Sons of Norway Edvard Grieg Lodge 6-074
FEBRUARY 2009 BULLETIN
Ord Fra Presidenten
3flag.jpgThe February 28th family event will be a Silent Auction with dinner and
fun. Please save your good, clean, unused or nearly unused articles for
our always successful fund raiser. I have heard some members mention
the boxes of things they plan to bring to the auction. I am sure we all
can find some treasures to take home.
Another activity coming up is the annual event at Shakers Restaurant in
Glendale. This is a nice chance to visit with members of other lodges
and support the Language Heritage Camp at Camp Norge. A number of
children and grandchildren of Edvard Grieg members have enjoyed the
camp.
Thanks for your support and attendance at our meetings and events.
Fraternally, Jo
tree.jpgARBOR DAY
For many years, Edvard Grieg Lodge has participated in Glendale’s Arbor
Day Program, donating a tree in honor or – or in memory of – a member.
The program will be held on Tuesday, March 3 at Casa Adobe de San
Rafael Park, 1330 Dorothy Drive, Glendale. Coffee social: 10:00 a.m.
Program: 10:30 a.m. The awardees will be given seedlings at the
program; the trees will be planted later.
SHAKERS RESTAURANT
The annual fundraiser for the Southland Past Presidents Club will be on
Tuesday, March 17 at the Shakers Restaurant, 801 N. Central, Glendale.
(Phone: 818-246-4994)
Bring your neighbors, friends, relatives. You DO NOT have to be
Norwegian for it to count. All you have to do is tell the waiter you
are with Sons of Norway.
For the hours between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m., we will receive a percent of
the table checks, and also of bakery sales and take out. The money
received for this project is used to provide camperships for children
of the 6th District to go to the Camp Norge Language/ Heritage Camp in
July.
Gratulerer Med Dagen
bdaycake.jpgFebruary
7 Chuck Ackerknecht
7 Larry Hovland
9 Vernie Fletcher
9 Ora Kennedy
11 William Parks
13 Carolyn Baldwin
God Bedring Get Well Soon
Annette Besvold
Bjørghild Brummenes
Bill Davis
Amon Johnson
LaVonne Kerfoot
Henrik Lovdokken
Yumiko Lovdokken
Jan Lovold
Lenora Overby
Herb Wirtz
TIL MINNE
Kjell Svanoe, a long time member of Edvard Grieg Lodge, passed away on
January 11 in Yakima, Washington. For many years, he was the lodge’s
Sports Director and was active behind-the-scenes. He and his wife moved
to Yakima several years ago. Our condolences to Kjell’s family and
friends.
LODGE ACTIVITIES
POTLUCK AND SILENT AUCTION
Saturday, February 28 at the American Legion Hall. Happy 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, March 3 at 7:30 pm at the home of
Tina and Patrick Hartney, 2757 Frances Avenue, La Crescenta, (818) 957-1294
POTLUCK AND CULTURAL EVENING
Saturday, March 28, at the American Legion Hall. Happy Hour – 5:30 pm, dinner – 6:30 pm.
Make this a Souper-Supper, or bring a salad, casserole or dessert.
There will be initiation of new members, and Patricia Savoie will give
a presentation on Norwegian writers.
BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, April 7 at 7:30 pm at the home of
Eileen and Herb Wirtz, 425 N. Orchard Drive,
Burbank. (818) 848-1552
HAWAIIAN NIGHT
Saturday, April 25 at the American Legion Hall. Happy hour – 5:30 pm,
dinner – 6:30 p.m. Roast pork dinner, with trimmings - $7. Cara Clove
will give a presentation on Norwegians in Hawaii, and the Kealoha
Dancers will entertain.
POTLUCK AND CULTURAL EVENING
Saturday, May 23 at 6:30 p.m. at the American Legion Hall. Happy hour –
5:30 pm, dinner – 6:30 p.m. Bring open-faced sandwiches, salads or a
favorite casserole. Following the brief meeting, there will be a
Norwegian Sing-a-Long.
BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, June 2 at 7:30 pm at the home of
Margaret Shuler, 147 N. 5th Avenue, Monrovia. 626-564-2343
POTLUCK AND CULTURAL EVENING
Saturday, June 27, at the American Legion Hall. There will be more information in the next issue of the Notes.
women_men_bunad.jpgSCANDINAVIAN FESTIVAL
The Scandinavian Festival will be on Saturday, April 18 and Sunday,
April 19, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at California Lutheran University, 60
W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks.
For more information, contact the Scandinavian Cultural Center at (805)
241-0391 or (805) 241-1051 or www.callutheran.edu/scancenter
NEWS FROM THE EDITOR
I received a note from Joan Gorges who was a member of Edvard Grieg for
many years. She moved to Arizona some time ago but has kept in touch.
She sends greetings to members of the lodge.
Shirley Peterson also sent greetings to Edvard Grieg members, and some stamps for Tubfrim.
Volunteers rally to put Norwegian records online
On Feb.2, 2009 FamilySearch International, the University of Tromsø,
and DIS-Norge announced a joint initiative to transcribe the 1875
Norway Census for free online access. It is the only Norway census that
has not been indexed and the first to be tackled as a global,
Internet-based effort. Volunteers who can read Norwegian are being
sought to complete the project at www.familysearch.org.
The 1875 Norway Census is valuable to researchers because it was the
last national census taken just before the great Norwegian immigration
period that started in 1878. Researchers will not have to wait much
longer for convenient, online access to the historic census.
FamilySearch digitized the census images and is using its Web-based
transcription tool and volunteers to create the automated index. The
University of Tromsø and DIS-Norge are sponsoring the project, but many
more online volunteers are needed to transcribe the 1.6 million
individuals found in the tens of thousands of census sheets.
Although FamilySearch has done other major international indexing
projects, this is the first one for Norway. “The biggest challenge is
the Norwegian handwriting and names,” said Jeff Svare, collection
management specialist. “Most of FamilySearch’s current volunteers are
not skilled at reading Norwegian names or handwriting. Native Norwegian
volunteers would be much more effective and efficient at transcribing
the required information from the census sheets,” concluded Svare.
Norway.com 2/2/09
Edvard Grieg Lodge #6-074
Board of Officers
President Jo Ness 818-249-8102 JNess2619@sbcglobal.net
Vice President Vacant
Counselor LaVonne Kerfoot 909-599-3052 LaVonne@kerfoot.com
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 WEBSITE
www.edvardgrieglodge.com
Dan Christensen, Webmaster
webmaster@edvardgrieglodge.com
6TH DISTRICT WEBSITE
www.sofn6.com
SONS OF NORWAY HQ WEBSITE
www.sonsofnorway.com
LEIF ERIKSON IN LOS ANGELES
leif1.jpgIt would be interesting to know how many persons of Norwegian descent and living in the Los Angeles area
have seen the memorial to the explorer located in a grassy plot on Los Felix Boulevard, just west of Fern Dell
Drive at the Western Avenue entrance to Griffith Park.
This tribute to the Norse explorer features a larger than life
bronze bust of a young looking Leif Erikson mounted on a granite column
about seven feet in height. On the front of the column is a rectangular
bronze tablet depicting a Viking ship under sail and a star in the upper
right hand corner. Beneath the tablet and carved in the granite column
are the words “Leif Erikson/Explorer/Landed in America/Year 2000.”
It was presented to the city in October 1936 as a gift of the Nordic
Civic League, one of the many Scandinavian organizations active in
Southern California at the time. The dedicatory ceremony, on October 9,
was attended by more than three hundred persons and described in a
newspaper account as “impressive.”
Among those participating in the ceremony was Los Angeles Mayor Frank Shaw, who accepted the
monument on behalf of the city from Captain Haakon H. Hammer, president
of the Nordic Civic League. Others participants included an author, an
historian, and a high school student, who pulled the cord unveiling the
monument. Messages of congratulations were received from the Ministers
of Denmark and Norway and from the government of Iceland.
Also present and introduced to the audience was the artist who created the Erikson bust. Nina
Saemundsson was a native of Iceland and said to be a direct descendant
of Leif Erikson. Although regarded as her country’s first professional
female sculptor, she is perhaps better known abroad than in her own
country.
She spent a number of years in this country during the 1930s, and for a time resided in Hollywood.
Saemundsson’s bust of Erikson in Griffith Park was not her first dedicated to her illustrious ancestor.
In 1930 she participated in a competition in this country to select the best Erikson sculpture, as part of the
observance of the 1000th anniversary of Iceland’s parliament. The competition was won by Alexander Stirling
Calder, father of the better known Alexander Calder, who specialized in
mobile sculptures. In 1932 the winning sculpture was presented to the
Government of Iceland and mounted on a huge granite base in Reykjavik,
the
country’s capitol. (Another casting of the sculpture is in The Mariner’s Museum in Newport News, Virginia.)
But to return to Nina Saemundsson, she too participated in the
sculpture competition, and her small bronze statue was awarded second
prize. It depicted Erikson as standing on the bow of a Viking ship, his
right arm shielding his eyes from the sun. In the year 2000, to mark
the millennial anniversary of Erikson’s voyage to North America,
Saemundsson’s sculpture was placed on display at Leif’s birthplace,
known as Eiriksstadir.
The monument in Griffith Park is not the only Saemundsson work located in Los Angeles. In the mid-1930s,
as one of the Federal Art Projects initiated by the federal government
to provide employment for writers and artists during the Great
Depression, she executed an eight-foot black cement nude, depicting
Prometheus bringing fire to
the earth, which was dedicated in MacArthur Park in April 1935.
After spending most of her adult life abroad, and chiefly in the United States, Nina Saemundsson returned
to her native Iceland in 1955 and died there ten years later at the age of 73.
Finally, and returning to the dedication of the Erikson monument in
Griffith Park in 1936, the two principal participants in that ceremony
– Mayor Frank Shaw and Captain Haakon Hammer – both had colorful and in
part
at least questionable careers. Shaw was a consummate politician and
held elective offices in both city and county government. He served two
terms as Long Angeles Mayor, or more accurately one four-year term and
upon
re-election less than one year of a second term, before being recalled from office in September 1938 for corruption
and scandal, said to be the worst in the history of Los Angeles.
