ELVESUND SONS OF NORWAY LODGE #5-593

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ELVESUND SONS OF NORWAY LODGE #5-593 PRESIDENT: Nancy Robinson, 835 Circle Avenue, Forest Park, IL 60130,, 708-366-1538 EDITOR: Thomas Maxson, 715 Laurel Avenue, Des Plaines, IL 60016, 847-297-1656

. 2014 This stabbur is a replica of a storehouse from a farm near Telemark, Norway. The original was built about 1775. This replica was constructed in Norway.

1 ELVESUND SONS OF NORWAY LODGE #5-593 PRESIDENT: Nancy Robinson, 835 Circle Avenue, Forest Park, IL 60130,, EDITOR: Thomas Maxson, 715 Laurel Avenue, Des Plaines, IL 60016, OUR UPCOMING MEETINGS September 28 October 26 M e e t i n g s : 3 : : 0 0 PM 4 t h S u n d a y o f t h e M o n t h Stabbur Perry Straw Norwegian Knifemaker Sept.-Oct This stabbur is a replica of a storehouse from a farm near Telemark, Norway. The original was built about This replica was constructed in Norway. It was then disassembled and shipped to Minot where it was reconstructed in Perry Straw won two Blue Ribbons in Vesterheim s annual National Exhibition of Folk Art. He earned enough points with these ribbons to become a Vesterheim Gold Medalist. He won one Blue Ribbon with a dress carving knife and the other Blue Ribbon with a Sami-style knife. Perry will bring his knives and demonstrate his craft. Inside This Issue Member Page Gratulerer Med Dagen Congratulations! Foundation Month Leif Erikson Day Calendar of Events Nancy s Notes Elections In Memoriam Thor Heyerdahl Come hear John and Diana Myhre explain more about stabburs and show the replica they won at the Sangerfest in the spring.

Page 2 MEET A MEMBER: JACK LUND Congratulations to Jack Lund who was the first recipient of the Burr Ridge Patriot Award that was presented to him on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 18, 2013.

2 Page 2 MEET A MEMBER: JACK LUND Congratulations to Jack Lund who was the first recipient of the Burr Ridge Patriot Award that was presented to him on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 18, Jack was honored for spending over 900 hours playing bingo with spinal injury patients at Hines Hospital, being on the Memorial Day Committee for 18 years, usually as chairman or co-chairman, and for being Poppy Day Committee Chairman for 18 years. Jack was presented with a bronze plaque and a second bronze plaque was mounted on the wall at Burr Ridge City Hall. MEET OUR NEW MEMBER Elizabeth W. Maloney 1128 Schneider Ave. Oak Park, IL Be sure to add Elizabeth to your Directory. MEET OUR NEW GOLDEN MEMBERS To qualify as a Golden Member, you must be at least 65 years old and a member of Sons of Norway for 30 years. Charles R. Blomster Thomas J. Maxson John D. Myhre Elaine L. Ostrem Ruth B. Peck Mary Ramsland Sordel GRATULERER MED DAGEN September 2 Gardis Dahle 21 Linda Courtice 22 John Myhre October 10 Judy Arnold 22 Jerry Amen 25 Solveig Pedersen 30 Ernie Halverson

3 Page 3 CONGRATULATIONS ELVESUND! There are eight districts in Sons of Norway. We are District 5 and our convention is in June every two years. The convention covers resolutions suggested by various lodges and are voted on by the attending delegates. Elections of the Board of Directors is also held. And merit awards for the previous two years are presented. At the previous two conventions, 2012 and 2010, Elvesund was awarded Merit Awards at the Bronze level. For both 2012 and 2013, Elvesund was awarded at the Silver level; for the 2012 year, we were 1 point shy of GOLD! But the best prize of all, for 2012, Elvesund was presented with a plaque announcing we were recognized as LODGE OF THE YEAR Congratulations to all of you! Every member of our Lodge, take a bow! CONGRATULATIONS! Dinner s on us at The September 28 meeting OCTOBER IS FOUNDATION MONTH The Foundation is a very important segment of our international organization through its scholarship programs and humanitarian aid. We would like to continue our support this year of the Foundation as we have in the past. If each member attending the October meeting would bring a contribution of your age times 5 cents, this should generate a little extra contribution for this year, in additional to the contribution our lodge will make. If you do not live in the area or are unable to attend the meeting, send a mail in gift marked Foundation to: Margaret Bisberg 1506 Courtland Avenue Park Ridge, IL

