THE VASA STAR Vasa Star några veckor ... that has embraced our Lucia tradition with open arms despite being brought up in a ... intressanta fakta i dem. När jag

VasastjärnanPublication of THE VASA ORDER OF AMERICAPublication of THE VASA ORDER OF AMERICA

JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010www.vasaorder.com

THE VASA STARTHE VASA STAR

JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010www.vasaorder.com

Vasa brothers and sisters!God fortsättning på det nya året! I hope you have had

some time after Lucia and the Christmas holidays to relaxand catch your breath. Unfortunately Editor Marie did nothave much time to catch her breath. Since the Luciastory/picture deadline is Dec 24th, she has to wait muchlonger than normal to begin editing the items. Hopefullyyour lodge turned in its Lucia story. I know many of you didbecause Marie tells me she is buried in the amount of materi-al that came in. Due to the late arrival of much of the Luciamaterial and the amount received this issue of The Vasa Starwill be a couple of weeks later than that normally scheduled,but hopefully it will arrive in early February at your home.

The raffle tickets to support DL Pennsylvania #9 in itshosting of the GL Convention next July will be placed in thecenter of the next issue of the Vasa Star. I hope that all ofyou will purchase a few of the tickets.

Mention of the GL Convention reminds me that there areonly a few months left until the big event. I hope many ofyou will consider joining us in Washington for a few days.The schedule of events, registration form for the conventionand hotel reservation information is found in this magazine.Officers and delegates, I remind you that you must registerfor the convention and reserve your room at the hotel.

The Grand Lodge Convention is the only organizationthat can change the Rituals or Constitution of the VasaOrder, whether at the Grand Lodge, District or Local level.Forms for submitting a motion to change any of these arefound in this issue under Grand Lodge News. Please consid-er this either as an individual member or lodge. There is notmuch time left as the motions must be in to the GrandSecretary by the end of February, 2010, to be considered.The Grand Lodge Executive Board spent much of its previ-ous meeting discussing and preparing motions to consider atthe Convention. The Grand Secretary and I will be workinghard to get everything in order for the Convention work.

Finally, it is with great disappointment and sadness that Imust report that the Education Fund investments of the VasaOrder, that I promoted, have likely been lost as a result ofmismanagement by our Investment firm, Money Market

Plus, Ltd. Please read my letter to every member foundunder the Grand Lodge News. I hope in this time of hardshipthat we will find a way together to use this loss as a spur tofind ways to strengthen our Order.

Vasa Syskon!God fortsättning på det nya året! Jag hoppas ni haft litet

tid att koppla av efter alla Lucia - och julaktiviteter. Tyvärrhar inte redaktören Marie haft så mycket tid till avkopplingeftersom Luciaberättelser med bilder inte hade presstopp för-rän den 24:e dec, därför kunde hon inte börja redigera somvanligt. Förhoppningsvis har ni skickat in era bidrag. Jag vetatt många av er har gjort det, för redaktören säger att hon“drunknar” snart i allt material som kommit in. På grund avden förlängda tiden till att skicka in respektive bidrag plus,att det var så mycket material till denna upplaga, kommerThe Vasa Star några veckor senare än vanligt, men förhopp-ningsvis innan mitten av februari.

Storlogesmötet är den enda förening som kan ändra påRitualer eller Grundlagar för Vasa Orden, vare sig det gällerStorlogen, Distrikts- eller lokala loger. Blanketter för attskicka in förslag för att ändra någon av dessa finns i dennaupplaga under ‘Grand Lodge News.’ Vi ber er att tänka pådet här. Förslagen kan komma från en enskild medlem ellerfrån en loge. Det finns inte mycket tid kvar eftersom försla-gen måste vara Storlogens Sekreterare tillhanda innan densista februari. Storlogens Exekutiva Råd använde en stor delav tiden, i sitt föregående möte, till att diskutera och geförslag till ett flertal motioner. Storlogesekreteraren och jagarbetar hårt med att få allt i ordning till mötet.

Slutligen är det med stor besvikelse och vemod, som jagmåste meddela att Utbildningsfondens investeringar inomVasa Orden, som jag främjade, har antagligen gått förloradpå grund av misskötsel genom vårt investeringsbolag,Money Market Plus, Ltd. Ni kan läsa mitt brev till varjemedlem som finns under ‘Grand Lodge News,’ i dennaupplaga. Jag hoppas att vi genom denna svårighet kommeratt finna en väg som vi tillsamman kan använda som ensporre till att ytterligare förstärka vår Orden.

Rolf Bergman

The GrandMaster’s Message

Vasa Star January-February 2010 Page 3

THE VASA STAR JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010

Cover:The picture is taken near Tibro, in Västergötland, Sweden.Bilden är tagen nära Tibro, Västergötland. Picture by: Bo Carlsson, Nobel-Monitor Lodge #130, Cleveland, Ohio.

THE VASA STAR (USPS 657-020)January-February 2010

Vol. 103, No. 1, Serial 849

HEADQUARTERS:c/o Joan GrahamGrand Secretary5838 San Jose AvenueRichmond, CA 94804Phone: 510-526-5512E-mail: [email protected]

Grand Master:Rolf S. Bergman3236 Berkeley AvenueCleveland Heights, OH 44118Phone: 216-371-5141Fax: 216-274-9664E-mail: [email protected]

Editor:Marie Carlson9560 Curberry DriveMentor, OH 44060Phone: 440-255-4665E-mail: [email protected]

Circulation Manager:(Address Changes)

Cathy Anderson13194 N. Woosnam WayOro Valley, AZ 85755Phone: 520-219-9433E-mail:[email protected] bottom section of white copy ofapplication for new members to her.

Membership Chairman:Tore Kellgren5971 W. Walbrook DriveSan Jose, CA 95129Phone: 408-996-1970E-mail: [email protected]

Orders for advertising should be sent to:THE VASA STARMarie Carlson9560 Curberry DriveMentor, OH 44060Phone: 440-255-4665E-mail: [email protected]

THE VASA STAR (ISSN 0746-0627) ispublished bi-monthly by the VasaOrder of America. Periodicals postagepaid at Richmond, CA, and additionalentries.POSTMASTER: Send address changesto The Vasa Star, P.O. Box 69997, OroValley, AZ 85737-0025.

Published by:Vasa Order of America

vasaorder.com

Advertising Prices:Full Page Black and White $500.00Half Page Black and White $275.00Quarter Page Black and White $150.00 One Column Inch $ 30.00

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

10% discount for Vasa Lodges and Members

AN IMPORTANT REMINDERPlease send pictures of good quality in order for them to reproduce well in TheVasa Star. Electronically submitted photos should be scanned in JPEG format at aresolution of 300 dpi.

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

The Vasa National Archives has a new email address: [email protected]

Deadlines for The Vasa Star:Jan./Feb. is Dec. 1st

March/April is Feb. 1st May/June is April 1stJuly/Aug. is June 1stSept./Oct. is Aug. 1stNov./Dec. is Oct. 1st

Deadline for Christmas ads is October 15Deadline for Lucia articles is December 24

Picture and article, 200 words or less.Price for Xmas Greetings – $30.00 column inch

AUDIO-VISUAL DIRECTORTodd Anderson

1383 Middlebrook Way • Rohnert Park, CA, 94928 • Cell Phone: (707) 694-1345E-mail: [email protected]

The Vasa website at www.vasaorder.com contains a “materials button” which has thelisting of audio visual materials available.

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

SCHOLARSHIPS WILL BE AVAILABLE in 2010from

District Lodge Lake Michigan # 8&

South Side Chicago LodgesApplication available for

download at:http://www.vasaorder.net/news.

cfm?lodge=D8

Deadline to apply is February 1, 2010You can get the forms from the website and print them out. If people don't have a

computer they can go to their nearest library to print one out. Lynda

Page 4 Vasa Star January-February 2010

TABLE OF CONTENTSArchives News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Swedish Language Lessons 21. . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Grand Lodge News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7Letter from the Grand MasterGrand Lodge ConventionTidbitsActivity ScheduleRegistration formGL Convention Items for saleMotions for the Grand LodgeTävlingsresultat

District Lodge News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Lodge News Lucias . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Swedish Lodge News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Welcome To Our New Members . . . . . . . . . . 28

Youth News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Culture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30Sewing Circles/Syföreningar

Happenings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32Vasa Members Generosity“Spex”MedlemsrekryteringskampanjGroundbreaking CeremonySwedes in TexasBishop Hill Visit17 Swedish Designers1st Annual Swedish Meatball ContestSACC-Ohio

In Memoriam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

PAGE 31

PAGE 33

Letter from the Editor

Brev från Redaktören

A huge Thank You to all of you who contributed to our Lucia edi-tion! It was an overwhelming response. So much material poured inabout all sorts of things that make this an interesting issue. I had topostpone all “regular” Lodge News until our next issue due to theLucia response. In the Mar/Apr issue I will combine the postponedstories with new ones.

As I have mentioned previously I read every contribution severaltimes and find many interesting facts in them. Some stories alwaysstand out. For example reading about our talented Lucia’s you’ll findthat we might have a future “American idol” amongst us, whoknows! Another Lucia would not have been featured in this issue if it

wasn’t for her great-grandfathers survival of the Titanic disaster. We also have one Luciathat has embraced our Lucia tradition with open arms despite being brought up in a multi-cultural environment. Other stories might offer inspiration, giving you new ideas that youcan introduce to your lodge. A good example is Gold Nugget Lodge #662; during theirLucia celebration they collected food and toys to donate to the less fortunate in their com-munity.

Back to being multicultural, long ago it was not appropriate to show you came from the“old country;” today it is quite the opposite. This connects with what is mentioned in theSwedish Language Lessons: “there is a saying that when you meet someone with an accentyou will find that that person knows at least one more language.”

Another “environmentally friendly” and inspiring story is the GroundbreakingCeremony found in the Happenings section. Finally, as sad as an obituary might seem,some of them are very interesting when a short story is included as a celebration of thatpersons accomplishments in life. This should inspire and remind us how precious life isand how important it is to try to record a piece of human history. Each and every one of ushas a story to tell.

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

“First things first, but not necessarily in that order!”- Dr. Who

Ett stort tack till Er alla som bidrog till vår Lucia upplaga! Det var ett överväldigandegensvar. Det strömmade in så mycket material om allt möjligt och som gör denna upplagaintressant. Jag måste senarelägga alla “vanliga” logenyheter på grund av Lucia bidragen. IMar/Apr 2010 upplagan, kommer jag att kombinera dessa logenyheter med de nya.

Som jag har nämnt tidigare, läser jag varje bidrag flera gånger och jag hittar mångaintressanta fakta i dem. När jag läser dessa berättelser, finns det alltid några som framträderlitet mer. Till exempel när man läser om våra begåvade Lucior kan man se att vi eventuelltkan ha en framtida “American Idol” ibland oss, vem vet! En annan Lucia skulle inte hablivit presenterad i denna, upplaga om det inte var för att hennes farfars far överlevt Titanickatastrofen. Vi har också en Lucia som tagit emot Luciafirandet med öppna armar trots atthon vuxit upp i en mångkulturell miljö. Andra berättelser kanske erbjuder och inspirerartill nya idéer som du kan introducera i din loge. Ett bra exempel är den Gold Nugget Lodge#662; under deras Lucia firande samlade man in mat och leksaker som donerades till demsom har det sämre ställt i sin kommun.

För att återgå till att vara mångkulturell, för länge sedan var det inte lämpligt att visa attdu kom från “det gamla landet;” i dag är det tvärtom. Något som du kan se nämnt i densvenska språkkursen, “det finns ett ordspråk som säger att när du möter någon som bryterfinner du att den personen kan åtminstonde ett språk till.”

En annan “miljövänlig” och inspirerande berättelse är Groundbreaking Ceremony somfinns i Happenings delen. Slutligen, trots att en dödsannons är ledsam att se, är några avdem mycket intressanta där en kort berättelse finns med, som en hyllning till denna indi-vids prestationer i livet. Detta bör inspirera och påminna oss om hur dyrbart livet är ochhur viktigt det är att försöka skriva ner en bit människohistoria. Var och en av oss har ensaga att berätta.

Glöm inte Kids Corner; titta på vår baksida för en Söt belöning!Marie

“Vi börjar här, men det behöver nödvändigtvis inte bli i den ordningen!”- Dr. Who


ARCHIVES NEWS

I wish to report on the fine work of a Vasamember, Phil Becker, who is busy writing ahistory of the Order, or at least his part of it,and had visited the Vasa Archives this pastfall to support his research. His work, thoughfocused on District Lodge #2, has relevance toall of Vasa for its historical interconnections.So here’s a heads-up about something newand exciting for your bedside stand.

Most of the research done at the VasaArchives is done remotely—people sendresearch inquiries to us typically via email andwe respond with photocopied or digitallyscanned materials from our holdings. Locatingdocuments to shed light on researchers’ ques-tions makes up a good deal of our day-to-dayoperations.

This is as it should be, but we are alsowell-equipped to receive researchers in per-son. For the hearty individual who is willingto roll up his/her sleeves and interface with100+ year-old papers, we have a spaciousworkroom and plenty of notepads and pencilsto get the job done. Bravery and a clear mindare required, but the sore arms from liftinggiant ledgers, dirty clothing from the especial-ly fine archival dust, and the aching wristfrom note-taking are worth the glories ofone’s discoveries.

A score of people who fit this descriptionpass over our threshold each year, but one ortwo usually stand taller and take the cake, soto speak. The premier archives warrior of2008 was Karen Snowberg of District LodgeNew York #4, whom I wrote about in thesepages in the summer of that year. For 2009,we readily point to Phil Becker of DistrictLodge Massachusetts #2 for his blue-ribboneffort and commitment.

Like DM Snowberg, Phil Becker holds adistrict lodge office, District Historian, andalso like Karen, he exceeded a week’s timeresearching daily at the Archives. Phil arrivedearly each morning and didn’t leave beforeevening when he closed his last folder orbook, demonstrating an impressive work ethicfor a volunteer position. Side note: since join-ing the VOA myself in 2007 I have met quitea few people who live Vasa with intense dedi-cation. We must stand in awe and thank them,because at a core level their chutzpah drivesthis ship.

I was personally moved by Phil’s driveperceiving that, though history has been a life-long passion, his project now serves to keephim busy after the passing of his wife for thir-ty-two years, Betty, who departed this life justsix months prior to the research trip. He washere at the Archives to work on one of threebooks he has planned which in one way oranother involve his interests in Swedish-

American history, Lutheran theology, street-cars of New England, vernacular architectureand urban revitalization. His working life wasspent in urban planning and architecture, andnow as a retired person he has plunged intohis many interests, often historical in nature,with great vigor. Side note, part two: manyfriends north of seventy years have shown methat for a full life one must keep graspingtoward the horizon of new discoveries. Phillives this philosophy quite admirably. Sidenote, part three: the Vasa Order seems to befilled with these kinds of characters.

As Phil told me there hasn’t been a com-prehensive history about Vasa inMassachusetts since ca 1916 when a bookwith removable leaves was passed around thedistrict to each lodge, which then wrote itsown history, replaced the leaves, and sent iton its way. It traveled around the district forseveral years this way, until finally completedbut was never published. By the way, saidPhil, you haven’t happened to come acrossthis one-of-a-kind history in the Archiveshave you? He had heard tales and seen refer-ences to it, but had no idea where it was, pos-sibly lost forever. I sure would love to get myhands on that book, he said. Sadly, no, Ihadn’t found this book and there wasn’t anyrecord of such a thing, but you’d guess that itmay have been sent to the Archives at somepoint in the past. I’ll keep my eye out, I said.

In the meantime, Phil had plenty to look atin the Archives for his new history, includinga good twenty banker’s boxes filled withitems from his district. He also made use ofthe published sources we have on our shelvescovering immigration history. More than anyother source he seemed to enjoy the access toour nearly complete (and bound) run of theVasa Star, starting in 1914. Before that, thepublication resembled less a magazine/journaland more a small newspaper. We have just afew loose copies of the early issues. Trying tograsp the complexities of the word svenskhet(or swedishness) guided his choices of materi-al to look at and take notes on.

Phil left Bishop Hill after a couple weeks’time with a large folder of photocopies andmany note pages written in his distinctiveangular script. The autumn leaves had fallenand we were getting ready for winter. The his-tory he is writing narrates a span in the life of

Vasa when District Lodge Massachusetts #2was the largest of any district, 72 lodges andover 15,000 members around 1930, and ofcourse one of the earliest to form and buildsvenskhet in the United States. I believe hesaid he would finish his book sometime in2010. He also plans a return trip to the VasaArchives in late spring.

And wouldn’t you know it, our volunteer,Marie Norlen, and I were working throughand recording a scraggly pile of unprocessedmaterial, arrived sometime prior to 2007, amonth later and what did we find: yes, a largeleather-bound book from Massachusetts withremovable leaves and the title Historia överLokal Logerna, Mass. Dist. #2, V. O. avAmerika, 1916. That’s got to be the one-of-a-kind history that Phil was looking for,wouldn’t you think? Well, he can check it outwhen he comes again this spring. Without histalking about it, I would not have known itssignificance. The book actually got my heartracing a minute when it showed its dusty face.

Svensk sammanfattningVasa historikern, Phil Becker, från

Distriktslogen Massachusetts #2, besöktearkivet i höstas för att samla information tillen ny historia över DL 2 som säkert blirintressant för alla ordernsmedlemmar. Hantror att boken kommer att skrivas färdigtnågon gång under 2010. Han ägnar en stordel av sin tid med att forska i hur man behöll“svenskheten” i Amerika och vilken roll VasaOrdern spelade och fortfarande spelar idagens Amerikanska samhälle .

