The Vasa Star

THETHE VASA VASA STAR STAR Vasastjärnan

Publication of THE VASA ORDER OF AMERICA OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2011 www.vasaorder.com

StavkyrkanStavkyrkan - - Pg. Pg. 21 21

TwoTwo Swedish Swedish Giants Giants - - Pg. Pg. 23 23

MyMy Swedish Swedish Connections Connections - - Pg. Pg. 24 24 The Grand Master’s Message

Bill Lundquist

Dear Vasa Brothers and Sisters, had made even a nominal donation! The Grand Lodge Board is happy to announce that one Grand Lodge My role as Grand Master allows me the unique opportunity Scholarship will be offered in 2012. Our goal is to increase to visit District Conventions across the US, Canada and the number of scholarships each year. There is a new oppor- Sweden. Districts differ from each other but they all cele- tunity to contribute to the Education Fund. I am happy to brate the things that make us Vasa; the things that unite us as announce “The Vasa Store” available on thevasaorder.com an Order. I continue to see attention to detail, parliamentary web site. All proceeds for purchases are directed to the procedure and caring attitudes of all District officers and del- Education Fund. I think you will enjoy the products avail- egates. It is obvious officers put a great deal of time and able. study into recommendations and motions acted on. Since my last article the Grand Lodge Executive Board held I knew when I was elected Grand Master in July of 2010 my its first meeting in Portland, Oregon in conjunction with work needed to concentrate on improving the health of the Pacific Northwest No. 13’s bi-annual convention. To stay Order through the rebuilding of Funds and that can only hap- within the budget approved at the 2010 Grand Lodge pen with the help of the entire Vasa membership. One indi- Convention many decisions, some difficult and unpopular vidual can’t do it alone. Honest communication is the key. had to be made. All travel expenses for the Grand Lodge Although I share information in my articles in the Vasa Star, Board members has been temporarily suspended, financial I’ve found the best way to communicate is “one on one” at support for programs was suspended and several issues of District conventions. I’m counting on all of you to share the Vasa Star must be offered only on line. The Board was information you receive from me with the members of your unanimous in supporting these tough decisions in order to Local Lodges who I may never have the opportunity to meet. leave the Order on solid ground at the end of the term. The financial report has been mailed to all District Secretaries, I want to thank you for your continued generous donations to will appear in this issue of the Vasa Star and is available to the Vasa National Archives and ask that you to support your any Vasa member upon request from the Grand Treasurer, Districts as they donate annually. Donations now exceed Keith Hanlon. This fulfills my commitment to transparency $100,000.00. We have a long way to go but together we can within the Order. get there. I am constantly amazed by unified efforts. Thank all of you who have contributed to the annual Heritage and In closing, I stay excited about the future of the Order. Jul Gran Fundraisers. Contributions to these fundraisers pay Although we continue to deal with challenges we have the operational expenses of the Vasa National Archives become more creative and innovative. We are currently including the Archivist’s salary, utilities and upgrades. recruiting a new Vasa Star editor. We all wish our past edi- Much of the work at the Archives is done by volunteers. The tor, Marie Carlson success as she transitions to her new results of the 2011 Jul Gran Fundraiser aren’t available as I career in Sweden and thank her for her many years of service write this article but the timeliness of the mailing has already to the Order. made it a success. In Truth and Unity, I’m happy to inform you the Education Fund which includes Bill Lundquist, Grand Master the Scholarship Program has been restored to over $125.000.00 since July, 2010 through careful investing and donations. This year the Stamp Fundraiser, directed to the Education Fund brought in $12,580.00 a gain of over $6,000.00. Sadly, those donations came from only 500 Vasa members. Membership in the Vasa Order is over 10,000 in the US and Canada. Imagine the difference if every member THE VASA STAR (USPS 657-020) THE VASA STAR OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2011 October-December 2011 Vol. 104, No. 4, Serial 848 AN IMPORTANT REMINDER Published by: CHRISTMAS GREETINGS AND Vasa Order of America vasaorder.com CHECKS FOR CHRISTMAS GREETINGS Please send Christmas Greetings and checks for Christmas Greetings to Grand HEADQUARTERS: Secretary, Joanie Graham, 5838 San Jose Avenue, Richmond, CA 94804. Phone c/o Joan Graham 510-526-5512. E-mail: [email protected]. Grand Secretary 5838 San Jose Avenue New members: Send to GS, Joanie Graham. Richmond, CA 94804 Phone: 510-526-5512 All address changes and subscriptions as well as all address changes should be E-mail: [email protected] sent to the Circulation Manager listed here on Page 3. Grand Master: Bill Lundquist Please send pictures of good quality in order for them to reproduce well in The 1456 Kennebec Rd. Vasa Star. Electronically submitted photos should be scanned in JPEG format at a Grand Blanc, MI 48439 resolution of 300 dpi. Phone: 810-695-3248 For submitted Lodge articles, please add city and state. Thanks! Cell Phone: 810-845-5065 E-mail: [email protected] IN MEMORIAM Editor: Please read instructions on how to send and pay for Obituaries. Marie Carlson 9560 Curberry Drive Mentor, OH 44060 Phone: 440-255-4665 E-mail: [email protected] Deadlines for The Vasa Star: Circulation Manager: Spring deadline is Jan. 1; Summer deadline is April 1; (All Address Changes) Joan Graham Fall deadline is July 1; Winter deadline is Oct. 1 5838 San Jose Avenue Richmond, CA 94804 Deadline for Christmas ads is Oct. 1 Phone: 510-526-5512 Price for Christmas Greetings – $30.00 column inch E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected] Deadline for Lucia articles is January 1 Send bottom section of white copy of application for new members to her. Picture and article, 200 words or less.

Membership Chairman: Art Bjorkner 31 Vasa Drive, Hackettstown NJ 07840-5314 USA VASA DIRECTORY Advertising: OFFICIAL ADDRESS LIST Only electronic submissions Send to: Marie Carlson It is the listing for every lodge in the Vasa Order, with meeting locations and offi- E-mail: [email protected] cers, and addresses and telephone numbers for all Grand, District, and Local lodges Invoices will be submitted electronically (via e-mail) as well as all Children’s Clubs and Activities Clubs. In an effort to cut costs, the Vasa Directory will be provided to every district and Advertising Prices: local lodge via an email attachment. It has been re-formatted so that it can be print- Full Page Black and White $500.00 ed on your home printer, on 8 1/2 x 11 paper. Please take it to your local office sup- Half Page Black and White $275.00 ply store to make copies for those in your lodge who don’t have computer capabili- Quarter Page Black and White $150.00 One Column Inch $ 30.00 ty. It can be copied “double sided,” and put into a binder or notebook. If no one in Half Page Color $500.00 the lodge has the capability of printing the Vasa Directory, please contact the Grand Full Page Color $800.00 Secretary Joanie Graham, and a paper copy will be sent to you. Available only for inside front cover, inside back cover or back cover. DIRECTORY IS ON THE VASA WEBSITE 10% discount for Vasa Lodges and Members You can also check the Vasa website www.vasaorder.com to locate Grand, District, and Local Lodge information. THE VASA STAR (ISSN 0746-0627) is published bi-monthly by the Vasa Order of America. Periodicals postage paid at Richmond, CA, and additional Cover: entries. Stave Church in Lillsjöhögen, Jämtland, Sweden. POSTMASTER: Send address changes Stavkyrka i Lillsjöhögen, Jämtland. to The Vasa Star, 5838 San Jose Ave., Richmond, CA 94804. Picture by: Göte Falkman, Lillsjöhögen, Sweden

