Godt nytt år og beste ønsker for 2005!

The January 11th Sons of Norway meeting and being installed as your President along with most of the Directors, many of them new, was a very special experience. To the new Directors, thank you for agreeing to stand, and congratulations on your commitment to Solglyt Lodge. Together, I hope we can make the lodge grow. To the members at large, we will be looking to you for support in the activities that we undertake over the next two years.

I joined Solglyt Lodge in 1996 because I wished to learn more of my Norwegian heritage. My Norwegian grandfather had died before I was born, and my Norwegian grandmother died when I was seven years old, so the opportunity was lost. I grew up visiting my Swedish grandparents often, and so learned some of their Swedish customs. However, my Swedish grandmother was more interested in improving her English than in teaching us Swedish. All of you at Solglyt Lodge have become my extended family, and I thank you for that.

I was a member of Solglyt Lodge for just a few months when Stan Johnson asked me if I would be Secretary, and I agreed. I felt this would be a good way to get to know the lodge members. The first couple of years were a challenge as not only did I have to remember your names, I had to spell them. Most of the minutes had to have several corrections. I continued as Secretary until 2003, when I agreed to be Vice-president, and now, today, I am your President. Just remember to say “yes” when I ask you to help out with something. And I must work on learning to say some Norwegian words.
-Elaine Domier

Date: Saturday, January 29th, 2005
Time: Cocktails - 6:00 P.M. Supper - 7:00 P.M.
Place: Dutch Canadian Club 13312 - 142 St.
Price: $20

Entertainment this year will be provided by the Wetaskiwin Zion Puppet Players, a group started in 1997. They have entertained at Sunday Schools, Christmas Parties, Singles groups, church groups, seniors’ groups, Canada Day programs, and Mission Outreach.

The Alberta Genealogical Society (AGS), Edmonton Branch meets on the second Wednesday of every second month. The Scandinavian SIG (Special Interest Group) meetings are held at 7:30 p.m. in the AGS Library (room 116) Prince of Wales Armouries, 10440 - 108 Avenue, Edmonton. The first meeting of the year was held Wednesday, January 12, 2005; the following meeting will be held on March 9.

Har du lyst til å snakke litt norsk? The Norwegian Conversation Club meets on the third Wednesday of each month from 7 to 9 p.m. Our first meeting in 2005 was January 19. Next meeting: March 16th. For more information, call Bjarne at 434-1765.

The Solglyt Sewing Club was formed in 1967 for the purpose of helping members to make bunader (Norwegian costumes). Over the years, the club held teas, made lunches, and sewed and raffled quilts to earn money for special projects for the lodge. They raised funds for Sports Weekends and bought supplies for the lodge. They made numerous table centerpieces for the winter games, conventions, and other lodge events. The lovely viking boats that are usually filled with grapes and still used as centerpieces at some lodge dinners, were made by the Sewing Club. A quilt made by the club was donated for the raffle at the 2002 Sports Weekend hosted by Solglyt Lodge. For many years, the club made the lefse and krumkake for lutefisk dinners.

The Solglyt Sewing Club does not do much sewing anymore; however they still undertake one main project a year. The Sewing Club meetings are a good venue to collect information on Norwegian culture, sewing, baking and crafts. The club meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the homes of members.The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 25, at 12:30 p.m. New members are welcome. For more information, see Contacts.

Solglyt Book Club got the inside scoop on January 12 when 2003 Governor General’s Award-winning author Glen Huser joined club members who had read his book Stitches. Huser, son of lodge and book club member Bea Huser, received the prestigious national award in the juvenile fiction category. Glen graciously and good humouredly shared insight into the creative process and backstage activities that went into writing the book centered on two young teenagers who don’t quite fit the norm in small-town Alberta. The book is a great story and vividly describes the troubling aspects of the phenomenon of bullying on the part of children and teens.

Glen showed off a specially bound copy of his book, which was part of the award he received at Rideau Hall in Ottawa. Thanks a lot Glen, for joining us.

