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