March april 2010

THE VASA STAR Vasastj채rnan Publication of of THE THE VASA VASA ORDER ORDER OF OF AMERICA AMERICA Publication

MARCH-APRIL MARCH-APRIL 2010 2010 www.vasaorder.com www.vasaorder.com

The Grand Master’s Message Rolf Bergman

Vasa brothers and sisters!

Happy Easter!!

Easter is about a month away as I write. For Christians, Easter is of course the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus as Son of God, Savior, and Lord of creation. It is also a sign of hope of our own resurrection through Christ. I am certainly glad that for that hope as it seems that I have died a few times in the last few months because of the financial disasters that overcame me, the GL and the VOA National Archives.

But there is hope. I have received much encouragement and support from our members; for that I am very grateful. I also know that many are shouldering a little extra work on behalf of Vasa to see if they can help strengthen the organization, not only financially, but in terms of its long-term viability and goals. We also know of committees and individuals following up on the causes of the financial losses which will hopefully lead to better structures and rules for us to follow. Thus, I am beginning to see that there may be great good come from the disaster. While the events are rather terrible, the conclusion, yet to be drawn, is that it was likely for our good. Similar statements can hopefully be made on the far worse crisis in Haiti and Chile.

Marty and I had the pleasure of attending the DL Pacific Southwest No. 15 convention the end of February. Theirs is the first district convention in the Vasa calendar. It was a delight to see old friends in southern California and see the new officers eagerly take on their new responsibilities. I was very encouraged to see a couple of very young members take on district offices. Vasa activities pick up in earnest in April and May as there are many meetings to attend including DL Golden Gate No. 12, DL New Jersey No. 6 and DL Lake Michigan No. 8.

Then comes the BIG meeting, at least for me. I am referring to the Grand Lodge meeting in early July in Washington DC. You can read about it in these pages under the Grand Lodge heading. DL Pennsylvania No. 9 has many fund raising activities to raise money to pay for the events for the delegates and GL officers. One is the advertisements in a Program Book the district will produce commemorating the convention.

If your lodge or business forgot to place such an ad you still have time, but barely. Another very visible fund raising item is the raffle tickets found in the center of this issue.

Please take time fill one or more of them out and send them in with a donation. You could win up to $1,000. The drawing will be at the GL banquet on July 8. And pass the word along.

Finally it was a pleasure for Marty and me to be present to help celebrate the recognition of PGM Ulf Brynjestad as Officer 1st Class in the Order of the Polar Star at the Swedish Ambassador’s residence. See all the things that Brother Ulf has accomplished in his lifetime as written about in this issue.

Vasa bröder och systrar!

Glad Påsk!!

Det är ca en månad till påsk när jag skriver detta. För de kristna betyder påsken naturligtvis firandet över uppståndelsen av Jesus, Guds Son och skapelsens frälsare. Det är också ett tecken till hopp om vår egen uppståndelse genom Kristus. Jag är verkligen tacksam för detta hopp, eftersom det känns som om jag “dött” några gånger under den senaste tiden på grund av den finansiella katastrofen som jag, SL och VOA Nationella Arkiv råkade ut för.

Men det finns hopp. Jag har fått mycket uppmuntran och stöd från våra medlemmar och jag är oerhört tacksam för det.

Jag vet också att många tar på sig litet extra arbete å Vasa vägnar för att se om de kan hjälpa till med att stärka organisationen, inte endast ekonomiskt, men också på lång sikt. Vi känner också till att olika kommittéer och enskilda individer följer upp och undersöker orsakerna till de finansiella förlusterna.

Förhoppningsvis kommer det att leda till en förbättrad struktur samt förbättrade regler för oss att följa. Jag börjar skönja att något gott kommit ur denna katastrof. Trots att dessa händelser varit ganska så ruskiga, får vi väl säga att det på något sätt var till vår fördel. Liknande kommentarer kommer förhoppningsvis att kunna ges för den långt värre krisen i Haiti och Chile.

Marty och jag hade nöjet av att delta i DL Pacific Southwest Nr 15 möte i slutet av februari. Deras distriktsmöte var det första enligt Vasa kalendern. Det var en fröjd att träffa gamla vänner i södra Kalifornien och att se det nya officerarna ivrigt ta itu med sina nya ansvar. Jag blev mycket uppmuntrad av att se några väldigt unga medlemmar bland de nyvalda officerarna.

Vasa aktiviteterna kommer verkligen igång under april och maj, det finns många möten att delta i bland annant DL Golden Gate Nr 12, DL New Jersey Nr 6 och DL LakeMichigan Nr 8.

Snart är det dags för det STORA mötet, åtminstone för mig.

Jag tänker då närmast på Stor Logens möte i början på juli i Washington DC. Du kan läsa om det på följande sidor under överskriften Grand Lodge. DL Pennsylvania Nr 9 har många aktiviteter på gång som ska finansiera de evenemang som ordnats för delegaterna och SL officerarna. Ett sätt är genom annonser i programhäftet som distriktet gjort till minne av detta möte. Om din loge eller ditt företag glömt att sätta in en annons, så finns det forfarande tid till det, men gör det så snart som möjligt. Ett annat sätt för att samla in pengar är försäljning av lotter som finns i mitten av denna upplaga. Var vänlig och fyll i en eller flera av dessa lotter och skicka in er betalning. Ni kan vinna upp till $1.000. Dragning kommer att ske under SL-banketten den 8:e juli. Berätta gärna om det här för andra.

Slutligen var det ett nöje för Marty och mig att närvara vid firandet av PGM Ulf Brynjestad som 1:a Officerare i Orden Polar Stjärnan på Residenset hos den Svenska Ambassadören.

Läs om allt som broder Ulf lyckats med under sin livstid och som finns skrivet i denna upplaga.

THE VASA STAR (USPS 657-020)

THE VASA STAR

March-April 2010 Vol. 103, No. 2, Serial 849 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

MARCH-APRIL 2010

AN IMPORTANT REMINDER 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!

Don’t forget “Kids Corner” nor forget to look at our back cover for a Sweet Reward!

Grand Master: Rolf S. Bergman 3236 Berkeley Avenue Cleveland Heights, OH 44118 Phone: 216-371-5141 Fax: 216-274-9664 E-mail: rolf.bergman@sbcglobal.net

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

AUDIO-VISUAL DIRECTOR Todd Anderson 1383 Middlebrook Way • Rohnert Park, CA, 94928 • Cell Phone: (707) 694-1345 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.

Circulation Manager: (Address Changes)

Deadlines for The Vasa Star:

Cathy Anderson 13194 N. Woosnam Way Oro Valley, AZ 85755 Phone: 520-219-9433 E-mail: circulationvasastar@gmail.com

Jan./Feb. is Dec. 1st March/April is Feb. 1st May/June is April 1st July/Aug. is June 1st Sept./Oct. is Aug. 1st Nov./Dec. is Oct. 1st

Send bottom section of white copy of application for new members to her.

Membership Chairman: Tore Kellgren 5971 W. Walbrook Drive San Jose, CA 95129 Phone: 408-996-1970 E-mail: tore@kellgren.org Orders for advertising should be sent to:

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

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, P.O. Box 69997, Oro Valley, AZ 85737-0025.

Vasa Star March-April 2010

Deadline for Christmas ads is October 15 Deadline for Lucia articles is December 24 Picture and article, 200 words or less.

Price for Xmas Greetings – $30.00 column inch MOVING TO ARIZONA, WELCOME TO DISTRICT LOGDE ARIZONA NO. 21 We have 5 Lodges in the State of Arizona and we invite each of you who are or will be moving to our beautiful state to continue your membership in Vasa by joining one of our existing Lodges, or helping us to start a new one in your new location.

We have Phoenix Lodge in Phoenix, Scandia Lodge in Prescott, Nordic Red Rocks Lodge in Sedona, Solstad Lodge in Sun City West, and Tucson Lodge in Tucson, and with your help, start a new Lodge in a new area. We do know that more and more people are moving to Arizona, and many of Nordic heritages, and we want them to continue their fellowship in the Vasa Order of America.

Should you have any questions, you may call District Lodge Arizona No. 21, District Master Vito Pantaleo at 928-282-3469. We welcome you all!

Cover: The Washington Monument in Washington, DC. Picture by: Marie Carlson, Editor, VS Page 3

Letter from the Editor We have had a wonderful winter in my opinion! This is what winter should be like; white, bright snow that make crunchy noises under your feet as you walk! Remember that I am a Swede, a “direct import!” Lately the winters have simply not been like the ones we should have here in northeast Ohio. The same phenomenon struck Sweden this year. Every one of its counties has been covered, from the north all the way down to the province of Skåne. Sweden has not experienced this much snow for the past thirty years. Looks like global warming is taking a break this year!

Many of us enjoyed watching the Winter Olympics. The Swedes received many medals, several of them from the province of Jämtland. A big celebration was held for them after they returned to Östersund in Jämtland with a special lighting ceremony in the newly restored town square. The athletes were not the only celebrities visiting Östersund this year; read “When Hollywood came to Jämtland.”

Another important winter event in Sweden is Vasa Loppet/The Vasa Race; the world’s largest cross country ski race. It is held in Mora, in the province of Dalarna, every year in memory of King Gustaf Vasa’s escape rout from the Danes. http://svtplay.se/v/1917939/vasaloppet/starten.

Each season has its charm. But now I think lots of us are looking forward to spring and the rebirth that Mother Nature so miraculously is able to provide us with.

Easter is on our doorstep and in Sweden we have some peculiar stories surrounding this time of year; see a short story on page 6. Talking about stories, some people really know how to present a story that makes you laugh out loud. See if you laugh when you read “Why Learn to Speak the Language.”

We have so many Swedes of which to be proud, some that are presented in this issue, including some early adventurers immigrating to America as well that you can read about under Culture.

As you likely know the Grand Lodge convention will be held in Washington DC this year. In commemoration of that event the cover shows The Washington Monument reaching the sky. We will all be looking towards the sky about that time since the convention will take place over the 4th of July weekend, Independence Day! I can’t wait!

Marie “George Washington is the only president who didn’t blame the previous administration for his troubles.”

- Unknown

Brev från Redaktören Vi har haft en underbar vinter enligt min uppfattning! Det är så här vintern ska vara med vit, ljus snö som knarrar under fötterna när man går! Kom ihåg att jag är svensk, en “direktimport!”

På senare år har inte vintrarna varit såsom vi bör ha här i nordöstliga Ohio. Samma fenomen uppstod i Sverige. Varje län har täckts av snö, från norr ända ner till det skånska landskapet.

Sverige har inte erfarit så mycket snö under de senaste trettio åren. Det ser ut som den globala uppvärmningen gjorde ett avbrott i år!

Många av oss tyckte om att titta på Vinter OS. Svenskarna fick många medaljer och flera av dem var från Jämtland. Ett stort firande hölls för dem, när de kom tillbaka till Östersund med en speciell belysningsceremoni på det nyligen upprustade torget. De var inte de enda kändisarna som besökte Östersund i år, läs: “När Hollywood kom till Jämtland.”

Andra viktiga vinterhändelser är Vasa Loppet, världens största skidtävling i längdåkning som hålls i Mora, Dalarna varje år till minne av Kung Gustaf Vasas flykt från danskarna. http://svtplay.se/v/1917939/vasaloppet/starten.

Varje säsong har sin charm, och jag tror många av oss ser fram emot våren och pånyttfödelsen, som Moder Jord så mirakulöst kan erbjuda oss.

Påsken står på vår tröskel, och i Sverige har vi några säregna berättelser som berör denna tid på året. Ni kan hitta en kort berättelse på sida 6. På tal om berättelser, somliga människor har en fantastisk förmåga att presentera berättelser i skrift och gör så att du skrattar rätt ut. Läs “Why learn to Speak the Language.”

Vi har så många svenskar att vara stolta över, och många av dem är presenterade i denna upplaga tillsammans med några äventyrare som för länge sen emigrerade till Amerika som du kan läsa om under Culture.

Som ni antagligen vet, kommer Storlogemötet att hållas i Washington DC detta år och med det i åtanke visar omslaget Washington monumentet som pekar rätt upp mot himlen. Vi kommer alla att rikta våra ögon mot himlen eftersom mötet äger rum under veckoslutet kring den 4:e juli, självständighetsdagen! Jag kan inte väntan!

Marie “George Washington är den enda presidenten, som inte klandrade den föregående administrationen för sina problem.”

- Okänd Page 4

PAGE 25

TABLE OF CONTENTS Archives News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Swedish Language Lessons 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Grand Lodge News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Grand Treasurer’s Report 2010 Grand Lodge Convention Activity Schedule Registration Form GL Convention Items for Sale District Lodge News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Lodge News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Swedish News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Welcome To Our New Members . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Culture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Kisa Emigrantmuseum och Café Columbia Kisa Emigrant museum and Cafe Columbia Rebuilding the Scholarship Funds: Pay It Forwards Happenings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Dr. Ulf Brynjestad, PGM, Awarded Ann Charlotte Hanes Harvey Vasa Support Club 10 Years Tidbits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Why Learn to Speak the Language?

Regarding 17 Swedish Designers När Hollywood kom till Jämtland When Hollywood Came to Jämtland Thank You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Don Melin In Memory Of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Leona Anderson Ralph Ohrn In Memoriam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

PAGE 27 Vasa Star March-April 2010

ARCHIVES NEWS Digitization and Preservation Members of the Vasa National Archives Board of Directors have asked me to put together a list of needed equipment and supplies to sustain operations at the Archives in order to set priorities and build up support for purchase. This is a prioritized list but all are essential for efficient use of our resources and increased productivity in our operations. Prices are fairly accurate and current as of February 2010. We understand that these are difficult economic times, but feel strongly that equipment and supplies for our archives is a solid, conservative investment for a more secure future. Lodges and/or individuals may pick and choose what they might support or simply give toward the effort in general. Please send funds addressed to Vasa National Archives Treasurer, P.O. Box 101, Bishop Hill, IL 61419-0101 and write “Equipment 2010� on the memo line. If you would like to call or write the archivist for more information, feel free to contact us at 309.927.3898 or vasaarchives@winco.net.

In Truth and Unity: Lars Jenner, Archivist 1. Canon MS300 Microfilm Scanner Converts microfilm images to digital formats, connects to PC and will allow information in our large mircrofilm collection to easily go out to patrons via email attachment and/or in printed form. Replaces outdated microfilm readers, which do neither of these functions. This equipment will also enable us to put some documents online for searching capability. $6,000 2. Ion Tape2PC Converter Converts audio tapes to CD or MP3 format, enables us to transfer the Lennart Setterdahl collection of SwedishAmerican oral histories (1400 interviews) to more useful digital format, making it easier to listen, lend, and copy these invaluable resources, which in original audio tape format are in danger of disintegrating if we wait much longer to transfer.

This is also a beginning step toward online search capabilities. $150 3. Acer Aspire One 10.1" Netbook Tiny portable computer which will enhance archivist's ability to work in different parts of the archives facility, e.g. to catalogue book collection in upstairs library. It will also allow him to stay connected to patrons for research inquiries when traveling or weekly with family in Chicago. $350 4. Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS 10.1 Megapixel Digital SLR Camera A high quality digital camera, which will give us the ability to send clear images to both Vasa patrons directly and to the Vasa Star or other publications of events at the Archives, artifacts, displays, the facility, and additionally allow us to document the artifact collection digitally. We receive frequent requests from lodges for pictures of the Vasa Archives and displays, but the archivist does not own a good camera and has so far got along with borrowed equipment. Again, digitization opens up the possibility for online access. $500 5. Hollinger Metal Edge Record Storage Boxes with Separate Lid Acid-free record storage boxes needed for safe preservation of archival material $400 (100 bankers box-size acid-free corrugated board) 6. Hollinger Metal Edge Textile and Fabric Storage Boxes Acid-free heavy board storage boxes for our extensive collection of folk costumes, banners, wall hangings, and other fabric/textile items. $1000 (30 boxes of size 34Lx22Wx8H) 7. Hollinger Metal Edge Photo-Tex interleaving tissue Acid-free tissue sheets that will allow us to store photographs long-term without any damage from unstable materials such as photo album paper and some types of plastic. $107 (1000 sheets) Vasa Star March-April 2010

8. Hollinger Metal Edge Archival Quality Phonograph Record Storage Sleeves Allow us to store our 78 rpm vinyl records of Swedish songs from mid-20th century. $380 (100 sleeves at 10" size) 9. Permalife Bond Rolls 20 lb. bond acid-free paper for interleaving or wrapping large prints, maps and oversize artifacts. Sorry to say it, but we have not taken proper care of the charters from closed lodges stored at the archives. One issue is climate control (see next item) and the other issue is what the charters are stored next to and how, for example wrapped in non acidfree tubes or simply rolled up and tucked into tight spaces.

