OCTOBER 2011 Third District Today

Transcription

1 OCTOBER 2011 Third District Today 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. Fra Presidenten Ralph Peterson Hei alle sammen. I hope that you had a great summer and were not affected by Irene (Hurricane Irene that is) or any of the other nasty storms that we have so far experienced this season. Hopefully that type of weather is gone for a while. Following up on my last letter we did see some moose before we left Newfoundland and they were not in the road or my headlights. They were huge and seemed to be as interested in us as we were with them. As I said before, the trips on Hurtigruten and to L Anse Aux Meadows, Newfoundland have to be two of the greatest trips that I have made. The planning for our convention and centennial celebration continues. Thus far only 30 lodges have submitted lodge histories to our Centennial Editor, Asbjorn Lageraaen. For the remaining lodges, please make every effort to send your lodge history to Asbjorn so we have a book with all lodge histories in our centennial book. By the time you get this letter we should have a convention /centennial page on the web site. We will shortly send you (those with address listed on the SON web site) a note via our new constant contact program with more info on the events as well. Over the past month we lost over 100 members but our list of members with addresses grew by 50. That means that many of you heard my plea and listed your address on the SON web site. Tusen takk. Please continue to do so. Call , ask for membership and they will get your information on the site. Our web site hit a daily all time high in early September with 487 visitors logging on. Our August 2011 average was over 230 daily visitors and another 4,800 visitors were on the site compared to August Please list your lodge events on the web site events calendar. People are looking for events to attend and this will help them and your event. Check here for information on SON travel benefits. Membership loss is a continued concern for the entire order. District 3 has only 10 lodges with positive growth this year. Fredheim with a 19.7 growth factor leads the way. The fall is when we normally grow but this year we must step on the pedal. We need membership tables at every event we can fit into. More and better communications will help keep our members and having a welcome and friendly atmosphere at our meetings will encourage our visitors to join. My challenge remains the same: sign up a new member before the end of the year and I will do the same. As the time for local lodge elections draws near, I encourage all members to consider running for office. As one member, who is a minister, told her lodge, If you are asked to serve, say yes. We need enthusiastic and determined leaders and supporters of all ages willing to share their talents. "Are you taking advantage of the SON travel benefits which include discounted hotels in Norway????" The SON has negotiated several travel discounts that are yours for the asking. Information on these benefits, which includes promotion codes, is found on the SON web site. The benefits include the following: 1. Thirteen % Discount at Country Inn and Suites 2. Five % discount with Burtons Travel Third District Today

2 3. Ten % discount with Icelandic air 4. Up to a 15% discount with Best Western including some Norwegian locations. 5. Up to 20 % with Avis and Budget. There are about 30 Best Western locations in Norway and they are listed on the Best Western web site Take advantage of these benefits and you will get your dues back and more in just a short time. You can use these benefits as an incentive when you are recruiting new members. A couple nights in a discounted Norwegian Hotel and their dues will be paid for and more. DISTRICT 3 CONVEY HOOKS UP WITH LEIF ERICKSON HISTORY On 1 August, seven District 3 members left the site of the hugely successful Maine Nordmenn Lobster Fest, headed for the Canadian border and a voyage to L Anse Aux Meadows, Newfoundland. This is the location of Leif Erickson s documented settlement in North America but there may have been more. The convey consisted of 2 fifth wheelers, one motor home and one normal car with a total of 7 souls embarked. The Abrahamson s from Maine Nordmenn, the Hanson s from Norumbega, Peter Vatne from Norumbega and the Petersons from Hampton Roads made up the crew. The first day was a bit long as we drove over 400 miles from Bailey Island, MI to Moncton, NB The border crossing went well and the GPS only failed one driver as we ended up in the RV Park we set out to find. Day two brought us to Sydney, NS where we spent the night in a Wal-Mart Parking lot waiting for our ferry boat which we caught on Day 3. It was a 6 hour crossing which went fairly well. Keeping with our policy of no night driving we found a beautiful camp site 20 minutes from the Ferry. Those 20 minutes had some great scenery and set the tone for the trip. Day 4 was a short drive to Rocky Point in Gros Morne National park. It may have been a short drive but it included a lot of up and downs coupled with several hair pin turns. It was an exciting drive with 30 and 40 plus rigs and full of great sites for those of us who could look. We were up early the next day for our departure to St Anthony. It was another beautiful drive. As soon as we hooked up at our camp site we jumped in pickups and cars and headed for the ice bergs. It was unbelievable. There were ice bergs of all sizes and shapes as far as we could see. I was just a great sight to see. The locals told us that it was the most ice bergs they had seen for years. Over our 5 days in the area there we saw several huge bergs as they passed by. But every day we saw ice bergs and they were awesome, especially for those of us who had never seen them before. We spent 5 days in the area and every day was great. We went to the Leif Erickson site and saw all there was to see. We took the guided tour and watched the movie about the discovery of the site. We went to the little Viking village of Norstrand which is a working example of the Leif Erickson site. Both were excellent. We also went to an evening of Viking Sagas and tales which was a great evening. We also attended a Viking Dinner that was a bit touristy but a lot of fun. Our Viking travels were educational, fun and exciting. On a special note we ate out at 5 different restaurants in the St Anthony area and they were all excellent. The people of Newfoundland were very friendly and just great. We did see a couple of moose. Fortunately they were on the side of the road and not in the middle so they only caused excitement and not problems. All to soon our Viking adventure was over and we found ourselves back in Sydney, Nova Scotia for one last evening together before our convey was to break up and we all went different directions. We are all in agreement that the many hundred mile trip was well worth it to visit Newfoundland and L Anse Aux Meadows. I think that we are looking at a St Johns, NF trip in the future. Third District Today

