May-June Newsletter
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SONS OF NORWAY VALHALLA LODGE #4-341, Calgary, AB, Canada e-mail: [email protected] VOL. 2015 NO. 3 May-June FLYGEBLAD In this issue Ord fra Presidenten Ord fra Presidenten ........................... 1 Membership fees ............................... 1 God dag! It is always Electric cars in Norway .................... 2 good to see the end of Famous relatives ................................ 3 April! That means I have Interesting websites ......................... 3 finished with the income Speedskating at the Oval ................. 4 tax returns that I do and Lodge events summary .................... 4 soon it is Syttende mai! Welcome to Helena ............................ 4 We will celebrate on May th Worlds best cake ................................ 5 17 even though it is on Books ....................................................... 5 the Sunday of the long Genealogy tips ..................................... 6 weekend. One cannot Viking magaZine .................................. 6 celebrate May 17th on any other day! Alison and I spent a few days in Bismarck, ND attending the District IV spring board meeting. Some quick points to ponder. District IV Academic Scholarships (for studying Norwegian language or culture at a University in Canada or the US) are available. If you know of someone who is a child or grandchild of a Sons of Norway member in District IV, please refer them to me for more information. Did you know that Lodges in Sons of Norway could earn up to $250 for recruiting the most dues paying members? Also, the member who signs up the most dues paying members could receive an airline ticket to Norway courtesy of Sons of Norway and Borton Travel? Check out the Viking magazine or the new Sons of Norway website for information. Having trouble getting information on the new website? Contact someone on the executive at the next meeting for tips to make it easier to find information. Summer will come fast. See you at Syttende mai! Or at the Sports Weekend in Grande Prairie or St Hans Fest in Olds in June. See you at the Scandinavian Centre Breakfast in July. Anyone going to Trollhaugen this year? Registrations are due by May 15th. Or maybe just see you at the meetings in May, or June! Ha det bra, Russ. Find us on Facebook: Valhalla Sons of Norway Lodge 4-341 U.S. Exchange Rate Affects Membership Fees S/N Head Office has adjusted the exchange rate used for Canadian memberships to $1.25 (from $1.10). They bill 45 days in advance so this applies to memberships due after April 15, 2015. 1 (S/N Newsletter service) How Electric Cars Went Mainstream in Norway As of 2014, Norway reached #1 in per capita ownership of elbiler, or electric cars. One in every 100 cars on the road is run solely with electricity. This might not seem significant, but when you consider plug-in auto sales (which include both electric and hybrid vehicles), Norway’s 6.10% is simply staggering compared to the United States’ (0.60%,) and Canada’s (0.25%). However, this trend didn’t happen overnight, but was the product of a long-term combination of marketing, celebrity endorsements and government incentives. The earliest adopters and promoters of the electric car were none other than the members of Norwegian 80s band a-ha, who imported the first electrical car to Norway in 1989 through a partnership with the Bellona Foundation, an Oslo environmental organiZation. Then, the Norwegian Parliament created an incentive package to encourage its citiZens to reduce emissions and buy Norwegian brands of electric cars. The Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association, an Oslo nonprofit, also lobbied to make the cars more attractive to buyers, making it possible for electric cars to travel toll-free on all roads and ferries, have access to use of bus lanes, and free public parking. By far the largest benefit is that there are no taxes on electric car sales, something that on regular cars may double or triple the price. In the early days, having an electric car meant enduring cold rides during the winter and only having room for one passenger in the lightweight plastic-bodied vehicles. Finding a place to charge one’s car also presented a major challenge. Electric cars have advanced significantly over the past 25 years, as has the available infrastructure. As of 2014, there were more than 5,000 charging stations in Norway, which can be located through an online database NOBIL. The key component that propelled the electric car market, though, wasn’t the monetary or environmental benefits, but getting the word out to the average person and developing an infrastructure. It took several decades, but most Norwegians now know what an electric car is, can