In honor of this special date, let s take a closer look at a few facts about the holiday and the man who inspired it. Erikson or Eiriksson or Ericson?

4 Page 4 LEIF ERIKSON DAY OCTOBER 9 An official.u.s. holiday, Leif Erikson Day commemorates the achievement of famous Norse explorer, Leif Erikson. Credited with being the first European to reach the North American continent, Erikson arrived almost four centuries before Columbus. In honor of this special date, let s take a closer look at a few facts about the holiday and the man who inspired it. Erikson or Eiriksson or Ericson? The spelling of Leif Erikson s name varies in relation to the language it is being translated to. In his own languae, Old Norse, his name would have been Leifr Eirksson. Leif was the second son of legendary Norse explorer, Erik the Red, who is believed to have established the first European settlements in Greenland around A.D Erik the Red was supposed to join his son s expedition to North America but a fall from horseback prior to the ship s boarding left Erik with misgivings about the voyage. Believing his fall to be a sign of an ill-fated trip, Erik stayed behind. Where in North America is Vinland? The Groenlendinga saga suggests Erikson made three landfalls: the first at Helluland, now widely believed to be Baffin Island in the present-day Nunsvut, Canada; the second in Markland or what we would now know as Labrador, Canada; and Vinland. Although it is believed that Vinland is located somewhere in Newfoundland, perhaps at the excavated site of an 11th-century Viking base camp found at L Anse aux Meadows in the 1960 s, the definitive site of the settlement remains heavily debated. In fact, the etymology of the Norse word itself has yielded at least two possible meanings, wine-land or pasture-land depending on translation and interpretation of the descriptions provided in the saga. While it is predominantly believed that the correct translation is wine-land, theories point out that the wild grapes described in the sagas cannot be found today as far north as Newfoundland. Explanations for this are varied, offering that perhaps Erikson s men mistook wild berries for grapes, that the climate was warmer and more hospitable during that time, or that the saga writers simply embellished the abundance of the land to make it more appealing. Why October 9? The official date of Leif Erikson Day doesn t directly correlate to Erikson s arrival in North America. Instead, in a nod to the same explorative spirit that fueled Erikson s journey, the date marks the arrival of the very first immigrant ship from Norway, the Restauration, to New York in Exactly 100 years later, President Coolidge declared Erikson the first European to discover America during a commemorative address in Minnesota. In the years that followed, several US. States adopted the date as a state holiday and in September of 1964, Congress approved a public resolution authorizing President Johnson to declare October 9 as Leif Erikson Day nationwide.