Submitted by: Lars Jenner,Vasa Archivist

Especially FineDust

District Historian from DL 2, Phil Becker, out-side the Vasa Archives this past fall.

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!There is a Swedish proverb “Många bäckar små, blir en stor å”

“Many rivulets create a large stream”

I would like to thank our Archives Representative in Skandia #549, brother Ray Nyroos, for suggesting that his lodge and its members

donate proceeds from bottle and can returns to our Archives.

We would be very grateful if you and your lodge would also donate similar proceeds, regardless of size.

P.O. Box 101, Bishop Hill, IL 61419


In starting a new year and a new decade we are wishing youall good health and success in the coming years. Our hope isalso that you will continue to learn new things and especially tokeep up your Swedish studies. It is easy to be discouraged butif you set a goal to learn at least one new word a day you willsoon have a nice vocabulary that you can use in making sen-tences. If you at the same time realize that you will probablynot sound like a native Swede, it will be easier to try out speak-ing the language of your forebears. There is a saying that whenyou meet someone with an accent you will find that that personknows at least one more language.

In some of our Christmas greetings from Sweden we heardthat our friends over there use the lessons to practice theirEnglish. To hear that is great news for sure. It is something wehad never thought of when we first started the languagelessons.

In order for you to practice one new word a day we havelisted things found around the house.

We will list the nouns as singular, common or neuter andplural. The common nouns end with an n and the neuter a t.Example: väggen (the wall) is common and golvet (the floor) isneuter. If the plural is the same as the singular we have markedit with ---.

ETT NYTT ORD VARJE DAG –ONE NEW WORD EVERY DAY

vägg, -en, -ar wallgolv, -et, -- floordörr, -en, -ar doorfönster, fönstret, --- windowmatta, -n, mattor ruggardin, -en, -er curtainhylla, -an, hyllor shelfbok, -en, böcker booktidning, -en, -ar (news)papersoffa, -n, soffor sofabord, -et, --- tablestol, -en, -ar chairkök. –et, --- kitchenspis, -en, -ar stovekylskåp, -et, --- refrigeratorskåp, -en, --- cabinetdiskmaskin, -en, -er dishwasherugn, -en, -ar oventallrik, -en, -ar plateglas, -et, --- glasskopp, -en, -ar cupsked, -en, -ar spoongaffel, -n, gafflar forkkniv, -en, -ar knifebadkar, -et, --- bathtubdusch, -en, -ar showerhandduk, -en, -ar toweltvål, -en, -ar soap

tvättlapp, -en, -ar washclothtoalett, -en, -er toilet

We think this will give you a very good start in learningnew words of things that you come across every day. We willcontinue covering items around the house in our next lessonand then we will compose some sentences using the newlylearned words in the lesson after that. Lycka till!

Lillemor and Richard

Swedish Language LessonsBy Lillemor and Richard Horngren

LEARNING SWEDISH – LESSON 21

Valentine’s DayPeople in most western countries celebrate Valentine’s Day

on February 14th. It is a special time to send greeting cardscalled valentines to their sweethearts, friends, parents and otherfamily members.

Esther A. Howland of Worcester, MA, became one of thefirst American manufacturers of valentines in 1847. She sawseveral British valentines and decided to make her own. Sheused ribbons, lace, flowers and painted leaves on her cards. Shehired a staff of young women to help her make these cards andtook orders from stores. Today valentines are sold in manystores all over the world and may have messages of love or bevery humorous. People also send flowers, candy and gifts to thepeople they want to remember on Valentine’s Day.

Children in America decorate their classrooms with paperhearts and cupids, and may hold classroom parties to celebrateValentine’s Day with their classmates and teachers. Older stu-dents may have dances at their schools on Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s Day in Europe is celebrated in many ways.Children in England sing special songs and receive gifts offruit, candy and money. People may bake special buns withcaraway seeds, plums or raisins in them. In Denmark, peoplesend pressed white flowers called snowdrops to their friends.

However you decide to celebrate Valentine’s Day, takesome time to tell your friends and family that you love them.

To My Swedish ValentineI met my love in nineteen-fiftyHe was tall and blond and really niftyUnfortunately, we couldn’t speak‘Cause what he said to me was ... “Greek”Two years went by and away he wentTo fight a war in the Orient (Korea)Back he came in fifty-four,Walked right through my office door and said:“Vould” you like to come out tonight and“wentilate” a few “subyects?”My heart stood still; it always will.We said “I do” in fifty-fiveAnd to this day our love still thrives.

HAPPY “WALENTINE’S” DAY RUNESubmitted by: Marion Borgman

Vinland of Cape Cod Lodge #703


GRAND LODGE NEWS

As you are well aware, the economyhas taken a dramatic downturn andcaused heavy investment losses for manyindividuals and organizations. The VasaOrder experienced similar investmentlosses during our fiscal year 2007/2008,as I explained in the Sep/Oct 2009 issueof The Vasa Star. In an effort to increasethe income of our investments, the GrandLodge Executive Board, on a vote of 9 to2, agreed with my recommendation thatwe invest the Education and variousScholarship Funds with Money MarketAlternatives, Ltd., as the income from thefunds with our previous investor was notwhat we expected.

In early November, 2009, I learnedthat this company, Money MarketAlternatives, Ltd, was being investigatedby the FBI for embezzlement, or possiblyoperating a “Ponzi” scheme to defraudinvestors. Further I learned that there aretwo legal complaints against Mr. EnriqueF. Villalba and his companies, one filedin Ohio, the other in Washington. As Iwrite this the FBI status has not changed;Money Market Alternatives, Ltd. is stillunder investigation, with no formalcharges.

On learning of the situation, the GrandLodge Executive Board and the ArchivesBoard agreed to engage an attorney torepresent our interests. At our request,Bruce Elfvin, of Elfvin and Besser, aCleveland law firm, has agreed to repre-sent the Grand Lodge and the VOANational Archives and file the necessarydocuments to give opportunity forreclaiming our assets, at least what is leftof our assets. Mr. Elfvin is an active Vasamember, being current District Master ofDL Pennsylvania No. 9. At this point wedo not know how long this process willtake but it likely will be well through2010 before we know the results.

So, it is with a heavy heart that I writethis letter. As Grand Master, I am respon-sible for the choice of Money MarketAlternatives, Ltd., as the companyresponsible for investing our funds. I askthat you forgive me for the choice ofinvestment brokers that I supported andhelped persuade the Grand Lodge

Executive Board to use. My previousexperience with Money MarketAlternatives, and the views of otherinvestors, led me to trust Mr. Villalba, theowner of Money Market Alternatives,Ltd. I thought highly of his integrity andmethod of investment. In fact I thoughtso highly of his investment method that Iinvested my IRA with him; that too isnow at risk. Looking back, that trustappears to be greatly misplaced.

If the Education and Scholarship fundsinvested are indeed lost the GL scholar-ship program will be greatly diminished.As Vice Grand Master I had the opportu-nity to chair the Scholarship program andam aware of how important this programis to our Order. It saddens me greatly tothink we could not offer most of theawards to our bright and active students.

In addition to the Grand LodgeEducation funds, the VOA NationalArchives, through the action of theirboard, of which I am a member, alsoinvested a sizeable portion of theirendowment with Money MarketAlternatives, Ltd. Thus this valuableinstitution and Vasa legacy is now also ina financial crisis. At this moment both theGrand Lodge Executive Board and theVOA National Archives Board are strug-gling to determine what we can do inview of the financial disaster that has

occurred; the full extent of which is yetundetermined. As I mentioned above wedo not have many answers at the presenttime; mostly questions, as I am sure youwill have as well. Likely motions on whatour response should be will be raised atthe Grand Lodge Convention in July.

My fear is that your justified disap-pointment will lead you to withhold yourgenerous donations to either our scholar-ship or Archives programs. I can under-stand that reaction, but I also know weneed your help now more than everbefore. Rest assured that your recent con-tributions to the Christmas StampCampaign are safe and secure in theGrand Lodge’s Wells Fargo account. Soalso are the donations received as a resultof the recent VOA National Archivesfund raiser. Your continued support isappreciated.

I assure you that only the Educationand VOA National Archives funds areaffected. All other Grand Lodge funds aresecure.

In Truth and Unity,

Rolf S. BergmanGrand Master

Letter from the Grand Master to all Vasa Members re: Investments of Education andVOA National Archives Funds

We have received many contributions to theAnnual Christmas Stamp Campaign. Thank youto each one of you for your donations both largeand small. Your support in these difficulteconomic times is especially appreciatedbecause it shows that you both value and respectthe students who will benefit from yourgenerosity. Through your financial support youare giving encouragement to our youngerVasa members as they strive to reach theireducational goals.

Tack Så Mycket!Thank You! Thank You!

Grand Lodge Education FundAnnual Christmas Stamp Campaign


2010 Grand Lodge ConventionWith Christmas and New Year’s holidays behind us the convention committee will begin meeting, by teleconference, once a

month. We are excited to report that we have been able to arrange for Barnklubben Elsa Rix #1 (the original Children’s Club) toperform at the Grand Banquet. This works very well with our other evening entertainment, Jeannie Andersen’s ‘Smörgåsbandet,’ asthey often perform together in New York area festivities.

The main tour, on Tuesday, July 6, will take us to George Washington’s estate, called Mt. Vernon. We will depart from the hotelby bus at 8:15 AM; the expected trip to Mt. Vernon will take about 45 minutes. We want to get an early start as it is likely to be hotin Washington, DC, in July. We will then have about four hours to visit the mansion (30-min. group tour), and some of the follow-ing: visiting Washington’s tomb, seeing the innovative Pioneer Farmer site with its 16-sided barn, the inspirational SlaveMemorial, important outbuildings, lush gardens, museums with exhibitions on Washington and Mount Vernon archaeology, andexploring the Ford Orientation Center and the Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center, which includes 25 galleries andtheaters. Oh yes, you can also take time to eat lunch, on your own, if you so desire. At about 1:45 we will board the busses for theride back to the hotel.

Since we return about 2:00 PM you have a few hours on Tuesday afternoon to do some other things on your own. However,Tuesday evening the Grand Lodge will give cultural and membership presentations and hopefully will talk about the website,which could be newly renovated.

Please look at the full activities schedule in the following pages of the Vasa Star. Also find a registration form and a page adver-tising items that DL Pennsylvania No. 9 has for sale as an effort to help fund the convention. Note that this information is alsoavailable on the Grand Lodge website, where you also have the option of purchasing items and registering for the convention usinga credit card. Note in particular that the pictures of the sale items are in color on the website. This may help you decide to purchasesome of them. More details next issue.

ABBA To Be InductedInto The Rock andRoll Hall of Fame

This came as a nice surprise to thegroup. On March 15th, they will be partof the ceremony at the Waldorf-AstoriaHotel in Manhattan during the RockHalls 25th annual induction ceremonytogether with several other inductees.Amongst other European groups you canfind the Hollies and Genesis, both Britishexports.

Submitted by: Marie Carlson, VS

“Country” Factsu Finland drinks the most coffee

u Australia consumes the most icecream

u Ireland eats the most amount ofbread, the US is fourth

u Paris, France is the best honeymoondestination

u United States has the most billion-aires and Japan is second

u Finland is the cleanest country

u China has the greatest population at1,300,000,000 and the U.S. is thirdwith over 300,000,000

u Switzerland consumes the mostchocolate, the U.S. is tenth

u Luxembourg is the biggest alcoholconsumption country and Ireland issecond

u United Sates has the most airportsand Brazil is second

Why Do We CatchMore Colds in the

Winter?The most obvious answer, because it

is cold outside, is erroneous. In the win-ter, people tend to stay indoors more, inproximity to each other and to eachother’s germs. Colds are caused by rhi-novirus and enter your body through thenose (Greek ‘rhino’ meaning nose).Usually cold viruses are destroyed uponentering the body but occasionally, avirus will lodge in the mucus membraneand within a few days, you’ll have a fullblown cold. The average person will getat least one and possibly as many as sixcolds a year.

TIDBITS

Birthdays are good for you.The more you havethe longer you live!

Trettondedag julreignites holiday

debateIn Sweden, Trettondedag jul, or

Epiphany, is a state holiday. Observedon January 6, this feast day commemo-rates the coming of the wise men bring-ing gifts to the Christ child, therebyrevealing Christ to the world.Increasingly, many people in Swedenquestion why throngs of secular Swedesshould stay home from work to observe aChristian holiday.

What days should be observed as pub-lic holidays in Sweden has been a contro-versial topic, especially since 2005, whenSweden replaced the holiday AnnandagPingst (Whitsunday) with National Day.Annandag Pingst, or Pentecost, celebrat-ed the Holy Spirit’s descent to theApostles and other followers of Jesus.

Two years after Annandag Pingst wasreplaced, an employers organization pro-posed that all public holidays in Swedenshould be religion-neutral, with eachemployer defining for itself which dayswould be considered paid public holidays.

For now, Trettondedag jul remains apublic holiday, if for no other reason thatto provide a “break” from the obligationsof Christmas.

Submitted by: Carol Blackwell,Phoenix Lodge #677


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 Lodge1:00 - 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.

Free day and evening for guests to tour Washington on their own.

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


REGISTRATION FORM

37th Grand Lodge Convention • July 2 – July 8, 2010

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 aEvent (Please see Activity Schedule in this

Vasa Star issue for event details)

No. of People

Attending

Price Per Person

(Prices in U.S. $)Total Cost

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 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 _____________________________________ State/Prov. __________ Zip/Postal Code_____________

Country ___________________ 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

775 12th Street NW Washington, DC 20005 USA

Phone: 1-202-737-2200

Fax: 1-202-347-5886

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.

Expected arrival date ________________________ Expected departure date ___________________________

Sharing room with _________________________________

Room rate: $159 (+ tax of 14.4 %) per night for all rooms.

$159 rate applies for one, two, three or four people per room.

Rooms contain either One King or Two Double Beds

All rooms are non-smoking

$159 room rate available between June 30 and July 12, 2010.

Reservation deadline is 6:00 PM, Friday, June 11, 2010 to obtain rooms at above rate.

REGISTRATION FORM37th Grand Lodge Convention • July 2 - July 8, 2010


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!

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 $5.00 $18.01-$36.00 $8.00 $36.01-$54.00 $10.00

$54.01-$80.00 $12.00 $80.01-$110.00 $15.00 $110.01-$150.00 $18.00

2010 Grand Lodge Convention Items for Sale

Quantity Item Description Price Each Total Dalahäst lapel pin (size shown in relation to penny) $ 7.00

Nordic Flags Sweatshirt, YthM __ YthL__ S__ M__ L__ XL__ XXL__ XXXL__ $ 20.00

2030 ‘Daphne’ greeting cards, 4.25x5.5 in, blank inside, “Linnea”; 8-pack $ 6.00

2040 ‘Daphne’ greeting cards, 4.25x5.5 in, blank, “Viking at Sea”; 8-pack $ 6.00

2044 ‘Daphne’ greeting cards, 4.25x5.5 in, blank, “Flowers-the Provinces”; 8-pack $ 6.00

2048 ‘Daphne’ greeting cards, 4.25x5.5 in, blank, “Dala Horses&Flowers”; 8-pack $ 6.00

2050 ‘Daphne’ greeting card, 4.25x5.5 in, blank, “Blu & Yel Heart Basket”; 8-pack $ 6.00

Subtotal

Shipping (see chart)

TOTAL INCLUDED

Sweatshirt

50/50 blend

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: [email protected]

ORDER FORM

Name ________________________________________________________

Address _______________________________________________________

City __________________________________ State ______ Zip ___________

Phone No. ____________________________ Country _____________________

Email _______________________________________________________________

SHIP

TO

Dalahäst Lapel Pin

Note: Sales tax is included in prices.

Note: If purchasing

dalahäst lapel pins only, a shipping charge of

$5.00 applies for any

amount purchased.


Motions to theGrand Lodge Meeting

The Grand Lodge Vasa Order ofAmerica will meet for its 37thConvention on July 2-8, 2010, inWashington, D.C. and it is not too earlyto start thinking about motions you wantto present.

Any individual member, local lodge,or district lodge may submit motions tothis Grand Lodge meeting.

Please use this format when writingyour motions. This will ensure a consis-tent appearance for the many motionsthat will be considered. Please do not usethe words “Whereas” or “Be It Resolved”or the motion will be returned to you forproper format. If you submit more thanone motion, please put one motion perform to avoid confusion.

All motions must be typed or printedclearly, so that no errors in interpretationor intent will be made. All signatures arerequired, along with the appropriatelodge seal.

When making a motion that involvesfinances, please show the probable costalong with the motion.

Remember that Constitutions andBylaws use the word “shall”, not thewords “can”, “should”, or “could.”

Recommendation included in any GLOfficer’s or Archives Board Member’sreport involving a constitutional changemust follow these rules.

Please refer to page 49 of yourConstitution for Grand Lodge – ArticleXVII-Amendments concerning motionsto change the Constitution and Bylaws.

You may submit your motions as earlyas you want. ALL MOTIONS MUSTBE RECEIVED BY THE GS BEFOREMARCH 1, 2010.

Motions will be numbered in the orderin which they are received.

Mail to:Convention Motions

Joan Graham, Grand Secretary5838 San Jose Ave.