name some of the models on the market, and know where to find a charging station. Another incentive to make the leap to electric was the high price of gas (a whopping $9 a gallon). So much so, that sales of electric cars have rapidly eclipsed the addition of charging stations, making it difficult for all commuters to plug in while at work, or fit in the bus lane. This has resulted in the Norwegian Parliament decided to set a limit for the sales- tax-free status of electric cars: 50,000 zero-emission cars sold, or the year 2017, which ever came first. At the current rate of adoption, this goal may be reached in the summer of 2015. The Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association is aiming higher: 100,000 electric cars on the roads by 2020. They find that this number is the minimum needed to build enough charging stations nationwide. 2 Famous Relatives Mark Ellestad's niece, Kiesa Rae Ellestad, better known by her stage name KiesZa, is a singer-songwriter and dancer from Calgary who has most recently worked out of New York City and London. On March 14 the Toronto Sun reported that the 26-year- old Hideaway hitmaker took home a leading three Junos including “Breakthrough Artist” while her major label debut album, Sound Of A Woman, won best dance recording. Her breakout song, Hideaway, also won best video at the pre-telecast gala dinner. KiesZa was also interviewed by the Calgary Herald when she was in back in town recently to sing at U of C's MacEwan Hall. (From the Laft Hus newsletter) Also a first cousin to Russell Wiigs. For those who are wondering, Sørvågen is a town near the southern end of the Lofoten Islands, right next to the town of Å. We met Sven Asbjørn on our last trip to Norway. He is always willing to get the accordion out and play a tune for anyone who will listen or dance. He was also anxious to introduce us to his ‘boyfriend’ until his brother informed him that he erred in translating and meant to say ‘girlfriend’. We all did get a good laugh at that though. -Russ Interesting Websites Trondheim University NTNU web-based program is free and is offering “Learn Norwegian when you like - where you like - and absolutely free”. Learn Norwegian today by going to: www.ntnu.edu/now. Interesting/quirky http://www.mtv.com/news/1999637/sweden-flogsta-scream/ http://bananas.livetblantdyrene.no Why pineapple is ananas in Norwegian--scroll down to get the whole story http://tv.nrk.no/serie/national-knitting-eve/DVNR30004613/01-11-2013 A minute-by-minute attempt to beat the Guinness world record for creating a sweater, from shearing the sheep to the finished pullover. 3 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article- 2977330/That-s-one-way-mountain-Norway-opens-luxury- penthouse-SKI-JUMP-s-zip-wire-slopes.html (Air bnb at the top of Holmenkollen ski jump) http://www.scandikitchen.co.uk/howtobemorescandinavian/ youtube.com/watch?v=NeXf6xJJ2fw Swedish fire torch. One log fire. Neat trick for camping. Speedskating at the Olympic Oval Interesting headgear at the speedskating competition. Turid Asak says these close- fitting knitted caps with earflaps are what Norwegian speedskaters used to wear in competition. Now they are a favorite of the fans. The Norwegian team did well in the March 7-8 events. Ida Njåtun placed 1st in 1500 m. ladies, and Sverre Lunde Pedersen was 2nd in the 5000 m. and 1500 m. men's races. Lodge Events Summary (more details under Meetings, Events at website sofncalgary.ca) May 4, 7:30 p.m. Lodge meeting May 12, Guided tour - birdwatching May 17, 4 p.m. Syttende Mai celebrations at Scan Centre June 5-7, Sports Weekend at Silverwing Hall near Grande Prairie June 8, Lodge meeting, coffee providers Oscar and Berniece Roth June 20, 3 p.m., St. Hans Fest at Rosebud Hall near Didsbury Welcome to Helena Looking forward to next spring, when District IV has its convention: Date June 16- 18, location Red Lion Colonial hotel in Helena, MT, theme: Honoring our past, embracing our future. TIME TO GET WORKING ON YOUR FOLK ARTS ITEMS! 4 April 2015 • Thor’s Hammer • Page 7 Continued from Page 2 be early afternoon for the parade Hope to see you and new pros- highlighted throughout the newslet- and the banquet is at 6:30. This is a pects for Sons of Norway and Thor ter (so read it from cover to cover!) great time for fellowship and wel- Lodge at one of our many events Note that our April 6th business coming friends to our lodge and the meeting will be in the back room of park. Thor Lodge President Perkin’s Restaurant. You can come And speaking of our wonderful Julianne Bonner and join whomever is there for sup- Scandinavian Heritage Park. Park per at about 6:00 or come around buildings will open for the season on P.S. I have an open door or phone 6:30 for the meeting.