July september 2011

THE VASA STAR Vasastj채rnan Publication of THE VASA ORDER OF AMERICA

JULY-SEPTEMBER 2011 www.vasaorder.com

Humble Beginnings - Pg. 25

Nordstroms - Pg. 26

The Grand Master’s Message Bill Lundquist Dear Vasa Brothers and Sisters, This article will reach you as both an ending and a beginning as my first year as Grand Master ends and another begins. I would like to personally thank all Vasa members of the Districts in the US, Sweden and Canada for your support of the various fundraising initiatives this year.

Thank you to every District in the US and Canada who accepted the challenge of donating up to 5% of your unused allocation in the Old Age and Benefit Fund to the important work of the Vasa National Archives in Bishop Hill, Illinois. 100% of the Districts that have met since my election have made this donation. I am honored that you have placed your trust in me and the current executive board through your generosity. I’m asking you to continue your commitment annually to this arm of our Order.

The storage, display and genealogical work done at the Archives continue to need this support. We welcome our new Archivist, Viktoria Kofoid. She is a Swedish born lady and a great addition to the Archives. Lars Jenner recently started a new chapter in his life in the Chicago area. He continues to assist the new Archivist and serve the Order as a District Officer.

The Heritage Fundraiser in support of the National Archives is underway. Please remember that with over 13,000 members a $10.00 gift per member to this fundraiser would provide for operational expenses for 2 years! Thank you to those who supported this year’s Education Stamp Fundraiser. Approximately $15,000.00 was collected for the important project of restoration of the Education Fund but we could and should do better.

If you haven’t sent in your support for the stamps you’ve received it’s not too late. Donations will be welcomed anytime or should you need more stamps for the holiday season please contact Joan Graham, GLS or me. The “Julgrans” Fundraiser will be out in plenty of time for your holiday commitment.

I continue to hear from past scholarship recipients about their careers and successful contributions to society as well as their thankfulness to those in the Vasa Order who have helped them financially to achieve their goals. I recently read the motivating life philosophy which contained the following couple of sentences: “It is in life what you give of yourself to others; in serving with love and understanding that brings joy to your heart. It is what we make of our lives, and how we use our God-given talents, that others may benefit in having known you.” A scholarship named in honor of your District will serve as a legacy for your members, bring additional “joy” to your District and make a Scandinavian student “benefit” by knowing the Vasa Order of America.

I hope that all who have held offices in Local and District Lodges have enjoyed a very successful year. I ask that those who have chosen not to continue in leadership roles will continue to use your experience in assisting your lodge and that you will support and assist new officers.

I have had the privilege of attending District conventions of all but one District (due to two conventions scheduled on the same weekend) to witness the initiation of many excited newly elected District Officers.

I congratulate all new officers and wish you success in the year ahead. I challenge all Districts to work hard keeping Scandinavian traditions and culture alive for future generations.

The first meeting of the Grand Lodge Executive Board will be taking place in September in Portland. Please contact your regional board member with concerns you would like the Board to review as soon as possible. In this time of war, I ask that you pray daily for safety for our troops in harm’s way, for those in Norway who mourn the lives lost and try to understand the tragic and senseless act of violence and for our Order.

In Truth and Unity, Bill Lundquist, Grand Master

Kära Vasa Bröder och Systrar, Den här artikeln kommer i samband med att mitt första år som Stormästare börjar och ett nytt år står framför oss. Jag vill personligen tacka alla Vasas distriktsmedemmar i USA, Sverige och Kanada för ert stöd i diverse insamlingskampanjer under året.

Ett stort tack också till var och ett av de distrikt i USA samt Kanada som antog utmaningen att skänka upp till 5% av sina oanvände resurser inom Äldre Fonden och som används till att gynna det viktiga arbetet på Vasa Arkivet i Bishop Hill, Illinois. Av de distrikt jag träffat, sedan jag blev vald, har 100% gett sitt fulla stöd. Jag känner mig hedrad över att ni har gett mig ert förtroende och det nuvarande exekutiva rådet genom er generositet. Jag ber er fortsätta det årliga stöd tillägnad denna del av vår Orden. Förvaring, utställningar och släktforskningsarbetet som görs på Arkivet, kommer att i fortsättningen också behöva ert stöd. Vi välkomnar vår nya Arkivist, Viktoria Kofoid. Hon är svenskfödd och en fantastisk tillgång för Arkivet. Lars Jenner började nyligen ett nytt kapitel i sitt liv nära Chicago. Han kommer att fortsätta assistera vår nya arkivist och Orden som distrikt.

Arvsfonds Insamlings Kampanjen (Heritage Fundraiser) som är till för att stödja Arkivet är påbörjad. Var snäll och kom ihåg att med över 13,000 medlemmar skulle en summa på 65.00 Kr per medlem ge tillräckligt stöd för att kunna fortskrida under ytterligare två år! Tack till Er som stödde årets insamling genom att köpa frimärken. Ca 96 000.00 Kr ($15,000.00) samlades in för detta viktiga projekt som är till för att återigen bygga upp Utbildningsfonden, men som vi kan försöka göra ändå bättre. Om du ännu inte skickat in ditt stöd, är det inte för sent. Era bidrag tas med glädje emot när som helst ni behöver mer frimärken. Om ni vill beställa mer frimärken inför julsäsongen, kontakta Joan Graham, GS, eller mig.

Julgransinsamlingen kommer ut i god tid innan era helgåtaganden.

Jag fortsätter höra ifrån f d stipendiater som berättar om sina karriärer och bidrag till samhället samtidigt som de är mycket tacksamma för dem inom Vasa Orden som hjälpt dem finansiera och nå sina mål. Jag läste nyligen ett filosofiskt yttrande vilket innehöll följande mening: “Det är nu i livet du ger av dig själv till andra; att kunna hjälpa till genom kärlek och förståelse som skänker hjärtat glädje. Det vi gör med våra liv och hur vi använder de talanger Gud försett oss med, kan vara en fördel till dom som träffat oss.” Det distrikt som delar ut ett stipendium kommer att se det som en uppgift att även i fortsättningen kunna känna glädjen över att göra detta för en som studerar i Skandinavien, att de för dessa, har varit en fördel att känna till Vasa Orden av Amerika.

Jag hoppas att alla som erhållit poster inom de lokala- samt distriktslogerna har erfarit ett framgångsrikt år. Jag ber att ni som avsagt er framtida ledarskap, att även i fortsättningen dela med er av era erfarenheter och att ni stödjer och assisterar de nyvalda i ert ställe.

Jag har haft förmånen at delta i alla distiktsmöten utom ett, (p g a att två möten var planerade under samma helg) där jag bevittnat intagningen av många nyvalda distriktsofficerare. Jag gratulerar alla officerare och önskar all framgång under kommande år. Jag uppmanar till hårt arbete för bevarandet av de Skandinaviska traditionerna och att hålla vår kultur levande för framtida generationer.

Det första mötet för Storlogens Exekutiva Råd blir i September i Portland, OR. Var vänlig kontakta era regionala styrelsemedlemmare så snart som möjligt med ev frågor och förslag ni skulle vilja att det Exekutiva Rådet tar upp under mötet. Vi lever i en tid fylld av oroligheter och krig, jag vill att ni ber för våra trupper, som dagligen utsätts för faror och risker, samt för de som sörjer sina landsmän i Norge som omkom under den fruktansvärda massakern. Be också för vår Orden.

I Sanning och Enighet, Bill Lundquist, Stormästare

THE VASA STAR (USPS 657-020)

THE VASA STAR

July-September 2011 Vol. 104, No. 3, Serial 848 Published by: Vasa Order of America vasaorder.com HEADQUARTERS: c/o Joan Graham Grand Secretary 5838 San Jose Avenue Richmond, CA 94804 Phone: 510-526-5512 E-mail: vasajlg@aol.com

JULY-SEPTEMBER 2011

AN IMPORTANT REMINDER CHRISTMAS GREETINGS AND CHECKS FOR CHRISTMAS GREETINGS Please send Christmas Greetings and checks for Christmas Greetings to Grand Secretary, Joanie Graham, 5838 San Jose Avenue, Richmond, CA 94804. Phone 510-526-5512. E-mail: vasajlg@aol.com.

New members: Send to GS, Joanie Graham.

All address changes and subscriptions as well as all address changes should be sent to the Circulation Manager listed here on Page 3.

Grand Master:

Please send pictures of good quality in order for them to reproduce well in The Vasa Star. Electronically submitted photos should be scanned in JPEG format at a resolution of 300 dpi.

For submitted Lodge articles, please add city and state. Thanks!

Bill Lundquist 1456 Kennebec Rd. Grand Blanc, MI 48439 Phone: 810-695-3248 Cell Phone: 810-845-5065 E-mail: wmlund1@aol.com

IN MEMORIAM Please read instructions on how to send and pay for Obituaries.

Editor: Marie Carlson 9560 Curberry Drive Mentor, OH 44060 Phone: 440-255-4665 E-mail: mariec@swedes-r-us.com

Circulation Manager: (All Address Changes) Joan Graham 5838 San Jose Avenue Richmond, CA 94804 Phone: 510-526-5512 E-mail: vasajlg@aol.com or circulationmanager@gmail.com Send bottom section of white copy of application for new members to her.

Deadlines for The Vasa Star: Jan.-March deadline is Jan. 1; April-June deadline is April 1; July-Sept. deadline is July 1; Oct.-Dec. deadline is Oct. 1 Deadline for Christmas ads is Oct. 1 Price for Christmas Greetings – $30.00 column inch Deadline for Lucia articles is January 1 Picture and article, 200 words or less.

VASA DIRECTORY OFFICIAL ADDRESS LIST

Membership Chairman: Art Bjorkner 31 Vasa Drive, Hackettstown NJ 07840-5314 USA

Advertising: Only electronic submissions Send to: Marie Carlson E-mail: mariec@swedes-r-us.com Invoices will be submitted electronically (via e-mail)

Advertising Prices: Full Page Black and White Half Page Black and White Quarter Page Black and White One Column Inch

$500.00 $275.00 $150.00 $ 30.00

Half Page Color $500.00 Full Page Color $800.00 Available only for inside front cover, inside back cover or back cover.

10% discount for Vasa Lodges and Members

THE VASA STAR (ISSN 0746-0627) is published bi-monthly by the Vasa Order of America. Periodicals postage paid at Richmond, CA, and additional entries.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Vasa Star, 5838 San Jose Ave., Richmond, CA 94804.

Vasa Star July-September 2011

It is the listing for every lodge in the Vasa Order, with meeting locations and officers, and addresses and telephone numbers for all Grand, District, and Local lodges as well as all Children’s Clubs and Activities Clubs.

In an effort to cut costs, the Vasa Directory will be provided to every district and local lodge via an email attachment. It has been re-formatted so that it can be printed on your home printer, on 8 1/2 x 11 paper. Please take it to your local office supply store to make copies for those in your lodge who don’t have computer capability. It can be copied “double sided,” and put into a binder or notebook. If no one in the lodge has the capability of printing the Vasa Directory, please contact the Grand Secretary Joanie Graham, and a paper copy will be sent to you.

DIRECTORY IS ON THE VASA WEBSITE You can also check the Vasa website www.vasaorder.com to locate Grand, District, and Local Lodge information.

Cover: Swan at Cleveland Zoo, “The summer has come to an end and is flying away.”

Svan på Cleveland Zoo, “Sommaren har nått sitt slut och flyger bort.”

Picture by: Marie Carlson, Editor, VS Page 3

Letter from the Editor It was a while since I wrote, and with only four issues per year, I guess it was. Many things have happened to all of us and around the globe, good and bad, since the previous issue of The Vasa Star. Sadly to say, what comes to mind for me is the senseless massacre in Norway that was carried out by one man alone, Anders Behring Breivik. This mass shooting was among the worst in history, and put not only the Norwegian nation in a state of shock and disbelief, it had a global effect, how could this happen in a country like Norway?

We are in the middle of September by the time you read this, and it is hard to believe that on September 11 it was 10 years ago since two jumbo jets flew into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York and a third plane flew into Pentagon, in Washington DC, a planned terrorist attack killing hundreds of men and women. A fourth attack was planned but avoided thanks to some remarkable people on that plane that lost their own lives in order to save others while still in flight over Pennsylvania.

It was 50 years ago since Dag Hammarskjöld died. He was the General Secretary in the United Nations from April 1953 until his death in a suspicious plane crash September 1961.

Please let us remember these people and their sacrifices for mankind.

In sad times we seek comfort in our families and friends, and the ties get stronger. So until next time, enjoy and plan for upcoming holydays, it is so important to have future plans and events to look forward to.

“Each and every one of those who’ve left us is a tragedy - together, it’s a national tragedy” - Jens Stoltenberg, Norwegian Prime Minister Marie This will hopefully be our last electronic issue. The action taken by the delegates last July when they cut the budget for the Vasa Star in half has made it hard to produce printed copies.

The board is meeting in a few weeks where they will try to figure out how to make the printing and mailing of the magazine less costly.

Brev från Redaktören Nu var det ett tag sedan jag skrev, med endast fyra upplagor per år, så är det faktiskt det.

Många saker har hänt oss alla och runt om i världen, bra och dåliga, sedan förra upplagan av Vasa Stjärnan. Det är tråkigt att behöva säga att det som jag kommer att tänka på, är den meningslösa massakern som hände i Norge, och som orsakades av en enda man, Anders Behring Breivik. Denna massaker är bland det värsta i historien och har försatt inte bara den norska nationen i ett chocktillsånd och misstro, den har haft en global effekt, hur kunde något som detta hända i ett land som Norge?

Vi befinner oss i mitten av september när ni läser detta och det är svårt att tro att det är 10 år sedan nu den 11:e september, som två jetflygplan flög in i The World Trade Center i New York och ytterligare ett plan flög in i Pentagonen, Washington DC. En planerad terroristattack där hundratals män och kvinnor omkom. En fjärde attack hade planerats men undveks tack vare några beundransvärda människor på planet, som gav sina egna liv för att rädda andras, medan de befann sig över Pennsylvania.

Det var 50 år sedan sedan, Dag Hammarskjöld dog. Han var General Sekreterare i Förenta Nationen från April 1953 till hans död i en misstänksam flygplanskrash september 1961.

Kom ihåg alla dessa människor och vad de offrade för mänskligheten.

Under sorgliga omständigheter söker vi tröst hos våra nära och kära, dessa band förstärks. Så tills vi hörs nästa gång, njut av att planera inför kommande helgdagar, det är så viktigt att ha framtidsplaner och att se fram emot kommande evenemang.

TABLE OF CONTENTS Grand Lodge News ...........................................5 District Lodge News .........................................8 Lodge News .....................................................10 Swedish Lodge News ......................................18 Youth News .....................................................23 Bishop Hill Vasa Youth Club Welcome to Our New Members ....................24 Culture.............................................................25 Humble Beginnings Nordstroms Sommar Rapport från Sverige (Eng and Swe) Book Review and New Books ........................28 Write soon. Love, Fran Happenings......................................................28 Midsummer Queen at Bishop Hill Korpagillet Have You Hit a Brick Wall in Your Swedish Research or Don’t Know Where to Begin Tidbits..............................................................30 In Memoriam ..................................................31

“Var och en av dem som lämnat oss är en tragedi, som tillsammans, lett till en nationell tragedi” -Jens Stoltenberg, Norsk Premiärminister Marie Förhoppningsvis blir detta vår sista elektroniska upplaga. Det beslut som togs av delegaterna förra året i slutet av juli, då budgeten för Vasa Stjärnan halverades, har gjort det svårt att producera tryckta upplagor. Ett styrelsemöte kommer att hållas om några veckor där de ska försöka räkna ut hur man ska göra för att reducera kostnaderna för tryckning och porto av tidningen.

PAGE 18 Page 4

Vasa Star July-September 2011

GRAND LODGE NEWS Welcome to The Swedish Language Corner!

Vasa Svenska — Learn Swedish the Vasa Way This is an update on the progress of our new Swedish language program VasaSvenska. As I wrote in Vasa Star #1 2011, one of my initial concerns was to put together a program committee, which is now in place. The committee has three members who are responsible for communicating with the district cultural leaders within their respective Vasa region.

They are also involved with the program design and content.

The committee members/contact persons are: • Inger Hanright (Grand Lodge Cultural Leader), hanright@optonline.net: Eastern Region (District Lodges 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and the Southeast and Florida-Regions).

• Inez Tornblom, eskilstuna@wowway.com: Midwest Region (District Lodges 7, 8, 9, 10, 17 and the Central Region).

• Eivor Pfannkuch, pfannkuch@comcast.net: Western Region (District Lodges 11, 12, 13, 15 and 21) As the Grand Lodge Language Director and committee chair I am responsible for the overall program and contacts within our organization, and also for the direct communication with the lodges in Canada and Sweden.

(Obviously, our members in Sweden do not need to learn Swedish, but they may still be interested in knowing about our program).

At the time of writing I am collaborating with the Grand Lodge webmaster Robert Anderson to provide a Swedish web page within the Grand Lodge website. Watch for the link Visit the Swedish Language Corner at www.vasaorder.com. There we will post lessons, articles, and other interesting items. By the time you are reading this Vasa Star issue our web page should be up and running.

The main part of the VasaSvenska program will consist of lessons with text and audio files that can be downloaded from the language corner on the GL website.

The course, which is offered at no cost, is professionally designed and quite comprehensive. We have decided to divide it up and post only one or two lessons at a time in order to make it easier to work with. The text may be printed out and the Vasa Star July-September 2011

audio files, where the text is read out loud, may be saved on your computer or a blank CD for easy listening and practice. We also plan to eventually post video clips on the website. More details will soon follow, and the district cultural leaders will be informed by email when the program is ready for takeoff in September. Please feel free to contact me or one of the committee members with any suggestions you may have about material, links, or other resources.

We have chosen to make VasaSvenska mainly an online program because it is an easy, flexible, and inexpensive way to spread and receive information. We realize that everybody may not have access to the internet, but this does not have to exclude anyone from participating in a local lodge study group. The group leader or another participant can make the material available to a fellow student. Lessons and articles, as well as book and CD suggestions will also be printed in the Vasa Star.

We very much look forward to introducing the VasaSvenska program with the Swedish Language Corner on the web and in the Vasa Star. Our goal is to have something instructive and enjoyable for everybody, whether you know only a few Swedish words or are a fluent Swedish speaker. And since there is no time like the present, we’ll begin right away with a timely article on the development of the Swedish language through the ages.