Vasa Star October-December 2011 www.vasaorder.com Page 3 Letter from the Editor

Before we arrived in Sweden, I had looked at several schools for our youngest son Michael to attend, the third for him during the past year in three different conti- nents!!!! But he has done extremely well, and accepted every challenge. He is in a private school, and it is a beautiful school close to a forest. There are lots of private schools to choose from nowadays in Sweden, and it does not cost anything. They have limited space but we were lucky to be able to get him in. Most of all, he is very happy there. Our daughter Eva had a wonderful study abroad experience this past spring in Granada, Spain, and she would really like to go back after she graduates from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, this spring. Our oldest son, Kristoffer will graduate early December from KTH (The Royal Institute of Technology), in Stockholm, with a degree in Computer Science. Needless to say, we are very proud of all our children. PAGE 10 Back in May I filled in a couple of job applications while still in Mentor, in August I had my first interview and they offered me the job as (Hemspråks personal) a Home Language/(Mother Tung) teacher in English. Parents that speak a different language at home with their children can request to have someone (like me) to visit their child’s school, preschool or daycare just to talk about the daily activates in their mother tongue, in my case TABLE OF CONTENTS English. I also have grade school where we actually do work with textbooks, language and worksheets. I also have a couple of students; oldest is in 6th grade, where I help with homework. I have 30 children that I visit at 17 different schools in and around Östersund and Frösön. I did not anticipate driving a lot when I moved back to Sweden, but I drive a lot!!!! Archive News ...... 5 The English speaking countries these children are from, usually one parent is Africa, USA, Canada, Australia, Trinidad and Great Britain. There are 55 different languages spoken in the county of Jämtland, so needless to say, District Lodge News ...... 6 there are a lot of home language teachers in this area. It is very different from when I grew up here. With my new job, it is just a bit much to do it all therefore this editorial will be my last working for The Vasa Star, I have worked with the Vasa Star since Sept of 2002 and it has given me a lifetime of great memories, and I Lodge News ...... 7 have met so many fantastic people over the years through the Vasa Star, on line, and in person. I have “read till my eyes were red” and I have enjoyed doing this. With the changes going on with the VS, I think this is just the right time to give this to someone else to do. It Swedish Lodge News ...... 15 is always good with change every now and then, fresh ideas. To all my readers out there, the countless mail and e-mails I have received over the years, I have had tremen- dous feedback and so many positive comments! THANK YOU! You have all touched my heart! Youth News ...... 17 If you “miss me” please do not hesitate to write a note!

“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” Holiday Greetings ...... 18 – J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring Marie Welcome to New Members ...... 20

Brev från Redaktören Culture...... 21 Stavkyrkan i Lillsjöhögen SWE and ENG Innan vi kom till Sverige, hade jag tittat på flera skolor till vår yngsta son Michael att gå på, den tredje för honom under det sista året, fördelat på tre olika kontinenter!!! Men han har gjort det otroligt bra och han har Två svenska jättar accepterat varje utmaning. Han går i en privatskola som är en jättefin skola och som ligger intill skogen. Det My Swedish Connections finns många privatskolor att välja mellan nu för tiden och det kostar inte något. De har ett begränsat utrymme, men vi är väldigt glada över att ha fått in honom där. Bäst av allt är att han trivs så bra. Foundation Honors LeRoy Anderson Vår dotter Eva fick en mycket fin erfarenhet när hon studerade utomlands i Granada, Spanien och hon skulle gärna åka tillbaka efter avslutade studier på Case Wester Reserve University i Cleveland, Ohio. Vår äldsta son, Kristoffer ska i början på december, ta sin Masters examen från KTH (Kungliga Tekniska Happenings...... 26 Högskolan) i Stockholm inom datavetenskap. Vi är naturligvis väldigt stolta över alla våra barn. Royal Glamour at New York Gala Under våren, fyllde jag i några platsansökningar medan jag fortfarande befann mig i Mentor, och i augusti hade jag min första intervju, de erbjöd mig jobbet som Hemspråkslärare/-pedagog i engelska. Föräldrar som Tranströmer Wins Nobel Prize in Literature pratar ett annat språk med sina barn hemma har möjlighet att få någon som mig som besöker deras barn i New Jersey Vasa Park Celebrates 75 Years skolan, förskolan -, eller dagis och pratar deras modersmål, i mitt fall engelska. Jag har också grundskolan där vi arbetar med texter i läroböcker, språk och arbetsblad. Jag har 30 barn som Let’s Take a Lesson from the Norwegians jag besöker på 17 olika skolor i och runt om Östersund och Frösön. Jag hade inte räknat med att behöva köra så Medlemmar från Sverige besöker Vasa Arkivet mycket bil när jag flyttade tillbaka till Sverige, men jag kör jättemycket!!!! De engelsktalande länder dessa barn kommer ifrån, i regel en av föräldrarna är Afrika, USA, Kanada, Kära Vasasyskon Australien, Trinidad och Storbritannien. Det finns 55 olika språk som talas här i Jämtlands län, så naturligtvis finns här många hemspråkslärare. Det är väldigt annorlunda mot för när jag växte upp här. The Volvo Open Race 2011 Med mitt nya jobb har det blivit alldeles för mycket att kunna hinna med allt, därför blir denna ledare den sista som jag skriver för Vasastjärnan. Jag har arbetat med Vasastjärnan sen september, 2002, och det har givit mig Tidbits...... 29 minnen som räcker livet ut. Jag har träffat så många intressanta människor ”på nätet” och vid många evenemang. Jag har “läst till mina ögon varit röda” och jag har tyckt om att gör det här. Kurbits På Catwalk I och med alla förändringar som pågår gällande Vasastjärnan, tror jag att det är rätt tid för mig att överlåta Hedestad Alias Sollefteå detta arbete till någon annan. Det är bra med förändringar litet då och då, samt nya ideér. Till alla mina läsare därute, alla dessa brev, samt e-post som jag har fått under åren, har jag haft ett fantastiskt Sites of Interest gensvar och fått så många fina kommentarer. TUSEN TACK!! Ni har alla berört mig på ett väldigt speciellt sätt! Och om ni skulle “sakna mig” skriv gärna en rad! More Men Than Women

“Det enda vi måste göra är att bestämma vad vi ska göra med den tid vi fått!” In Memoriam ...... 31 – J.R.R. Tolkien, Sagan om ringen Marie

Page 4 www.vasaorder.com Vasa Star October-December 2011 ARCHIVES NEWS THE ARCHIVES ARKIVET