3 Vice President Gail Ekloff Getting ready to elect new officers? What an awesome time for the lodges to elect members to lead you for the next year or two. Change is good and sometimes scary, but you d be amazed how many members will step up to the challenge if given the chance. Now is a good time to use you lodge surveys to evaluate what direction the members would like the lodge to go and what goals should be set. The survey results will be helpful guidelines for the new officers. (You can download surveys on the International Sons of Norway or on our 3D website). Suggestions on the survey might be helpful in setting up your lodge s event calendars. Once the events calendar is decided don t forget to send a copy to your Zone Director. The Zone Director can than make sure he/she informs the District of the lodge s happenings. Don t forget to have them posted on the 3D website and on the International website. Both sites give easy directions on how to post the information. Once an installations date is decided make sure you send the date, time and place to District Secretary, Marci Larson. Marci will update the calendar and than post it so lodges can enjoy each others installations and let the new officer know we are all there to support them. Visiting another lodge or zone event is a great opportunity for you to meet your fellow Sons of Noway members and see how they run their event of meeting. How is the plan for the Fundraiser going? Have you picked out the date, time, and kind of event you will use to help raise funds for the Boomer Eaison Foundation? Consider advertising in your local paper this is a great way to let the neighborhood know that your lodge exists who knows, you might meet new members! For more information on the Boomer Eiason Foundation please read my Vice Presidents letter on our 3d website it can be found under the About Us heading and than under District officers. Alt for denne gangen, Gail Remember the 2 A s; Ask & Advertise Remember the 2 M's; Mentor and Mingle Kathy Dollymore, 3D Public Relations check out the blog on the 3D web site for ideas and notes from your board Leif Landed First I m wearing my t-shirt right now- Yes, we are proud of this fact especially as Leif still doesn t get the respect of that other discoverer. I remember when my son was in 3 rd grade and the assignment was to do a report on Explorers. Matt did a report on Leif Erickson in the first person as if he was a crew mate on the ship- Reindeer skin, colorful shield, helmet (without horns), etc. The teacher had not realized the importance of this courageous adventurer, leading to more study of the Vikings. Of course the young men in the class couldn t get enough of those daring early voyagers. To this day, 15 years later, there are class friends of his that will call and wish us a Happy Leif Erickson Day- I like remembering this story and it shows the ripple effect of our sharing our heritage with others. Yes, it was fun for 8 year old boys to think about being Vikings but more than that it opened a world to a culture and a people that many had not considered. I know when Norway is mentioned there are thoughts of Norse voyagers. A good starting point, wouldn t you say.. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Kristin Stone, Cultural Director Leif Erikson Day is October 9 th Leif Erikson (c ) was a Norse explorer who is regarded as the first European to land in North America (excluding Greenland), nearly 500 years before Christopher Columbus. According to the Sagas of Icelanders, he established a Norse settlement at Vinland, which has been tentatively identified with the L Anse aux Meadows Norse site on the northern tip of the island of Newfoundland in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada It is believed that Leif was born about AD 970 in Iceland, the son of Erik Thorvalsson, known as Erik the Red, a Norse explorer from Western Norway. Erik the Red founded two Norse colonies in Greenland. (More about Erik the Red at Third District Today

