GREETINGS NORDIC MEMBERS !

We thought that your lodge members might be interested in this exciting opportunity:  The Norwegian Researchers and Teachers Association of North America (NORTANA) is having an essay contest for university and college students in North America to mark Norway's upcoming centennial anniversary.  Submitted essays should address significant way/s in which Norway or a Norwegian has had international impact since 1905.  The winner will receive a round trip ticket to Oslo for June, 2005.
Questions? Need additional information?  Please give me a call.
Linda
1-800-945-8851, extension 612  

__________________________________

There is something we can do..................

I heard about this program on the radio and wanted to share the information with you all. Unlike other charities, in this program you can do something directly for our 'boys' and 'girls' in Iraq.
They also run Operation Air Conditioner which provides air conditioners for our troops. At my company,( Svendsen & Company) we have been supporting this effort fully since we heard about it and have even 'adopted' a soldier in Iraq. It is a great feeling to be able to do something to directly benefit a soldier, and so I thought I would include this message from Frankie Mayo in our newsletter in hopes that some of you will reach out to brighten the day of a brave American serving so far from home. According to our soldier, "It is horrible over here".
Joyce R.Svendsen

Get Well Message From
Americans Who care

It has come to my attention that our American Wounded Soldiers need a morale boost. I want to send thousands of cards to those soldiers. I have a way to get the cards right to the nurses.

I would like to ask everyone to buy a patriotic or thank you card and write a message to our wounded American soldiers in the cards.

I will send them to the Combat Support Hospitals so the soldiers will get cards from Americans who care.

Frankie Mayo

Mail the cards to:

Operation AC
Attn: Wounded Soldier Cards
560 Peoples Plaza
Box 121
Newark, DE 19702

* if you would like further information about Frankie Mayo's Operation Air Conditioner please go to the website at www.operationac.com

We wish Brother Kjell Ring a heartfelt 'get well soon'!
We hear he is making a nice recovery and is out and about now.
 
Please keep Bob Gerding in your prayers this week he is getting his pacemaker.

Sylvia Donovan, Tusen Takk for your generous donation to the Nytt !

Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2004 11:41 AM
Subject: Robert Morton
It pains me to inform you that Bob Morton passed away last night.  He collapsed earlier in the day, was put on life support but passed away later that evening.  The family was with him when he died.
I spoke with Ardis this morning and she seems to be holding up.  She has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made either to their church or the Third District Charitable Trust.
I know that you all feel like I do that we have suffered a terrible loss.  He and Ardis both were tremendous supporters of Sons of Norway and if ever there was a man you could call a gentleman, it was Bob.  I will forever miss him as I am sure you will.

Audun Gythfeldt

___________________________________________________

Land of The Vikings Update

Greetings from your new managers at Land of the Vikings!

The bobcats and black bears are out, the wild turkeys are strutting their stuff on the pasture, and the surrounding hills are showing a tinge of green - all promises of spring in the Endless Mountains.  We are reminded on a daily basis of the incredible beauty which surrounds us and are grateful for the privilege of being a part of the operations here at Land of the Vikings.

Our first months have been a whirlwind of activity with visits from many of the Lodges as we also began installing and utilizing the new computerized reservation system, new accounting software and procedures, and patching, repairing and painting.  Each day has been filled with a flurry of activity as each member of the LOV staff makes changes that will benefit the business operations as well as improve the appearance of the Lodge and grounds.  We are committed to implementing aesthetic improvements and to running Land of the Vikings in a professional and profitable manner.

Last week, Jim Gold and the Mad Shoe Dancers, a group of international folk dance enthusiasts, christened the newly completed Pergo floor in the dining room.  Our sincere thanks go out to volunteers Art Thorsen, Gordon Gustavson and John Karlsen for completing this job with such dedication to perfection!  It is absolutely beautiful!