The next meeting will be held on February 23, at 7:30 p.m. The book chosen for the February meeting is one of a new series of Norwegian mysteries, When the Devil Holds the Candle, by Karin Fossum. For information about the book club, call Nordahl at 444-9199.

“Come and Play in LA” Solsyd Lodge No. 603 of Lethbridge, Alberta, is hosting the annual Sons of Norway Sports Weekend, March 4 - 6, 2005. Anyone interested in bowling, curling, skiing, whist, or coming as a non-participant is welcome. The registration fee is $55 per person. Accommodation is at the Sandman Hotel, 421 Magrath Drive, Lethbridge. Rates are $72.00 per night. Call the hotel at 1-800-266-4660 and ask for the “Norwegian Olympics” rate. Transportation is available on a bus coming from Grand Prairie; bus fare is $40 return.

To register for the Sports Weekend contact Sports Director George Opstad at 484-7823 by January 29, 2005

The Guide Book is a project which has been undertaken by the Scandinavian Trade and Culture Society. A number of write-ups and documents are being received and the committee is now looking into ways in which to best move the project forward (writing, editing, layout, printing, etc.). If you are willing to help with this project, contact Wayne Nordstrom (459-4370).

Solglyt Lodge 143, Sons of Norway is having a celebration to mark Norway’s 100 years of independence from Sweden, and Alberta’s 100 years as a province in Canada.

During the day from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., a market will run with various items (crafts, food, artwork) for sale, and entertainment in the main hall. Displays and demonstrations of Norwegian crafts will take place in an adjoining room.

A celebration dinner will commence with cocktails at 6:00 p.m., dinner at 7:00 p.m., and a dance at 9:00 p.m. to the band of Henry Undheim. There will be draws, a 50/50, fun and surprises.

Tickets to the dinner and dance must be purchased in advance by calling Selma Sorenson at 425-8261. Cost is $25.00 and these tickets will go on sale February 15, 2005.

*** Free Memberships ***

As part of our special centennial celebration, Solglyt Lodge will be offering a one-year free membership in the lodge for anyone joining the lodge for the first time on April 16th, the day of the festivities. Membership application forms will be available at the Solglyt Lodge Information table at the Dutch Canadian Club on April 16th.

Do you know a lodge member who has been hospitalized, who has lost a family member, or who has had an important birthday or other anniversary? Please inform Secretary Wendy Langkaas or any other member of the executive so that we can visit or send a card to these members.

* to Astrid Hope who received Honorable Mention in Edmontonians of the Century, a book put out by the Edmonton 2004 Celebration Committee, which recognizes Edmontonians who have made significant contributions to the community. Honorable Mention in the category 1974-1983, went to “Astrid Hope - Nurse, Norwegian Cultural Expert, Community Volunteer.”

* to Peter Juliebo who has been sworn in as the new Torkseklubben bas.

We would like to remind all Sons of Norway members that a wealth of information is available through our web site, www.sonsofnorway.com. This includes Mini Presentations, Idea Banks, Information Banks, and small articles on everything from Norwegian holidays to Norwegian games, to “How to Plan a Family Reunion.”

The valleys in western and northern Norway are full of folk tales, sagas and myths, many of them relating to or “explaining” curious geographic features. In the north, they’re an especially rich part of Nordland coastal culture.

In one story, a lonely island-dwelling giantess shouted across the water to a giant named Blåmann (blue man) on the mainland, asking him to marry her. He agreed, provided she brought the island along with her, but by the time she’d packed everything up, the sun rose and turned her to stone, as did Blåmann, who’d stayed out too long waiting for her. The island became known as Gygrøy (giantess island), but local fisherfolk renamed it Landegode (the good land), lest the giantess take offense.

