-7. It was Mrs. Bundy’s third victory in four matches between the two rivals, and to all intents and purposes signaled her retirement from competitive tennis at least on the national scene.
Bjurstedt on the other hand continued her dominant play, and having won the women’s national title in 1915 went to repeat for next three years, and won again in 1920, 1921,1922, and finally in 1926.
May Sutton Bundy decided in 1921 to make a comeback and return to national competition on the east coast. In her first major appearance in three years she reached the finals of the New York State championships in July of that year. Her first meeting with Molla Bjurstedt in the east was in the semi- finals of the national championship at Forest Hills, where Bjurstedt prevailed. The Norwegian star also defeated her California rival three times during the 1922 season.
Lest too much be made of that rivalry between Mrs. Bundy and Mrs. Mallory, as they were known in later years, it should be said that both were elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame for their accomplishments in both singles and doubles play in international as well as national competition. Mrs. Bundy’s great career began with her victory in the U.S. singles championship in 1904 and at Wimbledon in 1905 and 1907, and came to a close 42 years later as a quarter-finalist at Wimbledon and in that same year playing with her daughter as one of the top ranked pairs in the national champion- ships in women’s doubles. It was said that May Sutton Bundy continued playing tennis from her home in Santa Monica until her death in 1975 at 89 years of age.
Norwegian born Molla Bjurstedt Mallory made such an impact on tennis in the United States that officials of the United States Lawn Tennis Association sought to have her included as a member of the national team competing in the Olympic Games in Paris in 1924. However, the fact of her residence in this country since 1915, and her marriage to an American citizen, thus making her an American citizen, was insufficient to persuade the International Olympic committee. Her last major victory was in U.S. women’s championships came in 1926, and although she continued to compete both nationally and internationally for another three years, she left the tennis world in 1929, and later lived in Sweden where she died in 1959.
Richard C. Gilman
Pasadena, California
Dr. Gilman may be reached at rcgilman@earthlink.net
EDVARD GRIEG LODGE WEB SITE www.edvardgrieglodge.com Dan Christensen, webmaster
6TH DISTRICT WEB SITE www.sofn6.com CAMP NORGE
www.campnorge.com
Sons of Norway Mission Statement The mission of Sons of Norway is to promote and preserve the heritage and culture of Norway, to celebrate our relationship with other Nordic countries, and to provide quality
insurance and financial products to its members.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
November-December 2009 Newsletter
Ord Fra Presidenten
Hei til mine venner! (Hi to my friends!)
In November, we had our lefse party, making many packages of that great stuff. We usually use real cooked potatoes. However, this time, we also used some prepared packaged lefse mix, and it went just fine. Anyway, we have enough lefse to serve and some left over to sell at our upcoming Julebord, December 12. Cost of a package of 3 rounds is now $7.00.
Our Lodge has long been active in local charity. At this time, our Board of Officers has decided upon a charity new to us. It is the Glendale YWCA Sunrise Village, a program for women and children. Instead of a gift exchange at our Julebord, we are planning a monetary donation to this worthy program. Please read the information below.
“Famous” models, Gertrude and Jo Ness, modeled again for the annual fundraiser luncheon for the Glendale Community Scholarship Fund in November at the Castaways Restaurant. Edvard Grieg Lodge has donated scholarship funds more years than any other organization. One of our three scholarships is dedicated for an arts student, in the name of Russ Bakken, a longtime Disney artist.
Please refer to the proposed Nomination of Officers for 2010-2011. We will hold elections at our Julebord. Installation will be conducted by Zone 5 Director Eric Harem at the meeting on January 23. This will be a “formal” meeting – meaning we will meet upstairs, chairs and regalia will be set out, and a short installation will be conducted with the appropriate ceremonial procedure that accompanies installation of officers. This is a chance to participate in a charming, businesslike event which confirms and supports our new/returning officers for the next two-year term. It’s really quite lovely. Afterwards, we adjourn for refreshments. Please note our request for potluck delicacies in the announcement below.
Har et bra.
Jo Ness.
Velkommen
John Richard Fleischer
853 N. California St.
Burbank, CA 91505-2920
(818)563-2767
LODGE ACTIVITIES
BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, December 1 at 7:30 p.m. at the home of Jo Ness, 2619 Fairway Ave., Montrose. 818-249-8102. The membership is invited to enjoy a mini Jul celebration. Jo has special Jul decorations, food, including a traditional tree. Lots of goodies, candles and good time…after the meeting stuff.
Thursday, December 3 at Solheim Lutheran Home. Be there by 6:15 p.m., so the singing can begin at 6:30. Wear something Christmasy, even though it's still early! Solheim is at 2236 Merton Avenue, Eagle Rock. From Colorado, go south on Eagle Rock Blvd. one block, turn right on Merton - it’s in the first block. For information call Mim Johnson - 626-574-9550
JULEBORD
Saturday, December 12, at the American Legion Hall, 4011 La Crescenta Ave., La Crescenta. Starting time: 6:30 p.m. Bring your family and friends, children and grandchildren!
The Santa Lucia procession is an all-time favorite, and kids who want to participate may show up as early as 6 p.m. to be outfitted in their garb as members of the St. Lucia procession. One girl will be chosen as St. Lucia, and others will be her Santa Lucia girls. Boys are welcome as well; older boys can be the stjernegutt (star boy) or magi, and younger boys and girls will be decked out in red capes and caps as Julenisser.
Following the candlelight procession, kids will be visited by Juleknisse himself, bedecked as the American Santa Claus, who will distribute gifts to all participants. All celebrants will then circle around the decorated Christmas tree singing traditional Norwegian and American Christmas carols.
Everyone is asked to bring smørbrød (open-faced sandwiches) and pastries - Scandinavian, if you can -- enough to serve 10-12 people. If you have questions, call Jo Ness at 818-249-8102, or Judith Vinje, Edvard Grieg Lodge Youth Director, at 818-563-2526, or contact her at jgabriel.vinje@gmail.com.
BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, January 12, 2010, 7:30 p.m. at the home of Pat Savoie, 1968 Pinecrest, Altadena. (626) 794-8805
LEFSE PARTY
Saturday, January 16, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the American Legion Hall. We will be making lefse for the Torsk Dinner and we also want enough to sell. Please come, bring your sack lunch; coffee will be provided. With a good number of people, we should be done by 3:00 p.m.
CULTURAL EVENING WITH INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS AND POTLUCK.
Saturday, January 23, 2010, 6:00 p.m. at the American Legion Hall. Officers for 2010-2011 will be installed. Eric Herem, Zone 5 Director, will be the installing officer.
Officers, please make every effort to attend this meeting, and invite your families and friends. Members are asked to bring hors d’oevres or open faced sandwiches for refreshments following the installation. Dessert will be provided.
BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, February 2 at 7:30 p.m. The location will be given in the next issue.
TORSK DINNER
Saturday, February 21 at the American Legion Hall. There will more information in the next issue.
Klub Kristine
For many years, handwork done by LaVonne Kerfoot was the main source of income to Klub Kristine, the lodge’s auxiliary. LaVonne’s sister, Dorothy Lowande, will continue going to events to
sell items; if anyone is interested in contributing handwork, please contact Dorothy at 818-563-4315.
Our New Charity – YWCA Sunrise Village
The mission statement of the YWCA of Glendale is “empowering women and children in our community to achieve independence, self-sufficiency and a life free from violence”. After a hiatus of donating to a local charity, besides the Glendale Community Scholarship Program and Scholarship Annuity, your Board has chosen to include a new local charity. It is a donation program to YWCA “Sunrise Village”, an emergency shelter and safe haven for women and their children fleeing from domestic violence. This has been a successful YWCA service for many years. Our donations will be dedicated specifically for this project, including such needs as food, clothing, current renovations and repairs to the facility, etc. We will invite the YWCA staff to present a brief information program in the near future at one of our cultural program nights. We will be offering our membership opportunities to donate $$ to this program from time to time in the next years. Our first event will be collecting donations at the Julebord instead of a gift exchange. Note – this does not eliminate our usual gifts to our Santa Lucia youth at the Julebord.
Gertrude Ness recommended this new charity. She is YWCA Past President, Board Member, co-founder of their shop, founder of their nursery school program, longtime supporter and volunteer of the organization. She is retired Director of Glendale Unified School District Early Childhood Education Program, and Past Social Director of Edvard Grieg Lodge.
Mange tusen takk for your individual generosity, Gertrude.
News and Notes
The lodge made a contribution to the “Honor Penny J. Knudsen Fund’ for her 25 years of coordinating the rosemaling seminars at Camp Norge.
ššššš
At Norrona Lodge’s 65th Anniversary, Jo Ness took the rosemalt plate that Edvard Grieg Lodge received from Norrona on our 35th anniversary. The plate was painted by Dorothy Olson, and one of the special items that is kept by the current lodge president.
