SynNor Brevet. District 1 Family Lodge of the Year 2006, Reserve your place at the Membership Recruitment Dinner! Tuesday, April 10 at 6:30

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1 SynNor Brevet Published monthly by Synnøve-Nordkap Lodge #1-008 WEB SITE: T here District 1 Family Lodge of the Year 2006, 2008 April 2012 Number 12:4 Voice Messages: Reserve your place at the Membership Recruitment Dinner! Tuesday, April 10 at 6:30 Our annual Membership Recruitment Dinner will again be catered by Magnolia s Restaurant. The menu will feature Chicken Kiev! The cost is $10.00 / person UNLESS you bring a prospective member! If you do - both of your dinners will be free! Let s all try to increase our membership numbers! To come, you must reserve your place. Call the lodge phone number ( ) with the number of reservations (including guests) and get your payment in by Friday, April 6. Program: We will be entertained by the Peer Gynt Dancers! Introduce a guest to all the benefits of the Son s of Norway at our April Membership Dinner!

2 Norwegian Culture and News Spring In Norway ******************************************************************************************** The Norwegian coastline is long but the Norwegian spring is short. As early as March you can see signs of spring in the far south. By mid-april in Oslo, the number of hours of daylight increases from 6 hours in December to about 15 hours and continues to 18 hours by mid-june. Spring wildflowers such as anemone start to make an appearance, blanketing the landscape with color. But along with the pleasant seasonal changes come the unpredictable. This spring, rain and unusually warm weather have raised the danger of landslides and avalanches in Norway. Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) reported that the greatest number of slides so far has occurred southwest of Støren. The largest slide hit both the tracks of a popular train line and the highway, causing disruptions of several days and delays to travelers along the route. Avalanche danger is also high because of this year s abrupt transition from winter to spring with the sudden rise in temperature causing rapidly melting snow and high winds. In Oslo, temperatures were reported to be 62 degrees F in mid-march, the warmest ever registered so early in the year. ******************************************************************************************* Edvard Grieg (15 June, Sept, 1907) was a Norwegian composer and pianist, best known for his Piano Concerto in A Minor, incidental music to Ibsen s play Peer Gynt (Morning Mood and In the Hall of the Mountain King) and for his lyric piano pieces. Many of these pieces can be listened to on YouTube. Click the link below or paste it into your computer s browser to hear Grieg s lyric piece entitled To the Spring. Follow this link to see a list of Grieg s compositions: Edvard_Grieg The March Brevet asked you to name a famous Norwegian Ice Skater - it was Sonja Henie, of course! Synnøve-Nordkap Lodge normally meets on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7:00 PM At First Lutheran Church 463 Maria Avenue (at 8th Street East, 2 Blocks North of Metro State University) Saint Paul, Minnesota Voice messages: (See back cover for officers) Web Page: < Sons of Norway International: < SynNorBrevet, Synnøve-Nordkap Lodge, Issue , Page 2

3 Lodge News Fra Presidenten Hilsen på dere! Greetings to all! With this fabulous weather that we are having now, it would seem that I would be writing for the May newsletter rather than the April Brevet. Both of these months are indeed busy ones for Synnøve- Nordkap Lodge, and I am including information that we all need to be aware of during the upcoming weeks. On April 10, the lodge will host prospective members at the annual membership dinner. You are encouraged to bring a guest. The dinners for both you and your guest are free, paid by the SON Insurance department. Everyone needs to make reservations, including for your guest, by contacting our lodge Vice President, Kathy Stevens, at And while you are doing that, ask her if help is needed at the dinner. Cost of meals for those not bringing guests is $ We will again enjoy a delicious meal served by Magnolias. Please make an effort to bring a relative, or a friend, or a neighbor who hopefully will become a new member of Synnøve-Nordkap. The Landmark Center sponsors a series of events through a program called Urban Exploration. Our lodge has been asked to participate in a two-hour program about Norway on April 29. Jeane