Enjoy! ‘til next time!

Best regards/Bästa hälsningar, Siv Swan-Pierson, Grand Lodge Language Director VasaSvenska@verizon.net

Swedish – Dead or Alive?

Our Grand Lodge Swedish Language Committee member Inez Tornblom, a native Swede and longtime U.S. resident, recently wrote an article with this somewhat provoking title in a newsletter.

There she told about a harrowing experience in Uppsala, Sweden a few years ago.

She had turned to a young man to ask for directions, in Swedish of course, but the Swedish university student seemed to think that Inez should converse with him in English! Now, ‘harrowing’ may be too strong a word to use in this context, but indeed, it was a bit shocking to Inez. The good part is that the incident inspired her to look into the history of the Swedish language, where she discovered that many foreign words for centuries have been heavily incorporated into the Swedish tongue.

But, let’s start from the beginning…

Swedish belongs to the East Scandinavian group of North Germanic languages, which also includes Danish, Norwegian, Faroese and Icelandic.

In the Viking age the ‘Danish tongue’, the ancestor of the modern Scandinavian languages, was understood by the Angles and the Saxons of England. Today, although Swedish and English have developed along different lines, English speakers would recognize the relationship and similarities between the two languages.

The history of the early Swedish language has been made available to us by large numbers of runic inscriptions, dating from about AD 600 up to the early 1200s, thus encompassing the Viking era.

The thirteenth century saw the influx of powerful merchants mainly from North Germany into Sweden. They gained considerable influence in the country, and this led to the introduction of a wealth of German words into the Swedish language, such as betala/pay, borgmästare/mayor, handel/trade, köpman/merchant, skräddare/tailor, and snickare/carpenter. As a result, Swedish became differentiated from the neighboring Scandinavian tongues.

The year 1526, when the New Testament was translated into Swedish, seems to be a turning point in the evoluContinued on page 6 Page 5

Swedish – Dead or Alive Continued from page 5

tion of Modern Swedish. Ever keen to distinguish their language from Danish and other tongues, which had influenced Swedish, successive governments insisted on a written form of the language that was traditional and conservative, based upon original manuscripts written by monks, rather than on the spoken word.

The seventeenth century saw the gradual standardization of Swedish, based primarily on the Svea dialect spoken in Stockholm and around Lake Mälaren. It incorporated some features of the Göta (Southern Sweden) dialect.

Written Swedish continued to be deliberately cultivated as a symbol of national unity; in 1786 King Gustav III founded the Swedish Academy. The Academy’s “noblest and most urgent” task was to work for the “purity, strength and sublimity” (in today’s language, something like ‘clarity, expressiveness and reputation’) of the Swedish language.

French was the foremost world language in the 1600s and 1700s, so it follows that a myriad of Swedish words like charmant/charming, fars/comedy, affisch/poster, paraply/umbrella and chef/boss. are borrowed from this language; words Around 1800 Napoleon´s Field Marshal Bernadotte came to Sweden with his retinue to become Sweden´s king and brought a new wave of French words. French, of course, became the official language at the Swedish royal court.

It has been estimated that roughly 17.5 million people in the world either speak or write Swedish. Almost the entire population of Sweden has Swedish as their mother tongue and it is also one of Finland’s two official languages.

Four million Norwegians and five million Danes can understand it, and therefore anyone who masters Swedish also acquires a basic reading knowledge of Danish and the two forms of Norwegian (Bokmål and Nynorsk).

The language changes as society changes. Swedish words get new meanings, or are put together to form new words. The internet, TV, movies, and new technology have brought an avalanche of borrowed American words like koncept/concept, hackare/hacker, hype, party, pierca/pierce, promota/promote, softa/soft. Many fully integrated Swedish words are also taken from the English language. Ängel/Angel, präst/priest, potatis/potatoes, Page 6

elektricitet/electricity, tobak/tobacco, tunnel, match, turist/tourist, and strejk/strike are but a few examples.

So, are we coming full circle to where English and Swedish are as close as they were in ancient days? Time will tell.

A closing commentary: Inez writes: “Swedish will survive! The mixing is just a sign of a living, growing language.” I agree, but even so I sincerely hope that Swedish will be able to keep its special

flair in the midst of all the influences from other languages. After all, it is my homeland’s cherished tongue!

Siv Swan-Pierson, Grand Lodge Language Director vasasvenska@verizon.net Note: Most of the information in the article is downloaded from http://www.linguaphone.co.uk/language.c fm?language_id=30

Välkommen till Svenska Språkhörnan!

Vasa Svenska — Lär dig svenska på vasavis Här följer en uppdatering av hur arbetet med vårt nya svenska språkprogram VasaSvenska fortskrider. Som jag skrev i Vasastjärnan nr 1 en av mina första uppgifter var att bilda en programkommitté, vilket nu är gjort.

Kommittén har tre medlemmar, som ansvarar för kommunikationen med distriktskulturledarna inom sin respektive region. En annan viktig uppgift är att medverka vid programmets utformning och bidra till dess innehåll.

Kommittémedlemmarna/kontaktperson erna är: • Inger Hanright (Storlogens Kulturledare), hanright@optonline.net: Östra Regionen (distriktslogerna 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 och Sydöstra och Florida-regionerna).

• Inez Törnblom, eskilstuna@wowway.com: Mellanvästra Regionen (distriktslogerna 7, 8, 9, 10, 17 och Central-regionen).

• Eivor Pfannkuch, pfannkuch@comcast.net: Västra Regionen (distriktslogerna 11, 12, 13, 15 och 21).

Som Storlogens språkkonsult och ordförande i kommittén ansvarar jag för programmet i stort och för de övergripande kontakterna inom vår organization liksom även direktkontakterna med logerna i Kanada och Sverige. (Naturligtvis behöver våra medlemmar i Sverige inte lära sig svenska men de kan ju vara intresserade av att följa programmets utveckling ändå.)

När detta skrivs samarbetar jag med Storlogens webbmästare Robert Anderson för att sätta upp en svensk hemsida på Storlogens webbplats. Titta efter länken Visit the Swedish Language Corner (Hälsa på i den svenska språkhörnan) på www.vasaorder.com. Där kommer vi att ha lektioner, artiklar och annat intressant material. När du läser det här numret av Vasastjärnan, hoppas vi att vår hemsida är klar att tas i bruk.

Huvuddelen av programmet kommer att bestå av lektioner med text och ljud som

kan laddas ner från språkhörnan på Storlogens webbplats. Kursen, som är gratis, är professionellt utformad och mycket omfattande. Vi har beslutat att dela upp den och anslå endast en eller ett par lektioner åt gången så att den blir lättare att arbeta med. Texten kan skrivas ut och ljudfilerna, där texten läses högt, kan sparas på din dator eller en tom disk så att du lätt kan lyssna och öva. Vi planerar också att så småningom ha videofiler på vår hemsida. Fler detaljer kommer snart och våra distriktskulturledare blir underrättade per e-post när programmet är klart att presenteras i september.

Kontakta gärna mig eller någon av kommittemedlemmarna om du har förslag till länkar, material eller andra idéer till programinnehåll.

Vi har valt att göra VasaSvenska till ett huvudsakligen online program därför att det är ett lätt, flexibelt och billigt sätt att sprida och ta del av information. Vi förstår att alla kanske inte har tillgång till webben men det behöver inte betyda att man inte kan delta i en lokalloges studiegrupp.

Gruppledaren eller en deltagare kan göra materialet tillgängligt för någon annan.

Lektioner och artiklar såväl som förslag på böcker och CDs kommer också att finnas i Vasastjärnan.

Vi ser fram emot att presentera VasaSvenska-programmet med den svenska språkhörnan (the Swedish Language Corner) på hemsidan och i Vasastjärnan. Vårt mål är att ha något intressant och lärorikt att erbjuda var och en antingen man kan endast några enstaka ord eller talar svenska flytande. Och eftersom det är viktigt att ta vara på varje tillfälle att lära, så börjar vi direkt med en artikel om utvecklingen av det svenska språket. Hoppas ni finner den intressant!

Vi hörs! Bästa hälsningar, Siv SwanPierson Storlogens Språkkonsulent (Grand Lodge Language Director) vasasvenska@verizon.net Vasa Star July-September 2011

Svenskan – död eller levande?

Medlemmen i Storlogens språkkommitté Inez Törnblom, född i Sverige och bosatt i USA sedan många år, skrev nyligen en artikel med denna något utmanande titel i ett nyhetsbrev. Där beskrev hon en omskakande upplevelse som hon hade i Uppsala för några år sedan. Hon hade vänt sig till en ung man för att fråga om en adress, på svenska förstås, men den svenske studenten verkade tycka att de skulle tala engelska!

Nåja, ‘omskakande’ är kanske ett alltför starkt ord i sammanhanget men nog blev Inez minst sagt överraskad. Händelsen ledde i alla fall till att hon beslöt sig för att forska litet i det svenska språkets historia och upptäckte då att många inte bara engelska utan också tyska och franska ord har införlivats i det svenska språket under århundradens lopp. Men låt oss börja från början...

Svenskan tillhör den östskandinaviska gruppen av nordgermanska språk, som även omfattar danska, norska, färöiska och isländska..

Det ’danska tungomålet,’ de moderna skandinaviska språkens förfader, kunde på vikingatiden förstås av Englands anglosaxare. Fastän svenskan och engelskan har utvecklats I olika riktningar kan engelskspråkiga fortfarande känna igen släktskapet och likheterna mellan de två språken.

Vi har fått tillgång till det tidiga svenska språkets historia genom ett stort antal runinskrifter, som daterar sig från omkring år 600 till det tidiga 1200-talet och således omfattar vikingatiden.

På tolvhundratalet kom ett stort antal mäktiga köpmän huvudsakligen från norra Tyskland till Sverige. De fick stort inflytande i landet, vilket ledde till att många tyska ord införlivades i det svenska språket t. ex. betala, borgmästare, handel, köpman, skräddare och snickare. Svenskan kom härigenom att skilja sig från de andra skandinaviska språken. Året 1526, när Nya Testamentet översattes till svenska, tycks vara en vändpunkt i den moderna svenskans utveckling. Efterföljande regeringar ville särskilja svenska språket från danskan och andra språk, som hade påverkat svenskan, och insisterade på att det skrivna språket skulle vara traditionellt och konservativt, baserat på orginalmanuskript skrivna av munkar, i stället för på det talade ordet.

På sextonhundratalet kom en gradvis standardisering av svenskan, Vasa Star July-September 2011

huvudsakligen baserad på sveadialekten som talades i Stockholm och runt Mälaren. I denna införlivades en del inslag av götadialekten i södra Sverige.

Man fortsatte att medvetet utveckla den skrivna svenskan som en symbol för nationell enighet. 1786 grundade kung Gustav III Svenska Akademien.

Akademiens ”noblaste och mest trängande” uppgift var att verka för ”renheten, styrkan och högheten” (på nutida språk ungefär ‘klarheten, uttrycksfullheten och anseendet’) i det svenska språket.

Franskan var det främsta världsspråket på 1600- och 1700-talen, varav följer att en mängd ord som t. ex. charmant, fars, affisch, paraply och chef lånades från detta språk. Runt år 1800 kom Napoleons fältmarskalk Bernadotte till Sverige med sitt följe för att bli Sveriges kung. Många nya franska ord kom då i bruk och franska blev förstås det officiella språket vid hovet.

Uppskattningsvis skrivs eller talas svenska av ca 17,5 miljoner människor världen runt. Så gott som hela Sveriges befolkning har svenska som modersmål och det är också ett av Finlands officiella språk.

Fyra miljoner norrmän och fem miljoner danskar kan förstå svenska och därför får alla som bemästrar svenskan också en grundläggande färdighet i att

läsa texter på danska och norskans båda språk (bokmål och nynorsk).

Språket förändras i takt med samhället vi lever i. Ord får en ny mening eller sätts ihop för att bilda nya ord. Internet, TV, filmer och ny teknik har bragt en uppsjö av amerikanska ord som t. ex. koncept, hackare, hype, party, pierca, promota och softa. Många välkända svenska ord är också lånade från engelskan. Ängel, präst, potatis, elektricitet, tobak, tunnel, match, turist och strejk är bara några få exempel. Så håller vi på att sluta cirkeln, där svenskan och engelskan kommer lika nära varandra som de var för mycket länge sedan? Tiden får utvisa.

En avslutande kommentar: Inez säger: ”Svenskan kommer att överleva.

Uppblandningen är bara ett tecken på ett levande, växande språk.” Jag håller med men visst hoppas jag ändå att det svenska språket kan hålla ställningarna mot alltför mycket inflytande från andra språk. Det är ju trots allt mitt hemlands kära tungomål!

Siv Swan-Pierson, Storlogens Språkkonsulent (Grand Lodge Language Director)

VasaSvenska@verizon.net (Merparten av uppgifterna i artikeln kommer från webbsidan http://www.linguaphone.co.uk/language.c fm?language_id=30)

Please remember the Grand Lodge Scholarship Fund and the Vasa National Archives when making a memorial donation. Vasa Scholarship Fund, Joan Graham GS, 5838 San Jose Ave., Richmond, CA 94804 ~ Vasa Archives, Jake Gruel, Financial Secretary, 13716 W. Lilac Lane, New Berlin, WI 53151.

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DISTRICT LODGE NEWS DL Lake Michigan #8 District Cultural Leader Andrea Wilczynski coordinated with the local lodges to present a stunning exhibit highlighting Swedish holidays and special seasonal events. There were also displays on the Vasa National Archives in Bishop Hill, Illinois, and the Scandinavian Park/Vasa Park in South Elgin, Illinois.

In addition to the cash drawing, there were two different raffles. The welcome gift bags were provided by Siljan–Mora– Tuna #134. The colorful royal blue bags were imprinted with a bright yellow “VASA”, and filled with a great selection of treats. The Hospitality Room was located at the pool side and provided a welcome respite for delegates and guests.

The District Executive Board provided the Friday evening buffet.

Dave Nordin presented a two part Cultural Program; the first part included the children from Nordikids #208 and Nordik Folk #761 to tell the story of Viking living. He shared factual information about Vikings, and the Nordikids were “actors” who played out the story of how the Vikings traded, bartered, lived, and battled. The Viking ship, swords, and shields from last year’s Kids Camp were used, and adults from the audience helped to tell the story. There were songs about Vikings that the children sang while they re-enacted a scene of a “thrall”, telling stories and Viking sagas in front of a fire. The story of the Viking Ship was the second part in Dave Nordin’s talk about the travels of the Vikings. Dave Nordin kept us enchanted and fascinated with his stories, and everyone learned something new about Vikings. The children were a wonderful addition to the program. Well done Nordikids!

The Opening Ceremony was presented by members of Nordikids #208, Linde #492 and Nordik Folk #761. Many of the Grand Lodge Officers and Past District Masters attended the Convention. Lunch was available from the hotel breakfast area room. Convention attendees ate lunch in the Convention meeting room, and listened to the four “Lunch and Learn” presentations.

GLD-DLLM #8/S&FS VOA National Archives Inc., PDM Jake Gruel presented a musical slide show of Bishop Hill, Illinois, the historic buildings, and the home of the Vasa National Archives.

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PDS Marge Gruel discussed the procedures for applying for assistance from the Old Age and Benefit Fund. Vasa members may request assistance for medical and or financial need. Application forms were distributed to the attendees.

VDM Edward Hultgren encouraged local lodges to host a District Convention. He discussed the resources, including the District Executive Board members that are available to local lodges to plan the annual event. ADS Joella Hultgren distributed folders to each local lodge that contain the District #8 Policies and Procedures appropriate to District Convention planning DMC Vasa National Archives Archivist Lars Jenner spoke about the new equipment in use at the Vasa National Archives to help him do his work in archiving, researching, and reporting back to inquiries about historical records and genealogy questions.

Many special activities take place during the Saturday evening banquet.

District Chaplain Inez Törnblom led the recitation of the Swedish grace. In addition to the delicious meal and fellowship, we were entertained before, during, and following the meal. They were several

winners of the cash drawing. The evening was concluded with several hours of fun dancing; the Disc Jockey seemed to know exactly what type of music, including Swedish songs, would bring the dancers out to the dance floor.

Following dinner, Master Of Ceremonies, District Master Tom Cleveland announced the awards from the Friday morning Golf Tournament at the Michigan City Municipal Golf Course and the annual Membership Awards for 2010 were presented by District Executive Board Member Steve Westlund, 1st place was Svea # 253, receiving $300.00.

The College Scholarship Awards were presented by Grand Lodge Youth Director USA and Canada/District Supervisor of Youth and Children’s Club Lynda Smith. The Sjölunden Language Camp Scholarships were announced by Grand Lodge Youth Director USA and Canada/District Supervisor of Youth and Children’s Club Lynda Smith. The recipients of two weeks at Concordia Language Camp in Bemidji, Minnesota were: Philip Nelson, Hagar #721; Continued on page 9

District Cultural Leader Andrea Wilczynksi and Lisa Cianci, Chairman Siljan-Mora-Tuna Lodge #134, with the Valborg Exhibit, including fresh strawberries and sparkling juice.

Vasa Star July-September 2011

DL Alberta #18 Canada

DL Lake Michigan #8 Continued from page 8

Harrison Lorentz, Nordikids #208; and Kelsey Ruth, Förgät Mig Ej #64.

Congratulations campers.

Vice District Master Edward Hultgren presented the Distinguished Service Award to Grand Master/Past District Master William (Bill) Lundquist. The award is given to a member of the District Lodge who has provided outstanding service to the District, the Vasa Order of America, and the American and world communities. Bill was given a ring that contains the Vasa Order emblem, the designation “DSA”, and his initials. Congratulations Bill!

District Chaplain Inez Törnblom and

Marvin Anderson presided over the Memorial Service during which District members who died during 2010 were remembered.

Installation Of District Officers: DM, Tom Cleveland; VDM, Edward Hultgren; DS, Nancy Hult; ADS, Joella Hultgren, to mention a few.

The Sunday post Convention lunch was provided by Bessemer #203. The lunch was appreciated and the delegates started for home well nourished in both mind and body.

Submitted by; Joella D. Hultgren, Assistant District Secretary

DL Golden Gate #12 Our annual Sweden Day event was June 4th at Camp Norge in Alta, California. It is tradition that one of the last duties for the District Master, Scott Matthews, is to host Sweden Day. In past years the weather was glorious with sunny days and starlit nights but with record spring rains and cool temperatures it was a totally different experience.