The result has been that many charters have become so dry and brittle that they turn into small little chips if you touch and unroll them. Not good! So we are initially proposing to wrap them in Permalife paper and secondly to research the possibility of conserving damaged charters. For now, we would like to wrap them so they don't deteriorate any further. $250 (three rolls at 34" width) 10. Fisherbrand Printing Hygrometer/Thermometer Provides a permanent record of temperature/humidity and time-of-day/date/month with sampling rates of 1 minute to 100 hours. This instrument helps us to begin contemplating climate control. Without an accurate record of what goes on in the archival space during the course of a year we will not be able to know what measures we might eventually take to preserve paper and photographic items long term. $670 (including machine, 6 rolls of paper, and AC adapter)

Vasa Order of America National Archives Inc. Balance Sheet as of April 30, 2009 Assets: Petty cash Wells Fargo SBT checking SBT savings Waukesha checking Waukesha savings Waukesha CD Money Market Plus Land Buildings Furniture and Equipment Total assets Liabilities: Taxes payable Assets less liabilities:

$261.62 32,034.18 1,024.31 16,836.15 661.40 10,000.00 11,545.35 836,205.74 4,160.00 207,983.00 39,620.00 $1,160,331.75 583.14 $1,159,748.61 Page 5

Påsk

Swedish Language Lessons

By Lillemor and Richard Horngren

LEARNING SWEDISH – LESSON 22 As promised here are some new words of things we have around the house. When you see it you will say to yourself…I know the Swedish word for that. I can assure you that it will make you feel good and that you will probably check around to see what other words you remember. Little by little you will add words to your vocabulary and before you know it sentences will follow. Sentences using word we have learned which we will do for the next lessons. These practices with words and sentences are very useful when your lodge or friends gathering for a “pratstund” session.

Ett nytt ord varje dag A new word every day vardagsrum, -met, --matrum, -met, --sovrum, -met, --badrum,- met, --draperi, -et, -er rullgardin, -en, -er persienn, -en, -er gungstol, -en, -ar pall, -en, -ar fåtölj, -en, -er säng, -en, -ar lakan, -et, --filt, -en, -ar täcke, -t, -n kudde, -n, kuddar örngott, -et, --byrå, -n, -er byrålåda, -n, -lådor garderob, -en, -er galge, -n, -r väckarklocka, -n, väckarklockor radio, -n, -r spegel, -n, speglar skrivbord, -et, --dator, -en, -er monitor/bildskärm, -en, -er tangentbord, -et, --mus, -en skrivare, -n, ---

living room dining room bedroom bathroom drapes blind/window shades Venetian blinds rocking chair stool armchair bed sheet blanket comforter/quilt pillow pillow case chest of drawers drawers closet (clothes) hanger alarm clock radio mirror desk computer monitor keyboard mouse printer

Den som öppnar dörren på skärtorsdagen och möter en liten utklädd häxa med en kaffepanna vet att påsken är här. Inte fullt lika charmiga var de riktiga påskkärringarna. På skärtorsdagsnatten gav de sig av till Blåkulla för att hos djävulen betala skatt i form av smör. Färden gjordes på kvastar som först smorts in med en hemlig salva. Avfärd och hemkomst gick via skorstenen och för att kunna försvinna som en oljad blixt var häxan tvungen att först rabbla en magisk trollformel.

Till påskaftonsmiddagen hör först och främst att äta ägg.

Kycklingen som bryter äggets skal sågs förr som en symbol för livet och mycket av påsken kom därför att kretsa kring äggen. Både som mat, dekoration, målarobjekt, godis och som godisförpackning. Även lax, lamm, sill, böckling och Janssons frestelse hör idag till det svenska' påskbordet. Exakt vilken söndag påsken, dvs, påskdagen, infaller bestäms av första fullmånen efter vårdagjämningen, alltså någon gång mellan den 22 mars och 25 april.

Easter The one who opens the door on Maundy Thursday and meets one small person dressed as a witch carrying a coffee pot knows that Easter is here. Not entirely equally charming was the real Easter witches. On Maundy Thursday night, they went to Blåkulla (Blue Mountain) to pay tax to the devil in the form of butter. The journey was done on brooms that first had to be greased with a secret ointment. Departure and returning went via the chimney and in order to disappear as fast as lightning the witch first had to use a magic spell.

For the Easter dinner it's most common to eat eggs. The chicken that breaks the egg's shells were long ago seen as a symbol of life and a lot of off Easter came to revolve around the egg. It is used both as food, decoration, in painting, sweets and candy wrappers. Salmon, lamb, herring, smoked fish and Jansson's temptation is something that is also featured on the Swedish' Easter dinner table of today. Exactly what Sunday the Easter, i e, the Easter day, falls is decided by the first full moon after the vernal equinox, some time between March 22 and April 25.

Submitted by: Lillemor and Richard Horngren

Seeking Your Swedish Roots??

E-mail: swedengen@telia.com

Page 6

Vasa Star March-April 2010

GRAND LODGE NEWS GRAND TREASURER’S REPORT For the Fiscal Year ended April 30, 2009 EDUCATIONAL

National Archives Fund

General Fund Fund balances May 1, 2008

$76,796.49 279,626.91

Receipts: Dues & assessments $212,231.50 Sales of merchandise 8,334.89 Investment income (loss) -6,730.85 Net gain (loss) on sales of Trust Fund securities --Donation for youth stamps --Adv. and resolutions --Student loan repayments --Scholarship donation --Alloc. of per Capita dues to Archives -45,006.00 Inter-fund transfers -76,.703.34 Other receipts 271.00 ___________ Total receipts $92,397.20 ___________ Total assets available $171,193.69 ___________ Disbursements: Executive Board Meeting $14,270.07 Merchandise purchases 4,082.51 Services: Grand Secretary 5,400.00 Grand Treasurer 1,740.00 Editor ---Circulation Manager ---Vice Grand Secretary 1,800.00 Expenses for: Grand Master 4,855.73 Grand Treasurer’s Office 692.48 Grand Secretary’s Office 2,873.35 Vice Grand Secretary 1,645.91 Vice Grand Master --Other Exec. Board Members 225.04 Grand Lodge Youth Director --Past Grand Lodge Cult. Dir. --Grants to Youth Club Leaders --Editor and Circulation Manager --Accounting and Tax Prep.

2,150.00 Trustee’s fees --Old Age Benefit Payments --Scholarships Awarded --Membership Promotion 1,577.00 Printing, Mailing and Office Supplies 4,997.40 Bank Charges 1,354.27 Donations, Dues and Subscriptions 3,914.00 Student Loans Granted --Seed Money for 2010 Grand Lodge Convention 2,000.00 Computer Related Expenses 487.90 Advertising 190.00 Time Share Assessments 714.00 Refunds 61.25 Grand Lodge Youth Sem. July 2009 --Microfilming Costs in Sweden 653.63 Binding of 2007 Issues of “Vasa Star” --__________ Total disbursements $55,684.52 Transfers of Additional Assets to National Archives: Investments in Fed. National Mortgage Assoc. Notes at Market Value (face amount, $141,000) Total Additional Assets Transferred Fund balances April 30, 2009

Reimbursement Fund

‘‘Vasa Star’’ Fund

133,503.25

1,602.08

FUNDS

Regular Fund

Larson Scholarship Fund

Nilsson Scholarship Fund

Birtwistle Scholarship Fund

Old Age Trust Fund

Old Age Allocations Fund

303,974.02

175,458.53

31,840.17

34,102.82

4,298,162.08

166,199.86 5,498,366.21

Total

-------

1,250.00 ---11,397.37

-------

12,493.00 ---25,931.26

-----14,987.93

-----2,716.22

-----2,653.30

3,123.25 --148,921.41

-------

229,107.75 8,334.89 84,503.48

-----------

-----------

----8,459.32 -----

--14,936.17 --3,504.00 100.00

-----------

-----------

-----------

-----------

-37,025.42 ---------

-37,025.42 14,936.17 8,459.32 3,504.00 100.00

------__________ --__________

--300.00 --__________ -9,837.37 __________

--76,403.34 591.89 __________ 65,454.65 __________

----2,002.08 __________ 7,103.99 __________

------__________ -14,716.22 __________

------__________ -2,716.22 __________

--120,000.00 --__________ 120,000..00 __________

-45,006.00 --3,350.90 __________ 270,266.09 __________

279,628.91 __________

123,765.88 __________

87,056.63 __________

310,078..01 __________

160,490.60 __________

29,123.95 __________

------- -120,000.00 --485.93 __________ __________ -2,653.30 ____________ -4,494.83 __________ 28,449.56 ____________ 4,291,667.25 __________

286,199.86 __________

5,768,632.30 ____________

-----

-----

-----

--11,746.04

-----

-----

-----

-----

-----

14,270.07 15,828.55

---------------

---------------

---4,731.00 2,600.00 ---

720.00 660.00 ---------

---------------

---------------

---------------

---------------

1,080.00 1,200.00 ---------

7,200.00 3,600.00 4,731.00 2,600.00 1,800.00

--------------------------------

---------------------125.00 ---------

-------------------1,384.35 800.00 ---------

---------41.00 ---176.23 288.06 10,200.00 --850.00 ----25,470..00 ---

--------------------200.00 ----6,000.00 ---

--------------------125.00 ---------

--------------------125.00 ----1,500.00 ---

----------------------16,380.35 -------

--------------------1,300.00 --102,400.00 -----

4,855.73 692.48 2,873.35 1,645.91 41.00 225.04 176.23 288.06 10,200.00 1,384.35 5,475.00 16,380.35 102,400.00 32,970.00 1,577.00

-----

-----

75,563.85 ---

1,127.86 ---

-----

-----

-----

-----

-----

81,689.11 1,354.27

-----

-----

-----

--4,500.00

-----

-----

-----

-----

-----

3,914.00 4,500.00

-----------

-----------

-----------

-----------

-----------

-----------

-----------

-----------

-----------

2,000.00 487.90 190.00 714.00 61.25

-----

-----

-----

1,562.25 ---

-----

-----

-----

-----

-----

1,562.25 653.63

--__________ ---

--__________ 125.00

317.19 __________ 85,196.39

--__________ 57,441.44

--__________ 6,200.00

--__________ 125.00

--__________ 1,625.00

--__________ 16,380.25

--__________ 105,980.00

317.19 __________ 328,737.70

---

-139,572.36

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

-139,572.36

---

-139,572.36

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

-139,572.36

$115,509.17

140,540.55

123,640.68

1,860.24

253,636.57

154,290.60

28,998.95

26,824.52 4,275,286.40

180,219.86

5,300,322.24

C. Richard Overberg Grand Treasurer

Vasa Star March-April 2010

Page 7

Grand Summary of Assets as of April 30, 2009

Wells Fargo Bank, Minneapolis: NOW checking account Wells Fargo Cash Swap (FDIC Insured) Wells Fargo Adv. Money Market Fund Bank of America, Tampa, Florida, Checking Account

EDUCATIONAL FUNDS Larson Nilsson Birtwistle ScholarScholarScholarship ship ship Regular Fund Fund Fund

General Fund

National Archives

Reimbursement Fund

‘‘Vasa Star’’ Fund

$114,209.17

---

---

1,360.24

15,292.53

---

---

---

---

---

130,861.94

---

---

---

---

11,412.11

---

---

---

---

---

11,412.11

---

---

---

---

2,047.48

---

---

---

---

---

2,047.48

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

180,219.86

180,219.86

--------

--------

----500.00

--------

--------

--------

--------

--------

--------

1,000.00 300.00 500.00

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

140,054.55

---

---

---

22,580.79

---

---

---

---

---

22,580.79

---

---

---

11,002.03

---

---

---

---

---

11,002.03

---

---

---

7,662.00

---

---

---

---

---

7,662.00

---

123,640.88

---

131,676.38

154,290.60

28,998.95

26,824.52

---

---

465,431.33

--__________ 140,054.55

--__________ 123,640.88

--________ 1,860.24

--__________ 253,636.57

--__________ 154,290.60

--_________ 28,998.95

--_________ 26,824.52

4,275,286.90 __________ 4,275,286.90

--________ 180,219..86

4,275,286.90 ___________ 5,300,322.23

Petty Cash Funds: Grand Secretary 1,000.00 Vice Grand Secretary 300.00 Circulation Manager ---Other Archives checking and savings accounts --Investment Securities at cost: $50,000 Fed. Home Loan Mortg.

Corp. 5% notes due 6-15-2027 (market value, $22,822.40) --11 shares First Trust Unit 2019 short-term monthly cash (market value $10,633.37) --400 shares MBNA Capital E 8.1% preferred stock (Market value $5,640) --Investment in Standard and Poor’s 500 Index Contracts (original investments $451,865.88 plus interest and net realized gains to date, $13,565.45) --Order of Vasa Trust Fund cash and investments, at book value (market value $3,857,799.34) --__________ Total assets $115,509.17

Old Age Trust Fund

Old Age Allocation Fund

Totals

C. Richard Overberg Grand Treasurer

2010 Grand Lodge Convention Things are getting exciting. Registrations are beginning to come in to the District Secretary. Hotel reservations are also well over three hundred room nights at the Marriott. The ads and greetings for the District Pennsylvania No. 9 program book are also coming in even though some of those are slower than anticipated. All invitations have been sent out to various VIPs, including President Obama and the Swedish Ambassador to the USA. Wouldn’t it be interesting if President Obama decided to come and bring a greeting? He is only a few blocks away from the hotel. We’ll wait and see. Ambassador Hafström has promised to attend the opening. We hope you respond through and ad, or by coming to the convention events. If not we encourage you to send in a donation with the raffle tickets printed in this issue of the Vasa Star.

One significant addition to the program has been arranged. We have invited members of the Swedish Colonial Society to make a presentation on Monday evening, July 5. Previously that evening was free. The Swedish Colonial Society was established about a century ago and has actively tried to write the history of the early Swedish colony established at, what is now, Wilmington, DE, in 1638. Through historical records and genealogical research they have also traced the lineage of many of the early Swedish settlers to the current day. See their website www.colonialswedes.org for more information. Herb Rambo, current President of the Society will, with others, present all the exciting activities in which they are involved. We think this would be worth coming to hear and see, whether you previously knew of the existence of the Swedish Colonial Society or not.

Please look at the full activities schedule in the following pages of the Vasa Star. If you are planning to attend please register for the convention events and at the hotel. Finally don’t forget to look at the items that DL Pennsylvania No. 9 has for sale as one of its efforts to help fund the convention. Note that this information is also available on the Grand Lodge website.

Page 8

Vasa Star March-April 2010

ACTIVITY SCHEDULE for the 37th Grand Lodge Convention July 2 - 8, 2010 – Washington, DC Friday, July 2 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Registration Desk open.

8:00 – 10:00 PM

Welcome ’Dessert’ Reception hosted by DL Pennsylvania No. 9; free to all who registered.

Entertainment provided by DL New Jersey No. 6 Vasastjärnan Youth Club.

Saturday, July 3 9.00 AM – 12:00 PM

Registration Desk open.

8:30 – 10:00 AM

New delegate breakfast: sponsored by the Grand Lodge

1:00 – 2:15 PM

Opening Ceremony with special greetings, presentation of flags by Vasastjärnan Youth Club and introductions of Grand Lodge Officers.

2:15 – 2:45 PM

Coffee break

2:45 – 4:30 PM

Opening Session for Grand Lodge Officers and Delegates; Vasa members invited to join.

5:30 – 10:30 PM

Reception at the House of Sweden. Two busses leave for the House of Sweden at 5:30 PM and return for additional trip at 6:00 PM. Tours of the Embassy and upper floors of HOS starting at 6:00 PM (staggered small tour groups). Light buffet open at 7:00 PM including a glass of wine. Music provided by ’Svenska Spelman’ group from Jamestown, NY. Busses return to Marriott at 9:45 and 10:15 P.M. Cost: $85/person.

Sunday, July 4

Free day for everyone to enjoy Independence Day in downtown Washington. Because of the difficulty of travel in Washington on July 4th, no scheduled tours are planned.

Monday, July 5 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Session for Grand Lodge Officers and Delegates.

7:30 PM – 9: 30 PM

Seminar/presentation by Swedish Colonial Society.

Tuesday, July 6 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Mt. Vernon Tour. No Grand Lodge Session. Busses leave hotel for Mt. Vernon, home of President George Washington, at 8:15 AM. Tour Mt. Vernon for four hours; mansion, new visitor’s center, shops and food court. Busses leave Mt Washington at 1:45 PM for return to Marriott. Cost: $40/person. See www.Mountvernon.org.