Pearson will head up a craft activity table for children. I will have a table with information about Synnøve-Nordkap and Sons of Norway. We are asking for help from you members who have a Norwegian costume to wear, be it bunad, vest or sweater, to come to the Landmark Center for an hour or two to help children make these crafts, and to represent Norwegian culture to the community. It will be a great way to gain some publicity for the lodge and for our heritage. Please call me If you haven t signed up to help with Festival of Nations, please contact Pat Carlson at This is a very worthwhile activity which depends on your help. On Saturday, May 19, our Junior Lodge s Peer Gynt group will be dancing in the Syttende Mai parade in Stoughton, Wisconsin. Look elsewhere in the Brevet for information about how you can join them on their bus trip to this exciting event. The success of our lodge at these events is due to the help and support of all of our lodge members. If you can t supply the person power, such as setting up at the membership dinner, perhaps you can offer a monetary donation for an activity, such as sponsoring a Peer Gynt dancer for the trip to Stoughton. Tusen takk to those of you who have already signed on to help with these events, and vær så gå to those who are about to offer to help. Ha det bra og Gud Påske! Goodbye and Happy Easter! Ron Sunshine News Dear Members, Thank you for the support you gave me during my illness and hospital stay. Your prayers, cards, and visits were much appreciated. Thanks, too, to Susan Stow for being our Sunshine person during my absence; I am now happy to resume my duties. - Mary Beth Mutchler HELP US KEEP TRACK OF OUR MEMBERS! Mary Beth Mutchler is our new sunshine person. If you know of someone who is sick, has had surgery, etc., please call her at or her at mbe43@q.com and she will send a card from the lodge. -Thanks SynNorBrevet, Synnøve-Nordkap Lodge, Issue , Page 3

4 Lodge News Board Meeting Minutes, March 6, 2012 Attendees: Ron Stow, Sharon Amann, Rod Hale, Sue Halvorson, Lowell Johnson, Sharon Kalmes, Laura Sherman, Kathy Stevens, and Susan Stow. The February chili supper was a success and will be held again next year. Food for next year needs to have more corn bread and perhaps add fresh vegetable trays. The movie was a bit too long and we need to find a shorter one next year. At the March lodge meeting the door prize drawing from February will be held in addition to the March drawing. Kathy Stevens will introduce the speaker. Signup sheets for the Festival of Nations will be available and Kathy Stevens will be taking reservations for the April Membership Dinner. The status of the planning for the April Membership Dinner was reviewed. Arrangements have been made with Len for napkins but we still need placemats. It was suggested we award a hat to the first new member to submit a completed application at the dinner. The office staff and Kristin need to be notified that we need the room setup for a banquet. We will need three long tables for the food, two for the treats and one against the windows for beverages. We will need people to wash and set the tables plus people to clean up afterwards. Signup sheets for helping will be available at the March meeting. We will use the maps and flags for the centerpieces. The dinner will start at 6:30 and the Junior Lodge Peer Gynt Dancers will perform at 7:15. Susan reported on the Junior Lodge s proposed trip to Stoughton. WI to participate in the Sytennde Mai activities and the parade. The cost estimate for a 47-passenger bus is $1585. She has applied for a foundation grant and was looking for advice on further funding sources to reduce the cost for the dancers. Seats unused by the Junior Lodge on the bus would be available to senior lodge members at a suggested price of $35 per person. Suggestions were made to ask lodge members for donations and to donate the program fee for the April lodge program toward the trip in return for the dancers performance. Our delegates to the District Convention are Ron and Susan Stow, Kathy Stevens and Sharon Amann. The alternate is Sheryl Hove. Susan presented a resolution that she has drafted regarding increased programming for youth by having new district wide programming and in turn Sons of Norway International programming created. Lowell Johnson made the suggestion that a summer intern be hired by the Sons of Norway to implement the resolution. Susan made a motion to send the resolution on to the convention and Kathy seconded it. Rod amended the resolution to