Slate of Officers for 2010 & 2011
President Jo Ness
Vice President Vacant
Counselor Dorothy Bakken
Secretary Mim Johnson
Assistant Secretary Elaine Lundby
Membership Secretary Anne Marie Nassif
Treasurer Margaret Shuler
Social Directors Vacant
Social Committee Peg Chereek, Yvonne Claypool
Tina Hartney, Sally Nilssen, Carl Voien
Cultural Director Cara Clove
Editor Margaret Shuler
Publicity Patricia Hamilton
Historian Patricia Savoie
Youth Director. . Judith Gabriel Vinje
Youth Reporter Shayna Niles
Musician Shelly Baum
Assistant Musician Cara Clove
Scholarship Fran Quick
Foundation Director Dorothy Bakken
Sunshine Committee Astrid Omdal, Diane Langill
Librarian Fran Quick
Auditors Dorothy Lowande, Sally Nilssen
TUBFRIM
Postmaster Ditlef Frantzen in Nesbyen established TUBFRIM in 1928. The aim was to collect and sell used stamps and use the proceeds to aid the eradication of tuberculosis among Norwegian children. The first profit was made in 1929 and amounted to NOK 1.500,-. Profits varied in the following years from NOK 8.000,- in 1940 to NOK 25.000,- in 1947. TUBFRIM has made good progress since from then and profits in 1970 were NOK 150.000,- growing to NOK 620.000,- in 2007.
TUBFRIM is owned by the Norwegian Health Association (Nasjonalforeningen for folkehelsen). Today the profits are used to help handicapped children and youth in Norway, and to finance the efforts to eradicate tuberculosis.
Used postage stamps and telephone cards are not to be thrown in the waste basket, but should be sent to Margaret Shuler, 147 N 5th Avenue, Monrovia, CA 91016. They will be taken to the Norwegian Seamen’s Church in San Pedro, and then shipped to TUBFRIM in Nesbyen, Norway.
Zone 5 Director
Eric Herem
eherem@verizon.net
Insurance Representative
Dennis Burreso
EDVARD GRIEG LODGE WEB SITE
www.edvardgrieglodge.com
Dan Christensen, webmaster
6TH DISTRICT WEB SITE
www.sofn6.com
Christmas celebrations in modern Norway have lost the strong superstitious overtones that made the holidays a perilous time for earlier generations. In today’s Norwegian homes, the first sign of Christmas is the four Advent candles. The first
one is lit on the first Sunday of Advent, four weeks before Christmas Eve. The next Sunday, two candles are lit—and all four of them flicker expectantly the Sunday before Christmas. At the end of Advent, luminous Christmas stars show
up in people’s windows. Apart from these decorations, most Norwegian homes
display few signs of Christmas until December 23, “Little Christmas Eve”, when many households trim their tree and set out their decorations. Others wait until the morning of Christmas Eve.
The Christmas tree was not a part of the ancient Norwegian celebrations. The tradition of having a Christmas tree originated in Germany in the 1500s and was common among well-to-do Norwegian city people in the 1700s. Clergymen and teachers brought the custom to the countryside. In the beginning, people used various types of trees, depending on what was available. Now tree nurseries provide the fir that almost everybody prefers, although in later years the pine has
taken over a part of the market. There are, however, quite a few families who consider searching the woods for their tree, one of their dearest Christmas
traditions, and in most districts some property owners provide the general public with the opportunity to go out in the woods with axe and sled to find their own special tree the old-fashioned way. The trim has, of course, varied somewhat with
time. Most modern Norwegian Christmas trees have glass balls, tinsel garlands, electric candles and a luminous star at the top. Many have long strings with small Norwegian flags on them plus nisser, pine cones, stars and birds. Probably every home has its own home-made trim: heart-shaped paper baskets and long, colorful paper strip chains, made by eager children’s hands. Felt and yarn are given shape
and turned into nisser, angels and birds. Wooden strips and straw are also traditional materials for Christmas decorations.
In addition to the tree, most Norwegian homes also have other Christmas decorations, most of them made of natural materials. Twigs, pine cones,
lingonberry twigs, heather, moss, reindeer lichen, straw, wooden strips, fir-, pine-, and juniper twigs, felt, cotton and linen are the usual basics. Combined in various ways they make attractive decorations placed in baskets or bowls, on platters or trays.
Candles are often part of the decoration, along with nisser and red and white mushrooms. Red is, of course, the eye-catching color, combined with green, white and and natural wood colors. Norwegians are usually cautious concerning effects: gaudiness is considered bad taste by most of them. You will not find as many Christmas wreaths in Norwegian homes as you will in the United States or Canada. Many Norwegians feel that wreaths belong in cemeteries only, and if wreaths are used, they are often placed flat down, like the Advent wreaths that hold the four Advent candles.
From SofN Information Bank – Norwegian Christmas
Fattigmann
4 egg yolks
4 tablespoons sugar
4 tablespoons whipping cream
1-1/2 to 1-1/2 cups flour
6 cardamom seeds, crushed
Beat egg yolks and sugar until creamy and add the whipped cream. Sift flour and cardamom into the egg mixture, stirring carefully to form a soft dough—it must not be stiff. Cover and chill overnight. Roll out a small portion at a time, using as little flour as possible. Cut into diamond shapes with the aid of a pastry wheel and ruler. Make a slit about an inch long Just below one tip and slip the opposite
corner through. They swell and develop large air bubbles during the cooking process. They should be golden brown and tender.
Berlinerkranser
2 hard-cooked egg yolks, crumbled
1 cup butter
2 raw egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar
2-1/2 cups flour
Cut flour into butter. Add cooked egg yolks. Separately mix raw egg yolks and sugar. Mix the two mixtures. Roll in short ropes. Twist together. Dip in egg white, then sugar. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.
From SofN Information Bank – Norwegian Christmas
HARALD ULRIK SVERDRUP (1888-1957) – PART II
As one of the world’s leading scientists and founder of modern physical oceanography, Harald Ulrik Sverdrup was appointed head of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California, in 1936. He served in that capacity until 1948 when he returned to his native Norway as Professor of Geophysics at the University of Oslo and as Director of the Norwegian Polar Institute until his death in 1957.
Even before the United States entered what came to be known as World War II, the Scripps Institution was engaged in a number of war-related research projects. Among the earliest of these, begun in early 1940, was an effort to detect the presence of German submarines which at the time were aggressively sinking scores of merchant ships carrying supplies to support Allied forces fighting in Europe. Harald Sverdrup was one of the Scripps scientists participating in meetings on anti-submarine warfare at a special Radio and Sound Laboratory constructed at Point Loma, just a few miles from the Scripps campus.
Around the same time the University of California, of which the Scripps Institution was a part, established what came to be known as the University of California Division of War Research (UCDWR), which functioned in close collaboration with the National Defense Research Council (NDRC). On July 1, 1941, Harald Sverdup was placed in charge of the UCDWR/NDRC section on oceanographic research, where meetings were held almost daily seeking ways to detect German U-boats prowling the North Atlantic.
When Sverdrup failed to appear for a scheduled meeting on March 1, 1942, all his colleagues were told was that the Navy had withdrawn his security clearance to work on war-related projects. It was not until some fifty years later that the full story of the extensive government investigations of Harald Sverdrup during the early 1940’s became fully known, with the release of classified files and other records, mandated under the Freedom of Information Act.
As a matter of fact, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) first became “interested” in Sverdrup in May 1940 when an identified man went to the Bureau’s San Diego field office to report what he regarded as “suspicious” activities. On that same day the FBI launched a field investigation, interviewing a La Jolla resident and contacting the San Diego police department. A few weeks later the FBI received an anonymous letter from New York, alleging Sverdrup’s friendship with a prominent German sympathizer in Sweden. Comments and opinions from other so-called informants gradually found their way into the FBI files.
In addition to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the offices of Naval Intelligence and Army Military Intelligence were involved in compiling information about Sverdrup, his wife, and associates, and on more than one occasion he was placed under twenty-four hour surveillance. At other times entries in his notebooks and letters to his wife and others, all written in Norwegian, were translated and copied to become part of the intelligence file. In sum, the record reveals considerable doubt of Sverdrup’s loyalty to the United States on the part of high ranking officials in the Army, Navy, and Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Sverdrup’s closest scientific associate on certain research projects, Walter Munk by name, was also questioned, and investigations of the two men became inextricably linked. According to the long suppressed government documents, challenges to their integrity and loyalty, appear to have come from a variety of sources, some of them anonymous or second hand. Comments by a janitor and three junior staff members at the Scripps Institution were also included in the file. The fact that Sverdrup spent three years in Germany during the first World War was also noted. However, what is most striking in the reports of these investigations is that the senior scientists, both at Scripps and elsewhere and persons of international reputation, were virtually unanimous in their support of Harald Sverdrup and his loyalty to the United States.