Richmond, CA 94804

Deadline for submission - March 1, 2010SAMPLE FORMAT #1 – Motions Not Affecting Constitution

________________Lodge, No. _____, Vasa Order of America, at its regular meeting on________________, 20___, voted to submit the following motion:

VOTED: That ________________________________________________________________MOTIVATION: ______________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________Signature of Chairman (or District Master)

(Lodge or District Seal) ___________________________________________________Signature of Secretary (or District Secretary)

___________________________________________________(Date)

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

SAMPLE FORMAT #2 – Constitutional Changes

_________________Lodge, No. _____, Vasa Order of America, at it regular meeting on_________________, 20___, voted to submit the following motion:

To change the Constitution for __________________ Lodge:Present Section ______, Par. ______ Page _____now reads: ......................................................................................................................

[state section as it now reads]MOTION is presented to CHANGE Section _____, Par, _______ to read:..........................................................................................................................................

[State section exactly as it will be written should the requested change pass]MOTIVATION:_____________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________Signature of Chairman (or District Master)

(Lodge or District Seal) ___________________________________________________Signature of Secretary (or District Secretary)

___________________________________________________(Date)

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

SAMPLE FORMAT #3 – Motions made by Individual Members

NOTE: Motions submitted by individuals must include the format described below togetherwith Sample Format 1 – motions not affecting the Constitution, or Sample Format 2 –Constitutional Changes, above.

I, ______________, a member in good standing of ____________________Lodge, No.______, submit the following motion:

[Format as indicated in bold print above]___________________________________________________

(Signature)___________________________________________________

(Typed Name)___________________________________________________

(Address, City, State, Zip)Date: _______________________________________________

This is to certify that _____________________________is a member in good standing in____________Lodge, No. _______ as of this date.

___________________________________________________(Signature of Secretary)

(Lodge or District Seal)___________________________________________________

(Date of signature)


TävlingsresultatMembership 2008 – A Campaign for Vasa

Vasa Orden förlorade åter ett stort antal medlemmar under 2008. Av alla distrikt som har rapporterat är det inget som har enökning av antalet medlemmar, fastän två har vunnit i kategorin störst procentuell tillväxt med positiv ökning. (Detta kan verkalite konstigt, men enligt reglerna för beräkningen av procentuell tillväxt räknas inte medlemmar som avlidet. Inte heller räknasmedlemmar som transfererar till eller från en loge.) Endast ett distrikt behöll samma medlemskap som året innan, och alla andraförlorade fler medlemmar än de tog in. Vi tar inte in så många nya medlemmar i Vasa som under tidigare år, men värre är: Vibehåller inte våra medlemmar. Av de medlemmar vi förlorade under 2008 avled 25% medan 75% inte förnyade sitt medlem-skap.

För framtiden: “Membership 2009 – A Campaign for Vasa” kan vara en sporre för Lokal- och Distriktsloger att göra någotnytt. Nya Barnklubbar! Nya Aktivitetsklubbar! Nya Lokalloger! Det finns priser för att starta nya klubbar och loger, även oninga sådana gavs ut i år. Kom ihåg att fylla i ditt namn som fadder när du tar in en ny medlem. Mer än 1/3 av alla nya medlem-mar 2008 hade ingen fadder.

Storlogen tillhandahåller “Welcome to New Members Packet”. Det finns också en ansökan om medlemskap påwww.Vasaorder.com (Motsvarande svenska dokument kan fås från respektive Distriktsloge.)

Lokalloge- och Distriktssekreterare: Kom ihåg att skicka in årsrapporten i tid, för att inte missa tävlingen om prispengar i“Membership 2009 – A Campaign for Vasa”! Vi måste vända denna utvecklingen och bygga upp Vasa igen! Allt vi behövergöra är att var och en av oss tar in en ny medlem!

Pris för en ny aktivitetsklubb kräver verifikation av aktivtet. Detta kan enklast ske genom att sända in en årlig aktivitetsrap-port till Storlogens Aktivitetsdirektor: Judy Rust.

Jag vill härmed gratulera alla vinnare: Bra gjort!

In Sanning och Enighet, Tore Kellgren – Grand Lodge Membership Chair – [email protected]

* Distriks- och Lokallogetävlinens regler: Procentuell tillväxt beräknas så här: Totalt antal intagna minus antal förlorade avannan orsak, dividerat med totala medlemsantalet i början av året, multiplicerat med 100. Transfererade och avlidna medlemmarräknas inte. Ej heller räkans nyinstiftade eller sammanslagna loger. DS måste skicka in medlemsraporten i tid så att den når GSsenast 31:a mars om resultaten skall vara med i tävlingen.

Gratulationer till DL Central Canada #16, LL Dalahäst #742, LL Solstad #709, LL Skogen #700, LL Golden Valley#616, LL Westervik #679 och till Betty Johnson, LL Drott #168. Alla har vunnit ett förstaplats pris i StorlogensMedlemskapstävling.

Första och andra plats i kategorin störst procentuell tillväxt* av en Distriktsloge under året är:Ordning % tillväxt DL namn & no. Pris1:a Plats: 3.7% DL Central Canada #16 $250 och Stormästarens Trofé2:a Plats: 3.0% DL Minnesota #7 $200

Topp fem i kategorin störst procentuell tillväxt* av en Lokalloge under året är:Ordning % tillväxt LL namn & no. Pris Medlemmar1:a Plats i Distriktet: 30.0% LL Dalahäst #742, DL #6 $100 361:a Plats i Distriktet: 29.0% LL Solstad #709, DL #21 $100 381:a Plats i Distriktet: 24.1% LL Skogen #700, DL #12 $100 344:e Plats: 17.1% LL Norrskenet #331, DL #17 $ 40 465:e Plats (delad): 16.0% LL Tegner #109, DL #4 $ 30 585:e Plats (delad): 16.0% LL Balder #343, DL #12 $ 30 28

Vinnarna i kategorin Flest Medlemmar Intagna i en Lokalloge är: LL Golden Valley #616 i DL Southern California #15 and LL Westervik #679 i DL Södra

Sverige #20 där logerna var tog in 19 nya medlemmar. De vinner $100 var.

Vinnarna i kategorin Fadder till Flest Nya Medlemmar är:Första Plats: Betty Johnson, LL Drott #168 i DL Pennsylvania #9 med 9 medlemmar. Sy. Betty vinner $100. Andra Plats (delad): Cherstin Peterson, LL Dalahäst #742 i DL New Jersey #6 och Katarina Ivarson, LL Phoenix#677 i DL Arizona #21 med 7 medlemmar var. Sy. Cherstin och Sy. Katarina vinner $50 var.


DISTRICT LODGE NEWS

District Lodge NewJersey #6 held their18th annual LeifEriksson Smorgasbordon October 2 at VasaPark in Budd Lake.Many guests came intraditional costumeadding to the culturalexperience. DistrictMaster Deborah Lars-son welcomed us alland thanked the manyvolunteers whosehands prepared theincredible feast that wewere about to enjoy.

She acknowledged Anita Berger who first started this grand tradition for us. GrandLodge Cultural Leader Inger Hanright gave us a history of Aquavit, how it is madeand the proper way to “Skål!” Our first course was Swedish pea soup, and then thefirst of our four tables was presented. We were able to choose from herring five differ-ent ways, “gravlax,” baked salmon, sardines, shrimp, and hard-boiled eggs withcaviar, pickled beets and other salads. Table two was a delectable array of cold meats,pâtés, a variety of cheeses and cucumber salad. Of course there was plenty of “lingon”for garnish. Table three offered the hot courses of smoked ham, meatballs,“fiskbullar,” various cabbage dishes and Jansson’s temptation. All through the eveningbands of servers went from table to table with aquavit shots accompanied by KenChristenson and his accordion. After singing “Helan Går” followed by a proper“Skål!” a shot was downed. If you had room for dessert, table four offered us Danishraspberry pudding, rice pudding, “kransekage,” “krumkakor,” with the most popularof Scandinavian drinks, good hot coffee. Music was provided by our regulars,Eric Johansson, Walter Eriksson Jr., and Ines and Frank Cuslak. The “shottis,” polkas,waltzes, and a “hambo” or two got many up to dance throughout the eveningallowing us to make room for the next course. The weather was picture perfect fallday, the food incredible but the friendship and camaraderie of those attending was thebest part. Our district is truly blessed to share in this wonderful cultural eventeach year.

Submitted by: Beverly Blake

Former first spouse Lou Casella, kitchen helper for the evening,mingles with Past District Masters Helen Haumaucher and JerryMeloskie.

DL New Jersey #6

The Biennial Convention of NewYork District Lodge #4, Vasa Order ofAmerica, was held Oct. 16th-18th at theHoliday Inn in Suffern, NY. Fridayevening the various participants rolledinto the hotel for preliminary meetings inpreparation for the business to be carriedout on Saturday. In addition there werevarious informal get-togethers of mem-bers and friends, some of which lastedwell into the night.

The following morning, the sessionwas opened with District Master KarenSnowberg presiding. There was a fineflag ceremony by Barnklubben Elsa Rix#1 and the presentation of visitingdignitaries from neighboring DistrictLodges. The Grand Lodge was wellrepresented by Grand Master Dr. RolfBergman with his wife Marty, GrandTreasurer Richard Overberg, and GrandLodge Cultural Leader, Inger Hanright.After reports and such, the meeting brokefor lunch. The afternoon session was allabout the various motions to be enter-tained. They were dispatched in goodorder by Sister Karen and the sessionclosed a bit early.

The evening centered round the festivedinner and dance. It was most enjoyablewith entertainment by those marvelousyoung folks of Barnklubben Elsa Rixplus the wonderful dance music providedby Smörgåsbandet, featuring JeanneAndersen, Wayne Söderlund, and ChadWidman.

The Sunday session opened with ameaningful Memorial Service to Vasamembers who have passed on. This wasfollowed by the election and installationof officers for the ensuing term. Of par-ticular note was the elevation of CarlGefken as the new District Master.Expectations for his term are high andsure to be met as he is the son ofBetzy Gefken, who so diligently andefficiently served District Lodge #4 asDistrict Secretary for 20 years, as well asserving as District Master and as ViceGrand Secretary. All present wished himand his team well. “Jag hoppas att dulyckas!”

By all accounts it was a very success-ful event, and it can easily be said that agood Vasa time was had by one and all.

Submitted by: Ken Olson

DL New York #4

Grand Master Rolf Bergman ‘gets down with the kids.’


LODGE NEWS LUCIAS

Joselyn Pages as Lucia at North Star Lodge#106 Christmas party. Joselyn is the daughterof Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Pages

North Star Lodge #106Los Angeles, CA

Kristi Johnson

Nobel Monitor Lodge #130Mayfield Heights, OH

Tegnér Lodge #149Oakland, CA

Kristi Johnson as Lucia 2009. I haveparticipated in the Lucia festivities for 13years, twice as Lucia (2007, 2009) andjoined Vasa in 2008. I am a sophomore inhigh school and am home schooled. Myfavorite school subjects are English liter-ature and science. The sports I am themost active in are soccer, horseback rid-ing, and sailing. Some of my other inter-ests include baking and cooking fromscratch with my mom, and reading asmany books as I can.

I have been singing in the local adultmixed chorus, Vasa Voices of Cleveland,for the past four years. I continue to beextremely involved in Parkside Church’syouth group, and am a leader in theirweekly kids program for ages 3 throughthird grades, Kids of the Kingdom, aswell. I enjoy spending my summers atMission Meadows, a Swedish Covenantcamp on Lake Chautauqua, NY, and havevolunteered there for several years.

My parents are Marilyn and KenJohnson, and I am the younger sister ofDavid and Julie.

Submitted by: Marilyn Johnson

Life at North Star rolls along nicely.There was recent participation at theSeptember Autumn Fest at Vasa Park.The park was almost totally decorated inblue and yellow with an abundance of“Välkommen” signs and a big happycrowd.

Our thanks to Ann Heinstedt (NordicHeritage) who encouraged Vasa ParkAssn. to try new innovations, such as ameatball contest with competing lodges.We had a chance to taste and judge. Thewinner was Northern Lights who tookhome a trophy and money! UnoKasperson, our dear member, made meat-balls for Mayflower and came in second.All were so delicious; there should havebeen more trophies!

Meat ball toss game and"Lingonberry" pie eating contest. Imissed hearing who was the messy,happy winner! The new games were abig hit!

Our famous Scandinavian “Marknad”also, music, dancing, bingo and othergames, lots of fun the whole day.

In October, we had Jane Hendricks ofNordic Fox cater our "Kål Dolmar" lun-cheon and Jean Shore had traveled toSweden, but arrived back home in time toenjoy the food of autumn.

In October, DM Mary Ethel Pierson,Evelyn Earls and E. Thornton werechauffeured by Uno Kasperson the 100miles to Bakersfield Valley Viking for

Tegnér Lodge #149’s Lucia for 2009was Emily Oliveira, a student at SierraCollege. She is 19 years old and liveswith her mother and brothers in Colfax,CA. She is the great-granddaughter of thelate Maja Lisa (May) JohnsonRendleman, who was a 50-year memberof Tegnér Lodge. Emily carries on thefamily tradition of participation in theLucia Fest. Her mother, Mary EllenJohnson Oliveira, was Lucia twice. Emilyhopes to travel to Sweden some day.

About 55 members and friends ofTegnér Lodge attended the lodge’s“smörgåsbord” and Lucia Program onDecember 13. Almost every Tegnérmember who was available that dayhelped with the preparation and program.Former Chairman Laura Nordendahlbaked the delicious Lucia buns and theNordendahl family loaned us the Luciagown, made by the late DorisNordendahl.

Lucia’s attendants were AnnikaZamora, Kristen Root, and Kelsey Root,who read a story about the tomtar. Starboys were Kristopher Root, JasonHallsten, and Eric Hallsten. Tomtar wereKeegan Lister and Joacim Zamora. TheTegnér Singers were Marie-Ann Hill,Elsy Mattsson, Kathryn Hughes, andguest singers Tore Kellgren and L.Hallsten.

Submitted by: Ann Tennis

their 36th Anniversary. CH MichaelNommensen and members warmly greet-ed us at the country club. It was a reallynice day.

CL Eleonora Nyren informed us that itwas the time of year to eat goose andblood soup in Sweden. Len Gohrn hadupdates of Sweden news for us.

On December 13, St. Lucia’s Day, wecelebrated and 14-year old Jocelyn Pageswas Lucia!

Gott Nytt År!Submitted by: Elinore Thornton

Emily Oliveira


Lucia, Sarah Vandergrift

Drott Lodge #168Washington, DC

Astor Lodge #215Astoria, OR

Tegnér Lodge #224Missoula, MT

December 13 dawned with rain thatcontinued steadily and included substan-tial downpours in the afternoon hours.Drott Lodge #168 members involved insetting up were worried that few peoplewould come for the afternoon’s activities,which were to include a business meet-ing, a mini-Bazaar, a Lucia Procession, aHoliday Party, and a visit from Santa.

But miraculously they came, bringinglots of children. It was still raining heavi-ly at 3:45 p.m., and we considered hold-ing the Lucia Procession in the ParishHall rather than marching our costumedchildren over to the Sanctuary. But, aswith the Noah story, the rains did cease,in our case a mere 10 minutes before wewere to begin. Sarah Vandergrift, the 13-year old granddaughter of new Drottmember Mavis Vandergrift, was ourlovely Lucia. Her two younger sisterswere among the many attendants in whatturned out to be the largest LuciaProcession Drott has had in many years,with 24 participants accompanied by anadult choir of eight.

Thanks to Lucia Coordinator KarinWeeden, to musician Kristi Johnson whoplayed the piano for the procession andthe “nyckleharpa” for the dancing aroundthe Christmas tree and to Mark Munsonin his first appearance as Santa.

Submitted by: Carol WhitleyPicture by: Gerry Schueman

The highlight of our year is always ourSankta Lucia celebration and “Jul”Potluck. It was exciting to gather onDecember 13 and to realize we were cele-brating on the same day as our friends andloved ones in Sweden.

Flickering candles created a warm glowin the newly-built Yacht Club. It felt goodto return to our regular meeting place aftertwo years of renovation made necessarywhen the 2007 windstorm blew off theYacht Club roof. Tables were festive withgreens, Swedish crystal votives, and tradi-tional cardboard cutout “Tomte” rows.Along with the ham, the 65 members andfriends who attended enjoyed authentic“lussekatter och knäck” made by ournewest Swedish immigrant, MariaJohnson. Several members recalled theyhad not eaten “knäck” since their child-hood in Sweden.

Our Lucia, Andrea Phillips, led the pro-

cession of “tärnor” and “stjärngossar.” Oneof her “tärnor” was Miriam McCauley,introduced earlier in the evening as ournew Miss Sweden. (Miriam will participatein the coronation of Miss Scandinavia atthe Astoria Midsummer Festival in June2010). Fourteen youngsters participated inthe Lucia procession.

Following Lucia, carols were sung tothe accordions of Jorgen Madsen andSven Sundstrom. The crowd then calledfor ring dancing around the tree to begin.Sven Sundstrom led dancers in suchfavorites as “Små Grodorna,”“Karusellen,” and “Räven Raskar ÖverIsen.” Such fun to see the little ones actingout the roles in the various dances! Theevening ended as the children plunderedgoodies from the tree. “Gott Nytt År” toVasa members everywhere.

Submitted by: Maureen SundstromPhotos by: Susan Walker

Sankta Lucia Andrea Phillips surrounded by her “tärnor.” Miriam McCauley, Miss Sweden2010, is partially seen on the right.