As for Captain Hammer, serving at the time as President of the Nordic League, his claim to fame is
attached almost exclusively to his association with polar explorer
Roald Amundsen. In 1921 he was employed in a Seattle firm providing
supplies and equipment for Amundsen’s second effort to reach the North
Pole from the west.
He became Amundsen’s business agent, and at times spokesman and by his own design kept himself very
much in the public eye. The basis for his being referred to as “Captain” or “Arctic explorer” or “Danish consul”
(although he was born in Denmark) are all of slender or uncertain origin.
In addition to his association with Amundsen, Hammer was engaged in
many different projects, including construction of a 50-passenger
flying boat, planning polar navigation routes between the United
States, Europe,
and Japan, and undertaking his own flight over the North Pole, none of
which ever materialized. He resided in Los Angeles for about ten years
beginning in the late 1920s, and at the time of his death in San
Francisco in 1942
he was Pacific Coast Director of the International News Service.
Richard C. Gilman
Pasadena, California
Sunken WW2 submarine to be raised
The Norwegian Government has decided that the wreck of the WW2 German
submarine U-864 which contains 65 tons of mercury, is to be raised, and
that the contaminated seabed be covered with clean sand.
The wreck, which is located off the Norwegian west coast, near Fedje,
north of Bergen, has long been considered an environmental hazard by
the local population and environmental groups.
However, experts have long disagreed on whether or not the wreck should
be raised or if it would be better to build a sarcophagus which would
isolate the mercury from the marine environment, thereby eliminating
the pollution hazard.
However, the head of the Marine Safety Directorate, Magne Roedland, disagrees. In his opinion the wreck should be raised.
He believes that the strong currents around the wreck will undermine
the sarcophagus, and result in emissions of mercury. The local
population agree, and have said the wreck must be removed.
On Thursday Fisheries and Coastal Minister Helga Pedersen announced that she had decided that the wreck be raised.
- I have given highest consideration to the insecurity felt by the
local population, as well as the concern by the fisheries industry
over possible contamination of the waters, if the wreck would just be
entombed Pedersen says to NRK.
The Norway Post – 1/30/09
FORTY NINTH ROSEMALING SEMINAR AT CAMP NORGE
pic7.jpg
April 25/26, 2009
It is time to make your reservations for the adult (18 years and over)
spring Rosemaling Seminar at Camp Norge. We will have three classes.
The teachers are Julie Anne Droivold, Kay White, and Cherly Seath. We
will be using the firehouse for classes.
We will be painting on a beautiful ten inch clock. Julie Anne is
teaching a Hallingdahl pattern with a red/orange background. . Kay is
teaching a Valdres style on a greenish/blue background with red trim.
Cherlyl Seath will be teaching the beginner’s class using a Telemark
Red Embroidery (with gold accents) on a black background. Look on the
Camp Norge Website for pictures of all three projects:
www.Campnorge.com.
Please make your room reservation with me. I develop the list of who is
in which room. You will pay for your room when you arrive at Camp. It
is not included in your class fee. Bring your current membership card.
Members pay $15 per night; guests pay $20 for dorms, plus 8% Placer
County Occupancy Tax. Only members are allowed to stay in the main
house and the cozy cabins. For people who want to room together, I need
to receive the list of names with the first reservation. RV’s are
encouraged as we have a limited number of beds. Members pay $20 per
night for up to four people per RV. Guests pay $25 per night for RV’s.
We have electrical and water, but no sewer hookups. Tents are $15 for
up to four people for members, $18 for non members. Pets are $2 per
night. Pets are not allowed in any of the buildings, pool area or
sleeping rooms at any time.
Please include your full phone number, address and lodge name and
number when registering. If you have e-mail, please include your e-mail
address. It is so much faster and cheaper if I need to talk to you. As
soon as the supply lists are available from the teachers, I will send
them as I receive your registration form and check. ABSOLUTELY NO
E-MAIL RESERVATION REQUESTS. I need the check and registration form
together. Be sure to send a self addressed stamped envelope for your
supply list and class confirmation information if you do not have
e-mail. I will not be sending you a supply list unless you send me a
self-addressed, stamped envelope or your e-mail address with your
registration form. I use Microsoft Word running on an XP program and
all attachments will be attached from that program.
The cost of the seminar will be $80 for registration which includes the
class and wood piece all base coated and ready to go, the fire hall
rent and clean up, and the meals. There will be $25 cancellation fee
for any cancellations, but absolutely no cancellations after April 5th.
Registration fees (less cancellation fee) can be refunded if you have
to cancel up to April 5 if there is someone on the waiting list who
wants your space. It is difficult for people on the waiting list to
take your place if they do not have at least three weeks to make their
plans. Melanie Souza will again do our cooking. The cost for food for
the weekend is included in the $80 registration fee. The food includes
breakfast, lunch and dinner on Saturday and breakfast and lunch on
Sunday. You were so very generous and cooperative with the cookies last
time. I do so appreciate that. We will ask just one class to bring
cookies, and will rotate those classes each time. The information will
be in your supply list letter.
My e-mail address is pennyjknudsen@sbcglobal.net. My phone number is
(916) 941-6433. Please complete the following registration form, make
your check payable to Penny (not Camp Norge) and return as soon as
possible with your stamped, self-addressed envelope for supply list if
you do not wish to receive it by e-mail, to:
Penny Joseph Knudsen, 3774 Park Drive, El Dorado Hills, California 95762
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
APRIL 25/26, 2009 ROSEMALING SEMINAR REGISTRATION FORM
Name _______________________ Phone (_____) __________ I need a room reservation: Yes_____ No _______
Address ___________________________ e-mail address ____________________ I want to room with: ______________________
City _________________ Zip __________ Name of Lodge ________________
Class I want is: Julie Anne ______ Cheryl_______ Kay_________ I am bringing my RV __________
I am enclosing $80 for registration fee for food and class. I am bringing my tent __________
My spouse and/or family will be eating with us and I enclose $30 for each _____
SONS OF NORWAY - LODGE #74
EDVARD GRIEG "NOTES"
Margaret Shuler, Editor
147 North Fifth Avenue
Monrovia, CA 91016
FEBRUARY 2009
Happy Valentine’s Day
KALENDAREN
Saturday, February 28
Dinner and Silent Auction
Tuesday, March 3
Board Meeting
Saturday, March 28
Dinner and Cultural Program
Tuesday, April 7
Board Meeting
Saturday, March 28
Hawaiian Night
Planning 250 windmills at sea in northern Norway
windmills.jpgTroms Energy is planning to build a gigantic park of 250 windmills
outside the coast of northern Norway. The total costs of the project
could be up to 2.5 billion EUR, reports Barents Observer.
The planned windmill park outside the coast of northern Norway will
produce two percent of Norway’s total energy production. That’s four
times the size of one of Norway’s largest hydro power plants in Alta.
The park shall also be able to use wave energy.
“Our goal is to be Norway’s top company on wind energy technology,”
says Oddbjørn Schei in Troms Kraft to Norwegian newspaper Nordlys.
The windmill park will occupy a large area at sea and some of the mills
will reach up to 110 meter above sea level. Norway.com 2/6/09
Sunday, November 8, 2009
January 2009 Newsletter
JANUARY 2009 BULLETIN
Ord Fra President
Godt Nytaar og God Jul. Since we did not have a December bulletin, we wish you all
the best 2009 and assume everyone had a super Christmas. We had a very
successful Julebord, our Unge Venner participated in the annual Santa Lucia
procession, guided as usual by Youth Director Judith Gabriel Vinje. We sang
around the Christmas tree (supplied by Cara Clove and Ken Putnam) with our
Musician, Shelley Baum. Our famous secret Santa Claus attended with gifts for
the kiddies. Great fun and fellowship. Lots of great food as usual. Center
pieces were supplied by Connie and Kristen Guritz who always do a really fine
job. They make the tables so colorful and fun. The lefse sale was extremely
successful. After serving and selling we had just a few packages left. Thanks to
you all.
We had a cookie making session and our usual lefse party
in November. Both were super successful. Next time come join us to learn or help
out in making lefse and cookies.
Our 2009 calendar is complete in draft form. Even now we
have changes that will be announced. For now we will publish the first few
months, but as soon as possible the entire 2009 calendar will be published in
the newsletter and on our website Edvardgrieglodge.com.
NOTE: The January 6th
board meeting will be held at my home. This is a change since the member who
planned to have it found out there was a conflict with the date. Our January
24th Family Night, 6:30 pm, will be potluck and
games…cards, boards, etc. Lots of fun for all and a fund raiser as well. Y’all
come.
The February 28th family
event will be a Silent Auction with dinner and fun. Please save your good,
clean, unused or nearly unused articles for our always successful fund raiser.
More info in next bulletin.
Thanks for your support and attendance at our 2008
meetings and events. Please continue your loyalty to our lodge and our heritage
in 2009.
Fraternally, Jo
We would appreciate getting the email addresses from
members who would like to be notified of events ahead of time. Please send them
to Jo Ness at JNess2619@sbcglobal.net and to Margaret Shuler at
alsvid1@hotmail.com
FROM THE EDITOR
There was not a December issue of Edvard Grieg Notes. I hope your holidays were happy.
Best wishes for health and happiness in the coming year.
Margaret Shuler
LODGE ACTIVITIES
BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, January 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the home of Jo Ness,
2619 Fairway Avenue, Montrose. (818) 249-8102
POTLUCK AND CARD GAMES NIGHT
Saturday, January 24 at 6:30 pm at the American Legion
Hall.
BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, February 3 at 7:30 pm at the home of
Mim and Amon Johnson, 747 Fairview Avenue, #B, Arcadia.
(626) 574-9550
DINNER AND SILENT AUCTION
Saturday, February 28 at the American Legion Hall. Happy
hour – 5:30 pm, dinner – 6:30 p.m. This could be a good time to check closets
and cupboards for items you no longer want.
BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, March 3 at 7:30 pm at the home of
Tina and Patrick Hartney, 2757 Frances Avenue, La
Crescenta, (818) 957-1294
POTLUCK AND CULTURAL EVENING
Saturday, March 28, at the American Legion Hall. Happy
Hour – 5:30 pm, dinner – 6:30 pm. Bring open-faced sandwiches, salads or a
favorite casserole. Patricia Savoie will give a presentation on Norwegian
writers.
BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, April 7 at 7:30 pm at the home of
Eileen and Herb Wirtz, 425 N. Orchard Drive,
Burbank. (818) 848-1552
DISTRICT
ACTIVITIES
Scandinavian Film Festival L.A. will be held on January
10, 11, 17, 18 at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills. There will be
films from
Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.
For details, please check
www.ScandinavianFilmFestivalLA.com
The Tenth Annual Nordic Spirit Symposium Sagas and the Viking World will be held at California
Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, on February 6-7, 2009. Please call *818)
788-4552 or e-mail seecallan@sbcglobal.net for
information and registration fees.
The Scandinavian Festival will be on Saturday, April 18
and Sunday, April 19, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at California Lutheran University,
60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks.
For more information, contact the Scandinavian Cultural
Center at (805) 241-0391 or (805) 241-1051 or www.callutheran.edu/scancenter
The distance between Oslo and Norway’s North Cape is
about the same as the distance between Oslo and Rome.
At its narrowest point, near Narvik, Norway is only four
miles wide.
If Norway’s approximately 17,000 miles of coastline were
straightened out, it could encircle the entire earth at the equator.
In square miles, Norway is about the same size at New
Mexico (approximately 150,000 square miles). However, only about 3 percent of
its land is tillable, which is closer to the size of
Connecticut.
S/N Newsletter Service
Edvard Grieg Lodge #6-074
Board of Officers
President
Jo Ness
818-249-8102
JNess2619@sbcglobal.net
Vice President
Vacant
Counselor
LaVonne Kerfoot
909-599-3052
LaVonne@kerfoot.com
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
Yumiko Lovdokken
818-771-0887
YumikoLovdokken@ca.rr.com
Astrid Omdal
626-799-8211
Trustees
Amon Johnson
626-574-9550
Henrik Lovdokken
818-771-0887
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
http://www/sofn-district6.com
.,,
Our Treasure
2008 Plaque
Presented to LaVonne Kerfoot
at the Splendid Norwegian
Dinner
EDVARD GRIEG LODGE WEB
SITE
www.edvardgrieglodge.com
Dan Christensen, webmaster
6TH DISTRICT WEB
SITE
http://www/sofn-district6.com
.
Celebrating the New Year
and the End of
Christmas
As in many countries, in Norway the change from
one year to another is celebrated on both New
Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. New Year’s Eve is
celebrated with a party or get together either at home or out on the town, which
often culminates with counting down to the new year’s beginning at midnight. On
the table one typically serves among other things lamb ribs (pinnekjøtt), pork
ribs or turkey on New Year’s Eve.
In olden times New Year’s Day was an important
day for the whole country to look for signs of how
the new year would be. The signs people looked
for had mostly to do with how the crops would
do, or what the fishing would be like. The weather
on New Year’s Day was also taken as a sign of how
the weather would be for the rest of the year.
Today New Year’s Day is an official holiday and is
usually celebrated at home and is for many people
a day of rest after New Year’s Eve. The Prime
Minister gives a speech, called the New Year’s
Address.
The thirteenth day of Christmas (January 6th) is
called Helligtrekongersdag (“Three Holy Kings’
Day”) in honor of the three kings who came to
Jerusalem to honor Jesus. In the Catholic era a
pageant was performed on this day, a living
demonstration of the three kings’ journey, but
today it is more of a symbol that Christmas has
come to an end.
From Sons of Norway Newsletter
Service
Adapted from the book Merkedager av Ann
Helene
Bolstad Skjelbred
THE ORIGINS OF THE COFFEE BREAK
Using coffee as a stimulant may have been
discovered in Africa around the year 850, but it was in Stoughton, Wisconsin,
more than a thousand years later that the coffee break was introduced in the
Western World. And by a group of Norwegian women, no
less!
Located in southern Wisconsin about thirty miles from the
state capitol in Madison, Stoughton is a small community of less than fifteen
thousand residents. The town was established in the latter half of the
nineteenth century with farming and a few factories providing the principal
means of livelihood. Dairying and the raising of tobacco were the principal
agricultural pursuits, and the manufacture of wagons was the major industry. It
was that combination of raising tobacco and manufacturing wagons that led
directly to the establishment of the coffee break as an enduring feature in
American life.
Like other states in the upper Midwest, Wisconsin became
home to thousands of Norwegian immigrants, beginning after the Civil War and
continuing for more than fifty years. In Stoughton it was those immigrants who
provided the labor force for fields and factories, and it is estimated that by
1900 seventy-five percent of the town’s population was of Norwegian
descent.
Most of the men were employed in T.G. Mandt’s wagon
factory, and when the time came to harvest the tobacco crop there was a shortage
of workers to sort the tobacco in the several warehouses in the town. With many
Norwegian families residing around or near his warehouse, Oscar Gunderson
decided to ask the women to assist in sorting and collating the leaves for
shipment.
The Norwegian wives agreed, provided they could return to
their homes in mid-morning and in the afternoon to check on the children,
prepare meals, and take care of other domestic duties. With a coffee pot always
on the stove in a Norwegian home, the coffee break thus was born – a brief time
to relax before returning to work.
The town of Stoughton, Wisconsin, where this all began,
regularly celebrates the origin of the coffee break with a “Coffee Break
Festival” held annually in August and featuring a 5k “Java Jog,” a car show,
swap meet, and other activities. Incidentally, as an aside, coffee has sometimes
been referred to as “Norwegian gasoline,” not only because it is a favorite
among Norwegians, as tea is
to the English, but it is also needed to keep one moving!
Kaffe in Norwegian is
obviously related to the English coffee and the
French café, but the origin of those words in the
Near East where it all began is somewhat ambiguous. Tradition holds that around
the middle of the ninth century an Arabian shepherd noted that after eating the
red berries and leaves of a common plant his sheep became agitated, and trying
some of the berries for himself he experienced a surge of energy. Transliterated
into English, the Arabic name of the berry-bearing plant is Kaveh or Qahwah, which found
its way from Turkey to France and thus to modern usage.
With the introduction of the practice of drying the beans
and boiling them in water, Kaveh became coffee, but
it would be many centuries before the coffee break became common. However, its
effect as a stimulant was widely recognized as early as the eleventh century,
and Muslims frequently relied on its properties to get them through their long
religious ceremonies, just as college students do today to keep awake in the
late night hours studying for an examination.
The coffee break which began as a woman’s condition of
employment, in Stoughton, Wisconsin, more than one hundred years ago, is
commonplace today and even more, has become a personal habit and social
institution. It was Olena Nordness and Josie Peterson, whose husbands worked in
the wagon factory, who reached the agreement with Osmund Gundersen to work in
his tobacco warehouse only if they could take a break in the morning and the
afternoon. To those two women, both born in Norway, that we owe both the
privilege and the practice today.
Richard C. Gilman
Pasadena, California
Learn more about Norway
on-line
There’s no end to the information you can find on
the internet. In fact, there’s so much out there,
sometimes it’s hard to focus in on just what you
need. Here are a few valuable online resources for
finding information about or from
Norway.
www.google.no
This is the Norwegian version of the well-known
internet search engine Google.com. Google.no
gives you a few options for narrowing your search.
Just check the box next to “Dokumenter på norsk”
to search for websites in Norwegian only. Check
“sider fra Norge” to search websites based in
Norway. Otherwise, the default setting, “Nettet”
searches the entire internet exactly as Google.com
does.
www.gulesider.no
Gulesider is a Norwegian phone directory. Click
“English” in the lower right corner for a complete
English-language interface. You can use it to find
phone numbers for businesses and private
individuals in Norway, and also search for cities,
towns and even farms by choosing the map
option.
Ord Fra President
Godt Nytaar og God Jul. Since we did not have a December bulletin, we wish you all
the best 2009 and assume everyone had a super Christmas. We had a very
successful Julebord, our Unge Venner participated in the annual Santa Lucia
procession, guided as usual by Youth Director Judith Gabriel Vinje. We sang
around the Christmas tree (supplied by Cara Clove and Ken Putnam) with our
Musician, Shelley Baum. Our famous secret Santa Claus attended with gifts for
the kiddies. Great fun and fellowship. Lots of great food as usual. Center
pieces were supplied by Connie and Kristen Guritz who always do a really fine
job. They make the tables so colorful and fun. The lefse sale was extremely
successful. After serving and selling we had just a few packages left. Thanks to
you all.
We had a cookie making session and our usual lefse party
in November. Both were super successful. Next time come join us to learn or help
out in making lefse and cookies.
Our 2009 calendar is complete in draft form. Even now we
have changes that will be announced. For now we will publish the first few
months, but as soon as possible the entire 2009 calendar will be published in
the newsletter and on our website Edvardgrieglodge.com.
NOTE: The January 6th
board meeting will be held at my home. This is a change since the member who
planned to have it found out there was a conflict with the date. Our January
24th Family Night, 6:30 pm, will be potluck and
games…cards, boards, etc. Lots of fun for all and a fund raiser as well. Y’all
come.
The February 28th family
event will be a Silent Auction with dinner and fun. Please save your good,
clean, unused or nearly unused articles for our always successful fund raiser.
More info in next bulletin.
Thanks for your support and attendance at our 2008
meetings and events. Please continue your loyalty to our lodge and our heritage
in 2009.
Fraternally, Jo
We would appreciate getting the email addresses from
members who would like to be notified of events ahead of time. Please send them
to Jo Ness at JNess2619@sbcglobal.net and to Margaret Shuler at
alsvid1@hotmail.com
FROM THE EDITOR
There was not a December issue of Edvard Grieg Notes. I hope your holidays were happy.
Best wishes for health and happiness in the coming year.
Margaret Shuler
LODGE ACTIVITIES
BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, January 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the home of Jo Ness,
2619 Fairway Avenue, Montrose. (818) 249-8102
POTLUCK AND CARD GAMES NIGHT
Saturday, January 24 at 6:30 pm at the American Legion
Hall.
BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, February 3 at 7:30 pm at the home of
Mim and Amon Johnson, 747 Fairview Avenue, #B, Arcadia.
(626) 574-9550
DINNER AND SILENT AUCTION
Saturday, February 28 at the American Legion Hall. Happy
hour – 5:30 pm, dinner – 6:30 p.m. This could be a good time to check closets
and cupboards for items you no longer want.
BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, March 3 at 7:30 pm at the home of
Tina and Patrick Hartney, 2757 Frances Avenue, La
Crescenta, (818) 957-1294
POTLUCK AND CULTURAL EVENING
Saturday, March 28, at the American Legion Hall. Happy
Hour – 5:30 pm, dinner – 6:30 pm. Bring open-faced sandwiches, salads or a
favorite casserole. Patricia Savoie will give a presentation on Norwegian
writers.
BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, April 7 at 7:30 pm at the home of
Eileen and Herb Wirtz, 425 N. Orchard Drive,
Burbank. (818) 848-1552
DISTRICT
ACTIVITIES
Scandinavian Film Festival L.A. will be held on January
10, 11, 17, 18 at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills. There will be
films from
Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.
For details, please check
www.ScandinavianFilmFestivalLA.com
The Tenth Annual Nordic Spirit Symposium Sagas and the Viking World will be held at California
Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, on February 6-7, 2009. Please call *818)
788-4552 or e-mail seecallan@sbcglobal.net for
information and registration fees.
The Scandinavian Festival will be on Saturday, April 18
and Sunday, April 19, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at California Lutheran University,
60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks.
For more information, contact the Scandinavian Cultural
Center at (805) 241-0391 or (805) 241-1051 or www.callutheran.edu/scancenter
The distance between Oslo and Norway’s North Cape is
about the same as the distance between Oslo and Rome.
At its narrowest point, near Narvik, Norway is only four
miles wide.
If Norway’s approximately 17,000 miles of coastline were
straightened out, it could encircle the entire earth at the equator.
In square miles, Norway is about the same size at New
Mexico (approximately 150,000 square miles). However, only about 3 percent of
its land is tillable, which is closer to the size of
Connecticut.
S/N Newsletter Service
Edvard Grieg Lodge #6-074
Board of Officers
President
Jo Ness
818-249-8102
JNess2619@sbcglobal.net
Vice President
Vacant
Counselor
LaVonne Kerfoot
909-599-3052
LaVonne@kerfoot.com
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
Yumiko Lovdokken
818-771-0887
YumikoLovdokken@ca.rr.com
Astrid Omdal
626-799-8211
Trustees
Amon Johnson
626-574-9550
Henrik Lovdokken
818-771-0887
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
http://www/sofn-district6.com
.,,
Our Treasure
2008 Plaque
Presented to LaVonne Kerfoot
at the Splendid Norwegian
Dinner
EDVARD GRIEG LODGE WEB
SITE
www.edvardgrieglodge.com
Dan Christensen, webmaster
6TH DISTRICT WEB
SITE
http://www/sofn-district6.com
.
Celebrating the New Year
and the End of
Christmas
As in many countries, in Norway the change from
one year to another is celebrated on both New
Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. New Year’s Eve is
celebrated with a party or get together either at home or out on the town, which
often culminates with counting down to the new year’s beginning at midnight. On
the table one typically serves among other things lamb ribs (pinnekjøtt), pork
ribs or turkey on New Year’s Eve.
In olden times New Year’s Day was an important
day for the whole country to look for signs of how
the new year would be. The signs people looked
for had mostly to do with how the crops would
do, or what the fishing would be like. The weather
on New Year’s Day was also taken as a sign of how
the weather would be for the rest of the year.
Today New Year’s Day is an official holiday and is
usually celebrated at home and is for many people
a day of rest after New Year’s Eve. The Prime
Minister gives a speech, called the New Year’s
Address.
The thirteenth day of Christmas (January 6th) is
called Helligtrekongersdag (“Three Holy Kings’
Day”) in honor of the three kings who came to
Jerusalem to honor Jesus. In the Catholic era a
pageant was performed on this day, a living
demonstration of the three kings’ journey, but
today it is more of a symbol that Christmas has
come to an end.
From Sons of Norway Newsletter
Service
Adapted from the book Merkedager av Ann
Helene
Bolstad Skjelbred
THE ORIGINS OF THE COFFEE BREAK
Using coffee as a stimulant may have been
discovered in Africa around the year 850, but it was in Stoughton, Wisconsin,
more than a thousand years later that the coffee break was introduced in the
Western World. And by a group of Norwegian women, no
less!
Located in southern Wisconsin about thirty miles from the
state capitol in Madison, Stoughton is a small community of less than fifteen
thousand residents. The town was established in the latter half of the
nineteenth century with farming and a few factories providing the principal
means of livelihood. Dairying and the raising of tobacco were the principal
agricultural pursuits, and the manufacture of wagons was the major industry. It
was that combination of raising tobacco and manufacturing wagons that led
directly to the establishment of the coffee break as an enduring feature in
American life.
Like other states in the upper Midwest, Wisconsin became
home to thousands of Norwegian immigrants, beginning after the Civil War and
continuing for more than fifty years. In Stoughton it was those immigrants who
provided the labor force for fields and factories, and it is estimated that by
1900 seventy-five percent of the town’s population was of Norwegian
descent.
Most of the men were employed in T.G. Mandt’s wagon
factory, and when the time came to harvest the tobacco crop there was a shortage
of workers to sort the tobacco in the several warehouses in the town. With many
Norwegian families residing around or near his warehouse, Oscar Gunderson
decided to ask the women to assist in sorting and collating the leaves for
shipment.
The Norwegian wives agreed, provided they could return to
their homes in mid-morning and in the afternoon to check on the children,
prepare meals, and take care of other domestic duties. With a coffee pot always
on the stove in a Norwegian home, the coffee break thus was born – a brief time
to relax before returning to work.
The town of Stoughton, Wisconsin, where this all began,
regularly celebrates the origin of the coffee break with a “Coffee Break
Festival” held annually in August and featuring a 5k “Java Jog,” a car show,
swap meet, and other activities. Incidentally, as an aside, coffee has sometimes
been referred to as “Norwegian gasoline,” not only because it is a favorite
among Norwegians, as tea is
to the English, but it is also needed to keep one moving!
Kaffe in Norwegian is
obviously related to the English coffee and the
French café, but the origin of those words in the
Near East where it all began is somewhat ambiguous. Tradition holds that around
the middle of the ninth century an Arabian shepherd noted that after eating the
red berries and leaves of a common plant his sheep became agitated, and trying
some of the berries for himself he experienced a surge of energy. Transliterated
into English, the Arabic name of the berry-bearing plant is Kaveh or Qahwah, which found
its way from Turkey to France and thus to modern usage.
With the introduction of the practice of drying the beans
and boiling them in water, Kaveh became coffee, but
it would be many centuries before the coffee break became common. However, its
effect as a stimulant was widely recognized as early as the eleventh century,
and Muslims frequently relied on its properties to get them through their long
religious ceremonies, just as college students do today to keep awake in the
late night hours studying for an examination.
The coffee break which began as a woman’s condition of
employment, in Stoughton, Wisconsin, more than one hundred years ago, is
commonplace today and even more, has become a personal habit and social
institution. It was Olena Nordness and Josie Peterson, whose husbands worked in
the wagon factory, who reached the agreement with Osmund Gundersen to work in
his tobacco warehouse only if they could take a break in the morning and the
afternoon. To those two women, both born in Norway, that we owe both the
privilege and the practice today.
Richard C. Gilman
Pasadena, California
Learn more about Norway
on-line
There’s no end to the information you can find on
the internet. In fact, there’s so much out there,
sometimes it’s hard to focus in on just what you
need. Here are a few valuable online resources for
finding information about or from
Norway.
www.google.no
This is the Norwegian version of the well-known
internet search engine Google.com. Google.no
gives you a few options for narrowing your search.
Just check the box next to “Dokumenter på norsk”
to search for websites in Norwegian only. Check
“sider fra Norge” to search websites based in
Norway. Otherwise, the default setting, “Nettet”
searches the entire internet exactly as Google.com
does.
www.gulesider.no
Gulesider is a Norwegian phone directory. Click
“English” in the lower right corner for a complete
English-language interface. You can use it to find
phone numbers for businesses and private
individuals in Norway, and also search for cities,
towns and even farms by choosing the map
option.
November 2008 Newsletter
November 2008 Newsletter
Ord Fra Presidenten
“The best evening we have ever had!”, “wonderful evening”, “fabulous
food, beautifully presented”, etc, etc, etc. The responses to our
Splendid Norwegian Dinner were outstanding. It was a great time. The
caterer teaches in the Culinary Arts Department at Glendale High School
and she was ably assisted by some of her students. The menu included
agurk salat, (cucumber salad), kålrabistappe (mashed rutabaga), kokt
laks (poached salmon) and
svinestek (roast pork).
The fiddlers and dancers were super with their informal demonstrations
of Swedish and Norwegian folk music and dances. We learned two dances
as well…..or tried to. A lot of laughs when our good sports got up to
dance. So, again you folks that have not been recently to any of our
neat events, you missed another great evening.
At our next Board meeting, we are going to start plans for the 2009
calendar. If you have any requests, ideas or would like to plan and
produce a cultural/social night any 4th Saturday of a month, please let
me know. The Social Committee would help out with the particulars of
setting and clearing up. The Board would be of great assistance in
helping to polish plans for you. Wouldn’t that be fun? We need your
ideas and volunteering soon in order to finalize the calendar in
December. Talk with your friends….
Fraternally, Jo
EDVARD GRIEG TROLLS HEARD FROM SOME HAPPY CAMPERS WHO WERE AT CAMP NORGE THIS SUMMER.
To: Edvard Grieg Trolls
From: Kourtney Land
Thank you for the scholarship. I learned so much at camp. I can’t wait for next year. I wish I could stay here forever.
Dear Edvard Grieg,
Thank you for the scholarship. Camp is so much fun. The hike was fun. I like crafts.
From Kristofer
Dear Edvard Grieg Trolls,
Thank you so much for the scholarship. I had a lot of fun, thanks to
you guys (and girls). I learned all about Norway’s past, made cookies
like krumkake and I also got letters and went swimming. The food was
so good that I could say my mom made it!
Love, Kailey Sand
To: Edvard Grieg Trolls
From: Alia Spring
I love you people because you gave me a scholarship which was not
wasted. I learned a lot. I love this camp so much. I have so many
friends and I have so much fun here.