4 Though Leif Erikson was the first to land on North America, Bjarni Herjolfsson was a Norwegian explorer who is believed to have sighted it in 985 or 986. The Grœnlendinga saga ('Greenlanders Saga') tells that one year he sailed to Greenland to visit his parents as usual, but was blown off course. He saw a piece of land that was not Greenland. The land looked hospitable, but Bjarni was eager to reach Greenland to see his parents and did not land and explore the new lands. (More about Bjarni s voyage at The Saga of the Greenlanders tells that Leif set out in the year 1002 or 1003 to follow Bjarni's route with 35 crew members, but going north. The first land he went to was covered with flat rocks (Old Norse hella). He therefore called it Helluland ("Land of the Flat Stones"). This was possibly Baffin Island. Next he came to a land that was flat and wooded, with white sandy beaches. He called this Markland ("Wood land"), which is possibly Labrador. Leif and his crew left Markland and again found land, which they named Vinland. They landed and built a small settlement which they called Leifsbúdir, meaning Leif s storage houses, suggesting the settlement was temporary. Research done in the 1950s and 1960s by explorer Helge Ingstad and his wife, archaeologist Anne Stine Ingstad, identified a Norse settlement located at the northern tip of Newfoundland, known as L'Anse aux Meadows, which has been suggested as Leifsbúdir. (More about L Anse aux Meadows at October 9 is not associated with any particular event in Leif Erikson's life. The date was chosen because the ship Restauration, coming from Stavanger, Norway, arrived in New York Harbor on October 9, 1825 as the start of the first organized immigration from Norway to the United States. In 1930, Wisconsin became the first U.S. State to officially adopt Leif Erikson Day as a state holiday. In 1964 the United States Congress authorized and requested the president to proclaim October 9 of each year as "Leif Erikson Day". They have done so ever since. (Read Barack Obama s 2010 proclamation at press office/2010/10/08/presidential proclamation leif erikson day) Information compiled from FROM THE SECRETARY, Marci Larson This is a reminder that Nominating Committees should be in place for the lodges that are holding elections before year end, which is about half. I will forward to the lodge secretaries and presidents a written request for installation information. Please complete the form and return to me as soon as you can. I then develop a master schedule of the lodge installations, dates and the person requested to install the officers. If your lodge is not electing officers, please tell me that as well. I appreciate receiving this information as soon as possible. The installation form is also on the district web site under forms. If you have any questions, please e mail me at mlarson@northfloridatpo.com. 3 D Sports Director Gene Olson 2011 Bowling Tournament Results: NOR BU Lodge received 7 individual trophies for 1 st & 2 nd place in both men s and women s Division and 1 st place Hdcp Men s team and 1 st place Scratch Women s team. Sun Viking Lodge received 2 individual trophies for 1 st place Series Sratch Men s Division and 1 st Place Series Scratch Women s Division and 1 st Place Hdcp Mixed Team. Suncoast Lodge received 2 individual trophies for 2 nd Place High Game Scratch Women s Division and 1 st Place High Series HDCP Women s Division. Gulfstream Lodge received 1 individual trophy for 2 nd Place High Series Scratch Women s Division and 1 st Place Scratch Men s Team 1. Hartford Lodge received 2 individual trophies for 1 st Place High Series HDCP in both Men s and Women s Divisions. Bondelandet Lodge received 2 individual trophies for 2 nd Place in High Game Scratch and High Game Series HDCP in Men s Division and 1 st Place Scratch Mixed team 3. Sports Medal Challenge: We had 4 Lodges out of a possible Third District 53 Lodges. Not Good. What can be done to get more Lodges/Members involved. The 4 Lodges are: Noreg Lodge with 14 members participating Third District Today

5 Oslo Lodge with 3 members participating Hampton Roads Lodge with 7 members participating Bondelandet Lodge with 9 members participating That is 33 members (33%) out of a potential membership of 6,642 members ZONE NEWS ZONE 1: Kris Rasmussen Director ZONE 2: Judy Mack, Director News from Zone 2 During the Hummerfest in July there was a parade of roses, a moment of silence, lighting of candles, and comments by Terje Korsnes, honorary Norwegian Consul; Carolyn Brown, Maine Nordmenn president; and Joe Zarnitz, past Third District Counselor in recognition of the tragedy in Norway. Very impressive and moving! Hartford Lodge will be hosting the Zone 2 meeting (11:00AM) before their meeting (2:00PM) on October 16. Their meeting will feature their annual Leif Erikson Dinner hosted by the men of the lodge. They will have a special speaker. Maine Nordmenn will welcome new members at a dinner on October 6. The speaker will be Eli Bessin speaking about the Arctic Government Project, Sami Studies. They continue to meet twice a month to work on cultural skills. Morgensolen Lodge will have a Leif Erikson Celebration on October 14. Norumbega Lodge will meet on October 7th with Cecil Clark Davis, Roald Amundsen portraitist, as speaker. On October 8th there will be a wreath laying ceremony at the Leif Erikson statue in Boston. ZONE 3: Barbara Bensen, Director ZONE 3 TIDBITS Jeg! Vis! It's October... time for whitches and warlocks, ghosts and goblins, and the trick or treaters. So, what's new in Zone 3? Lot's of good things/events. Pleasant Point Lodge is hosting the Zone 3 Meeting on October 2nd. Bernt Balchen's Reading Circle just finished reading Nemesis, by Jo Nesbo, in August. Everyone agreed it was a thriller and a page turner. The September selection was Giants in the Earth by O.E. Rolvaagg. Their Lodge received a letter from their State Representative thanking them for taking the time to preserve the Norwegian Heritage in the area. Obviously, the lodge membership is doing their part to showcase the proud traditions of Norway, and is being recognized for their efforts. The Nansen Bermuda Cruise was great. A number of the Junior Lodge Members accompanied their parents on the trip. Plans are in the works for another cruise in On October 3rd, Nansen Lodge is hosting a Female Chamber Choir from Oslo, Noway, conducted by Tori Tergen. Their knitters and crocheters are making scarves for the 2012 Special Olympics, and October 29th is the Heritage Fair. A group of Nor-Bu members tested their clubs at the Annual Tournament in Myrtle Beach last month. On September 24th, they had a Lefse Class for anyone interested in learning how to make lefse. The October Fest Social is October 15th. Wurst, German potatoe salad, kraut and um-pa-pa music sets the tone for the evening. It appears that Ole and Lena are making their way around the Zone. Noreg Lodge had Ole and Lena's shot gun wedding and reception on September 17th. A sight to behold! The guys were the gals, the gals were the guys???!! At their September Business Meeting, the Sports Director awarded 6 Sports Medals to their 12 year old youth member...3 Indrettesmerke and 3 Sykkelmerke medals. Mike the Magician is scheduled to appear on Brothers Night, October 21st, and always provides great entertainment. Have a Happy Halloween!! ZONE 4: Karin Gudbranson McCadam, Director Third District Today