Scott and his dear wife Kathryn had planned to set up their pup tent while at the camp but with the ground being rather squishy with all the rain they decided to stay warm and cozy in one of the dorms. Those brave souls who made the trip to the mountains in spite of the weather have all those fun memories of Sweden Day 2011 as we celebrated among the rain drops.

If you weren’t able to attend, here is what you missed: Our Flag Ceremony usually held outdoors was indoors this year. Because we had no electronic music our District Master of Ceremonies, George Sell described each flag one by one. Our Sweden Day Princess was Elecia Vanover. Her crown didn’t arrive but she looked lovely in her beautiful white dress.

She expressed her gratitude for being chosen to represent Vasa/Sweden Day 2011. Our chefs for the Saturday BBQ were Jeff Vanover, James Netzel and Robert Beeson. Keeping the charcoal dry was the goal and they did a fabulous job of creating a BBQ gazebo with tarps. Ed Netzel brought his own wood for the campfire later that evening and those who were there were warmed by the fire and Vasa Star July-September 2011

the yummy brandy/marshmallow concoction.

Sunday morning the Lipscom/ Matthews crew treated us to Swedish pancakes with Lingonberry whipped cream, bacon and scrambled eggs. It was truly a memorable event.

Submitted by: Carole Ann Sell

Sweden Day Princess Elecia Vanover

The 40th Biennial Convention and 8th Anniversary of District Lodge Alberta #18 was hosted by the Past District Masters’ Club of District Lodge Alberta #18 at Leduc, on Friday June 10th.

Golfing for those interested took place at the Black Bull Golf Course.DM Fae Doty and her husband Lee held a reception Friday evening welcoming guests, delegates and executive to the Convention.

On Saturday, Doreen Nyroos, Grand Lodge Deputy and P.D.M. District #18 opened the 40th Biennial Convention, which was held in Leduc, Alberta, June 10 - 12, 2011, by greeting those present and introducing Joan Petersson who gave the narrative for the Flag Ceremony.

Doreen then introduced District #18 District Master Fae Doty. Fae, in turn introduced District Officers, Visiting Officers, Honorary Life Members, Grand Lodge Officers, Vice Grand Master Tore Kellgren and his wife Birgitta, and Grand Master Bill Lundquist and his wife, Sheila, to name a few.

New members to the Convention were initiated into the District. They were Celia Sollows and Bruce Samuelson both of Skandia #549. The minutes of the last District Convention meeting were read and corrected as were the Executive Board meeting minutes of June 10, 2011.

The rest of the meeting was run as per ritual.

Jessica Lee of Norden Lodge #513 was the winner of the District scholarship, however she was unable to attend the Convention so will be presented her award at another time.

Lodges Nordstjärnan #575 and Branting #417 both gave donations to Skandia #549 Vasa Children’s Camp in recognition of the Districts 80th Anniversary, and Skandia #549 sent a bouquet of flowers which was placed on the alter.

A group photograph of all present was taken outside the hotel in front of an oil pump jack, after which a banquet was held. Following the banquet, door prizes were presented with Phyllis Ochoa winning three of them. Ray Nyroos then presented the golf awards from the game that was played on Friday, June 12th A Memorial service for the departed members was held, with Doreen and Ray Nyroos and Ken and Carol Banks doing the officiating. The service consisted of Continued on page 10 Page 9

DL Alberta #18 Continued from page 9

singing some popular Hymns, reading of poems, lighting of candles, and the placing of carnations in a vase for each departed member. Following the service the attendees enjoyed coffee and an anniversary cake, marking the 80 years for the District.

The meeting commenced at 10 a.m. with the installation of the newly elected officers for the term 2011 to 2013. The following District Officers were installed: District Master, Fae Doty, Vice

District Master, Sandra Petersson, Lisa McMurray, Secretary, Assist. Secretary, Joan Sjolin, Treasurer, Lloyd Eriksson, Members of the Executive Board, Don Melin, Carol Banks, Phyllis Ochoa, Trustee, Darl Brown, Auditor, Ken Banks, Cultural Leader, Dolly Killaly, Youth Supervisor, Trevor Nyroos, Historian, Lois Brown, Membership Chairman ,Phyllis Ochoa.

Representative to Vasa Archives, Lennart Petersson Both the Vice Grand Master and Grand Master spoke on the Good of the Order and how they enjoyed visiting

Alberta and meeting those present.

Presentation of the Past District Officer’s pin was made to Past Secretary Thelma Speilman and past Assist.

Secretary Celia Long for the many, many years they have held these positions.

Sigrun Magnason gave the description of the Icelandic flag. Blue is for the sky, white is for the glaciers, and red is for the volcanoes and fire.

The meeting adjourned by noon with a short executive meeting following.

Submitted by: Lois Brown, District Historian

LODGE NEWS North Star Lodge #106

Fylgia Lodge #119

Los Angeles, CA Eleonora Nyren arranged for us to visit the famed Descanso Gardens when spring flowers were in full bloom.

Jane Hendricks of Nordic Fox Lodge continues to cater delicious luncheons following our monthly meetings.

Midsummer was special. We were honored to have Linnea Marie Heinstedt as our representative and she was selected as Svea. Linnea and her family belong to the Nordic Heritage Lodge and all are active members. She was beautiful on this wonderful day at the Vasa Park. The Midsummer Queen, Kristen Demarjian, represented the Scandia Lodge. The title of Columbia was held by Kiley Jahn, who represented the Viking Lodge and is Linnea Marie Heinstedt was selected as SVEA a member of the Evening Star Lodge. for the Midsummer Celebration in June at There were two other beautiful princessVasa Park. She represented North Star Lodge es: Katie Spaberg representing the #106, Los Angeles, CA. She is shown with Swedish Club of Los Angeles, and North Star Chairman, Erik Lindberg.

Rebecka Thorsen who is a member of the North Star Lodge #106 of Los Golden Valley Lodge. All of these girls Angeles, California, had busy entertain- were lovely and gracious.

We look forward to Christmas with ing months. We are pleased to have added two new members: Siri Eliason, Lucia and our 105 year anniversary in who is well known in Swedish circles. January.

Submitted by: Elinore Thornton and She resides in Thousand Oaks, California Jeanette Engstrom and Ingemar Hultehage of Malibu, California. Välkommen!

We had Mother’s Day remembrances and a Father’s Day commemoration feaA Vasa-bridge to your turing talented vocalists: Uno Kasperson, Swedish ancestors!

Erik Lindberg, and Bob Solt. They had Looking for your relatives in Sweden? especially good voices that day and with fancy headgear. CL Eleonora Nyren I have helped many satisfied always provides prizes; generally baskets Vasa-members finding their Swedish roots.

Further info please e-mail: of Swedish food items and more. She swedengen@telia.com does a great job.

Los Angeles, CA

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“God dag,” from San Francisco. In May 2011, Robert Peterson, past Chair of Fylgia, and past District 12 Master, gave an enthralling lecture on the prolific woodcarver, Emil Janel, who was born in 1896 in the wilderness town of Orsa, Sweden. Emil Janel showed the beginning signs of his genius at the age of four by whittling small animal figures out of wood to amuse himself during the long winter. He continued his carving, and at the age of 19, exhibited his figures in Stockholm winning a first prize of 100 Swedish Crowns!

After emigrating to Canada, and then to the United States, Emil Janel lived in the Bay Area, he was represented at a local art gallery, and one of his fine wood sculptures is on display at Sveadal. Many delighted guests enjoyed Robert Peterson’s well-researched remarks on Emil Janel along with many artifacts: woodcarving sculpture figurines, books, and articles, which were set-up on an adjacent table for display. During the question and answer section, some audience attendees had met Mr. Janel, which added ambience to this splendid evening of culture and fellowship.

Special thanks to Robert Peterson for the fine lecture, and to Chris and Bob Olson for the delicious refreshments! For more information about the artist, please consider “The Life and Work of Emil Janel, an illustrated essay” by Thomas C. Seal, 1973.

In June 2011, Fylgia chair, Scott Schulkin, gave a wonderful lecture, “My Vasa Star July-September 2011

Fylgia Lodge #119 Continued from page 10

Trip to Öland” regarding Scott’s trip to Sweden, where he met local genealogists, who knew some of his family. In fact, Scott ended up meeting family on both sides of his grandfather’s family. In addition, without knowing this ahead of time, Scott stayed in a resort, which was right next door to his great, great grandfather’s birthplace. Therefore, with a little info and a lot of luck, Scott found out a great deal about his family and met a number of them, which inspired members to renew their efforts to get in touch with their Swedish roots.

In addition, in June 2011, about a dozen Fylgia members enjoyed Midsummer at Sveadal, in Morgan Hill, CA (about 90 minutes south of San Francisco). Kristin Jackson represented Fylgia in the Midsummer Queen’s Court.

Fylgia member, Ted Olsson, was the Master of Ceremonies for the event, where the distinguished guests included Barbro Osher, and Jonas Hafstrom, a Swedish Diplomat, currently serving as the Swedish ambassador to Washington, D.C. Please join us in 2011 at the historic Swedish American Hall in the heart of San Francisco for the following cultural events: in September, Fylgia Arts & Crafts Show; in October, 104th Anniversary Dinner; and in December, “Julbord” Dinner. For more information, please see our website: www.scandinavius.com/vasa/fylgia.

Submitted by: Victoria Lynn Peterson Picture by: Victoria Lynn Peterson

Muriel Beroza and Robert Peterson inspect and enjoy a piece of art (a woodcarving) by Emil Janel at the Swedish American Hall in San Francisco.

Vasa Star July-September 2011

Thule Lodge #127 Jamestown, Bemus Point, NY Hello from Thule Lodge #127 in the Jamestown/Bemus Point, NY area. Our summer began with many activities, which included Friday night dinners at the lodge, a herring breakfast, the meatball dinner, our summer schedule of meetings, and the annual Scandinavian Festival in the middle of July. Our meetings are held on Thursday evenings during the summer, and Lodge Chairman Ralph Veights welcomes all to the meetings. For all events and activities, assistance is always provided by our members.

Lodge chaplain Diane Shaw conducted the Memorial Service at the end of May to remember those lodge members who have passed away in the last year.

Past lodge chairman Edwin Sandberg read the names, and Chaplain Shaw would bring a carnation to the altar in that person’s memory.

At the end of May, two long time members celebrated their arrival to the United States 85 years ago. Allie Linnea Nelson Withers, and Nels John Nelson told a brief history of their immigration with their family, arriving at Elis Island.

Their father had arrived first, finding employment, and with their mother, they arrived later to settle in the western New York area. They have never forgotten their Swedish heritage, and are proud to talk about Sweden. Allie served the lodge as cultural leader for many years, and Nels serves the lodge as outer guardsman.

At each meeting, our financial secretary Donna Sandberg keeps the members informed of those who are ill, and encourages all to visit those who are ill and in need. Treasurer Loretta Smith keeps track of the financial records of the lodge. Lodge secretary Lucile Marsh keeps all informed of the latest communications of the lodge, and is a well-known person working at every dinner.

During the Scandinavian Festival there were many food stands, many hours of festive music, Scandinavian displays, cultural activities and demonstrations all related to the heritage. The Thule Lodge served their famous Swedish meatball dinner on the first day of the festival.

Appreciation goes to Thule lodge member Don Sandy for his efforts with this annual festival.

Everyone at the Thule Lodge hope that the summer is a good time for all,

Sister and brother, Allie Linnea Nelson Withers and Nels John Nelson, celebrated their arrival to the United States 85 years ago at a recent Thule Lodge #127 meeting.

and if you are in our area, we would welcome you to our lodge at 4123 Pancake Hill Road. “God dag” to all.

Submitted by: John Sipos, Lodge historian

Bessemer Lodge #203 Chicago, IL

Susan Nilsson, Culture Director and Britt Nilsson, Past Chairman.

The members at Bessemer on the south side of Chicago have been busy making plans to celebrate its 100th Anniversary, which is coming up Sunday, October 16, 2011 beginning at 1 p.m. at The Royal Palace in Chicago Ridge, Illinois. In addition to contacting Continued on page 12 Page 11

Bessemer Lodge #203 Continued from page 11

many former Bessemer supporters, we’re also contacting former Solstrålar members. Solstrålen was an active Vasa Children’s Club for more than 75 years.

As a matter of fact, the DJ for the event is former Solstråle, Mark Nilsson, who is a correspondent for a popular local TV show in Chicago called 190 North.

More information on attending this event or making raffle prize donations can be found on our Vasa website or by calling 773-239-1855 or 708-423-4057.

Chairman Jim Pelzman and his wife, Pat Pelzman, our Chaplain promise to bring their dancing shoes!! This promises to be a really fun event so we hope to see many of you there.

Svea Lodge #296 Erie, PA Our lodge has a weekly Swedish language class that meets every Tuesday morning for two hours. We all take turns hosting the group of eight in our individual homes, Lisa Owen is our teacher, and we all help to provide lesson material – the lessons that were provided in the Vasa Star have been used also.

Our lodge held its annual Spring Dinner on May 14th at the Maennenche Club.

There were awards presented and a great Chinese auction. Marjorie and Harry Johnson received their 25-year membership pins. Our lodge is 97 years old.

Submitted by: Linda Collin

Submitted by: Susan A. Nilsson

Brahe Lodge #245 Rockford, IL Vasa Brahe Lodge #245 celebrated “Midsommar” in our beautiful new Vasa Park lodge building in Rockford IL on June 23, 2011. A potluck was supplied by a good showing of attending members for this special occasion. The delicious “smörgåsbord” consisted of “köttbullar,” “sill,” “risgrynspudding,” beans, corn pudding, potato salad, chocolate desserts, etc. We even had miniature “Majstänger” at the tables!

Afterwards, Chairman Scott Johnson brought us up to date on our improving lodge finances and final touches on finishing our new lodge building. ViceChairman David Tollin then discussed plans for future meetings.

An enjoyable “Midsommar “celebration was had by all!

May birthdays were honored at the dinner. Shown are Tom Johnson, Linda Collin, Marge Johnson, Sandra Miller and Alice Battersby. We sang “Ja, Må Han Leva.”

Mayflower Lodge #445 Torrance, CA

Submitted by: D. G. Eksten

Members enjoying the “Smörgåsbord.”

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The members of Mayflower Lodge #445 are thrilled to announce they are settled in their new Lodge home at 18815 South Crenshaw Blvd. in Torrance, California. As you can see the Scandinavian design of our building holds true to our cultural roots.

We held our first event in our new location this spring by having a social and game night. Each month we gather for a catered dinner and a short meeting afterward.

On May 1st Mayflower Lodge celebrated its’ 87th anniversary by hosting an open house and luncheon with 54 guests in attendance. It was a grand day for us.

August 4th we will have a “bring your

own meat barbecue” and September 1st will be our annual Meatball Contest. If you are in the area please join us for these evenings of fun and happy fellowship.

Submitted by: Ann Kristine Hellgren, Chairperson

Vasa Star July-September 2011

Lindbergh Lodge #494

Norden Lodge #684

Torrance, CA

Fresno, CA

Our meeting in early April required some attention to business during the cocktail hour. The District #12 Convention will be meeting at the end of the month. We were fortunate to have The vice District Master Victoria FedorThurman as a guest at our meeting. She brought up the subject that we should all be thinking of new ways to attract and keep new members. We need some fresh ideas. There was some discussion of the District meeting and things we needed to do to prepare for it by April 29-May 1.

We adjourned to the dining room where we were served salmon, a favorite entre. Our own cooks are so good at making it particularly delicious. There is always a good crowd on salmon night; we had about 60 enthusiastic diners. Our birthday members were serenaded and we then proceeded to the program.

Professor Thomas Rossing of the Music Department at Stanford University is a member of our organization. He was in Sweden in 1938 at the time of the Nobel Prize festivities. He requested the privilege to attend the ceremonies and was pleased to be invited. He brought back a visual presentation of the whole event, from the first entrance of the King and his party and then the 1938 Nobel Prize winners. We were able to see the ceremonial presentations by the King to the honored prize winners. This was followed by the dinner, the dance and the entire celebration. It was spectacular. I am sure that no one in our audience has even been to one of these prestigious affairs. It was a very special treat to allow us into the inner circle of Nobel Celebrations.

May is always a very welcomed meeting time. We celebrate Mother’s Day. All duties and functions for the evening are performed with great skill by the men.

The only woman on duty that night was our new Bar Chief Ronni Haderle. It was her initiation into the work of making sure that the favored libations are available and served with a napkin. This night all of the ladies whether mother’s or not were treated to their preferred beverage.

The money, food, drink, table setting…everything was done by the men. The dinner was nicely served and quite delicious. No tips from the distaff side were needed. We had chicken, potato salad, bread, ice cream and a fancy Vasa Star July-September 2011

decorated Mother’s Day Cake. There were about 66 people at the celebration.

The Maid of Honor for our Midsummer Fest this year was Alexa Wallin, granddaughter of our Past Chairman Chuck Wallin. To round out a very special evening, we had music by Jack Haderle and Jerry Clements, Swedish of course. Dancing went on for the rest of the evening. Our most eager dancer was Tom Rossing who managed to swing several ladies around the floor.

It was a splendid time for all of us.

Submitted by: Muriel Nelson Beroza

Our June meeting began with a lively social hour with about 70 members and guests present. The guests (including some prospective members), visitors from sister lodges and Sweden were introduced. We proceeded to the banquet hall for a wonderful summer pot luck dinner including many diverse items from sill to sushi. We are hoping to get the recipe for a new cheese fruit bake.

We serenaded the June birthdays, kids and initiated three lovely ladies as new members: Ginny Nelson, Roni Haderle and Lynn Bollen.

Kils Dragspel Klubb from Värmland entertained. The accordionists were Anders Johansson, Herb Lundin, Christer Falkenstrom and Anne Marie Karlsson, (also the vocalist). The group also featured Stig Johansson, bass guitar and Mats Gustafsson, violin. They were joined by our local talent: Carolyn Anderson, “fiol and durspel,” Eric Lundin, on accordion. They also performed at our 118th Midsummer Festival in Sveadal. We were also treated to solos by two of our local troubadours Jan Nordin and Dag Forssell.

What a wonderful evening. No one went home early. Those who were not dancing were tapping toes and singing along.

Our April meeting started with a delicious Easter potluck: one table with dinner dishes and another table just for desserts. We know how to keep our priorities in proportion! We also learned about Swedish Easter traditions, and everyone got a chance to decorate an Easter egg to take home. One highlight of the evening was awarding an $800 scholarship to a most deserving high school student, Andreya Johnson.