Although denied security clearances and unable to be directly involved on certain projects, Sverdrup continued his own research and was able to confer with colleagues on various issues. However, it was not until late 1942 and early 1943 that the investigations by various governmental bodies were concluded. There is no question that he was bothered by the invasion of his privacy and restrictions on his behavior, which in the minds of some left on him “a permanent scar” that in all likelihood was a factor in his decision in January 1947 to leave Scripps and return to Norway one year hence.
The decision to leave the United States was in stark contrast to his position a few years earlier when in May 1940, shortly after the invasion of Norway, he requested that his appointment at Scripps be made permanent and indicated his desire to remain there until his retirement. Also, within a matter of weeks his wife and daughter applied to become U.S. citizens. Further, Sverdrup’s wife became a nurse’s aide and Red Cross worker, and daughter Anna was commissioned a lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps.
Other family notes are also relevant here. Preceding Harald Sverdrup’s arrival at Scripps in 1936, an older brother had emigrated to the United States and subsequently established a large and highly successful engineering firm in St. Louis. He also became a United States citizen and joined the Army Corps of Engineers. Rising to the rank of major general, he served under General Douglas MacArthur as Chief of Engineers for the Pacific Theater. Apparently he encountered none of the security problems that beset his brother during that same period.
One of the “public” reasons given for undertaking the investigations of Harald Sverdrup was that at the time those investigations began he was not a United States citizen. Further, it was assumed that because he had close family members living in Norway under German occupation, he might be subject to blackmail should any of them be imprisoned and subject to torture and death. He addressed that issue directly, in an interview at the San Diego field office of the FBI in January 1942. The report of that meeting indicates he stated “that no amount of pressure on his relatives in Norway would in any way affect any confidential matter or information he may have in his possession.” The facts are that two of his sisters were imprisoned by the Germans and that a younger brother, an officer in the Norwegian resistance movement, was killed in battle against the occupying forces in Spitsbergen. It is also a fact that despite numerous obstacles and personal frustrations Harald Sverdrup persevered in his scientific work throughout the war. During those years he became widely known as the father of modern oceanography, and some of his studies are said to have saved thousands of lives of American army and navy personnel.
In Part III, concluding this article, we will mention some of his scientific achievements, and how they contributed, in ways little known, to military successes in North Africa and Europe and also in the Pacific.
Richard C. Gilman
Pasadena, California
Norwegian among the 'most difficult languages to learn to speak'
A veteran professor of languages claims that Norwegian is among the world's languages that's the most difficult to learn to speak well. Russian professor Valerij Pavlovitsj Berkov, who has spent decades perfecting his own Norwegian, told newspaper Aftenposten that the tonelag (inflection and musical accent) needed to speak Norwegian properly is almost impossible for non-Norwegians to master. "Norwegian is one of the world's most difficult languages to learn to speak perfectly," said Berkov, who will turn 80 this month.
Non-Norwegians will find it nearly impossible, he contends, to speak the language without revealing that they are foreigners. Berkov is a long-time professor of languages at both the St Petersburg State University and the Nordic Institute at the University of Oslo, teaching Norwegian to Russians and Russian to Norwegians among other subjects. He also has taught English, German, Icelandic and several other languages, is fluent in around 16 languages himself and has written the 1,121-page Russian-Norwegian dictionary as well as its companion Norwegian-Russian dictionary.
He's been fascinated with Norwegian since he was a child and had taught Norwegian for 15 years before he was first allowed to visit Norway, in 1966. Another 21 years passed before he was allowed to return, in 1987, and says he still doesn't know why the authorities denied him travel permission or who "worked against me." Now he and his wife divide their time between St Petersburg and Oslo. Berkov strives to stay firmly out of the ongoing debate over the various forms of Norwegian, but allowed that the language isn't well-served without a norm. He notes that broen, brua, bruen and broa, for example, can all be used for "the bridge," and that the lack of one preferred version in fact does away with the norm. He wouldn't comment, though, on whether it's wise for a country to have two official languages, as Norway does with bokmal and nynorsk. "It's stupid for a foreigner to try to tell a Norwegian how they should use their own language," he said.
Views and News from Norway
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Julebord
Saturday, December 12, 6:30 p.m. at the American Legion Hall.
Annual Julebord, with youth Santa Lucia Procession (coordinated by Youth Director Judith Gabriel Vinje), songs, entertainment, election of officers, great food and lefse sale.
American Legion Hall
4011 La Crescenta Avenue
La Crescenta, California
Map
Sunday, November 8, 2009
October 2009 Newsletter
SONS OF NORWAY LODGE NO. 6-074
Meeting Place:
American Legion Hall
4011 La Crescenta Avenue
La Crescenta, California
Map
OCTOBER 2009
Ord Fra Presidenten
Kjære Medlemmer (Dear Members),
Our Talent Show was a great success, thanks to Tina Hartney, the leader of the event. Performers were: Evan Hartney, guitar and song; Kari Davis and mom Beth Baird, song; Cara Clove, song; Judith Gabriel Vinje and husband Phil Mishkin, a excerpt from the play, “ I Remember Mama”; Carli Clove, modern jazz dance; Jo Ness, hula dance; the newly formed Edward Grieg Kazoo Band – singing? humming? kazooing? a variety of familiar songs. The Band, consisting of the audience who were presented with gift kazoos, will return next year by popular demand (!?) Phil Mishkin was the MC, and Cara Clove was the technician.
Our next cultural event will be the lefse party on Saturday, October 24, 9 am to 2 pm. We need lots of helpers. Here is a chance for our members who want to learn about lefse to participate, and help out the lodge as well. We need new and more lefse makers these days. Bring lunch or snack; we’ll make coffee. Takk.
District Six is conducting a Membership Recruitment Contest until May 2010. New members must be 50 years of age or younger. Individuals bringing in the most members can win first prize of a Sons of
Norway medallion; second and third prizes are lovely Viking pendants. Let’s get going!
A committee met recently to begin a membership recruitment and retention plan for our new Vice President and Membership Secretary (whoever they may be after elections). A lot of ideas, talk, issues, planning, and future directions came out, specifically relating to membership. It was very successful. Anyone interested in contributing, please let me know and come to the next meeting. PS: here are two offices that are very important, quite exciting, and assisted by the Edvard Grieg board. Please join us.
Takk, Jo
Gratulerer Med Dagen
October
7 DeNora Clinton
8 Diana Lorenz
9 Chester Weiche
9 Ken Putnam
11 John Danielson
12 Korey Madson
25 Peg Chereek
25 Jensine Phillips
26 Yumiko Lovdokken
29 Jan Luongo
31 Kevin Tvedt
God Bedring .
Get Well Soon
Annette Besvold
DeNora Clinton
Bill Davis
Vernie Fletcher
Brenda Hesse
Astrid Omdal
Jean Parks
Herb Wirtz
LODGE ACTIVITIES
LEFSE PARTY
October 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the American Legion Hall. This was the scheduled date for the Torsk Dinner which will be held in February 2010.
We will be making lefse for the Julebord and for sale. Already orders for lefse have come in. It’s a very popular thing for Jul as you all know. Our Lefse Party is a family affair, everyone can help and learn all the steps to its making.
FYI, Cost per package of 3 rounds is $7.00, commensurate with the price changes that other lodges have made recently. Our current #1 fund raiser is sale of lefse, did you know that? Please help us by buying several packages
BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, November 3 at 7:30 pm. at the home of Mim Johnson, 747 Fairview Ave., #B, Arcadia. (626) 574-9550. No Cultural Night in November because of Thanksgiving.
BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, December 1 at 7:30 p.m. at the home of Jo Ness, 2619 Fairway Ave., Montrose. 818-249-8102. The membership is invited to enjoy a mini Jul celebration. Jo has special Jul decorations, food, including a traditional tree. Lots of goodies, candles and good time…after the meeting stuff.
JULEBORD
Saturday, December 12, 6:30 p.m. at the American Legion Hall. Please see the article on page 3.
OPEN BOARD MEETING FOR THE NEW YEAR, January 5, 2010, 7:30 pm,. Location TBA – anyone volunteer? You don’t have to be an officer to host a board meeting.
CULTURAL EVENING WITH INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS AND POTLUCK. January 23, 2010, 6:00 pm, at the American Legion Hall.
DISTRICT ACTIVITIES
Norrøna Lodge’s Lutefisk & Meatball Dinners Friday & Saturday, November 13 &14, 4 – 8 p.m. at Norway Hall, 14312 Friar Street, Van Nuys.
Norseman Lodge’s Julebord
Saturday, December 5 at the First Neighborhood Club House, 31830 Village Center Drive, Westlake Village. Cost -$25 per person. Reservations are required by November 30. Call Lorelle Sondreaal at 805381-0507.