To delve deeper into Norwegian folk tales and legends, many of which have been translated into English, look for works by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe, in particular.
From Folklores and Legends, Lonely Planet Norway 2002

The Scandinavian Pavilion at the Edmonton Heritage Festival to be held in Hawrelak Park July 30, 31st and August 1, 2005 will pay tribute to the Danes, Finns, Icelanders, Norwegians and Swedes who have made contributions to the development and well-being of the Province of Alberta in the areas of agriculture, business, music, theatre, education, sports, social services, and officials in municipal, city and provincial administrations. Ken Domier would appreciate receiving information on Norwegians who were movers and shakers in the development of Alberta.

The Lefse Bee to make lefse for the Heritage Festival will be held on May 29, 2005 at the Dutch Canadian Centre. Contact Ken or Elaine Domier at 434-6532 for information on volunteering for the Lefse Bee and the Heritage Festival.

The Statistical Yearbook of Norway 2004 is now available in both print and electronic editions. The yearbook contains relevant statistics on Norway and also main figures for the Nordic countries and other countries selected from international statistics. With 663 tables and figures, Statistics Norway presents both the current situation and the historical development in a format most people can use. Both the Norwegian and English electronic editions are available on Statistics Norway’s homepage at http://www.ssb.no/english/publications.
- from NACCNEWS

At the fall board meeting District IV established a new membership program for January 1 to August 31, 2005. Five awards of $200 each will be given at a drawing at the fall 2005 board meeting. For every new member signed up during this period, the recruiting member’s name will be put in the drawing for these awards. Each new member equals one chance to win.

The Solglyt Lodge website is on its way. A committee, consisting of immediate past President Roger Bruce, Bob Ardiel, Louise Johnson, Lynn Douglas and Nordahl Flakstad, has been developing the site content. The committee has particularly benefited from Lynn’s knowledge and technical expertise. Efforts are now under way to secure a domain name for the site. Once that happens, the site will go on line.

Please remember, the website is a work in progress. The committee has worked hard on this project, but suggestions for improvements are welcomed. Where practical, such suggestions will be incorporated.

The website address will be www.sofnedmonton.ca

The District IV Scholarship Program is designed to support the study of Norwegian language, literature and culture, study and travel in Norway, participation in Camp Norway, or participation in a Norwegian Heritage Seminar...

Eligibility: An applicant must have been a paid-up member of Sons of Norway for six months preceding the April 1 deadline (i.e., since Sept. 30th of the previous year) and must be a current member of District IV, or have a parent or grandparent who is a member of District IV. A letter of endorsement from an officer of the applicant’s lodge MUST accompany the application. Each applicant must write a three-hundred-word essay explaining why he or she wishes to participate in the program.

Deadline: Application deadline for scholarships is April 1st each year for the following summer program or for the following school year. The District IV Scholarship Committee will determine the recipients of the scholarships. All applicants will be notified by May 1.

Scholarships Available: Scholarships of seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00) each (in U.S. funds) will be determined by the Scholarship Committee...

1. To study Norwegian language, literature, or culture at a university or college in the U.S. or Canada which has an approved program in the field.

2. To study at a Norwegian university or folk school.

3. For participation in Camp Norway.

To obtain a scholarship application and more details, call Selma Sorenson at 425-8261.

Purpose: The purpose of the District IV Cultural Scholarship Program is to encourage and support the continued development of cultural skills in the district through the awarding of up to a total of $500 (US) per year in scholarships to cover the registration fee and materials required for workshops, seminars and other classes which teach folk art (i.e. woodcarving, rosemaling, hardanger, cooking) folk dancing, history or other appropriate activities.

Eligibility: Applicants must be paid-up members of Sons of Norway for six months preceding the April 1st and September 1st deadlines, and must be a current member of District IV.

Deadline: Application deadline for scholarships is April 1st of each year. The District IV Scholarship Committee will determine the recipients of the scholarships and will notify all applicants after the date of the board’s spring and fall board meetings.

To obtain more information and/or an application for a cultural scholarship, call Selma Sorenson at 425-8261.

Own Channel for Folk Music

In December, 2004, NRK began broadcasting “Folk music all the time” 24 hours a day.