7:00 – 10:00 PM

Cultural, membership and web seminars – responsibility of GL Ex Bd

Wednesday, July 7 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Session for Grand Lodge Officers and Delegates.

10:30 AM – 3:30 PM

Non-delegate Tour of Hillwood Estate; lunch included. Cost: $55/person.

See www.hillwoodmuseum.org.

Thursday, July 8 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Session for Grand Lodge Officers and Delegates; election and installation of new officers

6:00 – 7:00 PM.

Cocktail hour (cash bar) and photo opportunities.

7:00 – Midnight

Grand Banquet with Barnklubben Elsa Rix #1peforming. Dance music by Smörgåsbandet.

Cost: $115/person

Vasa Star March-April 2010

Page 9

REGISTRATION FORM FORM REGISTRATION REGISTRATION FORM 37 Grand Grand Lodge Lodge Convention Convention • July July 22 -- July July 8, 2010 2010 37 37th Grand Lodge Convention •• July 2 – July 8,8,2010 th th

Registration Deadline: May 14, 2010

www. vasaorder.com

NOTE: Grand Lodge Officers, Honorary Life Members of the Grand Lodge and Delegates receive complimentary tickets for the Saturday and Thursday nights banquets, and the Tuesday tour. Spouses and other participants are responsible for payment of all events in which they partake except for the Friday Welcome Reception.

Total Cost of Registration may be paid either by check (see details below) or by credit card using the capability on the Grand Lodge website shown above.

Date, Week Day a

Event (Please see Activity Schedule in this Vasa Star issue for event details)

No. of People Attending

Price Per Person (Prices in U.S. $)

July 2, Friday

Welcome Reception

No Cost

July 3, Saturday

Reception at House of Sweden

$ 85

July 4, Sunday

Free day to enjoy Independence Day in Washington

Your cost

July 6, Tuesday

Tour: Mt. Vernon

$ 40

July 7, Wednesday

Non-delegate Tour: Hillwood

$ 55

July 8, Thursday

Grand Banquet

$ 115

PLEASE WRITE CHECK TO: Grand Lodge 2010 Convention MAIL TO: Sharen Tizzano, 2250 Par Lane #1217, Willoughby Hills, OH 44094

Total Cost

Total Included: $ _________

Note: Advance Registration is required for, or a portion of, the Convention, including the Welcome Reception!

Personal Information: Please Print Clearly Name _____________________________________________

Local Lodge & No. ________________________

Address ___________________________________________

District Lodge & No. ______________________

City _____________________________________ Country ___________________

State/Prov. __________

Zip/Postal Code_____________

Phone Number: Country Code/Area Code/Number ____________________

E-mail Address ____________________________________________________________ (How many?) Delegate ___ GL Officer (Elected) ___ GL Officer (Appointed) ___ GL Honorary Life Member ___ ______________________________________________________________________________________________

Please make your Hotel Reservations directly with the Hotel to ensure Convention rates x 775 12th Street NW Washington, DC 20005 USA x Phone: 1-202-737-2200 x Fax: 1-202-347-5886 x Toll-free: 1-800-393-2510 You can make reservations by calling the Marriott at the number above or by using the internet. If you call to make the reservation the group name is VASA 2010.

You can also register at the hotel using the internet using the information found on the Grand Lodge webpage shown at the top.

x Room rate: $159 (+ tax of 14.4 %) per night for all rooms. x $159 rate applies for one, two, three or four people per room. x Rooms contain either One King or Two Double Beds x All rooms are non-smoking x $159 room rate available between June 30 and July 12, 2010. x Reservation deadline is 6:00 PM, Friday, June 11, 2010 to obtain rooms at above rate.

Expected arrival date ________________________ Expected departure date ___________________________ S Page 10

Vasa Star March-April 2010

2010 Grand Lodge Convention Items for Sale The following items are offered for sale by the 2010 GL Convention Committee to help host DL Pennsylvania No. 9 raise funds for the convention. Thank you for your support!

Dalahäst Dalahäst Dalahäst LapelPin Pin Lapel Lapel Pin

Sweatshirt 50/50 blend

ORDER FORM S H I P T O

Note: Sales tax is included in prices.

Name ________________________________________________________ Address _______________________________________________________ City __________________________________ State ______ Phone No. ____________________________

Zip ___________

Country _____________________

Email _______________________________________________________________

Quantity

Item Description Dalahäst lapel pin (size shown in relation to penny) Nordic Flags Sweatshirt, YthM __ YthL__ S__ M__ L__ XL__ XXL__ XXXL__ 2030 ‘Daphne’ greeting cards, 4.25x5.5 in, blank inside, “Linnea”; 8-pack 2040 ‘Daphne’ greeting cards, 4.25x5.5 in, blank, “Viking at Sea”; 8-pack 2044 ‘Daphne’ greeting cards, 4.25x5.5 in, blank, “Flowers-the Provinces”; 8-pack 2048 ‘Daphne’ greeting cards, 4.25x5.5 in, blank, “Dala Horses&Flowers”; 8-pack 2050 ‘Daphne’ greeting card, 4.25x5.5 in, blank, “Blu & Yel Heart Basket”; 8-pack

Please write check to: 2010 Grand Lodge Convention Mail your order and check to: Dorothy Overberg, 5431 Patton, Erie, PA 16509 Phone: (814) 864-2406 Email: croverberg@aim.com

Note: If purchasing dalahäst lapel pins only, a shipping charge of $5.00 applies for any amount purchased.

Price Each $ 7.00 $ 20.00 $ 6.00 $ 6.00 $ 6.00 $ 6.00 $ 6.00 Subtotal Shipping (see chart) TOTAL INCLUDED

Total

Shipping and Handling (USA) Please call for orders above $150.00 or for any order to Canada or to Sweden Subtotal Shipping Subtotal Shipping Subtotal Shipping $0.00-$18.00 $18.01-$36.00 $36.01-$54.00 $5.00 $8.00 $10.00 $54.01-$80.00 $80.01-$110.00 $110.01-$150.00 $12.00 $15.00 $18.00

Vasa Star March-April 2010

Page 11

DISTRICT LODGE NEWS DL Rhode Island #3 You know, history doesn’t have to be dull, culture doesn’t have to be boring – and that’s what RI District #3 set out to prove at a Nordic Masquerade in November. It was a fun, entertaining and educational evening all rolled into one.

Ebba Brahe was in attendance – you know THE Ebba Brahe, who at the age of 16 was the mistress of the future King Gustavus Adolphus; the same Ebba Brahe who later married Count Jacob de la Gardie and bore him 14 children! She joined several other well-known celebrities – Charles Augustus Lindbergh, Dr. Lovisa Ahlborg, St. Brigit, Sonja Henie, Dorothy Hamill, Elsa Beskow, and Kayla Kleevage (do you know who these folks are? Look them up – they’re an interesting part of Scandinavian history and culture – you’ll learn a lot).

In addition to a great parade where each person gave a brief biography we had what was publizied as a “minismörgåsbord” (definitely was not “mini”)! Didn’t get a chance to sample Chef Bengt Wedholm’s expertise though (look him up)!

All in all – a great way to learn a lot in a fun way.

Submitted by: Lily Zarli, DCL

1st prize winners: Star Boy, Connie Johnson and St. Lucia Ray Johnson.

Page 12

DL Golden Gate #12 The members of the District 12, Golden Gate, are a very active, very cohesive group of people, whom enjoy being together fostering Nordic heritage, traditions, and culture, and inviting anyone who shares these interests, to join them. Each individual Lodge within District 12 has a full docket of activities that promote unity, enthusiasm, and help in time of need, to all members. Activities are not strictly limited to those focusing on Nordic tradition, either! Several gatherings have nothing at all to do with being from Sweden or Norway or any other Scandinavian region.

For example, Lindbergh Lodge in Palo Alto has at least two outings per year at a local winery, bottling their own wine, helping with the grape harvest there, or simply picnicking, and members of Skogen Lodge in Redding customarily spend a nice summer day on Whiskeytown Lake, just picnicking and enjoying the fine weather.

Each issue of the Golden Gate Nyheter newsletter is full of culturally-focused articles which have been thoroughly researched and meticulously written by various members. These articles are a treasure trove for our youth, who have referenced these articles in school writing projects and oral presentations. Not only that, but when the authors include their own personal connection to the topic, others within the district have discovered that they share similar experiences, or have a special association that brings them closer together in some surprising way.

Our Golden Gate Nyheter is full of exciting and joyful events such as birthday celebrations for members who turn 100 years old, or congratulations for new babies or marriages, or new members who join our organization. We also enjoy celebrating when milestones or outstanding achievements are reached! Included in this

article are two snippets from an issue of the Nyheter which illustrate this perfectly: At the Norwegian night on September 18, our Chairman, Harold Nelson, presented Karen Olson her pin honoring her 25 years of membership in Svea Lodge.

Karen joined Svea on May 18, 1984.

These are excerpts from the inspiring email Karen sent when notified of her qualification to receive her 25 year pin. “I am so happy to realize this milestone in my life since we all love and value Vasa and Svea Lodge. I am glad to receive my 25 year pin. I have helped Anita as assistant cultural leader and coffee maker and also as clean up crew and chief dishwasher at the old YMI hall. I was also bartender for one year and served as inner guard and outer guard several times. I also helped make pea soups and desserts and was a server many times. I have also helped Anita decorate the Midsummer stage for the past 10 years.”

“Vasa is truly a family and we have lived through much of our lives together.

We have seen our children grow up and move on. We have seen marriages and deaths and memorials, sickness and grief.

We have shared so many Christmas parties and bonfires and picnics and dances and dinners. So many happy memories and tear jerker. Thanks for letting me be a small part of this as it has marked my life for the better and has given me joy to remember all the times of fun. And it is not over yet. There is more to come!”

At the August Anniversary Dinner, we were so fortunate to have seven Svea members present who have all been District Masters. This certainly is a tribute to Svea Lodge to have had so many of our members so active in the District.

Submitted by: Ann Marie Richardson, Editor, Golden Gate Nyheter

From left to right: Tore Kellgren, Mike Bray, Birgitta Kellgren, Per Cardestam, Lilian Rejbrand, Keith Hanlon, Gunnar Lillquist and then Richard Wooster, our current Golden Gate District Master.

Vasa Star March-April 2010

LODGE NEWS Diana Birger Jarl Lodge #3 New Haven, CT

Christmas card to be sent to our sister lodge in Sweden, Logen Strömkarlen #653 in the city of Trollhättan in western Sweden. We’ve heard in national news that General Motors intends to divest itself of its Saab division which has produced the Saab auto line in Trollhättan for many years. If a corporate buyer cannot be found for the Saab auto division, will the manufacturing plant shut down?

As of late January, Swedish newspapers were reporting that a sale has been made to the Dutch car maker Spyker, much to the relief of Saab’s 3,400 employees.

Submitted by: John Morgan

At our October meeting LL Diana Birger Jarl Lodge #3 welcomed 10 new members.

Front row - John Edeen, Carolyn Staehly, Ben Wojan and in 2nd row Judy Corrigan, Mary Ann Edeen, Barbara Prior, Nancy Thorsen, Arthur Thorsen, Lorraine Reimer, Gorden Reimer.

Submitted by: Paul Ljunggren Picture by: Lars Edeen

Brage-Iduna Lodge #9 Springfield, MA October’s meeting featured a delicious homemade Swedish pea soup supper, followed by a bingo word game using Swedish phrases. The St. Paul Church’s total kitchen renovation is still underway and will be appreciated. The lodge voted to make a generous contribution toward the modern kitchen facilities.

As we submit the Lodge’s required annual report, we note that Brage-Iduna Lodge welcomed two new members during 2009, but sadly, several members passed away during the year. At the November meeting, the charter was draped to remember them. We notice that those departed had been devoted members of Brage-Iduna for many years!

Gourmet deserts from a local caterer were a treat during the social hour.

Brage-Iduna’s annual Lucia celebration was held on December 13 despite a snow/sleet storm that same morning. A very good turnout came in spite of the adverse weather forecast.

Members of the lodge and Three Crowns Children’s Club signed a Vasa Star March-April 2010

The source for the last sentence is the Swedish news site: www.thelocal.se/24620/20100127/ and a long New York Times article in January.

Scandia Lodge #23 Manchester, CT Members of Scandia Lodge #23 of Manchester, CT, enjoyed a Christmas gathering at the Nutmeg Restaurant in South Windsor, CT, on December 4, 2009.

At our February 2010 meeting, three new members were initiated. They are Judy Anderson, Deb Haylar and Judy Mitrowski.

Submitted by: June Roncarti

occasion. DM Mary Ethel Pierson gladly led the meeting. Dist. officers present were: Isabella Muscarella, PDM, Susan Premo, PDM and D. Trustee, Bob Salk, PDM and VDM, Bob Solt, D. Treas., Nel Solt, VDS, Arlene Lundquist, PDM and DS, accompanied by Hans Lundquist, a former Dist. officer, Ken Murphy, PDM and EBM (he brought lovely Louise). We also had Jane Hendricks, PDM, and Maidie Karling, EBM. Guests Elvine Lundberg and Frank Muscarella also came along to enjoy the day. VC Jane Sandler was home recouping.

District convention coming up soon, plans are being finalized and delegates were elected. A Nordic symposium at Cal Lutheran University slated for February 5-6. These are very informative and popular.

On this special occasion was the announcement of Jennifer Larson as our scholarship recipient. Jennifer has high goals to be a physical therapist. She is the daughter of Valarie Larson and the granddaughter of Peggy Pages. Joselyn Pages was our Lucia. We hope Peggy won’t run out of beautiful granddaughters!

Following our business meetings, we aimed for the tables to enjoy a luncheon catered by Jane Hendricks of Nordic Fox and believe me when I say it was amble and delicious! A delightful day and we thank all of our guests for joining us.

Submitted by: Elinore Thornton

Fylgia Lodge #119 San Francisco, CA

Left to right: back row - June Roncarti, Sylvia and Mel Helstrom, Deb Haylar, and Paul Berg. Middle row - Judy Anderson, Clara Stowell, Judy Mitrowski. Seated - Gail Porter, Rosemary Hokanson, Lilja Strazinskis.

North Star #106 Los Angeles, CA It was the day of North Star’s 103rd anniversary and we celebrated by having district #15 officers invited. It was a pleasure to have our guests on this special

In September our Cultural Program was presented by our own Cultural Leader, Ms. Yasuko T. Wooster, II, the wife of our District Master. She had many beautiful Japanese Kimonos to display and she told of the common characteristics between Swedish Folk Costumes and Japanese Kimonos, and answered many questions.

October 13th was our 102nd Anniversary and we had our usual potluck dinner, followed by a short meeting. The evening was spent with the members visiting with each other and catching up on events the past summer.

Our website is: www.scandinavius.com/vasa/fylgia.

Submitted by: Jean Nelson Page 13

Thule Lodge #127 Jamestown/Bemus Point, NY Thule Lodge completed its 102nd year in December 2009 and continues to preserve the Swedish heritage through events and activities. Cultural leader Fanchon Fuller keeps the members informed of upcoming events, and adds a special report on a Swedish activity. We appreciate all of her efforts.

Our winter schedule continues with meetings and social hour on the third Saturday of the month through March.

Our lodge is now into its 103rd year, and recently held its installation of officers.

Edwin Sandberg will serve as the lodge chairman in 2010. Appreciation is extended to immediate past Chairman Eugene Johnson for serving as our chairman. Chairman Sandberg was the first to be installed as an officer, and then continued the installation ceremony.

Thule Lodge looks forward to the spring season, as past chairman Robert Fuller is looking forward to having some capital improvements done on the lodge, and grounds.

Following the installation ceremony, yellow pea soup was prepared and served to all, as a new year's gesture. Thanks to

Thule Lodge #127 officers for 2010. Front row: assistant mistress of ceremonies Bernice Veights, immediate past chairman Eugene Johnson, 2010 lodge chairman Edwin Sandberg, vice chairman Ralph Veights, mistress of ceremonies Donna Johnson, and financial secretary Donna Johnson. Standing: lodge secretary Lucile Marsh, past chairman Robert Fuller, cultural leader Fanchon Fuller, trustee John Marsh, outer guardsman Nels John Nelson, trustee for three years Tim Miller, auditor for three years Jerry Erickson, inner guardsman Don Carlson, treasurer Albert Nelson, and lodge historian John Sipos. Missing from photograph is lodge chaplain Diane Shaw.

Photograph by Susan W. Sipos.