have the cost set at $6000. The motion was approved by the board as amended. Jeane Pearson, museum committee project chair, asked about funding for the project. The October 4, 2011, board minutes reflect that the project was to be funded by a combination of grants, private donations and lodge funds. Submitted by Sue Halvorson, Secretary The next board of directors meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 3, 2012, at the Maplewood Library, 3025 Southlawn Dr. (west side of Maplewood Mall) in the community program room. Lodge Meeting Minutes, March 13, lodge members and guests attended the meeting. Our guests were Vern Albertson and his daughter Andrea. A moment of silence was observed in honor of Lyle Baker. Taffy Storck, Karen Weiberg, Millie Hartleben and Ron Stow shared memories of Lyle. The February lodge minutes were corrected to reflect that Shirley Brekke was not one of the members serving treats and then were approved. Laura Sherman gave the treasurer s report for January and February. There is a balance of $ in the lodge checking account. Kathy Stevens was taking reservations for the membership dinner in April and encouraged members to bring a prospective member with them. Rod Hale awarded Kathy Stevens a bronze gangmerke medal and Don Halvorson an enamel idrettsmerke medal. Patty Carlson is seeking volunteers to work shifts at the Festival of Nations and for cooking day to prepare food to be sold at the Festival. Sheryl Hove led the lodge language lesson consisting of seasonal words and words related to the March lodge program. The museum project committee is looking for a person to volunteer to be in charge of an opening ceremony and special live entertainment for the exhibit. Ron Kvass would like to have pictures of items being loaned for the display cases to aid in planning. (Continued on Page 6) SynNorBrevet, Synnøve-Nordkap Lodge, Issue , Page 4

5 Tuesday April 3 Saturday April 7 Tuesday April 10 Saturday April 14 Ca\endar of Coming Events Synnøve-Nordkap Board Meeting Maplewood Library conference room; 3025 Southlawn Dr. (W side Maplewood Mall). Genealogy Group Meeting Roseville Library Synnøve-Nordkap Social Event Lodge Membership Recruitment Dinner Junior Lodge. Welcome! Meet at Our Savior's Church, 1:00-1:45 PM rehearsal before going to Croixdale for 2:00 PM performance. 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM 10:00 AM To Noon 6:30 PM 1:00 PM Mindekirken Events:: 924 E. 21st St. Minneapolis, MN (612) Tuesday Open House: April 3 Michael Jorgensen, Bonnie Jorgensen & Ethan Bjelland: Life and Music of Theodora Cormontan April 10 Faith Fjeld Sami April 17 Carolyn Bliss--Lindeman April 24 Karen Humphrey Norwegian-American items made in Minnesota Ibsen Fest Tuesday May 1 Synnøve-Nordkap Board Meeting Maplewood Library conference room; 3025 Southlawn Dr. (W side Maplewood Mall). 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM April 13-15, Lanesboro, MN More info at May 3 To May 6 Festival of Nations Our lodge s 80th consecutive year of participation in this event. Orienteering Walk on April 21st, 10:00 AM So what do Norwegians do when they can't go skiing in the summer? Many go orienteering, including the kids! The April lodge walk will be an orienteering course at Tamarack Nature Center, White Bear Township. Check out this Norwegian orienteering video of an actual Norwegian O-meet (called the "Sun Run") Norwegian kids orienteering. Don't wear your best shoes (you may get muddy) and no bunads! Did you know that the 2004 U.S. championshiops were hosted by our local orienteering club and a couple years before that the U.S. champion was a guy from Duluth? Norway has some of the best orienteers in the world. Maps and clue sheets provided. 35E north To Hwy 96, east on 96 to Otter Lake Rd, north about a mile to Tamarack. I wonder if the junior lodge could beat the senior lodge in one of these! Norwegian Language Classes (1) "Norwegian In Five Minutes A Month" series. Class 6:30-7:00 PM Tuesdays before lodge meetings. April 10, no meeting.. (2) "Norsk Nordmenn og Norge" Class 6:30-7:45 PM (not 8:00, as the library will now close at 8:00 due to budget cuts). Sun Ray Library, 2105 Wilson Ave., between McKnight Rd. & Ruth St. Date: April 12: Chapter 23 p For information, contact class co-facilitators: Sheryl Hove and Crystal Bloecher New participants welcome! Cultural Skills Unit 7: Language and Culture Group Date: Tuesday, April 10, no meeting. See this month s word on page 8! Genealogy Group Normally meets the first Saturday of the month from 10 am to 12 noon at the Roseville Library Community Program Room. Everyone is welcome to attend. Interested members should contact Cathie Reasoner at or harrie1030@netzero.com for more information. Czech and Slovak Minnesota Annual Garage Sale! Sokol Hall, 383 Michigan Avenue at West 7th, Saint Paul April 12 and 13 at CSPS Hall Thursday noon-7 p.m. and Friday 10 a.m.-2 p.m $3 bag sale starts at noon on Friday. For more information contact Czech and Slovak Sokol Minnesota: or Marit Lee Kucera: Details at or events@sokolmn.org SynNorBrevet, Synnøve-Nordkap Lodge, Issue , Page 5