In May, George and Carole Sell graciously opened their home to the Lodge members for our annual celebration of Valborgsmässoafton. We did a Swedish show-and-tell with members showing off their Swedish treasures and family heirlooms and telling the stories behind each.

We ate good food, drank refreshing beverages, and ushered in spring with an exuberant sing-along.

Here is Monica Shipley with homemade treats for the bonfire party.

Norden Lodge does love to eat, so we had another potluck dinner in June.

We want to feed our minds as well as our stomachs, though, so we also enjoyed an interesting and informative program on Leroy Anderson, son of Swedish emigrants who became a hugely successful composer of light orchestral music.

Many of his pieces were introduced to the world by the Boston Pops.

Submitted by: Judith Harless

Marci Johansson presenting scholarship check to Andreya Johnson.

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Vinland of Cape Cod Lodge #703 Cape Cod, MA

Midsummer Fest, celebrated as one large happy family.

An important goal for Vasa is to share our culture and customs with others. In April our Maypole and woodcut Viking traveled to an International Festival sponsored by a local school district.

Traditional foods, entertainment and displays from 24 countries attracted many families. Our members in traditional costumes greeted visitors at our display tables laden with utilitarian and decorative Scandinavian items. Emma Brimdyr, costumed as Lucia and her sister Kyra as an honor maid, ably answered questions from admirers. Travel brochures and coloring pages were very popular too.

A “Pound, Pint, Quart, Yard and Gallon” Auction benefited our scholarship fund. Our 2011 recipient, Kelsey Lotti of Finnish descent, will major in the field of physical therapy. She’s a topranked student and captain of her high school sailing team.

May brought our Swedish meatball luncheon with “köttbullar, inlagd gurka,”

new potatoes, green beans, lingonberries, pickled beets, “limpa, knäckebröd” and Vivian Lundquist’s lemon cake. Another opportunity to visit with friends over a delicious meal!

Our Midsummer Fest on June 18 featured beautiful programs crafted by Marilyn and Evind Sohoel and Debbie Goldberg. We sat as one large noisy family eating our picnic lunches while Sonya Westerback and George Hedlund played Scandinavian selections on their accordions. Early summer flowers were placed on our Maypole and round and round we danced to folk music. Debbie Goldberg photographed our customary Vinland family portrait by the Maypole. What a welcome to summer on a perfect midsummer day!

We are so grateful to have had wonderful experiences renewing friendships with our elder members who have recently been able to attend our functions again.

Submitted by: Dorothy Kean

Solstad Lodge #709 Sun City, AZ

Members of Solstad Lodge #709 and members of Club Scandinavia shared a joint Midsummer celebration in Sun City West, Arizona.

Members of Solstad Lodge #709, Sun Page 14

City West, AZ, and members of Club

Scandinavia of Sun City West, held a joint early midsummer celebration at the home of Cultural Leader Anne Levig.

The Scandinavian heritage group gathered on the patio of the host’s home for an American style picnic, complete with hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, and baked beans, as well as Swedish herring and other delicacies.

Officers of the group decorated a maypole with flowers and traditional Swedish colors of yellow and blue. Members, whose heritage represented the five Scandinavian nations, shared information about midsummer customs and traditions in each of the five countries.

Swedish coffee and cake, in honor of the birthdays of two Vasa members, concluded the day’s celebration.

Viking Lodge #730 Flint, MI

Women in Swedish costumes: Left to right.

Sharone Borgers, Carole Erickson, Lila Wood and Christine Johnson.

June 26, 2011. What a beautiful summer day for our Midsummer Celebration.

We were again privileged to join in the festivities at the Vasa Country Club near Lapeer, MI. The grounds include a community of homes which surround a small lake with swimming for young and old and, a floating raft for the more adventurous swimmers. A large pavilion provided plenty of room for tables that accommodated approximately 100 participants.

Viking Lodge #730 was well represented with 27 members, family and friends.

The smorgasbord tables were covered with the best of Swedish food which included Johnson’s surprise, cucumber slices in vinegar, meatballs, beets, baked fish, etc. Topping off the meal was a variety of desserts.

Vasa Star July-September 2011

Viking Lodge #730 Continued from page 14

Music and sing along sheets were offered by Roy Borger (accordian) and Hazel Johnson (keyboard). It is always a challenge trying to sing in Swedish lingo.

Gun Stoll and her large crew of mostly teenagers (glad to see) decorated the Maypole with Swedish flags and a multitude of colorful fresh flowers. The permanently located, pivoting pole was erected easily for everyone to admire and dance around many times. How could you not have had a good time; perfect weather, good friends, good food and wonderful facilities! Can’t wait until next year (maybe bring along a bathing suit?) Have to think about that.

Submitted by: Ron/Dee Carlson

Viking Lodge #730 attendee’s in front of the Maypole.

Sierra Kronan Lodge #737 Roseville, CA Looking back at our lodge meetings this spring, we remember the April cultural presentation on Easter in Sweden.

Swedes keep to the Astronomical cycle calendar and celebrate Easter on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring solstice. Members Carl Pearson and Carol Nesewich presented “Easter in Sweden - Meeting Spring Head On” with bright yellow daffodils, birch twigs, and good food. In addition to daffodils, known as lilies in Sweden and “påskris,” was a display of Swedish Easter cards or “Påskkort“ obtained from a book store in Arvika, Easter-themed photos from “Kvällstunden,” and an enlarged picture of Blue Mountain or “Blåkulla“ complete with small figures of witches flying about. We were reminded that in Sweden little girls dressed up as witches go door to door with their coffee pots, expecting to get them filled with small change or candy. Sometimes they deliver Easter cards, and surprisingly, even if the family isn’t home, the child is welcome to open the door, throw the card inside and go on her way. We were reminded that food served during the Easter season would likely include “semlor“; we ate cream puffs instead of Shrove Tuesday buns but after all they are ‘similar’ to “semlor.”

The Easter Sunday meal is often laid like a “smörgåsbord“ and could include spring lamb (a relatively recent tradition), herring, salmon, potatoes in some form, other side dishes, and eggs. After forty Vasa Star July-September 2011

days of fasting, during which no eggs were allowed in meals, they were a special treat. Eggs were not only consumed, they were also painted to fight off bad spirits.

In Skåne, southern Sweden, kids used to roll eggs down the sandy dunes along the coast to watch them collide with each other and spill all over the slope. The big sea wall north of Kivik is still called Äggabackarna or the Egg Hills. In certain parts of the country the custom of “äggapickning“ was observed. People gathered on Easter morning with hardboiled eggs in their pockets. Two players stood opposite each other, one holding his egg still and the other using his for attack. The winner was the one whose egg remained unbroken. This was supposed to bring good luck through the coming year. With a little encouragement, Sierra Kronan members lined up and paired off to tap their eggs one against the other, the Red Egg Team against the Yellow. Traditionally the eggs were dyed yellow using onion peels, and red using beet juice. We had lots of fun and Raye Brown was the winner. Under the strictest rules of the contest, we would have had Raye peel her egg and eat it to prove it wasn’t a fake.

Submitted by: Carol Nesewich

Jubileum Lodge #755 Madison, WI Our last regular program of the spring, held on Sunday, April 10th at Good Shepherd Lutheran, featured founding member and past chairman Lowell Nordling, who explored pre-Columbian America through the works of three authors, Gavin Menzies, Charles Mann, and C. Fred Rydholm. According to Lowell, there was a lot going on in North America before 1492, and some of it might even have involved Scandinavians.

By far the best-documented Viking site is at L’Anse Aux Meadows, Newfoundland, from about 1000 AD. But did Vikings also explore the North American interior via the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes, and via Hudson Bay and the Red River?

There are tantalizing hints. Lewis and Clark reported that the Mandan tribe had a more settled lifestyle than most Plains Indians, and that some of them had typically light skin and hair, suggesting influential encounters with Europeans well before the French in the 1700s. The Kensington Rune stone, found in Minnesota in the late 1800s, was allegedly carved by the dying members of an expedition up the Red River from Hudson Bay. The Swedish-born editor of the Ashland, WI newspaper encountered an Indian who spoke words which, to his tribe, were magic, but sounded remarkably like Swedish.

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Jubileum Lodge #755 Continued from page 15

It’s generally agreed that Columbus knew that the earth was round, not flat.

But did he also have maps showing that his real destination wasn’t the Far East, but an entire continent between Europe and Asia? That’s the opinion of Gavin Menzies. In his book 1434, he describes Chinese armadas of the 14th and 15th centuries that explored the entire globe.

They supposedly reached Italy, bringing maps showing the Americas, and diagrams which da Vinci modified to produce many of his astounding inventions.

Viking and Chinese explorers might have found far more in North America than we presently think. The Cahokia site in Illinois east of St. Louis was once a city of 40,000 inhabitants. But according to Charles Mann, author of 1491, Cahokia was just one of many such cities, a remnant of a civilization of 10 million people in the Mississippi Valley, going back several thousand years BC, and sustained by an extensive trade in grain, fur, and copper.

C. Fred Rydholm’s Michigan Copper—the Untold Story: A History of Discovery provides additional evidence for a worldwide trade in American copper. During his lifelong explorations of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula he found numerous excavations and artifacts, including a pit-furnace 20 feet deep and 10 feet across, cut into rock, and a 3500lb. copper nugget that had been partially excavated before being abandoned.

Copper was important throughout the ancient world, both “as is” and as bronze, an alloy with tin. Rydholm claims that more copper was used throughout the ancient world than was available from local sources, and also that the amount of copper removed from Michigan was far more than that found in North American artifacts. So he hypothesized a worldwide trade, involving Egyptians, Carthaginians, Celts, and Chinese, with 80% of the copper coming from the Upper Peninsula.

As Lowell Nordling put it, “These stories inhabit our world. They personalize it.”

We held our annual Pea Soup, Pancakes, and Proverbs dinner at Arbor Covenant Church in the evening of Thursday, May 12. During Pea Soup night we had four pots of pea soup. It’s always fun to sample variations of this simple, familiar food. Various blends of thyme, marjoram, and ginger were used.

Page 16

Two were made with whole yellow peas, while the other two used split yellow peas, more easily found in our locale.

Hans Fride re-told the history of pea soup. People have been eating it for thousands of years, because dried peas are easily transported, highly nutritious, and easily prepared. The tradition of Pea Soup Thursday goes back to preReformation Sweden, and the need to eat something that would stick with you through the Friday fast day. Unlike some other Swedish traditional foods, pea soup is still widely eaten in Sweden. It’s even available, ready-made, frozen in plastic sleeves with metal-crimped ends, like the ones used in America for breakfast sausage. That led to a brief digression about the much wider variety of foods available in such sleeves, or tubes with screw-on caps, in Sweden than in America.

As is our custom, anyone who wanted shared a Swedish saying or proverb.

Lowell Nordling recalled, “He who wishes to sing will find a song,” which led to the invention of another one, on the spot.

“He who wishes to complain will find something to complain about.” Ulla Swanson shared, “Small, small words of love, said every day, and your home becomes a heaven and your life becomes pleasant.” Barbara Furstenburg quoted, “Up like the sun, flat as a pancake, such is life.” That led to a discussion of the idiom “flat as a pancake,” which in the proverb appears to refer to death, but in America refers to land which is, well, flat as a pancake.

The sayings came thick and fast—I’m sorry I couldn’t keep up with all who shared one or what they were. Many had heard, “Away is good but home is best.”

“What breaks in a moment takes years to mend.” “One cannot live on beauty, but one can die for it.” “Don’t throw away the old bucket until you’re sure that the new one holds water.” “When sin drives, shame sits in the back seat.” “A piece of bread in the pocket is better than a feather in the cap.” “A woman’s heart sees more than ten men’s eyes.” And, with “Midsommar” just around the corner, “Midsommar” night is short, but it sets many cradles rocking.” Our “Mid sommar” celebration, so far as I know, is strictly G-rated. We also heard a few Norwegian jokes.

Thanks to Gunnard Swanson and Gloria Waity for making the pancakes, and to the others who brought “lingon,” flatbread, and cheese.

We are also proud to announce that

Dylan Bender

Dylan Bender, son of Daniel and Carol Bender of Wisconsin Rapids, has been awarded a scholarship from Lake Michigan District Lodge #8. Dylan will be studying Environmental Engineering at Michigan Tech. Dylan is a five-summer alumnus of Sjölunden (Concordia Swedish Language Village), an Honor Roll student and 1st Team AllConference football player at Lincoln High, an Eagle Scout, and an acolyte at St. John’s Episcopal Church. The future is in good hands. Congratulations, Dylan!

Submitted by: Robert Merrill, Historian

Nordic Red Rock Lodge #760 Sedona, AZ Don Rosenow and Pete Peterson, remensitic of Legendary Swedish comedians, Olson and Johnson presented a program on Viking ship finds in comic fashion. Don acting as an investigative Swedish newspaper reporter finds a recluse Swede building a model Viking ship while living in a cave in the deepest and darkest part of Småland. As Don continues with the interview, he discovers that Pete Peterssonssonson-AndThen-Son, is the oldest known living Viking; born in 1011.

Don and Pete’s bantar, dialogue and slides in Power Point of archeological artifacts and history of Viking ship discoveries presented a hilarious discourse on Nordic history. Peterssonson, son’s head attire of rag mop for hair and cooking cauldron as a helmet spoofed the idea of Vikings wearing horns. That erroneous idea seemed to have started in New York

Vasa Star July-September 2011

Nordic Folk Lodge #761

Nordic Red Rock Lodge #760

Munster, IN

Continued from page 16

at the turn off the century when the opera society of that city decided to put on a Nordic presentation. The director cast about for a robust characterization of a Viking and came up width idea of adding horns to the helmet. Needless to say Nordic Red Rock Lodge spent a hilarious hour or more listening to the interview of the Petterssonsonson-And-Then-son oldest living Viking!!! All spoken in EngelSvensk!

Submitted by:

Don Rosenow and Pete Peterson.

Nordik Folk began April with the first meeting of its newly formed Genealogy Club on April 4th. Over ten Nordik Folk members turned out for the initial informative meeting led by Herb Smith, who has been working on his family tree and wanted to share some of the things he’s learned along the way. The first meeting was a great overview for the beginner with information on how to fill out your Ancestral Chart and Family Group Records to navigating all of the online resources. His main goal was to help us gather as much information as possible using free sources. Genealogy Club will meet monthly from September-June on the first Monday of each month; and Herb is available as a consultant to members in between meetings.

Our Cultural Program for the April Business meeting was cancelled, but Cultural Leader Michelle Westlund is saving it for a rainy day.

Our second Genealogy Club was held on May 2nd, where Herb Smith talked about where to start. He walked us through inputting information into a useful “Standard Data Base” (Geni, Ancestry etc.), utilizing the local public library genealogy online program “heritage Quest,” and then how to read what you’ve found.

From May 13-15 Nordik Folk #761 delegates Annelise Nelson and Barbara Hannigan attended the 103rd Annual Convention of District Lodge Lake Michigan #8 which was hosted by The District Lodge Executive Board. Congratulations to them on a wonderfully planned and enjoyable convention! Many Nordik Folk members attended the convention and all came away with fond memories. Nordik Folk Members Rachel Hannigan and Katie Westlund were recipients of District College Scholarships and were present to receive their awards.

Our May business meeting was spent recapping the District Convention and discussing ways to expand our local lodge membership, which for us has been an ongoing topic. We hope to expand our outreach in the community by holding more cultural events and publicizing more thoroughly. One thing we hope to do is open up our Genealogy Club to the community. We are also hoping to start our own Annual Midsommar Celebration in Northwest Indiana.

Submitted by: Linnea Ogrentz

Genealogy Club Mentor Herb Smith speaking to members Les Lesko, Beth and Fred Raddatz, David Andersson, Annalisa Blue, Lynda Smith, Kristen Schmal, Lisa Pearson, Michael Pearson Sr., Susan Flores, Janice Tomky, and Michelle Westlund.

Vasa Star July-September 2011

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SWEDISH LODGE NEWS Logen Göteborg Nr 452

Logen Karlstad Nr 632

I mars månad varje år ordnar Sveriges Släktforskarförbund “Släktforskningens dag” runt om i landet. I Göteborg arrangerades eventet av några lokala släktforskarföreningar i samarbete med Göteborgs Stadsbibliotek. Vår loge fick en av inbjudningarna att vara med som utställare under de tre dagar som det pågick. Vi fick även göra en presentation om Vasa Orden i bibliotekets hörsal. Denna inbjudan kunde vi med glädje ställa upp på.

Under ett par veckor jobbades det febrilt i logen med planeringsmöten för framtagande av informationsmaterial och bilder. Utställningsväggarna i vår monter skulle dekoreras och bemanningsschema i montern under tre dagar behövde upprättas.

Det var full aktivitet när drygt 15 st. utställare på fredagsmorgon var på plats på biblioteket då väggar, bord och stolar skulle ställas på plats. Vid lunchtid var det invigning och sedan var det en strid ström av besökare i dagarna tre.

Uppskattningsvis besöktes dagarna av flera tusen personer och till vår loges monter kom det hela tiden besökare i olika åldrar. De flesta ville veta vad Vasa Orden är för något och det var just det som vår information i huvudsak handlade om. Vårt mål och förhoppning var ju också att få nya medlemmar som säkerställer vår loges framtid.

De besökare som hade emigranter i sin släkt fick information om Vasa Arkivet och om deras medlemsböcker. Vasa Arkivet kommer på sikt att skanna in böckerna så att det blir digitalt sökbart.

Att det idag finns ett sökbart register med ca 58000 st. Vasa-medlemmar (EMIVASA) utgiven på CD-skivorna Emigranten 2001 och Emigranten Populär 2006 var inte så känt. I registret framgår bl. a. namn, födelse och vilken loge medlemmen tillhörde. Den informationen kan vara en pusselbit och historia om en släkting som eftersöks.

I hörsalen informerade logens ceremonimästare Birgit Lindblad Vasa Ordens historia och kulturledare Charlotte Börjesson om Kontakt Amerika och de möjligheter som är av intresse för släktforskarna.

Sol och värme hälsade Kerstin Lane i Karlstad inför hennes officiella utnämnande som Årets Svensk-Amerikan vid Sverige-Amerikadagen i Filipstad den 30 juli.