Robert and Fanchon Fuller, Betty Lawson, and Edwin and Donna Sandberg for their efforts.

Thule Lodge wishes all a happy spring

season. If you are in our area, we welcome you. “God dag” to all!

Submitted by: John Sipos, Thule Lodge Historian

Nobel-Monitor Lodge #130

Tegnér Lodge #149

Cleveland, OH

Oakland, CA

At the January meeting, the cold and snow did not stop our District Deputy, Cheryl Brown, coming from Svea #296 in Erie, PA, to install our officers for 2010. Sandra Miller, the Svea Chairman accompanied her. They expressed their enjoyment of seeing how another lodge conducts a lodge meeting. It was delightful to have them with us.

Bo Carlsson, our Cultural Leader, presented a program of ancient musical instruments. Bo had visited the Music Museum (Musikmuséet) and purchased a DVD. He not only was able to show us slides of the instruments, we were able to ‘hear’ the instruments as well. You can visit the Museum yourself by going to their web site: www.musikmuseet.se. It is possible to change the script to English.

We had our traditional Pea Soup and “Plättar” meal in February prior to our business meeting.

During our lodge meeting we were happy to initiate three new members. It was a great way to start out the New Year and we have approved applications from three others wishing to join.

The members of Tegnér Lodge #149, Oakland, CA, celebrated their 101st anniversary at a dinner at Pier 29 in Alameda, CA, on November 14, 2009.

We were pleased that long-time member, Nancy Root, who lives in Citrus Heights, and her son and his wife could join us.

Also it was a pleasure to have Grand Lodge Secretary Joan Graham, Framåt Lodge #405, present. Conflicting engagements kept several other dignitaries from attending.

At our November meeting in Bjørnson Hall we were entertained by Laurel Paulson-Pierce, Gold Nugget Lodge #662. She brought her “nyckelharpa” and played a collection of Scandinavian folk songs, explained the instrument and gave us information about Sweden and her connection to Sweden. It was a very interesting program.

Since quite a few of Tegnér members attended the Sons of Norway’s Bjørnson Lodge #14 lutfisk dinner on November 1,

Submitted by: Marty Bergman, Mary Cirino, Paula DeCaria and Julian Fossen.

Past Chairman Page 14

Continued on page 15 Vasa Star March-April 2010

Monitor Lodge #218

Tegnér Lodge #149 Continued from page 14

Cultural Leader Ann Tennis decided to give a “lecture” entitled “Facts, Fiction, and Jokes” about lutfisk. Member Kathryn Hughes then finished the topic off with “Still More Jokes.” After that, everyone seemed to be in a good mood for the business meeting.

Due to the illness of Stig Björk, Charlotte Weissenborn has taken over as

our “Swedish chef.” She has produced interesting and delicious entrees for our potluck suppers. Charlotte is also very computer literate and produced beautiful flyers for our anniversary dinner and the December Lucia Fest. We are happy to report that Stig is feeling much better and was able to attend our anniversary dinner.

Submitted by: Ann Tennis

Gustav Lodge #175 San Diego, CA

The tradition for Gustav V Lodge is to have a holiday buffet meal, sing Christmas songs in both Swedish and English have a white elephant gift exchange and celebrate with our friends. The meal and all the coordination was by Lillian Norquist, who turned 90 in July (front right). We did not have a business meeting; just pure holiday fun on a lovely day at our usual meeting place: Balboa Park’s House of Sweden cottage.

Submitted by: Carol Kerr, Secretary

THE SWEDISH CLOCK MAKER Traditional Swedish design handcrafted in Oregon.

Custom painted to order in any color or folk art style.

For details

Sacramento, CA After the short summer hiatus, Monitor Lodge met in September for its annual “Sill Frukost,” a rather unique affair that’s been happening for many years. Yes, that’s right, Herring Breakfast. No one goes away from this fun day hungry since we do serve a variety of dishes for those not “into” herring! The day was made perfect by nice weather and a chance to spend time at the Larson residence located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. About 50 people attended.

The recent Scandinavian Festival held each year in the Sacramento Area was a huge success with many vendors, presentation of Colors for each Nordic Country as well as food and dancing in keeping with the theme and spirit of the day.

Monitor Lodge is quite instrumental in working toward this annual successful event.

I had the pleasure of explaining why our lodge is called Monitor Lodge. A visitor at the festival noticed my nametag and asked if our lodge was named after a local high sierra pass called Monitor Pass. It was fun explaining the connection to Swedish engineer/designer John Ericsson who invented the Civil War Ironclad Ship Monitor as well as being part of the development of the “Göta Kanal” which cuts from coast to coast in Sweden. On a recent trip to Virginia, my wife, son and I had the opportunity to view the turret, gun and engine mount that has been raised from the bay and is on display at the Mariners’s Museum in Newport News.

Check out www.monitorcenter.org.

As with all lodges within Vasa, we have lost some long-time members who will be missed. We are fortunate to have new members joining frequently who will hopefully step in and fill the void left by those who have passed.

We are busy planning for our 100th Anniversary coming up in 2012! It’s never too early to plan for such an auspicious occasion. Our Annual “Glögg och Julbord” was held in early December with children from The Sacramento Swedish School sharing a Lucia Program.

Submitted by: Jack Larson

541-461-0329 Email: suwalschul@aol.com

Vasa Star March-April 2010

Page 15

Brahe Lodge #245

Skandia Lodge #247

Rockford, IL

Rockford, IL The regular business meeting of Skandia Lodge #247 on Thursday, October 8, 2009, had many special guests besides our wonderful members. Guest speaker, Julianne Rose gave a great presentation about her summer camp adventure at the Viking Village.

We regret that the daughter of Miriam (and Earl) Berndes, Phyllis Dahl, passed away in Denmark on October 19, 2009.

The Lucia Dinner and program was held Saturday, December 12, 2009. A catered Christmas party was sponsored by the Swedish Club of Los Angeles at Skandia Hall. A full Christmas buffet table catered by The Food Perfected with Swedish chef Mikael was presented. The evening included a “grog” ceremony, a visit from Lucia and her court, and entertainment by the Swedish Folk Dance Club.

Congratulations to Skandia sister, Jane Hendricks, at the opening of her SANCO, Swedish America Gift Shop, in the Alpine Village.

If you have a bicycle that is no longer being used and you have other plans for the space, please contact Chairman Jackie. There is a local Boy Scout Troop member who is working on his Eagle Scout Award by restoring and refurbishing bicycles which are then donated to Shelters Remember you are all always welcome at our Lodge and in our hearts!

Guests and members enjoyed our delicious “smörgåsbord.”

We held a Holiday Bazaar in our spacious Vasa Park in Rockford Illinois on a colorful Sunday, October 25, 2009.

We were busy from 10 AM until closing at 4 PM for our public-invited event.

There was no admission charge so shoppers came throughout the day and had a chance to check out our new lodge too.

At one time there were 40 automobiles in our parking lot!

Twenty-three vendors were selling all sorts of items including Swedish and Norwegian imported gifts, Christmas decorations, "tomtar", engraved rocks, wreaths, cards, dog treats, hand-carved wood figurines, pumpkins, squash, hand woven rugs, blankets, quilts, gift baskets, bakery, "lingonberry" jam, embroidered towels, scarves, candles, tote bags, baskets, glassware etc! For hungry visitors and members we had barbecues, chips, pop, coffee and cookies with table's setup in our kitchen. A good time was had by shoppers while visiting with friends over

Seeking Your Swedish Roots??

E-mail: swedengen@telia.com Page 16

a cup of coffee. What a great turnout for our Holiday Bazaar! Maybe we will even get a few new members as a result of this event?

At our Nov. 22 lodge meeting, officers were elected for 2010. Vasa Brahe Member Conrad Johnson, age 105, was also awarded a pin for his 65 years as a member of our Vasa Order of America!

Vasa Brahe Lodge #245 held our "Julfest" on Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009. First we were treated to a delicious "smörgåsbord" prepared by our 32 lodge members in attendance. Appropriately with it being Lucia Day, we were entertained with a program where Lucia was portrayed by Miss Morgan Waterson and her accompanist. Later we played bingo and many lodge members won prizes.

Twenty-seven Vasa Brahe Lodge #245 members attended our January 31, 2010 meeting on a cold, snowy but sunny winter day! Highlight of the meeting was the installation of 2010 officers by Grand Lodge official Jake Gruel. Members then discussed plans for our Open House in April in our Vasa Park, "Midsommar" activities, and other business items.

Submitted by: Jackie Ahlen, Chairman

Skandia members (from left to right), Betty Holm, Steve Rose, and Jackie Ahlen working the gate at Vasa Perk’s annual Autumnfest and “Marknad.”

Submitted by: Member Dennis G. Eksten Vasa Star March-April 2010

Svea Lodge #296 Erie, PA

On a sad note, a 37-year member, Ingrid Hedlund, passed away at age 92.

Hopefully her daughter Berit will share her mother’s Swedish recipes.

But we can plan for youth members too. Mike Stickner, grandson of Helen Bellingham, shows much interest in all things Swedish.

Our lodge started the year with installation of officers. Bo Carlsson from Nobel-Monitor #130 presided over the ceremony.

The following week the group met at the home of Leona Carlson to plan the schedule for all upcoming meetings.

Submitted by: Linda Collin

Sveaborg Lodge #449 Concord, CA

Mike Stickner of Cranesville, PA, with his grandmother, Helen Bellingham.

Our lodge has continued to enjoy meaningful activities and meetings. We have members who are able and willing to share their talents and lives with us.

Our member, Kathy Gustafson, is the organist at St. John’s Lutheran Church here in Erie. She had the experience of a lifetime to visit Sweden and play the organ at several well-known sanctuaries there. Her presentation showed a very professional photography ability and we could feel as though we were also on her trip.

The next monthly meeting had a most interesting and informative presentation by another member – David Cope – he spoke about the New York World’s Fair in 1939 (no he was not there himself).

The Swedish Pavilion must have been exceptional. It was the favorite of Eleanor Roosevelt. David has a special interest in Expositions, being quite an authority on the Chicago Fair. He spoke about the book “The Devil and the White City” at Chautauqua last summer.

“Polka Dots” band performing for the annual Oktoberfest. Members Ray Ternstrom (tuba) and Evelyn Ternstrom (clarient) and their son Dan (trombone) play in this group.

Chairman Don Morrison (right) initiating new member David Seaborg, an evolutionary biologist. David’s father, Glenn Seaborg, received the 1951 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Submitted by: Bob Burman

Svea Lodge #469 Longview, WA

Bo Carlsson installed Svea officers.

Vasa Star March-April 2010

On September 20, 2009, Svea Lodge #469 of Longview, WA, celebrated their 84th Anniversary at the Red Lion Inn in Kelso, WA. Theme for the dinner was “Just Plane Fun.” Welcome and invocation were given and our special guests were introduced.

District Master Alice Iverson, Chairman of Nobel Lodge #184 Jeff Klein, District Secretary Carol DeSarr, Chairman District Membership Karla Anderson and Elsie Norby.

Luncheon was served and recognition of long-time Vasa members were presented certificates in honor of their years of membership.

A fashion show was presented by our members, songs were sung accompanied

by Jeff Klein, birthday greetings were given and door prizes passed out. A good time was had by all.

Submitted by: Judith Jones Recording Secretary Page 17

Harmoni Lodge #472 Portland, OR Portland, Oregon’s Harmoni Lodge #472 strives to provide a variety of local activities and programs for their members. Cultural Leaders Kristi and Denver James organized a delightful lingonberry learning experience in November 2009.

Treated to pastries and Swedish coffee prior to boarding the rented van, we headed approximately 60 miles west of Portland to Friendship Farm. It is located a few miles uphill from our mighty Columbia River in the Goble area of Rainier, OR. Terry and Dinah Farr started their blueberry and lingonberry farm in 1995. Crops of the fairly unique plants have flourished and jars of their specialty products are sold directly to the public as well as a select group of retail distributors.

The owners not only provided us an informational tour of their farm and berry harvesting and merchandising process, but also allowed those who wished to experience picking the miniscule mountain fruit aided by the clever comb-like rake apparatuses provided. Many members were thrilled to secure adequate bucketfuls to make jam later! With perfect Swedish hospitality prior to departure, Terry and Dinah welcomed us to their warm kitchen to partake of hot coffee and sumptuous lingonberry prepared delicacies – take home recipes included!

They told us the best part of farming is the friendships they cultivate – thus their farm’s name was derived. This philosophy holds true regarding Harmoni Lodge too.

Representatives of their name, they always succeed in encouraging camaraderie and friendship by cultural insights to our local Pacific Northwest.

A dedicated slate of officers to lead us in 2010 were installed at the January business meeting. Our February Social gathering found us gathered for a crab dinner procured and delivered fresh from Pacific Ocean waters to our table by member Doug Hanson. The “fun” in fundraising reigns as we combined the evening with competitive bidding on donated creative silent auction items.

The Vasa spirit of unity prevails in Portland – Harmoni rocks!!

Submitted by: Alice Harris

bers were initiated … Martin and Susanne Omander and Jo-Ann AbieThurfjell.

Dean Babcock our Cultural Leader gave a history of the Lodge in 1927, first meetings held in Whiskey Gulch. The name of our Lodge projects, the pride that all Swedes felt at Charles Lindbergh's astonishing feat flying solo across the Atlantic that year. The evening ended with Swedish music and dancing.

November was our traditional soup night. Salmon soup is such a popular dish that almost everyone makes a special effort to attend. Additionally we had lentil and tomato soup and sandwiches.

Desert was Swedish pancakes smothered in jam and cream. There were at least 70 members enjoying the meal. We also installed the officers for the coming year.

Among them are a new Chair David Johnson, Vice Greg Meyers, Secretaries Bea Andrews, Laila Thurfjell, T.J. Naim, Malle Lantz and Treasurer Sandie Hersh.

The evening ended with members showing off their dancing skills.

Our January meeting is always a very festive one. Members bring their special dishes for a pot luck bonanza. Attendance is always large and the sampling of many treats always a culinary event with much lip-smacking and contented sighs.

The program was conducted by our cultural leader Dean Babcock who gave a review of Bishop Hill and the Vasa Archives. He discussed the history of its formation and a general talk about Swedish immigration to this country from the earliest days of New Sweden in Delaware and the eventual arrival of Erik Jansson and his followers in 1846 to Bishop Hill. Their goal was to establish a new utopia. The surviving buildings are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is a repository of information about the Swedish presence in this country and a source of information about the Vasa Order of America and its many Lodges.

Submitted by: Muriel Nelson Beroza

Friendship Farm

Lindbergh Lodge #494 Palo Alto, CA October Fest was celebrated with much gusto. Ann Marie Van Horn supplied some beautiful Porcelain Beer Steins as ethnic decoration. She manages to come up with the décor of whatever Page 18

we are celebrating. Our talented member cooking staff made the evening complete with German bockwurst, Potato Salad, Sauerbraten, and rye bread, topped off with apple strudel for desert. New memVasa Star March-April 2010

Oak Leaf Lodge #685 Thousand Oaks, CA After celebrating Marknad in Vasa Park in Agoura, CA, we had a wonderful time at our Social/Anniversary with a “Western Night” complete with cowboy/girl hats and blue and red kerchiefs, which were given to each member in attendance.

Our lodge was decorated as though it was an old-time western saloon complete with “feed bags” and sarsaparilla (root beer floats). In November we held a wonderful “All American” Thanksgiving and December found us celebrating a good old “Family Christmas” with Torkil Hammer playing his “nyckelharpa.”

At our January business meeting we installed our new officers for 2010 and we look forward to installing new members soon. At our social we had a large table full of food and had a member tell of their trip to Sweden over the recent Christmas holidays, then just a lot of stories, memories and jokes. We will be having a huge garage sale in March. We will be serving meatballs and lingonberries at the Scandinavian Festival held at California Lutheran University on April 17-18, 2010.

At our general meeting in February the third generation of the Swann/ Eckdahl family were installed into Oak Leaf Lodge, Johan and James Eckdahl.

Submitted by: Judi Palmquist

Tucson Lodge #691 Tucson, AZ

The Vasa Swedish Folkdancers

We have had a very busy fall 2009 mainly due to our participation in the Tucson Meet Yourself Festival. It was held October 9-11, downtown Tucson and this year attracted around 80,000 people for the three-day event.

Thirty four (34) ethnic clubs served delicious food from their respective countries and also treated the crowd to dance and music. Affectionately the event is called Tucson Eat Yourself.

The Tucson Lodge #691 served a sample meatball plate, apple cake with whipped cream, Ris a’la Malta, baked goods, raspberry saft, coffee etc and our Vasa members thought it was a lot of fun to work the shifts in our “Swedish” booth. Our profit goes to several local charities.