My first two months as archivist at Vasa Order of America Mina första två månader som arkivist på Vasa Order of National Archives have been a satisfying experience. It feels America National Archives, har varit en fin upplevelse, det more like I go to my hobby every day. I am very grateful for känns som om jag går till min hobby varje dag. Jag är mycket this opportunity and am honored to work with these fantastic tacksam över att få denna möjlighet och ära, att arbeta tillsam- people. I was in this area for the first time in 1982 to visit my mans med dessa fantastiska människor. Jag var här för första relatives in Woodhull. My grandmother’s brother immigrated gången 1982 och besökte mina släktingar i Woodhull, efter- here in 1914 and settled in Woodhull (about fifteen minutes som min mormors bror emigrerade 1914 och flyttade till from Bishop Hill). I was already in love with this area but I Woodhull (som ligger ca 15 minuters bilväg från Bishop Hill.) never thought that I would be living and working in this won- Redan då blev jag förälskad i området, men inte trodde jag då derful place twenty-nine years later. att jag skulle bo och arbeta på detta underbara ställe 29 år I smile to myself when I think back when Torsten senare. Torstensson’s group came to visit and I had only been here a Jag ler för mig själv när jag tänker på Torsten Torstensson couple of weeks. I felt very green but everyone was so nice och hans grupp som kom på besök då jag bara hade arbetat här and everything seemed to work out fine and I hope that the i några veckor och jag kände mig verkligen som en group had a nice visit. “gröngöling,” men alla var så trevliga och allt verkade fungera Jake and Marge Gruel (responsible for the finances) and bra, och jag hoppas ni hade trevligt under ert betök. many other people who perform work here at the Archives Jake och Marge Gruel (ansvarig för ekonomin) samt många make me look forward to when this “gang” comes once a andra människor gör ett otroligt arbete här, och jag ser fram month. On one visit the Gruels brought a group from various emot varje månad när “Gänget” dyker upp, och stackars Jake lodges around Stockholm. They made a donation to the får stå ut med att vara mitt bollplank både när han är här och Archives which were very welcome. via telefon. Vid ett tillfälle hade de med sig några svenskar Have a great fall season from the Vasa Order of America (ingen nämd och ingen glömd) från olika loger runt National Archives. Stockholm, och som om skänkte ett välkommet bidrag till Viktoria Almgren – Kofoid Arkivet. [email protected] Höstliga hälsningar från Vasa Order of America National Archives. Viktoria Almgren – Kofoid [email protected]

Please remember the Grand Lodge Scholarship Fund and the Vasa National Archives when making a memorial donation. Vasa Scholarship Fund, Joan Graham GS, 5838 San Jose Ave., Richmond, CA 94804 ~ Vasa Archives, Jake Gruel, Financial Secretary, 13716 W. Lilac Lane, New Berlin, WI 53151.

Vasa Star October-December 2011 www.vasaorder.com Page 5 DISTRICT LODGE NEWS

DL Pacific Southwest #15

It was another sunny day in Southern California when Vasa Park Association put on their 61st annual autumn fest and “Marknad.” There is no better way to start a day than having a Swedish pancake breakfast with friends in this beautiful spot. This year Mayflower and Viking Lodges were responsible for this treat. Surrounded by hills and close to the ocean there is still a feel- ing of wilderness to the park even though private homes come creeping closer by the year. Quite a few vendors set up their stands; many had Scandinavian items for sale. As the years go by cultures intermingle and other “goodies” get introduced. This is good too, as long as Dala horses remains at the top of the list. The 3rd Annual Meatball contest drew many participants. Did you know that it was the Swedish heavy weight Ingemar Johansson who made the expression “if it is going to be meatballs Young folks enjoying the egg toss at Vasa Park’s autumn fest and “Marknad.” it has to mamma’s meatballs,” popular. Apparently this was Ingo’s favorite food. The lingonberry pie eating contest is fun to watch. It can get quite messy and the participants loved it. There were many things on the program. The Swedish folk Dancers of Los Angeles performed and LeRoy Anderson played the accordion. Younger Vikings played soccer and older Vikings enjoyed a game of Bingo. If anyone wonders where most of the younger generation was…they do their thing by the pool, a life saver for children and parents on a summer day. When the day was over, everybody left the park tired, but happy. Submitted by: Nel Solt Photos by: Tom Jahn

LeRoy Anderson and Carol Goeller make sweet music at Vasa Park.

Page 6 www.vasaorder.com Vasa Star October-December 2011 LODGE NEWS Brage-Iduna Lodge #9 Springfield, MA Members of Brage-Iduna Lodge of Springfield and members of Viking Lodge #756 of Greenfield joined in celebrating “Midsommar” at the home of members Tom and Margaret Falkowski on June 26. What a pleasant summer-garden this is! The Falkowskis have made quite a hobby of cultivating the spacious back- yard with flowerbeds and a variety of greenery! The plentitude of potluck Fylgia Lodge at the SF Yacht Club in July 2011. L-R: Dennis Erickson; Barbara Erickson; dishes, Tom¹s barbecued sandwiches, and Chris Olson; Bob Olson; Duane Erickson; Roxanne Schulkin; Victoria Lynn Peterson. decorating the maypole were enjoyed by all. Thule Lodge #127 Brage-Iduna endeavors to award a scholarship to an eligible student each Jamestown/Bemus Point, NY year. This year’s recipient was Leah Hello to everyone from the Thule tasks completed. Of course the workers Radner, daughter of members Larry and Lodge #127 in the Jamestown/Bemus were treated to a luncheon by some of the Marcia Radner. As a junior at Westfield Point, NY area. Our lodge has had a won- women of the lodge. State University, Leah majors in derful summer of events and activities, The fall season brought our annual secondary education and English. and there are many fond memories. One of Swiss steak dinner in September, which She has volunteered in Springfield public the main purposes of our lodge is to con- was well attended. Then in October was schools, participated in our Swedish tinue to preserve the Swedish heritage. the annual harvest turkey dinner with all Children’s Club, and was our Lucia. We continue to hold our meetings and din- the trimmings. November brought a Submitted by: John Morgan ners at our lodge located at 4123 Pancake Sunday morning pancake breakfast. Hill Road. December activities were well attended. Fylgia Lodge #119 Thule Lodge has now moved to its Our activities inspire new members when San Francisco, CA winter schedule of meetings on the third they see the happy times at our lodge. Saturday afternoon of each month at 2 Thule Lodge #127 wishes all a happy God dag from San Francisco, Fylgia p.m. Fanchon Fuller, our cultural leader holiday season with a Merry Christmas Lodge #119. In July 2011, Bob and Chris continues to provide something interesting and a happy new year. If you are in our Olson hosted Fylgia members at the San about Sweden, and keeps all informed of area, we would welcome you for a visit to Francisco Yacht Club to a picnic and upcoming events. Refreshments and our lodge. “God dag” to all! potluck. The delicious food and aquatic desserts are provided following every Submitted by: John Sipos, environment was enjoyed by all! “Tack meeting. Lodge Historian så mycket to Bob and Chris Olson for this Ralph Veights is our lodge chairman, special event”. and welcomes everyone to the meetings In Sept. we hosted an Art and Craft and dinners. All those entering the lodge Show at the Swedish American Hall. are greeted at the door by long time mem- Members and guests brought needlepoint, ber Nels John Nelson, who makes every- costumes, photographs and many other one feel welcome. Loretta Smith is our interesting items to share, which was fun treasurer, with Donna Sandberg as our and informative. financial secretary and Lucile Marsh as On Oct. 11, 2011, we celebrated our our lodge secretary. Diane Shaw is our 104th Anniversary! Lodge members and chaplain, and reminds all there is strength guests will mark the occasion with a din- in unity. Past cultural leader Allie Nelson ner at Schmidt’s Restaurant in San Withers gives the Swedish blessing before Francisco’s Mission District, and on Dec. any time of refreshments. This fall, a 13 we will host an annual “Julbord” din- group of members gathered to make some ner at the historic Swedish American Hall improvements on the lodge, and chairman in San Francisco. Veights thanks everyone who worked Submitted by: Victoria Lynn Peterson together to improve the lodge. Painting At the fall Swiss steak dinner, lodge members Betty Lawson and Janet Miller were serving a Photograqph by: Scott Schulkin and repairs were just some of the many salad for the appetizer, and cake for dessert.

