Sons of Norway Bernt Balchen Lodge President’s Message What a treat is has event has been popular (International VP) and been to have such for many years but me (Dist 2 Secretary). sunny days and mild doesn’t happen by it- Convention goers will temperatures. Now if self. Past chairs Dan have the pleasure of the snow would only Lien and Terri Gryting another Alaska Hospi- VIKING HALL 349-1613 have moved to the Lu- tality Room put on by www.sofnalaska.com go away.....! cia Committee. all 6 Alaska lodges at- Lots of comments tending, complete with came to me that those We have the Mother’s Alaska foods and music May of you who attended Day Brunch and the (Marit). They love us!!! the Norwegian Fish Syttende Mai Celebra- 2012 Dinner were very tion at the lodge this As we head into the pleased with that month as well. Lots of summer months, don’t mai wonderful meal. volunteer opportunities forget the Father’s Day Merlin and his crew for all of us. If you Picnic in June, our of helpers did an awe- haven’t helped at an Kids Camp in July and some job! Those of event, call the chair or the Fish Boil in Au- you who did not at- the Viking Hall office if gust. These events tend will want to in- you are interested. It’s won’t interfere with dulge yourselves if a great way to learn your fishing too much he’s willing to repeat more about our lodge and provide opportuni- it next year. and its members. ty to meet and chat with fellow lodge My thanks to John The District 2 Conven- members during those Olnes for volunteer- tion is May 23-26. Our summer months. ing to chair the May five lodge delegates 17th Parade on the will attend as will Fraternally, Park Strip. That Marit Kristiansen Mickey

Inside this issue:

Syttende Mai Celebration 2 Mother’s Day Brunch Syttende Mai Parade 2 at Viking Hall

Sunshine Report 3 Sunday, May 13th Kaffeslaberras 3 10 am to 2 pm 3 Employment Opportunity

Carve your Name in Stone 3 The menu includes Walter’s sourdough pancakes, Viking Hall News 4 Nuna’s apple cinnamon syrup, ham, Eidsvollsbygningen 4 reindeer sausage, eggs, mixed fruit, a little in... 5 juice, coffee and champagne. Publicity Director Opening 5

Kids Camp 2012 6 Adults $10, ages 12-16 $6, ages 5-11 $4, Under 5ys free Language Classes 6 Cultural Corner 7 HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY Rosemaling Classes 7 MAY 2012 THE FLYER PAGE 2

Syttende Mai Parade Please join us at Viking Hall

for Thursday, May 17 6pm - 8pm SYTTENDE MAI CELEBRATION Join us in celebration of Norway’s Celebrating Norway’s Constitution Day Constitution Day for a traditional parade on May 17. Sunday, May 20th We encourage you to wear your bunads 3:00 pm or Norwegian sweaters and red and blue ribbons as we carry Norwegian Flags and Potluck Luncheon the Bernt Balchen Lodge banner around

Bring your favorite side dish or dessert the block. We will have flags on hand—or bring your own. and enjoy time with friends!

Meats will be provided by the Lodge We’d all very much appreciate having some of our lodge’s talented musicians Join us to recognize lodge members accompany us as we march receiving anniversary pins and 2012 around the block as well!

scholarship recipients A short program of speakers will

Adults—$5 precede the parade and hotdogs and ice cream will follow.

Please contact Mickey Andrew to assist or We encourage all ages to share special ask questions—[email protected] / 563-8006 talents or favorite 17 Mai memories.

We will meet under the giant flag pole on “I” Street between 9th and 10th Avenues.

The event will take place rain or shine! April Fish Dinner If you would like to help, participate or have

Norwegian Gourmet Meal a Hit ! questions contact John Olnes, 562-2794.

Merlin Hamre, as lead Chair for the April Fish Dinner, received rave reviews on his selection of gourmet dishes for the meal. His recipes came together in a savory and tasty success. Also thanks to his fine crew of assistants including Martha Andrew, Ingrid Braastad, Beth Bysheim, Anna Decker, Bev Griffin, Celeste Hamre and her friends, Sandra Johnson, Cindy McDowell, and Cynthia and John Olnes. In addition, thanks to Chris Nelson who helped with clean-up after a long day at work.