Julebord Lights Up Norwegian Heritage with Santa Lucia Procession and Julenisse Gifts
Kids and grandkids of Norwegian-Americans have the opportunity to participate in a traditional Yuletide festivity, complete with a Santa Lucia and Julenisse Pageant they’ll never forget at the Edvard Grieg Lodge annual Julebord on Saturday, December 12.
If heritage has a most important part of the year, certainly it is Christmas, particularly for Norwegian-Americans. This is the time to give your kids involvement and memories that will infuse them with Nordic pride throughout their lifetimes.
The traditional Sons of Norway Julebord begins at 6:30 p.m. at the American Legion Hall in La Crescenta, to be followed by a Norwegian smorgasbord.
Kids who want to participate may show up as early as 6 p.m. to be outfitted in their garb as members of the St. Lucia procession. One girl will be chosen as St. Lucia, and others will be her Santa Lucia girls. Boys are welcome as well; older boys can be the sjternegutt (star boy) or magi, and younger boys and girls will be decked out in red capes and caps as Julenisser.
Following the candlelight procession, kids will be visited by Juleknisse himself, bedecked as the American Santa Claus, who will distribute gifts to all participants.
A gala traditional smorgasbord will follow, with each guest being requested to bring finger food, sandwiches or dessert.
December 13th, St. Lucia Day, begins the Christmas season in Sweden and since the 1900’s in Norway also. It is a celebration of festival lights and music. In the morning, the oldest girl in the family goes about the house serving saffron buns and coffee, while singing carols. Older children follow and sing, too
At the Edvard Grieg julebord, the Santa Lucia procession enters the room to the singing by Cara Clove, cultural director, the Norwegian lyrics to the melody of the traditional Italian song dedicated to the medieval Sicilian saint.
This is one of the few saint days observed in Scandinavia. So how did this Italian maid become the focus of Scandinavian winter festivities?
The Lussinatt, the night of December 13, was largely forgotten in Norway at the beginning of the 20th century, while still celebrated in some remote areas. It was not until after World War II that the modern celebration of Lucia in Norway was imported from Sweden, and became adopted on a larger scale. It is now again observed all over the country. According to the old Julian calendar, the night of Lucia was the longest night of the year.
The Julenisser wear red caps, red because birds of prey will not attack anything that is red. Julenisser were blamed for unusual happenings on the farm. To be on the safe side, every farm family would leave a bowl of rice porridge with a lump of butter in it on the doorstep or in the barn. Some people still practice this custom today. In the morning, the porridge is gone, so either a nisse ate it or the family cat had a treat.
The Julenisse, or Christmas elf, visits homes where there are children. He comes with his burlap sack filled with goodies. And he always asks the same question “Are there any good children here? And the Edvard Grieg Lodge Julenisse will have gifts for all kids participating.
Edvard Grieg lodge has staged a Santa Lucia procession for several years. One girl, usually the oldest present, will be Santa Lucia herself, and will lead the candlelight procession (bearing battery-operated candles), distributing spicy pepperkakker cookies to the gathered audience. She will be accompanied by other Lucia girls, as well as a star boy, or sjternegutt, and a gaggle of julenisser.
Members and friends with children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and other young friends are encouraged to bring them to participate in this traditional Norwegian Christmas festival. Each kid who participates is a fully costumed, and photographable, star. All kids present will gather around the Julenisse to receive presents, before joining with all celebrants to circle around the decorated Christmas tree singing traditional Norwegian and American Christmas carols.
For further information, call Judith Vinje, Edvard Grieg Lodge Youth Director, at 818-563-2526, or contact her at jgabriel.vinje@gmail.com .
The Perfect Ending to a Great Summer
By SHAYNA NILES
Camp Norge/Edvard Grieg Youth Reporter
Summer is ending, school is starting, but that doesn’t stop us Norwegians from having fun. Every Labor Day we all go up to my favorite place for an every year event, Kretsstevne. The presence of the fresh High Sierras mountain air. The towering pine trees that give off that natural smell. In the fresh cut green grass, smacking the mosquitoes as they land on us. I’ve waited for this weekend all year long. Having gone to the Norwegian Heritage camp (Camp Troll Fjell) since I was a little girl, I’ve developed a very strong bond with a lot of the kids there. Texting, Facebook, MySpace, and by phone, we all made sure we would see each other by coming to Kretsstevne. All day at school before I left, I stared at that clock. It seemed like endless hours that went by. Finally, I was back at Camp Norge.
Jumping into the icy sensation of the refreshing clear blue pool, running down the stairs that seem to go on forever. Staying up till late at night laughing and having fun, surrounded in the darkness with the stars that cover the sky like a blanket. Sitting on the old rickety swing piling as many kids on as we can, hoping it won’t snap. Taking video after video, picture after picture. trying not to miss a priceless moment. Sitting at the campfire on the old wooden benches surrounded by the warmth of the fire as it gently touches our faces, singing camp songs. This is a weekend we wish wouldn’t end. It’s my escape from Polluted LA, a place, an atmosphere that I know is here to stay.
I remember one night they decided to have a pig roast. They then tricked us, saying that there was something cool over where they were cooking it. We went to go see what it was and it was two dead pigs that they were cooking for dinner. My friends and I named them (which of course made it even harder to think about eating) and refused to eat it. We then started calling pizza places from everywhere all over the Sacramento area, but of course no one delivered to Alta California. We finally got someone to go pick up a pizza for us and we donated all the money we had. We ended up having a pizza “party”. This weekend that all we kids wait for goes by so fast. Longing for the weekend to last for just one more day. Hugging till the last second before leaving, hiding hoping it will somehow make us stay longer. It never works but for some reason it always gives us hope.
Kretsstevne gives us a chance to see each other again. Of course, it’s nice talking to my friends every day through modern technology, but it’s even better seeing them in person. The people that I have met at this camp have become a second family to me. I can’t wait to come back next year and I will try my best to come up every year. All my memories from Camp Norge and with these amazing people will never fade and will stick with me my whole life.
Camp Norge
On September 12, 2009 Jo Ness and I went to Santa Barbara for the 80th anniversary dinner of Ivar Aasen Lodge #6-045. It was held at Mulligan's Café, a beautiful spot on a gulf course. We were greeted by Ron Oftenbro, the current president of the lodge and many other members. We had a very nice dinner with music by an accordionist. He even learned the national anthems of Norway and Canada so that we could sing them. After dinner the program included remarks by President Oftebro, a welcome by Janie Kelly, District Six president, and a very interesting history of Aasen lodge by a long time member, Curtis Solberg. I enjoyed going to a different lodge and learning about their history. I also enjoyed meeting many new and friendly people.
Yvonne Claypool
Northern Kretsstevne Draws Large Crowd
The Sons of Norway Northern California Kretsstevne on Labor Day weekend at Camp Norge in Alta drew one of the largest crowds in recent years. More than 200 folks of all ages attended, staying in tents, motor homes, campers and cabins.
A special guest this year was Cindy Olson, Foundation Director of Sons of Norway, who flew in from Minneapolis to lead several craft activities for kids. Cindy is co-originator of the Sons of Norway “Barnas Norsk Klubb,” a manual/program of Norwegian crafts, songs and language activities for youth directors. She also gave a presentation on the programs of the Foundation.
Also providing traditional crafts for kids were Penny Joseph Knutsen, teaching rosemaling, and Judith Vinje, inkle weaving and other fiber crafts (which drew in several adults as well.)
Other activities included bingo, campfires, horseshoe tournaments, games and contests for children, swimming, Scandinavian vendors, and dancing. The weekend’s highpoint was the long-awaited dedication of new Heritage Hall Saturday evening, with a pig roast and all the trimmings.
About 20 young folk, who had attended Camp Trollfjell, Language and Heritage Camp held every summer at Camp Norge, participated in Kretsstevne festivities, with a teen dance of their own, and performing Norwegian folk songs at the Sunday afternoon cultural gathering.
Norway again rated top country to live in.
Norway has again been rated as the best country in the world to live in on the United Nations Development Index. Australia is second on the UNDP ranking list, and Iceland third.
All the Nordic countries are found among the top 20 nations on the ranking list. Sweden is 7th, Finland 12th and Denmark 16th.
France rejoined the top 10 countries after dropping down for one year, while Luxembourg fell from the top 10.
The ranking among the 182 nations is based on life expectancy, level of education, and gross national product (GNP) per inhabitant.
The Norway Post – 10/5/2009
Traveling with Amtrak
On June 30, my first day as a retiree, I went to the travel agent to get tickets for a trip I had been thinking about for some time. I wanted to travel to Portland, Maine and Portland, Oregon, by train. I have not done much traveling in the states and I thought this would be a good start.