Vasa Star October-December 2011 www.vasaorder.com Page 7 Tegnér Lodge #149 Monitor Lodge #163 Oakland, CA Ishpeming, MI The members of Tegnér Lodge #149, Oakland, CA, had a very interesting cultural program at its June meeting. Member Richard Orlando presented a program about the official flower of Sweden’s 25 provinces. He had beautiful pictures of the flowers to show us. In July, the three lodges of the East Bay held their Tri-Lodge picnic at Redwood Regional Park in Oakland. Sveaborg Lodge of Concord was the host lodge this year. After a great picnic lunch, the Kubb Tournament was held and Tegnér’s team won, composed of Jan Norberg, Richard Orlando and his friend, Erin, won. Therefore, Tegnér gets to keep the Dala Horse trophy, made by Maury Segerberg of Framåt Lodge, for a second year in a row. In August, Chairman Marie Ann Hill hosted the annual crayfish party at her Monitor Lodge #163 of Ishpeming, MI, recently house. Only a few of Tegnér’s members had a summer meeting and supper with homemade potato sausage, beans and coleslaw. We were able to be present. However, some also helped a member celebrate her 95th birth- members of Marie Ann’s family who day – pictured is Helen Kakkuri (right) with were visiting her helped fill out the guest her cake (top). list and all who were present reported a Submitted by: Ted Swanson good time. We were back at Björnsen Hall in September for our fall meetings. Submitted by: Ann Tennis Tegner Lodge #224 Missoula, MT

Gordon Swanson, PDM, Ina Swanson, Amy Galipeau, Cheryl Galipeau, and Jim Galipeau.

At our June meeting, we celebrated were entertained by Roy Anderson, who Midsummer at the Benson farm with a sang several songs with a Swedish potluck dinner, entertainment, and giving accent. We had several members who our member pins. The members enjoyed were awarded 40-year pins by our a potluck dinner as they always want to Chairman, Pat Swanson, and they were try something new. After the dinner we Continued on next page

Page 8 www.vasaorder.com Vasa Star October-December 2011 Tegner Lodge #224 Brahe Lodge #245 Continued from previous page Rockford, IL Earling Gustafson, Betty Ann Gustafson, Galipeau. She is also the granddaughter Otto Benson, Ann Bens and John of Gordon (a Past District Master) and On August 25, 2011, Brahe Lodge Swanson. Ina Swanson. Everyone had a great time #245 held its annual corn boil at our Our five hundred dollar scholarship and even the weatherman gave us a pleas- splendid Vasa Park Lodge in Rockford winner this year was Amy Galipeau ant evening. Illinois! Twenty-three attendees enjoyed whose parents are Jim and Cheryl Submitted by: Rick Swanson delicious sweet corn and the trimmings. Afterwards we held our monthly business meeting. Fifteen members of our lodge met on July 28, 2011 to enjoy an Ice Cream Social! Wonderful pies with ice cream, and a brownie too, were served to all on this warm summer evening! Afterwards, a short business meeting was held to dis- cuss upcoming lodge meetings, finances, and membership. On Sept. 22, 2011, we discussed and planned for the remainder of this year including upcoming annual election of officers, plus ideas for next year. Then we held a “show and tell” program during which several members showed heir- looms brought here by their Swedish ancestors which included a Bible from the mid-1800s! Lastly, we all enjoyed refreshments provided this month by members Traudi and Gunnel. Submitted by: D. G. Eksten 40-year members, left to right: Betty Ann Gustafson, Earling Gustafson, Nancy Hopkins accept- ing her mother Ann Benson, John Swanson, and Otto Benson.

Tacoma Lodge #233 Tacoma, WA

Nina Christiansen, a long-time member of Vasa Norden Lodge #233, is celebrating her 100th birthday in this picture. She was born in Haparanda, Sweden, on July 29th. She came to the United States when she was 15 years old. She is very alert and remembers all her life, both in Sweden and the USA. Members of Norden Lodge, Marcia Aagaard, Carolyn Nelson, and Fritz Grahn took her a beautiful bouquet of roses and spoke Swedish with her. Fritz Grahn visits her periodically and they con- verse in Swedish. He emigrated from Pitea 60 years ago. Pitea is about 100 miles south of Haparanda. Submitted by: Fritz Grahn

Traudi and Gunnel

Vasa Star October-December 2011 www.vasaorder.com Page 9 Grace Petersen were remembered. Svea Lodge #253 Wesley Hanson arranged the anthem Indianapolis, IN which was written and directed by Past District Master Christine Kilstrom, and We held our first meeting of spring on five members participated in the April 3, and it was held at the Latvian Memorial Service Choir. Center in Indianapolis, IN. We were On May 21, lodge member Annette delighted to welcome District Master Johansson, mezzo soprano and Professor Tom Cleveland, and his children of Voice, Emeriti, at the University of Elizabeth and Matthew Cleveland, who Hawaii, and Amanda Asplund Hopson, were all visiting relatives in the area. pianist and Adjunct Associate Professor District Master Tom Cleveland presented of Music at DePauw University in Past Chairman’s Degree pins to: Greencastle, Indiana, presented “A LaVonne Heighway, Jenne Swain, Ron Recital Of Nordic Music” at The Music Gardin, Jean Tygum, and Edward Room in Indianapolis, IN. In addition to Anders Zorn and wife Emma Lamm Hultgren. We remembered former lodge Swedish music, Danish, Finnish, and member Violet Prah, who died in March Norwegian music was performed. Lodge provided musical entertainment; the 2011, with a moment of silence. Dan member Glenn Sweitzer, professor at Lithuanian group prepared the food sales, Anderson presented a program on Ball State University, was the narrator. and the Latvian group sold the beverages. Swedish postage stamps and the history The artistic recital was hosted by John Tug – Of – War competitions were held of stamp designs since the mid - 19th Seest, director of the Dans Norden between different nationality groups, and century to the present day. Dan Anderson Scandinavian Folk Dancing Group. children participated in youth Tug – Of – has collected stamps for seventy years, Sincere appreciation is given to Sylvia War events. A bonfire completed the cel- and he shared his enthusiasm for his Swanson and Eija Vesterqvist for coordi- ebrations. longtime hobby with unique information nating the recital and refreshments. On August 6, we held our annual about Swedish postage stamps, which are The Fourth Tuesday Luncheon Group “Kräftskiva” that was celebrated at the beautiful and fascinating. dined at “Athens on 86th,” in home of Charlotte Swenson, in On April 26, the Fourth Tuesday Indianapolis, IN, on May 24. It is a popu- Indianapolis, IN. More than seventy Luncheon Group met at Sahm’s lar Green/Mediterranean restaurant with members, family, and friends attended, Restaurant, a longtime favorite in Scandinavian ties with ages ranging from youngsters under Indianapolis, Indiana. “Tack Så Mycket” On June 12, “Midsommar” was cele- ten years of age to members ninety years to our lunch coordinators Eva Berglund, brated at the Latvian Center in of age or more. Beverages included Donna Bergstrom, and Patricia Indianapolis, IN. About 65 members and Aqvavit!!!, Hoffmann. guests gathered to decorate and, parade On September 11, we held our first On May 1st, the lodge initiated and through the grounds, and dance around meeting of the fall season featured a pro- welcomed new member Ulla Williams, the “Majstång” to Swedish songs and gram presented by lodge Historian Jenne who was born in Lund, Sweden. Janis dances. An abundant potluck luncheon Swain on Swedish artist Anders Zorn and and Jerry Alfredson presented a travel- was served. This year’s piñata, made by Mora, Sweden. Many of Anders Zorn’s ogue program of their several trips to Michelle and Josh Escalante, was in the paintings were shown, and the history of Värmland, Sweden and other provinces. shape of a Swedish Maypole in bright the artist’s life was discussed. His We saw many pictures of the Alfredson colors. The event was co-chaired by Faye images of Mora in Alana captured the relatives and family homes, and heard Bevelhimer and Ulla Williams, but many essence of traditional Swedish life; humorous stories of their travels members helped with the preparations Anders Zorn also visited the United The Scandinavian movie group met at and activities. John Seest, Director of the States of America seven times. His por- the home of Michelle and Josh Escalante Dans Norden Scandinavian Folk Dancing trait of President William Howard Taft is on May 7 to view the movie “House of Group, led the “Midsommar” dancing in the only portrait in the White House of a Angels” / “Angel Farm,” a 1992 film the park. President that was not painted by an written and directed by Englishman Colin Saint John’s Festival was celebrated American artist. Nutley. The movie takes place in on June 25 at the Latvian Center in On September 27, The “Fourth Västergötland, and starred Helena Indianapolis, IN. This multinational festi- Tuesday” Lunch group met at Rick’s Bergstrom and Rikard Wolff. val included participants and groups from Café Boatyard in Indianapolis, Indiana. On May 13-15, members attended the eight countries: Estonia, Latvia, Nothing is better than enjoying a deli- District Convention. Several members Lithuania, Poland, Scotland, Slovakia, cious seafood meal with good friends on won gift baskets or other raffle prizes. Sweden, and the Czech Republic. This is the shores of Eagle Creek Reservoir. Our lodge received the first place Eastern Europe’s version of The Scandinavian Film Group met at Membership Award for having the largest “Midsommar.” The Swedes started the the home of Michelle and Josh Escalante membership gain in 2010. Ingrid Wiebke program with a parade led by the decorat- on September 24 to view the film “The was recognized for sponsoring the most ed “Majstång,” followed by the Grand White Lioness,” about Swedish author new members. The Memorial Service March and ring dancing directed by John Henning Mankell’s Detective Kurt was presided over by Marvin Anderson Seest, Director of the Dans Norden Wallender, starring Rolf Lassgård and and District Chaplain Inez Törnblom. Scandinavian Folk Dancing Group. Charlotte Sieling, and directed by Per Our departed members Juanita Goranson, Nineteen lodge members attended with Berglund. Charles Lindgren, Thomas Klubens, and family and friends. The Scottish group Continued on next page