The Vasa Swedish Folk Dancers performed together with the band, the Camarata Aurora Borealis and really delighted the audience with traditional folk dances as well as polka, waltz and schottische. Some members also showed their folk costume in the Folk Dress Parade.

At our lodge meeting November 20, after election of officers for 2010 and discussing other lodge business, we made Swedish Christmas tree ornaments and had fun just visiting!

December 12 we celebrated Lucia. On January 16, we installed our new officers and enjoyed open face sandwich potluck and on February 19, a power point program about" the Ice Hotel in Jukkasjarvi" was held.

Lodge #691 activities can be seen on our blog: tucsonvasaswedes.blogspot.com or on www.Vasaorder.com (local lodges) Submitted by: Ann-Marie Kinnison

Tre Kronor Lodge #713 Salem, OR

Marian Swann, James Eckdahl, Karl Swann, Johan Eckdahl, Karin Eckdahl and Chairman Lorraine Parriott.

Torkil Hammer Vasa Star March-April 2010

Tre Kronor Lodge #713 celebrated Greta Marie Hedman’s 95th birthday at our regular lodge meeting on March 8, 2009. Greta is a regular attendee at our meetings and is a joy to know.

Greta was born in Målilla, Småland, Sweden, on March 23, 1914. She made her transatlantic voyage and transcontinental travel by rail to Tillamook, OR, in 1925.

On January 7, 2001, Greta became a member of our lodge and we are glad she did. Her caregiver, not of Nordic ancestry, raves about the quantity and quality of the food served at the regular lodge meetings. I think Greta is on to something. Happy 96th in advance Greta!

Submitted by: Barry Ostrom

Greta Marie Hedman Page 19

Scandia Lodge #728 Prescott Valley, AZ

sentation by Richard Docksteader where he described the life of his grandfather as a farmer in the Midwest during the early twentieth century.

Submitted by: Dennis Malarkey

Viking Lodge #730 Flint, MI

Lucille Jeppson presenting her aunt with a fifty year Vasa service pin.

Our October meeting brought us two new members and one dual membership.

The first of the two new members is Payton DeMent, husband of and nominated by Joanne DeMent, our Chairman. The second new member is Del Ackley, husband of and nominated by Mia Ackley, one of our trustees. The dual member is Lucille Jeppson, an aunt of our Chairman, Joanne Dement.

We were again honored by a visit from our District Chairman, Vito Pantaleo and his wife Louise. Vito gave a warm welcome to our new members and congratulated Lucille on her 50 years of service to Vasa.

Gunhild Albrectsen reported that her husband Al is still on the road to recovery. She stated that cancer is a really scary disease when it hits one of your loved ones.

At the conclusion of our regular meeting we had our annual pot luck meal (with “Glögg”) and White Elephant auction.

The auction was conducted by Dennis Malarkey and Payton DeMent. There were over 30 items donated by our members for the auction. Bidding went well with "$9.50 Bob" having the most successful bids.

Scandia Lodge #728 began the New Year with the initiation a new member, Elaine Fahlman, wife of Ken Fahlman, who nominated her. He also convinced her to join the lodge by bringing her as a guest where she found the benefits of joining. The initiation was headed by our District Master, Vito Pantaleo and assisted by our Lodge Chairperson, Joanne DeMent and other lodge members followed by a Swedish pea soup social, hosted by Pat Flippen and Debbie Helmer.

This was followed by the formal meeting and the day was wrapped up with a prePage 20

Under the leadership of Lodge Chairman, Eric Swanson, we had another succesful year. We often missed Bill and Sheila Lundquist, busy with their respective duties as VGM, Vasa Order of America, and DM of Lake Michigan #8.

Following is a partial year in review.

Sheila Lundquist showed a video on Swedish fences during the April meeting for which Ron Carlson constructed a model fence. Bill Lundquist had received eight applications for $500.00 scholarships, and the lodge agreed to fund them.

Bob and Marcia Pearson provided openfaced sandwiches.

The annual September fishboil was again successful thanks to Art Bendall and Nils Froberg who timed and cooked the potatoes, onions and whitefish to the minute. The ladies served the fish along with a buffet of salads, breads and desserts.

On September 26-28, twelve members drove to Bishop Hill, IL, in a 15-passenger van rented by Sheila Lundquist. They toured the village and Vasa National Archives to which Ron Carlson donated his model of a Swedish fence.

The December Lucia Festival and “smörgåsbord” held December 6 at the Grand Blanc, MI, Senior Center was again the highlight of the year with decorations, hot “glögg” on entry and great food. The colorful pageant featured Denise Carlson as Lucia accompanied by her attendants. Howard Weaver played his button accordion for Christmas carols, and Jerry Peterson’s “Hey---Js” played dance music.

Submitted by: Howard Weaver

Fishboil kibitzers

Jubileum Lodge #755 Madison, WI We had two fascinating Vasa programs to go with our cold, rainy October and mild, dry November in Madison, WI. On October 11, Ann-Britt Keillor presented “A Month in Sweden and Norway,” the story of a trip she and her husband Phil took the year before. It was a bittersweet occasion, as Phil had planned to present the talk the previous April, but died in a tragic accident. Still, we were quickly swept up in Ann-Britt’s stories and the beautiful scenery, even though the computer projector in our meeting room wasn’t working and we had to squint at a laptop sitting on a chair on the table.

There’s always a way!

Ann-Britt Keillor

The journey started at Stockholm, by car. High points included “Midsommar” Eve and the Carl Linneaus Garden in Uppsala, the world’s first “green” McDonalds in Umeå, and the birthplace of American labor organizer and martyr Joe Hill in Gävle.

Phil and Ann-Britt then continued by light rail on the “Inlandsbanan” from Mora in Dalarna to the Arctic Circle town of Gällivare. This sounded like a delightfully relaxing way to travel—the operator sometimes stopped the train so the passengers could get out and stretch or photograph wildlife! In Härjedalen, Phil and Ann-Britt saw Viking tapestries from 700800 AD. From modern genetic analysis, the curators knew the type of plant dyes used and therefore the proper reddishbrown colors. The church town and Sami village in Vilhelmina were another highlight.

At Gällivare, they boarded the train for Narvik, on the Norwegian coast, and travContinued on page 21 Vasa Star March-April 2010

Jubileum Lodge #755 Continued from page 20

eled under the midnight sun past Kebnekaise, the tallest mountain in Sweden. The Norwegian journey was by boat, the MS Vesteralen of the Hurtigruten Line, through the Lofoten Islands, in and out of the Trollfjord, past the Seven Sisters Mountains and the Hole-In-The-Mountain to Bergen. After another spectacular railroad journey from Bergen to Oslo, they flew home. I want to go someday!

We think of Sweden as a peaceful (though well-armed) and staunchly neutral nation, but on November 8, we learned from Scott Mellor of the University of Wisconsin Scandinavian Studies department that this was not always so. In “Sweden as a Great Power,” Scott began with the story of how Gustav Vasa led a rebellion that threw off Danish rule in the early 16th century, and then broke with Rome and made Sweden the first officially Protestant (Lutheran) nation in Europe.

Sweden gradually came to dominate all the land surrounding the Baltic Sea, and then suddenly emerged as a European Power as a major ally of France during the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648). Under “The Lion of the North,” Gustavus Adolphus (Gustav II Adolf), the Swedish Army probably saved the German principalities from forced recon version to Catholicism.

Sweden’s fall from great-power status began during the reign of Karl XII. Simultaneously attacked by Poland, Denmark, and Russia, he won some spectacular early victories, but was lured deep into Russia where the Swedish army was destroyed in 1709. Karl XII survived, spent several years in Ottoman Turkey, and was finally killed, possibly by his own troops, during a failed invasion of Norway in 1718.

Scott Mellor closed with a story of speaking Swedish with his grandmother, much to the dismay of his QuebecoisFrench grandfather. She retorted, “I listened to your French all these years; now you’ll listen to my Swedish!”

Our January speaker was Kristin Stand Gorton, a speech pathologist at the University of Wisconsin. Like many Vasa members, Kristin has made several trips to Sweden in search of her roots. But on her most recent visit, she also decided to seek out professional colleagues. Her proposed one-hour drop-in at DART, a speech pathology institute in Göteborg turned into a three-day visit, during which she gave three presentations and spent the evenings Vasa Star March-April 2010

with an institute staff member in her home on Öckerö, in the Göteborg archipelago.

Kristin felt right at home—many of the same assistive technologies and therapies she uses in Madison, WI are also being applied in Sweden. At the end of her visit, she received a personalized send-off. In her work with children in Wisconsin, Kristin often uses the song, “If You’re Happy and You Know It,” and the DART staff surprised her by singing the same song, in Swedish, and then treated her to a seafood dinner. Perhaps some of you might follow in Kristin’s footsteps, not literally, but by exploring a vocational or professional connection as well as an ancestral one on your next (or first) visit to Sweden.

Submitted by: Robert Merrill, Historian

Nordic Red Rock Lodge #760 Sedona, AZ Our October meeting featured some lively gnomes and trolls and we learned of their sometimes nasty habits. We welcomed new member Ingama Barentheim and then draped the Charter for loss of Mack Brainard, observing a moment of silence for a Charter member.

By November we were anticipating and planning for a festive Lucia Fest. Then Nadine Murphy’s program presentation of the development of Scandinavian languages was well-received with members adding their memorable experiences dealing with the language, especially dialects.

Thinking back to early December, what a good time our lodge members had at Lucia. The Nordic scene was set with candle-lit tables, Lucia wreaths and colorful programs. Hovering down on ribbons over the dining table were heart-shaped “pepparkakor,” below, all the favorite “jul” food from the old country even a big dish of “korv,” handmade by Chuck and Marilyn Elston. After the fine dinner, the program included Chuck telling the story of Sankta Lucia. As we sang her song in the darkened room, our Lucia, lovely blond Emily Adams, entered. At all the tables she bestowed “pepparkakor,” to each of us.

We weren’t so lucky in January when record snow in the high country and rain that kept falling all over the rest of Arizona made the meeting quite inadvisable. We anticipate being together again, planning for a big state meeting in October.

Submitted by: Nadine Murphy

Nordic Folk Lodge #761 Hammond, IN The Year 2010 is going to be a big year for our young lodge as we will be hosting our District Lodge Convention for the first time. The theme is “Scandinavian Folk Art and Culture.” As hosts of Convention, we began our year with a Convention Planning Meeting with 10 members and lots of ideas. We will be holding the convention in Michigan City, IN, May 14th-16th at the Clarion Inn just off Interstate 94 and conveniently located on Route 421 just 5 minutes from Lake Michigan and miles of beaches, sand dunes and woodland forests. Other nearby attractions includes the Washington Park Zoo, the Old Lighthouse Museum, the Lighthouse Place Premium Outlet Mall and Blue Chip Casino.

Because our Lodge is closely knit with our Nordikid Children’s Club, we are happy to be including our young members at every turn. With the help of lodge members Phyllis Kalajian and Barbara Hannigan, they will be hosting a Nordikids Camp for grade school children from 9-3pm on Saturday, May 15 during adult convention meetings. The program will be in the spirit of the Sjölunden Swedish Camp they have attended at Concordia Language Village in Bemidji, MN. They will be sharing their knowledge of the Swedish language, music, dance and hand crafts. A Viking actor will also be on hand for further entertainment. All attendees are encouraged to bring the young people in their lives to this year’s convention to share the Truth and Unity of Vasa Order of America. The program is free and will include lunch. Reservations will go out with the Convention Reservation Form. Direct questions regarding the Nordikids Camp please contact Phyllis Kalajian by emailing her at phylpete@yahoo.com.

If you wish to purchase an ad for our program book, please contact Annelise Gingold-Nelson at (219) 922-9994 or email at amgingoldnelson@yahoo.com.

Ad pricing and details have been mailed out to district lodge secretaries and our Convention Raffles will be coming to each of our district members by March. The Annual Convention is a time when The District Lodges can come together to represent and share their local lodges. We hope you will all help support our convention by purchasing an ad or raffle ticket.

Submitted by: Linnea M. Ogrentz, Recording Secretary Page 21

SWEDISH NEWS Logen Eskilstuna Nr 633 We were four members from Lodge Eskilstuna Nr 633, Carin and Folke Lundvall, Lillemor and Hans Karlberg, who made a trip to America last September. We intended to visit the areas, where most Swedish immigrants settled around the years 1900.

We stayed a few days in Minnesota by Lake Chisago, where we visited places that have become famous from the novelepic of the Swedish author Vilhelm Moberg. One Sunday morning we attended the Lutheran church service, where we met a couple, who most kindly guided us in the small church-museum and to all places of interest.

Another day we visited the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis.

Everywhere we met descendants from Swedish immigrants. An old man, Nels Gronquist, told us many interesting things about his first time in the new country, and he was still speaking surprisingly good Swedish!

We had got invitations from Judy and Roger Anderson to stay in their home in Galva during the “Jordbruksdagarna Days” in Bishop Hill, which we most gratefully accepted. On Friday evening we visited the Vasa Archives and there was a barbeque in the garden, where many people also from other parts of America were gathered. We met PGM Lennart Petersson and his wife and many other interesting people. There were many delicious courses and we tasted a big birthday cake, which was made for Judy, who had her birthday this very day!

This evening was really something to remember.

Saturday morning we went back to Bishop Hill and had a wonderful day there. We went to the Vasa Archives for another visit. There were folkdances, Swedish food and lots of handicrafts to look at in many workshops along the main street. Everywhere there were lots of decorations for Halloween. Saturday evening we spent in Judy’s and Roger’s home, where we also met Judy’s mother, their children and a grand child. We had a very nice time and a great way to end our stay in Galva and Bishop Hill.

During our last week we went to South Dakota to visit Mount Rushmore and the area in Black Mountains. We also Page 22

visited Deadwood and saw the show of Wild Bill Hickok in Saloon No 10. One rainy and terribly windy day was spent in Badlands before starting our journey back to Chicago and our flight back home.

Just outside Chicago we had a very nice evening with Sten Hult and his wife Nancy in their home. We could talk about many memories concerning Vasa and Sten told us much about his coming to America as a young boy. Our last day in the USA we spent with Sten and Nancy, as they showed us the beautiful recreation area called Lake Katherine not far from their home.

Of course we have lots of photos to help us remember the many places and all the people that we met during our trip to America.

Submitted by: Lillemor Karlberg, Cultural Leader

At the museum of Bishop Hill together with Judy and Roger.

Logen Höganäs Nr 634 På vårt Högtidsmöte den 30 januari, 2010 på Hemgården i Viken var vi 87 ordenssyskon som hade samlats. Tre stycken kom från Logen Nybyggarna Nr 698 i Ängelholm och 29 st från Logen Kärnan Nr 608 i Helsingborg. När gästerna hade förts in hälsade vår O Sy Evy Lindstrand oss alla välkomna till mötet.

Sedvanliga årsmötesförhandlingar hölls, varefter logens nyvalda tjänstemän installerades av DD Br Alf Nilsson med stab från Logen Kärnan Nr 608 i Helsingborg. Avgående tjänstemän avtackades med vackra blommor och Br Rolf Juveus tilldelades 10- årsmärket.

Vid efterföljande bankett utbringades kvällens första skål till Hans Majestät Konung Carl XVI Gustav varefter Kungssången sjöngs.

Efter en utsökt måltid började dansen till tonerna av Niklas Larssons enmansorkester. I pausen hade vi sedvanligt lotteri med många fina vinster. Kvällen gick

fort och alla gick hemåt nöjda efter en mycket trevlig kväll.

Insänt av: KL Ingrid Berg Bild av: Hans Bogren och Bodil Larsson

Kvällens värdar från vänster. Br Ulf Blomgren, Sy Ewy Blomgren, Br Bertil Cannerhagen, Sy Ingrid Cannerhagen, Sy Birgitta Bohlin och Br Lauritz Bohlin.

Logen Malmöhus Nr 643 Fredagen den 8 januari 2010 hade LL Malmöhus Nr 643 årets första logemöte.

Vår Ordförande hade varit på semesterresa i Egypten och skadat sig, så VO Iris Lundgren fick rycka in som Ordförande för logemötet.

Efter mötet bjöd grupp 1 in oss till matsalen där det serverades en laxrätt med dillstuvad potatis. Våra kulturledare Elisabeth och Gunilla stod för underhållningen och lärde oss en del intressanta saker om våra vänloger.

Insänt av: KL Elisabeth Västerstjärna

Ann-Christin Prahl serverar.

