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HIGHLIGHTS of the District 1 Sons of Norway Convention—By Sam Hatlestad, Delegate

 

      Under the theme “Teamwork Makes the Difference,” the Borgund Lodge 1-532 hosted the 52nd District 1 Convention of the Sons of Norway, June 17-19, 2004 at Rapid City, SD. District 1 includes the states of Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Texas plus the states of Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana.

 

      Half of the 225 delegates attended their first convention. Delegates participated in four Sub District caucuses, four general business sessions, including a memorial service led by Carol Jung, free-time outings in the Black Hills area, and the President’s Reception and the closing banquet. Fjordland Lodge 1-508 was well-represented by delegates Marge Grorud, Barbara Hoium, Dennis Quissell, Judeen Johnson, and Sam Hatlestad plus Carol Jung, District 1 Publicity Director, and Garry Grorud, SON Field Representative. Duane and Phyllis Sander attended the closing banquet. District 1 President Gene Brandvold presided at the business sessions. International President James Olson gave the keynote address and was present throughout the convention, as was Ken Mjoen, International Board Member.

 

      The format for the convention business revolved around the reports of the four committees: Law Committee (deals with Bylaw changes; chaired by Marge Grorud); Resolutions Committee; Finance Committee; Reports Committee.

Bylaw changes and Resolutions must be presented to the International Convention for Bylaw/Constitutional approval. The following Bylaws were passed: Eliminating the position of Counselor from the District Lodge; adding the District Vice President as a salaried and bonded officer; increasing District Dues from $2.50 to $4.00 a year; adding the states of Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana to District 1.

 

      Resolutions passed included: Increasing the Fraternal Program Fund allocation from 25 cents to 50 cents per adult member; assigning the treasurer the primary responsibility for handling the local lodge’s funds and giving the Financial Secretary the role of Membership Secretary (local lodges still have the freedom to retain their Financial Secretary); beginning Oct. 1, 2005, elected local lodge officers shall be limited to four (4) consecutive years in the same office, with the exception of the Secretary, Membership Secretary, and Treasurer; changed the name of geographical areas from Sub Districts to Zones; encouraged establishing an exploratory committee to study long term facilities for the Sons of Norway and report its findings to the International Board of Directors. (Note: Among the resolutions defeated was a proposal to change the name of Sons of Norway to a “Society of Nordics.”)

 

Elections:

1.       District Officers: President—Jon Tehven, Solglimt Lodge 1-547, Cedar Falls, IA; Vice President—Joel Brude, Elvesvingen Lodge 1-582, Mankato, MN; Secretary—Karl Hella, Nordmarka Lodge 1-585, Northfield, MN; Treasurer—Orvin Drangstveit, Normanna Lodge 1-052, Albert Lea, MN; Social/Cultural Director—David Susag, Heimbygda Lodge 1-376, Lanesboro, MN; Publicity Director—Carol Jung, Fjordland Lodge 1-508, Brookings, SD; Youth Director—Gary Anderson, Syttende Mai Lodge 1-517, Minneapolis, MN; Sports/Recreation Director—Marilyn Syverson, Norskfodt Lodge 1-590, Morris, MN.

2.       Sub District Directors—George Casanova, Grieg Lodge 1-578, Aberdeen, SD (re-elected); Sub District 6 includes the state of South Dakota.

3.       International Convention Delegates for Sub District 6 of District 1

a.       Regular Delegates—Marge Grorud, Fjordland 1-508, Brookings, SD; Leif Andol, Solskinn Lodge 1-550, Huron, SD; Richard Lone, Gjøa Lodge 1-065,  Sioux Falls, SD; Rich Phillips, Hovedstad Lodge 1-597, Pierre, SD.

b.       Pool Delegates—Bob Tabbert, Gjøa Lodge 1-065, Sioux Falls, SD; Dennis Quissell, Fjordland Lodge 1-508, Brookings, SD.

c.       Alternates to Regular Delegates—Ruth Lone, Gjøa Lodge 1-065, Sioux Falls, SD; Carol Jung, Fjordland Lodge 1-508, Brookings, SD.

4.       International Director (4 year term)—Gene Brandvold, Vonheim Lodge 1-108, Bloomington, MN; Alternate International Director (2 year term)—Jon Tehven, Solglimt Lodge 1-547, Cedar Falls, IA.

 

Presentations: Sons of Norway Foundation showed a new video which includes several scenes of the Fjordland Nordic Nimble Feet Dancers (available to all lodges); Ski for Light; Fjord Horse Project of the Kong Sverre Lodge 1-482, Story City, IA; Sales and Marketing of SON Financial Products; Charter to the Maihaugen Lodge 1-665, Overland Park, KS.

 

Awards received by Fjordland Lodge:

1.       Certificates of Special Recognition of Lodge and/or Individual Lodge Members

a.       Gold Merit Award for 2002 and 2003—Fjordland Lodge

b.       President’s Gold Merit Award for 2002 and 2003—Phyllis Sander, Fjordland Lodge

c.       Membership Growth (7%)--$50.00 check attached

d.       Helping Hands of Children Grant of $500.00 for Nordic Nimble Feet dancers

2.       Lodge of the Year Award for 2003 for lodges over 200 members

3.       Ribbons for Folk Arts Exhibit and Competition: Marge Grorud--Blue for Chip Carving, Tied for 2nd in “Best of Show Award”; Mary Quissell—Blue for Hand Knitting; Linda Vaa—Blue for Girl’s Bunad, Red for Boy’s Bunad; Selma Texley—Blue and Red ribbons for crocheting.

 

Reports: Scholarship Trust Fund Walk (Sam Hatlestad participated in walk on Friday and Saturday mornings); walk raised $913.00 from sponsor contributions and $361.65 from table contributions by delegates—to support District 1 Language Camps.

 

Announcements: 2006 District 1 Convention, June 15-17 at Bloomington, MN; Theme: “The Voyage Continues.”

     

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