Page 10 www.vasaorder.com Vasa Star October-December 2011 Svea Lodge #253 Strindberg Lodge #259 Continued from previous page Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada On October 2, a very interesting program, “A Month Near Provence,” was presented by Faye and John Bevelhimer, who gave a wonderful video tour on their month-long visit to France, the Mediterranean Sun Coast, Spain, Monaco, and Italy. To help members get a real taste of southern France during the travelogue, Faye and John Bevelhimer served French wine, French bread, and French Brie cheese during the wine dis- cussions. We journeyed with them to southern France on a pictorial visit of French mar- kets, vineyards, ancient Roman sites, medieval towns, picturesque rural French villages, and more. For a month, they lived in the small French village of Saint – André– de – Roquepertuis, out of the way of traditional tourists. The audience Our new executives, picture was taken at our lodge meeting of September 18. Left to right: enjoyed the beautiful photographs, the in Karen Adams, Garry Hammerback, Neil Carlson, Dave Hammerback, Iris Wedge, Judy – depth descriptions, the personal anec- Wantzing. dotes, and the French wine and food. Submitted by: Garry Hammerback, Secretary Submitted by: Joella D. Hultgren, Cultural Leader and Publicity Svea Lodge #296 Sveaborg Committee Erie, PA Lodge #449 The Convention Committee is starting Concord, CA to meet to plan the 55th Biennial Convention September 28-30, 2012, in Sveaborg Lodge, Concord CA, pre- Erie, PA, hosted by Svea Lodge #296 at sents a “Viking of the Year” award each the Bel-Aire Conference Center. A gor- year to a member for outstanding service geous Nordic Quilt will be raffled and and dedication to the lodge. also a money raffle. The theme is This year’s award went to Bob “Viking Ventures.” Mark your calendars Burman, who has been active in many and plan to join us. capacities: Membership Chairman, Our Septemeber 18th meeting was a Publicity Chairman, Nominating “Show and Tell.” Members of the Vasa Committee member, pianist for the chil- group brought items that depicted their dren's club, and refreshment committee Scandinavian Heritage and gave a short member. talk about the items. Both of Bob’s parents emigrated from Our next item for a program was an Sweden. Bob grew up in Southern Historical Swedish Trunk. It was filled California and graduated from USC, with with Swedish artifacts. Each item was a music major. After teaching music in Los token of what the immigrants brought Angeles for 35 years he retired and with them from Sweden (loaned from the moved to Northern California. Philadelphia Swedish Museum). Submitted by: Bob Burman Bevelhimers in Firenze Submitted by: Linda Collin

A Vasa-bridge to your Swedish ancestors! Looking for your relatives in Sweden? I have helped many satisfied Vasa-members finding their Swedish roots. Further info please e-mail: [email protected] Bob Burman

Vasa Star October-December 2011 www.vasaorder.com Page 11 past six years. She is the granddaughter of Jack Gerken, Larry Blake, Rich Owens, Lindbergh our former Chairman Chuck Wallin and Adam Roderick and Larry Farnsley. There Lodge #494 will be a junior at San Jose State were lots of dancers swinging around and University this fall. Kersten Jansson pre- the rest of us were toe tapping. It was a Palo Alto, CA sented Alexa with a Vasa emblem lava- splendid way to celibate our Lodges 84th liere in honor of her service. The Swing birthday. For our September gathering we had a Shift Band played dance music for the rest Submitted by: Muriel Nelson Beroza short business meeting during the cocktail of the evening. Members of the band are hour. Members were reminded of our Thomas Kruse Winery picnic next month, an annual event much appreciated by the Norden Lodge #684 members. Two new members were initiated, Doug Anderson and Steve Eliseu, and Fresno, CA heartily welcomed by the group. Our sister Norden Lodge members got to enjoy an award-winning garden at their August Lodge Svea Lodge #348 of San Jose invit- meeting. Mike and Corky Peterson invited everyone to join them for a crayfish and pot ed all to join them for a picnic in Sveadal luck dinner in their recently completed water-conserving garden. Planted with local on Sunday. It is the end of the season for plants and grasses that thrive in low-water conditions, the yard was lovely and serene. our summer resort and a last chance to Mike and Corky’s efforts were rewarded as they were selected in a local contest for enjoy this lovely summer place. This year the best garden in the area promoting water conservation. Sveadal is celebrating its eighty-fifth birth- The September meeting was a celebration party for the Lodge’s 43rd Anniversary. day. Members brought desserts and white elephant donations, and Norden Lodge Chairman Our splendid cooking crew put on a Roselind Gaviola called the numbers for some hotly contested rounds of bingo. Lots memorable feast. The program subject for of good food and good fun! this evening was the Sweden Poland con- Submitted by: Judith Harless nection. We had an illustrated talk by Stanford Professor Zbigniew Stanczyk of the Hoover Institute at Stanford University. Most of the references were to rulers of Poland during the years 1500 and 1600 and their connection to Sweden. The names were different and unfamiliar such as Sigismund, Henri, Maximillian, Charles, Dimitri and a host of others that I am reluctant to try and spell. It was a very interesting and enlightening evening. We are grateful to our member Maria Smolenski for contacting her friend Professor Stanczyk enabling us to hear about the association between Sweden/ Mike and Corky Peterson Roselind Gaviola Poland during past years. The festive evening opened with a Jubilee Lodge #692 cocktail hour. We are celebrating the founding of this excellent club in 1927. It Delano, FL was a memorable year as the first solo flight over the Atlantic was made by Charles Lindbergh, after whom we named our club. We had a chance to greet guests and welcome visitors. Our special celebration started with beverages, then a catered dinner from Harry’s Hofbrau. There was a special surprise for the program which featured our own member Jerry Blaufarb dressed as Uncle Sam and doing a Yankee Doodle Tap Dance to delight of all onlookers. He pranced around to the astonishment of all and com- pletely in rhythm and dancing steps. He said he had been doing this dance for many years and his expertise was quite Although the group was sad to officially close the lodge, we have many memories of wonderful meetings of culture and fellowship. We wish the Vasa Order many more years of sharing the evident. We also had the opportunity to heritage. honor our Maid of Honor in the Midsummer Festival Alexa Wallin. She After 40 years Local Lodge Jubilee ment of the lodge, we dedicated a monu- has fulfilled this role for three years, and #692 voted to close due to many factors. ment to the many Swedish Pioneers who has been a member of the Lodge for the On April 30, 2011, as a final accomplish- Continued on next page