I samband med en middag på Sverige Amerika Centret tillsammans med medlemmar ur Logen Karlstad Nr 632, berättade Kerstin att hon stod och såg ut över Chicago, där hon bor, när hon fick telefonsamtalet om att hon blivit utsedd till 2011 års Svensk-Amerikan. Hon kände sig mycket ödmjuk inför denna utnämning. “Tänk att jag som kommer från den skånska myllan har nominerats till Årets Svensk-Amerikan!”

Ett “Get Together Party” under värdskap av Karlstads kommun, arangerades av bl a Cathrine BringseliusNilsson ledamot av utnämningskommittén.

Kerstin Lane har byggt upp Swedish American Museum i Chicago från blygsamma ett rum till ett fyravåningars kulturcentrum. Besöksantalet var 2 000 år 1986 och har idag ökat till 45 000. Hon har också varit Generalkonsul för Sverige i Illinois och avtackades i juni i år, men hon tjänstgör fortfarande i avvaktan på en efterträdare. Kerstin var vidare initiativtagare vid bildanden av Chicago Cultural Alliance 2007 och är fortfarande aktiv som ordförande. Hon var också drivande vid bildandet av lokalavdelningen för SWEA i Chicago.

I sitt tacktal berättade Kerstin Lane att när hon är i USA, är Sverige hemma och när hon är i Sverige, är USA hemma.

Arbetet med att bygga upp Swedish American Museum har tagit mycken tid i anspråk och hennes man har påpekat att de har fyra barn, tre av kött och blod och så museet!

Insänt av Charlotte Börjesson, KL Page 18

Sy Charlotte Börjesson och Sy Irma Delfs är nöjda med sin dag i montern.

Traditionsenligt firade LL Nr 452 Göteborg ”examensdagen” den 4 juli på Slätskäddegatan i Fiskebäck i vackert väder. Visst kan väl Amerikas Nationaldag även kallas för Vasa Ordens stora högtidsdag? Generös och gästvänlig värd var O Ola Hansson. Ett tjugotal logesyskon och gäster från LL Nr 702, Kongahälla hade tillfälle att närvara.

Välkomstdrinken svalkade perfekt i sommarhettan!

Festligheterna inleddes med en quiz, (som det är ok att kalla frågesport numera). Åtta lag bildades som fick ge sig ut på den snitslade banan med penna och papper.

Tio frågor om Amerika och Vasa Orden pockade på svar. Vet du kanske mellan vilka delstater huvudstaden Washington ligger? Har du koll på vilket år USAs nuvarande flagga antogs eller hur många medlemmar Vasa Orden har totalt? Efter quizen hissade Vincent Höjer Stjärnbaneret och vi stämde alla upp The Star-Spangled Banner.

Nu var det dags att njuta av läckerheterna från Olas grill. Tre olika sallader, majs och tomater bjöds till den baconinlindade fläskfilén. Och som om det inte var nog trollade Ola fram äppelpaj med en fantastiskt god och nyttig sås … Tre lag fick dela på segern i den svåra quizen.

Men alla så fick vi med oss ett mycket fint minne hem från den trevliga och glada festen i Fiskebäck!

Insänt av: Margareta Ruthagen/ Monica Olsson

Insänt av: Barbro Bucht, KL

A Vasa-bridge to your Swedish ancestors!

Looking for your relatives in Sweden?

I have helped many satisfied Vasa-members finding their Swedish roots.

Further info please e-mail: swedengen@telia.com Vasa Star July-September 2011

Logen Höganäs Nr 634

Br Jan Berg framför Krapperups slott.

Vid kulturmötet lördagen den 16 april 2011 samlade ett 50-tal Vasamedlemmar. O Sy Evy Lindstrand från LL Skåne Nr 570 och LL Carlscrona Nr 601 välkomnades till kvällens möte.

BCM och BCMA Br Ola och Sy Maj Sandberg tjänstgjorde som Ceremonimästare på ett föredömligt sätt. Föregående mötes protokoll upplästes och godkändes och PS Sy Carina Nilsson läste upp inkomna kallelser. O Sy Evy Lindstrand läste upp nomineringskommitténs förslag till nya Distriktstjänstemän, varvid det framkom att vår VO Br Karl-Axel Bengtsson nominerats till CDM i DL 20. Vi gratulerar BR KarlAxel till nomineringen!

Efter sedvanliga rapporter från FS och K upplästes motioner och ändringsförslag inför årets Distriktsmöte. Logen beslutade helt enligt styrelsens förslag. Mötet avslutades med en vacker ljussläckningsceremoni.

Den arrangerande gruppen hade dukat borden i vårens färger och en god middag bestående av honungsmarinerad skinkstek med tillbehör serverades. O Sy Evy Lindstrand kunde hälsa ytterligare tre gäster välkomna till efterkapitlet, gäster som förhoppningsvis blev medlemmar i vår loge på SverigeAmerikamötet i juli.

Efter kaffe och god hembakad kaka intogs scenen av Ros-Marie Greén och Johan Isberg som spelade och sjöng många kända melodier och snart blev det också en livlig allsång.

Husbandet spelade upp till dans och som Br Wayne Pierson från Nordic lodge nr 660 blir serverad lax med vanligt fylldes golvet tillbehör med O Sy Eva Lindstrand, Sy Carina Norén och Br snabbt med dansglada Gunnar Lindstrand tittar på.

Vasasyskon. Många glada vinnare kunde hämta fina vinster vid lotteridragningen och så var även denna trevliga Vasakväll till ända.

Söndagen den 29 maj 2011, var vi 24 Vasasyskon som träffades utanför Krapperups slott som ligger c:a 5 km utanför Höganäs stad. Slottet är en av Skånes äldsta och historiskt sett viktigaste sätesgårdar med anor från 1300-talet. Här finns också en naturromantisk park med porlande bäckar, slingrande stigar och flera exotiska träd.

Där fick vi en mycket fin guidning genom slottet av Margareta Johnsson, som tillVasa Star July-September 2011

sammans med sin far finns med på vårt Charterbrev. Vi avslutade träffen på Slottscaféet.

Den 6:e juni, Sveriges Nationaldag, firades i Tivoliparken i Höganäs. I fanborgen deltog Br Jan Berg, Br Kent Andréasson, Sy Barbro Carlson och Br Leif Larsson. Efteråt träffades vi hemma hos Sy Ingrid och Br Jan Berg. Vi var 23 Vasasyskon som intog macka med ”gubbröra” och lite förfriskningar därtill.

Vädret var fint så det blev långbord i trädgården.

Under vårt Sverige-Amerikamöte den 2 juli 2011, hälsade vår Ordförande Sy Evy Lindstrand 81 st Ordensyskon välkomna till årets Sverige-Amerikamöte på Vikens Hemgård. Vi hade tre gäster från Amerika, Br Bertil Winther, Logen Golden Valley Nr 616, Sy Siv Svan Pierson, Scandinavia Lodge Nr 667 och Br Wayne Pierson, Nordic Lodge Nr 660 som infördes och hälsades välkomna.

Bland gästande ordenssyskon märktes bl.a. SLD Br Åke Mellnert, Logen Christian Nr 617, DM Br Olle Wickström, Logen Skåne Nr 570. DLH Sy Anita Nilsson, Logen Skåne Nr 570.

Gäster kom även från Logen Carlscrona Nr 601, Logen Kärnan Nr 608 och från Logen Nybyggarna Nr 698. Denna kväll fick vi också tre ny medlemmar. Sy Kerstin Nilsson, Br Calle Nilsson och Br Mats Malmström. Dom hälsades varmt välkomna till Logen Höganäs Nr 634.

Fanparaden utfördes av Br Kenneth Nilsson, Sy Inger Bengtsson, Br Sixten Bengtsson och Sy Bodil Larsson.

Prologen till fanorna lästes av Sy Maj-Lis Friedman.

Efter Kontakt Amerika, läste KL Sy Ingrid Berg upp hälsningar från bl.a. vänloger i USA. LH, Br Gunnar Lindstrand, berättade om Oscarsstatyetten. Mötet avslutades med en vacker ljussläckningsceremoni. Efter lite förfriskningar bjöds det till bankett. KL. Sy Ingrid Berg talade till de nya medlemmarna och hälsade dem välkomna till Logen Höganäs Nr 634. Tacktalet hölls av nye medlemmen Br Calle Nilsson.

Efter maten bjöds det upp till dans och golvet fylldes snabbt. Gert Reinhold stod för musiken denna kväll. I Drömreselotteriet gick högsta vinsten till Br Karl-Axel Bengtsson. Kvällen var slut och vi gick alla hem efter en som vanligt lyckad Vasakväll.

Insänt av: Ingrid Berg, KL Bilder av: Ingrid Berg, KL Page 19

Logen Kongahälla Nr 702 DL Norra Sverige Nr 19 hade sitt Distriktsmöte i Kungälv den 27 – 29 maj 2011, där Logen Kongahälla Nr 702 var värdloge.

Det finns många anekdoter och berättelser från vikingatiden om möten som ägt rum i trakten av Kongahälla, nuvarande Kungälv, som t.ex. Norges kung Olav Tryggvassons möte med Sigrid Storråda, då de skulle göra upp om sina giftermålsplaner, vilkets sägs ha ägt rum år 997.

Trekungamötet ägde rum 1101 på Kungsvallen vid Landamäret. Det sägs att det då var den danske kungen, Erik Ejegod, som tog initiativet till mötet med kung Magnus Olavsson av Norge, även kallad Magnus Barfot samt Inge Stenkilsson av Sverige. Mötet var avsett att skapa fred mellan länderna. Med detta som bakgrund var det naturligt för Logen Kongahälla Nr 702, att redan från början välja en viking som sin symbol. Man kan väl då också tycka att det var en lämplig plats att samla Vasavänner från såväl Storlogen i USA som Distriktslogen Norra Sverige Nr 19 och Distriktslogen Södra Sverige Nr 20 till att diskutera om vad som är det bästa för Vasa Orden av Amerika.

Flertalet av deltagarna samlades tidigt på fredagen på Hotell Fars Hatt i Kungälv där mötet och inkvarteringar har varit.

Gäster som bodde på hotellet fick vid ankomsten en liten viking med en historik om vikingastaden Kongahälla. Glädjande var det, att ha Stormästare Br Bill Lundquist med hustru Sheila samt Vice Stormästare Br Tore Kellgren med hustru Birgitta som gäster.

Sedan 2002 har Logen Kongahälla årligen haft en speciell Vikingadag och med detta som bakgrund valde Logen att starta Distriktsmötesdagarna med denna festlighet.

Drygt 175 Vasasyskon från SL, DL Norra Sverige Nr 19, DL Södra Sverige Nr 20 samt från många svenska lokalloger i Sverige samlades i Restaurang Fars Hatt på fredagskvällen. Många av Logen Kongahällas medlemmar var klädda i sina tidstypiska vikingakläder. Alla deltagarna bjöds först på en välkomstskål där värdlogens O Br Sune Börjesson hälsade alla deltagarna hjärtligt välkomna, varefter Vikingahövdingen Br Morgan Andersson frågade om några fiender var siktade i grannskapet. Bitr Vikingahövdingen Br Jan-Eric Berntsson rapporterade att så inte var fallet och inledde kvällens festligheter Page 20

med en trumpetfanfar. Så var det dags för det spännande ögonblicket då Vikingahövdingen Br Morgan Andersson skulle tillkännage namnen på de utsedda vikingarna. Årets Viking, skall vara en kvinna eller man, samt ha på ett förtjänstfullt sätt representerat Logen Kongahälla Nr 702.

Hedersvikingar, behöver inte vara medlemmar i Vasa Orden av Amerika, men skall på ett förtjänstfullt sätt ha gagnat Vasa Orden av Amerika eller Logen Kongahälla Nr 702.

Till Årets Viking utsågs Logen Kongahällas nuvarande Ordförande Br Sune Börjesson som förutom varit Vice Ordförande även varit Kulturledare. Till Årets Hedersvikingar utsågs här SM Br Bill Lundquist samt VSM Br Tore Kellgren. Samtliga fick mottaga ett diplom och en viking, snidad i trä.

Efter denna ceremoni var det dags att inmundiga kvällens supé. För underhållningen denna kväll svarade Logen Kongahällas medlemmar, som framförde en Fritiof Andersson-kavalkad med musik och texter av Evert Taube.

Ett 80-tal Vasasyskon var då samlade i möteslokalen för invigningen av Distriktsmötet, på lördag morgon.

Gästande Distrikts- och Storlogetjänstemän infördes i fyra omgångar. Alla presenterades för Logen där de fick sina speciella välkomstord av DM Br Einar Savolainen Grön.

DM Br Einar Savolainen Grön lämnade så över till O Br Sune Börjesson i Logen Kongahälla Nr 702 som hälsade alla deltagarna välkomna till Kungälv och startade ett inslag i invignings-ceremonin.

Distriktsceremonimästarna ledsagade in en fanparad med två nyckelharpspelande damer som förutom ingångsmusiken spelade två folklåtar. Sy Inger Uneback sjöng och Br Maths Fredriksson spelade Inbjudan till Bohuslän, varefter uttåget skedde med musik och uppskattande applåder.

Distriktsmötets öppnande med de sedvanliga inledande punkterna, där det bl a var reception för 23 nya Distrikts logemedlemmar, parentation hölls för åtta Distriktsloge-medlemmar som avlidet under den gångna terminen.

Nomineringen och val av de olika tjänstemännen och kommittéerna samt installation av Distriktstjänstemännen gjordes av SLD Br Tore Tellberg, på ett mycket förtjänstfullt sätt.

DM Sy Ewa Pilhammar Andersson tackade för förtroendet att ännu en gång bli vald till Distriktsmästare.

Drygt 180 Vasasyskon samlades till

Honorary Vikings

bankett under lördagen den 28:e maj. Kvä llens värdpar Br Lars-Gunnar och Sy Ulla Börjesson hälsade alla välkomna. En mycket god supé serverades och vid förrätten utbringades först ett leve för Sveriges Konung som följdes av Kungssången samt därefter ett leve för USA:s President där det sjöngs USA:s nationalsång. Tal hölls av SM Br Bill Lundquist och DM Br Einar Savolainen Grön.

Efter supén framförde Vasa Aktivitetsklubb Nr 10 Vasakören med musiker, under ledning av Sy Inger Uneback, ett antal sånger, på ett mycket uppskattat sätt. Sedan var det dags för kaffe samt dans.

För de Vasasyskon som inte deltog i Distriktsmötet, hade man arrangerat en utfärd till Marstrand. Ett drygt 20-tal deltagare färdades dit i bilar, där det blev en guidad visning på Carlstens Fästning samt lunch innan återfärden. På söndag förmiddag var det även arrangerat en guidad vandring utmed Kungälvs gamla fina byggnader på Västra Gatan för ett 10-tal Vassyskon.

Ett bildspel om Kungälv och Marstrand samt om Logen Kongahällas historia, visades kontinuerligt, på en stor TV-apparat i hotellets sällskapsrum.

Logen Kongahälla fick många uppskattande ord för hur detta Distriktsmöte genomförts.

Insänt av: Rolf Claesson.

Foto: Leif Nilsson

Lodge Kongahälla #702 DL Northern Sweden #19 had their district meeting in Kungälv on 27 – 29 May 2011, Lodge Kongahalla #702 served as the host lodge.

There are many anecdotes and stories from the Viking age on meetings that have taken place in the neighborhood of Kongahälla, now Kungälv, e.g. The Norwegian King Olav Tryggvassons meeting with Sigrid Storråda, to arrange for their wedding plans, it was said to have Continued on page 21 Vasa Star July-September 2011

Logen Kongahälla Nr 702 Continued from page 20

taken place in 997. The three kings meeting took place 1101 at Landamäret near Kongahälla. It is said that it was King Eric I of Denmark that initiated the meeting with King Magnus Olavsson of Norway, also known as Magnus of Norway, and Inge Stenkilsson of Sweden. The meeting was intended to create peace between the countries. With this in mind, it was appropriate to gather friends from both the United States as the GL, DL Northern Sweden #19 and DL Southern Sweden #20 to discuss the future of The Vasa Order of America.

The majority of participants gathered early on Friday at hotel's Fars Hatt in Kungälv where meeting and the accommodation facilities were held. Guests, who stayed at the hotel, received upon arrival a small viking with including the history of the Viking city of Kongahälla. We were fortunate to have GM Bill Lundquist with wife Sheila and Deputy Grand Master Tore Kellgren with wife Birgitta as guests.

On Friday evening the stage was set to celebrate Viking Day, a tradition that started in 2002 and is held annually, an appropriate way to kick off the District meeting.

More than 175 Vasa members from the GL, DL Northern Sweden #19, DL Southern Sweden #20, as well as from many Swedish local lodges in Sweden gathered at Restaurant Fars Hatt on Friday evening. Many of Kongahällas members were dressed in Viking clothes. Chairman Sune Börjesson greeted all participants, after which Viking Chief Morgan Andersson asked if there were any enemies in sight. Deputy Viking Chief JanEric Berntsson reported that this was not the case, and began the evening's festivities with a trumpet solo. Then it was time for the exciting moment when Viking Chief Morgan Andersson would announce the names of the nominated Vikings. The Viking, woman or man, should have significally represented the Vasa Order of America or Lodge Kongahälla #702.

Honorary Vikings, need not be members of the Vasa Order of America, but have benefited The Vasa of America or Lodge Kongahälla #702.

This year's Viking was appointed to the current Lodge Kongahälla Chairman Sune Börjesson who in addition has been the Vice President and also has served as Cultural leader. To Honorary Vikings was appointed GM Br Bill Lundquist and VGM Br Tore Kellgren. All received a diploma and a Viking, carved in wood.

Following this ceremony, it was time

for the banquette. Lodge Kongahällas members were responsible for the entertainment that performed song of Fritiof Andersson, with music and lyrics by Evert Taube.

Some 80 Vasa members gathered in the meeting room for the opening of the District meeting on Saturday morning.

Visiting District and GL members were introduced in four different groups. They were all called up to the stage where everyone had their special welcoming words from DM Einar Savolainen Grön.

Chairman Sune Börjesson from Lodge Kongahälla #702 greeted all participants welcome to Kungälv and started the inaugural ceremony. Masters of ceremonies was escorted during a flag parade while two women played two folk songs on “key fiddles.” Inger Uneback sang and Maths Fredriksson played Invitation to Bohuslän, after which the exodus took place with music and appreciative applause.

It was then time for District opening with the usual introductory paragraphs, there was e.g. a reception for 23 new DL members, and a last tribute was held for eight DL members that we lost during the past semester.