Tusen Takk!!
LODGE ACTIVITIES
BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, November 11 at 7:30 p.m. at the home of Peg Chereek, 423 Devonshire Lane,
Glendale. 818-241-6773
COOKIE BAKING
November 15, Saturday, 9 am to noon, at the American Legion Hall.
Norwegian cookie class preparing for Christmas. This is not a meeting
or social. It’s for the folks who want to learn how to make some
cookies. There will vafler, sandkaker, krumkaker, rosettes and
fattigmann – and possibly some other special treats - to sample and
learn about for holiday baking.
CHRISTMAS CAROLING
Thursday, December 4 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
BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, December 9 at 7:30 p.m. at the home of Jo Ness, 2619 Fairway Ave., Montrose. 818-249-8102.
JULEBORD
Saturday, December 13, 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 Julenisse
(Santa) will very likely put in an appearance! We’ll sing old
favorites around the Christmas tree. Everyone is asked to bring
smørbrød (open-faced sandwiches) and pastries - Norwegian, if you can
-- enough to serve 10-12 people. Questions?? Call Jo Ness at
818-249-8102.
DISTRICT ACTIVITIES
Norwegian Seamen’s Church Julebasar
Friday & Saturday, November 21 & 22 from noon to 6 p.m., and on
Sunday, November 23 from noon to 4 p.m. Sjømannskirken is located at
1035 South Beacon Street, San Pedro.
Norseman Lodge’s Julebord
Saturday, December 6 at the First Neighborhood Club House, 31830
Village Center Drive, Westlake Village. Cost - $25 per person.
Reservations are required by November 22. Call Sandee Kane at
805-522-8861.
NEWS AND NOTES
The members of the phone committee are very important to the lodge.
They call before special events, and also call to keep in touch.
Virginia Paulson recently spoke with Chuck Ackernecht. He and Carol
moved to Albuquerque some time ago. He appreciated the call, misses
the lodge and the good food, and extended greetings to everyone.
Virginia spoke with Shirley Peterson who lives in Fallbrook, and sends
greetings to her friends in the lodge. Virginia also spoke with the
Bartons who are in Monango, ND. They appreciated the call and send
greetings.
Vernie Fletcher recently spoke with Lynn Barry. She and Dennis send greetings to their friends in Edvard Grieg.
œœœ
We would appreciate getting the email addresses from members who would
like to be notified of events ahead of time. Please send them to Jo
Ness at JNess2619@sbcglobal.net and to Margaret Shuler at
alsvid1@hotmail.com
Renaissance Arts Academy
On Sunday, October 19th, Janet and I attended the Renaissance Arts
Academy 5 year celebration at 1800 Colorado Blvd. here in Eagle Rock.
This is a small charter public school that is tuition free, non
sectarian, and open to all students. They now have 300 students in
grades 6th thru 12th and there are over 200 on the waiting list.
Admission is by lottery and the only prerequisite is desire to engage
fully in the rigorous academic and performing arts training.
The music, dance and voice were performed so well. The students are
outstanding and very professional. It would be nice to have them come
to our lodge and give a program. The refreshments were delicious and we
had a tour of the addition they are working on. This is the building
that Pillars Department Store was in for years. What a great
opportunity for these young students and they have so much talent.
Virginia Paulson and Janet Couch
Bottom of Form
,,
Travel Report from Anne Marie Nassif
I thought I would share with the lodge about the great trip 5 members
of Edvard Grieg took. Berit Jansta, Anne Laity, Rita Gonzales, Inger
Dahlem and I just returned from 10 days in the Midwest.
We hooked up with a group from Grand Forks and traveled with them to
Hostfest for 4 days. Since we were part of a group, everything was
included: accommodations, admission, concerts. Every morning we were
picked up at the hotel, and taken back in the evening. We had the
greatest tour guides and bus driver, and we were so impressed with the
other passengers, too. What a nice friendly group of people.
The days flew by and there are things to do every minute -
entertainers, music, food and shopping. We heard Kenny Rogers, Charlie
Pride and Daniel O'Donnell on 3 different evenings and thoroughly
enjoyed ourselves. The audiences in the Midwest are very faithful and
the best.
We had Norwegian smorgasbord at Restaurant en-to-tre one day, all the
food we missed from Norway. And another day we had the gourmet dinner
at the same place, where they had flown in salmon and halibut from
Norway. This restaurant is run by two Norwegian chefs and they did an
outstanding job. Otherwise you could enjoy lutefisk and lefse,
meatballs, open faced sandwiches, pea soup, potato dumplings and rice
pudding in the Norwegian Pavilion. Sons of Norway was there with a
busy booth, passing out Viking magazines end membership forms.
After Hostfest, we rented a car and drove to South Dakota. We spent a
day at Mount Rushmore and a day at Crazy Horse. We were so impressed
with both places.
We are so happy we made the trip. The people we met are some of the friendliest and nicest people we have ever encountered.
Mim and Amon Johnson spent the summer at their cabin at Bemidji, Minnesota.
Here is the letter I have been meaning to write all summer. I had good
intentions (and you know where that road leads), but too many things
were happening here. Our children and grandchildren were here at
different times – some of their visits overlapped. We had good times
BBQ’ing, cooking, baking and visiting. Most of them spent time in Big
Bass Lake, too – but not me. We had wonderful weather all summer.
By the time this reaches you, we will be be back in Arcadia, arriving
on October 13. It’s getting a bit nippy in the mornings now, down in
the 30’s but it warms up to 60º in the afternoon when the sun is out.
The autumn foliage is just breathtaking everywhere around us now.
While visiting Amon’s sister in Alexandria, MN, we spent some time in
the Kensington Runestone Museum which houses the runestone found on a
farm 20 miles from Alexandria in 1898. The runes (a sort of Viking
alphabet) seem to present a story of a group of Norse explorers who may
have come to that area before the voyage of Columbus.
There has been much controversy about its authenticity ever since the
stone was found. Many books and articles have been published by
professors of Scandinavian languages, linguists, runologists,
historical societies and geologists. They do not all agree. Some are
convinced the stone was a hoax started by farmer Olof Ohman who found
the stone on his land. Others who have studied the runes feel they
provide proof that the stone is authentic. The museum has many
pictures and articles exhibited that give great visual information.
Translation of the runes on the stone:
(We are) 8 Goths (Swedes) and 22 Norwegians on (an)
exploration-journey from Vinland over the West. We had camp by 2
skerries, one days-journey north from this stone. We were (out)
and fished one day. After we come home (we) found 10 (of our)
men red with blood and dead. AV(e) M(aria) Save us from evil. (We)
have 10 of our party by the sea to look after our ship(s?) 14
days-journey from this island. Year 1362.
Will we ever know the truth? Studies are continuing.
We enjoyed our visit to the Kensington Runestone Museum – and our summer in Bemidji.
Mim and Amon Johnson ,,
Edvard Grieg Lodge #6-074
Board of Officers
President
Jo Ness
818-249-8102
JNess2619@sbcglobal.net
Vice President
Vacant
Counselor
LaVonne Kerfoot
909-599-3052
LaVonne@kerfoot.com
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
Yumiko Lovdokken
818-771-0887
YumikoLovdokken@ca.rr.com
Astrid Omdal
626-799-8211
Trustees
Amon Johnson
626-574-9550
Henrik Lovdokken
818-771-0887
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
http://www/sofn-district6.com
.,,
Our Treasure 2008 Plaque
Presented to LaVonne Kerfoot
at the Splendid Norwegian Dinner
How in the world do we describe this person and where do we start?
Well, first and foremost, she can be called the Doyenne of Edvard Grieg
Lodge and District 6, Sons of Norway. So now you can guess who our
2008 Lodge Treasure is. It’s fun to describe the honoree and then
reveal the name, but everyone would guess right away anyway.
LaVonne Kerfoot joined Edvard Grieg Lodge in 1974. Her first lodge
office was Social Director for several years. One of her famous events
was the Torsk Dinner with her big band and entertainers using “musical”
instruments, singing, dancing. Her band consisted of not only our
members, but folks from neighboring lodges. There were lots of laughs
during those programs.
In addition, she served as Secretary several terms. She then moved
into Lodge President, serving 3 times totaling 6 years. She has been a
great mentor for incoming social directors, secretaries and
presidents. Due to her extensive District work over the years, LaVonne
has kept the Board and Lodge abreast of the business of Sons of Norway.
At the District 6 level, LaVonne has held several positions. First it
was District Director, now called Zone Director, for a couple terms.
However, she is most well known and highly respected for her service as
District 6 Treasurer for 10 years. In the process, incoming Zone
Directors, as well as Treasurers and Presidents of other lodges have
been mentored.
LaVonne loves meetings, visiting lodges and conventions. She has
attended every District Convention since she became a lodge officer,
either as one of our delegates or as District Treasurer. She has been
able to attend several International Conventions, including Stavanger,
Norway.
LaVonne was born in Fargo, ND, and the family moved to California in
the mid 1930’s. She is 100% Norwegian, her father was born in Norway
and her mother born in Minnesota of Norwegian parents. She discovered
information about her father during her trips to Norway.
She grew up in Hollywood, graduated from Hollywood High School, and has
attended reunions regularly since 1949. She joined the Rainbow Girls,
a Masonic organization. She played violin at
Hollywood High; undoubtedly many classmates went into the entertainment
field and became famous. She worked in the insurance industry in the
accounting field and retired from Albert G. Ruben, entertainment
insurance in Beverly Hills, after 27 years. In the 1970’s she
persuaded the following to join our Lodge: her mom Mabel Heller, her
aunt Gladys Wiggins and sisters Marlys Boyer and Dorothy Lowande. She
has two sons, Scott and family (daughter in law, Gina, grandson,
Darren) and Roger, who lives in Oregon.
Although she would decline this award if we let her because “she’s not
finished yet”, we are very pleased and proud to present the Our
Treasurer’s Plaque 2008 to ”Madame Sons of Norway” LaVonne Kerfoot.
Last year’s, 2007 Our Treasures winners, famous Mel and Virginia
Paulson, were presented the lovely permanent plaque, at Ellis Island
Night in September. This permanent plaque is annually presented to the
immediate past Treasures winners. The current winners have to give up
the wonderful, gorgeous, rosemalt, large plaque at the end of their
year.