Page 12 www.vasaorder.com Vasa Star October-December 2011 Jubilee Lodge #692 Nordic Lodge #708 Continued from previous page Atlanta, GA settled in this area of Florida. This monu- the worldwide fern industry, an orange ment was erected at the Barberville industry and celery industry in the central September 25th, 2011, was a fun day. Pioneer Settlement where many people Florida area. The featured entertainment was some- visit to see the history of this area. The Submitted by: Cecilia Jackson, thing we never had in this lodge. Vodka! Swedish Pioneers were responsible for Past Secretary Well, vodka we had before, especially with crawfish. But we never had a Vodka Academy. What we had was an “Absolut Akademi,” hosted by Absolut Vodka’s Kristin Young, from United Distributors. Kristin educated us about Absolut and served us three different kinds of Absolut’s 13 flavor varieties - not much though, just a tiny bit of each as a taste test. We learned that entrepreneur Lars Olsen Smith in 1879 introduced and perfected a now time-honored method of distillation. He bottled what he called “Absolut Rent Brännvin.” We also learned that Absolut Vodka goes through a seven column distillation process and is distilled literally hundreds of times. The vodka is produced in Åhus, near Kristianstad, in Sweden’s southernmost province, Skåne. It is sold in 126 countries, no longer owned by the Swedish government, but by the French company Pernod Ricard. In the spring the Lodge announced a schnapps song contest. We wanted people to write a Swedish style schnapps The Swedish Pioneer Memorial song text to any well-known melody. The song had to be in English and the word “Absolut” had to be included in the text. The winner was to be announced at the “Absolut Akademi” on September Vinland of Cape Cod Lodge #703 25th. A few days before 9/25 the two judges, Professor Jay Lutz and Cape Cod, MA Göran Rygert put their heads together, The leaves on our trees prematurely gift raffle will conclude the Lucia Fest. It sang through the four received entries, turned brown and fell in early September is through our planning and working actually without any vodka. Finally they due to Hurricane Irene. However, the together to present dinners, meetings and made the decision. Two winners were upcoming season for our lodge contained programs that we are able to share and selected. bright, busy and bountiful programs and care for each other. We are so blessed At the end of the “Akademi” program meetings. We reconvened in September, with friendship. it was time to reveal the winners. But first updating family news, sharing leisure As we gather together, we will we had to sing through all four entries – time interests and planning for new remember Wally Lornell, George we had them printed on a song-sheet. We events. Lundquist, Derelyn Twombly, John actually sang six songs, including two In October, we invited friends to join McDonald, Evind Sohoel and Florence older schnapps songs about Absolut that us as we showcased international entrees Freeman. We also lost a charter member, did not participate in the contest. After and desserts at an International Potluck Lena Anderson. We've had a lot of funer- pointing out that the judges’ decision luncheon. November featured a speaker als and memorial services in the past could not be appealed the winners were on the origins of “The 12 Days of months, but each one has lived a wonder- announced. Christmas.” On December 10 children, ful and contributory life. We have been First prize, a bottle of Absolut Vodka, grandchildren and their friends will par- blessed to have known and to have went to Jette Bender for “Drink Absolut, ticipate in the Lucia procession led by worked alongside them. We extend love You Can’t Go Wrong. The melody is “I 2011 Lucia, Grace Sohoel Goldberg. We and sympathy to their friends, families See The Moon.” will dance around the Christmas tree, lis- and caregivers. Continued on next page ten to holiday stories and feast on festive Submitted by: Dorothy Ann-Ellner Kean desserts and tea sandwiches. Our unique