The train left Union Station in Los Angeles on August 14, and arrived in Chicago on the 16th . I spent two days sightseeing there then took the train to Boston, and on to Portland. My cousin was waiting for me at the station and we drove to her home on Deer Isle. The house was their summer cottage but it has now been winterized and they live there year round. The location is fantastic, the weather was gorgeous and I spent five wonderful days there.
I took another train back to Chicago, then took the Empire Builder, which goes across the northern states to Portland and Seattle. My brother waiting for me at the Portland station and he showed me the city. For the next few days, while he was working, I had his car and was able to explore. From Portland, I took the Coast Starlight to Los Angeles.
I had bedrooms on all the trains except between Boston and Portland, when I had a seat in business class. I was impressed with Amtrak – the attendants were friendly and helpful, the food was good and I enjoyed the community meals, visiting with other travelers.
Our country is gorgeous – and so varied. From the trains, I saw desert, prairie, mountains and rivers. There were isolated houses, farms, ranches, villages and cities. I enjoyed my three week vacation – and I was happy to get home.
Margaret Shuler
HARALD ULRIK SVERDRUP (1888-1957)
PART I
With all the talk today about climate change and global warming, and with more than two thirds of the earth’s surface covered by water, scientific investigations of ocean currents and temperatures are proceeding at an increasing pace all around the globe. More than any other scientist, Norwegian-born Harald Ulrik Sverdrup, is regarded as the founder of modern physical oceanography.
Sverdrup was part of a prominent Norwegian family, active over several generations in the church, in government, and in education. During his younger years his religious upbringing created conflicts with his scientific interests, with the latter ultimately prevailing. Entering the University of Oslo in 1908, he was initially involved in the study of astronomy, but soon expanded into meteorology and physical geography. It became readily apparent during those early years that his future as an outstanding scientist was assured.
While pursuing advanced studies at the University, he was selected in 1911 as an assistant to the prominent meteorologist Vilelm Bjerknes in Bergen. He later accompanied his mentor to the University of Leipzig, where Bjerknes founded and served as the first director of the Geophysical Institute. It was during his three and a half years in Germany, from early 1913 to August 1917, that Sverdrup completed his work on North Atlantic trade winds, for which he received his doctorate from the University in Oslo.
The famed Norwegian explorer, Roald Amundsen, appointed Sverdrup as chief scientist for the multi-year north polar expedition, aboard the Maud. Departing Norway in 1918, the expedition lasted for a total of seven years. During that period, in 1921-22, while the ship was frozen fast in the Arctic ice, Sverdrup was able to spend ten months continuing his research at the Carnegie Institution in Washington. Finally, in December 1925 he returned to his native Norway after an absence of more than seven years.
In 1926 Sverdrup was named to succeed his former mentor, Wilelm Bjerknes, as Professor of Meteorology in Bergen, a position he was to hold for several years. However, during that period he returned in 1925-26 and again in 1930-31 to the Carnegie Institution in Washington for further work on data collected during his years aboard the Maud and in later explorations in the far north. On his trips to this country he also visited several universities and attended scientific meetings, thus becoming widely known among scientists here as well as abroad. In 1931 Sverdrup was again involved in studies in the Arctic as scientific leader of another polar expedition, and a few years later he spent two months making observations and compiling data in the snowfields on Spitsbergen, 400 miles from Norwegian mainland and within a few hundred miles of the North Pole.
From all indications Sverdrup was secure and satisfied in his position at the Geophysical Institute in Bergen, especially given opportunities to pursue field research and to travel for meetings with scientists in other countries. He had married in 1928 and adopted the daughter of his wife as his own. Family and friends were legion. He was well compensated and given considerable freedom to pursue projects of special interest and potential. Having turned down a number of invitations and opportunities, it was widely assumed in the United States that he could not be drawn away from his native land. And yet, that is exactly what happened when he was named Director of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, on the coast of Southern California, a few miles north of San Diego.
However, in Sverdrup’s mind this was not to be a permanent move. He stipulated that he would serve for three years only, contingent upon being granted a three-year leave of absence from his position in Bergen. The University of California, of which the Scripps Institution was a part, and the authorities in Bergen agreed to this arrangement, and Sverdrup assumed his new position in 1936. At the time the Institution, which was established in 1905; was grossly underfunded and fairly limited in its approach to oceanographic research. As a former director of the Institution some years later described it when Sverdrup took over, the Institution was “a small rather remote and dusty marine station,” with very little support from the University, which appeared to regard it as “an irregular outpost.” Local citizens spoke of Scripps as an “intellectual shantytown” and the so-called cottages provided for the staff were described as little more than “dusty shacks.”
However, with strong support from University President Robert Gordon Sproul, Sverdrup was able to expand the financial resources of the Institution, as well as its curriculum and research activity. In particular he was able to obtain a research vessel for deep water research; previously, research was limited to the coastal waters. And perhaps more importantly, he broadened the teaching program from a primary emphasis on physics and biology to embrace physical oceanography, including meteorology, geophysics, and terrestrial magnetism. In the process Scripps became truly a research institution as well as a superb teaching environment. Largely as a result of the innovations and emphases introduced by Sverdrup and enhanced by his successors, Scripps today ranks as the premiere institution for oceanographic research in the world.
What was initially contemplated as a three-year commitment extended for a total of twelve years, and Sverdrup did not return to Norway until several years later. With the outbreak of war in Europe in 1939, the Geophysical Institute in Bergen extended his leave of absence for two additional years, and Sverdrup planned to resume his position there in 1941. The invasion of Norway in April 1940 made the prospects of an early return to his homeland very bleak, and in June 1941, Sverdrup, his wife, and his daughter all applied to become citizens of the United States and remain in this country indefinitely.
Beginning in the late 1930’s and continuing for nearly a decade, scientists at the Scripps Institution, including Sverdrup, were extensively involved in various projects relating to the war effort. These ranged from the underwater detection of German submarines, then creating havoc on merchant shipping around the world, to the studies of ocean currents and wave actions to determine the best times for amphibious landings on the beaches in North Africa, Normandy, and the Pacific Islands. In Part II of this article on Harald Ulrik Sverdrup we will discuss his activities and experiences here in the United States during World War II.
Richard C. Gilman
Pasadena, California
Fall Recruitment Blitz
Sons of Norway has announced a recruitment program. Starting on September 15th, lodges have three months to recruit new members to win a $500 prize.
Lodges will be divided into two categories based on size. All dues-paying, new members that lodge members recruit between September 15 and December 15 will count toward this contest. Two lodges—one from the small category and one from the large category—that have the greatest percentage of growth will each receive $500, to be spent as the lodge wishes.
Applications must be from new, dues-paying members and must be received at Sons of Norway Headquarters by December 15th. For complete details, please visit www.sonsofnorway.com.
Edvard Grieg Lodge #6-074
Board of Officers
President Jo Ness 818-249-8102
JNess2619@sbcglobal.net
Vice President Vacant
Secretary Mim Johnson 626-574-9550
oviere@msn.com
Asst. Secretary Elaine Lundby 818-848-4869
Membership Secretary Virginia Paulson 323-254-2060
paulsonx@sbcglobal.net
Treasurer Margaret Shuler 626-303-6465
alsvid1@hotmail.com
Social Directors Vacant
Social Committee Peg Chereek 818-241-6773
Yvonne Claypool 213-748-5612
Connie Guritz 818-249-3014
Kristen Guritz 818-249-3014
Tina Hartney 818-957-1294
Carl Voien 909-596-6339
Eileen Wirtz 818-848-1552
epwirtz@earthlink.net
Cultural Director Cara Clove 818-249-7371
caraclove@earthlink.net
Editor Margaret Shuler 626-303-6465
Publicity Jo Ness 818-249-8102
Historian Pat Savoie 626-794-8806
patriciasavoie@sbcglobal.net
Youth Director Judith Gabriel Vinje 818-563-2526
JGabriel@thegrid.net
Sunshine Astrid Omdal 626-799-8211
Trustees Amon Johnson 626-574-9550
Carl Voien 909-596-6339
Marshal Milton Paulson 323-254-2060
Musician Shelly Baum 626-797-8586
Foundation Director Dorothy Bakken 818-244-2997
dartbakken@charter.net
Librarian Fran Quick 818-507-6224
Zone 5 Director Eric Herem 805-480-0937
eherem@verizon.net
Insurance Representative Dennis Burreson 800-448-2499
EDVARD GRIEG LODGE WEB SITE
www.edvardgrieglodge.com
Dan Christensen, webmaster
6TH DISTRICT WEB SITE
www.sofn6.com
Happy Halloween
KALENDAREN
Saturday, October 24
Lefse Party
Tuesday, November 3
Board Meeting
Tuesday, December 1
Board Meeting
Saturday, December 12
Julebord
Halloween in Norway
Celebrating Halloween is a new tradition Norway. As recently as the 1990s the holiday was almost unheard of.