6 This and That Lodge Meeting Minutes, March 13, 2012 (Continued from Page 4) Remarks for the good of the order were made by Taffy Storck. The Landmark Center is having a program entitled Urban Expedition: NORWAY! on April 29. They are requesting that our lodge contribute personnel in costumes to work from 1 3 pm at the event. We would be allowed to pass out lodge brochures. Jean Draheim gave a brief summary of the Czech organization s participation in a similar event. This would be a big commitment but it would be a wonderful exposure for our organization. Karen Weiberg presented an illustrated talk about her experiences Norway learning to make a skinnfell. It was very interesting to learn about a skill that is being revived and to be able to see the skinnfell that Karen made. Frank Sherman, Jeane Pearson, Ron Stow and Doug Peterson celebrated March birthdays. Ron and Susan Stow celebrated their anniversary. Frank Sherman won the February door prize and Cathie Reasoner won the March door prize. Thank you to Jacquie Carlone and Lenore Jesness for the delicious treats. YUST FOR FUN! Born a Lutheran Each Friday night after work, Ole would fire up his outdoor grill on the shore of Big Stone Lake and cook a venison steak. But, all of Ole's neighbors were Catholic... And since it was Lent, they we forbidden from eating meat on Friday. The delicious aroma from the grilled venison steaks wafted over Ortonville all the way to Clinton and was causing such a problem for the Catholic faithful that they finally talked to their priest. The Priest came to visit Ole, and suggested that he become a Catholic. After several classes and much study, Ole attended Mass...and as the priest sprinkled holy water over him, he said, "You were born a Lutheran, and raised a Lutheran, but now you are a Catholic." Ole's neighbors were relieved, until Friday night arrived, and the wonderful aroma of grilled venison filled the neighborhood. The Priest was called immediately by the neighbors,and, as he rushed into Ole's yard, clutching a rosary and prepared to scold him, he stopped and watched in amazement. There stood Ole, clutching a small bottle of holy water which he carefully sprinkled over the grilling meat and chanted: "You vuz born a deer, you vuz raised a deer, but now you is a walleye pike." Swedish Almond Cake (Served at the SON meeting in March.) 1 cup sugar 1 egg 1 1/2 tsp almond extract 2/3 cup milk 1 1/4 cups flour 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/2 cup melted margarine or butter Combine sugar, egg, almond extract and milk. Mix well. Sift together flour and baking powder. Add to sugar mixture. Beat in melted margarine. Spray 9 1/2 by 5 1/2 inch or 8 inch square pan with cooking oil spray. Spoon batter into pan. Bake in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. Cool for 20 minutes. Remove from pan. Variations: Add cardamom flavoring or a combination of almond and cardamom. Enjoy! Lenore Jesness The deadline to submit items to the Brevet for the coming month is normally the 20th of the previous month. Please keep this time frame in mind, and keep those news items coming! Thanks, -Lowell and Linda SynNorBrevet, Synnøve-Nordkap Lodge, Issue , Page 6

7 Lodge News April Junior Lodge Update Our March Junior Lodge meeting was a bit of a change for us. The meeting date fell at the beginning of Spring Break for many of our dancers, who were traveling. We changed our regular rehearsal time to the morning to tune up for the Festival of Nations audition to be held that same day at 1 p.m. at the International Institute in St. Paul and also rehearse for our two April performances. There was just enough time for a little lunch, changing into our bunads and then driving to the Institute. As it turned out, there were enough children for three groups of three couples from Peer Gynt. We met the Minneapolis Fjell og Fjord group in the parking lot for a mini rehearsal to coordinate with them, as we do not usually rehearse