œœœ
New Marshall Statue in Oslo
The Norwegian government unveiled a new statue in Oslo, of US General
George C. Marshall – more than six decades after Marshall Plan aid
helped Norway and the rest of Europe rebuild after World War II.
The statue, located alongside the inner harbor
below the Akershus Fortress, was sculpted by
Asbjørn Høglund and formally dedicated by
Foreign Minister Johas Gahr Støre, who said it
honored 'a man, a vision and a mission that
changed Europe and Norway a half century ago.'
Marshall was Chief of the Staff of the US armed
forces during the war years, but his greatest claim
to fame came after the war. The recovery program
for Europe which bears his name, addressed the
shortages suffered during the post-war years, and
helped avert new conflicts.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded
Marshall the Nobel Peace Prize in 1953. Fifty-five
years later, a statue of Marshall joins those of his
fellow war-year leaders Winston Churchill and
Franklin D Roosevelt in Oslo.
From www.aftenposten.no
NORWEGIANS IN HOLLYWOOD – III
Having provided in last month’s article snapshots of several actors
of Norwegian background who over the past fifty years and more have
starred in films and on television – many of whom can be seen in
re-runs today – we turn now to a number of women who were also part of
the Hollywood scene, during the past fifty years and more, whose family
forebears were of Norwegian descent.
We begin with the woman most prominent of all, but quickly
acknowledge that her Norwegian birthright is subject to some ambiguity
if not dispute, even as were the circumstances of her death, caused by
an overdose of drugs at the age of thirty-six. Norma Jeane Baker was
born out of wedlock in 1926. Although the identity of her father is in
doubt, her birth certificate lists him as Martin Edward Mortensen. It
is that Scandinavian name on the birth certificate which is apparently
the basis of the assertion that Marilyn Monroe was of Norwegian
heritage.
Her career in film, as well as her private life, are so widely
known that details need not be related here. Suffice it to say that
over a span of twenty-plus years she became the number one sex symbol
in films and for some a superb actress as well.
A photographer shooting pictures for an article about women working in
an airplane factory during World War II, recognized her stunning beauty
and recommended her to a modeling agency. From there it was on to
films and stardom. Along the way, to be sure, there were low points
and some notoriety. She remained very much in the public eye
throughout her life, not only for her film appearances, but for her
marriages to baseball legend Joe DiMaggio and playwright Arthur Miller
and for other rumored liaisons.
If the Nordic heritage of Marilyn Monroe may be somewhat tenuous,
there can be no uncertainty with respect to Liv Ullmann. Born in Tokyo
as the daughter of a Norwegian engineer, she grew up and attended
school in Trondheim. She has also lived in Oslo, appeared frequently
on Norwegian television, and maintains a home there today. With all of
that, however, she is frequently thought of as a Swedish actress,
rather than Norwegian, most likely because she made ten films with the
great Swedish director Ingmar Bergman, who is the father of her only
daughter.
At the height of her career in the 1960’s and 1970’s, she was
awarded no fewer than ten prestigious awards for her acting on both
stage and screen, and was twice nominated for a Motion Picture Academy
“Oscar.” But perhaps her greatest honors were bestowed by the King of
Norway. In 1977 she was made a Knight of the Order of St. Olav, and in
1994 was promoted to the rank of Commander in the Order. A year later
in 1995, she was named a Commander with Star, one of the highest honors
in her native land and one rarely awarded to civilians.
Also born abroad, in Berlin, of a Norwegian mother, Vera Zorina
(birth name: Eva Brigitta Hartwig) lived briefly in Kristiansand, and
began training as a ballerina during her early childhood. Soon
thereafter she turned professional, and made her first stage appearance
in 1929, at the age of twelve, when she was cast in “A Midsummer
Night’s Dream,” directed by the famed Max Reinhardt. Later she joined
the Ballet Russe, and for three years toured extensively as a prima
ballerina in both England and the United States. Her performance in a
leading role in “On Your Toes” at London’s Gaiety Theater drew rave
reviews, attracting the attention of Samuel Goldwyn, who brought her to
Hollywood in 1938 to star in “The Goldwyn Follies.” Zorina appeared in
six other films over the next several years, but it was evident to her
and others that she was much better suited to the stage and to dancing.
Following a series of hits on Broadway and in other venues, she
returned to Norway to direct the musical “Cabaret” in Oslo in the
1960’s, and was later appointed director of the Norwegian Opera
Company. Upon her return to the United States she resumed touring
until her retirement. In 1990 she moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where
she continued to direct local and regional opera companies. Vera
Zorina died in Santa Fe in 2003.
After being selected as the “Miss Rheingold of 1946” and appearing
in a popular beer commercial when she was eighteen years old and living
in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Arlene Dahl went on to a successful career
in Hollywood, where she appeared in more than thirty films between 1947
and 1969. She was also to be seen in a number of daytime soap operas
during that period and into the 1980’s, most notably the ABC television
series “One Life to Live.” Two parallels in her career and that of
Marilyn Monroe mentioned above, may be noted: both were featured, at
different times, in seductive poses in Playboy magazine, and both were
rumored to have had affairs with John F. Kennedy.
Gradually withdrawing from films, Arlene Dahl became a successful
business woman, establishing her own firm Arlene Dahl Enterprises,
selling lingerie and cosmetics. And in a related venture, she was the
author of Always Ask a Man: Arlene Dahl’s Key to Femininity, published
by Prentice Hall in 1965. And if that wasn’t enough for her second
career, she also became a syndicated columnist, writing articles on
astrology.
Another actress of Norwegian parents, whose film career was fairly
limited and who also went on to other pursuits, was Sigrid Gurie
(Haukelid), the twin sister of Knut Haukelid, who played a prominent
role in the Norwegian resistance movement in World War II. Billed as
the “Siren of the Fjords,” she appeared in about a dozen films over a
ten year period between 1938 and 1948. In the early 1940’s in
Hollywood, she began taken art lessons, and in 1961 she moved to Mexico
where she continued her painting and designed jewelry for the Royal
Copenhagen Company in Denmark. Gurie died in Mexico in 1969.
Carole Landis. born to a Norwegian father and Polish mother in
Fairchild, Wisconsin, on New Year’s Day in 1919, had a brief and
troubled life. Married at fifteen, she arrived in Hollywood a few
years later and appeared in approximately fifty films over about ten
years, many times in bit parts or as an unnamed “extra.” Never
regarded as a great actress, her beauty and curvaceous lines were the
hallmark of her Hollywood career. There were numerous affairs with
prominent actors and others in the film industry, and it is said that
an impending breakup with Rex Harrison was the reason for her suicide
in 1948. She was only twenty-nine years old.
Of the acting ability of Celeste Holm there can be no doubt. Born in
New York City in 1917, the daughter of a Norwegian insurance adjuster
and a mother who was an accomplished portrait artist, she studied
acting at the University of Chicago and went on to a distinguished
career on the stage, and in films and television. After starring in
two major productions on Broadway, she was signed to a film contract in
1946, and won an Oscar as best supporting actress for her performance
in “Gentleman’s Agreement” one year later.
Holm was active in films in the Seventies and Eighties and in the
Nineties turned more to television as a regular in popular dramatic
series on both the ABC and CBS networks. In addition to the many
honors received for her work as an actress,
she was made a knight of the Order of St. Olav, not for her stage and
screen accomplishments, but for her assistance in the preservation of
one of Norway’s national treasures, the schooner “Christian Radich.”
None of the actresses we have mentioned here is now active in
Hollywood, although many may be seen in television reruns and the
screening of films on the various movie channels. However, there is
one currently prominent actress whose mother, Kjellfried Andreassaen,
is of Lapp Sami origin. Renee Zellweger made her big hit in the 1996
film “Jerry Maguire” playing opposite Tom Cruise. She went on to star
in a number of other films and has been the recipient of more than a
dozen awards and nominations during the past ten years. Limitations of
space, however, preclude our providing more than passing mention here
as we conclude this series on Norwegians in Hollywood.
Richard C. Gilman
Pasadena, California
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.
SONS OF NORWAY - LODGE #74
EDVARD GRIEG 'NOTES'
Margaret Shuler, Editor
147 North Fifth Avenue
Monrovia, CA 91016
GLENDALE, CA
NOVEMBER 2008
Ord Fra Presidenten
“The best evening we have ever had!”, “wonderful evening”, “fabulous
food, beautifully presented”, etc, etc, etc. The responses to our
Splendid Norwegian Dinner were outstanding. It was a great time. The
caterer teaches in the Culinary Arts Department at Glendale High School
and she was ably assisted by some of her students. The menu included
agurk salat, (cucumber salad), kålrabistappe (mashed rutabaga), kokt
laks (poached salmon) and
svinestek (roast pork).
The fiddlers and dancers were super with their informal demonstrations
of Swedish and Norwegian folk music and dances. We learned two dances
as well…..or tried to. A lot of laughs when our good sports got up to
dance. So, again you folks that have not been recently to any of our
neat events, you missed another great evening.
At our next Board meeting, we are going to start plans for the 2009
calendar. If you have any requests, ideas or would like to plan and
produce a cultural/social night any 4th Saturday of a month, please let
me know. The Social Committee would help out with the particulars of
setting and clearing up. The Board would be of great assistance in
helping to polish plans for you. Wouldn’t that be fun? We need your
ideas and volunteering soon in order to finalize the calendar in
December. Talk with your friends….
Fraternally, Jo
EDVARD GRIEG TROLLS HEARD FROM SOME HAPPY CAMPERS WHO WERE AT CAMP NORGE THIS SUMMER.
To: Edvard Grieg Trolls
From: Kourtney Land
Thank you for the scholarship. I learned so much at camp. I can’t wait for next year. I wish I could stay here forever.
Dear Edvard Grieg,
Thank you for the scholarship. Camp is so much fun. The hike was fun. I like crafts.
From Kristofer
Dear Edvard Grieg Trolls,
Thank you so much for the scholarship. I had a lot of fun, thanks to
you guys (and girls). I learned all about Norway’s past, made cookies
like krumkake and I also got letters and went swimming. The food was
so good that I could say my mom made it!