When “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” was translated to Norwegian the Great Pumpkin became the Old Man of Olsok. There are many theories as to how Halloween came to the country. Some believe that American candy companies marketed it, while others believe that it had something to do with American comic books.
The celebration in Norway resembles that in the US with a few exceptions. Children say “knask eller knep” or “dig eller deng” and both phrases have about the same meaning as “trick or treat.” Sometimes the “trick” part is taken a little too seriously. It’s not unusual to read about vandalism or egging after the holiday and many Norwegians find it annoying to have so many people coming to their doors. Because the holiday is relatively new, the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten printed a few tips on how to celebrate properly, among them:
Only October 31st is Halloween. (evidently there’s been a problem with people trick-or-treating for days afterwards)
Adults should accompany the smallest children.
Only visit neighbors and friends to avoid making people angry.
From Sons of Norway Newsletter Service
September 2009 Newsletter
EDVARD GRIEG NOTES
SONS OF NORWAY LODGE NO. 6-074
Meeting Place:
American Legion Hall
4011 La Crescenta Avenue
La Crescenta, California
EDVARD GRIEG NOTES
SEPTEMBER 2009
Ord Fra Presidenten
What a great cultural evening we had in June with a wonderful presentation of runes by Youth Director, Judith Gabriel Vinje, and Cultural Director, Cara Clove. After a very interesting and comprehensive professional program introducing us to runes, we had the opportunity to make our own rune signature or logo in clay that we took home with us. Can you imagine that? It was unique to our lodge, except it happens at youth Camp Norge where Judith and another member, Anne Marie Nassif, volunteer as teachers/leaders each year.
Oh yes, it’s nominations time for officers.Please refer to following article regarding our current needs. WE NEED YOUR HELP……
Our calendar has been revised somewhat. For example, the Torsk Dinner is postponed to February, and the lefse making will take place on October 24 instead. Please refer to the article below. PLEASE mark your calendars, we need all the help and attendees we can muster. Our cultural nights are very good these days…thanks to the presentations by our own talented members. Takk. I love Edvard Grieg Lodge and hope others love it enough to help develop our exciting future.
Fraternally, Jo
Nominations of Officers
It is time for the nomination of officers. What we really need are:
Vice President: To assist our Membership Secretary in recruiting new members. This is someone who believes in our culture and is willing to put forth effort to gain membership.
Our Home Office offers a strong support system for a VP to appeal to new members. Our own Board is a wonderful backup system for any new officer.
Social Director: we have a fine social committee already in place. We just need leadership, with the fabulous help and support of our Board. This person would not work alone. We need someone who loves to organize parties with a group of committed helpers.
Public Relations: need someone who LOVES writing articles and loves taking pictures to send to the media. Our media consists of Viking Magazine, local publications in Glendale, Burbank, Crescenta Valley, Pasadena and other outreaches of our membership. It’s a great entry position for young people interested in the public and private media. It looks good on documentation of one’s volunteer community experience which can be listed on the resume. The Lodge President and Board would work very closely with this person.
LODGE ACTIVITIES
BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, September 1 at 7:30 pm at the home of Fran Quick, 79 Barmore Court, Glendale. (818) 507-6224.
As usual, our Board Meetings are open to any and all who would like to join us in planning our educational cultural events and helping to take care of any business.
DINNER AND TALENT SHOW
Saturday, September 26, 2009, 6:00 pm, at the American Legion Hall. Pot Luck Dinner and Talent Show Extraordinaire.
Tina Hartney, Social Committee Member, has volunteered to chair this event. We are looking for anyone who can sing, dance, read, act, play an instrument, tell jokes (get those Ole and Lena jokes out), do a skit, be silly and fun, there may be Broadway songs, Tahitian dance, piano solos, whatever. Respond to Tina at 818 957-1294
BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, October 6 at 7:30 pm. at the home of Judith Gabriel Vinje, 1529 Edison Blvd., Burbank. (818) 563-2526.
LEFSE PARTY
October 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the American Legion Hall. This was the scheduled date for the Torsk Dinner which will be held in February 2010.
We will be making lefse for the Julebord and for sale. Already orders for lefse have come in.
It’s a very popular thing for Jul as you all know. Our Lefse Party is a family affair, everyone can help and learn all the steps to its making. FYI, Cost per package of 3 rounds is $7.00, commensurate with the price changes that other lodges have made recently. Our current #1 fund raiser is sale of lefse, did you know that? Please help us by buying several packages.
Gratulerer Med Dagen
September
2 Mary Berglund
10 Frances Quick
12 Vidar Bech
13 Janet Couch
16 Anne Laity
18 Leona Branch
18 Vesta Clinton
24 Donna Larson
God Bedring/Get Well Soon
Annette Besvold
DeNora Clinton
Bill Davis
Vernie Fletcher
Brenda Hesse
Astrid Omdal
Jean Parks
Herb Wirtz
VELKOMMEN
Marsha Carol Smith
marsha@netzero.net
TIL MINNE
Jeannette Lovold, a long-time member of Edvard Grieg Lodge, passed away on August 2. She was a loyal and valued member, and was always interested in the lodge activities though she had not been able to attend functions recently. She was very proud of her Norwegian heritage. Our condolences to Jan’s family and many friends. She will be missed.
Lodge Activities
BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, November 3 at 7:30 pm. at the home of Mim Johnson, 747 Fairview Ave., #B, Arcadia. (626) 574-9550. There will not be a Cultural Night in November because of Thanksgiving.
BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, December 1 at 7:30 p.m. at the home of Jo Ness, 2619 Fairway Ave., Montrose. 818-249-8102.
The membership is invited to enjoy a mini Jul celebration. Jo has special Jul decorations, food, including a traditional tree. Lots of goodies, candles and good time…after the meeting stuff.
JULEBORD
Saturday, December 12, 6:30 p.m. at the American Legion Hall. Annual Julebord, with youth Santa Lucia Procession (coordinated by Youth Director Judith Gabriel Vinje), songs, entertainment, election of officers, great food (including lefse) and lefse sale.
OPEN BOARD MEETING FOR THE NEW YEAR,
January 5, 2010, 7:30 pm,. Location TBA – anyone volunteer? You don’t have to be an officer to host a board meeting.
CULTURAL EVENING WITH INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS AND POTLUCK.
January 23, 2010, 6:00 pm, Stor Stas (translated means a “big deal”) for our continuing and new officers. We need to honor them. Y’all come. Message to Parents and Grandparents: We have a wonderful Youth Director and a super Cultural Director who are always thinking of and planning for our Heritage Members at the Cultural Nights.
You are the impetus for encouraging your families’ youth to become involved in their heritage. You are invited to come to any Board meeting to help us plan further. It’s a wonderful opportunity to serve your Norwegian youths’ community.
Camp Trollfjell
Two members of Edvard Grieg Lodge have been teachers/leaders at Camp Norge for a number of years, and the lodge has provided half-camperships to the children or grandchildren of Sons of Norway members. Judith Gabriel Vinje forwarded the poem on page 5. It was written by her granddaughter, Shayna Niles, (age 14), who attended Camp Trollfjell for five years and graduated last year. She wrote a poem which she asked her grandmother to read at the graduation. This was Judith’s first year teaching at the camp without Shayna.
Anne Marie Nassif sent the following message:
Another great year at Camp Norge with 50 potential upcoming Sons of Norway members. I had a wonderful time up there and I want to thank Edvard Grieg Lodge for making it possible that four of my grandchildren could attend. They had a wonderful time and cannot stop talking about it. They usually write thank you cards in the craft class with Sharon Mahnken, but as you may have heard she passed away at camp and it put us all in to shock.
Lamb and Cabbage Stew
Try out this recipe for lamb and cabbage stew, known as fårikål in Norway, to add a touch of Norway to your dinner table. Serves 10-12.
6 ½ lbs.sliced lamb shoulder, neck, or breast on the bone
6 ½ lbs cabbage, in large wedges
salt
1 tbsp black peppercorns
1 quart boiling water
2/3 cup flour
1/2 cup cold water
In a wide, heavy pot, layer the meat with the cabbage, sprinkling each layer with salt and peppercorns. Add boiling water.
Bring to a boil and simmer until the meat is tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Season with salt and pepper.
The stock should be quite peppery. Stir the flour into the cold water, then stir into the pot to thicken. Bring to a boil.
Serve with boiled potatoes.