6 ZONE 5: Gail Martinsen, Director Here in Zone 5 The Florida Lodges are back from summer vacation. Many are busy working for their upcoming Fairs and Festivals. Gateway to Florida had a Scanfest this month with many delicious Norwegian dishes. Their member, John Adams gave an informative presentation on his trip to Norway. Scandia met at IHOP for their September meeting and they are still very busy with Adopt A School. Gulfstream's Nordic Needles met to wish one of their members farewell. Gulfstream is working very hard preparing for their Annual Leif Eriksen Festival and Regatta. The Regatta will be October 7, 8 & 9th. Our Zone meeting will be held that Sunday morning October 9th. Sarasota had their September meeting at the Anna Maria Oyster Bar. They are busy preparing for their Annual Festival, which will be held on Saturday, October 29th. Suncoast honored the victims of the shootings in Oslo and Utoya Island at their September meeting. Plus, they had a Laplander Night led by President Dean Brown. Sun Viking served open faced sandwiches and wonderful desserts at their meeting. After the meeting, Jan Link ran a Horse Race. The 3 winners and the runners up all came home with a prize of yummy chocolate! Sun Viking is also busy preparing for their Annual Scandinavian Fair. We are doing Rosemaling, knitting, needlework, baking, etc. Hope to see you at the Leif Eriksen Festival. But, whenever you are in the Florida territory our lodges would enjoy your visits! Enjoy your Leif Eriksen celebrations! Happy Halloween! ZONE 6: Carol Goral, Director Zone 6 Report I have been able to visit three of the five lodges in September and hope to visit the others in October. I have been informed of the following interesting activities in the lodges in my Zone. Bondelandet- I visited the Lancaster lodge in September. They are continuing their interesting work in genealogy and had a dis[play at the meeting. many members received bowling trophies from the 3rd District Bowling Tournament. Their holiday celebration of Julbord will be held between Christmas and New Years. Fredriksten participated in the Brooklyn 17th of may parade and received first place for their marching group. The rain held off for most of the day and a good time was had by all. the librarian has purchased several new books for the library including two books by Jorgen Flood of Restauration Lodge who recently spoke at their meeting. plans are in progress for their 100th Anniversary celebration on April 28, Members continue to work on the sports medals. Nordkap is busy preparing the festivities for their 90th celebration which will be held on October 8 in Baltimore. the summer months have provided the lodge with many activities at their Norse Park. Restauration Lodge- I was able to share their meeting of September 9th. They are busy with the book study and preparations for their LOV Weekend. The months up to Christmas they will have a Kransekake Class and also make tree hearts which remind us all of our childhood. They also are working on Sports medals. Washington Lodge- I will visit them in October. They are hosting an Open house at their Center on September 25th. they are also getting a folk dance group together and working on the Fairfax Fall Festival. Their Christmas Bazaar is planned for December 3-4 and the Christmas Smorgasbord will be held on December 10. This lodge is also working on geneology and book groups. I am proud of all the work of Zone 6 and enjoy visiting them. ZONE 7: Edward McCarthy, Director Greetings from Virginia Beach! The Zone 7 lodges have been active during the summer months with the traditional goings-on such as summer picnics. Unfortunately, the weather has been a factor in some of these activities causing a cancellation. The Carolina folks had to call off their "Crab Fest" because of the damage caused by Hurricane Irene. Hampton Roads called off their picnic due to the extremely hot and humid weather. The lodges are gearing up for the fall season by observing Leif Erickson Day among other things. Blafjell Lodge will be taking part in the "Taste of Culture" event in Roanoke. This event involves the five Nordic countries with Norway being the featured country this year. Hampton Roads Lodge is gearing up for participation in the annual Neptune Festival Parade in Virginia Beach at the end of this month and is involved in preparing to celebrate its 65th Third District Today