together. Fortunately, it was sunny, fairly warm and not too windy outdoors at the Institute. Our audition was the first scheduled for Saturday, March 10 th. Before the performance, I had told the leaders of each of our three groups to look at the other groups in line to make sure that we were all parallel. The judges commented that we needed to smile more during the performance, which is always a plus. The Peer Gynt Dancers were concentrating intently on doing well and keeping parallel, so they forgot to relax and smile. All things considered, the children are outstanding! The Synnøve-Nordkap Junior Lodge is planning to travel by coach bus to Stoughton, Wisconsin for Syttende Mai on Saturday, May 19 th. We would like to invite senior lodge members who would like to make the trip. The cost for the bus trip would be $35. A $5 button purchase gets you in to special events at the festival, such as seeing the performance of the famous and fabulous Stoughton Norwegian Dancers. More trip details are available on the calendar page of the Brevet. Bring your pillow, your snacks, your puzzle book or novel, your camera, your newest Ole and Lena joke (G-rated for the children) and especially your enthusiasm! -Susan Stow SynNorBrevet, Synnøve-Nordkap Lodge, Issue , Page 7

8 Norwegian/English Word Of the Month Contributed by Judy Linder of Unit 7 Group. Ombudsman An ombudsman is a person who acts as a trusted intermediary between either the state or an organization, while representing not only, but mostly the broad scope of constituent interests. It is an indigenous Norwegian term and is rooted in the Old Norse word umboosmaor, meaning representative. In modern usage, an ombudsman is an official who is charged with representing the interests of the public by investigating and addressing complaints reported by individuals. Benefit News Save For Retirement Early (and often) If you want to be rich when you re old, there s no better way than to start saving when you re young. Unfortunately, that s also when you re likely to think that you can least afford to save. But consider what happens if you start saving $200 a month in a retirement account from the moment you land your first full-time job at age 22. Within ten years, you ll amassed a nest egg of more than $37,000; in 20 years, you ll have more than $122,000. Keep it up and you ll have a tidy $1.2 million when you retire at age 67. (The numbers assume an average rate of return of 8% annually) What happens if you don t start saving until you start earning more, perhaps at age 32? Assuming you save the same amount and get the same return, you ll have just $494,000 at age 67. In other words waiting a decade cost you about $700,000. No matter what rate of return you actually get, the sooner you start the better off you will be. For more information on Retirement Saving, schedule a complementary Sons of Norway financial review. Reference: Kiplinger s Personal Finance, April Greg Hovland Financial Benefits Counselor ltcfinancial@msn.com Museum Project Committee - Important Reminder! Ron Kvaas of the Museum Project Committee is asking members to continue to look for artifacts to use in the display. Here is what we have to date: Meredith Berg - Large, beautiful family Bible and 1864 small wooden trunk Sasha Aslanian - homemade Norwegian sweaters, gloves, mittens, patterns Sheryl Hove - Soljas - one from Ingebretsons and one from Norway Millie Hartleben - Old coffee grinder (1897), salt holder Dana W. Carlson - Immigration papers Ron Kvaas spinning wheel, wool cards, bygdelag photo, 1915 Norwegian schoolbook, 1915 Julebud Joanne Englund - Miner's candle, kitchen fork, spoonholder, knife, antique lefse stick Karen Vinnes year old flag SynNorBrevet, Synnøve-Nordkap Lodge, Issue , Page 8

9 Corner Library By Trudi Johnson-Richards The Troll Circle by Sigurd Hoel is a historical saga, murder mystery and domestic tragedy. Sigurd Hoel s last novel is set in early 19 th century, following Norway s independence from Denmark. It was inspired from Hoel s childhood of an executioner s block used in the beheading of a murdered in From that image grew the story of a young farmer named Havard Viland The farmer wants to bring hope and dignity into the lives of everybody, but he is an outsider in his rural community. Tricked into marriage, gradually cut off, pushed into the position of scapegoat, he becomes misunderstood. He becomes the victim of a circle of aggressive neighbors and officials intent on maintaining the status quo by sticking to the old, accustomed ways