As the floor was being repaired, Betty Karlsen spent hours at the sewing machine working on curtains as we begin the exciting process of room decoration.  This is the project that will create the greatest impact as we address the goal of taking Land of the Vikings away from a dude ranch and continue the evolution into a Nordic Lodge.  While our guest rooms are small and Spartan, we have every intention of making them warm, comfortable and inviting as we coordinate the décor around the beautiful, Rosemaled valences, infusing the rooms with more touches of Scandinavia.

This huge project of guest room redecoration is being coordinated along with LOV Board member Luana Jostvold with whom we share a love of Nordic décor and culture.  Luana will first be contacting each Lodge or individual member who previously sponsored a room to give them the opportunity to continue a pledge of financial support.  You can all expect to hear from her soon.  We are thrilled to report that Troll Lodge has been the first to make a very generous pledge toward this project and we wish to express our grateful appreciation for their commitment to improvements at LOV.  Each and every contribution, regardless of amount, will be warmly welcomed and we think you will be thrilled with the results.
We have lots of ideas and lots of energy and look forward to implementing the dreams of a Nordic lodge here at Land of the Vikings.  This beautiful lodge with the splendid grounds is a real treasure!  We invite you to consider LOV for additional visits beyond an annual SON Lodge weekend.  Please call us to inquire about availability for a weekend or weeklong visit with family or friends and make LOV a part of your summer plans.  Bring your boots and binoculars for a healthy hike, or grab a good book, a Melksjokolade bar and lounge by the pool.  You can't find a more beautiful and relaxing spot!

Hope to meet you at the June convention,

Cass and Carl

Land of the Vikings in Sherman, Pennsylvania
Mailing Address: RR 3, Box 3482, Susquehanna, PA 18847
Telephone: (570) 461-3500 Managers: Carl and Cass Kwan

Grants and Scholarships
The Sons of Norway Foundation received 245 applications for grants and scholarships for 2004!
Here is a brief recap of the awards for 2004:

Grants awarded include:
8 Helping Hands to Children Grants
24 Local Lodge Partnership Grants
15 General Heritage and Culture Grants

Scholarships awarded include:
1 Oslo International Summer School
5 Nancy Lorraine Jensen Memorial
6 Astrid G. Cates
1 Myrtle Beinhauer
5 King Olav V Norwegian-American (American students)
2 King Olav V Norwegian American (Norwegian students)
1 Carl Saltveit, District 2, Oslo International Summer School
\\$12,500 in Nina Draxten scholarships to Districts 1-6

The total amount given by the Foundation for 2004 is over \\$80,000!  

To fully fund the qualified applications we received for 2004, we would need to double our current assets from \\$3,000,000 to $6,000,000.  Log on to the Foundation web site at www.sonsofnorway.com and click on Foundation to see how you can help make these dreams come true for our Sons of Norway members, lodges and their communities.  The beautifully re-designed web site has many new features that are truly user-friendly.   You may view the Foundation Video Clip, Donate on-line, and find all the guidelines, deadlines and applications for all of the Sons of Norway Foundation grants and scholarships at your fingertips.  You will see the scholarship winners for 2004!  The stunning levels of membership pins are also shown.  We have pictures of the fundraising buttons sold by the Foundation.  Check us out!

Cindy Olson
Director
Sons of Norway Foundation
www.sonsofnorway.com
612 821 4632
colson@sofn.com
Member Oslo Lodge 1-002

If you like to know 'what's happening' in Norway...
Don't miss Aftenposten English web desk!

UN: 'It's best to live in Norway'

For the third year in a row, the United Nations' Development Program has ranked Norway as having the best standard of living in the world. Norwegians beat out all others because of their high levels of education, pay and life expectancy.