Greetings from Tegnér Lodge #224.At our October meeting, we had peoplecome to give us a presentation of earlysettlers in the Missoula area. Each persontook the part of different people to por-tray such as a mayor, sheriff, lady of theevening, the first school teacher and oth-ers. They dressed in clothes of the timeand spoke the part is if they were theindividual.

For December, we had our annualsmorgasbord with singing and dancingaround the Christmas tree. The story ofSanta Lucia was read before Lucia madeher appearance to pass out the buns to themembers. Santa also made an appearancepassing out fruit and presents to the chil-dren and grown ups. Madeleine Hurlbert and Kayti Mahoney.

“Gott Nytt År” from Tegner #224 toall Vasa brothers and sisters!

Submitted by: Rick Swanson


Svea Lodge #253Indianapolis, IN

Skandia Lodge #247Pasadena, CA

Rachel Demarjian

The 2009 holidays at Skandia Lodge#247 have been mostly happy, we missour dear Miriam Berndes who fell andbroke something that would have workedbetter in one piece, but she is recoveringunder the careful, caring, and watchfuleye of her daughter, Helene, in PalmSprings.

As for those of us in sunny Pasadena,we enjoyed the fantastic “Julbord” atSkandia hosted by the Swedish Club ofLos Angeles and then the followingweekend Skandia’s own Lucia pageantand dinner at our Lodge. Lucia wasRachel Demarjian this year. Her courtrepresented the families of theDemarjians, Orcutts, Pedersons, andCepieliks, with Kathleen Demarjian asSolstralen Leader. Following the Luciaprogram with Rachel telling the story ofLucia, there was dancing and singingaround our Christmas tree and a visitfrom Santa. A traditional turkey and hamdinner was served and a good time wasenjoyed by all. Submitted by: Jackie Ahlen, Chairman

Our annual Lucia fest was held onSunday, 6 December 2009 at the LatvianCenter in Indianapolis, Indiana. It beganwith a social time including a complete“Smörgåsbord,” “Glögg,” and punch, andwas followed by the Lucia Processionalwith Lucia Paige Swanson, “Tärnor,Stjärngossar,” and the Svea Singers.

Our Lucia, Paige Swanson, is 14 yearsold, and is an 8th grader at NoblesvilleMiddle School, Noblesville, Indiana. She

plays the clarinet in the school band. Forthe past six years she has participated inthe Lucia procession and singing. As amember of Sveaskolan #210, she hastaken two years of Swedish languageclasses. Paige Swanson has a wide vari-ety of interests including Egypt, ancientalphabets, sculpture, and reading Fantasybooks. Congratulations to our LuciaPaige Swanson, and her parents Sarahand Eric Swanson.

Nearly 50 youngsters participated inthe Lucia procession, a record number!We welcomed 200 members, family, andguests to the Lucia Fest. We continuedwith the “Julmiddag,” catered by Andrisand Jean Indriksons, “Jultomte,” dancingled by Dans Norden Director John Seest,and singing. The Swedish Emporium wasopen and managed by Susie and MarkSwanson, and the Lucia raffle prizesbrought happy smiles to the winners.

Submitted by: Joella D. Hultgren

Lucia Paige Swanson Lucia Julie Burger

Svea Lodge #296Erie, PA

Our Lucia Fest was held December13th at Luther Memorial Church. Luciawas portrayed by Julie Burger. She is 18years old, a senior at Mercyhurst PrepSchool. She plans to study PerformingArts. At present she volunteers her talentat Mercyhurst and at the Erie Playhouse.Her interest in sports finds her participat-ing in track. Julie really enjoys singingand being with friends and family, aswell as church groups. She states that sheis honored and excited about beingLucia! After the lovely program,Swedish gifts were available for pur-chase, and “Kaffe Och Dopp,” was

served in the beautifully decoratedFellowship Hall.

Submitted by: Linda Collin

Omaha Lodge #330Omaha, NE

Emelia Phillips was Sankta Lucia forOmaha Lodge #330 on Sunday,December 13, 2009. She is a sophomoreat Central High School where she playsvolleyball and is a member of the LatinClub. She is the daughter of Mike andAnnika Phillips and the granddaughter ofGullvi Henriksson, member of the lodge.She was attended by her friend, HannahEmsick, also a sophomore at Central anddaughter of Brett and Julie Emsick.

Other attendants were Erin Clough,freshman at Burke High School, and BenClough, junior at Burke. Their parents areDouglas and Lori Clough, and MarleneClough, member of the lodge, is theirgrandmother.

Submitted by: June Söderlund

Emelia Phillips


Solidaritet Lodge #396Mount Vernon, WA

Skogsblomman Lodge #378Preston, WA

Evening Star Lodge #426Los Alamitos, CA

Klare Smith

Lucia Emma Duthie

The Skogsblomman Lodge #378 celebrated its annual Lucia Pageant and “Julbord”on December 6th, 2009. Our “Sankta Lucia” was Kathleen Anastasia Thornsberry,who was twelve years old and turned thirteen the next day. Her brothers also partici-pated. Kathleen is a seventh grade honors student at Kamiakin Junior High inKirkland, Washington where she plays clarinet in the band and competes on the bad-minton and basketball teams. Kathleen also coaches rhythmic gymnastics and com-petes on a swim team in the summer. She enjoys reading and cooking. This wasKathleen's second time participating in the Lucia fest.

The festive occasion was hosted by Cindy Stedman, lodge Chair and other lodgemembers who decorated the quaint historic hall for the occasion. The program wasdirected by Melissa Shogren, with lovely musical accompaniment provided by LucilleLundstrom (piano) and Stephen Thornsberry (guitar).

Submitted by: Shawn Thornsberry

We celebrated Lucia on December 13,the actual date of the holiday in Sweden.A social hour was followed by apotluck “smörgåsbord” style dinner, andthen by the singing of Christmas carolswhile we waited for the main event. Ourlovely and dignified Lucia was KlareSmith, age 15, daughter of Keithand Kirsten Smith, and granddaughter ofJean Nelson and the late Larry Nelsonwho had been the District #13 Chairman.Klare is a freshman at LynnwoodHigh School and has been part of youthactivities including Scandinavian danceat our lodge through the years. Afew hardy Swedes and many braveAmericans sang the traditional threesongs to accompany Lucia and her trainof attendants.

Submitted by: Wike White

On December 19, 2009, at the OurRedeemer Lutheran Church in GardenGrove, Evening Star Lodge #426 cele-brated its 87th Anniversary and theMorning Star Children’s Club #172 its42nd Anniversary. Included in the pro-gram, were a wonderful party and a mag-nificent presentation of our Lucia Pageantby the Morning Star Children’s Club withour beautiful Lucia Emma Duthie. TheChildren’s Club sang many traditionalChristmas songs and offered numerousbeautiful Yuletide poems.

Many thanks go to Gunlog Spaberg,our Children’s Club Supervisor and herassistant Stephanie Tomasevic. ViceDistrict Master Robert Salk presentedLucia Emma, his granddaughter, with abeautiful traditional amulet. The winnerof the Evening Star Lodge #426 scholar-ships was announced which was ChrisLunt.

Following the Lucia Pageant, a tradi-tional Swedish dinner was prepared andserved to over 120 people, our staff, fol-lowed by singing and dancing around theChristmas tree and the coming of“Tomten.”

Emma Duthie is an 8th grader at MaryPutnam Henck Intermediate School inLake Arrowhead, CA where she liveswith her mother, father and brother.Emma carries a 4.0 grade point averageand likes to volunteer to help around hercommunity; currently she is helping herfather deliver meals for Meals on Wheels.Emma is an avid ice hockey player andplays for the Anaheim Lady DucksU14AAA team and hopes to make it to

Continued on page 19


Evening Star Lodge #426Continued from page 18

the National Championships in GreenBay, Wisconsin in April 2010. She hasbeen active in the Morning Star Lodge’schildren’s group since she was two yearsold and is excited to play the role ofSanta Lucia this year.

Submitted by: Thomas JahnPicture by: Thomas Jahn

Challena Gilbert will representSveaborg Lodge #449 as Lucia at its2009 “Julfest.” Challena is an activemember of Sveaborg’s VasabladChildren’s Club #119 and will get hereight-year pin at the “Julfest.” She is 14years old and is in the ninth grade atAlameda High School.

Challena has many interests andinvolvements, especially in the field ofmusic. She is Sveaborg's “Diva” and hassung solos at lodge meetings for manyyears. She also sang at the Golden GateDistrict #12 Convention when it was heldin Concord. Challena sang the SwedishNational Anthem and Swedish summersongs at one of the Sveadal “midsom-mar” festivals. She sang in the PiedmontChildren’s Choir which sang theNational Anthem for the Oakland A’sbaseball team. She won second place inan Alameda Idol contest at the fourth ofJuly festival, singing patriotic songs.She played trombone in her middleschool band which participated in theElectric Light Parade at Disneyland. Shehas also played piano for four years andsings in her high school choir, as wellas helping the teacher with pianoaccompaniment during choir practice.Challena also plays soccer, usually asgoal keeper. Challena’s mother is from

Sveaborg Lodge #449Concord, CA

Linde Lodge #492Milwaukee, WI

Challena Gilbert

Stockholm and Challena is bi-lingual.She spent all of the 2008 summerwith her “mormor” and “morbror” inSweden. Being Lucia is the culminationof a long-held dream for Challena and

she is grateful to Sveaborg Lodge andthe Vasablad Children’s Club for theopportunity.

Submitted by: Bob Burman Picture by: Bob Burman

Lucia 2009 was celebrated on “Lucia-dagen” December 13. Our Lucia this yearwas Ashley LeBlanc. Ashley is a memberof Skansen Children Club since 2004,and she recently joined Linde Lodge aswell. Ashley has been involved in manyVasa events as she is the granddaughterof Jake and Marge Gruel, both active inDistrict #8, and Jake also at the GrandLodge level. Ashley spends time in Vasaby helping out at fundraisers such as Peasoup dinners, Scandinavian Festival, andalso joins grandma and grandpa on someof their trips to the National Archives inBishop Hill.

Linde & Skansen had a record crowdfor the Lucia and Christmas program, the

attendance is growing along with themembership in Skansen. After theLucia program, everyone enjoyed coffee,juice, open face sandwiches, bakery andother goodies. Skansen then had a perfor-mance of their folk dances, including thenew one this year, The Shottis. Afterthe performance the long-dance tookplace with almost 100 people andthen the “ring-lekar” finished off theentertainment. In good style, and to notdisappoint anyone, Santa came jingling inand every child (and child at heart) had achance to meet one on one with him. Hegenerously gave out apples and candycanes.

Submitted by: Liza Ekstrand

Annual Lucia Program – Back row from left: Rex Wasserman, Annika Martenson, AshleyLeBlanc (Lucia), Elizabeth Greene, Niklas Martenson, Anna Lorbach. Front from left: KristerMartenson, Sophie Andersson, Ellen Robison, Grace Katsekes, Grace Greene, Luke Lorbach(Tomten) and Gorge Katsekes and Lola Wasserman “pepparkaks-gubbar.”

Lindbergh Lodge #494Palo Alto, CA

Our Lodge celebrated Lucia fest with asold-out evening that included guests fromSweden and many children (over 80 peo-ple). Following a wonderful smorgasborddinner with ham, salmon, and “Ris a laMalta” among the dishes, all attendeeswith Dec. birthdays came forward and theentire assembly sang them HappyBirthday followed by “Ja Må Han Leva”and four rousing hurrahs!!

The Chairman then brought memberCarina Meyer forward to be recognizedfor her outstanding effort in recruiting newmembers especially so many young immi-grant couples with children. She was

awarded a Vasa pin and a 2010 familymembership.

The lights were dimmed and the Luciaprocession entered, with the young ladiesall singing in Swedish, followed by youngboys as “stjärngossar” and Santa dancingall the way! The assembly joined insinging Santa Lucia and other carols,accompanied by music provided by HansNilson and Jack Haderle.

The festivities continued with dancingto “Små grodorna” around the Christmastree, followed by a conga line that wentoutside around the building and back



Gold NuggetLodge #662

Paradise, CA

Satellite Lodge #661Kalamazoo, MI

Lucia was Danika Larsen. She was accompanied by Ann-Marie Richardson and SusanneOmander.

Satellite Lodge #661 had St. LuciaFest on December 12, 2009 with a nicecrowd and a lot of fun. Rachel AnnaForsberg, daughter of Tom and SueForsberg, granddaughter of Marsh andJan Forsberg, was St. Lucia. Her maidswere Katie Groesbeck, Ingrid and KaijsaJohnson and Claire Kavanaugh. Erik andSteven Olson were the star boys andJacob Kavanaugh was the “Jultomte.”Ingrid read the Legend of St. Lucia.Christmas Carols were sung plus someSwedish songs: “Nu tändas tusen juleljus,Staffan var en stalledräng” but the mostfun was singing “Tomtarnas Julnatt.”After the pageant refreshments wereserved they all danced around theChristmas tree and the fun challengingOx dance.

Submitted by: Janis Forsberg

Lucia was Rachel Anna Forsberg

This December found us celebratingthe first Santa Lucia Festival in our newlocation, the Paradise Senior Center. Theevent was held on Sunday, Dec. 13, on“Luciadagen.” The lunch was our tradi-tional Split Pea Soup and “Limpa” bread.We had entertainment of dancing andsinging by the Sword Family and theMagalia Pines Church on the Ridge, aswell as authentic Swedish folk musicplayed by Laurel Paulson-Pierce on the“nyckelharpa.”

In the photo is our Santa Lucia children’sprocession participants Shari Sword served asour Lucia, Aleeya Sword, Melody Sword andJasmine Puntigam were her attendants, andour star boy was Joshua Sword.

Phoenix Lodge #677Phoenix, AZ

After the Lucia celebration we allenjoyed our “Julbord.” Afterward, manyjoined in with our lively music anddanced around the beautifully decoratedtree. We were then joined by the jollyhimself and his helper, “Tomtemor!”Everyone had a wonderful time!

Our Lucia, Kirin, was born onSeptember 19, 1998 and adopted into hercurrent family. It is a somewhat diversefamily as her mother is of Polish/Germandecent and her father is from India. Kirinis the youngest of her family. Her twoolder sisters are grown up. Kirin's nameis very similar to Lucia because it meansthe “ray of light” in Punjabi.

Kirin has contacts with many in herbiological family and stays close to some.Kirin has three biological brothers andone biological sister who live with vari-ous families. Kirin is in the 5th grade atKhalsa Montessori School. Her favoritesubjects are math and language. She alsoloves swimming and soccer and playingoutdoors. She loves drawing and creative

Lucia, Kirin Khalsa

inside! After dancing, Santa gave presentsto the children and then many nice prizeswere raffled off.

Concluding the evening the Chairmanthanked all who had contributed to thedinner and the ladies who coordinated and

served all food. He also thanked GunnMcCuen and Bea Andrews for their effortin organizing and conducting the raffle.

Submitted by: Chuck Wallin andAnn Marie Van Horn

Picture by: Tore Kellgren

Lindbergh Lodge #494Continued from page 19

We sang Christmas Carols, and wehad a procession of Santa Lucia and herattendants, also a visit by Santa.

Many cookies were enjoyed by thefolks who attended, and a raffle helped todefray expenses.

Donations of food and toys were col-lected to share with the less fortunate inour community.

Other highlights of our year were theVasa District Convention in Fresno inApril, our summer picnic and crayfishparty in August, and our 48th anniversaryluncheon in November.

Submitted by: Laurel Paulson-Pierce,Cultural Chairperson



Bishop Hill Lodge #683Bishop Hill, IL

Norden Lodge #684Fresno, CA

Skogen Lodge #700Redding, CA

writing and is very good at both. Kirin isvery, very fond of traveling and has trav-eled around the USA, to Germany and toIndia visiting family and friends since shewas 2. She loves animals and has hadmany pets over the years. She thinks shemight like to be a marine biologist whenshe grows up but is still not sure.

Submitted by: Sara Nilsson,Chairman

Bishop Hill Vasa Lodge #683 Luciawas Breann Cart. She is the granddaugh-ter of lodge members Randy and SueAnderson. Breann is a freshman at GalvaHigh School and works at The ColonyBakery in Bishop Hill. She is also aCharter Member of the Junior Vasa“Pride of the Family.” The Christmas“smörgåsbord” was December 5th at TheColony School, Bishop Hill.

Submitted by: Jeff Anderson

From left to right: Natalie Christianson,Breann Cart, Sally Christianson and GraceJohnson.

Brittany Johnson

Brittany Johnson is 12 years old and in7th Grade at Alta Middle School. She isactive in the Concert choir at school andloves to do art and crafts in her sparetime. Brittany is the daughter of SherriJohnson and granddaughter of FranJohnson.

Submitted by: Inger Lindhe

Submitted by: Hazelle MillsPictures by: Troy Betts and Kristi Betts

Skogen Lodge Lucia 2009.

Phoenix Lodge #677Continued from page 20


Vinland of Cape Cod Lodge #703Cape Cod, MA

What a delight it was to walk into ourmeeting hall and see it transformed into awonderland of beauty! Each table was

covered by snowy white cloths, beautifulred candelabras, carved in wood by Clara

Olivia Blomdahl, daughter of Ed and Cameron Blomdahl, was this year’s Lucia, with Emmaand Kyra Brimdyr, Grace Sohøel-Goldberg and Emi-Rae Cormier as Honor Attendants, fol-lowed by eight young maidens, Jacob Lombard as Star Boy, and Warren and Chip Blair as“Tomtar.”