Nomination and election of officers, committees and the installation of district officials were made by the GLD Tore Tellberg, in a very creditable way. DM Ewa Pilhammar-Andersson thanked for the confidence to once again be elected DM. Under the “Wellness of the Order” DM Einar Savolainen Grön thanked the outgoing districts officials and the newly appointed District officials and other officials including Chairman Sune Börjesson.

GM Bill Lundquist thanked for a very nice district meeting.

More than 180 Vasa members had gathered for Saturday evening’s banquette on the 28th. Lars-Gunnar and Ulla Börjesson greeted all welcome. We honored the King of Sweden by singing the “King Song” and continued by honoring the United States President after which we sang United States national anthem Afterwards we ate a very tasty dinner.

Speech was held by GM Bill Lundquist and DM Einar Savolainen Grön.

After our meal the Vasa Activity Club #10 Vasa Choir with musicians, led by Inger Uneback, performed a number of songs. Then it was time for coffee and dance.

For the Vasa members who did not participate in the District meeting an excursion was arranged to Marstrand. A little over 20 members traveled by car, where they had a guided tour of Fort Carlsten and Vasa Star July-September 2011

lunch before returning. There were also guided tours arranged along the old buildings at Kungälv West Street for a 10 Vasa members.

A slideshow of Kungälv and Marstrand including Kongahällas history ran continuously, at a large TV in the hotel's lounges.

Kongahälla Lodge received many appreciative words for the way this district meeting was conducted.

Submitted by: Rolf Claesson.

Foto: Leif Nilsson

Logen Filbyer Nr 714 Det blir nog så att Filbyter måste byta lokal nästa gång de ordnar Brödernas Afton, det var fullsatt till ”sista bänk” på våravslutningen. Nu skall sägas också att Damernas Afton inte står långt efter bröderna, sade SY Lisbeth H Qvarfordt när hon tackade för den goda supén och den fantastiska underhållningen under kvällen. Det blev alltså en lyckad våravslutning med Logen Filbyter.

Logemötet styrdes med sedvanlig elegans av Ordf. Arne Samuelsson.

Många viktiga punkter var snart genomgågna, alla väntade med spänning på efterkapitlet och Brödernas Afton.

Ingen risk för nedläggning tack vare att logen arbetar hela tiden med att få nya medlemmar. Inte sätter de sig till ro och tror att det går av sig självt. Det är styrkan med Östgötalogerna, var Sy Lisbeths kommentar till den stora uppslutningen. Tänk om alla logerna kunde arbeta som östgötalogerna då skulle det inte bli några nedläggningar.

Logen Filbyters våravslutnig är något att minnas, var Ordf Maggie AhlinsThulins kommentar när vi tog bilen och svängde åter mot Norrköping.

Insänt av: Inge Hallberg Foto: Inge Hallberg

Samarbete i logerna. Här från v ses ordf. i Logen Bråviken Nr 751 Maggie Ahlin Thelin.

Stig Carlsson Ordf i logen Nr 762 Vadstena.

Arne Samuelsson Ordf i Logen Filbyter Nr 714 samt Lisbeth H Qvarfordt, FDM. Page 21

Logen Knallen Nr 745 Ett femtiotal logesyskon hade samlats utanför Odd Fellow i det fina vårvädret.

Bussen, som först skulle köra oss till Bredareds Bygdegård, avgick klockan 10.

På Bygdegården möttes vi av en trevlig guide som bjöd på kaffe med dopp och visade oss en film om Uno Axelssons liv och konstnärskap. Denne man hade i naturen funnit material till sitt konstnärskap. I trädens olika former och “missbildningar” hade han sett figurer som han skickligt skulpterat fram. Denna konstskatt finns att beskåda i ett museum i anslutning till Bygdegården. Museet är väl värt ett besök.

Färden fortsatte genom fagra marker i vårens tid. Vi färdades genom Fristad och på den vackra vägen förbi Gingri till Rångedala kyrka och nådde så Ågårdens Säteri. Där välkomnades vi av familjen Wingborn till ett gästabud med helstekt gris och läckra tillbehör. Eftermiddagen tillbringades i vänners glada sällskap med aktiviteter som poängjakt, musikaliska tävlingar och lotterier.

Kåsören Örjan Hill underhöll oss med ett historiskt föredrag om människor som levat och spelat roll i Ågårdens historia.

Det var mycket intressant. Örjan Hill har mångal kvaliteter.

Hemfärden tillbaka till Borås företogs per buss i kvällningen med glada och nöjda logesyskon efter en innehållsrik dag.

Insänt av: Lilian Ewe Ericson, Logehistoriker

Logen Klockan Nr 747 Vårens sista möte i Logen Klockan Nr 747 var lördagen den 16 april. På logemötet behandlades bl a motionerna.

Kulturledaren läste en dikt.

Logehistorikern gav en återblick på mötet 1992, då det varit hattparad.

På grund av lågt deltagande i förra årets Gökotta bestämdes att vi inte skulle ha någon i år. Sedan var det dags för efterkapitel. Lax med tillbehör smakade utmärkt denna vårkväll.

Jämt får man höra att sång och dans gör oss friska och glada. Glada är man alltid på Klockans möten och säkert blev vi åtminstone piggare, när sångaren från England, Mel Rainbow, började sjunga.

Page 22

Det blev låtar som man hört av Dean Martin, Elvis Presley, Jim Reeves med flera. Vad vi njöt och vad vi dansade! Vi bad honom direkt att komma tillbaka ett annat år. Tack till Br Sven-Olof som ordnat denna underhållning.

I pausen smakade kaffet extra gott, då vi till detta fick en mycket god kaka , som en av systrarna bakat. Efter sedvanlig lottdragning blev det ytterligare danser och sedan var det dags att bege sig hemåt.

Vi ses den 24 september!

Insänt av: Inger Ericson Foto: Sven Olov Stigsson

Mel Rainbow som underhöll på vårt förra möte.

Logen Bråviken Nr 751 Många loger anordnar, efter vårterminen slut, resor. Logen Bråviken #751 reste till avslutning på Mauritzbergs Slott, vilket kan läsas om i Bråvikens hemsida. Logen Vadstena #762 och Filbyter #714 anordnar flera resor på försommaren. Bl.a till Barakaryd i Småland och en resa till invandrarbygder i Södra Östergötland med premiär på musikalen Andrew Pettersson, en “äkta pionärshistoria” på Aggarps loge i Rydsnäs. Vidare så kommer Peter Casseldagarna i Kisa framöver. Ja, det finns en hel del resor varje som ordnas av Östgötalogerna.

Logerna Vadstena och Filbyter, Linköping och Logen Bråviken Norrköping gjorde en dagstur till Vadstena och trakterna kring Omberg och Drottning Omma. Första stoppet var en

Guidad tur i Klosterkyrkan i Vadstena och alla de fina utsmyckningarna som finns där. Därefter intogs kaffe i Pilgrims-Centrum.

Vidare ut mot den s.k. “slätta” och via Naddö, besöktes Sveriges äldsta Kyrkogård, där bl.a. nationalskalden Verner von Heidenstams son Dag har sitt vilorum. Kyrkan som tillhör platsen heter Örberga Kyrka, näst äldst i Sverige, och som visade sig vara en ytterst originell kyrka. Lunch intogs på Stocklycke Vandrarhem på Omberg.

Nästa stopp var det primära, besöket på Ellen Keys Strand alldeles intill Vättern. Det var en arbetsam upplevelse för de flesta att ta sig ner till stranden och upp igen via långa trappor. Men det var det värt, en mycket trevlig guidning bjöds vi på hemma hos Ellen Key. Min eloge till systrarna Mary Dahlström och IngBritt Persson Cederin som med yttersta viljan tog sig ner och upp igen från de många branta trapporna. Väl uppe vid bussen fanns en rastplats med utsikt över Hästholmen och Vättern, till eftermiddagskaffet som verkligen alla gjort sig förtjänta av.

En stor eloge till Kulturledarna Laila Pettersson, Vadstena och Kristin Lundin i Filbyter samt till Pege Andersson Vadstena som höll ihop de olika besöken.

En applåd kom från deltagarna i Bråviken, Vadstena och Filbyter. Östergötland består av många fler kulturupplevelser och vi ser fram emot mera besök.

Fotnot: Besöket hos Ellen Keys Strand gav mersmak. Läs boken Ett hem för själen, Skriven av Ingela Bendr.

Drottning Omma är ett sagoväsen kring Omberg. Läs på Goggels.

Insänt av: Inge och Lisbeth Hallberg

Kultur och drivna reseledare vid Ellen Keys Strands parkering med utsikt över Vättern och Hästholmen. Från V Laila Pettersson, Logen Vadstena Kristina Linden, Logen Filbyter samt Per-Gunnar Andersson intendenten på Övralid, Logen Vadstena och samman hållande av hela denna resa.

Vasa Star July-September 2011

YOUTH NEWS Bishop Hill, Vasa Youth Club A favorite project of the members of Bishop Hill’s Vasa youth club is to tend the garden at the Vasa National Archives.

Pictured here is Pride of the Family member, Claire Mannon, daughter of Kimberly Mannon of Geneseo, Illinois and grand-

daughter of Russ and Nan Swanson of Rio, Illinois, members of Local Lodge #683. Be sure to stop and smell the flowers at the Archives this summer!

Submitted by: Patti Christianson, Bishop Hill Lodge #683

AUDIO-VISUAL DIRECTOR Mike Pearson 7309 New Hampshire Pl • Hammond, IN 46323-2937 USA Phone: (219) 588-4752

E-mail: audiovisual.vasaorder@yahoo.com The Vasa website at www.vasaorder.com contains a “materials button” which has the listing of audio visual materials available.

If you are unable to use the Vasa website, you can still ask that a listing be sent to you by mail.

Vasa Star July-September 2011

Page 23

Welcome To Our New Members On behalf of the Grand Lodge and members of the Vasa Order of America, I am pleased to welcome you to membership in these local Vasa lodges. If you are new to the Vasa Order of America we bid you welcome. If you are transferring or are a dual member, your new lodge bids you welcome. We hope you will enjoy your membership and will participate in all of the activities planned for you.

Art Bjorkner, Grand Lodge Membership Chairman 31 Vasa Drive, Hackettstown NJ 07840-5314 USA

DL CONNECTICUT NO. 1 Karl XII Lodge No. 103 Sivert R. Jacobson DL MASSACHUSETTS NO. 2 Nordic Lodge No. 611 Toriann Ellen Arvidson Pamela Anne Laino Vinland of Cape Cod Lodge No. 703 Clara J. Buttrick Jan Marie Voelker Birka Lodge No. 732 Karyn Lyn Ashness Ann Elizabeth DeLacey Sven Gunnar Hyberts Marlys J. Mahajan Sharon DeLacey Mikutel Lisa E. Winsor

Samantha Kristine Cunningham Jim D. Losh Kimberly Lynn Normann Dalahäst Lodge No. 742 Harvey Milton Evans

DL LAKE MICHIGAN NO. 8 Kronan Lodge No. 179 Marcella Jane Carlson Joy A. Hamron DL PENNSYLVANIA NO. 9 Nobel-Monitor No. 130 Nancy R. Faymon Eric Larson Zalud

DL NEW YORK NO. 4 Thule Lodge No. 127 Gloria Anderson Roy M. Holland Newkirk L. Johnson Janet Miller William R. Turner William B. Wittenbrook

DL GOLDEN GATE NO. 12 Lindbergh Lodge No. 494 Lynne Bollen Viveca Eliscu Gunnar Galsgaard Ronnie Haderle Kristina Anna Kappel Ginny M. Nelson Linnea Lodge No. 504 Jan Ekner Alexandra Loon Sierra Kronan Lodge No. 737 James Verne Netzel Melissa Sue Netzel

DL NEW JERSEY NO. 6 Arlington Lodge No. 62 Karen H. Rossen Linne Lodge No. 429 Joyce Kellish Martin Kellish Three Crowns Lodge No. 704 Cynthia Alison Baker-Scott Karin Lovisa Boitz Douglas James Creelin

DL PACIFIC NORTHWEST NO. 13 North Star Lodge No. 145 Ebba Ostrom Lester Everett Ostrom Norrskenet Lodge No. 189 Carl Ronald Lofgren Alexa Louise Lowe Anthony Michael Lowe Lori Vanderman Wilmot Stephen Barwick Wilmot

DL RHODE ISLAND NO. 3 Svea Lodge No. 362 Haley Marie Tavares

Page 24

Norden Lodge No. 233 Leonard A. Gottner Leslie Mae Kelly Esther M. Taylor Olympia Lodge No. 550 Dorene Angela Berg Lynette Lindelöf Philip E. Stutzman Susan A. Stutzman DL PACIFIC SOUTHWEST NO. 15 North Star Lodge No. 106 Siri Marie Eliason Ingemar Hulthage Desert Viking Lodge No. 682 Alex Danson Clark Allyn McCartney Valley Viking Lodge No. 701 June Marie Evans DL ALBERTA NO. 18 Nordstjarnan Lodge No. 575 Chrystal Vinje Marney DL SÖDRA SVERIGE NO. 20 Calmare Nyckel Lodge No. 628 Barbro and Björn Hagström Ronneby Lodge No. 630 Åke Karlsson Ann-Charlotte Nilsson Sandra Nilsson Blå Jungfrun Lodge No. 749 Leif Axelsson Maud Axelsson Jan G. Jonsson Monika Jonsson DL ARIZONA NO. 21 Tucson Lodge No. 691 Kayleigh Clare Arendt Andrew James Peele

Vasa Star July-September 2011

CULTURE Humble Beginnings

by Millie Ring I was born in “Scandinavia.” There are five countries that are part of Scandinavia, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland. I was born in Sweden. It is a cold country and has long dark winters. The sun rarely shines by the arctic circle where it is dark night and day for about four months in the winter.

In the summer it stays light so long that you have to have your shades pulled down at night so that you can sleep.

I was almost five when my parents, Lilly and Ingemar, came to the United States to find a better life. The boat we came on was called the Gripsholm, and it took ten days to reach this wonderful country called America. There were no planes in those days, but now it only takes 9 hours on a jet to span the ocean from Sweden to the USA. Neither my parents nor I could understand nor speak one word of English. I went to kindergarten, and the kids all teased me because I could not understand them. I soon learned to speak English without any special lessons. Then my parents learned the English language from me. We were so very proud of our achievement and happy to be living in this remarkable country called the USA. We lived in a small four room apartment. There was not a bit of grass or a yard where I could play. There were only cement sidewalks. My dad Ingemar worked as a carpenter and made about $15.00 a week with no vacations and no sick pay or pensions. My mom Lilly was a housewife.

We were very poor. I only had one pair of shoes, coat, hat, sweater, and gloves. I also had one dress for Sunday School and two blouses and two skirts for school. There were no big decisions to be made about what we were to wear for school. When it was winter and zero weather, we wore rubber galoshes with

A Vasa-bridge to your Swedish ancestors!

Looking for your relatives in Sweden?

I have helped many satisfied Vasa-members finding their Swedish roots.

Further info please e-mail: swedengen@telia.com Vasa Star July-September 2011

buckles.

We did not eat the way we do today.

There were no delis, or frozen foods. Our main diet consisted of oatmeal or a piece of toast and squeezed orange juice for breakfast. For lunch we had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and a bowl of homemade soup. For dinner we had meat once or twice a week, some fish, many potatoes, rice dishes, fresh vegetables, and hard breads. We did not eat many salads. It was simple fare, but we grew up healthy and strong.

We played simple games such as cards, checkers, bunco, and dominoes.

There were no computer games, Nintendo, or Game Boy. There was no software, and hardware was a place to buy nails. The Internet was something like a hairnet. We had roller skates which fit on our shoes. We needed a skate key to tighten the clamps on our skates so they would stay on our feet. We jumped rope, played Run Sheepy Run, Baby in the Hole, and other outside games. We had no TV, only a lowly radio.

As I got older and was in the sixth or seventh grade, I got my first second hand bike. What a thrill that was. Now the kids get their first car at 16. We went to a second hand store and bought movie magazines for five cents each. We girls saved movie stars’ pictures in a big cardboard box, and then traded these pictures with our friends for each of our own favorite stars. My favorite was Loretta Young.

In those days, smoking was an expensive habit that only some could afford at 29 cents a pack. We picked up silver wrappers from cigarette packages that had been discarded. We made silver balls out of the foil, sold it, and got about 5 cents for a big ball.

We went ice skating in the winter at the park. Our biggest enjoyment was going to Lake Michigan to swim and fish in the summertime. There was no Outer Drive then. It was only sand and jagged rocks where we would dive and swim in the very deep water. No swimming is allowed there now, and all those huge rocks have been leveled off and are now walkways.

When I was 11, the movies with a stage show, cost only 15 cents for kids and 25 cents for adults. We saw the top

follies, and many of the big movie stars gave us their autograph at the stage door.

We saved our milk money, which was about 5 cents a day, so we could go to the movies on Saturday afternoons. That was the biggest thrill of our week.

I went to grade school for eight years and then had 4 years of high school. No one could afford to send their kids to college. After finishing high school, most of the boys my age were drafted into the 2nd World War. They were only 18 or 19 years old and afraid.

We walked to school both ways summer and winter, often through much snow and below zero weather. Our lunch time was one hour. We had no hot school lunches. Mom packed up our lunch in a brown paper bag, or sometimes we went home where she was always there to greet us with hot chocolate made out of dry cocoa and milk. There were no instant things in those days. Everything we ate was made from scratch, even baby food. Mom had to strain the food and make it. We could not afford to go out to restaurants. There were no McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken, or Burger King, etc.

We did not have any of the electrical appliances we have today. We had a toaster that opened on both sides so two pieces of bread could be toasted at the same time. We had to turn and watch the toast so it would not burn. We had no automatic dishwashers, Mom was it. We had a washing machine with a hand wringer, and no automatic dryers. There were no microwaves, no toaster ovens, no showers, and silent movies only, no talkies.

We did a lot of walking in those days.

I think the streetcar cost 5 cents, and we could not afford the fare. There were no transfers, and there were two conductors on each streetcar. When we got a hole in the sole of our shoes, we would put a piece of cardboard in so our feet would not get wet. We only had black, brown, or white shoes, not all these multi-colored ones that we have today. We also did not have all those fancy named sneakers as we do today. We had gym shoes.

The girls wore green romper gym suits, Continued on page 26 Page 25

Humble Beginnings Continued from page 25

and wore gray tank suits for swimming.

They looked awful.