Related stories:
Norway tops UN list over best places to live - again -
The Nordic countries in general performed very well in the UN survey, with Sweden, Iceland, Finland and Denmark all figuring among countries ranked near the top.Sierra Leone is the worst place in the world to live, with an average life expectancy of 38.3 years, half that in Norway. Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger also were at the bottom of the heap.Norway's average life expectancy is 78.4 years and 99 percent of the population can read and write, according to the survey. The country has 413 doctors per 100,000 citizens and Norwegians are wealthier than ever before.Researchers note that average Norwegian salaries have doubled over the past 20 years while savings rates also are up. Average annual pay amounted to NOK 320,000 last year, or about USD 45,000.Tax levels remain famously high, but that also has built up a social welfare state that by international standards works well. Norway also has traditionally topped lists for being among the most generous countries in the world, in terms of foreign aid donations on a per capita basis.Norwegians are known to complain nonetheless, over everything from high prices to long waits for non-emergency medical care, cuts in police and school budgets and a shortage of day care and nursing home spaces. Government minister Hilde Frafjord Johnson, who's in charge of Norway's foreign programs, doesn't dismiss the complaints. "But there are few who are so well off as we are," she told newspaper Dagbladet.
Aftenposten English Web Desk
Nina Berglund

Aftenposten offers Norwegian radio

It's now possible for Aftenposten readers all over the world to tune in to 18 Norwegian radio stations. Listen to anything from Norwegian Christmas songs to the country's most popular programs.

The stations broadcast in Norwegian, but if you're interested in listening to the local language, here's where you can choose a channel:
Among the stations you can listen to are those offered by Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK), including NRK P1, P2 (culture and classical music), P3 (youth channel) and Alltid Nyheter (News all the time).
By clicking on the NRK button, you'll get the full list of NRK stations.There'll be a slight pause after you click, while the sound loads up to 100 percent.Commercial stations include P4, NRJ and Klem FM (easy listening). By clicking on P4, for example, you can choose among the station's hits, ballads and oldies. Clicking on "Andre" (which means "other" in Norwegian) will bring you to, yes, other selections, such as a special Aftenposten station offering Christmas songs (Aftenposten Julradio).
Aftenposten English Web Desk
Tore Andre Godager

Third  District Today      
Summer 2004       
Audun Gythfeldt President              Asbjørn Lageraaen Public Relations

June in an even year signals the beginning of summer as in any year, but it also signals a busy time for us in Sons of Norway.  Conventions are coming up, as are numerous festivals and celebrations.  This year the Third District has gone in with the Scandinavian American Heritage Society (SAHS) in supporting their Mid-Summer celebration at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, New Jersey.  The celebration has been held for more than 15 years, celebrating Nordic cultural heritage.  As we in Sons of Norway have realized the need to embrace the people and cultures of all the Nordic countries, we had little problem in accepting to join forces with SAHS when asked.  We see a benefit in getting the Nordic people together, and PR is certainly something Sons of Norway is in need of.  It is my hope therefore, that you who are reasonably close to the venue for this great event, will find time to take part in this celebration.  With both food and arts and crafts vendors, and exciting entertainment from the Nordic countries, I know that you will enjoy it.
This year is also the year of conventions.  It is the time for the family to get together to discuss and decide on how to proceed in the coming years.  We have a very democratic form of governance in Sons of Norway, but to make it work we need your participation.  We need you, the members, to take an active part in formulating policies and making decisions that will keep the organization on the right track as an organization worth belonging to.  But conventions are about more than the governance of the organization.  It is as I said, a time for the family to come together.  One of the many benefits that I have realized as a member of Sons of Norway is making new friends all around this great country as well as in Canada and Norway.  We are truly one big family, and since we all have a common interest, Norway and its wonderful cultural heritage, expanding your circle of friends comes quite easily.  And an organization of friends members will benefit the organization, and as a member you will be rewarded with the satisfaction of seeing the organization succeed and by making many new and valued friends.  So come and take part and see for yourself.  Come and meet people and make friends, and in so doing, make the organization stronger.  And enjoy the arts and crafts and entertainment that is laid on for you, and the tours that are offered.  This year you have a double chance since in addition to our District Convention in the Poconos in June, the Third District is hosting the International Convention in Washington DC in August.  The program is exciting and has something for everybody to enjoy, so why not come and spend a few days with your Sons of Norway family? 
This is the 40th and last message I am writing as your President.  I have enjoyed myself tremendously these past four years.  It has been a wonderful time, and I am truly honored to have been allowed to be your President.  I am grateful for the wonderful hospitality that Margaret and I have been met with wherever we have gone, and I appreciate your friendship and support.  But as much as I have enjoyed myself, time has come for new leaders to take over. Let us continue to work together supporting our leaders to further improve and strengthen this wonderful organization.  If you give them the support you have given me, the Tremendous Third shall succeed.
Thank you for four wonderful years!