Seeking Your Swedish Roots??

E-mail: swedengen@telia.com

Logen Nybyggarna Nr 698 Ängelholm

Välkomsthälsning i ton och bjällerklang.

Det är nytt år, 2010, och utomhus i Skåne, ja i hela Sverige har vi det kallt och på många platser, ett vintrigt landskap och då är det skönt att sitta inne och först önska alla ordensyskon, i Sverige, USA och Kanada, ett Gott Nytt Vasaår i sina loger.

Det gågna året, för vår loge, avslutades den 12 december med val av Tjänstemän för år 2010. Kontakt Amerika, framförde en julhälsning från SLKL Gun Lith och DKL Maureen Bengtsson och Logen Nybyggarna.

Mötesförhandlingrna avslutades med att KP, VO och FDO läste var sin adventsvers under det alla syskonen stod upp med ett tänt ljus i handen.

Efterkapitlet i gammal god jultradition med gott julbord, lucia med tärnor som sjöng och framförde dikter, tomten kom med stor säck, klappar till alla snälla “Vasabarn,” kvällen avslutades med lotteridragning, med många fina vinster innan arrangörerna tackades för en trevlig Vasaafton.

Lördagen den 9 januari, började vi årets första logemöte med att se Engelholmsrevyn, Svart på vitt, och vi var 34 ordensyskon som roades. Därefter gick vi till Odd Fellows Ordens lokal och höll årsmötesförhandlingar.

KL Gunnar, Kontakt Amerika, framförde en “tillbakablick” på grunderna av Bishop Hill, som många ordensyskon under årens lopp besökt, allt sedan profeten Eric Jansson från Biskopskulla i Uppland kom dit med den första stora samlade svenska gruppen. Själv har jag varit där tillsammans med min hustru, sy Karin, år 2001 och det var en stor upplevelse, bl:a att av dåvarande föreståndare, Lillemor och Richard Vasa Star March-April 2010

Horngren, få en grundlig genomgång av den historiska byggnaden och nationella arkivet. Vid detta tillfälle överlämnade vi Logen Nybyggarna handmålade lergök, Ängelholms symbol.

Arrangerande logesyskon avtackades och en kväll i sann Vasaanda var slut.

Insänt av: Gunnar Hyberts, Kulturledare

Logen Sundsvall Nr 705 Logen Sundsvall har hållit sitt årsmöte. Utöver sedvanliga mötesförhandlingar behandlades det gångna årets verksamhet varvid kassören och styrelsen beviljades ansvarsfrihet. 2010 års tjänstemän installerades i sina respektive ämbeten av Distriktsmästarens representant Kjell Hamrin som med sin 7-mannastab från Härnösandslogen genomförde installationen på ett stilfullt och vackert sätt. Flera hälsningar till Logen framfördes från både när och fjärran.

Efter mötet serverades en mycket god måltid med alla tillbehör och många uttryckte beröm över den välsmakande måltiden. I pausen efter maten underhöll fem elever från Kulturskolan med en mycket uppskattad musikstund med varierat innehåll. Flera av lyssnarna uttryckte önskemål om återkommande besök Efter musikstunden serverades kaffe och kaka och ett par av logens medlemmar hyllades med var sitt presentkort eftersom de inträtt i “den gyllene åldern.” Kvällen avrundades med lotteridragning.

Submitted by: Jan Hellsing

Translation Services - Översättningstjänster Swedish to English - Svenska till engelska Correspondence, certificates, etc. - Brevväxling, intyg, osv.

First hour free for Vasa members - Första timmen gratis för Vasamedlemmar Rates negotiable - Priser förhandlingsbara

Please contact: - Var god kontakta: Cindy Coan cjcoan@dakotacom.net http://www.indexingbythebook.com PO 12513, Tucson, AZ 85732-2513, USA Tel. (520) 750-8439

Translating Service: Spanish & Swedish to English INDEXING “BY THE BOOK”

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.

Tore Kellgren, Grand Lodge Membership Chairman 5971 W. Walbrook Dr. San Jose, CA 95129 E-mail: tore@kellgren.org GRAND LODGE JURISDICTION NO. 0 Carl Widen #743 David Borg DL MASSACHUSETTS NO. 2 Spiran #98 Fred Peterson Joanne Peterson Nordic #611 Christine Redfield DL NEW YORK NO. 4 Nobel-Liljan #64 Courtney Hansen Gote Lejon #84 Warren Dyckman Kent Johnson DL NEW JERSEY NO. 6 Arlington #62 Judith Beck Robert Capuano Kenneth Kallman William Kastning Igor Kusznirczuk Kevin Miele Jennifer Nelson Norm Penney Susan Penney Heather Rollins Lyckan #507 Walter Clifford Vagen #588 Ann Marie Christiansen Susan Christiansen DL LAKE MICHIGAN NO. 8 Brahe #245 Hazel Lingelbach Svea #253 Cindy Gast James Hook Eija Vesterqvist Linde # 492 Karen Schneble Jubileum #755 Luther Morton Page 24

DL PENNSYLVANIA NO. 9 Drott #168 Alison Bennett James Berge Lois Berge Donald Brown Donna Clarke Martha Clarke Jeannine Danielson Helen Farmer Gerri Grum John Langworthy Jonelle Lewis Ione Jeanne Linke Louise Meyer Don Morris Marjorie Morris Kenneth Nelson Julie Olson Karen O’Steen Linda Smith Bruce Swenson Stephen Thoren Carol Anne Traxler Mavis Vandegrift DL GOLDEN GATE NO. 12 Sveaborg #449 Raymond Anderson Marie Gagliardi Jean Geyer John Geyer David Olson Dolores Olson

Lindbergh #494 Jessica DeMartini Mark DeMartini Evelyn Filbeck Loren Filbeck Gold Nugget #662 John Gamberg Norden #684 Curtis Burford Valhalla Scandinavian #746 Alexis Irby DeWitt Irby Jr. DL PACIFIC NORTHWEST NO. 13 Astor #215 Kim Dowaliby Meg Dowaliby Todd Dowaliby Colleen Hensley Elsebeth Jonsson Cassandra Liljenwall Geoffrey Liljenwall DL PACIFIC SOUTHWEST NO. 15 Mayflower #445 Elliott Codding Heather Codding Lilian Cropper Richard Stephens Kristina Wozniak Nordic Heritage #741 Linda Bagby Jane Lewis

Advertise in the Vasa Star Vasa Star March-April 2010

CULTURE Kisa Emigrantmuseum och Café Columbia Ungefär 40 km söder om Linköping ligger Kisa samhälle med ungefär 5.000 invånare. I ett rött gammalt trähus vid Storgatan finns nu Kisa Emigrantmuseum och Café Columbia. Huset lär ha flyttats till sin nuvarande plats på 1700-talet, och där inrättades ett apotek och ett laboratorium.

Apotekare Carl Gustaf Sundius var född i Malmö och fick sin apotekarutbildning i Tyskland. Han arbetade i Köpenhamn och Vadstena och kom sedan till Kisa där han 1835 fått “privilegium på Kongl. Provincialapoteket.”

I Tyskland hade Sundius fått höra talas om nya liberala idéer och om emigrationen till Amerika, vilket intresserade honom mycket. Sundius startade därför 1846 Sveriges första emigrantbyrå i apotekshuset. Där kunde de som funderade på att utvandra få råd och praktisk hjälp, t.ex. hur man bar sig åt för att köpa biljett.

Redan året innan hade den första gruppen svenska utvandrare lämnat Kisa.

Ledare för dem var Peter Cassel, som var född nära Kisa 1790. Han hade blivit god vän med Sundius, som starkt påverkat honom att emigrera genom att beskriva Amerika som ett drömland med större möjligheter till ett bättre liv än vad Sverige kunde erbjuda.

Peter Cassel var en märklig man. Han var intelligent och arbetsam. Han var bonde, mjölnare och byggmästare. Han hade uppfunnit och fått patent på en tröskmaskin. Han kunde läsa och skriva och hade till och med studerat engelska.

Han deltog också aktivt i kommunalpolitiken.

Efter många och livliga diskussioner med sin vän, apotekaren, om fördelarna med att utvandra, bestämde sig den 55årige, självägande bonden Peter Cassel.

Han sålde sin gård. Tillsammans med sin familj, några släktingar, vänner och tjänstefolk lämnade han Kisa en tidig majmorgon 1845. De var ett sällskap på 25 personer, som via Göta Kanal tog sig till Göteborg. Där gick de ombord på briggen Superb och efter åtta veckors sjöresa var de framme i New York.

Därifrån fortsatte gruppen till Iowa, där de slog sig ner och grundade den första svenska kolonin, som de kallade Nya Sverige.

Från New Sweden skrev Cassel entuVasa Star March-April 2010

siastiska brev hem till sin vän Sundius och beskrev sitt nya, underbara land.

Breven lästes upp för kunderna på apoteket och spreds på Kisa Marknad i original och avskrifter. Några av dem trycktes även i tidningen Östgöta Correspondenten. Breven väckte enormt intresse och lockade många från södra Östergötland och norra Småland att utvandra. Mellan åren 1845 och 1915 utvandrade 1.361 personer från Kisa socken, som då hade c:a 3.000 invånare.

På andra våningen i det röda huset finns nu Kisa Emigrantmuseum. Det är ett mycket litet museum, men ändå finns där mycket intressant att se. Där finns mängder av brev, foton, kartor, tidningar och urklipp. Det finns kläder, smycken och medaljer och några “amerika-koffertar” förstås. Man kan läsa intressanta dokument, t.ex. det om Peter Cassels försäljning av sin gård. År 1912 reste några emigranter från Kisa med Titanic.

Kopior av tidningsartiklar om katastrofen och dödsannonser visas i en monter.

Cassels och Sundius´ propaganda för att emigrera hade dock även väckt opposition hos många. I muséet finns också broschyrer och häften, som varnar svenskar för att lämna sitt land för ett nytt liv och en oviss framtid i ett okänt land.

På första våningen finns ett litet café i gammaldags stil, Café Columbia. På vintern brukar en brasa vara tänd i öppna spisen. Man kan köpa hantverk och presenter och karameller i strut och så njuta av gott kaffe med dopp (fika) förstås. Det var 1921 som fru Dorothéa Florén kom hem från USA, dit hon utvandrat i sin ungdom. Hon öppnade sitt kafé, som hon kallade Café Columbia. Det sägs att hennes café var ett av de första i Sverige som serverade bryggkaffe, en nyhet hon tagit med sig från Amerika. Hennes café var mycket populärt och blev snart en samlingsplats, kanske delvis beroende på att i Columbia kunde man lyssna på den allra första radion i Kisa, en kristallmottagare.

Sedan 1979 firas varje år i juni minnet av Peter Cassel och den första organiserade utvandringen, “Peter Cassel dagen.”

Initiativtagare var Kinda kommun och LL Filbyter Nr 174, DL 19, av Vasa Orden av Amerika.

Insänt av: Gun Lith, SLKL Foto: Ing-Marie Wallin.

Kisa Emigrant museum and Cafe Columbia About 40 kilometers south of Linköping in the county of Östergötland, is Kisa, a community with about 5.000 inhabitants. In an old red wooden house at Main Street you’ll find Café Columbia and Kisa Emigrant Museum. They say the house was moved to its present place in the 18th century, and on the first floor a pharmacy and laboratory were installed.

Carl Gustaf Sundius, pharmacist, was born in Malmö, and received his education to become a pharmacist in Germany.

He worked in Kopenhagen and Vadstena (a town near Linköping) before he settled down in Kisa 1835, having been granted the privilege to run the “Royal Provincial Pharmacy” in Kisa.

In Germany Sundius had heard some new liberal ideas and the emigration to America. This had made him very curious. In 1846 he therefore started Sweden’s first emigrant office in the house where his pharmacy was located.

Those who were thinking of emigrating could visit the office and obtain advice and useful help, for example how to buy tickets.

The leader of the first group of Swedish emigrants leaving Kisa was Peter Cassel, who was born near Kisa in 1790. Earlier he had made friends with Sundius who had strongly influenced him to emigrate by describing America as a “dream land” with greater possibilities to live a better life than they could ever be able to do in Sweden.

Peter Cassel was indeed a special man.

He was intelligent and hard-working. He was a farmer, miller and a master builder.

He had invented and patented a threshing machine He could read and write, and had studied English too. He was also an active participant in the activities of the local community.

After many lively discussions with his friend, the pharmacist, about the advantages of emigration, the landowning farmer Peter Cassel, at the age of 55, had made up his mind. He sold his farm.

Together with his family, some relatives, Continued on page 26 Page 25

Culture Continued from page 25

friends and servants he left Kisa on an early May morning in 1845. There were 25 people who, via Göta Canal, arrived in Gothenburg. There they went on board the brig Superb and after an eight weeks´ voyage they reached New York. From there the group went on to Iowa, where they settled down and founded the first Swedish colony which they called New Sweden.

From New Sweden Cassel wrote enthusiastic letters home to his friend Sundius, describing their new, wonderful country. The letters were read aloud to the customers of the pharmacy and also made public at Kisa Fair, both originals and copies. Some of them were also printed in the Östgöta Correspondenten, a newspaper. The letters aroused great interest and tempted many people from southern Östergötland and northern Småland to emigrate. Between 1845 and 1915 1.361 people emigrated from Kisa parish where about 3.000 people lived at that time.

On the second floor of the red house is now the Kisa Emigrant Museum. It’s a very small museum, but still there are many interesting things to see. There are lots of letters, photos, maps, papers and cuttings. There are clothes, jewelry and medals and some “America trunks” of course. You can read interesting documents, for example one recording the sale of Peter Cassel´s farm. In 1912 some emigrants from Kisa were on board the Titanic. Copies of newspaper articles about the catastrophe and death announcements are shown in a special showcase.

Cassel´s and Sundius´ propaganda for emigrating had however aroused opposition from many people. In the museum there are also brochures and pamphlets warning Swedes about leaving their old country for a new life in an uncertain future, in an unknown country.

On the first floor there is a small café, old fashioned style, Café Columbia. In winter there usually is a fire in the fire place. You can buy home made crafts, gifts and sweets in cornets (twists of paper). Of course you can enjoy a cup of good coffee and buns (fika). It was in 1921 Mrs. Dorothéa Florén returned from the US and opened a café. She called it Café Columbia. They say her café was one of the first in Sweden to serve brewed coffee, an idea she had brought from America. Her café was very popular Page 26

and soon a meeting place, maybe because in Columbia you could listen to the radio, the first one in Kisa, a crystal receiver set.

Since 1979 the memory of Peter Cassel and the first organized emigration is every year in June celebrated in Kisa,

during what is known as “Peter Cassel Days.” Initiators were the community of Kinda and LL Filbyter Nr 714, DL 19, of Vasa Order of America.

Submitted by: Gun Lith, GLCD Picture by: Ing-Marie Wallin.

Bilden är hämtad ur Turistbyråns i Kinda broschyr för 2009. Under bilden står: “Kisa Emigrantmuseum och Café Columbia.

The picture is retrieved from the Tourist Information Bureau in the Kinda brochure for 2009. Under the picture it reads:” Kisa Emigrant museum and café Columbia.

Rebuilding the Scholarship Funds: Pay It Forwards In 1946, the Grand Lodge Convention in Hartford, Connecticut, voted to establish a scholarship fund. Initially funded at 15 cents per member, the fund was intended to provide scholarships for college and university studies. From the early offering of five $300 awards, the program has grown over the past 60 years to become a highly successful aspect of the Vasa community. In 2009, the Grand Lodge was able to support the educational goals of 16 promising students and sent 6 more to the Sjölunden Language Village for a total contribution of over $30,000.

Unfortunately the future of Vasa’s successful scholarship program is in jeopardy. As Vice Grand Master Lundquist reported in 2009, a declining return on investments made it impossible to offer the full range of awards without encroaching on the principle. Then as Grand Master Bergman reported in January, the principle itself, more than $400, 000, may have been lost through an investment broker who is now under investigation by the FBI. While this loss is much regretted, Vasa have faced difficult challenges in the past. The principles of our Order –

Generosity, Truth, and Unity – have drawn the membership together to achieve many impressive goals. Indeed, the initial proposal to create a scholarship fund from contributions of just 15 cents per member is one such amazing achievement. While membership dues still contribute to the scholarship funds, at only $1 per member per year it would take more than 30 years to rebuild the fund.

Since 1946, the scholarship fund is estimated to have provided a direct benefit to over 500 members and to have paid out more than $800,000. I am one such member. I am also fortunate enough to be in a position to pay forwards the amount I received. To that end, I pledge to set aside $10 a week over the next two years to return the generosity shown to me by other members. If you are a past scholarship recipient, I ask you to consider whether you are able to invest in future students for the amount you received.