Ted Birkedal MAY 2012 THE FLYER PAGE 3

Sunshine Employment Opportunity at Viking Hall Report Tuesday-Friday, 9am-1pm

Greetings are sent to the fol- Viking Hall currently has a job opening for part time lowing members celebrating employment Tuesday-Friday, 9am-1pm (4 days per week/ a birthday in May who are at 4 hours per day.) This position is available as a job share least 75 years young. working every other week or one employee working every week.

"Happy Birthday" The position has a wide range of duties—from office work using a computer to cleaning the hall after events. ―Gratulerer med dagen!‖

Margaret Edwards Computer software used in this position include QuickBooks and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Publisher and PowerPoint.) Pre- Reidun Hansen vious experience using these software packages is not required. Donald Hanson Below is a brief job description covering the primary duties. Gordon Homme Darrell Korman Bookkeeping - QuickBooks accounting software is used to ac- Gerald Swanson count for Viking Hall receipts and disbursements. This includes payments to vendors, utilities, etc. as well as invoices and re- If you know someone who needs ceipts related to hall rentals. a little sunshine, please call Cindy McDowell 696-0725 Hall Rentals - Respond to hall rental inquiries, arrange hall (cell—862-1143) or email at showings and process hall rental contracts.

[email protected]. Cleaning - Clean hall after events. This includes cleaning of the main hall, foyers, bathrooms and kitchen. Most cleaning is done during regular work hours. Occasionally back-to-back events require cleaning on weeknights or weekends. Keep the outdoor New Member! area tidy including sweeping and snow shoveling of sidewalk and steps.

Leif W. Haugen Sons of Norway Lodge activities - There are a variety of duties involving Sons of Norway lodge activities. To name a couple— Carve Your respond to inquiries about the Sons of Norway organization and Name in Stone! pass along information to the appropriate lodge officer and take

reservations for lodge socials. If you would like to commem- Miscellaneous - Purchase office and janitorial supplies.

orate an event in your life and ―cast it in stone‖ an Contact Viking Hall board member John Olnes at inscribed brick can be perma- 562-2794 if you are interested in this position or know nently placed at the base of someone else that may be. the hall flagpoles. The in- scription can be up to two lines with 20 characters (including spaces) on each Kaffeslabberas line. May 17th Each brick is $100 with the proceeds going toward the 11:30 -1:30 @ Viking Hall

Building Maintenance and The best place in town for lunch! Improvement Fund. Come and enjoy the wonderful soups and sandwiches at a very Contact the Viking Hall office reasonable price. Please call ahead to Viking Hall @ 349-1613, at 349-1613 to order your but we always welcome drop-ins. brick. PAGE 4 THE FLYER MAY 2012 Viking Hall News Wedding bells will be in all the upstairs and down- sink drains in the kitchen and ringing this summer and Vi- stairs four-foot florescent fix- replaced the faucet and water king Hall has several recep- tures. These fixtures now pro- shutoff valves in the mop clos- tions booked. These rentals duce more light while using less et utility sink downstairs. As cover day-to-day expenses as energy. John and Cynthia expected, each job required well as help to build the re- Olnes assisted by cleaning the more than one trip to the hard- serve fund for future needs. fixture parts and covers before ware store.

We are sorry to report Anita they were reinstalled. Ed had Volunteers are always needed Persson will no longer be able previously replaced the light to close for rentals. Contact to work in the office. Anita fixtures in the main hall. Ed the Viking Hall office if you did a wonderful job and we also replaced or repaired light can help with this important will miss her. We are looking switches upstairs and down- effort. Thanks to Ted for a replacement (see the em- stairs. Next we will be looking Birkedal, Anita Persson and ployment opportunity article at replacing the fixtures in the John and Cynthia Olnes for elsewhere in this newsletter.) library. Ed does a wonderful recent closings. job keeping our electrical sys- Thanks to Ed Swearingen, tem in good shape. John Olnes new ballasts and energy effi- Viking Hall President cient bulbs are now installed John Olnes recently repaired Surprising Discoveries at the Birthplace of Norway's Constitution Norway's historic manor servationists and archaeolo- Works in the early 1600s. In house and site of the May 17, gists have dated the flooring approximately 1770, the iron 1814 signing of the constitu- back to 1770, when the current works' current owner Carsten tion was just recently the site building was constructed on the Anker built Eidsvollsbygningen of a few remarkable new dis- site of a home destroyed by fire. to be one of the country's most