7 anniversary next year. It will be held in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the Norwegian Lady here in Virginia Beach. Zone 7 had its first zone meeting on 17 September to organize and create a set of by-laws on which to operate. The lodges met in Raleigh since that was the most central point for the majority of lodges. Officers were elected and the zone is ready to go. October is designated as Foundation Month throughout Sons of Norway. We hope all lodges and members will consider having a fundraiser to support the Foundation. This could be a raffle, basket auction, silent auction, white elephant sale, bake sale or any other creative ideas you may want to try. As you know, Thor Lodge in Minot, ND, had many families affected by the severe June flooding of the Souris River. We are currently in the process of mailing out $38,000 in $1,000 Helping Hands to Member Grants to all of the Sons of Norway families th at have been affected by the floods. This will help them in their clean up and recovery efforts to purchase much needed cleaning supplies, bottled water and other basic necessities. To help our members in their time of need is the true meaning of fraternalism. This is the purpose of the Humanitarian Fund. This year we are asking for something special. We ask that donations collected during October, Foundation Month, be given to the Humanitarian Fund. This will insure that the Humanitarian Fund stands ready to assist our members during the next disaster. For every individual $250 donation to the Humanitarian Fund the donor will receive a King Harald V medallion as a sign of their support. The Foundation office has many materials to help tell the Foundation story. They include: Foundation power point presentations, brochures, scholarship and grant handouts and flyers available to lodges at no cost. foundation@sofn.com for requests. You may also go to the Foundation section of the Sons of Norway website to view our scholarship and grant offerings, see what we have funded for 2011 and to donate on line. The S o N Foundation is our members Foundation. You are the financial supporters as well as the grant and scholarship recipients. Tusen takk! Fraternally, Cindy Olson Sons of Norway Foundation LEIF ERIKSON DAY, OCTOBER 9, 2011, THE 47 Th ANNIVERSARY This year marks the 47 th Anniversary of the October 9 th Presidential Proclamation of Leif Erikson Day. President Lyndon B. Johnson, signed the first Proclamation, issued on October 9, Did you know that Leif Erikson, a Viking, was also a farmer, fisherman, seaman, and a Christian Missionary? He was commissioned by the King of Norway to spread Christianity in Iceland, Greenland and Vinland. Did you know that the idea of having a special day dedicated to Leif Erikson was first suggested around the year1865? Did you know that famous people like Ole Bull (the virtuoso Norwegian Violinist), Edgar Allen Poe, William Wadsworth Longfellow, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey, and many others promoted the deeds of Leif Erikson and early Viking explorers? This was before the 1960 discovery of a Viking settlement in Newfoundland, Canada. Before 1960, and even since, skeptics have questioned the fact that Vikings from Iceland and Greenland were the first Europeans that actually stepped foot on the North American Continent. For centuries every school child in Norway, and the Nordic countries, have learned about the Norse Sagas, and the tales about Viking voyages and discoveries. The Vinland Saga, and the Greenland Saga, tells about a Third District Today