Through the unity of past scholarship winners, we can work to recover the $400,000 that was recently lost or perhaps even the $800,000 that was invested in us when we needed most.

Submitted by: Sandra Petersson, VDM DL 18 Vasa Star March-April 2010

HAPPENINGS Dr. Ulf Brynjestad, PGM, Awarded Second Swedish Medal

Swedish Ambassador to the USA, Jonas Hafström, presenting Dr. Ulf Brynjestad, Past Grand Master, with a jewel commemorating him as an Officer First Class of the Royal Order of the Polar Star on January 26, 2010, at the Ambassador’s residence.

At a ceremony in the residence of Jonas Hafström, the Ambassador of Sweden in Washington, DC, on January 26, 2010, Dr. Ulf Brynjestad was awarded the Officer First Class of the Royal Order of the Polar Star.

In this way, the country of Sweden showed Dr. Brynjestad appreciation for his years of work promoting Swedish ideas, culture and technology.

Dr. Brynjestad served as a commercial liaison officer for technology and trade at the Swedish Consulate in San Diego, California, from 1986 to 2002. On October 1, 2002 he was appointed Consul for Sweden in San Diego and served until his retirement in December 2008.

In 1992, His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden bestowed upon him the Gold Medal of the Royal Order of the Polar Star.

Dr. Ulf Brynjestad Consul for Sweden, San Diego Born in Göteborg, Sweden, September 29, 1940.

He attended public schools and upon graduation served with the Royal Bohuslän Infantry Regiment in Uddevalla, where he was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in 1960. After leaving the service he worked as design engineer with the Volvo Corporation, while completing the requirements for his BS degree in Aerospace Engineering, which was awarded in 1963.

On July 4th, 1964, he married JoAnne Spear in Göteborg and in September 1964, they immigrated to the United States and settled in Southern California, Vasa Star March-April 2010

where he accepted a position as a Research Engineer with Northrop Corporation, first with the Aircraft Division and later with the corporate Research and Technology Center.

He became a US citizen in 1967.

In 1977, the Brynjestads relocated to the San Diego area where he had accepted employment with the General Dynamics Corporation. He worked in their Advanced Systems Section and rose to the position of Deputy Director for Strategic Defensive Systems.

In 1985, he and JoAnne started their own consulting firm, specializing in Systems Science, specifically Operations Research, Long Range Strategic Planning, Technology Forecasting, and Large Scale Systems Integration. Their clients were largely US as well as foreign organizations and corporations.

He attended University of Southern California where he received MS degrees in Aerospace Engineering and later in Systems Management. He attended UCLA for his Ph.D., specializing in Operations Research and Mathematical Programming. He is one of few civilians that have graduated from the National Defense Management Course at the National Defense University, Ft Leslie McNair, Washington, D.C. He was elected to public office in 1983, when he ran for a position on the Alpine Planning Group, San Diego County. He served until 1990, not seeking re-election.

He was co-chair for the San Diego NEW SWEDEN 88 committee and chairman for the fundraising committee. He is also the Founding President of the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce, San Diego/Tijuana, and is still serving on the Board of Directors.

He also served on the Board of Directors of the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce, US. In addition to the Chamber Board of Directors, he served on the Board of Directors for the Optical Sciences Company, Placentia, and the Board of Trustees of La Jolla Institute for Molecular Medicine.

In 1992, His Majesty, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, bestowed upon him the Gold Medal of the Royal Order of the Polar Star.

In 1991, he founded Hygeia

Pharmaceutical, Inc. in San Diego, with the mission to develop a new generation of human health products based on the technology of Human Monoclonal Antibodies, and targeted initially towards the field of human cancer therapeutics.

He took this firm public in 1992, trading on the Vancouver Stock Exchange. He has since started several joint ventures with Swedish companies in the areas of environmental technologies and medical informatics. In 1996 he founded NovaTelligence, Inc., a medical informatics company specializing in artificial intelligence in health care. He served as Managing Director of International Resource Center, a business development consulting firm. In addition, he is a licensed securities principal and monitors the investments of an asset management fund.

He has a commercial pilot license and enjoys flying classical airplanes. He is also a FAA Certified Flight Instructor.

His professional associations are the Operations Research Society of America (ORSA), American Pain Society and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). He is also active in the San Diego Association of BioTech Companies and the UCSD/CONNECT entrepreneurial organization.

In 1986 he was appointed “Commercial Liaison Officer” at the Consulate in San Diego, assisting with Technology and Trade issues. He was appointed Consul for Sweden in San Diego and Imperial Counties on 1 October, 2002 and served until December 2008.

Upon retirement, he moved to and now resides in Cypress, TX. Source: Larilyn Andre, Press Office, Embassy of Sweden, Washington DC.

(Picture by. Rolf Bergman, Grand Master, Vasa Order of America) Page 27

Anne Charlotte Hanes Harvey

Vasa Support Club 10 Years

Ann Charlotte Hanes Harvey

The Vasa Support Club, which was founded April 2, 2000, is a Vasa Activity Club within the Vasa Order of America.

In the District Lodge South Sweden No. 20, we support cultural activities either in the district or in contacts with USA and Canada, as well as youth activities, i.e., recruitment and youth exchange, Sweden-USA-Canada. We also grant scholarships to young people, primarily members of Vasa or their children and grandchildren. Our program also includes information about the Vasa Order, recruitment of new members and other activities for the benefit of DL 20, the local lodges and its members.

The local lodges in DL 20 each pay an annual fee of SEK 100, and personal members SEK 30 per year to the Vasa Support Club. The number of members varies between 700 and 900 per year.

We are very optimistic and look forward to more years where we can contribute with our idealistic work for the benefit of both lodges as well as single members of the Vasa Order of America.

All our best wishes to all friends in USA, Canada, and Sweden.

The Vasa Support Club Rolf Arnshed Chairman

Emigrantinstitutet i Växjö i samband med Minnessotadagen 2009. Ann Charlotte var ju Årets Svenskamerikan 2009 och hon håller i sin hand den tavla som Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin överlämnade till de båda svenska Distriktslogerna i samband med hans besök i Sverige när han mottog utmärkelsen årets Svenskamerikan 1970. 2009 var det 40 år sedan som han landade på månen. Tavlan förvaras på Emigrantinstitutet i Växjö.

Texten på tavlan: Anne Charlotte Hanes Harvey At the Institute of in Emigration in Växjö in conjunction with Minnessotadagen/Minnessota Day 2009.

Ann Charlotte was Swedish-American of The Year in 2009 and is holding in her hand the picture that Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin gave to both of the Swedish District lodges in connections with his visit in Sweden when he received his nomination as The Swedish-American of The Year 1970. In 2009 it was 40 years since he landed on the moon. The picture is kept at The Institute of Emigration in Växjö. The text reads: • This Flag and Patch were flown to the Moon on Apollo 11, the first manned lunar landing, July 20, 1969.

• To the VASA Order of America in appreciation for its contributions to Swedish American relations.

• Presented by Col. Edwin E. Aldrin jr. on the occasion of his visit to this country, August 1970.

• Buzz Aldrin Submitted by: Gunnar Mossberg, PGLMEB, Distriktslogen Södra Sverige Nr 20 Picture by: Gunnar Mossberg Page 28

The Vasa Support Club, bildad den 2 april 2000, är en Vasa Aktivitetsklubb inom Vasa Orden av Amerika.

Inom Distriktslogen Södra Sverige Nr 20 stödjer vi kulturaktiviteter inom distriktet eller vid kontakter med USA och Kanada, ungdomsverksamhet exempelvis rekrytering och ungdomsutbyte SverigeUSA-Kanada. Vi lämnar också stipendier till ungdomar, företrädesvis medlemmar av Vasa Orden av Amerika eller barn/barnbarn till dessa. I vårt program ingår också information om Vasa Orden av Amerika och rekrytering av nya medlemmar samt övrigt som kan vara till gagn. Lokallogerna i DL 20 betalar 100 sv. kr och enskilda medlemmar 30 sv. kr per år och medlemsantalet i Vasa Support Club varierar mellan 700-900 per år.

Vi ser med optimism fram emot ytterligare år där vi med vårt idéella arbete kan glädja såväl loger som enskilda medlemmar inom Vasa Orden av Amerika.

Med många hälsningar till våra vänner i USA, Kanada och Sverige.

Styrelsen för Vasa Support Club Rolf Arnshed, Ordförande

TIDBITS Why Learn to Speak the Language?

By Ann Marie Richardson, DL #12 I want to share two valuable lessons I learned that prompted me to learn to speak Swedish, my father’s native tongue.

This first incident happened on my first trip to Sweden when I was 14 years old. My older sister and I accompanied my father for five weeks, moving from summer “stuga” to summer “stuga,” fishing a lot and driving around looking for moose (well ok, DAD was looking for moose, WE were looking for boys).

Being young teenage girls, we were dismayed by the fact that there were many cute boys around, and no convenient showers, blow-dryers or electric curling irons in these stages. Finally, my sister and I could stand it no longer and one afternoon, when my father was out on the lake fishing, we went into the cabin and scrounged around for shampoo or soap of some sort. We found some under the cabinet in the kitchen.

Knowing we were headed back to civilization that afternoon, we wanted to look dazzling, and so braved the ice-cold water to bathe. We got our hair wet, lathered in the soap and steeled ourselves for submersion in the cold water. The minute the cold water closed over our heads, the “soap” hardened on our hair and solidified into a gummy mess. Imagine our horror, when we were unable to rinse it out and had to return to our Aunt and Uncle’s house with bandanas tied over our heads, not looking very glamorous.

My father almost keeled over laughing when he told us we had used floor wax in place of shampoo. Had we learned a bit of Swedish, we could have figured out what “på golvet” meant, and avoided this disaster!

Now fast-forward to the year 2000.

Again, my sister and I make a pilgrimage to Sweden; this time without our dear father, who passed away a few years prior. We spent a wonderful two weeks visiting family, eating and drinking a lot, living in summer “stugor,” and this time, when we drove around the forests, we actually looked for MOOSE and not boys. We also brought our own shampoo wherever we went.

Continued on page 29 Vasa Star March-April 2010

Why Learn to Speak the Language?

Continued from page 28

As frequently happens to me when I burn the candle at both ends, I came down with a cold. It was a few days before we were scheduled to return to America, and I’d drunk all of the tea and orange juice in the “stuga,” huddled by the fire (it was a cold and rainy summer in Hälsingland that year) and still didn’t feel any better. So we drove into town and confidently strode into ICA to buy some vitamin C. We thoughtfully scanned the shelves and tried to look nonchalant until we spied a tube marked “Vitamin C.” Bingo! Who says you need to learn the language!?

We left the store feeling very self-sufficient and pleased with ourselves, and as my sister started up the car, I peeled open the vitamin C tube. Hmmmm! These pills were a lot larger than the ones I was used to in America. This must mean they are chewable, like the ones I give the kids.

So I put one in my mouth and began to chew. As my sister maneuvered the car around the parking lot, she watched my face out of the corner of her eye.

Suddenly my cheeks began to puff out and my eyes got big. This was unlike any vitamin C I’d ever had before! I had to hurry and roll down my window and lean my head out to spit…. Foam had filled my mouth and was rolling down my chin and people were beginning to stare. She asked with alarm what was wrong and I managed to convey that this was some sort of effervescent tablet, and not a chewable. She began to laugh uncontrollably, which affected her driving, and the last picture Edsbyn had of us that year was our Volvo weaving recklessly out of the ICA parking lot, me hanging out the passenger-side window with a vitamin C foam trail down the door and dotting the pavement. I learned the hard way what “lösa sig i vatten” means.

When I returned to California, I searched out a Swedish teacher and signed up for the very next class. I encourage everyone planning a visit to Sweden to do the same.

By Ann Marie Richardson, DL #12

Regarding 17 Swedish Designers I’m so glad that I read the Star cover to cover, starting at the back, as I always do! On page 34, the article on the 17 Swedish Designers caught my eye as I Vasa Star March-April 2010

love art of most any kind. They had done a show in November at the Cleveland Institute of Art, which I was sorry I had missed, so I decided to see if there were any info/pictures on it from the web. I pulled up an article which disclosed that all 17 designers were women and it admitted that fact wasn’t widely publicized, but only in fine print – I guess, with good reason. Read on. The article included a few pictures of pieces that I thought had really lovely, pleasing shapes, color and design. The article went on to say, “A quick scan of images provided by the art institute indicates there’s no reason to think the show will be any less exciting than a show on Swedish designers of both genders.” I just had to laugh! That poor writer, Steve Litt of University Circle Guide, must think we are still living in the dark ages thinking that women are less talented! We’ve come a long way from the Swedish artist and designer’s day, Carl Larsson, when they wouldn’t even let a woman into their Art League! I guess you just have to chuckle in the end! :) Anyway, the women’s work is great.

If interested, here’s the article: http://www.cleveland.com/arts/index.ssf/ 2009/11/17_swedish_designers_debuts fr.html. Enjoy! And thanks for all your extra work with the St. Lucia articles and the rest of the magazine. Great work!

Sincerely, Linda Sacrison Thompson, Three Crown Lodge No. 38, Stamford, CT

När Hollywood kom till Jämtland Superstjärnan George Clooney har besökt byn Singsjön strax utanför Östersund för att spela in en scen ur filmen “The American” och handlar om lönnmördaren Jack, som gör ett jobb i Sverige som går snett. Exakt vilken scen som teamet filmade hölls topphemligt. Under ca en vecka befann sig ett filmteam på ca 95 personer i det jämtländska samhället, däribland George Clooney.

Clooney landade på Östersunds Flygplats i ett reguljärt SAS-plan som alla andra och blev snabbt upphämtad av en svart Volvo. Han vinkade glatt till folksamlingen. Han stannade till vid Hotel Clarion och med polis och säkerhetsvakter fortsatte de till en liten timmerstuga i Singsjön i Brunflo. Där fanns också en turnébuss till förfogande endast tillägnad Clooney.

Clooney såg ut att njuta av tillvaron trots kylan på ca 21 minusgrader, värmde sig gjorde man bl a med att ha snöboll-

skrig. Enligt källor såg det tydligen ut som om han tycker att Singsjön är den bästa platsen på jorden!

Marie Carlson, VS

Källa: Vänner i Östersund samt lokalpress i Östersund, Jämtland.

When Hollywood Came to Jämtland Megastar George Clooney has visited the village of Singsjön just outside Östersund to play a scene from the movie “The American” which is about a murderer named Jack that does a job in Sweden that has gone wrong. Exactly which scene the crew filmed was held top secret. For about a week the film team of approximately 95 people stayed in the Province of Jämtland, including George Clooney.

Clooney had landed at the Östersund Airport in a regular SAS-airplane just like everyone else and was quickly picked up in a black Volvo. He waved happily to the enthusiastic crowd. He made a brief stop at Hotel Clarion and with police and security guards he continued to a small cottage in Singsjön in Brunflo. There was also a bus/trailer for his personal disposal.

Clooney looked as if he enjoyed himself despite of the cold at approximately minus 21 degrees Celsius, among the things they did to stay warm was having snowball fights. According to sources, it looked as he thought that Singsjön is the best place on earth.

By: Marie Carlson, VS

Sources: Friends in Östersund and Local Papers from Östersund, Jämtland.

Thank You Don Melin!

The term of Brother Don Melin as chairman of Skandia #549 will soon come to a close. With no disrespect to dedicated members of our organization, or to those who came before him, I cannot recall any individual Don Melin that has committed more time, energy, and personal sacrifice to this position. It seems Don has been involved everywhere, with everything, and everyone. In the many years that Brother Don has been chairman I have come to realize that his level of commitment comes with a high personal price. It comes Continued on page 30 Page 29

IN MEMORY OF Leona Anderson

Ralph Ohrn

January 25, 1921 - June 19, 2009

(1925 -2009)

Leona’s ancestors were from Sweden so it was natural that she would be interested in the culture and you would find her energies being channeled to those areas. She was a member of The Vasa Order of America, Skandia Lodge #549, where she was Cultural Leader for a number of years. She joined Skandia Lodge #546 in 1972. She was born in Agremont, AB. I had the opportunity to work with her on certain projects. Leona Anderson, Evelyn Johnson, Verna Larson and myself served as Reading Partners at Norwood Public School. We chose this project to recognize the first one hundred years since the Vasa Order of America was founded in 1896. We spent 1994, 1995, 1996 on Tuesdays with these children.

In 1997 a request came from nine teachers to speak to two classes at Kendall School for Young Offenders.