The new radio channel is digital and is built similarly to “Classical music all the time”. All music is recorded beforehand and information on who is playing or what is being played can be determined through text and photos.

The channel is distributed via net radio and digital radio.

Journalist Leiv Solberg, who started the channel, partly explains the launch by saying it is no longer only the youth who know how the Internet and net radio work.

The channel is “for Norwegian folk music from all eras and nuances,” writes NRK on its website.

NRK has a unique collection of folk music as far back as 1934 and up to today in its archives, which it now hopes will, in this way, be available to more people.

To hear the folk channel, log on to www.nrk.no At the top of the page in the drop down menu labelled "NRK NETTRADIO", click on “NRK Alltid Folkemusikk".

- from Aftenposten

Egen kanal for folkemusikk

I desember begynte NRK å kringkaste “Alltid folkemusikk” 24 timer i døgnet. Den nye radiokanalen er digital og bygd over samme lest som kanalfetteren “Alltid Klassisk”. All musikk er altså lagt inn på forhånd, og hvem som spiller eller hva som blir spilt får man vite gjennom tekst og foto.

Kanalen vil bare bli distribuert via Nettradio og digital radio, dab.

Journalist Leiv Solberg, som åpnet kanalen, forklarer delvis satsningen med at det ikke lenger er slik at bare de unge vet hvordan Internett og nettradio fungerer.

Kanalen skal være “for norsk folkemusikk av alle datoer og avskygninger”, skriver NRK på sine nettsider.

NRK har en unik samling av folkemusikk så langt tilbake som til 1934 og frem til i dag i sine arkiver som de nå håper at på denne måten vil bli tilgjengelig for flere.

For å høre på “Alltid Folkemusikk” skriv inn www.nrk.no/kanal.nrk_alltid_folkemusikk.

Under første artikklen, klikk på “Hoyr Alltid Folkemusikk direkte” og så, på toppen av den neste nett side, klikk på “Hør På Nett radio.”

- fra Aftenposten

A new survey indicates that Norwegians are among the happiest and most trusting people in Europe. These are some of the admittedly subjective findings from the European Social Survey (ESS), published in Statistics Norway’s magazine Samfunnspeilet (Social Mirror).

Interviews of 40,000 Europeans about their feelings about their lives showed that Norwegians were quite content.

“Norwegians are very high on the list of the happiest in Europe but not top. Denmark is on top, well over countries like Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Norway. Even if the United Nations development fund has ranked Norway as the best country in the world to live in, this does not have to mean that Norwegians are the happiest people,” said Professor of Sociology Kristen Ringdal. Norwegians are very trusting, both towards authorities and in their fellow man.

“We have great faith in societal institutions such as the judicial system and police, and faith in most people,” Ringdal said.

- from Aftenposten

I am thrilled to announce the 2005 Centennial Tour to Norway from June 8-21,2005. There is no doubt this trip will be an experience of a lifetime, and one that should not be missed! Join your fellow Sons of Norway members and celebrate 100 years of Norwegian independence from Sweden.

Phyllis and I invite you to join us on this memorable tour which will include numerous exciting Centennial events. The tour begins with the group attending the ceremonial opening of the new Svinesund Bridge linking Norway and Sweden and attended by both His Majesty King Harald V of Norway and His Majesty King Carl Gustav of Sweden.

Other tour highlights include the world premier Opera performance of “Aurora” at the Fredriksten Fortress in Halden, the districts of Telemark and Hardanger, and time in Bergen featuring exhibitions and events connected to the Centennial celebration.

A visit to Tubfrim is included, as well as a very special farewell banquet at the Grand Hotel, Oslo, attended by a surprise guest.

Contact Borton Overseas at 1 (800) 843-0602 for a brochure and reservation form. If you have any other questions, feel free to contact me.

In conclusion, I know 2005 will be another great year for Sons of Norway.

Scandinavian Travel Specialist Elaine Domier may be contacted at 434-6532, cell 965-6532