8 land to the west of Greenland, which they called Vinland. These two Sagas give different versions of the discovery of Vinland, and the landing of Leif Erikson and other Vikings on the North American continent around the year Although slightly different, these Sagas tell in some detail, the discovery, the landings, and the attempted settlements made in Vinland. These two sagas are relatively short, and are easy reading. They can be found in pocket editions of Penguin Publishing Company, along with other Viking era pocket books. The more recent immigrants that came to Canada and the United States from Norway and the Nordic countries brought the knowledge of the Sagas with them, and told Americans about Leif Erikson. Since these stories were not a proven fact, people did not believe them, and dismissed them as fairy tales and fantasies. They would insist that Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492, and was the first European to set foot on American soil. As a result, many heated arguments, (and perhaps some brawls) have taken place since the subject first was brought up Since no one knows the exact date or year that Leif Erikson actually landed on the North American continent, a significant and suitable date had to be chosen for a Proclamation. The date of October 9 th was chosen as this was the date in 1825, that the first organized shipload of Norwegian immigrants landed in New York City aboard the sloop (sailing vessel) named Restauration. Close to a million Norwegian immigrants were to follow over the next one hundred years. If we use the year 1825 as a benchmark for the start of the promotion of Leif Erikson, and the year 1964 as the culmination of final recognition by the Congress of the United States, we can say it took 139 years to reach this goal. The first record of the idea of a special day to recognize Leif Erikson was in a speech by Professor Rasmus Bjorn Anderson, at Albion Academy in Stoughton, Wisconsin, around Professor Anderson was a well-known, outspoken, person in the Norwegian-American Midwest. At this early date he had the audacity to write a book titled, America Not Discovered by Columbus! The Norwegian-American Historical Association published an interesting biography of Professor Anderson in He became friends with Ole Bull, the Norwegian violinist who was on a concert tour in the United States. Professor Anderson suggested that a statue of Leif Erikson be made and placed in Madison, Wisconsin. Ole Bull, being an ardent proponent of Leif Erikson s explorations, agreed, and started giving fund raising concerts for this purpose. Unfortunately Professor Anderson and Ole Bull were not successful in raising funds in Madison, even though this was an area heavily populated by Norwegians. In 1876 Ole Bull solved the problem by interesting very influential intellectual friends in Boston in the idea of a Leif Erikson Statue in that city. Ole Bull told tales from the Old Norse Sagas to friends such as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, John G. Whittier, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Edward Everett Hale, James Russell Lowell, and others. Lowell wrote the poem, The Voyage to Vinland, Hale wrote Thorvald s Lament, and Longfellow wrote the poem, The Saga of King Olaf (St. Olaf), as well as The Tales of the Wayside Inn, all of which were influenced by Ole Bull s stories about the Viking Era. A Boston, Norsemen Memorial Committee was formed, and on October 29, 1887, a statue of Leif Erikson was unveiled in a prominent location on Commonwealth Avenue, in Boston. Other American cities have also raised statues of Leif Erikson. In 1930, the United States Government presented the country of Iceland with an impressive statue of Leif Erikson, which stands in a prominent location overlooking the city of Reykjavik. It was given as a tribute to the Millennium celebration of the Althing, Iceland s Parliament, started in the year 930. A duplicate statue stands in the Mariners Museum in Norfolk, Virginia. Perhaps by fate, in 1893 an event took place that put the name of Leif Erikson, and Norway, on everyone s mind. This was the year that Chicago hosted the Columbian Exposition (Worlds Fair) celebrating the 400 th Anniversary of the voyage of Christopher Columbus in The Exposition was held one year late because of lack of funding and construction delays. A Norwegian seaman by the name of Captain Magnus Andersen, suggested building an exact replica of the recently excavated Gokstad Viking Ship on display in a museum in Kristiania (Oslo), Norway, and sailing it to the Columbian Exposition. Captain Anderson was a champion of Norwegian Seamen s rights, and also wanted to prove to the World that Vikings did land on the North American continent almost 500 years before Columbus. By making this voyage he thought that he could get publicity for both Leif Erikson, and the Norwegian seamen. During 1893, Norway, Leif Erikson, the replica Gokstad Viking Ship, and Captain Andersen were featured on the front pages of every prominent newspaper in America, as well as other countries of the Western World. At that time, Captain Andersen s replica Viking Ship voyage got as much publicity as when, more recently, a man landed on the moon. Norway, and Leif Erikson, probably received more favorable publicity that year than ever before, and perhaps ever since. Captain Andersen lent credence to the possibility that Vikings did in fact reach North America around the year It has been 117 years since Captain Andersen s voyage from Bergen, Norway, to Chicago, and his Viking Ship still sits neglected and exposed to the weather in a Chicago suburb! Third District Today