-The Norwegian Kitchen
Edvard Grieg Lodge #6-074
Board of Officers
President Jo Ness 818-249-8102
JNess2619@sbcglobal.net
Vice President Vacant
Secretary Mim Johnson 626-574-9550
oviere@msn.com
Asst. Secretary Elaine Lundby 818-848-4869
Membership Secretary Virginia Paulson 323-254-2060
paulsonx@sbcglobal.net
Treasurer Margaret Shuler 626-303-6465
alsvid1@hotmail.com
Social Directors Vacant
Social Committee Peg Chereek 818-241-6773
Yvonne Claypool 213-748-5612
Connie Guritz 818-249-3014
Kristen Guritz 818-249-3014
Tina Hartney 818-957-1294
Carl Voien 909-596-6339
Eileen Wirtz 818-848-1552
epwirtz@earthlink.net
Cultural Director Cara Clove 818-249-7371
caraclove@earthlink.net
Editor Margaret Shuler 626-303-6465
Publicity Jo Ness 818-249-8102
Historian Pat Savoie 626-794-8806
patriciasavoie@sbcglobal.net
Youth Director Judith Gabriel Vinje 818-563-2526
JGabriel@thegrid.net
Sunshine Astrid Omdal 626-799-8211
Trustees Amon Johnson 626-574-9550
Carl Voien 909-596-6339
Marshal Milton Paulson 323-254-2060
Musician Shelly Baum 626-797-8586
Foundation Director Dorothy Bakken 818-244-2997
dartbakken@charter.net
Librarian Fran Quick 818-507-6224
Zone 5 Director Eric Herem 805-480-0937
eherem@verizon.net
Insurance Representative Dennis Burreson 800-448-2499
EDVARD GRIEG LODGE WEB SITE
www.edvardgrieglodge.com
Dan Christensen, webmaster
6TH DISTRICT WEB SITE
www.sofn6.com
Norwegian Community Saddened by Passings.
The California Norwegian-American community recently mourned the loss of two of its most active members, with memorial services both held Sunday, August 2, in different parts of the state.
Sharon Mahnken, 60, died suddenly July 24 at Camp Norge in Alta, CA where she was completing the second week teaching crafts at Camp Trollfjell, the District Six Language and Heritage Camp. Sharon was a longtime member of Sons of Norway, Daughters of Norway and the RV Carvers.
She was a beloved aunt and woodworker extraordinaire, who gave a memorable demonstration of her craft for Edvard Grieg Lodge a few years ago.
She was a member of Roald Amundsen Lodge Sacramento No. 6-48. She had spent a month in Norway, returning just before camp started. On her trip to Norway, she had acquired a bunad, in which she was attired in her final rest in funeral services held Aug. 2 in Fair Oaks, CA with interment in San Mateo.
Memorial donations can be made to the Sons of Norway Recreation Center, Camp Norge in her name. There was no place that she loved so well as Camp Norge.
Another loss in the Norwegian-American community is that of Dagfinn Gunnarshaug, whose services were held Aug. 2 at Westlake Lutheran Church in Westlake Village.
Dag, 76, was honorary vice consul-general of Norway in Los Angeles. He was vice-president of the Scandinavian American Cultural Historical Foundation, a member of Norsemen Lodge Thousand Oaks No.6-091, and president of the president of the Norwegian American Chamber of Commerce Los Angeles chapter.
A native of Norway, he was the head of Norscan, which imports medical products from Norway to the United States. His tireless efforts on behalf of the Norwegian and Norwegian-American community will be sorely missed.
The family requests that donations in Dag's memory be given to the Scandinavian American Cultural and Historical Foundation (SACHF).
Donations may be mailed to Scandinavian American Cultural and Historical Foundation, 60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360.
A PLACE I CALL HOME
By Shayna Niles
Ever since I was just a little girl,
I have gone to this place, a whole new little world
An escape from the city
Polluted LA
A place that I know that is here to stay
I have met so many people
Had so many laughs
Unforgettable memories
Changing each other’s lives leading to new paths
These amazing people are my true friends forever
I will never forget them or this place whatsoever
Cherishing every moment
Every smile
Every snapshot of our life when spent together
Thinking of our memories is like a movie that I wish would never end
A picture is worth a million words
But my love for these people and this place is more than you could ever imagine
Norwegian and proud
As we sing our camp songs
Growing older, growing wiser always being
Young and innocent,
As we’re led into this whole new little world
SONS OF NORWAY - LODGE #74
EDVARD GRIEG "NOTES"
Margaret Shuler, Editor
147 North Fifth Avenue
Monrovia, CA 91016
Tuesday, September 1
Board Meeting
Saturday, September 26
Dinner and Talent Show
Tuesday, October 6
Board Meeting
Saturday, October 24
Lefse Party
Tuesday, November 3
Board Meeting
Tuesday, December 1
Board Meeting
Saturday, December 12
Julebord
The Month of September
To many of our Norwegian friends, September is often known as the month of fish, fiskemǻned, for it is when there is good herring to be caught. In Viking times though, the latter half of September and early October was known as harvest month, haustmǻned, for night frost and snow are lurking on the horizon.
Legend has it that September’s two dangerous days are the 1st and 18th. If you scold anyone on these days, it is supposed to bring you great despair.
From Hva dagene vet
SONS OF NORWAY LODGE NO. 6-074
Meeting Place:
American Legion Hall
4011 La Crescenta Avenue
La Crescenta, California
EDVARD GRIEG NOTES
SEPTEMBER 2009
Ord Fra Presidenten
What a great cultural evening we had in June with a wonderful presentation of runes by Youth Director, Judith Gabriel Vinje, and Cultural Director, Cara Clove. After a very interesting and comprehensive professional program introducing us to runes, we had the opportunity to make our own rune signature or logo in clay that we took home with us. Can you imagine that? It was unique to our lodge, except it happens at youth Camp Norge where Judith and another member, Anne Marie Nassif, volunteer as teachers/leaders each year.
Oh yes, it’s nominations time for officers.Please refer to following article regarding our current needs. WE NEED YOUR HELP……
Our calendar has been revised somewhat. For example, the Torsk Dinner is postponed to February, and the lefse making will take place on October 24 instead. Please refer to the article below. PLEASE mark your calendars, we need all the help and attendees we can muster. Our cultural nights are very good these days…thanks to the presentations by our own talented members. Takk. I love Edvard Grieg Lodge and hope others love it enough to help develop our exciting future.
Fraternally, Jo
Nominations of Officers
It is time for the nomination of officers. What we really need are:
Vice President: To assist our Membership Secretary in recruiting new members. This is someone who believes in our culture and is willing to put forth effort to gain membership.
Our Home Office offers a strong support system for a VP to appeal to new members. Our own Board is a wonderful backup system for any new officer.
Social Director: we have a fine social committee already in place. We just need leadership, with the fabulous help and support of our Board. This person would not work alone. We need someone who loves to organize parties with a group of committed helpers.
Public Relations: need someone who LOVES writing articles and loves taking pictures to send to the media. Our media consists of Viking Magazine, local publications in Glendale, Burbank, Crescenta Valley, Pasadena and other outreaches of our membership. It’s a great entry position for young people interested in the public and private media. It looks good on documentation of one’s volunteer community experience which can be listed on the resume. The Lodge President and Board would work very closely with this person.
LODGE ACTIVITIES
BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, September 1 at 7:30 pm at the home of Fran Quick, 79 Barmore Court, Glendale. (818) 507-6224.
As usual, our Board Meetings are open to any and all who would like to join us in planning our educational cultural events and helping to take care of any business.
DINNER AND TALENT SHOW
Saturday, September 26, 2009, 6:00 pm, at the American Legion Hall. Pot Luck Dinner and Talent Show Extraordinaire.
Tina Hartney, Social Committee Member, has volunteered to chair this event. We are looking for anyone who can sing, dance, read, act, play an instrument, tell jokes (get those Ole and Lena jokes out), do a skit, be silly and fun, there may be Broadway songs, Tahitian dance, piano solos, whatever. Respond to Tina at 818 957-1294
BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, October 6 at 7:30 pm. at the home of Judith Gabriel Vinje, 1529 Edison Blvd., Burbank. (818) 563-2526.
LEFSE PARTY
October 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the American Legion Hall. This was the scheduled date for the Torsk Dinner which will be held in February 2010.
We will be making lefse for the Julebord and for sale. Already orders for lefse have come in.
It’s a very popular thing for Jul as you all know. Our Lefse Party is a family affair, everyone can help and learn all the steps to its making. FYI, Cost per package of 3 rounds is $7.00, commensurate with the price changes that other lodges have made recently. Our current #1 fund raiser is sale of lefse, did you know that? Please help us by buying several packages.
Gratulerer Med Dagen
September
2 Mary Berglund
10 Frances Quick
12 Vidar Bech
13 Janet Couch
16 Anne Laity
18 Leona Branch
18 Vesta Clinton
24 Donna Larson
God Bedring/Get Well Soon
Annette Besvold
DeNora Clinton
Bill Davis
Vernie Fletcher
Brenda Hesse
Astrid Omdal
Jean Parks
Herb Wirtz
VELKOMMEN
Marsha Carol Smith
marsha@netzero.net
TIL MINNE
Jeannette Lovold, a long-time member of Edvard Grieg Lodge, passed away on August 2. She was a loyal and valued member, and was always interested in the lodge activities though she had not been able to attend functions recently. She was very proud of her Norwegian heritage. Our condolences to Jan’s family and many friends. She will be missed.