coveries. Further digging in the cellar modern and luxurious private has also revealed an original residences, modeling it after natural stone floor, believed to French and Danish architec- belong to the previous home in ture. In 1823, Eidsvollsbygning- 1686. Other items discovered en and Eidsvoll Verk were sold include stone benches and at auction. Less than 15 years shelves. "Until now, this cellar later, the house was declared was used for storage, and this Norway's first national monu- 'inner filet' pops up. These dis- ment and eventually purchased In an effort to restore by the state in 1851. coveries offer a good picture of Eidsvollsbygningen and it's how life was for those working To learn more about Eidsvolls- grounds to their original ap- in the house during constitu- bygningen or to tour the house pearance for bicentennial fes- tional deliberations. Servants virtually, visit www.eidsvoll1814.no/ tivities in 2014, the Norwe- ran over these floors, in and A digital museum of many of gian government is funding out, with food and drink for the the house's historical items can an extensive NOK 361 million Eidsvoll men," said Erik renovation of the site. Renova- also be viewed at Jondell, director of the organi- http://digitaltmuseum.no/info/owners/EM tions ground to a halt in zation in charge of the building. February when workers un- Included in the village of covered a well and beautifully Eidsvoll Verk, the area was laid brick floor while digging originally part of Eidsvoll Iron in the building's cellar. Con- MAY 2012 THE FLYER PAGE 5 a little in English... litt på norsk... Barnetog – Children’s parade Barnetoget

In contrast to many other countries which celebrate Til forskjell fra mange andre land som their national holidays with big military parades, feirer sin nasjonaldag med store mili- Norway celebrates by showing off their pride and tærparader, feirer Norge med å vise fram sin hope for the future, their children, in an important stolthet og framtidshåp, barna sine, med en tradition called barnetog, the children’s parade. viktig tradisjon som kalles barnetoget.

The barnetog is a Norwegian cultural institution Barnetoget er en norsk kulturinstitusjon knytta connected to the celebration of Norway’s Constitu- opp mot den årlige feiringa av den norske grun- tion Day, May 17th, or Syttende Mai. Every Syt- nlovsdagen, 17. mai. Hver 17. mai går alle tende Mai all the country’s children march in pa- landets skolebarn i tog med små norske flagg i rades with small Norwegian flags in their hands hendene og fargerike faner som presenterer and colorful banners proclaiming their school or skolen og klassen deres. class. Barnetoget-tradisjonen stammer fra 1800-tallet. The barnetog tradition comes from the1800s. At Da var Norge med i en union med Sverige. that time Norway was part of a political union with Mange nordmenn ville at Norge skulle bli full- Sweden. Many Norwegians wanted Norway to be- stendig selvstendig, og 17. mai-feiring var derfor come a completely independent country, and cele- en type fredelig protest. I 1869 fikk rektor Peter brating Syttende Mai became a kind of peaceful Qvam ideen til barnetog. Qvam var en nær venn protest. In 1869 school principle Peter Qvam got av dikter og nasjonalhelt Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, the idea to start a child’s parade. Qvam was a close og sammen argumenterte og agiterte de for bar- friend of poet and national hero Bjørnstjerne netog i avisspalter og andre fora. Bjørnson, and together they argued and agitated for the barnetog in newspapers and other forums. Det første barnetoget gikk 17. mai 1870. Det var et rent guttetog som talte ca. 1 200 styhker. The first barnetog was held on Syttende Mai in Ideen ble raskt populært over hele landet. De 1870. It consisted solely of boys and numbered første jentene gikk i barnetog i 1889. 1200 strong. The idea soon became popular all over the country. The first girls joined the parade in Rundt om i landet vil du finne lokale vari- 1889. asjoner. I Bergen setter buekorpsa, en spesiell

Around the country you can find local variations in type speidergruppe, sterkt preg på dagen. I Oslo how the holiday is celebrated. In Bergen, for exam- går barnetoget forbi Slottet, der kongefamilien ple, the buekorps, a special type of scouting group, står på balkongen og vinker til dem. make their mark on the holiday. In Oslo, the chil- dren march past the Palace, where the royal family stand on the balcony and wave to them.