5 Page 5 CALENDAR OF EVENTS September September 7 Annual Scandinavian Day, Vasa Park, South Elgin, IL 10:00 AM 6:00 PM. $10.00 adults, children under 12 free com September 20 Viking Ship Visitors Day, 1:00 PM 4:00 PM, Good Templar Park, Geneva, IL. Adults $5.00, teens $3.00, children 12 and under free. The Viking is a replica of the Gokstad ship. In 1893 she sailed across the Atlantic from Bergen, Norway to New York and on to the World s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Docent-led tours begin every 30 minutes. Last tour begins at 3:30 PM. September 21 Skjold News Benefit, 3:00 PM, AUYA Ukrainian Center, Palatine, IL. $11:00 buffet. Donate a nice gift for the auction. September 26 Gospel Hymn Sing, Fox River Lutheran Church, Sheridan (Norway), IL, 6:00 PM. Refreshments and snacks following. Part of a weekend celebrating the 175th Anniversary of the first Norwegian Lutheran Church in America. September 27 Dinner and Drama, 5:00 PM, Fox River Lutheran Church, Sheridan (Norway), IL. The drama depicts the trials and troubles of finding a good church back in the 1800s. Catered dinner requires reservations in advance September 28 Rededication Service, 3:00 PM, Fox River Lutheran Church, Sheridan (Norway), IL September 28 Stabbur, Elvesund Lodge meeting, St. Michael s Church, 500 E. 31st St., LaGrange Park, IL, 3:00-6:00 PM. Elvesund will provide a celebratory meal. - October October 4 Scandinavian Park 14th Annual Fish Boil and Harvest Festival Vasa Park, South Elgin, IL. October 12 Leif Erikson Day Celebration / Wreath Laying Ceremony, Norwegian National League, Humboldt Park, 1440 N. Sacramento Drive, Chicago, IL. 1:00 PM. October 18 Viking Ship Visitors Day, 1:00 PM 4:00 PM, Good Templar Park, Geneva, IL. Adults $5:00, teens $3.00, children 12 and under free. (See September 20 above for details). October 25 Normenneness Singing Society 144th Anniversary Banquet, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Northbrook, IL. October 26 Perry Straw, Norwegian Knifemaker, Elvesund Lodge meeting. St. Michael s Church, 500 E. 31st St., LaGrange Park, IL, 3:00-6:00 PM.

6 . Page 6 NANCY S NOTES What a fabulous year we ve had so far! A few highlights: wonderful weather for Syttende Mai along with our enthusiastic marchers! The Bjornson Male Chorus bringing some wonderful song to our 30th anniversary party... Four rivets for the Viking Ship... and Lodge of the Year in District 5! We had a successful day at Vasa Park! The Lodge is buying us dinner at the meeting September 28. But we need to know how many are coming. PLEASE RSVP TO MARY VANN IF YOU RE COMING SEPTEMBER ELECTION DAY IN NOVEMBER It may seem far away, but elections for the Board of Directors is in November. Transfer of Boards is in January. Officer positions for our lodge are: President Vice President In charge of membership. Recruitment. Secretary Takes minutes of meeting and board meetings Financial Secretary Counts monies taken at meetings and sent by International. Signs off to Treasurer. Treasurer Pays bills; make deposits Social Director Arranges for speakers and programming Refreshments In charge of kitchen, clean-up and refreshment table Editor Writes and creates newsletter Sunshine Sends out various greetings including birthdays, get-well, and sympathy Historian Keeps scrapbook of events Sports Medal Director If you have any questions about a position, or if you would like to serve in any of these positions, see me or Tom Maxson. SEPTEMBER IS LIFE INSURANCE AWARENESS MONTH Remember Sons of Norway is a financial benefit society. If you need financial planning or insurance information, call Greg Regan at He can help your money grow on trees.

Page 7 IN MEMORIAM Gladys E. Wick. Born November 26, 1927. Memorial visitation was July 19 at United Lutheran Church in Oak Park.

Born February 1, 1918; passed away June 22, 2014. Visitation was at Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home in Oak Park, followed by a mass at St. Bernardine Church in Forest Park.

She was 96 and in poor health; she moved to Florida to be near her daughter. A long-time resident of Forest Park, she was very active in Elvesund. In fact, she was the president for several years.