Tre Kronor Lodge #713Salem, OR

Victoria Wilson, daughter of Elaineand Lyn Wilson of Dallas, is the TreKronor Lodge #713 Lucia for 2009.Victoria performed with her Lucia Courton December 13, 2009, in the chapel ofthe Willamette Lutheran RetirementCommunity Center, Keizer, Oregon.

Victoria Wilson

Stenland Lodge #727Sparkill, NY

Scandia Lodge #728Prescott Valley, AZ

Lodge Stenland celebrated its Luciaand Jul Fest on Saturday, December 12,2009 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Churchin Pearl River, N.Y. The Lucia wasBecky Rasmussen attended by many“Tärnor, Bagare, Tomtar och enStjärngosse.”

Becky has participated in this LuciaFestival from the age of 2. The audiencewas also treated to a piano solo by KatieLauer, Piano and Bells by Walter Lauerand April Hanna, guitar trio Lea Miller,Julia Syvarth, April Hanna, and Stenlandmember George Langberg on the guitar.

After the Lucia the guests are treatedto home baked cookies, cakes, coffee andtraditional Swedish holiday “glögg.”There is a drawing of numerous prizesand Santa arrives at the end of the cele-

Lucia, Becky Rasmussen

Lucia is Christine Andrews attended byAbigail Milan and star boy Isaac Mattson.

On Sunday, December 13, 2009,Scandia Lodge held its annualSmorgasbord, Potluck and Lucia celebra-tion. The afternoon began with a socialhour featuring cold foods and “Glögg.”This was followed by the opening of thehot table. Once everyone had satisfiedtheir hunger, it was entertainment time.First, Judy Hopkins described the Luciapageant as held in Sweden then, theLucia and her attendants distributedcookies to the guests. Gene Fougner led

us in a combined bell ringing andsongfest and finished with the group join-ing in a rousing line dance. The day con-cluded with dessert.

The Lucia this year was ChristineAndrews, granddaughter of Joe andKarleen Andrews. She was attended byAbigail Milan, granddaughter of AndriaOdean. The star boy was Isaac Mattson,son of Stuart Mattson and Gene Fougner.There was also a raffle! Many specialthanks go out to the organizers of the fes-tivities!

Submitted by: Dennis Malarkey

Ellner, and encircled by long-needle pinebranches. It was a perfect setting for theLucia pageant which began with SophiaLombard's reading The Legend of Lucia,and how its celebration became popularin Sweden.

Later the “small fry” gathered aroundthe Christmas tree and heard “The Nightbefore Christmas” read by Dorothy Kean.Following that, Kajsa Brimdyr led thewee folk and a few “tall folk” in tradi-tional Swedish dances.

A raffle, conducted by LorraineYoung and Sally Glinski, produced manywonderful items. The “smörgåsbord”then beckoned and yielded more wonder-ful treats.

We want to thank Marilyn Sohøel andher Committee, and all the other mem-bers, too numerous to mention, who con-tributed greatly to make the celebration ahuge success.

Rune Borgman had made “Tomtepins” that the members received at theLucia celebration.

Submitted by: Marion S. Borgman

Vinland of Cape CodLodge #703Continued from page 21

The concert, followed by a dessert,was open to the public. The Court includ-ed Stephanie Cameron-Barth, AngieSletton, Samuel Paulson, Star boy, ElaineWilson, Anastasia Barth, and the youngman Ricky. Audrey Cameron directedand Ray Utterback played the piano.

The Lucia Court also performed at theReed Opera House in Salem onDecember 6, 2009, where VictoriaWilson also served as the Lucia. Includedin that Court were Stephanie Cameron-Barth, Anastasia Barth, Audrey Cameron,Director, Linnea Saris, Hans Saris,Marianna Saris, Elaine Wilson, AngieSletton, Whisper Sires, and Aspen Sires.Ray Utterback played the keyboard.

Submitted by: Barry Ostrom

bration spreading good health and happi-ness to all plus a very “God Jul och GottNytt År!”

The Executive Board of District #4was present for this occasion. Many otherVasa members from New York and NewJersey lodges attended the festivities.

Submitted by: Beatrice Rasmussenand Ingrid Allison


Viking Lodge #730Flint, MI

Birka Lodge #732Hamilton, MA

Denise Carlson

Anna Onufry

Denise Carlson, age 14, an 8th graderat Lake Fenton Middle School, portrayedSt. Lucia at Viking Lodge #730’s annualLucia celebration and “smörgåsbord”held December 10, 2009, at the GrandBlanc, MI, Senior Center.

Denise, the daughter of Kim Carlson,Swartz Creek, MI, enjoys creative writ-ing, fashion design, and competitive soc-cer. Her grandparents, Carl and VirginiaCarlson, are Charter Members of VikingLodge #730.

Submitted by: Howard Weaver

Anna Onufry, age 11, daughter of Asaand Mark Onufry, of Boxford, MA,became Santa Lucia during the annual JulPageant held at Birka Lodge #732 onNovember 28. She has been a member ofthe children’s group performing the LuciaPageant since she was 2-1/2.

Her brother, Erik, was a Star Boy formany years.

Anna is in the 6th grade, plays soccerand really enjoys science. She has twocats. She took ballet, tap and jazz formany years. She has been a downhillskier in Vermont since 4th grade, aftercross-country skiing since she was achild.

The festival of Santa Lucia beginsbefore dawn on December 13th, whichunder the old Julian calendar (used inSweden before 1753) was Christmas Dayand the longest night of the year.Throughout Sweden the eldest daughterin each household comes to her sleepingparents dressed in a long white gown tied

with a red sash and wearing a crown oflingonberry leaves in which are set sevenlighted candles. She carries a tray ofsteaming hot coffee and Lussekattor. Theprocession includes her sisters and broth-ers, also dressed in white, holding lightedcandles and singing of the light and joyof Christmas. The sisters of the Luciawear a wreath of tinsel in their hair, and apiece tied around their waist, while theboys have tall pointed caps sprinkledwith stars. Awakened by the lights andsinging, the parents rise and eat.

Submitted by: Lois JohnsonEditor, “Banner”

Jubileum Lodge #755Madison, WI

Nordik FolkLodge #761 andNordikids #208Children’s Club

Hammond, IN

Hannah Girard

Emily Pearson

Hannah Girard, Jubileum Lodge #755Lucia in 2009, is the granddaughter of

Miss Emily Pearson was chosen as theLucia for Nordikids and Nordik Folk thisyear. She performed at several differentplaces with her club throughout the holi-day season. The highlight of the seasonwas on December 13th, when she reignedover the Lucia fest co-sponsored by theclub and lodge together.

Emily is 15 years old and is a sopho-more at Morton High School inHammond, Indiana. She has been inNordikids for eight years and joined theadult lodge when she turned 14. She isinvolved in her school choir and is on theRobotics team. Emily's parents areMichael and Lisa Pearson. Her father,Michael Sr., was the first chairman ofNordik Folk lodge. Her great-grandfatheron her father's side came to Americafrom Sweden on the Titanic as a youngboy. We are very grateful that he sur-vived the disaster so that we have Emilyand her family with us today!

Submitted by: Lynda Smith

members Raymond and Patricia Wahlton.Hannah is an 8th grade honor student,choir member, and volleyball player atOconomowoc Middle School, and anactive member of her church’s Sundayschool. She enjoys snowboarding in win-ter and water skiing, kayaking, andcanoeing in the summer.

Submitted by: Robert Merrill,Historian


SWEDISH NEWSLogen Skåne

Nr 570

Logen Höganäs Nr 634

Fredagen den 11 september höllshöstens första logemöte då vi installeradevår nye DD sy. Gunilla Broddesson frånLogen Kärnan Nr 608 i Hälsingborg. SyGunilla delade ut Distriktets fötjänstteck-en till Sy. Ann Christine Sjöström och br.John Andersson. KL. Olle Olsson höll ettanförande om staden Turlock och sven-skar i Kalifornien. Efter detta höll BengtÅke Bengtsson en underhållande berät-telse om vår berömde skånske skåde-spelare och sångare Edvard Persson. Vårnye DD hade tagit med hela 22logesyskon i buss från sin loge iHälsingborg.

Logemötet Lördagen den 10 oktoberhölls enligt stadgarna och KL. OlleOlsson pabörjade en berättelse om en avSveriges första och då kändaste skåde-spelare Anna Q. Nilsson från Ystad, honemigrerade till Amerika år 1906 och1914 utsågs hon till världens vackrastefilmstjärna, en lång historia. KvällensTema var Wienerafton och då var detförstås wienerschnitzel till middag ochAppfelstrudel till efterrätt. Grupp5 bjöd upp till polonäsdans som lockadede flesta att röra på sig, mycket uppskat-tat. Sy. Solveig Svensson som bott iÖsterrike gjorde en livlig berättelseom Wien.

Lucia Johanna, Tärnor Angelica, Elin, Evelina, Freja, Ida och Kajsa.

Lördagen den 10 oktober hade vilogemöte och det var då “Brödernasafton.” Vi var 74 Vasasyskon som hadesamlats på Hemgården i Viken.

Parentation hölls över avlidnamedlemmarna Sy. Birgit Åkerlund ochBr. John Ståhlberg och för logens tidigareDD Br. Lars Helgeson från LLMalmöhus Nr 643.

O Sy. Evy Lindstrand öppnade mötetenligt sedvanlig ritual och balloteringgenomfördes för kandidater som önskadeåterinträde i vår Orden.

KL Sy. Ingrid Berg berättade om EllisIsland och hur emigranterna fickgenomgå många undersökningar därinnan de fick komma in i Amerika.

BLH Br. Gunnar Lindstrand hadeblickat tillbaka på möten med temat“Brödernas Afton.” Ett exempel varHawaii-afton då man skulle ha bastkjoloch blommig skjorta på sig.

“Brödernas kluriga afton” börjademed att vi åt en god Calvadosgryta medäpple och lök. Efter måltiden kalladesutvalda damer upp på scenen och kväl-lens tema var “Gäster med gester.”Kvällen fortsatte med demokratisk dans.

På vårt Högtidsmöte på Hemgården iViken var det 49 Vasasyskon som hadesamlats. Sex av dessa kom från LogenKärnan Nr 608 i Helsingborg. Dennakväll hade vi också två kandidater somskulle återintagas. Efter en högtidligintagning fick de sätta sig på de reserver-ade platserna.

Under kontakt Amerika berättade KLSy Ingrid Berg att vi har fått en ny vän-loge, LL Golden Valley Nr 616 i LosAngeles, Kalifornien.

BLH Br Gunnar Lindstrand berättadeom tidigare högtidsmöten under novem-ber månad. Han berättade också om att1970, då Br Bertil Ekdahl var ceremon-

imästare, ökat antalet medlemmar såmycket att han 1972 fick mottagamedlemskampanjnålen för 75 st nyamedlemmar.


Från vänster: Br. Bruno Henriksson, Br. OlaSandberg, Br. Jan Hassleryd, Br. KentAndréasson, Br. Olof Breitfeld, Br. BengtJönsson och Br. Stig Johansson.

Fredagen den 13 november ett vanligtlogemöte med undantag att förstanominering till nästa års tjänstemän före-drogs. Efterkapitlet stod FDO br. KennieSjöström för då han berättade omMälmös historia från ca. 1950 och framtill i början på år 2000.

Jag vill berätta om en unik företeelsevi har här i Skåne, nämligen Äppelfesteni Kivik, den lockar mycket publik denhelgen då denna fantastiska Äppeltavlaavtäcks och visas. Konstnären heterEmma Karp Lundström. Tavlan är 108

kvm och väger 3000 kilo (3 ton). Deninnehåller 70000 st. spik där 35000äpplen av 8 olika sorter sätts fast.

Logen hade logemöte på Luciadagenden 13 december, vi var 53 personer somefter mötet samlades och drack glögg.Efter ett gediget julbord väntade vi påLucia. Lucian som var vald av tidningenKvällspostens läsare, kom med 6 tärnoroch sjöng underbart vackert. Efter kaffetgick vi hem för att så småningom firajulens ankomst.

Insänt av: Olle Olsson, Kulturledare


Logen MalmöhusNr 643

Logen EnköpingNr 646

Logen Höganäs Nr 634Continued from page 24


Poetiska ord, högtidliga tal, mycketfolk, fyra nya medlemmar, en ny heder-smedlem syster Ingrid Sewerin, god mat,sång, musik och dans var några av ingre-dienserna när logen Malmöhus Nr 643firade sitt 50-års jubileum. Syster IngridSewerin liknade logens historia vid ettträd med starka, livskraftiga grenar ochstabila rötter. Tack till alla som har hjälpttill med planering och genomförande avvår jubileumsfest.

Den 6 november 2009 hade LLMalmöhus logemöte med ett intressantefterkapitel där vi fick lära oss vad ettskelett kunde berätta. Den 29 novemberfirade vi 1:a advent i HeligaTrefaldighetskyrkan och därefter fick viglögg i trädgården och kaffe mm i HelgasCafé. Sedan var vi några som fortsatte tillAdventkyrkan och åt ett digert vege-tariskt julbord. Det sistnämnda var dockinte i Logens regi

Så var Julen här igen och Julhälsninghar skickats till våra Vänloger. Lördagenden 12 december hade Logen MalmöhusNr 643 logemöte med julfest.Vid logemötet kunde de flesta tjänsternaför 2010 tillsättas, vilket vi tackarnomineringskommittén för. Efterlogemötet bjöds vi på glögg av grupp 9,som även hade dukat upp med ett stortjulbord. Sånghäften med många snapsvi-sor låg på borden, så vi fick tillfälle attprova våra stämmor, under ledning avIngegärd och Bengt-Göran. Två musikan-ter, John och Claudia, ifrånMusikhögskolan i Malmö, var inbjudnaatt underhålla oss. Claudia sjöng mångavackra julsånger och hennes partner Johnspelade piano.

Skrivet av: Elisabeth VästerstjärnaInsänt av: Bo västerstjärna

I september besökte Elisabeth Agge,Anne-Sofie Hjort med maken Håkan,Karl-Erik Axelsson Logen Enköping Nr646 tillsammans med Lars-Åke och HilliviSjöberg från Logen Mälardrottningen Nr563 Linde Logen i USA.

Vädret var fantastiskt och hela gängetbodde hos Jake och Marge Gruel i NewBerlin. Vi var tillsammans medlogesyskon Lisa och Rolf Ekstrand ochhade grillfest. Vi var även inbjuden tillJake och Marge samt alla barn medfamiljer, för att alla skulle ha möjlighetatt träffas.

Vi gjorde en utflykt till Indiana för attse en stor lantbruksindustri som hade ca3000 kor som bl a mjölkas dygnet runt.Under besöket i USA tittade vi också pågamla amerikanska bilar från 50-60 talet.

Vad Vasa har betytt för oss kan vi intei ord uttrycka tillräckligt. Men ett av detviktigaste som hänt oss som enskildamedlemmar inom Vasa är att vi genomVasa Orden av Amerika har vänner förlivet i Linde Loge. De har blivit våra vän-ner i Milwaukee och givit oss enamerikansk familj som vi alltid kommeratt ha kontakt med. Vi har också fåttmånga andra vänner genom åren i USAoch Sverige tack var Vasa. Vi är myckettacksamma för vad Vasa Orden avAmerika har givit oss och det är någotman ska poängtera när man försökervärva nya medlemmar. Genom VasaOrden av Amerika kan man skapa per-sonliga kontakter med medlemmar iUSA, Kanada och Sverige

Under logen Enköping Nr 646:s okto-bermöte gick efterkaptlet under titeln“beredskapstider.” Komittérade för dettavar Pernilla Hallström och ElisabethAgge. Tyvärr blev sy Pernilla sjuk mensom goda vasasystrar hoppade Anne-Sofie Hjort och Hillivi Sjöberg (LL Nr563) in och hjälpte till.

När ordenssyskonen från Enköping Nr646, Eskilstuna Nr 633, MälardrottningenNr 563 och Engelbrekt Nr 619 samtgäster anlände, fick de var sitt ransoner-ingskort som de skulle spara hela kvällen.Innan måltiden måste vi först visa framvårt ransoneringskort och få det avprickatav en lotta. Samma regler gällde för kaffeoch kaka, vi måste alltså återigen visaupp vårt ransoneringskort. Under kaffetdelades sånghäften ut med populärasånger under beredskapsåren 1939-1945ex. “Min Soldat” med Ulla Billqvist,“Swing it magistern swing it” med AliceBabs e c t. Efter detta var det en tipsrunda

där vi fick svara på frågor gällande tiden1939-1945. De segrande laget “överster-na” fick medaljer och blommor. Innankvällen var slut tackade DD från LogenEnköping Nr 646 Liberth Karlsson förden trevliga kvällen och goda maten. Viavlutade sen med lotteridragning på ran-soneringskorten.

Submitted by: Eisabeth Agge, PS LL

Översterna från vä Karl-Erik Axelsson LL Nr646, Elsa Arvidsson LL Nr 633, LiberthKarlsson LL Nr 619 och Hillevi Sjöberg LLNr 563.

LogenHärnösand Nr 673

Den 23 oktober kunde vi välkomnafyra nya medlemmar Mona och JanKindsjö, Barbro Dahlqvist och EigilNordlöw. Från Amerika hade brev kom-mit från 93 årige Hubert Nelson, BalderLodge #343, som vill bli systerloge medoss.Efter avslutade mötesförhandlingarinbjöd kvällens värdar till matsalensdukade bord, där vi mottogs medvälkomstvisa samt en trevlig presentationav kvällens värdar.