Lodge Activities
BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, November 3 at 7:30 pm. at the home of Mim Johnson, 747 Fairview Ave., #B, Arcadia. (626) 574-9550. There will not be a Cultural Night in November because of Thanksgiving.
BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, December 1 at 7:30 p.m. at the home of Jo Ness, 2619 Fairway Ave., Montrose. 818-249-8102.
The membership is invited to enjoy a mini Jul celebration. Jo has special Jul decorations, food, including a traditional tree. Lots of goodies, candles and good time…after the meeting stuff.
JULEBORD
Saturday, December 12, 6:30 p.m. at the American Legion Hall. Annual Julebord, with youth Santa Lucia Procession (coordinated by Youth Director Judith Gabriel Vinje), songs, entertainment, election of officers, great food (including lefse) and lefse sale.
OPEN BOARD MEETING FOR THE NEW YEAR,
January 5, 2010, 7:30 pm,. Location TBA – anyone volunteer? You don’t have to be an officer to host a board meeting.
CULTURAL EVENING WITH INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS AND POTLUCK.
January 23, 2010, 6:00 pm, Stor Stas (translated means a “big deal”) for our continuing and new officers. We need to honor them. Y’all come. Message to Parents and Grandparents: We have a wonderful Youth Director and a super Cultural Director who are always thinking of and planning for our Heritage Members at the Cultural Nights.
You are the impetus for encouraging your families’ youth to become involved in their heritage. You are invited to come to any Board meeting to help us plan further. It’s a wonderful opportunity to serve your Norwegian youths’ community.
Camp Trollfjell
Two members of Edvard Grieg Lodge have been teachers/leaders at Camp Norge for a number of years, and the lodge has provided half-camperships to the children or grandchildren of Sons of Norway members. Judith Gabriel Vinje forwarded the poem on page 5. It was written by her granddaughter, Shayna Niles, (age 14), who attended Camp Trollfjell for five years and graduated last year. She wrote a poem which she asked her grandmother to read at the graduation. This was Judith’s first year teaching at the camp without Shayna.
Anne Marie Nassif sent the following message:
Another great year at Camp Norge with 50 potential upcoming Sons of Norway members. I had a wonderful time up there and I want to thank Edvard Grieg Lodge for making it possible that four of my grandchildren could attend. They had a wonderful time and cannot stop talking about it. They usually write thank you cards in the craft class with Sharon Mahnken, but as you may have heard she passed away at camp and it put us all in to shock.
Lamb and Cabbage Stew
Try out this recipe for lamb and cabbage stew, known as fårikål in Norway, to add a touch of Norway to your dinner table. Serves 10-12.
6 ½ lbs.sliced lamb shoulder, neck, or breast on the bone
6 ½ lbs cabbage, in large wedges
salt
1 tbsp black peppercorns
1 quart boiling water
2/3 cup flour
1/2 cup cold water
In a wide, heavy pot, layer the meat with the cabbage, sprinkling each layer with salt and peppercorns. Add boiling water.
Bring to a boil and simmer until the meat is tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Season with salt and pepper.
The stock should be quite peppery. Stir the flour into the cold water, then stir into the pot to thicken. Bring to a boil.
Serve with boiled potatoes.
-The Norwegian Kitchen
Edvard Grieg Lodge #6-074
Board of Officers
President Jo Ness 818-249-8102
JNess2619@sbcglobal.net
Vice President Vacant
Secretary Mim Johnson 626-574-9550
oviere@msn.com
Asst. Secretary Elaine Lundby 818-848-4869
Membership Secretary Virginia Paulson 323-254-2060
paulsonx@sbcglobal.net
Treasurer Margaret Shuler 626-303-6465
alsvid1@hotmail.com
Social Directors Vacant
Social Committee Peg Chereek 818-241-6773
Yvonne Claypool 213-748-5612
Connie Guritz 818-249-3014
Kristen Guritz 818-249-3014
Tina Hartney 818-957-1294
Carl Voien 909-596-6339
Eileen Wirtz 818-848-1552
epwirtz@earthlink.net
Cultural Director Cara Clove 818-249-7371
caraclove@earthlink.net
Editor Margaret Shuler 626-303-6465
Publicity Jo Ness 818-249-8102
Historian Pat Savoie 626-794-8806
patriciasavoie@sbcglobal.net
Youth Director Judith Gabriel Vinje 818-563-2526
JGabriel@thegrid.net
Sunshine Astrid Omdal 626-799-8211
Trustees Amon Johnson 626-574-9550
Carl Voien 909-596-6339
Marshal Milton Paulson 323-254-2060
Musician Shelly Baum 626-797-8586
Foundation Director Dorothy Bakken 818-244-2997
dartbakken@charter.net
Librarian Fran Quick 818-507-6224
Zone 5 Director Eric Herem 805-480-0937
eherem@verizon.net
Insurance Representative Dennis Burreson 800-448-2499
EDVARD GRIEG LODGE WEB SITE
www.edvardgrieglodge.com
Dan Christensen, webmaster
6TH DISTRICT WEB SITE
www.sofn6.com
Norwegian Community Saddened by Passings.
The California Norwegian-American community recently mourned the loss of two of its most active members, with memorial services both held Sunday, August 2, in different parts of the state.
Sharon Mahnken, 60, died suddenly July 24 at Camp Norge in Alta, CA where she was completing the second week teaching crafts at Camp Trollfjell, the District Six Language and Heritage Camp. Sharon was a longtime member of Sons of Norway, Daughters of Norway and the RV Carvers.
She was a beloved aunt and woodworker extraordinaire, who gave a memorable demonstration of her craft for Edvard Grieg Lodge a few years ago.
She was a member of Roald Amundsen Lodge Sacramento No. 6-48. She had spent a month in Norway, returning just before camp started. On her trip to Norway, she had acquired a bunad, in which she was attired in her final rest in funeral services held Aug. 2 in Fair Oaks, CA with interment in San Mateo.
Memorial donations can be made to the Sons of Norway Recreation Center, Camp Norge in her name. There was no place that she loved so well as Camp Norge.
Another loss in the Norwegian-American community is that of Dagfinn Gunnarshaug, whose services were held Aug. 2 at Westlake Lutheran Church in Westlake Village.
Dag, 76, was honorary vice consul-general of Norway in Los Angeles. He was vice-president of the Scandinavian American Cultural Historical Foundation, a member of Norsemen Lodge Thousand Oaks No.6-091, and president of the president of the Norwegian American Chamber of Commerce Los Angeles chapter.
A native of Norway, he was the head of Norscan, which imports medical products from Norway to the United States. His tireless efforts on behalf of the Norwegian and Norwegian-American community will be sorely missed.
The family requests that donations in Dag's memory be given to the Scandinavian American Cultural and Historical Foundation (SACHF).
Donations may be mailed to Scandinavian American Cultural and Historical Foundation, 60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360.
A PLACE I CALL HOME
By Shayna Niles
Ever since I was just a little girl,
I have gone to this place, a whole new little world
An escape from the city
Polluted LA
A place that I know that is here to stay
I have met so many people
Had so many laughs
Unforgettable memories
Changing each other’s lives leading to new paths
These amazing people are my true friends forever
I will never forget them or this place whatsoever
Cherishing every moment
Every smile
Every snapshot of our life when spent together
Thinking of our memories is like a movie that I wish would never end
A picture is worth a million words
But my love for these people and this place is more than you could ever imagine
Norwegian and proud
As we sing our camp songs
Growing older, growing wiser always being
Young and innocent,
As we’re led into this whole new little world
SONS OF NORWAY - LODGE #74
EDVARD GRIEG "NOTES"
Margaret Shuler, Editor
147 North Fifth Avenue
Monrovia, CA 91016
Tuesday, September 1
Board Meeting
Saturday, September 26
Dinner and Talent Show
Tuesday, October 6
Board Meeting
Saturday, October 24
Lefse Party
Tuesday, November 3
Board Meeting
Tuesday, December 1
Board Meeting
Saturday, December 12
Julebord
The Month of September
To many of our Norwegian friends, September is often known as the month of fish, fiskemǻned, for it is when there is good herring to be caught. In Viking times though, the latter half of September and early October was known as harvest month, haustmǻned, for night frost and snow are lurking on the horizon.
Legend has it that September’s two dangerous days are the 1st and 18th. If you scold anyone on these days, it is supposed to bring you great despair.
From Hva dagene vet
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