9 As a result of Professor Rasmus Anderson s early persistent efforts, the Governor of Wisconsin issued the first known Leif Erikson Day Proclamation, on October 9, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt issued the first National Proclamation marking this date on October 9, It would be twenty-nine years before the next Presidential Proclamation was issued (1964). In 1959 a national committee was formed, joining all Scandinavian individuals and organizations in a united effort to petition the US Congress to pass a law, for the President to annually issue a Leif Erikson Day Proclamation. After several years of hard work, the Leif Erikson Association, Inc. of Los Angeles, California, issued a ninety-three page Petition to the Congress of The United States of America, to permanently establish October 9 th of each year as Leif Erikson Day. This Petition contained copies of 244 signed letters from clubs and lodges, such as Sons of Norway, Daughters of Norway, the Vasa Order, Danish Sisterhood, Danish Brotherhood, Order of the Vikings, The Leif Erikson League, and many other organizations, as well as copies of ninety nine pages of individual signatures. In 1960, the Norwegian archaeologist Helge Ingstad, and his wife made international history by excavating ruins found in Newfoundland, Canada, proving without a doubt, that a Viking settlement had been there around the year This site is now a Canadian National Park, and a United Nations Historic Site. On May 1, 1963, the then Senator Hubert H. Humphrey entered into the Congressional Record, Volume 109, No. 64, a joint resolution to authorize the President of the United States to Proclaim October 9 of each year as Leif Erikson Day. In the resolution Senator Humphrey stated in part, The Norse expeditions, and particularly the discovery of North America by Leif Erikson, can no longer be regarded as myths. The sources have been examined and studied too carefully for that. The time is long overdue for the recognition of Leif Erikson s role in the discovery of the New World. The following year Congressional hearings were held in Washington DC, at which Dr. Helge Ingstad (from Norway) attended and testified. Others at the hearings included the Past Supreme President of Sons of Norway, John Kaare Hagen, and O. G. Landsverk, Research Director, Leif Erikson Association, Inc., Los Angeles, California. An article and photo of this event was printed on page 206 of the October 1964 issue of the Sons of Norway Magazine, Viking. The presence of Dr. Ingstad was arranged by Sons of Norway. On September 3, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the bill proclaiming October 9 annually as Leif Erikson Day, and in that year he signed the first annual federal Leif Erikson Day Proclamation. In order to perpetuate this event, individuals, and interested organizations should send a letter to the U S President, and their State Governor, asking for a copy of the annual Leif Erikson Day Proclamation. Some States will not issue a Proclamation unless asked by a State resident. For ideas on how to celebrate this event, ask for the Sons of Norway Heritage Programs Idea Bank # 6, How to plan a Leif Erikson Day Celebration. It is further suggested that each organization form a standing Leif Erikson Day Committee so that this tradition is automatically perpetuated. Each proclamation urges ALL citizens to observe this day with suitable programs, so it is not limited to Norwegians. Leif Erikson Day is an event that all citizens have been asked to observe by the President of the United States, and by many Governors. With the new interest in Viking lore and history, and the formation of new Viking clubs, these groups can be invited to participate in future Leif Erikson Day celebrations. In order to vary the program used in school visitations, a Leif Erikson theme can be used. Children are very interested and would readily participate in a Viking era reenactment. Viking regattas, such as staged annually in Florida, draw huge crowds of spectators. Several Sons of Norway lodges in Florida purchased small standard size replica Viking Ships with colorful sails. These regattas are the source of lodge income, and are used for recruiting new Sons of Norway members. Other Sons of Norway districts should consider buying replica vessels and conduct similar regattas on nearby lakes or rivers. The opportunity for drawing new members to Sons of Norway, including the younger generation is unlimited. In 1993, and 2003, lodges in the Hudson Valley area of New York State joined together for the 100 th, and 110 th Anniversary celebrations of the 1893 voyage of Captain Andesen s replica Gokstad Viking Ship and visit in Newburgh, New York. An average of 1,000 people participated in each of these events. One of the feature displays each time, was a small seaworthy replica Viking Ship brought on a trailer, by Peconic Lodge, of Long Island. Also featured was a Viking village, Norwegian Elk Hounds, and a Norwegian Fjord Hest (Horse), as well as Scandinavian food and import booths, demonstration and sale of wood carving and Rosemaling, folk dancing, films and lectures, and music performed by the Scandinavian Accordion Club of New York. Third District Today

10 CONTROVERSIAL SPELLING OF LEIF ERIKSON The correct spelling of Leif Erikson has been a debated issue for many years. As a result, some have suggested that any spelling is acceptable so long as Leif gets his rightfully due publicity. To set the records straight, and to suggest that a standard spelling be used, it would be good to examine the reasons for the LEIF ERIKSON spelling. 1. The letter C is seldom if ever used in the Old Norse language. Even today, newspapers of Iceland, where they still use a modern version Norse, usually only use the letter C when it is included in foreign words. 2. Since the letter C was not used in the Norse Sagas, Leif s fathers name was spelled, ERIK THE RED. Since Leif (born in Iceland) was the son of Erik (born in Norway), Leif s last name became ERIKS SON, or Erikson. 3. In books, and in newspapers in Norway, the spelling most commonly used, is ERIKSON. 4. The spelling usually used in Iceland is, Leifur Eiriksson. Since this spelling would be cumbersome and difficult to use in America, the traditional spelling of, LEIF ERIKSON was used in all U.S. Congressional records and hearings, and is used in the annual Presidential Leif Erikson Day Proclamations. Submitted by A. Norman Arntzen, member of Hartford Lodge # 3-474, Sons of Norway, Phone , normana@aol.com (Written in 2004, revised in 2010) Giving to Charity Many of you are regular givers. You give to the church, a favorite foundation, your alma mater and other places. What happens when you die? Will the giving stop? It doesn t have to. If you have an IRA or other retirement plan you know it is taxed as income when you withdraw from it. Many prudent savers find they don t need this money and plan to leave it to the kids. Did you know this can be a costly mistake? The kids may be taxed at a higher rate than you are and your hard earned IRA can shrink up to 60%. Using the IRA for charitable purposes can eliminate taxes on this money all together.but what about the kids? Using a portion of that IRA money to purchase a life insurance contract on yourself can produce a generous, income-tax free inheritance to the kids and your favorite charity gets a nice bequest from your estate at the same time. This is a win-win situation. To find out more about charitable planning call your Sons of Norway Financial Benefits Counselor today, for a FREE consultation to see if you are maximizing your options. Ann Krause, FIC, LUTCF, Financial Benefits Counselor Sons of Norway boat@srt.com ******************************************************************************************************** TUBFRIM: Please remember to save used postage stamps for Tubfrim. Please cut the stamps from envelopes with scissors, leaving a 1/4 inch margin of paper around the stamp for ease of handling. Picture post cards should be left whole. Tubfrim also collects used telephone cards. The money realized from the sale of stamps benefits disabled children and youth in Norway. DON T FORGET TO PASS THE PIGGY. Would you like a free copy of the Norwegian American Weekly newspaper? Send your name and postal address to naw@norway.com. Third District Today