Lennart von Post berättade och visadebilder från en intressant Härnösandsbosliv vid namn Petter Norberg som föddes1876 och som vid 18 års ålder mönstradepå en båt i Härnösand. Han kom såsmåningom 1898 till Dawson i Kanada,där han skulle leta efter guld i Klondyke,som så många andra gjorde, men mycketannat hände. Från 1906 till och med 1916tillbringade han med indianstammenLecrieux. Han gifte sig med en indi-ankvinna och de fick tre barn tillsam-mans.1919 blev han kapten i Hudson BayCompany och 1923 seglade han med enbåt, som verkligen inte var gjord att gågenom is, till Nordvästra passagen ochvid King William öarna, räddades enmycket svårt utsatt expedition. Avdansken Knud Rasmussen blev den resanbetecknad som “det stora undret.”

Söder om Viktoria öarna finns två öarsom fått Petters namn, Norberg Öarna.En bok kommer att utges i Sverige under

Sy Doris Rydberg fick mottagautmärkelsen för 50 års medlemskap. Eftersedvanlig ljussläckningscermoni avslu-tades mötet. Efter middagen blev det danstill “husbandet” och innan den sedvanligalottdragningen sjöng vi Br OveThornblads fantastiska Vasa-sång tillABBA:s musik “Thank you for themusic.”

Efter lottdragningen tackade SyOrdförande Evy Lindstrand gruppen somvar värdar för kvällen.

Insänt av: Ingrid Berg, KL


Logen Kongahälla Nr 702

nästa år med berättelsen om denne man,som bland Inuiterna fick namnet Peterden Store. Han återvände aldrig tillSverige och dog i Kanada. Detta är ettkort sammandrag från alla de äventy somdenne man genomförde. Fästän han ärfödd här i Härnösand, är det knapptnågon som känner till honom.

Dryga 40-talet samlades för åretsjulfest i logelokalen som nästanomgående mörklades varefter sköna tonerhördes klinga och in skred ett vackertLuciatåg. Kapellsbergs Musikskola kanvara stolta över dessa ungdomar för bådeframträdande och uppförande.

Efteråt bjöds på traditionell glöggsamt pepparkakor varefter Ulla-BrittNordin såg till att få igång ringdansen.Efter en stunds dansande upphörde denplötsligt och den man hade i handen just

Lucia-sång i logelokalen.

Nya tjänstemännen för 2010.

Höstens aktiviteter började medVikingadagen, lördagen den 22 augusti. Iett vackert väder kunde de drygt 60-taletdeltagarna samlas vid Inlandsgården iKärna, för att bl.a. kora Årets Viking.Bland gästerna fanns Sy Britt och Br LarsRosén från Logen Strömkarlen Nr 653.Biträdande Vikingahövdingen Br Jan-EricBerntsson inledde med en trumpetfanfarvarefter Vikingahövdingen Br SuneBörjesson hälsade alla deltagarna hjärtligtvälkomna. Några verser ur “Viking-abalken” sjöngs och lästes innan det vardags att utse detta årets vikingar.

Till Årets Viking utsågs vår FDO SyBirgitta Haraldsson, som innehaft fleratjänstemannauppdrag, även ÅretsHedersvikingar, Sy Inger Uneback och BrMaths Fredriksson är mycket välmeriter-ade. Senare avnjöts god mat följt av all-sång, dans samt naturligtvis kaffe.

Vid Logemötet, fredagen den 18 sep-tember, på Rest. Fars Hatt i Kungälv,samlades ett 80-tal Logesyskon. Vår O BrSune Börjesson kunde även välkomna vårDD Sy Berit Boqvist från Logen KnallenNr 745 och O Br Ola Hansson i LogenGöteborg Nr 452. Vid detta möte hade viglädjen att ha ballotering för sju kandi-dater som sökte inträdde i vår Loge. Våravgående DD Sy Berit Boqvist installer-ade Br Ola Hansson från som ny DD förvår Loge. Vid det efterföljande efterkapit-let, med en god måltid, blev det trevligunderhållning. Programmet handlade omrevyaktören Ernst Rolf. Inledningsvisspelade Br Bengt Hardling ett par låtar påsin klarinett. Efter detta berättade Br

Georg Christensson om Ernst Rolfs livsamt episoder från denna tid, blandat medsånger från hans repertoar.

Till Logemöte med reception, lördagenden 17 oktober samlades ett 60-talVasasyskon. Vår O Br Sune Börjessonkunde hälsa vår DD Br Ola Hansson frånLogen Göteborg Nr 452 välkommen. Vihade vid Logens reception också glädjenav att hälsa ytterligare sju nyaLogesyskon välkomna, Sy Ann och BrKenneth Sievers, Sy Inez Ljungberg, SyIngegärd Johnsson och Br Jan Petterssonsamt Sy Lena och Br Arne Lindström.

Efter en god måltid blev det tal tillrecipienterna. På kvällen underhölls vi avMarianne Stensson, som sjöng och berät-tade roliga historier till musik av SvenAntonsson, på dragspel.

Vid novembermötet hade Logen bl asitt sedvanliga val av tjänstemän för 2010.

Logen Härnösand Nr 673Continued from page 25

då, blev kvällens sällskap till bordet.Jultallrik med allehanda julmat och olikadrycker serverades.

Bo Selin spelade dragspel och senkom tomtemor med en stor julklappssäck.Tomtefar hade råkat ut för influensaneller något sånt!!!! Kvällen avslutades

med dans. Kvällens värdar var tomtarnaLena Selin, Sonja Nygren, Ebba Persson,Karin Gilliusson, Barbro Parhammar ochKarin Jonsson vilka avtackades av ordf.Karl Bäcklund.

Insänt av: Barbro Sundgren, KLFoto: Ulla-Britt Nordin

Vår Lodge hade glädjen att tilldelaOrdens 25-årsmärke till Br SuneBörjesson, Sy Gerd Henriksson, Br Jan-Eric och Sy Sylvia Berntsson samt SyKarin och Br Elon Fredriksson där över-lämnandet gjordes här av vår SLD SyEwa Pilhammar.

Efter en god supé bjöds det på mycketfin musik av vår kulturstipendiat för 2009,pianisten Pontus Hallsberg. Då vår kultur-och programkommitté inför hösten 2010,planerar en s.k. vinresa per buss tillFrankrike, visade Br Jan Augustssonbilder från platser som resenärerna kom-mer att besöka. Novembermötet har somtradition dragning på konstklubbens lot-teri. Hela tio vinster hade kommitténlyckats få ihop, där Br Karl Olof Nilssonoch Sy Ann Lindell har gjort ett fintarbete.

Submitted by: Rolf Claesson


LogenSundsvall Nr 705Logen Sundvall har hållit sitt novem-

bermöte. Efter en stilfull parentation medmusik och dikt genomfördes sedvanligamötesförhandlingar varvid bl.a. tjän-stemän för 2010 nominerades, mötes-dagarna och avgifterna för 2010 beslu-tades. En intressant rapport hölls frånvänlogen i USA. Många hälsningar tillLogen framfördes från både när och fjär-ran. Kvällen avslutades med en godmåltid varefter Lennart Jansson ochLennart Bjärmkvist underhöll med musikoch litterära inslag som också var under-lag för en klurig frågesport där alla varaktiva. Aftonen avrundades medlottdragning.

Efter sitt ordinarie decembermötehölls efterföljande julfest. Kvällen inled-des med ett kort möte som bland annatinnehöll avslutande nominering och valav tjänstemän för det kommande året.Många hälsningar hade inkommit tillLogen, däribland från vår vänlogeSatellite i Michigan USA. Ett tiotalmedlemmar från fadderlogen i Härnösandgästade mötet och framförde hälsningarfrån sin egen loge samt hälsade allavälkomna till Härnösandslogens julklubbkommande helg.

Efter mötet serverades en väls-makande välfylld jultallrik med tillbehörsom intogs under gemytligt sam-språkande, trevlig musik av kvällensspelmän Allan Norberg och GöstaMalmrot samt medryckande allsång.Efter den goda maten passade spelmän-nen på att engagera alla i kvällens lång-dans och efter lite andhämtning smakadedet gott med kaffe och pepparkakor.Aftonens lottdragning gladde mångavinnare. Kvällen avslutades med mångatack och kramar.

Insänt av: Jan Hellsing

“Julflicka”

LogenKnallen Nr 745

Lördagen den 17 oktober firade LogenKnallen sitt 20-års jubileum. I en fullsattlogesal inleddes firandet med ett festligtoch högtidligt logemöte. Den formelladagordningen avverkades, varefter fram-fördes hälsningar och telegram från andraloger. Under punkten Kontakt Amerikaframfördes hälsningar från vår vänloge iUSA Nr 3 Diana Birger Jarl. VårKulturledare Sy Birgitta Danielssonberättade bl a om en svensk som varitdesigner av den kända Coca Cola-flaskan. Under punkten Ordens val, fram-fördes gratulationer och lyckönskningarsamt gåvor.

Efter en avslutning med stämningsfullmusik vandrade gäster och logesyskonupp till klubblokalerna för en välkomst-drink och mingel.

Arrangörskommittén hade utformat ettmycket imponerande och uppskattat pro-gram för jubileumskvällen. Detta “dirig-erades” av toast-master Ingvar Carlén.Inte minst blev logesyskon och gästeröverraskade av Logen Knallens nybil-dade kör, som gjorde bejublade framträ-danden.

Under kvällens program, gav bl a BrÅke Swahn, en återblick av logens histo-ria, detta med efterföljande diktläsning,tal, njutbar musik samt underhållning.Serveringen sköttes med bravur av eleverfrån restaurangskolan.

Efter att Sy Eva Pilhammar-Andersson framfört ett varmt tack till allamedverkande bröts taffeln för enligt pro-grammet “fria aktiviteter.”Insänt av: Börje Olausson, Ordförande

Berit Boqvist logen Knallen. NyinstalleradDD i Logen Uddevalla. Tidigare DD i LogenKongahälla.

Logen VadstenaNr 762

Vid jullogens öppnande välkomnadeOrdf. Stig Carlsson två nya medlemmar,Intendenten Per-Gunnar Andersson, påVerner von Heidenstams Övralid, medsambon Merika Wikman. De har mångaamerikanska gäster på Övralid varje som-mar och kanske kan ordna några träffarmed vasamedlemmar från USA ochVadstenalogen i framtiden.

Många gäster kom till året sistalogemöte i Vadstena, både från logenFilbyter Nr 714 i Linköping och logenBråviken Nr 751. Det blev en välbesöktLogelokal, som till efterkapitlet bjöds intill ett härligt julbord från RestaurangValvet.

DD Arne Samuelsson tackade kväl-lens värdar och önskade Logen lycka till,inför det nya året som kommer att startaupp med nya medlemmar. Broder StigCarlsson avtackade medlemmar ochgäster och överlämnade en blomma tillSy Lisbeth och Br. Inge som tack förderas stöd under året och önskadedärefter alla En God jul och Ett GottNytt År!

Insänt av: Inge Hallberg

FD Ordf Solvieg Davidson avtackades av OStig Carlsson. För dagen tjänstgjordeBråvikens CM Jan Ek.


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

Tore Kellgren, Grand Lodge Membership Chairman5971 W. Walbrook Dr.

San Jose, CA 95129E-mail: [email protected]

DL CONNECTICUT NO. 1Kronan #2

Eric JohnsonRobert JohnsonSarah JohnsonMary Sprague

Karl the XII #103Nancy Bowman

DL MASSACHUSETTS NO. 2Spiran #98

Thommy Ilmrud

DL NEW JERSEY NO. 6Three Crowns #704

Thomas LyonsStaci SierantJulie WidmaierRobert Widmaier

Viking #735Rosemarie BlomRoy BlomAllison ConerlyMarie FluckJette MorabitoArnold Nicholas

Dalahast #742Louise Basch

DL MINNESOTA NO. 7John Morton #488

Peter Mattson

DL LAKE MICHIGAN NO. 8Linde #492

Lars LewanderNancy Lewander

Hagar #721James PriestPhyllis PriestKarl Eriksson

Nordik Folk #761Wanda HuszarAbigail Ogrentz

DL PENNSYLVANIA NO. 9Nobel-Monitor #130

Sarah Van Gilder

DL GOLDEN GATE NO. 12Monitor #218

Arsenia LarsonChester LarsonKathryn MatthewsAlbert MitchellJennifer NeffKristina RoyerTodd RoyerRose Westrup

Svea #348MacKenzie BrayArne Hendrickson Danielle HendricksonMarita Henriksson

Golden Gate #392Timothy Beeson

Lindbergh #494David Johnson Louise Johnson Martin OmanderSusanne OmanderFredrik PetterssonKazumi Yahata-PetterssonJo-Anne Abbie-Thurftell

Sierra Kronan #737Milton HoustonDiana MartynGwen MyersRagnor Seglund

Valhalla Scandinavian #746Anna-Clara CalvertPam Rhodes

DL PACIFIC NORTHWESTNO. 13

Norden #233Rachelle Laughofer

Frihet #401Jon HalgrenKarla HemmingwayJerry LundebergPamela Madden

Harmoni #472Carina DeJagerHarvey Edmark

DL PACIFIC SOUTHWESTNO. 15

Mayflower #445Alan WendellDonica WendellJanet Woessner

Golden Valley #616Dorothy ReiersenOdd ReiersenAnette RichardsBradley Richards

Desert Valley #682Stefan HemmingKajsa Thursesson-Frary

Jubilee #692Carol BakerScott Vihlen

Glenn T. Seaborg #719Pilar DemarestAutumn Dufield

DL ALBERTA NO. 18Skandia #549

Katherine BadryMartin BadryRickard EnstromLillian FritschHerbert GoddenShannon LawrenceKarl LemckeUlla LimaRyan LongErinn GuminyDavid MagnissonMaxwell McRaeMark McRaeKarin PennerLinea SchreyerSarah Watson

ARIZONA NO. 21Tucson #691

Victoria LafgrenGunvor Peffer

Solstad #709Ruth AndersonBetsy HintzDonna NelsonGlen NelsonGuida Williams

Scandia #728Del AckleyJohn DeMentLucille JeppsonGeraldine Olson

Advertisein the

Vasa Star


YOUTH NEWSCongratulations to Ingrid Myers, she

was chosen as the 2009 Lucia for VasaYouth Group #130 (Rosebuds) inPortland, Oregon. Ingrid loves being a partof the Vasa Youth Group and has been anactive member for eight years. Learningand performing the dances at variouslodge and community functions helpskeep her connected to the Swedish com-munity in Portland. Ingrid's parents areRichard Myers and Mary Krummel (mem-ber of Harmoni Lodge #472). Her sistersEmma (9) and Helen (5) are alsoRosebuds members. Ingrid has anticipatedwearing the crown of candles and red sashfor many years and she and her “tärnor”did a lovely job performing Lucia for boththe Harmoni and Nobel Lodge Christmasparties and at Portland's Scan Fair.

Ingrid is a 7th grader at RiverdaleGrade School in Portland. She plays fluteand piccolo in her school band, is a mem-ber of National Charity League, and playson her school soccer team. She enjoyshelping with the younger dancers duringpractices and performances, rememberinghow she once looked up to the 'big girls' inthe group when she was little. This yearRosebuds has a large group of dancersunder the age of five who acted as“Tomten” and Ingrid and the other olderdancers had a lot of fun both herding anddancing with the little ones! Each summerIngrid attends Trollbacken SwedishLanguage Camp and looks forward to oneday traveling and perhaps living inSweden.

Submitted by: Mary Krummel

Winter has been a busy season forNordikids Musiklubb #208 in MunsterIndiana. The children have been practicingtheir Lucia and “Jul” music since last

Vasa Rosebuds #130

Ingrid Myers

Nordikids #208

Vasa Junior FolkDancers

Linnea #14Minnesota #7

Nordikids Musiklubb #208 at the Museum ofScience and Industry in Chicago.

Karyn Ostrem was selected as our2009 Lucia and has been a member of theVasa Junior Folk Dancers for 4 years.Her interest in the dancers was sparkedby watching other dancers from othercultures and deciding that she wanted to

Karyn Ostrem

Charlotte Ruser organized the SwedishHeritage children’s class for 16 children thissummer sponsored by the Kichi-Saga SwedishClub in the Chicago Lake Lutheran Church,Center City, MN.

Submitted by: Charlotte Ruser

Kichi-Saga Swedish Club

September and have performed at severaldifferent venues this season. The accom-panying photo was taken at the Museum ofScience and Industry in Chicago for theirannual Christmas around the Worldexhibit.

In early December, the intrepid grouptraveled to Shaumburg, Illinois to theIKEA store there, where they sang a selec-tion of Swedish songs for the shoppers andstaff of the store. After being treated tolunch in the cafeteria, they continued totravel south and also performed at theIKEA store in Bolingbrook, Illinois, againbringing musical greetings in Swedish forall the shoppers to hear.

On December 13th, the club held theirLucia fest at Wicker Park Social Center inHighland, Indiana. There were 135 peoplein attendance and everyone enjoyed a deli-cious Swedish meal of meatballs, “korv,”boiled potatoes, and “lingon,” followed bya dessert of ice-cream and “pepparkakor.”The meal was immediately followed by awonderful performance by the Nordikids.This event was a fundraiser for the groupand was co-sponsored by Nordik Folklodge #761. Bake sales, raffles, and doorprizes were also on the schedule for theday and by the end of the afternoon, over$1,000 had been raised to help fund activi-ties and scholarships to language camp forthe members next year.

