Sons of Norway
Newsletter
April 2006

Edvard Grieg Lodge 657 District 5
Cincinnati-Dayton, Ohio, and Northern Kentucky
The First Lodge in Ohio
Sons, Daughters, and Friends of Norway
Per Flem, Editor

President’s Message

Visualize Cincinnati ?

Spring is in the air and the weather is warming. We had a mild winter but we are anxiously looking forward to daily sunshine and warm nights. It is great to live in Ohio and experience the changing seasons and weather that is similar to that in Norway. We are coming to the time of year when people are making vacation plans. Perhaps, this will be the summer that you take a trip to Norway or to a community that treasures the heritage of Norway.
 

This picture of my cousin, Karl Hurlin, taken a half a year before his death from cancer, is so typical of a picture in a frame in Norway: a man, his boat, and proof that he can catch fish. Visualize happiness. Picture from Per Flem.

Last year my son and I visited the Scandinavian Heritage Museum in Ballard, Washington. This community is a uniquely Norwegian-American neighborhood with many traditional Norwegian and Scandinavian shops. The locals have a quaint sense of humor and many of them have bumper stickers on their cars that say, “Visualize Ballard”. I asked about the bumper stickers and was told that being from Ballard and being Norwegian means you are special. I like it!

There are numerous Norwegian cultural activities that are available and are within a reasonable driving distance to us. We encourage you to seek out these vacation choices this summer.

About the Sons of Norway Spring and Summer offerings…

There are several events and activates taking place in the month of April. The White Elephant Auction, the Ashville Viking Festival, and “Hedda Gabler” at the University of Cincinnati are described in detail on the web page.

In recent years, Sons of Norway has been actively reaching out to the "younger" community of Norwegian-Americans. The Viking magazine has many interesting cultural articles that cover subjects on modern Norway. There are also specific pages for children each month that look at various cultural and historical subjects. Sons of Norway sponsor summer camps where children can go to get an introduction to Norwegian language and culture. They also offer scholarships to study at "Camp Norway" - a 6 week summer language camp in Sandane, Norway - and the University of Oslo's International Summer School.

Syttende Mai is coming…

It is not too early to mark your calendar for Syttende Mai (May 17th). Kari Poe has graciously agreed to open her home up for this occasion. An evening full joy and laughter is always in the plans. Check our web site for more information. See you there.

We had a Board Meeting…

We recently had a Board meeting at Panera Bread restaurant. Nelda Chandler, Carol Stone, Lance Larson, Carol Luiso, Esther Charlton, Linda Burge, Sandy Nelson and Karl Flem were present. We discussed several topics for future Lodge meetings. Jule Fest, an annual joint meeting with the Scandinavian Society, and conducting a Scandinavian craft sale/soup supper were discussed.

On a sad note, we accepted the resignation of Carol Stone as our Lodge Secretary. She did an outstanding job for us in organizing our first Jule Fest. We wish Carol all the best.

Finally, this month in Norwegian history…

On April the 9th, 1940, Germany attacked Norway, and after two months of resistance completed the occupation. The Norwegian king and government fled to England. The leader of Norway’s National Socialist party, Vidkun Quisling, was nominated by Hitler to form a government. Norway was occupied for the duration of the war.

Here a golfer at Lygna’s winter golf course works on his stroke.	And you golfers thought it was tough finding a ball in tall grass.
For those golfers who had put their clubs away for the season, from Norway, here is a new and exciting sport. Images from Aftenposten by Svend Ole Kvilesjo. Go to www.golf.no for more details.