7 Page 7 IN MEMORIAM Gladys E. Wick. Born November 26, Memorial visitation was July 19 at United Lutheran Church in Oak Park. In lieu of flowers, memorials could be sent to United Lutheran Church or Shriner s Hospital for Children, Chicago. Gladys was a Golden Member of Elvesund, having joined in Margaret Marie Sager. Born February 1, 1918; passed away June 22, Visitation was at Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home in Oak Park, followed by a mass at St. Bernardine Church in Forest Park. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St. Bernardine Catholic Church in Margaret s memory. Remembrance of Tom Maxson: I know many of you may not remember Margaret Sager. She was 96 and in poor health; she moved to Florida to be near her daughter. A long-time resident of Forest Park, she was very active in Elvesund. In fact, she was the president for several years. A little side fact, Margaret was not Norwegian! How did she become president of a Norwegian group? Dan Bjornson was the CPA for the company Margaret was president of. He invited her to one of the lodge s game nights. In the early years, the lodge held game nights first in the Riverside town hall and later in members homes. It was great fun and gave members a chance to get to know each other better. Margaret liked us and started coming to lodge meetings and got hooked on Norwegian culture. She was a great cook and a talented needle crafter. She made lots of mittens at the Knit a Mitten meetings when Lodge members knitted mittens for poor children in the area. She also made a lot of the ornaments for our Christmas tree. In fact, we still use some of her ornaments. As you can see, Margaret gave much of herself to the Lodge. She ll be missed by those of us who knew her. She was a great lady. Christina A. Irwin. Born June 10, 1942; passed away July 1, She lived in Westchester and formerly Oak Park. President s note: Although Christina was not a member of Elvesund, many of you may remember her. She was an active member of the Norwegian American Chamber of Commerce. I m told she was very proud to escort one of her grandsons to the Syttende Mai Banquet this year. I knew Christina for about 30 years. She was a client of mine in a company I owned in Oak Park. And when I joined a company in Bensenville, she became our accountant. She introduced me to Dan Bjornson, who, in turn, introduced me to Elvesund. Christina was one of our biggest supporters of our Christmas cookie project. We ll all miss her smile and effervescence.

8 Nancy Robinson President 835 Circle Avenue Forest Park, IL M e e t i n g s : 3 : : 0 0 PM 4 t h S u n d a y o f t h e M o n t h THOR HEYERDAHL S CENTENNIAL 2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of famed Norwegian ethnographer, adventurer, and writer, Thor Heyerdahl. He is known for his attempts to receate prehistoric expeditions to prove that early humans were capable of sailing long distances even prior to the invention of the wheel. To commemorate Heyerdahl s birth, the Kon-Tiki Museum in Oslo will launch a new exhibit, Thor Heyerdahl and will also have a touring exhibition. It was in 1947 that Heyerdahl and the others launched their spectacular voyage in a hand built balsa wood raft, the Kon-Tiki, an alternate name for the Inca sun god Viracocha. The crew sailed 5,000 miles from coastal Peru to the islands of French Polynesia. Heyerdahl sought to prove that contact among ancient peoples over vast distance was a possibility, and based the primitive vessel s design on sketches that Spanish Conquistadors had made of Inca rafts. The expedition across the Pacific Ocean lasted 101 days and Heyerdahl admitted that he d worried about his safety at times. Heyerdahl wrote a book about his voyage, The Kon- Tiki Expedition: By Raft Across the South Seas which sold millions of copies. After the success of the expedition, in 1969, Heyerdahl s attempt to navigate the Atlantic Ocean from Morocco to Barbados in a papyrus boat called Ra fell just short of his goal. The next year he completed the trip successfully in a similar ship, Ra II. Heyerdahl sparked the imagination of the public becoming a well loved celebrity for these daring voyages, yet his scientific work was largely unaccepted. In the academic world, however, he did succeed in bringing the fields of anthropology and archaeology into public interest. To learn more about Heyerdahl and the exhibit honoring him, visit the Kon-Tiki Museum s official website.

October 2014 Volume 38 No. 06 VIRGINIA VIKING SONS OF NORWAY HAMPTON ROADS LODGE NO. 522

October 2014 Volume 38 No. 06 VIRGINIA VIKING SONS OF NORWAY HAMPTON ROADS LODGE NO. 522 President: Bob Rumney Vice President: Michael J. Beck Secretary: June Cooper Treasurer: Ragnhild Zingler The President