WE HAVE SOME SHOES TO FILL! Our web master, co-publicity director members informed of the happenings Thursday, May 3rd Robyn Birkedal Reynolds is leaving us of the lodge. for Portland, OR. She has a wonderful We would like Robyn’s replacements Board Meeting opportunity there so we have to say it’s in place by Fall. However, the soon- 7:00 pm ok to leave us. And that means we need er those of you interested can speak th one or two of you out there to take her up do so, please. Or, if you are not Thursday, May 10 place in our lodge. tremendously interested but will do Program We have a very nice web site and want it to help the lodge or to assuage any 7:00 pm to continue it but we must have a web guilt you may have because you nev- 3rd Episode of “ET SKI-EVENTYR” master for it. The bulk of the work is er volunteer for anything, please “The Ski Story” after the first of the year when we need contact the Viking Hall office or me. Fun & Exciting Footage the new officer list and the new calen- These are very important jobs in our dar put on the site. Pictures may come Featuring Norwegian Ski Legends lodge and if you can only help us in all year long for the web master. Business Meeting until the New Year that would be As co-publicity directory, you would appreciated too. 7:30 pm work with Jane Moe Newby in publiciz- Call me!! Board Meeting & Business Meeting ing lodge events and in putting out the Mickey Open to All E-Blast every week or so to keep lodge [email protected] / 563-8006 PAGE 6 THE FLYER MAY 2012

KIDS CAMP MAY 17th CELEBRATION

It’s going to happen and I’m beginning We will have a lodge celebration for to receive names of children who want to Syttende Mai on Sunday, May 20th, at attend. 3 pm.

Mark your calendars for July It will be potluck for side dishes and 16-20, 10 am–3 pm for five desserts but the lodge will provide meat.

days of kid-sized culture and Please join us to recognize our lodge heritage. members and scholarship recipients. We still need volunteers to help with Anniversary pins will be given to 20, 25, crafts (we have crafts, materials and will 30 year (and on up) members as well as show you how, if need be), kitchen help a few Golden Member certificates.

for lunches and outdoor activities. A few We had a good turnout last year; food middle schoolers might be nice to have was good, program entertaining and not as helpers too. long and we hope to repeat that again

this year. Please contact me or Viking Hall if you’d like to join the group. Give me a call at I can use a few volunteers to help set 563-8006 or email me at [email protected] up, decorate and clean-up. Please con- or leave your name and phone number tact me to let me know where you’d like at Viking Hall and we will contact you. to help.

Mickey Andrew Thank you! Camp Committee Chair Mickey [email protected] / 563-8006

Beginning: Sundays 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM Norwegian Language & Culture Classes Last class prior to summer break—May 20th

Isabel MacCay’s Norwegian Beginners I class The classes will be presented on Sunday, most will end on Sunday, May 20. In fact, we have probably in the late afternoon and early even- already held our last Advanced Norwegian ing. We will not be offering an Advanced Nor- Class. wegian class next fall.

Isabel will offer two levels of Norwegian clas- Exact starting dates and times of day will be ses next fall starting in early September (the announced when they are known.

exact date is yet to be determined.) She will Bernt Balchen Lodge would like to thank teach a Beginners I class for those who have Isabel MacCay for her popular Beginners I not been exposed to the language or wish to class this year. She has made the class a fun take a refresher. Also, she will offer a Begin- place to learn. ners II for those who took Beginners I and are ready to improve their command of Norwegian. If you have any questions please contact Ted If you have not taken Beginners I, but already Birkedal, Cultural Director, at 351-6095. have some command of Norwegian you are al- so welcome to attend the Beginners II class. PAGE 7 THE FLYER MAY 2012