Love, Kailey Sand
To: Edvard Grieg Trolls
From: Alia Spring
I love you people because you gave me a scholarship which was not
wasted. I learned a lot. I love this camp so much. I have so many
friends and I have so much fun here.
Tusen Takk!!
LODGE ACTIVITIES
BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, November 11 at 7:30 p.m. at the home of Peg Chereek, 423 Devonshire Lane,
Glendale. 818-241-6773
COOKIE BAKING
November 15, Saturday, 9 am to noon, at the American Legion Hall.
Norwegian cookie class preparing for Christmas. This is not a meeting
or social. It’s for the folks who want to learn how to make some
cookies. There will vafler, sandkaker, krumkaker, rosettes and
fattigmann – and possibly some other special treats - to sample and
learn about for holiday baking.
CHRISTMAS CAROLING
Thursday, December 4 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
BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, December 9 at 7:30 p.m. at the home of Jo Ness, 2619 Fairway Ave., Montrose. 818-249-8102.
JULEBORD
Saturday, December 13, 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 Julenisse
(Santa) will very likely put in an appearance! We’ll sing old
favorites around the Christmas tree. Everyone is asked to bring
smørbrød (open-faced sandwiches) and pastries - Norwegian, if you can
-- enough to serve 10-12 people. Questions?? Call Jo Ness at
818-249-8102.
DISTRICT ACTIVITIES
Norwegian Seamen’s Church Julebasar
Friday & Saturday, November 21 & 22 from noon to 6 p.m., and on
Sunday, November 23 from noon to 4 p.m. Sjømannskirken is located at
1035 South Beacon Street, San Pedro.
Norseman Lodge’s Julebord
Saturday, December 6 at the First Neighborhood Club House, 31830
Village Center Drive, Westlake Village. Cost - $25 per person.
Reservations are required by November 22. Call Sandee Kane at
805-522-8861.
NEWS AND NOTES
The members of the phone committee are very important to the lodge.
They call before special events, and also call to keep in touch.
Virginia Paulson recently spoke with Chuck Ackernecht. He and Carol
moved to Albuquerque some time ago. He appreciated the call, misses
the lodge and the good food, and extended greetings to everyone.
Virginia spoke with Shirley Peterson who lives in Fallbrook, and sends
greetings to her friends in the lodge. Virginia also spoke with the
Bartons who are in Monango, ND. They appreciated the call and send
greetings.
Vernie Fletcher recently spoke with Lynn Barry. She and Dennis send greetings to their friends in Edvard Grieg.
œœœ
We would appreciate getting the email addresses from members who would
like to be notified of events ahead of time. Please send them to Jo
Ness at JNess2619@sbcglobal.net and to Margaret Shuler at
alsvid1@hotmail.com
Renaissance Arts Academy
On Sunday, October 19th, Janet and I attended the Renaissance Arts
Academy 5 year celebration at 1800 Colorado Blvd. here in Eagle Rock.
This is a small charter public school that is tuition free, non
sectarian, and open to all students. They now have 300 students in
grades 6th thru 12th and there are over 200 on the waiting list.
Admission is by lottery and the only prerequisite is desire to engage
fully in the rigorous academic and performing arts training.
The music, dance and voice were performed so well. The students are
outstanding and very professional. It would be nice to have them come
to our lodge and give a program. The refreshments were delicious and we
had a tour of the addition they are working on. This is the building
that Pillars Department Store was in for years. What a great
opportunity for these young students and they have so much talent.
Virginia Paulson and Janet Couch
Bottom of Form
,,
Travel Report from Anne Marie Nassif
I thought I would share with the lodge about the great trip 5 members
of Edvard Grieg took. Berit Jansta, Anne Laity, Rita Gonzales, Inger
Dahlem and I just returned from 10 days in the Midwest.
We hooked up with a group from Grand Forks and traveled with them to
Hostfest for 4 days. Since we were part of a group, everything was
included: accommodations, admission, concerts. Every morning we were
picked up at the hotel, and taken back in the evening. We had the
greatest tour guides and bus driver, and we were so impressed with the
other passengers, too. What a nice friendly group of people.
The days flew by and there are things to do every minute -
entertainers, music, food and shopping. We heard Kenny Rogers, Charlie
Pride and Daniel O'Donnell on 3 different evenings and thoroughly
enjoyed ourselves. The audiences in the Midwest are very faithful and
the best.
We had Norwegian smorgasbord at Restaurant en-to-tre one day, all the
food we missed from Norway. And another day we had the gourmet dinner
at the same place, where they had flown in salmon and halibut from
Norway. This restaurant is run by two Norwegian chefs and they did an
outstanding job. Otherwise you could enjoy lutefisk and lefse,
meatballs, open faced sandwiches, pea soup, potato dumplings and rice
pudding in the Norwegian Pavilion. Sons of Norway was there with a
busy booth, passing out Viking magazines end membership forms.
After Hostfest, we rented a car and drove to South Dakota. We spent a
day at Mount Rushmore and a day at Crazy Horse. We were so impressed
with both places.
We are so happy we made the trip. The people we met are some of the friendliest and nicest people we have ever encountered.
Mim and Amon Johnson spent the summer at their cabin at Bemidji, Minnesota.
Here is the letter I have been meaning to write all summer. I had good
intentions (and you know where that road leads), but too many things
were happening here. Our children and grandchildren were here at
different times – some of their visits overlapped. We had good times
BBQ’ing, cooking, baking and visiting. Most of them spent time in Big
Bass Lake, too – but not me. We had wonderful weather all summer.
By the time this reaches you, we will be be back in Arcadia, arriving
on October 13. It’s getting a bit nippy in the mornings now, down in
the 30’s but it warms up to 60º in the afternoon when the sun is out.
The autumn foliage is just breathtaking everywhere around us now.
While visiting Amon’s sister in Alexandria, MN, we spent some time in
the Kensington Runestone Museum which houses the runestone found on a
farm 20 miles from Alexandria in 1898. The runes (a sort of Viking
alphabet) seem to present a story of a group of Norse explorers who may
have come to that area before the voyage of Columbus.
There has been much controversy about its authenticity ever since the
stone was found. Many books and articles have been published by
professors of Scandinavian languages, linguists, runologists,
historical societies and geologists. They do not all agree. Some are
convinced the stone was a hoax started by farmer Olof Ohman who found
the stone on his land. Others who have studied the runes feel they
provide proof that the stone is authentic. The museum has many
pictures and articles exhibited that give great visual information.
Translation of the runes on the stone:
(We are) 8 Goths (Swedes) and 22 Norwegians on (an)
exploration-journey from Vinland over the West. We had camp by 2
skerries, one days-journey north from this stone. We were (out)
and fished one day. After we come home (we) found 10 (of our)
men red with blood and dead. AV(e) M(aria) Save us from evil. (We)
have 10 of our party by the sea to look after our ship(s?) 14
days-journey from this island. Year 1362.
Will we ever know the truth? Studies are continuing.
We enjoyed our visit to the Kensington Runestone Museum – and our summer in Bemidji.
Mim and Amon Johnson ,,
Edvard Grieg Lodge #6-074
Board of Officers
President
Jo Ness
818-249-8102
JNess2619@sbcglobal.net
Vice President
Vacant
Counselor
LaVonne Kerfoot
909-599-3052
LaVonne@kerfoot.com
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
Yumiko Lovdokken
818-771-0887
YumikoLovdokken@ca.rr.com
Astrid Omdal
626-799-8211
Trustees
Amon Johnson
626-574-9550
Henrik Lovdokken
818-771-0887
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
http://www/sofn-district6.com
.,,
Our Treasure 2008 Plaque
Presented to LaVonne Kerfoot
at the Splendid Norwegian Dinner
How in the world do we describe this person and where do we start?
Well, first and foremost, she can be called the Doyenne of Edvard Grieg
Lodge and District 6, Sons of Norway. So now you can guess who our
2008 Lodge Treasure is. It’s fun to describe the honoree and then
reveal the name, but everyone would guess right away anyway.
LaVonne Kerfoot joined Edvard Grieg Lodge in 1974. Her first lodge
office was Social Director for several years. One of her famous events
was the Torsk Dinner with her big band and entertainers using “musical”
instruments, singing, dancing. Her band consisted of not only our
members, but folks from neighboring lodges. There were lots of laughs
during those programs.
In addition, she served as Secretary several terms. She then moved
into Lodge President, serving 3 times totaling 6 years. She has been a
great mentor for incoming social directors, secretaries and
presidents. Due to her extensive District work over the years, LaVonne
has kept the Board and Lodge abreast of the business of Sons of Norway.
At the District 6 level, LaVonne has held several positions. First it
was District Director, now called Zone Director, for a couple terms.
However, she is most well known and highly respected for her service as
District 6 Treasurer for 10 years. In the process, incoming Zone
Directors, as well as Treasurers and Presidents of other lodges have
been mentored.
LaVonne loves meetings, visiting lodges and conventions. She has
attended every District Convention since she became a lodge officer,
either as one of our delegates or as District Treasurer. She has been
able to attend several International Conventions, including Stavanger,
Norway.
LaVonne was born in Fargo, ND, and the family moved to California in
the mid 1930’s. She is 100% Norwegian, her father was born in Norway
and her mother born in Minnesota of Norwegian parents. She discovered
information about her father during her trips to Norway.
She grew up in Hollywood, graduated from Hollywood High School, and has
attended reunions regularly since 1949. She joined the Rainbow Girls,
a Masonic organization. She played violin at
Hollywood High; undoubtedly many classmates went into the entertainment
field and became famous. She worked in the insurance industry in the
accounting field and retired from Albert G. Ruben, entertainment
insurance in Beverly Hills, after 27 years. In the 1970’s she
persuaded the following to join our Lodge: her mom Mabel Heller, her
aunt Gladys Wiggins and sisters Marlys Boyer and Dorothy Lowande. She
has two sons, Scott and family (daughter in law, Gina, grandson,
Darren) and Roger, who lives in Oregon.
Although she would decline this award if we let her because “she’s not
finished yet”, we are very pleased and proud to present the Our
Treasurer’s Plaque 2008 to ”Madame Sons of Norway” LaVonne Kerfoot.
