N.J. Vasa Home Family The Official Publication of District Lodge New Jersey No. 6, V.O.A. Volume LVIII, No. 22 Published Bi-Monthly
JUNE/JULY 2011
www.vasaorder.net/?Lodge=D6
Periodicals Postage Paid at Hackettstown, NJ 07840
DISTRICT MASTER’S MESSAGE by John Hanright
John Hanright
I would like to begin my term by saying thank you to all of the members of New Jersey District 6 for honoring me with the privilege of being elected as your District Master for 2011/12. Congratulations to all of the newly elected Officers and Park Trustees for the commitment you have made to our organization and a special thank you to all of the past Officers and Trustees
that have gone before us. All of us on the District Board look forward to the upcoming year. This year I would like to concentrate very simply by working to strengthen and promote the good of the order. I have always entered into things feet first and then proceeded to go in up to my ears. I have found that being involved with a hands on approach is the best way to really understand what is going on around you. It is then that opportunity and direction present themselves to you. The most predominant reward that Inger and I have realized during our involvement with the Vasa Order has been the sense of satisfaction gained through working for the good of the order. Everyone needs to have a sense of accomplishment, a sense of worth and value. All of these have come to us in
abundance through our involvement with this organization. I have always been a worker and when I have been placed in a position to lead I have always tried my best to lead by example. To become involved with a hands on approach so that I would have a complete understanding of the task and then I let the direction find me. Working with other members is what fosters activity, social interaction, and building relations with one another. Those things combined will almost always result in a sense of accomplishment, satisfaction and a sense of belonging. I will encourage all of you to work along with me and our executive board. Think outside the box a little, nothing monumental. Maybe a day trip or a small group visiting another lodge during their monthly meeting. Maybe organize an
event, a dance, a party, a cultural presentation or even something as simple as meeting for breakfast at the diner. These are the things that will foster activity. These are the things that promote a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. These are what we are all about. That is how I have met a lot of you and working together towards a common goal is how our friendships have become cemented. We have a great calendar of events planned for the upcoming year that include Mother’s Day Breakfast, Memorial Service, Golden Colony, Ladies Auxiliary Father’s Day Breakfast, SAHS Midsummer Festival, a bunch of lodge parties on the patio, Scanfest and, of course, the 75th Anniversary of Vasa Park. These are all great opportunities to get together and strengthen our order and introduce us to
potential new members. Please support these events and make it a point to get out to Friday Night Dinners. Official visits start in May and I am looking forward to them. As I have said in previous letters, the official visits are one of my favorite parts of serving on the District Board. A member could spend years at the local lodge or out at the park and not meet and interact with as many members as you do during official visits. I would like to close by again thanking everyone for their tremendous support and encouragement. I look forward to working with all of the District Officers, Local Lodge Officers and members in the upcoming year. My door is open and I am always available. In Truth and Unity John C. Hanright District Master
104th Convention – New Jersey District Lodge #6 April 29 - May 1, 2011 A beautiful sunny weekend welcomed District Lodge New Jersey #6 to Cape May for its 104th annual convention. District Officers, PDMs and delegates came together in grand style to take care of annual business. As always, First Viking, Lou Casella hosted a hospitality suite on Friday evening to give us the opportunity to re-connect with fellow Vasa members. Our District Cultural Leader, Carol McDermott welcomed us into the meeting room Saturday morning with a beautiful display of books and pictures from the internet illustrating folk costumes from all different areas in Scandinavia. District Master Mark Bernabei opened our convention using his gavel fashioned in the shape of a fire hydrant. Art Haumacher, this year’s president of the PDM Club introduced the PDMs in order of their year of service. Those present were: A. Leslie Swensen - 1973, Art Haumacher 1985, Errol Ernstrom - 1989, Paul Thenstedt - 1991, Jerry Meloskie - 1994, Ingrid Casella - 1996, Howard Corneilson - 1997, Helen Haumacher - 1998, John Larsson - 2000, Richard Apgar - 2001, Walter Emihl - 2003, Sue Knutson - 2004; Palmer Hval - 2005, Art Bjorkner 2006, Eric Johansson - 2007, B.J. Peterson - 2008 and Debbie Larsson - 2009. PDM Robert Anderson - 1984 was not present for the morning session but arrived
later in the afternoon. The PDMs then formed an honor guard and escorted the following Grand Lodge officers to the altar: Grand Master, William Lundquist; Grand Lodge Deputy NJ District #6, B.J. Peterson; Executive Board Member Eastern Region, Art Bjorkner; Vice Grand Secretary, Gail Olson; Grand Lodge Cultural Leader for US and Canada, Inger Hanright; and Grand Lodge Deputy NY District #4, Alice Schmutz. All of our District Officers were in attendance except for District Chaplain Jeanette Baker who was home recovering from a broken hip. She was sorely missed at this year’s convention but is on the mend. After initiating our new delegates the trustees called for count of delegates from each lodge. Lodge representation at our convention was as follows: Arlington #62, eight delegates; Frithiof #63, eight; Tryggve #88, seven; BalticFramat #360, four; Linne #429, eight; Sveaborg #446, four; Gothiod #486, 4; Lyckan #507, five; Vågen #588, four; Three Crowns #704, two; Draken #731, six; Viking #735, five and Dalahäst #742, three. Örn #284 sent no delegation. The total of those in attendance with voice and vote was 68, consisting of 20 District officers, 15 PDMs, 30 delegates, and 3 emeritus members. BJ Peterson was appointed parliamentarian for this year’s
convention. The minutes of the 103rd convention were accepted with corrections. Our District Master appointed Errol Ernstrom and Rich Apgar as tellers and Howard Corneilson as the head teller. We then voted for members for the Vasa Park Board of Trustees. Those winning a 3year term were Bjorn Sandhaaland from Arlington #62, Chris Anderson from Baltic-Framat #360, Carol Boyle from Lodge Linne #429, Jaret Wurzbach from Three Crowns #704 and Bob Gustafson from Draken #731. Jerry Meloskie was re-elected Editor of the New Jersey Vasa Home Family and Helen Haumacher was re-elected as its treasurer. District Master Mark
Bernabei read his annual report. His heartfelt message enumerated all the events he hosted and attended during his term and his pride of the success of his “Bring a Friend” membership initiative. He announced that this year District Six gained in membership for the first time in many years. He thanked the many people who helped and supported him especially First Lady Stacy Graham. It ended with a standing ovation from everyone present. During the minutes’ review sessions it was reported that the new floor poured into the pool has saved us many hundreds of dollars in electricity and chemical costs. Pool badge sales increased due to comfortable water tempera-
tures being maintained. The floor still needs to be coated with an epoxy to help cure the concrete that was poured last year and to stem additional water loss. That could cost over $20,000 but would ensure the longevity of the improvements just completed. Past Park President Jack Hanright reported that the Board of Trustees has retained a PR firm, CHP Communications. Dan Hirshberg, who heads the company, is a recently initiated member of Arlington Lodge. He has already lined up several events for the park to bring in additional revenue. The board See page 5 for more pictures and balance of article on page 6.
2011-2012 District Executive Board and Jr. Past District Master. Seated from left to right: Secretary Cathy Peterson, Vice District Master Kevin DeFeo, District Master Jack Hanright, Jr. Past District Master Mark Bernabei, Assistant Secretary Elve DeFeo. Standing from left to right: District Executive Board Members - Fred Signor, Marie Demboski, Ken Christensen, and Treasurer Eric Johansson.