Fraternally,
Audun Gythfeldt, President


TUSEN TAKK - A letter was received from Richard Tonneson, Chairperson of the District Convention, thanking us for serving on the " Hospitality Committee". The response from our lodge was great.  All the lodges contributed so many cookies that we were able to provide many dozens to be used at the International Convention being held in Washington, DC in August. So THANKS TO ALL MEMBERS OF NORDIC FOR BAKING.
Peg

LOV Availability
2004 Schedule Land of the Vikings Revised - 4/14/04

2005 Schedule    Land of the Vikings Revised - 4/14/04

Jan 7 - Jan 9       OPEN
Jan 14 - Jan 16       Hudson Valley 3-432 50%
Jan 16 - Jan 23 Ski For Light Bjorg Dunlop
Jan 28 - Jan 30       Vinterfest Zone 2 Sigrun Opgaard 90%
Feb 4 - Feb 6       Nor-Bu Lodge Evelyn Karpack 100%
Feb 11 - Feb 14       Presidents' Ski Weekend 5%

___________________________________________________________

NORWAY CELEBRATES IN 2005

Next year Norway will be celebrating it's 100 Year anniversary of separation from Sweden. Plans are now under way to celebrate that occasion here in New York. Plans are underway under the cooperation between the Norwegian Consulate General, Edward Grieg Sociaety under the leadership of Per Brevik and the 3rd District of Sons of Norway (Audun Gythfeldt and myself). The plans are for a Consert using Tully Hall at Lincoln Center using the best Norwegian Artists. The concert is planed for November 6, 2005, give and take a week or two pending the availability of the Artists. Tully Hall holds 1000 people that I hope we will fill.
A.J. Lageraaen
Public Relation Director

Some NEW JERSEY facts

Some pretty interesting facts:

New Jersey is a peninsula.

Highlands, New Jersey has the highest elevation along the entire eastern seaboard, from Maine to Florida.

New Jersey is the only state where all of its counties are classified as metropolitan areas.

New Jersey has more race horses than Kentucky!

New Jersey has more Cubans in Union City (1 sq. mi.) than Havana, Cuba.

New Jersey has the most dense system of highways and railroads in the US.

New Jersey has the highest cost of living.

New Jersey has the highest cost of auto insurance.

New Jersey has the highest property taxes in the nation.

New Jersey has the most diners in the world and is sometimes referred to as the Diner Capital of the World

New Jersey is home to the original mystery pork parts chub (no, not spam) - Taylor Ham or Pork Roll. Home to the less mysterious, but the best, Italian hot dogs and Italian sausage w/peppers and onions.

North Jersey has the most shopping malls in one area in the world, with seven major shopping malls in a 25 square mile radius.

New Jersey is home to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

The Passaic River was the site of the first submarine ride by inventor John P. Holland.

New Jersey has 50+ resort cities &towns, some of the nations' most famous: Asbury Park, Wildwood, Atlantic City, Seaside Heights, Long Branch & Cape May.

New Jersey has the most stringent testing along our coastline for Water Quality Control than any other seaboard state in the entire country.

New Jersey is a leading technology & industrial state and is the largest chemical producing state in the nation when you include pharmaceuticals.

Jersey tomatoes are known the world over as being the best you can buy.

New Jersey is the world leader in blueberry and cranberry production (and here you thought Massachusetts?).

Here's to New Jersey - the toast of the country! In 1642, the first brewery in America opened in Hoboken.