Cultural Corner—Viking Love Poetry The Vikings are often portrayed as mead-crazed poem below he tells of his first en- savages in horned helmets. For one they did counter with Steingerd. not have horns on their helmets—that is a myth The bright lamps of both the created in the nineteenth century. And as I woman’s cheeks (i.e. her eyes) tried to point out in my piece on Egil Skalag- burned upon me over the kitchen rimson, even the toughest of the Vikings were shutter—this gives me no cause not unthinking savages—though I cannot be for merriment; and I looked at the sure that they did not get a little mead-crazed ankles of the finely grown woman every now and then. by the threshold—this yearning Some Vikings even composed love poetry. One will not die from me all my life. of the more famous of these poets was Bjorn As- And some poems of the Vikings took even a hu- brandsson, an Icelander who once served as a morous spirit in describing a beloved woman. member of the elite band of Jomsvi- Here Bjorn Arngeirsson describes a pregnant kings and fought under Styrbjorn woman; perhaps Oddny his wife who was nick- the Strong in Sweden. Unfortu- named ―Island Torch‖ because of her great nately the love of his life was mar- beauty. ried to another man, but Bjorn re- mained undeterred and often risked The belly of the woman grew below life and limb to spend time with the breast, so that the tree of the her. He composed the poem below belt (woman) walked very crooked, and sore before saying goodbye to his love. He had just in the womb; she had become much learned that her husband, along with his sup- too swollen. porters, was planning to waylay and kill him. Bjorn Arngeirsson fought in Russia for King Val- We two would wish this day to be dimar and was badly wounded. He eventually the longest between the golden made it home to Iceland where he found Oddny forest and the dark; I sometimes had taken up with Viking rival poet who had told get pain from the prop of the ribbon (woman), her that Bjorn had died in battle. Unfortunately, for this evening, tree of the arm serpent Bjorn was killed in a duel with his rival. (woman), I shall make myself ready to drink to the As you can see these were hard men—Viking war- memory of my joy riors for sure—but they had soft spots in their which has often passed. hearts for women and even died for love every now and then. Another Viking poet who is known for his love poetry is Kormak Ogmundarson; a follower of (The above poems are quoted from Scaldic Poetry Harold Graycloak, a tenth century Norwegian by E.O.G Turville-Petre, Oxford at the Clarendon Press, 1976) king. Kormak also spent some time fighting in the British Isles. His lifelong love was named Terje ―Ted‖ Birkedal, Cultural Director Steingerd who he first met in his youth. In the

Rosemaling Classes The word rosemaling is used to describe a form of Classes are open to all experience levels and new decorative flower painting that originated in Nor- individuals are always welcome to attend. Contact way in the 1700s. Rosemaling classes with Anna Anna at 694-2051 for more information. Decker meet twice a month on Tuesdays. Class Note: There will be no classes during the sum- dates for May: May 8 & May 15, 7-9 pm mer months. Classes resume in September. Note: Class scheduled for May 22 is cancelled. Non Profit Organization Sons of Norway US Postage 8141 Briarwood St. PAID Anchorage, AK 99518 Anchorage, Alaska PERMIT 505 907-349-1613

May Events

3 Thursday 7 pm Board Meeting, all welcome FOOD BANK DONATIONS 8 Tuesday 7-9 pm Rosemaling with Anna Decker, pg. 7 Our lodge continues to donate canned goods, 10 Thursday 7 pm / 7:30 pm Program / Business Meeting, pg. 5 non-perishable foods and money to the local food bank.

13 Sunday 10am - 2pm Mother’s Day Brunch, pg. 1 Please bring your food or monetary donation in to Viking 17 Thursday 11:30-1:30 Kaffeslabberas, pg. 3 Hall. 17 Thursday 6 pm Syttende Mai Parade Delaney Park Strip Downtown-10th & I, pg. 2 Our Lodge 20 Sunday 3 pm Syttende Mai Celebration, pgs. 2 & 6 donated 82 lbs. of 15 Tuesday 7-9 pm Rosemaling with Anna Decker, pg. 7 food in April! 22 Tuesday 7-9 pm CANCELLED-Rosemaling with Anna Decker Weekly Events

Sundays 5:30-6:30 pm Beginning Norwegian Language and Culture

All events take place at Viking Hall, 8141 Briarwood St., unless otherwise noted. Please send articles or event information for the next newsletter by the 15th to [email protected] or call Cynthia at 562-2794 with questions