and business as usual. The Troll Circle abounds in folklore, superstition and quaint customs. The novel, considered by Hoel his best work, capped a distinguished career as a literary and cultural critic as well as a writer of fiction. Hoel knew, as soon as he decided on a literary career (about 1920), that he would someday write the story of the local murder. In the meantime, the image of the young murderer a freeholder s son who had killed his pregnant sweetheart was about a good man condemned to death for a crime he did not commit because he was an outsider. Throughout The Troll Circle two opposing themes are evident: the rational drive toward progress and a dark undertow of irrational forces that holds it back. Hoel suggests, most of us retreat or make the wrong turn so that we lose our way or go astray. Readers react to Sigurd Havard in a variety of ways. He is able and talented, reasonably experienced and informed. He is high-spirited and courageous as shown by his wartime exploits; a good husband, father and neighbor. Yet he falls short. Havard can never be right : before his neighbors, his hired help or his wife. His goal is to shape a community that will guarantee freedom, dignity and happiness for all. How can a man like Havard, with all his strengths, find himself I such dire straits? It is the close interweaving of motifs from dreams and folklore which defines the logic of fatality in The Troll Circle. Sigurd Hoel, author, editor and translator was born in 1890; died in His books include Arvestalet (1941) in which Havard Viland first appears and Meeting at the Milestone, translated in The Troll Circle was donated by Trudi Johnson-Richards on March 13, 2012 to the Synnove-Nordkap Lodge Corner Library Book reviews are appreciated from all Synnove-Nordkap members. Submit them to Lowell or Linda.. As your Independent Norwex Consultant I am committed to helping you save time and money providing you with a complete line of products that are better for your health and better for the environment. Norwex Stands for Norwegian Experience. To give a little bit of background Norwex was started by a team of doctors and scientists in Norway that wanted to come up with any alternative to chemical cleaning in surgical units and other area in the hospital. So they came up with a cloth that removed 99.8 % of all germs with just water. Norwex products support our mission to improve the quality of life by radically reducing chemicals in personal care and cleaning with just WATER. I would be happy to serve you by providing you with additional information, discussing product selection and sharing more information with you about Norwex. Sharon Kalmes (Lodge member ) SynNorBrevet, Synnøve-Nordkap Lodge, Issue , Page 9

10 Synnøve-Nordkap Lodge #1-008 Sons of Norway 3510 Centerville Rd Vadnais Heights, Minnesota Time sensitive material; please deliver promptly! 2012 OFFICERS & COMMITTEE CHAIRS PRESIDENT Ron Stow * VICE PRES./MEMBERSHIP Kathy Stevens SECRETARY Sue Halvorson MEMBERSHIP SEC. Trudi Johnson-Richards TREASURER Laura Sherman SOCIAL DIRECTOR Pat Carlson (cell) Sharon Kalmes CULTURAL DIRECTOR [open] COUNSELOR Sharon Amann JR LODGE/PEER GYNT DANCERS Susan Stow TRUSTEES Wayne Bjorum Kathy Kaluza Jean Draheim MARSHALL Chuck Draheim ASSISTANT MARSHALL Kathy Kaluza SPORTS DIRECTOR Rod Hale HISTORIAN Lenore Jesness MUSICIAN Susan Stow GREETERS Lisa Mutchler Sharon Kalmes NEWSLETTER EDITORS Lowell Johnson Linda Holmstrom Dave Mutchler NEWSLETTER MAILER: Connie Chrissis NEWSLETTER STAFF: Beryl Boe, Lenore Jesness, Rod Hale,Trudi Johnson- Richards, Judy Stanke, Ron and Susan Stow PUBLICITY: Leif Erickson Jana Stow ADOPT-A-SCHOOL COORD. Ruth Gibson SUNSHINE Mary Beth Mutchler LIBRARIAN Trudi Johnson-Richards GENEALOGY Cathie Reasoner Fred Matson NORSK CLASSES Sheryl Hove Crystal Bloecher WEBMASTER Dave Mutchler FOUNDATION Rod Hale SCHOLARSHIP Rod Hale AUDITORS Bob Smith / Ed Gilbertson Linda Holmstrom (* All area codes are 651 unless otherwise specified). SYNNØVE-NORDKAP SONS OF NORWAY LODGE #1-008 First Lutheran Church 463 Maria Ave. St. Paul, MN Upcoming Activities Recruitment Dinner - Apr. 10 Orienteering Walk - Apr.21 Stoughton,WI Syttende Mai - May More Info Inside The Mission of Sons of Norway is to promote and to preserve the heritage and culture of Norway, to celebrate our relationship with other Nordic countries, and to provide quality insurance and financial products to its members. Synnøve-Nordkap Lodge welcomes visitors and new members. SynNorBrevet, Synnøve-Nordkap Lodge, Issue , Page 10