Vasa Star October-December 2011 www.vasaorder.com Page 13 Nordic Lodge #708 Sierra Kronan business of nominating officers for 2012 Continued from previous page and finding volunteers to help at the Lodge #737 October festival, our lodge completed a community outreach project. Basic Drink Absolut, you can’t go wrong, Roseville, CA school supplies were donated and gath- it’s sure to make your day move along. ered together for presentation to a local If you feel down, it picks you up, grammar school whose students are pri- beats coffee in a cup. marily children of low-income families. Your blood will circulate twice as fast, The school administrators are very appre- makes you forget the things of the past. ciative of our efforts. It gives you power to compute Submitted by: Carol Nesewich, when you drink Absolut! Historian Second prize, also a bottle of Absolut Vodka, went to Pam Minton and Sten Ekberg for “Getting Tipsy In A Bar,” to Jubileum the melody “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Lodge #755 Star.” Madison, WI Getting tipsy in a bar We held our annual “Midsommar” how I wonder where I are. gathering at Arbor Covenant Church on Absolut you are my friend, Saturday, 25 June 2011. The crowd was hanging tight until the end. smaller than usual, under 30 people, with Even though I’m on the floor several regular attenders away on trips. you’re so good I just want more. The weather was also cooler than the last several Midsummers, with a cloudy sky. Tied on third place was Karla After raising the "stång" and dancing, Olterman for “Absolut Vodka Is The with music provided as usual by Kjell- Drink For Me,” and Sten Ekberg and Erik Anderson (also a member of Linde Pam Minton for “There’s A Place In The Lodge #492 in Milwaukee), we went Bar.” Basic school supplies were donated and inside for “smörgåsbord.” The dessert gathered. feature was a beautifully decorated sheet About 40 people had a great time this Sierra Kronan has no regular meetings cake. A local store bakery did just fine memorable evening. And when cleaning during the summer, so a number of mem- with the flags and the roses, two blue and up after the event no one was found bers got together in July for an outing at two yellow, despite the fact that there are under the tables! the Maidu Indian Center in Roseville. A a lot more Norwegians than there are Submitted by: Göran Rygert special tour of the museum and a trail Swedes in our part of Wisconsin. With walk were led by our member Milt dessert and coffee came some reminisc- Huston, a docent there for 27 years. We ing, especially from people who had learned all about the native plants and experienced “Midsommar” in Sweden. It animals, the Maidu diet, saw their grind- passes largely unnoticed around here, but ing rocks, petro glyphs, and more. Did one person recounted a celebration on you know that sometimes squirrels still Götland that drew 4000 people to the dig up the occasional arrowhead? local park. Summer or not, the action never stops Submitted by: Robert Merrill, at the home of Donna Huttner and her Historian group of crafters preparing for the 28th annual Sacramento Scandinavian Festival in October. These ladies (and gentlemen) have developed good friend- ships while sharing their creative and artistic talents. In addition to the crafters making a variety of items to sell at the festival, a smaller core group volunteered to begin work on cutting out, painting, and decorating seventy-five wooden Dala horses for the annual Golden Gate #12 District Meeting. The horses were requested for the banquet tables at this event next spring. It was ‘welcome back’ time at our September lodge meeting as members Ulla Swanson and Trudy Nordling show off greeted each other and enjoyed an one of the wreaths they decorated for our evening together. In addition to the usual “Midsommarstång.” Page 14 www.vasaorder.com Vasa Star October-December 2011 SWEDISH LODGE NEWS inmundiga vår egen medhavda picknick- färd. Befinner man sig i Skåne – vad kan Logen Skåne Nr 570 korg och chansen att bekanta oss med man mer begära att titta på? Jo, möllor! Den 3 september var det dags för varandra. Nya medlemmar har tillkommit Just denna dag var det “Mölledagen.” Vi Logens firande med anledning av att det från andra loger. körde till Övraby mölla. Möllare Bo gått 80 år sedan logen bildades. Firandet Vår färd gick vidare till Sövdeborg Larsson hade att berätta att möllan var började med jubileumsloge med 52 gäs- slott. Slottet är uppbyggt i tre längor. från 1886. Tyvärr var det för lätt vind för tande och 72 egna logesyskon. Ordf. Br. Färdigbyggt omkring mitten av 1840- att vi skulle få se vingarna snurra. Per Dahlman öppnade ritualenligt mötet talet. Vi fick en fantastisk fin guidning Sy. Marianne och Br. Bengt hade ord- och hälsade de införda gästande och egna genom två grandiosa salonger – den ene nat med grisfest i sin trädgård till glädje logesyskon varmt välkomna. Reception med takstukaturer utförda av italienare. för Vasa-syskonen som lät sig väl smaka utfördes på sedvanligt högtidligt och stil- Den andre salongen med barocktak i av läckerheterna innan det var tidd att fullt sett och logen fick nu tre nya skulpterat ek. En verklig upplevelse!! begära sig hemåt. medlemmar, nämligen Lena och Georg Vi skulle dock vidare på vår upptäcks- Insänt av: Jan Åke Ferborn, BKL Larsson samt Solvig Kristoffersson som hälsades välkomna enligt ritualen. En ståtlig och väl genomförd fanparad gjordes av Sy. Ingrid och Br. Stig Moberg samt Sy. Eva och Br. Kent Fransson som belönades med välförtjänta varma applåder. Utmärkelser delades ut till Logens medlemmar bland annat Br. Olle Wickström. Kl. Olle Olsson anförde lite om Vasa Ordens tillkomst och lite historia om tiden framåt och talade om kulturledarnas och medlemmars viktiga delaktighet i punkten Kontakt Amerika på våra möten. LH Nils Henriksson läste en dikt med historisk innebörd om vår loge. Uppvaktningar gjordes av Sy. Helena Jönhill från LL Klockan Nr 747 som överlämnade logens Klockans bordsstan- Top: Logens nya medlem- dar, Sy. Ingegerd och Br. Ulf Alderlöf mar i mitten Lena och samt DM Br. Olle W. från ERDL 20, Georg Larsson samt överlämnade penninggåvor och från Solvig Kristofferson. Lokallogerna i Distrikt 20 hade Logen Skånes DD Sy. Gunilla Broddesson sam- lat in pengar till en gemensam gåva som bestod av fyra st. fina Vinbägare som även invigdes under kvällen. Insänt av: KL Olle Olsson LL Skåne Nr 570 Logen Skåne Nr 570 anordnade söndagen den tredje juli en utflykt i Right: Logens ordförande Skåne, Ordförande Br. Per Dahlman Per Dahlman med hustru kunde glädja sig åt att nästan 30 medlem- Gunnel smakar på jubileum- mar hade hörsammat kallelsen. stårta. Turen bestod av både tingsrätt och domstol, samt ett antal “enkelrum” som knappast kunde frambringa någon större munterhet. Swedish Genealogy Help? Till historien hör att vår ordförande, Br. Per normalt sitter här – dock ej som Do you have Swedish letters or presumtiv kund, uan som arbetstagare i ett arkitektkollektiv som inryms i denna other papers you want translated? numera hederliga byggnad. Contact Sven-Ove Westberg Vår färd gick vidare till småbåtsham- nen i Ystad där vi tog plats för att [email protected] or (925) 228-6325

Vasa Star October-December 2011 www.vasaorder.com Page 15 ställde till det för flaggor och noter. Logen Eskilstuna Nr 633 Karl Wigert hälsade 40-talet We had our final meeting this spring in Koppartorp outside the town of Nyköping. Vasasyskon, paret Jamie Bolling och Our brothers and sisters living in this town had arranged a very pleasant Saturday Sverker Ågren välkomna. Därefter afternoon in the middle of May. We enjoyed refreshments outdoor in the sunshine and hedrades Amerikas och Kanadas flaggor our meeting took place in one of the old buildings of the mining area, where we also och vi sjöng ”Du gamla du fria”. had an excellent meal. The three-course homemade food was delicious. Paret Bolling-Ågren har bosatt sig i The weather was the best that Sweden can offer this time of year. We strolled along Stigsjö och intervjuades av Karl Wigert. in the old mining area with Ingvar as an excellent guide. We also visited the old Jamie är född i Cuyahoga Falls Ohio och church, which told us so much about the history and the people of this old mining vil- har även varit bosatt i Schweiz en tid, lage. Eva took us to the “Goldmine” where we saw many objects of art from local innan flytten till Sverige. Hon har bott i artists: fantastic small wooden cabinets, glasswork and many other things. Sverige 20 år och trivs väldigt bra här. We all do hope that this will became a tradition for years to come. Dagens underhållning stod Submitted by: Lillemor Karlberg, Cultural Leader Cittraflickorna för med gott stöd av Egil Nordlöf på dragspel. Ett antal gamla örhängen spelades bl.a. ”Nidälven”, ”Man skall leva för varandra” m.fl. Pastor Ove Bylund från Stigsjö men numera bosatt i Viksjö tackade för inbju- dan att besöka Karl Wigert och utgick från skapelseberättelsen i sin betraktelse. Karen Anderson hade skänkt den Australiensiska flaggan som överläm- nades till Karl Wigert. Därefter läste Knut Nordkvist från Timrå, med Refreshments being inlevelse några dikter bl.a. served outdoors at ”Sommaridyll”. Sen blev det dags för att Koppartorp. inta medhavd lunch. Våra gäster och medverkande bjöds på sommarbuffe av fam. Wigert vilket rönte stor uppskat- tning. Den trevliga dagen led mot sitt slut och Cittraflickorna med Egil bjöd åter på några visor. Karl Wigert tackade för en trevlig dag men noterade också att upp- slutningen av Vasasyskon hade kunnat Logen Härnösand Nr 673 vara större. Insänt av: Bo Selin, Kulturledare Som tradition inbjöd familjen Wigert Amerika-dagen. Solen sken dagen till ära till firande av 4 juli för att hedra Sverige- men med en mycket kraftig blåst, som