New Jersey rocks! The famous Les Paul invented the first solid body electric guitar in Mahwah in 1940.

New Jersey is a major seaport state with the largest seaport in the US, located in Elizabeth. Nearly 80% of what our nation imports comes through Elizabeth Seaport first.

New Jersey is home to one of the nation's busiest airports at Newark Liberty International.

George Washington slept here. Several important Revolutionary War battles were fought on New Jersey soil, led by General George Washington.

The light bulb, phonograph (record player) and motion picture
projector, were invented by Thomas Edison in his Menlo Park, NJ laboratory.

We also boast the first town ever lit by incandescent bulbs.

The first seaplane was built in Keyport, NJ.

The first airmail (to Chicago) was started from Keyport, NJ.

The first phonograph records were made in Camden, NJ.

New Jersey is home to the Miss America Pageant held in Atlantic City.

The game Monopoly, played all over the world, named the streets on their playing board after the actual streets in Atlantic City. And, Atlantic City has the longest boardwalk in the world.

New Jersey has the largest petroleum containment area outside of the Middle East countries.

The first Indian reservation was in New Jersey, in the Watchung Mountains.

New Jersey has the tallest water-tower in the world. (Union, NJ!!!).

New Jersey had the first Medical Center, in Jersey City.

The Pulaski SkyWay, from Jersey City to Newark, was the first skyway highway. NJ built the first tunnel under a river, the Hudson. (Holland Tunnel).

The first baseball game was played in Hoboken, NJ, which is
also the birthplace of Frank Sinatra.

The first intercollegiate football game was played in New Brunswick in 1889. (Rutgers College played Princeton.)

The first Drive-in Movie theater was opened in Camden, NJ, (but they're all gone now!).

New Jersey is home to both of "NEW YORK'S " Pro Football teams!

The first radio station and broadcast was in Paterson, NJ.

The first FM radio broadcast was made from Alpine, NJ, by Maj. Thomas Armstrong.

So don't let your out of state friends poke fun at New Jersey......

The Vasa Order of America, District #6

Proudly presents the 7th

Leif Erikson Festival
Celebrating the Millennium Anniversary
of Leif Erikson’s Discovery of  America

Saturday, September 25th, 2004
Festival begins at 10 a.m. at VASA Park 
Viking Dance to follow Festival in early evening
Admission - \\$5.00 for AdultsChildren 16 and under Free
Entertainment during Festival provided by the Scandinavian Accordion Club of New York,
The Viking Ship Norseman & Gyrfalcon,
Viking battle re-enactments and many other participants.

Crafts                                                                          Music & Dancing
Hay Rides                                                                 Scandinavian Vendors
Scandinavian Foods                                                   Viking Costume Contest
Viking Historical Speakers                                       Viking Skill Games for Kids
Irish Step Dancers                                                     Moonwalk
For more information, call (732) 388-3329    http://www.vasaorder.com/events_nj.shtm

That's all folks !
( That's really all.......)

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to serve as your editor these many years.
I can only say that it has been fun (at times) difficult (at times) always challenging and a learning experience. It has been a job that has enabled me to become involved in a wonderful organization and that has forged, for me,friendships that I treasure. It has taught me things that I would never have believed and left me a better person in so many ways. Thanks for putting up with all my mistakes, late issues , misspellings and op Ed articles.
Special thanks to my newsletter 'crew' :
Assistant Editors,Vega & Art Hendela who have faithfully labeled, stamped, and mailed the newsletter every month. Peg Gerding who proof reads my copy and provides detailed information. Bob Gerding who picks up the hard copy and takes it to be printed - no matter what the weather! And of course, John Karlsen, our Web Master, a self taught internet genius, without whom we would not have a web site or an Inter-Nytt at all. You know I couldn't have done it without ya!

Joyce R.Svendsen
Editor Nordic Nytt
Nordic Lodge # 3-574
Sons of Norway!

Home
Nordic's Picture Page

4346