11 Third District Today

12 SOME ACTIVITIES AROUND THE THIRD Did you know you can find out what is going on in other lodges by clicking on About Us and then lodges on the 3D website. This will take you to the Sons of Norway page which contains all of our lodges. Lodge names highlighted in blue means they have their own website; check out what they are doing and if you are travelling in the area, drop in and say hello!! Gulfstream Lodge s 40th Annual Leif Erikson Festival & Viking Boat Regatta Friday & Saturday, October 7 & 8, 2011 in Jensen Beach, FL Lodging: Courtyard by Marriott, South Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach, FL (772) or or visit Rate: $89.99 per night + tax for river view standard rooms w/o balcony $ per night + tax for river view standard rooms w/balcony $ per night + tax for ocean view standard rooms $ riverside standard rooms w/balcony (Small fee upgrades at check-in not in advance) PLEASE BE SURE TO ASK FOR SONS OF NORWAY PRICING. You may stay nights before and/or after the weekend for the same rate. These rooms will be reserved until October 1st. Any room reserved after this date, is subject to the Marriott s full pricing. Friday, October 7, 2011 Saturday, October 8, 2011 Sunday, October 9, 2011 Hospitality Room Viking Boat Regatta Zone 5 Meeting- 9 a.m. Courtyard by Marriott Jensen Beach Causeway Park Courtyard by Marriott South Ocean Drive Food, cake wheel & rosemaling South Ocean Dr. Jensen Beach, FL Scandinavian jewelry Jensen Beach, FL 5:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. Mini flea market starting 9:30 a.m. Delegates & guests Captains Meeting - 11 a.m.sail by 12:00 p.m.; Races 12:30 p.m. Banquet: Pietro s on the Island Dunes Country Club 8735 South Ocean Drive Jensen Beach, FL (3 miles from the Marriott) Cocktail Hour - Cash Bar - 5 p.m. Dinner, Dancing, Awards - 7 p.m. Buffet Dinner $36.00 per person Banquet Buffet Menu: Roast Beef, Mahi Mahi with Lemon Butter & Chicken Forestiere Please make checks payable to: Gulfstream Lodge #3-514 and MAIL by October 1st TO: JAY WISE, 2829 Rainbow Drive, Ft. Pierce, FL Tickets will be held for pick up at the hospitality room, park or at the banquet. ************************************************************* Sons of Norway Lodges Norden & Henrik Ibsen & Vasa Lodge Lindbergh cordially invite you to attend Ole & Lena s Wedding Sunday, October 23, :30 PM Christ Lutheran Church Hall 117 Carleton Avenue, Islip Terrace, Long Island, NY R.S.V.P. early limited seats! only $25.00 per person Join in on what promises to be great fun as the Olsen & Johnson families gather to celebrate Ole & Lena s spectacular nuptials and reception spoof. There will be: A cocktail hour (cash bar), hors d oeuvres, a fresh ham dinner, live music by Smörgåsbandet, entertainment, and a kransekake (wedding cake)! Wear your bunad or folkdräkt to show your heritage pride! No tickets will be sold at the door, so make your reservations today, and send your check, $25/person, payable to NORDEN MEMBERSHIP CORP., c/o Karen Helmold, 183 Evergreen Ave., Bethpage, NY Tickets will given out at the door Deadline is October 16, Don t miss this Nordic event of the year!! Contact Karen Helmold: kolsen2@verizon.net; Tel: (516) NORDEN LODGE Ken Johnson: - KGJohnson@optonline.net; Tel: (631) HENRIK IBSEN LODGE Third District Today

13 WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO HARTFORD LODGE dressed to the nines GULFSTREAM LODGE knows how to party NORRONA S Sankthansaften brings everyone happy smiles. Charlotte Fluker, member of the Gateway to Florida Lodge, helps serve the fabulous Nordic food at the lodge Scan Fest. Third District Today

14 Thank You SCANDIA LODGE from Shadowlawn Kindergarten students. a band of marauding GATEWAY TO FLORIDA S Vikings appear at The Cypress Village. Left to Right: Don Drabek, Darrell Dickinson, Franklin Morrison and Stewart Svendsen. Third District Today