There were two classes of 40 and 25.

Leona and I spent time with one group and then switched. There was a lot of community action over the years.

Erecting exhibits for Christmas at the Festival of Trees and Provincial Museum showcases for the holiday season.

Citizenship Court at Canada Place During the tour of the Citizenship court Judge, Margaret Osbaldeston we served coffee and pastries for the 40-50 new citizens in each class During our membership in the Women’s Canadian Club Leona and I served on the Board for two terms – she was the Secretary and I handled Special Events She was interested in the Scandinavian Languages and as a member of The Scandinavian Studies Association was active in our fundraising. In 1994 we went together to the Vasa Order of America Grand Lodge Convention in Hartford, CT. In 1997 we made a trip to Turkey and Greece.

Leona never turned you down for any volunteer work unless she had a family commitment or traveling. She liked Minot, ND, a lot of Scandinavian presence and daily artists performing. Thank you Leona for always responding with your sincere, positive replies.

Ralph Henry Ohrn was born on December 2, 1925, on a farm west of Calmar, and attended Progress School, a mile south of the home place. He passed away on September 1, 2009 in Edmonton, AB. Ralph joined Skandia Lodge #549 on October 1, 1979.

After graduating from high school, Ralph chose teaching as a career, and in 1946 began in Funnell School near Breton, later in Sunnybrook, Alder Flats, Mirror, and finally in Edmonton where he taught for many years at Bonnie Doon Composite High School. Here he actually taught Brother Don Melin, Chairman of Skandia #549.

As he was born and raised on the farm, he had a particular interest in tractors, especially John Deeres. He and his wife Mary enjoyed weekends and holidays at their acreage east of Edmonton, and, of course, there he made use of his tractor, preparing the ground for their garden.

Ralph loved to travel. He and Mary visited many parts of Europe: England, France (and naturally Sweden), Egypt, Jerusalem, Colombia and most of the states in U.S.A. At home he had his favorite hobbies – gardening and woodworking, He made multi-layered boxes and gave them as raffle prizes at Vasa meetings, as well as gifts for friends and family.

For over twenty years Ralph and Mary were active in the Rundle Mission at Pigeon Lake. It was a retreat/holiday center that was built to commemorate Robert Rundle who was the first Protestant missionary in the west.

Ralph was very Swede-oriented. He attended Swedish classes starting about 1973-74 under Marianne Lindvall. He took a summer course in Sweden, and also took occasional courses from the Edmonton Public School Board’s Continuing Education program whenever they were available. Ralph then decided to fill the void by organizing group lessons in private homes. He phoned all the Swedes he thought might be interested, and a group of about ten began to meet regularly under the guidance of Marianne Lindvall.

This continued for several years, with Ralph as organizer. About 1987 several who had attended various Swedish classes decided that in order to maintain their language skills; it would be a good idea to

Submitted by: Linnea Lodge and Verna Larson, Skandia Lodge #549 Page 30

meet for lunch every Tuesday, at various venues in south Edmonton. This became the “Swedish Luncheons” and continues to this day, but Ralph’s absence is very noticeable.

Ralph leaves his wife Mary and three children, Douglas, Susan and Jocelyn.

Submitted by: Verna Larson and Linnea Lodge, Skandia Lodge #549

Thank You Continued from page 29

with more work than thanks... it comes with more listening than being heard....and it comes with more giving than receiving.

But in between the meetings, events, and casinos… aside from the Swedish meatballs, pancakes, and aquavit… and in spite of the bylaws, rituals, and ceremony… there exists something much more valuable. It can be found in the strength of his character, the quirkiness of his humor, the sensitivity of his heart, the gentleness of his spirit, and the depth of his caring and compassion for us all.

Don represents everything this organization stands for. He personifies what is good in all of us. With all the uncertainty in this world, it is through him and others like him, that we find stability in the foundation of our community and in our lives.

From people like Don Melin I discovered the true strength of our organization is not on the VASA calendar, or in the pride of what we accomplish, or in the enthusiasm of where we are headed.

Our true strength waves no flags and makes no noise. It resides quietly within each of us....forever connecting us... in who we are... where we have come from... and what we mean to each other. From Don Melin I learned that everything Skandia #549 needs to be... it already is.

I am privileged to have Don as my brother... my neighbor... my friend. There are no gold stars, awards, or trophies to display for his efforts. So please accept my heart felt thanks Brother Don... on a long and challenging job so very well done... and most importantly... for being so generous with who you really are… for treating us equally... for listening openly to opposing points of view....and for revealing the true meaning of the words “Brother” and “Sister.” If ever you thought some of us never noticed.... please know that we have.

Submitted by: Ray Wold, Past Chairman of Skandia Lodge #549, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Currently the District Deputy to Skandia from District Alberta #18 Vasa Star March-April 2010

She is survived by her daughter Louisa and her grandson Scott.

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 CALIFORNIA NANCY BAUER, passed away on January 4, 2010, at Sonoma, CA. She was born in Winnipeg, Canada, on May 27, 1929. She was very active in historical and volunteer societies and in Linnea Lodge #504 for 23 years. Nancy is survived by 2 daughters, 1 son, 2 grandchildren, nieces, nephews and many friends.

JOSEPH NUNES passed away on October 20, 2009, in San Juan Capistrano, CA. He was born on March 18, 1920, in Faro, Portugal and joined Mayflower Lodge #445 on July 7, 1960. He received his Life Membership as well as his 25- and 40-year pins.

LORETTA WENDELL passed away on January 15, 2010, in El Segundo, CA, at the age of 80 years. She was born in Fond du Lac, WI, on July 13, 1929, and joined Mayflower Lodge #445 on December 20, 1956. She served our lodge as Secretary for 15 years and was the District Lodge DLPSW #15 as Assistant Secretary. She received her 25-, 40-, and 50-year pins and was a Life Member in 1995.

ELIZABETH ANN WOOLF passed away December 20, 2009, in Rocklin, CA, at the age of 87 years. She was born on May 3, 1922, in New Castle, IN. Elizabeth, better known as Betty, was initiated into Sierra Kronan Lodge #737 in June of 1997. Betty enjoyed photography, wine tasting and singing in Sweet Adelines. She is survived by her daughter Sharry Green and grandson Rhett Butler.

COLORADO ANNE LORRAINE FALK, 79, of Arvada, CO, passed away in Arvada, CO. She was born April 14, 1930, in Arvada, CO, and retired as a Denver Public School teacher.

She was initiated into Enighet Lodge #178 on May 26, 1996. Anne was also a member of The Swedish Club of Denver, The Augustana Church Choir, and Board Member for the Arvada Cemetery.

SJODIN A. MATS, 84, of Denver, CO, passed away on February 7, 2010. He was born on April 21, 1925, in Resele, Sweden. He was initiated into Enighet Lodge #178 on January 24, 1993. Mats is survived by his wife Helma, 2 sons David and Arne, 2 granddaughters Sara and Amy. Mats was a founding member of The Swedish Club of Denver in 1958, where he was an active member as well as The Augustana Lutheran Church.

CONNECTICUT LILLIE G. FLODIN, beloved sister and aunt, passed away peacefully on Christmas Day, (December 25, 2009), at the age of 84 years. She was born in New Britain, CT, on May 18, 1925. Lil lived her whole life in Hartford, CT. After she graduated from Hartford High, she was employed

by The Travelers Insurance Co., where she devoted herself and stayed for 49 years. A lifelong member of Emanuel Lutheran Church in Hartford, she was proud of her Swedish Heritage and belonged to The Vasa Order of America’s Norden Lodge #1. She loved the Golden Age of Movies, English royalty, traveling and the arts. Lil is survived by her devoted sister, Ethel T. Saaf of West Hartford, and also leaves her nephews, nieces and family to whom she was always so inspiring and loving, Robert Saaf of NYC, David Saaf and his wife Paula of East Hartford, Susan Currier and her husband Roger and daughter Sara of New Hampshire, Donald Saaf and his wife Julie and sons Isak and Ole of Vermont, and Kristine and Ed Bittner of Guilford, CT. She will always be remembered and loved and missed very much.

CLARA SOMODY LARSON passed away on January 10, 2010 at the age of 100 years. She was born on December 28, 1909, in Eleanora, PA. She joined Three Crown Lodge #38, Stamford, CT, on November 16, 1973.

MICHIGAN CATHERINE “KATE” NYQUIST FULLER passed away October 24, 2009, in Benton Harbor, MI. Kate was the proud daughter of the famous Swedish Physicist Harry Nyquist. Kate’s husband, Marv, passed away six months ago. They were active members of Joe Harbor Lodge #534 since April of 1996 and enjoyed attending district conventions.

OHIO EVELYN L. BROOCKER, age 94, passed away in Middlefield, OH, on January 24, 2010. She was the beloved wife of the later Peter “Red” Broocker. Evelyn was born in Halland, Sweden, on May 8, 1915. She was an Honorary Life Member of Nobel-Monitor Lodge #130, having joined the lodge on August 1, 1932.

JEAN (Campbell) JANKE, 83, passed away on November 25, 2009. She was an artist, potter, and musician, as well as a Montessori teacher. Jean was dedicated to home and family and was preceded in death by her husband Joseph and her daughter Teresa Ann. She is survived by daughter Jeanne (Paul) Catalano, and grandchildren John, Josh, Jean, Paul, and Genevieve. Jean was born on May 13, 1926, in Cleveland, OH, and joined Nobel-Monitor Lodge #130 on February 13, 1994.

VIOLA HJELM (nee Berglund), age 90, died December 16, 2009. She was the beloved wife of the late Sten, dear mother of Marie (Toby) Hammar, and Glenn (Patricia) Hjelm, grandmother of Tomas (Camilla) Hammar, Monika (Agnar) Dalbakk, Bryan and Gary Hjelm, great-grandmother of Malte and Tyra Hammar and Markus and Amanda Dalbakk. Viola was born on June 1, 1919, in Cleveland, OH. She joined Nobel-Monitor Lodge #130 on September 27, 1935, and was a Life member.

PAUL E. JOHNSON passed away on January 31, 2010, at the age of 89. He was born on June 26, 1920, in Youngstown, OH, and was initiated into Harmony Lodge #465 on June 11, 1964. He is survived by his daughters Karen James of Canfield and Janis Markusic of Maryland.

His wife, the former Sarah P. Petty, died on March 19, 2005.

NORMA N. WILSON, passed away recently. She was born on December 3, 1919, in Akron, OH, and joined Nobel-Monitor Lodge #130 on May 2, 1987. She was the beloved wife of the late William D., dear mother of Laurel Wilson of Santa Cruz, CA, Carol Forsythe (Peter) of Detroit, MI, and Mary C. Wilson of Northampton, MA, loving grandmother of James Forsythe, sister of Inez Beck and the late Ruth Frye.

OREGON MICHAEL (DOC) BUCHMAN passed away on January 31, 2010, in Astoria, OR, at the age of 92 years. Michael was born in Winnipeg, Canada, on April 21, 1917, and was initiated into Astor Lodge #215 in Astoria, on May 14, 1992. A kind and faithful member, he will be sorely missed. Michael is survived by his wife, Jean, 1 son and 4 step-children and families.

MYRTLE N. DREYER passed away on January 3, 2010, at the age of 89 years. She was a member of Astor Lodge #215. Myrtle was born on August 31, 1920, in Astoria, OR, and joined Astor Lodge #215 on November 10, 1983. She was a faithful member who never tired of promoting Swedish heritage, traditions and language. She served Astor Lodge tirelessly on many committees, as lodge Treasurer, Cultural Leader, Vice Chairman, Master of Ceremonies, and Trustee. Myrtle’s passing is not only a loss to Astor Lodge, but to the whole Astoria Scandinavian community as well. She will be sorely missed. Myrtle is survived by her husband of 66 years, Clarence, a daughter Judith, and numerous nieces and nephews.

PENNSYLVANIA DOROTHY ANN STEN of Washington, PA, passed away November 26, 2009, at the age of 80 years. She was born January 22, 1929, and was initiated into Balder Lodge #308 on May 24, 1952.

WASHINGTON LILLY INGEBORG MOEN (Strand), member of Frihet Lodge #401, passed away on December 31, 2009, at the age of 88. Lilly was born in Spokane, WA, on June 7, 1921.

She joined Frihet Lodge in 1985, and was a 1993 delegate to convention and former Chaplain. Other activities included: Swedish Women’s Chorus (since 1953), Vannerna

Circle (Swedish Club), Nordic Heritage Museum, and Sons of Norway organizations. A highlight of her life was when she was the sole greeter and hostess to King Carl Gustaf XVI and Queen Silvia during their tour of the Museum.

Lilly was preceded in death by her husband Anders Moen and son Jon Anders. She is survived by her brother Richard Strand, of Portland, OR. We will miss her.

WISCONSIN MARION ANDERSON, age 88, of Madison, WI, passed away on December 17, 2009. Marion was born in Milwaukee, WI, and moved to Madison after retirement.

She was a member of Linde Lodge #492 since 1984. She also loved to travel and enjoyed needle working and quilting. Marion is survived by sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews, and many friends. She will be missed by all.

RALPH H. “BUD” WESLING, of Ashland, WI, passed away on December 10, 2009. He is survived by his wife, Alice, and other relatives and friends. Ralph was always a good and helpful person to his family and helped building storages for our lodge. He was a member in Linde Lodge #492 since 1982. We will miss him.

CANADA ALICE RAGNA SORENSEN was born on June 4, 1933, in Lindum, Denmark, and passed away on August 28, 2009, in Victoria, BC. She joined Skandia Lodge #549, on May 6, 1961. She is survived by her loving family, daughter Joanne (Garth) and Linda (Roy), her grandchildren, Kelly, Lauran, Michael and Mitchell, her sister Sonja and brother Benny (Lise), the loving family of Kief and many dear and wonderful friends. Over the past 50 years, Alice loved spending time with her family and friends at the cabin at Vasa Park, Pigeon Lake, Alberta. She also enjoyed many happy years living in White Rock and Victoria, BC. Alice loved dancing, traveling, cooking, painting, drawing, knitting, sewing, quilting, needlepoint, reading, doing puzzles, playing Yahtzee and Scrabble. She was very gracious in showing our members how to make those beautiful open-faced sandwiches. The service was conducted by Pastor Scott Brown at Vasa Park Clubhouse, Pigeon Lake, Alberta.

ERLING ROGER WINQUIST was born in Edmonton, AB, on March 9, 1933, and passed away in Ft. Sasakatchewan on January 2, 2010. He joined Skandia Lodge #549 on July 2, 1960. Erling leaves his children, Carey (Donna Mae), Sandra, Jody (Donovan), Todd, his adopted family Michael and Tamara Olynyk, 8 grandchildren, 4 sisters, June Young, Violet Watson, Sonja Sund and Doreen Heeks, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and a large number of friends. A celebration of his life was held.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Vasa Summer Camp, checks payable to VOA Skandia Lodge #549, c/o Leslie Morris, 6412-102A Avenue, Edmonton, AB T6A 0R7. As a young parent he gave of his time to the Kindsmen Club and was busy with the Rainmaker’s Rodeo, St. Albert, AB. After 40 years of age you step up to the senior group known as K40. He and his family spent many summers at Vasa Park, Pigeon Lake. He was employed with the Province of Alberta, Department of Forestry. He retired at age 55 and was able to purchase a two-story home at Vasa Park. He enjoyed fishing and often would smoke these fish. During Camp Week at Vasa Park he would contact Hole Greenhouses for some plants to be placed in a flower bed located under the Vasa Park entrance sign. Some of the students enjoyed designing the layout for the new plants. Erling was a resource inventory specialist with Bartech Photogrammetric Surveys. They specialized in air photo interpretation, mosaics, satellite imagery and mapping. As president of Integrated Remote Sensing Ltd. (IRS) he was responsible for forest cover interpretation, forest fire mapping and interpretation. All this work was carried out from Hangar 6A, Municipal Airport, Edmonton, AB.

MEMORIAL NOTICES should be mailed with check or money order to: Marie Carlson, 9560 Curberry Drive, Mentor, OH 44060. 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.

Michaela de la Cour Wear the Jewelry of the Stars

US representative Marie Carlson swedes-r-us.com

Vänner.

Make the most of your time – fly smoothly and comfortably to your friends and family. By the way, Vänner means friends in Swedish. Check out all our timetables and destinations at flysas.com/us. Welcome onboard!

m/us forgreat Go to flysas.co inavia and Finland. deals to Scand

Copenhagen Stockholm Oslo Helsinki GothenburgStavanger* flysas.com/us

*

Check out all our destinations and timetables at www.fl ysas.com