Christmas was a big event. Santa always came in person with a small pack on his back on Christmas Eve. We were so excited. We each got two or three presents. I got a petticoat, woolen stockings, and maybe one toy which was either a ball, jump rope, jacks, or a game like Checkers or Parcheesi. We each had a Christmas stocking that was not hung by the fireplace, because we did not have one. In our stocking we found raisins, some penny candy, and an orange or an apple.

On Christmas Eve, we had Swedish Smorgasbord, which consisted of köttbullar (meatballs), “Dopp i Gryta” (dipping in the drippings), “skinka” (ham), “ost” (cheese), limpa bread, and, of course, “glögg,” a spiced wine. We had real candles on our tree. The Christmas tree cost $1.00. We used strung cranberries on a chain and popcorn balls to trim it. We also used multi-colored paper chains, paper baskets, and little Swedish flags as decorations. It was a marvelous feast and celebration with our many loved ones.

These are only a few of my wonderful memories of growing up in the beautiful country called America.

Millie Ring is a member of Kronan

Nordstroms Company History Nordstrom, Inc. was started in 1901 as a single shoe store in Seattle, Washington, that was opened by two Swedish immigrants. From those origins, the family-run enterprise expanded into a 180-outlet, 27-state chain, which tallied $6.49 billion in sales in 2003. In addition to more than 90 flagship Nordstrom department stores, the company also operates about 50 Nordstrom Rack outlet stores in the United States and around 35 fashionable boutiques, most of which are located in Europe. Catalog and Internet sales are generated through the Nordstrom Direct unit. Carefully supervised expansion, tight family management, wide selection, and attentive customer service have long been the hallmarks of Seattle-based Nordstrom, one of the largest independent fashion specialty retailers in the United States. Members of the founding Nordstrom family continue Page 26

to own about 20 percent of the company’s stock.

Opening of Small Shoe Store in 1901 John W. Nordstrom, a 16-year-old Swede, arrived in Minnesota in 1887 with $5 to his name and, after working his way across the United States, settled briefly in Seattle. In 1897 he headed north to Alaska in search of gold. He found it. In 1899, $13,000 richer, Nordstrom moved back to Seattle, where he opened a shoe store with Carl Wallin, a shoemaker he had met in Alaska. On its first day of business in 1901, Wallin & Nordstrom sold $12.50 in shoes.

Business quickly picked up. By 1905 annual sales increased to $80,000. The business continued to grow, and in 1923 the partners opened a second store in Seattle. By 1928, however, 57-year-old John Nordstrom had decided to retire from the shoe business, and passed on his share to his sons Everett and Elmer. Carl Wallin retired the following year and likewise sold his share to the next generation of Nordstroms. In 1930 the shoe stores were renamed Nordstrom’s. In 1933 John Nordstrom’s youngest son, Lloyd, joined the partnership.

The business that John Nordstrom left was substantially larger than the one he started back in 1901. It was up to the next generation of Nordstroms, however, to build on their father’s success. In 1929 the Nordstrom brothers doubled the size of their downtown Seattle store. In 1930, despite the onset of the Great Depression, the two stores made $250,000 in sales.

The shoe stores survived the Depression, but faced another severe threat during World War II, when leather rationing prohibited U.S. consumers from buying more than three pairs of shoes per year.

The Nordstrom brothers had to search nationwide for supplies of shoes.

Expansion and Diversification in the 1950s and 1960s In the postwar decades, the Nordstrom brothers built the company into the largest independent shoe chain in the United States. In 1950 the Nordstroms opened two new shoe stores: one in Portland, Oregon, and one in a Seattle suburb—the latter located at Northgate Mall, the nation’s first shopping mall.

Nine years later, Nordstrom remodeled its Seattle flagship store, and stocked it with 100,000 pairs of shoes—the biggest inventory in the country. By 1961 Nordstrom operated eight shoe stores and 13 leased shoe departments in Washington, Oregon, and California.

That year, the firm grossed $12 million in

sales and had 600 employees on its payroll.

In the early 1960s, the Nordstrom brothers came to a crossroads of sorts.

Spurred by their success, they were convinced that their business could expand.

The brothers were unsure whether they should simply expand their shoe business to the East and South or branch out into other areas of retailing. The brothers chose to diversify, and purchased Best Apparel, a Seattle-based women’s clothing store, in 1963. With the addition of apparel outlets, the company expanded rapidly. In 1965 the Nordstroms opened a new Best Apparel store adjacent to a Nordstrom shoe store in suburban Seattle.

In 1966 the company acquired a Portland retail fashion outlet, Nicholas Ungar, and merged it with the Nordstrom shoe store in Portland, which was renamed Nordstrom Best.

In the late 1960s, the modern Nordstrom department store began to take shape. Between 1965 and 1968, the company opened five stores that combined apparel and shoes. In 1967, when annual sales had reached $40 million, the chain’s name was changed to Nordstrom Best. The firm diversified further in these years, as Nordstrom Best began to sell men’s and children’s clothing as well.

Third Generation Took Control in 1970 In 1968 Everett Nordstrom turned 65, and he and his two brothers decided to turn over the reins of the company to the next generation of Nordstroms. Five men—Everett’s son Bruce, Elmer’s sons James and John, Lloyd’s son-in-law John A. McMillan, and family friend Robert E. Bender—took control of the company.

In August 1971 the company went public, offering Nordstrom Best stock on the over-the-counter market. Family members retained a majority of the stock, however. In 1971 Nordstrom earned $3.5 million on sales of $80 million. In 1973, when sales first topped $100 million, the company changed its name to Nordstrom, Inc. That same year saw the opening of the first Nordstrom Rack, an outlet store used to move old inventories at discount prices. It was located in the basement of the downtown Seattle store.

The firm continued to grow steadily throughout the 1970s by opening new stores, increasing volume in existing stores, and diversifying. In 1974 annual sales hit $130 million. The following year, Nordstrom bought three stores in Alaska. In 1976 the firm launched a new Continued on page 27 Vasa Star July-September 2011

Nordstroms Continued from page 26

division, Place Two, which featured, in smaller stores, a selected offering of men’s and women’s apparel and shoes.

By 1977 Nordstrom operated 24 stores, which generated sales of $246 million.

In 1978 Nordstrom expanded into the southern California market, opening an outlet in Orange County. That year, the firm reaped $13.5 million in earnings on nearly $300 million in sales. Buoyed by the success, Nordstrom’s executives charted an aggressive expansion program, and began to open bigger stores in California. Their late 1970s confidence presaged a decade of phenomenal, but controlled, growth.

Submitted by: Linda Lunstrum Kosvic, Desert Viking Lodge #682

Source: http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Nordstrom-Inc-CompanyHistory.html

Sommar-rapport från Sverige Under sommaren är aktiviteten som lägst i Vasalogerna, medan firanden av Sverige-Amerika-dagar är som livligast, några av dem stödda av vissa Vasaloger.

Mycket uppmärksamhet ägnas varje år till firandet av Årets Svensk-Amerikan (ÅSA), som sedan 1960 utses av de två distriktslogerna (DL 19 och DL 20).

Huvudarrangemanget inklusive utdelandet av medalj och diplom, har under årens lopp flyttat mellan olika städer inklusive Stockholm och Göteborg, men under åtminstone de senaste 10 åren, har det ägt rum vartannat år i Karlstad eller Växjö. I år delades insignierna ut till Kerstin Lane från Chicago, i Karlstad och Filipstad i samband med John Ericssondagen den 30 juli. Sverige Amerika Centret är huvudarrangör, men dagen räknas också som ett Vasamöte för lokallogen (LL Karlstad Nr 632).

Kerstin Lane är troligen mest känd för våra medlemmar som skaparen av det fantastiska Svensk-Amerikanska Muséet i Chicago med dess mycket populära interaktiva barnavdelning. Fram till halvårsskiftet i år var hon också Honorär Generalkonsul för Sverige i staten Illinois (sedan 2003).

Hon är fortfarande i full verksamhet som ordförande för den Nya Kulturalliansen i Chicago (Chicago Cultural Alliance), som hon organiserade 2007. Läs mer om Kerstin Lane i aprilVasa Star July-September 2011

juni utgåvan av Vasa Star (sid.6).

Av tradition är Årets SvenskAmerikan inbjuden till Minnesotadagen, som vanligtvis firas i Växjö men som detta år arrangerades i närliggande Ljuder den 14 augusti. Vilhelm Moberg valde Ljuder som utgångsort för emigranterna i sina romaner om utvandringen.

Minnesotadagen anordnas vanligen av Svenska Emigrantinstitutet och dess vänförening, men i år var Ljuders hembygdsförening också ansvarig. Den lokala Vasalogen (LL Carl von Linné Nr 678) brukar också bidra. För ytterligare information om svensk-amerikanska arrangemang (Barkeryd, Önnestad m.fl.) se föregående utgåva av Vasa Star (sid.29).

Inom DL 19, som tillägg till John Ericsson-dagen, finns för övrigt två andra arrangemang: Korpagillet i Uddevalla (LL Uddevalla Nr 638) den 13 augusti och Atlantlogen i Göteborg (LL Göteborg Nr 452 den 10 september.

Det finns uppenbara och goda skäl att besöka några av dessa högtidligheter för att träffa gamla vänner och för att knyta nya kontakter. Detta är ett sätt att vidga horisonten genom bibehållandet och förstärkandet av banden mellan Sverige, USA och Kanada.

För att till slut se litet längre in i framtiden, d.v.s till 2012, kommer det att arrangeras ännu en Swedish Bridge Conference i Karlstad 12-15 september 2012. Den första ägde rum i Karlstad 2006 och blev en stor framgång med deltagande av många organisationer från båda sidor av Atlanten. Vi hoppas att den kommande blir något liknande och mer information kommer att lämnas efterhand.

Insänt av: Stig Salgeback, Karlstad, SLKL, Sverige

E-post: stig.salgeback@telia.com

Summer report from Sweden During the summer, the activities are few within most of the Vasa lodges while Swedish-American festivals are most active during this time; some of them are supported by certain Vasa lodges.

A lot of attention is devoted each year to the celebration of The Swedish American of the Year (Åsa), that has since1960 been appointed by the two district lodges (DL 19 and DL 20). The central arrangement including the awarding of the medal and diplomas has during the years' moved between different cities including Stockholm and Gothenburg, but during the past 10 years, it has regularly taken place every other year in

Karlstad or Växjö. This year’s appointee, Kerstin Lane from Chicago, was awarded in Karlstad and Filipstad at The John Ericsson Day celebration on July 30. The Swedish American Center is in charge of the arrangements, but it also counts as a meeting with the local Vasa lodges (LL Karlstad #632).

Kerstin Lane is probably best known to most of our members, as the creator of the fabulous Swedish-American Museum in Chicago with its very popular interactive children’s’ department. During the first half of this year she was also the Honorary Consul General of Sweden for Illinois (since 2003). She is currently the president of the Chicago Cultural Alliance that she organized in 2007. Read more about Kerstin Lane in the AprilJune issue of Vasa Star (p. 6).

By tradition The Swedish American of The Year is invited to The Minnesota Day that usually takes place in Växjo, but this year it was arranged in the neighboring village Ljuder on August 14. Vilhelm Moberg chose Ljuder as the starting point for the emigrants in his emigrant novels.

The Minnesota Day is run by The Emigrant Institute of Växjö and its supporting body (Society of Friends), but this year a local society in Ljuder was also responsible. The Vasa lodge of Växjö (LL Carl von Linné #678) contributed too. For more Swedish-American festivities in southern Sweden (Barkeryd, Önnestad and others), see the previous issue of Vasa Star (p.29).

Within DL 19 as an addition to the John Ericsson Day, there were two other festivals: Korpagillet (The Festival of the Raven) in Uddevalla (LL Uddevalla #638) on August 13 and The Atlantic Lodge (LL Goteborg #452) on September 10.

There are clearly good reasons to attend some of these festivals in order to meet old friends and make new acquaintances. It is a way to broaden the horizon and maintaining and strengthening the ties between Sweden and USA/Canada.

Looking forward further into the future, i.e. into 2012, there will be another Swedish Bridge Conference arranged in Karlstad September 12 - 15, 2012. The first took place in Karlstad in 2006 and was a great success with participation of many organizations from both sides of the Atlantic. We hope the upcoming event will be something similar and more information will be given as time goes by.

Submitted by: Stig S. Salgeback, Karlstad, GLCD, Sweden

E-mail: stig.salgeback@telia.com Page 27

Book Review and New Books Publish America Presents Write Soon. Love, Fran by L.E. Starks Frederick, MD May 24, 2011 — PublishAmerica is proud to present Write Soon. Love, Fran: Letters Home from a Korean War WAC

by L.E. Starks of West Haven, Connecticut.

The Army career of Corporal Frances M. Bushey, now retired, began on April 28, 1949 and lasted until she was honorably discharged on September 7, 1951.

This book is based on the letters written

by Corporal Bushey, now known as Mrs. Frances M. Wissner, to her mother throughout her military career as well as her personal remembrances of the events.

Mrs. Wissner is the author’s mother-inlaw and the actual writer of these letters, which have been edited for clarity and brevity. The personal experiences of this Korean War WAC are shared with you, the reader, and include her opinions and thoughts on her relationships, friendships and her work as a cook in the Army. The reader will be privy to all the intimate details of daily life as recounted by a woman in the Women’s Army Corps who started her army career as a Private and ended it as a Corporal.

The author, L.E. Starks and Frances M. Wissner, f/k/a Corporal Frances M. Bushey, have known each other since 1990 when the author started dating and eventually married Mrs. Wissner’s son, David Starks. In 2009, Mrs. Wissner showed the author the letters that her mother had saved from when she was in the army and suggested that a book could be written.

“It has been an extreme pleasure to work with this talented and dedicated author,” said PublishAmerica Public Relations Director Shawn Street. “For ordering information, please visit www.publishamerica.com.” This book is also available on www.barnesandnoble.com and www.amazon.com.

PublishAmerica is the home of 50,000 talented authors. PublishAmerica is a traditional publishing company whose primary goal is to encourage and promote the works of new, previously undiscovered writers. Like more mainstream publishers, PublishAmerica pays its authors advances and royalties and makes its books available through all bookstores.

PublishAmerica offers a distinctly personal, supportive alternative to vanity presses and less accessible publishers.

Follow us on Twitter at @PubAmericaNews!

Page 28

Visit us online at http://www.facebook.com/publishamerica.publisher and www.publishamerica.com.

Contact: Shawn Street – Public Relations pr@publishamerica.com www.publishamerica.com

Submitted by: Lisa Erickson, I am a PDM from CT District No. 1

HAPPENINGS Midsummer Queen at Bishop Hill Lisa Wendel, 18 of Bishop Hill was crowned this years’ Midsummer Queen at Bishop Hill’s Midsummer event. Despite rain off and on during the day the event, especially the maypole portion, was well attended with a large procession. Lisa will be attending Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio on a ROTC scholarship where she will be studying Broadcast Journalism.

Submitted by: Mike Wendell

Vasa Star July-September 2011

Korpagillet Torsten Torstensson, Ordförande i Logen Uddevalla Nr 638, kontaktade mig i början av januari och berättade att varje år har logen något som kallas Korpagillet då man utser Årets Hederskorp och att han skulle vilja föreslå mig som Hederskorp för det arbete jag gör med The Vasa Star. Han frågade vidare om jag hade intresse samt möjlighet att medverka i detta evenamang. För att vara riktigt ärlig visste jag nog egentligen inte vad det hela handlade om, men jag förstod att det här var något speciellt. Jag tackade ja, eftersom jag visste att vi skulle befinna oss Sverige under firandet.

Det verkade så långt borta i framtiden då, och nu är det hela över. Jag hade försökt luska ut litet från tidigare Hederskorpar vad det var man skulle “utsättas” för. Ju närmare datumet kom, desto mer nervös började jag bli inför kommande “eldprov.”

Tidigare Hederskorpar, nämde att “.....de hade ju liksom överlevt.” Ja, ja det gjorde även jag! Torsten, läste sedan “det hela var över, ” litet om varför jag blivit utsedd till Årets Hederskorp och jag känner mig mycket hedrad och stolt över utmärkelsen. Jag tilldelades ett fint diplom samt en snidad korp i trä som minne av detta evenemang. En mycket fin kväll men många fina människor som jag aldrig kommer att glömma! Ett varmt tack till Er alla!

Andra personer som tidigare fått denna utmärkelse är t ex Arnold och Aina Barton, Anne-Charlotte Harvey, Erik Gustavson och Elise Peters.

Jag vill nämna litet om några av Torstens intressen. Jag hade förmånen att

se en fin samling bestående av diverse föremål från Vasa Orden i dess begynnelse samt en stor samling föremål från Svenska Amerika Linien bl a deltagarlistor där Raoul Wallenberg kan nämnas som en av passagerarna. Torsten har en stor utställning om Svenska Amerika Linien på Sverige Amerika Centret i Karlstad. Detta stora intresse började med att hans farfar reste med densamma. Ja, Torsten och hans fru Monica har ett smärre museum i sitt hem!

Torsten har många “järn i elden.” På sin gård, där han också växte upp föder han upp Highland Cattle, fantastiskt fina djur.

Jag bifogar en länk nedan från utställningen i Karlstad: http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.asp x?programid=93&artikel=3763772 Insänt av: Marie Carlson, Editor, The Vasa Star

Torsten Torstensson framför en av sina samlingar.

Detta är ett logemärke som bars förr under logenmöten och vänder man på det så fyller de ytterligare en fuktion.

Vasa Star July-September 2011

Have you hit a brick wall in your Swedish research or don’t know where to begin?

A group of Swedish genealogists, SwedGenTour 2011, will be touring the United States this September to teach and assist Swedish-Americans in how to find their roots and how to do Swedish research.

DL Norra Sverige #19 has two sisters’ participants in the group. Charlotte Börjesson is the cultural leader in the lodge Göteborg #452 and Anneli Andersson is a board member in the lodge Mellerud #644.

Anna-Lena Hultman, Gunilla Didriksson, Birgitta Eriksson and Bengt-Olof Käck is also participants in the group from Sweden this year. Kathy Mead, Chicago IL, will join the group as well.