Submitted by: Lynda SmithPicture by: Shelly Westlund

embrace her own culture through dance.Karyn lives in Eagan, MN, and is cur-

rently a sophomore at MinnehahaAcademy in Minneapolis. She especiallyenjoys Spanish, writing and the arts. AtMinnehaha she is involved in theMinnehaha Siners and the Nordic SkiTeam. Outside of school, she is involvedin dance at the Nancy Raddatz School ofDance and sings in the Mt. Olivet ChurchHigh School Choir. In her spare time,Karyn enjoys knitting, crocheting, read-ing and creating videos.

Karyn’s parents are Tim and DawnOstrem, and she has 2 brothers. Karyn’sgrandmother is 100% Swedish. Hermaternal great-grandparents came fromGränna, Sweden, which is a town northof Jönköping, Sweden, in the SmålandProvince. Her paternal great-grandparentscame from Stockholm. Karyn and herfamily hope to visit Sweden and Norwaynext summer.

Submitted by: Janice LehmanLeader - Linnea #14


CULTUREThe first sewing circle in Sweden

started in 1844. Initiator was EmiliePeterson, a widow living on a large estatein the province of Småland. She hadbrought her idea from Germany whereshe was born. Emelie and her husbandPhilip were wealthy, and had alwaysworked to help people who were not sofortunate. They had started a school forchildren living on their estate. After herhusband’s death Emelie extended herhumane activities establishing a home forthe poorest children of the neighborhood.Helped by the parish priest she organizedmeetings for women, a kind of “workingsociety” where the women were doingneedlework while the priest was readingfrom the Bible or lecturing.

At that time it was unusual thatwomen joined societies why those whodid were considered very brave. Formany women a sewing circle became abreathing-space of their everyday life, away for house wives to meet otherwomen. This was also the beginning of asocial and international commitment ofmany women.

During the following years severalsewing circles were started all overSweden. At first the meetings took placein private homes, but as more and morewomen joined the sewing circles themeetings had to be moved to largerpremises.

Since the very beginning thousands ofwomen have been members of sewingcircles. After about 150 years there werechurch sewing circles in more than 95 %of all the parishes of Sweden. Other orga-nizations too have organized sewing cir-cles, e.g. the Free Churches, the RedCross and sports clubs. In the 1950s and– 60s the number of circles was at itsmaximum and so was the number ofmembers. In 2004 there were 3.000church sewing clubs having 50.000 mem-bers all together.

The aim 150 years ago is today just asurgent; to help people in need in Swedenand in other countries by voluntary,unpaid work. Women still meet in theirsewing circles working in the same waythey have always done; embroidering,knitting or crocheting, and having coffeeof course.

Everyone does just what she wants todo. Those who can’t do needlework can

do something else, making coffeefor example, ´Sweden’s national drink.´During WWII, when coffee was rationedeach woman brought a few teaspoonsof coffee, put it into the coffeepot, andmade ´the best coffee in the world.´ Inmany circles you pay a small sum ofmoney for “fika” (coffee, buns andcookies), money that goes into the circlecash box.

At first the women usually met in theday time, but when more and morehousewives started to work outside thehome, meetings in the evenings weremore suitable.

Part of what is made at the sewing cir-cle is sent to people in need, and part of itis sold at the annual auction, that is verypopular. People of all ages come to buylottery tickets, drink coffee and haveSwedish cheese cake. They also purchasemany things such as beautiful handmadetablecloths, home made cookies, andhomemade cheeses.

The first known sewing auction inSweden was in 1847 in Barkeryd inSmåland. (Well known for many emi-grants from Texas, isn’t it). A sewingauction is for many one of the highlightsof the year. A teacher asked an 8-year oldwhat the great festivals of the year are,she answered: “Christmas, Easter,Whitsun and Auction!”

A sewing circle auction is a great wayto collect money; it’s unbelievable whatlarge sums of money that’s being collect-ed every year. In 2003, for example, thechurch sewing circles alone collected 46million Swedish crowns (about 6.5 mil-lion dollars). Last December the church

sewing circle in Södra Vi parish, outsideVimmerby, had its sale. The profit of thesale was 32.000 Swedish crowns (about 4500 American dollars, which they sent todifferent receivers, e.g. the SwedishChristian Service, the Salvation Army,Doctors without Borders, the Children’sCancer Fund and their godchildren. Eachcircle decides how to use its collectedmoney. The needs as well as the receiverscan change from time to time. During thecold winters 1939-1945 much help wassent to Norway and Finland.

Money has always been a problem.Nowadays freights have become soexpensive that many circles instead ofsending their homemade objects, sellthem at auction, and then send the moneyfrom the sale that way the receivers canbuy what they need themselves.

Since many housewives today workoutside the home they haven’t much timefor sewing circles, but many of the retiredwomen does. What about the next gener-ation? Will they have the time, and theinterest to go on working in sewing cir-cles? I hope so, as I believe that longingfor fellowship and a desire to help otherpeople will always be found.

Source:• På vidsträckta fält: The Swedish

Church sewing circles, by CeciliaDahlbäck

• Ingen förspilld kvinnokraft: A bookabout our sewing circles, Sjökvist –Askmark – Beijbom

• I have interviewed members fromthe Vimmerby and Södra Vi sewingcircles.

Sewing Circles

Sewing circles in Vimmerby where Red Cross members has their “meeting” in their cozy littlemeeting quarters.Syföreningen i Vimmerbys Röda Korset har ´möte´ i sin lilla lokal.


Den första kända syföreningen iSverige bildades 1844. Initiativtagare varEmelie Peterson, som var änka och boddepå ett stort gods i Småland. Idén fördehon med sig från Tyskland, där hon varfödd. Emelie Peterson och hennes makePhilip var förmögna och hade alltid arbe-tat för att hjälpa människor som ej var sålyckligt lottade. De hade t.ex. öppnat enskola för godsets barn, och efter makensdöd utvidgade Emelie verksamheten medatt inrätta ett barnhem för de allra fatti-gaste barnen i trakten.

Med hjälp av prästen i församlingenanordnade hon möten för kvinnor, enslags arbetsförening, där kvinnorna han-darbetade, medan prästen läste något urBibeln och talade.

På den tiden var det ej vanligt att kvin-nor engagerade sig i föreningar, varför desom gjorde det ansågs modiga. Förmånga kvinnor blev syföreningen ett and-ningshål i vardagen, ett sätt för hem-makvinnor att komma ut och träffa andrakvinnor. För många blev detta också bör-jan till ett socialt och internationelltengagemang.

Under de följande åren startades flerasyföreningar runt om i Sverige. Från bör-jan samlades man i olika hem, men dåallt fler kvinnor kom med, måste man fly-tta mötena till större lokaler.

Sedan starten har tusentals kvinnorvarit med i syföreningar över hela landet.Man vet att ung. 150 år efter starten fannsdet kyrkliga syföreningar i över 95 % avlandets församlingar. Även andra organi-sationer har organiserat syföreningar,t.ex. frikyrkorna, Röda Korset ochidrottsföreningarna. Under 1950 – och60-talen var antalet syföreningar somhögst och det var också då antalet

medlemmar var allra störst. År 2004fanns det 3.000 kyrkliga syföreningarmed tillsammans 50.000 medlemmar.

Det som var det främsta målet för 150år sedan är lika aktuellt i dag; att genomfrivilligt, oavlönat arbete, få möjlighet atthjälpa människor, som har det svårt härhemma eller i andra länder.

Fortfarande träffas kvinnor regelbun-det i sina syföreningar och arbetar påungefär samma sätt som de alltid gjort.De broderar, stickar eller virkar ochdricker kaffe, förstås. Alla får arbeta medvad just de vill och kan. De som inte kanhandarbeta, kan hjälpa till på annat sätt,t.ex. ta hand om kaffet, som nästan blivitSveriges nationaldryck. Under krigsåren,då kaffet var ransonerat, tog var och enmed sig ett par teskedar kaffe, och så lademan samman och kokade ´världensgodaste kaffe´. I många föreningar tas enliten avgift för fikat (kaffe och bröd) ochpengarna går till den gemensammasyföreningskassan.

De första åren samlades kvinnorna pådagtid, men när alltfler kvinnor efter1945 började arbeta utanför hemmet, blevkvällstid bättre.

En del av det som tillverkas skickastill behövande, medan annat sparas för attsäljas på den årliga auktionen, som sam-lar folk i alla åldrar. Man köper lotter,dricker kaffe och äter svensk ostkakasamt ropar in olika saker, t.ex. vackrahandarbeten, hembakade kakor ochhemgjorda ostar. Den första kändasyföreningsauktionen hölls 1847 iBarkeryd.(Välkänt för många Texas-immigranter!)

En syföreningsauktion är för många enav årets höjdpunkter. En lärare, som frå-gat vilka årets stora högtider är, fick aven 8-årig elev svaret: “jul, påsk, pingstoch missionsauktionen.”

En syföreningsauktion är också ett brasätt att samla in pengar, och det ärotroligt stora summor som tas in varje år.År 2003 samlade enbart de kyrkligasyföreningarna i Sverige in 46 miljonerkronor. I december förra året hadesyföreningen i Södra Vis församling, norrom Vimmerby, sin försäljning.Behållningen blev då 32.000 kronor, somskickades till olika mottagare, bl.a. InreMissionen, Frälsningsarmén, LäkareUtan Gränser, Barncancerfonden,Världens Barn och fadderbarn. Varjeförening bestämmer själv hur den villfördela sina pengar. Behoven liksommottagarna kan växla under olika tider.Under krigsårens kalla vintrar 1939-1945sändes t.ex. mycket hjälp till Norge ochFinland.

Pengar har alltid varit ett problem. Nuhar frakterna blivit så dyra, att en delföreningar i stället för att sändatillverkade varor till andra länder, säljersina varor här hemma och skickar de pen-gar de fått in, så att mottagarna kan köpavad de behöver.

Eftersom många kvinnor i dag ärdubbelarbetande, har de inte mycket tidför syföreningar, men det har många pen-sionärer. Hur ska det då bli i nästa gener-ation? Kommer de att ha tid och intresseatt fortsätta arbetet i syföreningarna? Jaghoppas det, eftersom jag tror att längtanefter gemenskap och viljan att hjälpaandra alltid kommer att finnas.

Insänt av: Gun Lith, SLKL. Bilder av: Gunnar Lith.

Faktauppgifterna har jag fått från :• På vidsträckta fält: Svenska kyrkans

syföreningar, red. Cecilia Dahlbäck.• Ingen förspilld kvinnokraft. En bok

om våra syföreningar. Sjökvist –Askmark – Beijbom.

• Medlemmar av syföreningar iVimmerby och Södra Vi, vilka jagintervjuat.

Syföreningar

From the sewing circle auction in Södra Vis’ church sewing circle in December, 2008. Some ofthe beautiful articles that are going to be auctioned are visible in this picture.Från syföreningsauktionen i Södra Vis kyrkliga syförening i december 2008. En del av de vack-ra saker som skall auktioneras ut syns på bilden.

A cross stitched picture is also from Södra Vi.En sydd korsstygnstavla, också från Södra Vi.


HAPPENINGS

Sr Linnea Lodge made an outstanding-ly generous contribution to theScandinavian Studies program at theUniversity of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.Sr Lodge has been a long time supporterof the program. Her recent pledge todonate $400,000 will be matched by gov-ernment funding to complete the localScandinavian community’s goal to raise$2,000,000 to endow a professorship inScandinavian Studies. The professorshipwill be named the Henry Cabot andLinnea Lodge Scandinavian Professorshipin honour of Sr Lodge and her late hus-band Br Henry Lodge.

Sr Lodge has contributed a lifetime ofservice to Vasa and the Scandinaviancommunity in Alberta. She has held manyLocal and District Lodge offices and hasattended Grand Lodge conventions formore than half a century. She is also a reg-ular contributor to The Vasa Star. SrLodge received her 70 year membershippin at Skandia’s 80th anniversary in June2009. She has also received an AlbertaAchievement Award (1980) and the GoldMedal of the Royal Order of the NorthStar from His Majesty Carl XVI Gustaf,King of Sweden (1989).

Sr Lodge’s parents immigrated toCanada from Småland. They named herLinnea after the province’s provincialflower, which itself was named forSwedish botanist Carl von Linné. To cele-brate the 2007 Linnaeus Centennial Year,Sr Lodge wrote to all lodges namedLinneaus, Linné, or Linnea to encouragesupport for GM Bergman’s goal of pro-moting Linneaus celebrations within Vasa.

The Henry Cabot and Linnea LodgeScandinavian Professorship will be thecornerstone of a thriving and expandingScandinavian studies program. The pro-gram began in 1960 and offers three

degree choices: Bachelor of Arts degree inScandinavian; Bachelor of Arts CombinedHonours degree in Scandinavian; Bachelorof Commerce degree with a major inEuropean Studies – Scandinavian. Courseofferings have included 1st and 2nd uni-versity year courses in Swedish,Norwegian and Danish as well as a broadrange of courses in Scandinavian litera-ture, culture and immigration. Courses aretaught on the University of Alberta’s maincampus in Edmonton, as well as on theAugustana campus in Camrose. Moreinformation on the Scandinavian Studiesprogram is available on-line at:www.arts.ualberta.ca.ca/~scand/

The Scandinavian Studies program iswidely supported by the localScandinavian community. The Scandi-navian Studies Association was founded in1989 and PGM Lennart Petersson was its2nd president. The Association hasenjoyed the support of the manyScandinavian groups in Alberta and hasrisen over $1,2000,000 for the endowmentfund. Over the years, Skandia #549 hascontributed more than $80,000 to theendowment. Skandia also contributes$1,000 annually for the Lennart and JoanPetersson Vasa Centennial Scholarshipfor 2nd year Swedish. District LodgeAlberta #18 sponsors an annual book prizein 1st year Swedish. The Vasa Pioneers#12 and local lodges Branting #417 andRed Deer #733 have also contributed tothe endowment.

Submitted by: Sandra Petersson Picture by: Michael Davies Venn

Vasa Member’s Generosity SupportsThriving Scandinavian Studies in Canada

Sr Linnea Lodge

The story of King Henry VIII and hiswives was performed as “spex” at NordicLodge #708, recently and won a standingovation from the audience.

King Henry was played by Erik Kind(seated) and, standing (left to right) GöranRygert, as King Henry’s deceitful advisorThomas Cromwell, a Scots nationalist;Magnus Edlund, as King Henry’s half-wit-ted nephew Lord Earnest Chnasebolley;and Sten Ekberg, as Jane Maxwell, who isactually Mary Stuart and an imposter pos-ing as a maid to the queen.

The performance, on Oct. 25, at St. Paul

Lutheran Church, in Atlanta, was a short-ened version of a play performed, in 1958,at Chalmers University of Technology, inGothenburg, Sweden.

“Spex” is now a Swedish tradition,which began in the 1860s, and has contin-ued, at Swedish universities, since. Theyare wholly amateur, student productions.“Spex” is a shortened version of theSwedish word “spetakel, which meansspectacle. Its origin is the Latin word“spectaculum,” which means play.However, the Swedish word “spex” maybest be translated to mean a special kind ofstage farce, which meets most or all of thefollowing requirements:

The story for a “spex” is taken from his-tory, but is somewhat re-written creativelyto make fun of it.

Allusions and anachronisms in thestory-line also make fun of aspects of thepresent.

The script is often in rhyme and itsjokes are silly and abundant, and improvi-sation is more a rule than an exception.

Some or many female roles are playedby male students, because it is oftenthought to be funnier that way. When“spex” began, there were no female stu-dents, and all parts were played by men.

Both classical and modern music areused, as integral parts of a “spex,” althoughnew words are written for the music.

“Spex” audiences are expected to shouttheir appreciation or discontent, andrequests to perform a scene again are madeand customarily granted.

In Sweden, from 40-80 students usuallytake several months of their spare time toprepare and stage a “spex.” Preparationrequires writers, music arrangers, costumemakers, scene builders, artists, PR activity,makeup specialists, musicians, a stagecrew, and reliable back-stage partyarrangers (for after the performance).

Submitted by: Norman Black,Nordic Lodge #708

“Spex” wowsGeorgia audience


Medlemsrekryterings-och

Insamlingskampanj

GroundbreakingCeremony

Swedes In Texas

Bishop Hill Visit

Vasa-Arkivets Vänner är en sam-manslutning av medlemmar som genomerläggande av sin årsavgift vill lämna sittfrivilliga bidrag till vår Ordens arkiv iBishop Hill, Vasa-Arkivet. Via Vasa-Arkivets Vänner sker även insamling avmedel till Vasa-Arkivet genom gåva tillminne av avliden Vasamedlem eller gåvavid uppvaktning av enskild person ellerjubilerande Loge.

Det inom Distrikt Norra Sverige Nr19(DL19) på frivillig väg insamlade belop-pet har de senaste åren inte motsvarat de1,5 US Dollar per år och medlem sombetalas i USA och Kanada. Som DL19nyvalde Representant för Vasa-Arkivet,har jag därför tagit initiativ till enMedlemsrekryterings - och insam-lingskampanj för Vasa-Arkivets Vännerför att därigenom ge Vasa-Arkivet ökatekonomiskt stöd. Kampanjen har justinletts men har fått en mycket glädjandestart.

Logen Bråviken Nr 751 beslutade vidsitt Jullogemöte den 5 december 2009, påinitiativ av sin Representant för Vasa-Arkivets Vänner Br Åke Sjöblom, att geen Julgåva till Vasa-Arkivet. Gåvan över-lämnas genom att Logen och samtligadess medlemmar även ansluts sommedlemmar i Vasa-Arkivets Vänner2009-2010 med utnyttjande av det över-skott som uppnåtts under året genommedlemmarnas insatser i olika samman-hang.