Last year’s, 2007 Our Treasures winners, famous Mel and Virginia
Paulson, were presented the lovely permanent plaque, at Ellis Island
Night in September. This permanent plaque is annually presented to the
immediate past Treasures winners. The current winners have to give up
the wonderful, gorgeous, rosemalt, large plaque at the end of their
year.
œœœ
New Marshall Statue in Oslo
The Norwegian government unveiled a new statue in Oslo, of US General
George C. Marshall – more than six decades after Marshall Plan aid
helped Norway and the rest of Europe rebuild after World War II.
The statue, located alongside the inner harbor
below the Akershus Fortress, was sculpted by
Asbjørn Høglund and formally dedicated by
Foreign Minister Johas Gahr Støre, who said it
honored 'a man, a vision and a mission that
changed Europe and Norway a half century ago.'
Marshall was Chief of the Staff of the US armed
forces during the war years, but his greatest claim
to fame came after the war. The recovery program
for Europe which bears his name, addressed the
shortages suffered during the post-war years, and
helped avert new conflicts.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded
Marshall the Nobel Peace Prize in 1953. Fifty-five
years later, a statue of Marshall joins those of his
fellow war-year leaders Winston Churchill and
Franklin D Roosevelt in Oslo.
From www.aftenposten.no
NORWEGIANS IN HOLLYWOOD – III
Having provided in last month’s article snapshots of several actors
of Norwegian background who over the past fifty years and more have
starred in films and on television – many of whom can be seen in
re-runs today – we turn now to a number of women who were also part of
the Hollywood scene, during the past fifty years and more, whose family
forebears were of Norwegian descent.
We begin with the woman most prominent of all, but quickly
acknowledge that her Norwegian birthright is subject to some ambiguity
if not dispute, even as were the circumstances of her death, caused by
an overdose of drugs at the age of thirty-six. Norma Jeane Baker was
born out of wedlock in 1926. Although the identity of her father is in
doubt, her birth certificate lists him as Martin Edward Mortensen. It
is that Scandinavian name on the birth certificate which is apparently
the basis of the assertion that Marilyn Monroe was of Norwegian
heritage.
Her career in film, as well as her private life, are so widely
known that details need not be related here. Suffice it to say that
over a span of twenty-plus years she became the number one sex symbol
in films and for some a superb actress as well.
A photographer shooting pictures for an article about women working in
an airplane factory during World War II, recognized her stunning beauty
and recommended her to a modeling agency. From there it was on to
films and stardom. Along the way, to be sure, there were low points
and some notoriety. She remained very much in the public eye
throughout her life, not only for her film appearances, but for her
marriages to baseball legend Joe DiMaggio and playwright Arthur Miller
and for other rumored liaisons.
If the Nordic heritage of Marilyn Monroe may be somewhat tenuous,
there can be no uncertainty with respect to Liv Ullmann. Born in Tokyo
as the daughter of a Norwegian engineer, she grew up and attended
school in Trondheim. She has also lived in Oslo, appeared frequently
on Norwegian television, and maintains a home there today. With all of
that, however, she is frequently thought of as a Swedish actress,
rather than Norwegian, most likely because she made ten films with the
great Swedish director Ingmar Bergman, who is the father of her only
daughter.
At the height of her career in the 1960’s and 1970’s, she was
awarded no fewer than ten prestigious awards for her acting on both
stage and screen, and was twice nominated for a Motion Picture Academy
“Oscar.” But perhaps her greatest honors were bestowed by the King of
Norway. In 1977 she was made a Knight of the Order of St. Olav, and in
1994 was promoted to the rank of Commander in the Order. A year later
in 1995, she was named a Commander with Star, one of the highest honors
in her native land and one rarely awarded to civilians.
Also born abroad, in Berlin, of a Norwegian mother, Vera Zorina
(birth name: Eva Brigitta Hartwig) lived briefly in Kristiansand, and
began training as a ballerina during her early childhood. Soon
thereafter she turned professional, and made her first stage appearance
in 1929, at the age of twelve, when she was cast in “A Midsummer
Night’s Dream,” directed by the famed Max Reinhardt. Later she joined
the Ballet Russe, and for three years toured extensively as a prima
ballerina in both England and the United States. Her performance in a
leading role in “On Your Toes” at London’s Gaiety Theater drew rave
reviews, attracting the attention of Samuel Goldwyn, who brought her to
Hollywood in 1938 to star in “The Goldwyn Follies.” Zorina appeared in
six other films over the next several years, but it was evident to her
and others that she was much better suited to the stage and to dancing.
Following a series of hits on Broadway and in other venues, she
returned to Norway to direct the musical “Cabaret” in Oslo in the
1960’s, and was later appointed director of the Norwegian Opera
Company. Upon her return to the United States she resumed touring
until her retirement. In 1990 she moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where
she continued to direct local and regional opera companies. Vera
Zorina died in Santa Fe in 2003.
After being selected as the “Miss Rheingold of 1946” and appearing
in a popular beer commercial when she was eighteen years old and living
in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Arlene Dahl went on to a successful career
in Hollywood, where she appeared in more than thirty films between 1947
and 1969. She was also to be seen in a number of daytime soap operas
during that period and into the 1980’s, most notably the ABC television
series “One Life to Live.” Two parallels in her career and that of
Marilyn Monroe mentioned above, may be noted: both were featured, at
different times, in seductive poses in Playboy magazine, and both were
rumored to have had affairs with John F. Kennedy.
Gradually withdrawing from films, Arlene Dahl became a successful
business woman, establishing her own firm Arlene Dahl Enterprises,
selling lingerie and cosmetics. And in a related venture, she was the
author of Always Ask a Man: Arlene Dahl’s Key to Femininity, published
by Prentice Hall in 1965. And if that wasn’t enough for her second
career, she also became a syndicated columnist, writing articles on
astrology.
Another actress of Norwegian parents, whose film career was fairly
limited and who also went on to other pursuits, was Sigrid Gurie
(Haukelid), the twin sister of Knut Haukelid, who played a prominent
role in the Norwegian resistance movement in World War II. Billed as
the “Siren of the Fjords,” she appeared in about a dozen films over a
ten year period between 1938 and 1948. In the early 1940’s in
Hollywood, she began taken art lessons, and in 1961 she moved to Mexico
where she continued her painting and designed jewelry for the Royal
Copenhagen Company in Denmark. Gurie died in Mexico in 1969.
Carole Landis. born to a Norwegian father and Polish mother in
Fairchild, Wisconsin, on New Year’s Day in 1919, had a brief and
troubled life. Married at fifteen, she arrived in Hollywood a few
years later and appeared in approximately fifty films over about ten
years, many times in bit parts or as an unnamed “extra.” Never
regarded as a great actress, her beauty and curvaceous lines were the
hallmark of her Hollywood career. There were numerous affairs with
prominent actors and others in the film industry, and it is said that
an impending breakup with Rex Harrison was the reason for her suicide
in 1948. She was only twenty-nine years old.
Of the acting ability of Celeste Holm there can be no doubt. Born in
New York City in 1917, the daughter of a Norwegian insurance adjuster
and a mother who was an accomplished portrait artist, she studied
acting at the University of Chicago and went on to a distinguished
career on the stage, and in films and television. After starring in
two major productions on Broadway, she was signed to a film contract in
1946, and won an Oscar as best supporting actress for her performance
in “Gentleman’s Agreement” one year later.
Holm was active in films in the Seventies and Eighties and in the
Nineties turned more to television as a regular in popular dramatic
series on both the ABC and CBS networks. In addition to the many
honors received for her work as an actress,
she was made a knight of the Order of St. Olav, not for her stage and
screen accomplishments, but for her assistance in the preservation of
one of Norway’s national treasures, the schooner “Christian Radich.”
None of the actresses we have mentioned here is now active in
Hollywood, although many may be seen in television reruns and the
screening of films on the various movie channels. However, there is
one currently prominent actress whose mother, Kjellfried Andreassaen,
is of Lapp Sami origin. Renee Zellweger made her big hit in the 1996
film “Jerry Maguire” playing opposite Tom Cruise. She went on to star
in a number of other films and has been the recipient of more than a
dozen awards and nominations during the past ten years. Limitations of
space, however, preclude our providing more than passing mention here
as we conclude this series on Norwegians in Hollywood.
Richard C. Gilman
Pasadena, California
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.
SONS OF NORWAY - LODGE #74
EDVARD GRIEG 'NOTES'
Margaret Shuler, Editor
147 North Fifth Avenue
Monrovia, CA 91016
GLENDALE, CA
NOVEMBER 2008
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
January 2009 Newsletter
Godt Nytaar og God Jul. Since we did not have a December bulletin, we wish you all the best 2009 and assume everyone had a super Christmas. We had a very successful Julebord, our Unge Venner participated in the annual Santa Lucia procession, guided as usual by Youth Director Judith Gabriel Vinje. We sang around the Christmas tree (supplied by Cara Clove and Ken Putnam) with our Musician, Shelley Baum. Our famous secret Santa Claus attended with gifts for the kiddies. Great fun and fellowship. Lots of great food as usual. Center pieces were supplied by Connie and Kristen Guritz who always do a really fine job. They make the tables so colorful and fun. The lefse sale was extremely successful. After serving and selling we had just a few packages left. Thanks to you all.
We had a cookie making session and our usual lefse party in November. Both were super successful. Next time come join us to learn or help out in making lefse and cookies.
Our 2009 calendar is complete in draft form. Even now we have changes that will be announced. For now we will publish the first few months, but as soon as possible the entire 2009 calendar will be published in the newsletter and on our website Edvardgrieglodge.com.
NOTE: The January 6th board meeting will be held at my home. This is a change since the member who planned to have it found out there was a conflict with the date. Our January 24th Family Night, 6:30 pm, will be potluck and games…cards, boards, etc. Lots of fun for all and a fund raiser as well. Y’all come.
The February 28th family event will be a Silent Auction with dinner and fun. Please save your good, clean, unused or nearly unused articles for our always successful fund raiser. More info in next bulletin.
Thanks for your support and attendance at our 2008 meetings and events. Please continue your loyalty to our lodge and our heritage in 2009.
Fraternally, Jo
Gratulerer
Med Dagen
Read the full Newsletter on our website... www.edvardgrieglodge.com/newsletter
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)