SwedGenTour 2011 has been successful in helping many individuals in our previous tours to United States. We get them started with their research as well as breaking down many brick walls. We do hope that our brothers and sisters in the lodges will join our lecture and workshops along the tour. This year SwedGenTour 2011 will make the following stops: Chicago (IL) Saturday, September 10, the Swedish American Museum Rock Island (IL) Sunday, September 11, the Swenson Center, Augustana College Denver/Aurora (CO) Saturday September 17, the Community College of Aurora Salt Lake City (UT) Tuesday, September 20, the Family History Library Salt Lake City (UT) Wednesday September 21, the Family History Library We will lead a Swedish genealogy research day who will include presentations and demonstrations on how to use the various resources for Swedish genealogical and historical research. There will be presentations of Swedish genealogical online resources, Swedish genealogical CDs and Swedish emigration. There will also be a preregistration for those who want to have individual research help.

More information about the workshops, the lectures and preregistration is available at the website for SwedGenTour 2011, www.lilleskogen.se Anneli, Anna Lena, Gunilla and Charlotte will be visiting the Vasa National Archive in Bishop Hill before the tour starts in Chicago.

Submitted by: Charlotte Börjesson, CL, Lodge Göteborg #452 Page 29

TIDBITS Ännu inget undantag för surströmmingen Fram till årsskiftet får surströmming och annan fet fisk med höga dioxinhalter säljas i Sverige. Sedan upphör Sveriges tillfälliga undantag från EU-reglerna.

Dock bestämde sig regeringen redan i början av året att söka ett permanent undantag för fångst och försäljning i Sverige av dioxinrik Östersjöfisk.

Bedömningen både inom regeringskansliet och bland svenskarna i EU är att både Europaparlament och ministerråd kommer att ge sina godkännanden under hösten.

Regeringen gav Fiskeriverket i Göteborg och Livsmedelsverket i Uppsala i uppdrag att utreda konsekvenserna att ett fortsatt fiske av fettrika fiskar som strömming och sill.

Fiskeriverket upphörde 30 juni och dess verksamhet fördelades till Havs- och vattenmyndigheten, Jordbruksverket och Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet.

Livsmedelsverket konstaterade i ett yttrande 8 april att en svensk dispens för dioxinfisk kräver mycket information till svenskarna.

Verket råder kvinnor i barnafödande ålder, och barn, från att äta dioxinfisk högst två eller tre gånger per år.

För övriga är rekommendationen att inte äta surströmming och annan fet fisk oftare än en gång per vecka.

inte förväntas några större förändringar i kronprinsessparets program. Kron prinsessparets vänner är över lyckliga över beskedet.

Crown Princess Victoria is Pregnant!

A few minutes before 15.00 on Wednesday, Expressen.se, received confirmation that the Swedish Crown Princess Victoria is expecting a child.

The Swedish Royal Court also released a press statement, saying that a child is expected to be born in March 2012.

Source: Expressen On-line

On books Did you know…… ….that the world’s fastest selling novel is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows. During the first 24 hours 8.3 million books were sold.

33 miljon books …..that the largest library in the world is said to be the United States Library of Congress in Washington DC. The library has 13 floors and it contains among other items, 33 million books and 63 million manuscripts.

Visste du….. …..att världens snabbast säljande roman är Harry Potter och dödsrelikerna.

Under de första 24 timmarna såldes den i 8,3 miljoner exemplar.

Source: Östersunds Posten Submitted by: Marie Carlson

33 miljoner böcker

Litet roligt!

.....att världens största bibliotek sägs vara United States Library of Congress i Washington DC. Biblioteket är 13 våningar högt och det rymmer bland mycket annat 33 miljoner böcker och 63 miljoner manuscript.

Jag älskar dig Sweden! lite roliga... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ep3JU x8N7E0

Kronprinsessan gravid!

Kronprinsessan Victoria är gravid och väntas föda i mars 2012, informerar hovet.

Det gemensamma för hovet och kungafamiljen är att alla gläds åt beskedet, säger Bertil Ternert, informationsansvarig för hovet.

Den 14 juli 1977 föddes Victoria Ingrid Alice Désirée, som prinsessa i Page 30

Sverige. Den 19 juni 2010 vigdes hon och Daniel Westling i Stockholm.

Ett par minuter innan klockan 15 onsdagen den 17 augusti kunde Expressen.se få bekräftat av hovet att kronprinsessan Victoria väntar barn.

Födelsen är beräknad att ske i mars nästa år.“Den blivande modern mår bra,” meddelar hovet. Under onsdagen var kronprinsessan närvarande vid utdelning av priset “Årets svensk i världen” i Stockholm. Hon avslöjade då ingenting om det kommande beskedet. I fladdrande kläder gick hon in till Grand Hôtel i Stockholm där prisutdelningen ågde rum.

Ingen anade då att hon bar på Sveriges nästa tronarvinge. Hovet skriver att det

On people Did you know…… ....Kris Kristofferssons, singer, composer, actor and political activist Kristoffer “Kris” Kristofferson, was related to poet Dan Andersson, and is the ninth generation of the family from Nås in Dalarna to have the same first and family name.

Visste du….. ....Kris Kristofferssons, sångaren, kompositören, skådespelaren och den politiska aktivisten Kristoffer ”Kris” Kristofferson, var släkt till poeten Dan Andersson, och är den nionde i generationen i familjen från Nås i Dalarna som har samma för- och efternamn.

A note of Remembrence

In Memoriam

Till minne av hädangångna ordenssyskon genom vilkas bortgång syskonkretsen gjort en kännbar förlust In memory of our departed members who will be sorely missed ARIZONA DOUGLAS W. MORTENSEN passed away on April 2, 2011, in Arizona. He was a member of Solstad Lodge #709. Douglas was born in Hartford, CT, on January 11, 1940, and moved at a young age to California. He moved to Arizona in 2005. He is survived by his wife, Solveig, and 1 son, daughter-in-law, and 2 grandchildren.

DAGMAR WOINSKI passed away on January 22, 2011, at the age of 93 in Sun City, AZ. Dagmar was an active member of the Vasa Order from 1960, including District Master 1970-1971 for California’s Golden Gate District. Dagmar was born in Julita, Södermanland, Sweden, and moved to the United States in 1959. After a short time in Wisconsin, the family moved to San Carlos, CA. Both Dagmar and her husband Peter joined Linné Lodge in San Mateo in 1960 where Dagmar was Chairman.

Dagmar was elected District Master 1970-71 for the Golden Gate District and held several other posts within the district. She greatly enoyed her active time in the Vasa Order. Dagmar and Peter moved to Seattle in 1984 after Peter’s retirement. In Seattle, they joined Klippan Lodge. After Peter’s death in 2002, Dagmar and her son Magnus Eriksson moved to Sun City, AZ, in 2003. During Dagmar’s time in Sweden, she worked as a waitress in several restaurants, most notably Grand Hotel in Stockholm. Later she joined Ericsson where she worked until she moved to the United States. In death, she returned to her homeland and is resting at Uppenbarelsekyrkan in Hägersten, outside of Stockholm. Magnus continues to live in Sun City.

Dagmar is also survived by her daughters, Maria Woinski Nyström and Viveka Eriksson Macklin, who are both living in Sweden, in addition to grandchildren Katarina Elisabeth Eriksson in Toronto, Canada, and Jenny Heléne Nyström in Tyresö, Sweden.

CALIFORNIA HELEN FORSTY (nee LINGREN) passed away on March 30, 2011, in Fair Oaks, CA. She was born in North Dakota on September 20, 2012, but grew up on the family farm in Hood River, OR. She was a 50-year member of the Vasa Order of America, and a member of Sierra Kronan Lodge #737 for many years. She served as an interpreter for the Finnish team at the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, CA. Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Richard, of 62 years and son James. Helen loved music, gardening and reading.

GUSTAV HELGE DAVID FRANZEN passed away on April 13, 2011. He was born on February 19, 1921. Gus was born in Jonkoping, Sweden, and raised in Lynn, MA. A long-time resident of the Conejo Valley, Gus was co-founder and Vice President of Semtech Corporation prior to his retirement. A proud veteran of the U.S. Naval forces, Gus was a member of the World War II Pacific fleet, serving in 21 major battles. Gus served his country again in the Korean conflict. Gus is survived by his wife, Lisa Franzen and family. He was a 26-year member of Oak Leaf Lodge #685, Lisa is also a member of Oak Leaf Lodge. Gus will be missed by all his family and friends.

ALYCE LINDSTROM passed away on April 19, 2011, in Santa Rosa, CA, just 15 days after observing her 100th birthday.

She was born in Oakland, CA, on April 14, 1911. Alyce was predeceased by husband Donald Lindstrom in 1993 and is survived by son Donald Tarpley, 1 sister and 3 brothers. Alyce (and Don) were initiated into Linnea Lodge #504 in 1978 and was a Honorary Member. She will be fondly remembered by all.

PEARL MAE EVANGELINE WINJUM CARTER MYERS. Born May 31, 1915, in Hayti, South Dakota. Died Friday, April 22, 2011, at the age of 95. Pearl was first married to George Glennwood Carter in Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1939, with two children from this union: James Randall Carter of Brentwood, California, and Janeen Carter Guest Smith, of Bakersfield, California. The couple divorced 1948. Pearl married Alvie M. Myers in 1953. They remained happily married for over 50 years, renewing their wedding vows just two months before Al’s death in 2004. She is survived by her son, Jim, and his spouse, Joan, their daughter, Kimberly, and her daughters, Jennifer and Sarah Capilla; and her daughter, Janeen, and her spouse, Randall, and her daughters, Suzanne and Noelle Guest.

Orphaned at age 4, Pearl was raised by family members in

South Dakota, where she graduated from Watertown High School as a National Honor Student in 1933. She worked for the WPA in Nebraska during WWII, where she met her first husband. After the war, they moved to Bakersfield, where she worked for the Kern County Chamber of Commerce, Hornkohl Laboratories, and Wheatley and Co. She ended her accounting/bookkeeping career working for Warren Rooney, CPA, retiring in 2006 at the age of 91. Always proud of her Scandinavian heritage, Pearl was an active member of the local chapter of Valley Vikings Lodge #701 for over 30 years, and a faithful member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church for the last 60 years. She volunteered her accounting skills to these groups and to senior programs, such as the Cambridge Hills Rest Home, where she offered encouragement to many much younger than herself. Independent and self-sufficient until age 94, Pearl lived alone much of her life, even during marriage. Balancing a modest, faith-based lifestyle with her indelible love for fashion, food, flowers, a good party, and a Sunday drive in her Oldsmobile, Pearl lived with purpose and on her own terms, putting family and faith in the foreground. Her warm grandma hands reached all across Kern County, offering kindness and tolerance to whomever she met, reminding us that, even in loss, “all things happen for a reason.”

CONNECTICUT ELSA MARIA CHRISTINA CARLSON (JOHANSSON), Rhode Island’s third oldest resident, passed away peacefully at Roberts Health Center in North Kingstown on May 31, 2011.

She was born on August 17, 1903, to Algott and Emma Johansson at Elmhestra, since the early 18th century, the family farm in Dalstorp, Sweden. She was one of 10 children and the oldest of the 5 daughters. She is survived by sisters, Ingrid Garnolf and Gunborg Claesson fo Dalstorp. Elsa married her first husband, Gustaf Carlson, when she was 18. The had 2 sons before Gus died of polio in 1928. In May, 1932, she married Conrad E. Carlson, a widower and had 2 more sons. They were married for 55 years. The family lived in West Hartford and enjoyed summers at their cottage on Coventry Lake. Elsa was active at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Hartford, CT, and was a member of the first lodge (Norden #1) of the Vasa Order of America for over 80 years, making her the oldest and longest serving member in the Order. Elsa was well known for her devotion to her family and for her keen ability at playing bridge.

She played every week until after she turned 105. Her other great talent lay in the kitchen where she turned out countless smorgasbords and pastries for family and friends. Everyone was welcome in her home, and no one ever went away hungry. She is survived by her 4 sons, Arnold E. of Charlton, MA; Russell L. and his wife Rebecca of North Palm Beach, FL; Paul C. and his wife Patricia, and Gordon W. and his wife Carol, all of North Kingstown. She is also survived by 9 grandchildren, 11 greatgrandchildren and 1 great-great-grandson.

OHIO JUDGE NILS JOHNSON SR. passed away on May 1, 2011, at the age of 89. He was born on January 30, 1922, in Youngstown, OH, and was initiated in Harmony Lodge #465 on December 19, 1964. He is survived by his wife Janet whom he married in 1947, 1 daughter, Dr. Becky Heikkinen and 4 sons, Bruce, Nils, Eric and Scott. Nils is also survived by 11 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. He served as Judge of the 7th District Court of Appeals from 1964 to 1972.

TEXAS LLOYD R. LOVEN passed away on February 18, 2011, at the age of 93 after a heart attach. He was born in Decorah, IA, on July 7, 1918. Lloyd was married to Susie Louise Price Loven for 53 years. Susie preceded him in death. Many nieces, nephews, cousins and loyal friends survive Lloyd. Lloyd was a member of the Carl Gustav XVI Lodge for 35 years and was a life member. He also helped build the Ormen Lange II, a longship and manned it in numerous parades all over Texas.

WASHINGTON ROSE MARY ERICKSON passed away on May 1, 2011, at the age of 104. She was born on September 8, 1906, on a farm in Nebraska. She married Gilmore Erickson in 1929 and was widowed in 1953. She was a beloved aunt to many nieces and nephews.

NORMA PERKINS passed away on May 24, 2011. Norma was born on March 14, 1925, to Swedish immigrants. She was proud of her Swedish ancestry. Norma married Allen Perkins in 1953 and in 1961 they moved to Anacortes. She is survived by her daughter Suzanne, son Lonnie, stepson Dennis, daughter-inlaw Pam and others. She was a 50-year member of Vasa.

RUBY A. SUNDBERG passed away peacefully at home on May 11, 2011. She was born on May 20, 1913, in St. Paul, MN. Ruby is survived by niece Susan Holms, nephew Roger Krogstad and many special friends and great and great-great nieces and nephews.

CAROL ELAINE THOMPSON DAVIS passed away on May 30, 2011. She was born on April 3, 1923. After her husband’s death and her retirement she returned to Washington state and became active in Vasa. She is survived by 2 brothers and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

WISCONSIN ROY KENNETH JERNBERG passed away on March 10, 2011, in Phoenix, AZ, after a short illness. Roy was born in Chicago on April 22, 1928, to Hugo and Emma (need Lindahl) Jernberg. He was a proud veteran of the U.S. Army. Roy graduated from Carthage College in 1952 where he met and married his college sweetheart, Marlene Wendell. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Marlene, 3 children, 9 grandchildren, 1 brother, niece and nephew.

CANADA MARGARET YVONNE LUNDGREN (nee Eliasson) passed away in Edmonton, AB, on February 24, 2011, at the age of 96.

Margaret was born on October 27, 1914, in Meeting Creek, Alberta, Canada, to the parents of Karl (Charlie) and Gerda (Svenson) Melin. She had 2 sisters, Sylvia Elvira who passed away in infancy before Margaret was born, and younger sister, Stella. Margaret was 4 when she returned to Sweden where she lived with her grandparents until her return to Meeting Creek in 1925 where she lived with a number of families. At the age of 14 she moved to Edmonton to support herself. She worked for various families doing housekeeping duties which had to be done just so. They were very particular. One task was ironing the newspaper before her employers read it to prevent the ink from rubbing off on their hands or clothes. Her salary was less than $10 a month. She married Mons Eliasson, a railroader, when she was 19. They had 2 sons, Leonard and Glen. Margaret joined the Vasa Order of America in Meeting Creek on May 1, 1931, transferring her membership to Skandia Lodge #549 in Alberta, in 1944. Her heritage was very important to her and she shared her knowledge and musical ability teaching Swedish songs and folk dancing to children and adults. She held variosu positions in Skandia Lodge #549 and was the first lady chairman of Skandia. She went on to the District Lodge #18 where she was elected to the executive board as vice secretary in 1951.

She served on the executive board for 10 years and in 1961 she was elected District Master, the first lady to head the Alberta District Lodge #18. She was DM for 4 years, was a Grand Lodge Delegate and she was appointed to the position of Grand Lodge Children’s Club Supervisor. Margaret, as DM of District #18, along with the District Masters from Districts 12, 13, and 15, were involved in the early stages of planning the 1964 Western Vasa Youth Tour to Sweden. About 60 children participated in this memorable trip.In 1965 she was presented with a Jewel from the Swedish District Lodges #19 and #20 recognizing her work with the Vasa Children’s Clubs. She organzed Skandia’s first Drill Team and first Initiation Team. Margaret and her husband Mons were founding directors of the Scandinavian Cenre Co-operative Association, holding the positions of secretary and treasurer, respectively. Positions they held unti Mons retired in 1968, when they moved to Vernon, B.C. Mons drowned in the Shuswap River in September 1968 and a year later Margaret moved back to Edmonton. Margaret married Bert Lundgren from Pemberton, B.C. on February 4, 1972.

Shortly after their marriage they moved to White Rock, B.C., where they were active in Nornan Lodge #413. They enjoyed music, dancing and traveling, camping throughout B.C. and Alberta. They spent many evenings with Margaret playign the paino and singing, and Bert playing the accordion. And there was always time for a game or two of Crib. Margaret loved to entertain and was a fabulous cook. Her pastries were second to none. To have thirty or more over for a meal was not unheard of and when they sat down to eat the food was hot. Margaret was a wonderful, brilliant, talented and self-taught lady whose hands were never idle. Margaret was a compassionate and caring individual. Her caring for the less fortunate was demonstrated in many ways: 1) her support of the E4C, the Edmonton City Church Corporation. Margaret, along with Pastor Lindquist and other members of Augustana Lutheran Church, were instrumental in the formation of the E4C. Some of the E4C projects are: Kids in the Hall, School Lunch Program, and WEAC to name a few. 2) Since she had breast cance in 2001 she logged in 1,500 hours of volunteer time for the Cross Cancer Institute. Margaret participated in many hobbies and activities, social dancing, curling, bowling, knitting, crocheting, copper tooling, square dancing, round dancing, and always enjoyed playing a game of cards. She was predeceased by her husbands Mons N. Eliasson and Bertil Lundgren, 2 sisters, her son Leonard A. Eliasson, daughter-in-law Matt Eliasson and step-son, Tom Lewis.

Margaret is survived by son Glen and Audrey Eliasson, stepdaughter Alma Lewis, 9 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

MEMORIAL NOTICES should be mailed with check or money order to: Joan Graham, 5838 San Jose Avenue, Richmond, CA 94804. Phone 510-526-5512. E-mail: vasajlg@aol.com. The fee is $8.00 for 1 column inch. Longer obituaries will be charged a flat rate of $25.00. All notices MUST be typed and WRITTEN in a format similar to those in this column. NO newspaper clippings.

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