Logen Bråvikens initiativ är föredöm-ligt, berömvärt och efterföljansvärt,och jag hoppas att det inspirerar övrigaLoger och enskilda Logemedlemmar tillatt lämna sitt frivilliga bidrag till Vasa-Arkivet genom medlemskap i Vasa-Arkivets Vänner. Årsavgiften, somför Loge är 150 SEK och för enskildmedlem 50 SEK, inbetalas till bankgiro452-4807.

Kampanjen pågår fram till nästaDistriktsmöte i maj 2011. Uppföljningoch rapportering av kampanjens resultatsker kvartalsvis. Rapport per den 31 majkommer bl.a. att lämnas tillStorlogemötet i Washington D.C. den 2-9juli 2010.

Submitted by: Aldor Jansson, DL 19Representant för Vasa-Arkivet

[email protected]

Members of Viking Lodge #730, Flint,MI, were among the guests of Michigan’sGovernor, the Mayor of the City of Flint,and the President of Kettering Universityon the occasion of the visit of HisMajesty King Carl XVI Gustaf ofSweden in September 2008.

The King came to Kettering to cele-brate the completion of a successful fea-sibility study, and participate in a ground-breaking ceremony marking the estab-lishment of the Flint Center of EnergyExcellence.

The Center is a partnership betweenSwedish Biogas International, the City ofFlint, and Kettering University to pro-duce bio-fuels from wastewater.Kettering University and Sweden’sLinköping University had agreed to iden-tify research opportunities and other col-laboration efforts as they relate to theCenter.

Sweden has been converting waste-water to bio-fuels for more than 13 years.

We were delighted that Prince Braden,16th in line to the throne, accompaniedHis Majesty, and kindly posed for SteveMaczka, grandson of Ruth Sutton, VikingLodge #730.

Submitted by: Howard E. Weaver,Viking Lodge #730

Photo by: Steven Maczka

His Majesty Carl XVI Gustaf and MichiganGov. Jenifer Granholm.

As the New Year 2010 begins,thoughts of who we are and who wewere prevail. Let us recall again thevalue and huge contribution of ourSwedish ancestors so many years ago.

This article is a request for ALL toidentify and to send us a return email ifyou know of someone in aSwedish/Texas descendent family who isalive in 2010 and is past the age of 92.

The Swedes often celebrate a bigevent…such as a special birthday, ananniversary or other milestones, by tak-ing off to some other place. After manychanges from our original plans to cele-brate our 50th wedding anniversary onDecember 19, we decided to travel toBishop Hill instead and do some shop-ping for our Christmas “smörgåsbord.”Our daughter and friends hosted a sur-prise Open House and we were over-whelmed how many friends showed updespite the snowy and icy weather. Itturned out to be the very best way to cele-brate this day together with the manyfriends we had made there.

However, because this was our firstvisit to Bishop Hill since we left in 2006,we also wanted to visit the Vasa Archivesand visit with Lars Jenner. It was interest-ing to see the many changes that havebeen made since we left. Having been atthe Archives for over 15 years we noticedwhat had been done so far.

We were pleased to see that the lowerlevel has been completely done with newwalls and ceiling which had been needed

One of our Registered Users (RobinEvans of Waco, Texas) has asked thequestion, “How many of the people in theoriginal Swedes in Texas (SIT) bookpublished in 1918 are still living?”

I think that this is an excellent ques-tion and an opportunity for us to take acensus of who has participated in somany years of our cultural development.

So, this question is OPEN to ALL,whether your immigrant ancestors werein the SIT book or not, and whether youlive on one side of the Atlantic or theother.

Please respond with the name of theperson and send us a fairly recent photoas soon as you can. We are featuringthese individuals in an ALBUMon the swedesintexas.com website.See this LINK for our first twoentries: http://www.swedesintexas.com/browsealbums.php.

CLICK on Album #5 - Descendents -to view their current picture and theirfamily picture in the SIT book.

In addition to a picture of the person, aBIO would really ADD some great detailto share with our other website readers.

Gott Nytt År! Happy New Year!David and Paula Borg

845 CR 2470Salem, MO 65560

573-674-2323



SACC-Ohio Christmas Luncheon

1st Annual Swedish Meatball Contest

17 SwedishDesigners

since we first arrived at the Archives in1991. It took a lot of work by staff andvolunteers and generous contributions formaterial.

More work is needed to keep all thehistoric records and artifacts safe forfuture generations wanting to do researchand to keep the Archives a shining jewelof the Vasa Order of America and BishopHill. We are the envy of other Nordicorganizations in the USA so it is impor-tant that we should keep the building upto museum and archival standards.

Please read Lars Jenner’s column inthe Vasa Star for more information howyou, our members, can help.

Submitted by: Richard andLillemor Horngren

Greenbrier, TN

Bishop Hill VisitContinued from page 33

Richard Horngren and Lars Jenner.

From left to right: Lars Eriksson, SACC President for theOhio chapter, John Carlson; VP of the Cleveland basedFederal Reserve Bank Mike Miller, Swedish Counsel.

On December 17,SACC-Ohio, held the annu-al Christmas luncheon withSwedish delicacies, even“glögg,” at a Clevelandhotel in Cleveland, Ohio.

Guest speaker was JohnCarlson, VP of theCleveland based FederalReserve Bank. In the audi-ence were also the Counselsfrom the Netherlands andSwitzerland.

Submitted by: IngemarSvala, SACC member,

Cleveland, Ohio

By Ray and Carol LinaweaverWhen I first heard about the “meatball contest” I was amused. Meatballs are meat-

balls aren’t they? No, as I found out at the 1st Annual Swedish Meatball Contest heldon Sunday, September 20th, 2009 at the Scandinavian Autumn fest and “Marknad”Celebration at Vasa Park in Agoura, California.

It was a beautiful day and there was a great turnout at the Park. Eight SouthernCalifornia Vasa Lodges were there to compete in the Battle of the Meatballs. The con-testants brought out a bevy of supporters to propel their meatball entry to victory.

We loaded up our plates with a Swedish Meatball prepared by each Lodge, proper-ly identified, together with some potatoes, “lingonberry” jam, and a voting form tocast a ballot for the best tasting meatball.

I have to admit there IS a difference in meatballs. Some are very good and some arebetter. So, I voted for the best meatball, and it turned out to be the winner, which, tomy delight, was our Northern Light Local Lodge #620 (Ventura, CA). We won bytwo votes. It was a tough contest since all the meatballs were excellent. Eva Lindelland Kerry DeVries were our cooks using Eva’s grandmother’s secret Swedish recipe.Our tasters were Jim DeVries and Haken (Swede) Lindell who said we wouldn’t havewon without them.

I can hardly wait for next year’s Second Annual Meatball Contest. Submitted by: Jackie Ipock, Publicity Chairman for

Northern Light Lodge #620

On Friday, November 6, 2009 TheCleveland Institute of Art, in Cleveland,Ohio hosted a Private Preview of theopening night of the exhibit, 17 SwedishDesigners. Each of the designers intro-duced new trends and ideas in homedesign.

Opening remarks was held by MatsWidbom, Swedish Cultural Counselorfrom the Swedish Embassy inWashington, DC, and Michael Miller,Swedish Consul in Cleveland, Ohio.

After the event there was a panel dis-cussion, Cultural Values in Design:Global and Local Influences.

The exhibit will travel to several statesduring 2010 until its final destination inWashington, DC.

The Private Preview was sponsoredby: Embassy of Sweden Washington,Swedish Consulate and SwedishAmerican Chamber of Commerce inOhio.

Submitted by: Marie Carlson, VS

Swede and Eva accepting the trophy.

brother, 3 sisters, step-sons and 1 granddaughter inSweden and extended family in Santa Rosa and herVasa family at Linnea Lodge #504, Petaluma, CA.

FLORIDAMAYNARD ZYLSTRA of DeLand, FL, bornOctober 29, 1928, passed away on October 14,2009. He was born in Chicago, IL, and became amember of Jubilee Lodge #692 on February 8,2009. Survivors include 3 sons, 4 daughters, 20grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren. Althoughhe was not a member very long he enjoyed the fel-lowship with the lodge members. Maynard was aChicago fireman for over 30 years. He will be great-ly missed in our lodge.

MICHIGANGORDON F. HOLMQUIST passed away onOctober 11, 2009, in Escanaba, MI, at age 76. Hewas born on May 7, 1933, in Trenary, MI, andjoined Framat Lodge #463 on March 10, 2002. Heis survived by his wife Ethel.

HILDUR V. OLSON passed away on September 9,2009, in Gladstone, MI, at age 88. She was born onJune 8, 1921, in Bark River, MI, and joined FramatLodge #463 on August 14, 1997. She is survived bya son and 2 daughters.

DAVID S. RAY passed away on December 23,2009. He was born in Cuba, IL, on February 10,1917. After graduation from the University ofIllinois, David worked as commercial artist. He wasa veteran of WWII and was a member of SatelliteLodge #661 for 20 years. He is survived by his wifeDorothy, 2 sons and their families.

OHIOMARGARET (GUDRUN) LUNDBLAD (neeAugustin), passed away on October 21, 2009, inEuclid, OH, at age 88. She was the beloved wife ofthe late Paul, dearest mother of Paul A., Barbara J.Augustin, and John T. (wife Carmen); loving grand-mother of 6. Margaret was born on April 18,m1921, in Angermanland - Sweden, and became amember of Nobel-Monitor Lodge #130 on May 27,1937. Margaret was a Life Member.

NEW YORKANTON H. ANTONSON, born on May 10, 1924,died on November 29, 2009. He joined LodgeSyskonkedjian #306 in June 1939. The lodgemerged with Nobel-Liljan Lodge #64. He receivedhis 70-year pin (jewel). He is survived by wife Jane,2 sons, 1 daughter, 7 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.

WASHINGTONRUTH AXELSON, proud member of Svea Lodge#469 for 73 years, died on August 26, 2009, at age96. She was born on February 19, 1913, and was alifelong resident of Kelso, WA. Ruth served asDistrict Master for District Lodge Pacific Northwest#13 from 1962 to 1964. During that time she was onthe committee for the Youth Exchange withSweden. Ruth served as Chairman of Svea Lodgefive times and also fulfilled many other duties in thelodge. She as an active participant in lodge workthroughout her life. She is survived by 2 sons,James Axelson and his wife Nadine, and RobertAxelson and his wife Lola, 8 grandchildren, 23great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchil-dren.

ALICE J. STATSBERG HOLLADAY, bornOctober 12, 1918, in Astoria, OR, joined VasaNorth Star Lodge #145 in 1995 in Spokane, WA.She served as Cultural Leader/Special Events

Coordinator from 2001 to 2009. Her maternal great-grandmother was born in Stockholm, Sweden, andher parents and grandparents in Haiden, Norway.She was honored at Vasa Lodge’s 101st anniversaryas a 90-year old in April 2009. She taught schoolfor over 40 years. Her husband, Ellis O. Holladay,preceded her in death.

DORIS HOWARD passed away in October, 2009,at the age of 88. She joined Frihet Lodge #401 in1990 and served as Vice Chair. Doris is survived bysons Robert, Ralph, Randy and Dan Thompson,Gary Rose, Heidi Hendrickson, 16 grandchildrenand 13 great-grandchildren. She will be greatlymissed.

FERN E. M. SWANSON NELSON HULTMANpassed away on October 9, 2009, at the age of 93.Fern was born in Spokane, WA, on August 2, 1916,to Arthur Willhelm Svantesson (Swanson) born1886 in Werums, Kristianstad, Sweden, he marriedHildur Olsson, born 1887 in Norrbottens län. Fernwas preceded in death by husbands Werner Nelsonand Anders Hultman. Her father, Arthur Swanson,was one of the Charter members who started NorthStar Lodge #145 in 1908. Fern was a 78-year mem-ber, she was honored at the lodge’s 101st anniver-sary in April 2009.

WISCONSINMARINA EBERT passed away on April 1, 2009,at age 90. She is survived by her husband John. Shejoined Linde Lodge #492 in 1941. After 68 years asmembers she has earned the title of HonorableMember. During the 1950s, 60s and 70s, she heldmany offices, including the Chairman position.Although John and Marina moved to Florida, manyof Linde members still remember them fondly.Marina will be missed.

ROBERT THEKAN passed away on September25, 2009, age 79. He leaves special friend and com-rade for over 50 years, Richard Priem, as well asfamily and friends. He was a long-time member ofthe Finnish-American Society of Milwaukee, andLinde Lodge #492 for 22 years. Robert will bemissed by all his friends at Linde Lodge.

CANADAERMA LUCILLE SUNDELL was born in RoseValley, Saskatchewan on July 30, 1913. She passedaway on September 13, 2009, in Calgary, Alberta.Erma and husband Ben started their membership inVasa in Strindberg Lodge #259 in 1942 and trans-ferred to Branting Lodge #417 in Calgary, Alberta,in 1952. Erma’s membership spanned 67 years andshe was an Honorary Life Member of BrantingLodge #417 and Calgary Scandinavian Society. Shewas predeceased by Ben and son Allan. A daughter,son, grand and great-grandchildren will carry on herlegacy. Our Sister Erma was a wonderful personand a very hard worker. She will be missed verymuch.

In MemoriamTill minne av hädangångnaordenssyskon genom vilkas

bortgång syskonkretsen gjorten kännbar förlust

In memory of our departedmembers who will be

sorely missed

ARIZONASVANHILD L. BERULDSEN, member of SolstadLodge #709 since 2001, passed away in Sun CityWest, AZ, on October 19, 2009. She was born inÅlesund, Norway, and moved to Oslo as a teenager.She got her education in Oslo in accounting.Svanhild worked for the Chairman of the IndustrialDepartment and also for the Chairman of the StateDepartment for Finance. She was very active in theNorwegian underground during the occupation, wasarrested by Gustapo and spent time at Grine (con-centration camp outside of Oslo). Even after beingreleased she was still in danger and had to escape toSweden. After the war was over she came back toNorway, and she and Jacob were finally able to getmarried in 1949. They came to America in 1951 sothat Jacob was able to get his degree in engineering.Svanhild worked for the Norwegian delegation atthe United Nations in New York. She is survived byher husband Jacob of 60 years and 3 sons, Arne J.,Per J., and Knut J., and 5 grandchildren, Kyle andAlexis (Knut’s), John Jacob (Arn’s), and Meganand Finn (Per’s) children.

ANN JOYCE McCONACHIE , member ofTucson Lodge #691, passed away on October 17,2009. She was born in Minnesota on June 28, 1924,and joined our lodge on January 21, 1989.

CALIFORNIAEUNICE JEWETT BENTON, born in Austin,TX, on September 25, 1914, passed away onOctober 13, 2009, at Mesa, AZ. A member ofLinnea Lodge #504, Petaluma, CA, for 47 years,she served in many offices and was always proud ofher Swedish heritage. She was preceded in death byher husbands, Leroy Jewett and Ross Benton.Surviving her are 2 sons, 1 daughter, many grand-children, great- and great-great-grandchildren.

JOHN LIVENGOOD of Ventura, CA, passedaway in early September, 2009. He was a long-timemember of Northern Light Lodge #620. John waspreceded in death by his beloved wife Elsie and issurvived by a son and daughter and 2 grandsons.

DONALD OLSON, member of Linnea Lodge#504, Petaluma, CA, and native of Essex, IA(February 21, 1921), died on November 29, 2009, atNapa, CA. He was preceded in death by his wife,Margaret, in 1977, and is survived by good friendChristie Lovejoy, 3 sons, 1 daughter, 10 grandchil-dren and 1 great-grandchild. Don served in the U.S.Navy for 21 years, then with the U.S. Army Corpsof Engineers in the San Francisco Bay area. Inretirement he built and skippered commercial fish-ing boats at Bodega Bay, CA.

KRISTINA STIG, born in Ragunda, Sweden, inJanuary 1922, passed away in Santa Rosa, CA, onOctober 28, 2009, at age 87. She was preceded indeath by her husband Arne Stig and is survived by 1

MEMORIAL NOTICESshould be mailed with check or moneyorder to: Marie Carlson, 9560 CurberryDrive, Mentor, OH 44060. The fee is $8.00for 1 column inch. Longer obituarieswill be charged a flat rate of $25.00. Allnotices MUST be typed and WRITTEN ina format similar to those in this column.NO newspaper clippings.

No one flies to Scandinavia more often than we do. Check out all our destinations and timetables at www.flysas.com. By the way, “Välj” means choose in Swedish. As in, sometimes you need the highest comfort level, other times a low price, and many times both. That’swhy SAS offers three levels of comfort: Business, Economy Extra,our premium economy class and Economy – it’s your choice!

Gotoflysas.com/usforgreat

dealstoScandinaviaandFinland.Välj.Copenhagen Stockholm Oslo Helsinki Gothenburg Stavanger*

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

Drott Lodge #168, PA District #9Proudly announces its 100th birthday on

February 18, 2010

The lodge will celebrate this occasion with several activitiesscheduled throughout our anniversary year, including oneon July 3rd at House of Sweden in conjunction with theGrand Lodge Convention being hosted by PA District #9.

Check our website to see what is planned.www.drott-lodge.org

Documents

THE VASA STAR Vasa Star några veckor ... that has embraced our Lucia tradition with open arms despite being brought up in a ... intressanta fakta i dem. När jag