Page 16 www.vasaorder.com Vasa Star October-December 2011 YOUTH NEWS My First Trip to Sweden

This past June, I spent two weeks in Landing in Stockholm and navigating out onto Lake Storsjön, I began to fully Sweden with my sister, Lauren, and close to the hostel proved to be more difficult recognize the intricate yet simple charac- friend, Eva Carlson. The trip occurred at and bewildering than expected. To reme- teristics of the surrounding terrain. Any a very important time in our lives. dy our hunger and jet-lag, we quickly stress and worries I felt for the future Growing up in Ohio, my family has found a corner shop and ordered lunch. were stripped away and replaced by an known the Carlson family since Eva and I Sitting outside, watching as people overwhelming love and appreciation for were both very young. Over the years our rushed by in every direction, the sun the people I met and experiences we families supported one another through finally calmed us and I began to sink into shared. tough times and great accomplishment. the peaceful rhythm of the city. Over the At the end of the summer the Carlson Together we celebrated Lucia Day, next two weeks we traveled from family moved from Ohio, back to enjoyed Swedish meatballs and shared Stockholm to Göteborg to Östersund by Sweden. I started a new job in many late nights – skål! This summer bus, boat, train and car. Family and Washington, DC and Lauren began her presented the perfect opportunity for Eva, friends greeted us at each stop, opening first year of college in Cleveland, Ohio. Lauren and I to finally visit the country their homes and sharing a glimpse of It may be many years until we are all we learned so much about over the years, their lives with us. Exploring the cities, together again. I realized that sometimes as well as the chance to spend valuable we enjoyed frequent pauses for ‘fika’ and it takes a trip away from daily activity to time together before each of us embarked indulged in the refreshing taste of ‘glass.’ reinforce the importance of unconditional on new academic and professional adven- We navigated the difficult bus system in friendship and support. My time in tures. Without hesitation, we purchased Göteborg and played soccer in the back- Sweden gave me a fresh outlook for the train tickets, confirmed the hostel reser- yard with Eva’s cousin’s children. We future and a renewed sense of love for the vations, and finalized our trip schedule. visited the church on Frösön and people I value in my life – and for that I With Eva fluent in Swedish, I needed to explored Viking ruins. In every commu- will always be thankful. only learn a few essential phrases (som- nity we visited, a love for family and a Submitted by: Ashley Starks, mar rea, fika, jag älskar dej), buy a cam- love for nature were apparent. During our Mentor, Ohio era, and pack my backpack. final few days in Östersund, as I looked

Vasa Star October-December 2011 ww.vasaorder.com Page 17 Holiday Greetings Unite Members and Lodges

God Jul och Gott Nytt År from District Lodge God Jul och Lake Michigan #8 Tom Cleveland, DM Gott Nytt År Ed Hultgren, VDM Nancy Hult, DS VASA ORDER OF AMERICA Joella Hultgren, ADS Brent Erickson, DT GRAND LODGE EXECUTIVE BOARD Linda Tylk, DHFS Grand Master - William Lundquist Andrea Wilczynski, DCL Vice Grand Master - Tore Kellgren Lynda Smith, DSCYS Grand Secretary - Joan Graham Steve Westlund, EBM Susan Cleveland, EBM Grand Treasurer - Keith Hanlon Sheila Lundquist, PDM Vice Grand Secretary - Gail Olson Inez Törnblom, DC MEB-Eastern Region - Art Bjorkner Iva Lynn, DH MEB-Midwest Region - Sten Hult MEB-Western Region - Ed Netzel MEB-Sweden - Ulf Alderlöf MEB-Canada Ken Banks God Jul och Gott Nytt År to All Our Vasa Friends from Thule Lodge #127 Bemus P{oint, NY God Jul och Gott Nytt År Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all of us at Frihet Lodge #401 God Jul och Ett Gott Nytt År Seattle, WA from Siljan Mora Tuna Lodge #134 Chicago Area AUDIO-VISUAL DIRECTOR

God Jul och Gott Nytt År to all our Vasa friends Mike Pearson and to our sister Lodge Mälardrottningen #563 Nobel Lodge #184 7309 New Hampshire Pl • Hammond, IN 46323-2937 USA Portland, OR Phone: (219) 588-4752 E-mail: [email protected] The Vasa website at www.vasaorder.com contains a “materials but- God Jul och Gott Nytt År ton” which has the listing of audio visual materials available. From the sisters and brothers of Skogen Lodge #700 If you are unable to use the Vasa website, you can still ask that a list- Redding, CA ing be sent to you by mail.

Page 18 www.vasaorder.com Vasa Star October-December 2011 Jul – och Nyårshälsningar 2011 Distriktslogen Södra Sverige Nr 20 tttttttttttttttttttttttt tttttttttttttttttttttttt tttttttttttttttttttttttt tttttt ttttGod Jul och Gott Nytt År tt tttttillönskas alla Vasavänner ttGod Jul och Gott Nytt År ttDistriktslogen Södra tti USA, Kanada och Sverige ttönskar ttSverige Nr 20 ttGunnar och Siw Mossberg ttUlf och Ingegerd Alderlöf tttt PGLMEB ttLL Ronneby Nr 630 ttGod Jul och Gott Nytt År tttt tttillönskas tttttttttttttttttttttttt tttttttttttttttttttttttt ttalla Vasasyskon ttExecutive Board Members: tttttttttttttttttttttttttt tttttttttttttttttttttttt ttOlle Wickström Karl Axel Bengtsson tttt ttCatherine Bringselius Nilsson tttt ttGod Jul och Gott Nytt År ttGod Jul och Gott Nytt År ttIngrid Cannerhagen Bengt Hammargren tillönskas alla Vasasyskon önskar Agneta Västersjärna Bengt Åberg tttt ttOlle och Marie Wickström Logen Klockan Nr 747 ttMaureen Bengtsson Anita Nilsson tttt ttttDM – DL Nr 20 ttÖrkelljunga tttttt tttttttttttttttttttttttt tttttttttttttttttttttttt tttttttttttttttttttttttt

tttttttttttttttttttttttt tttttttttttttttttttttttt tttttttttttttttttttttttt tt ttGod Jul och Gott Nytt År tt ttGod Jul och Gott Nytt År tttillönskas alla Vasasyskon tt tillönskas alla Vasavänner tttti USA, Kanada och Sverige ttGod Jul och Gott Nytt År ttBertil och Ann-Margreth ttKnut Rosenkvist tttillönskas alla Vasasyskon ttErickson ttttLogen Höganäs Nr 634 ttttMaj-Lis Friedman SLH tt ttttFD, SLD DL Nr 20 tt tttttttttttttttttttttttt tttttttttttttttttttttttt tttttttttttttttttttttttt

tttttttttttttttttttttttt tttttttttttttttttttttttt tttttttttttttttttttttttt tttttt tttttt God Jul och Gott Nytt År ttGod Jul och Gott Nytt År tt önskas alla Vasavänner ttGod Jul och Gott Nytt År tttttt Berit och Hans Bogren tillönskas alla Vasasyskon tillönskas alla Vasa-syskon ttttLogen Skåne Nr 570 ttLogen Ronneby Nr 630 ttLL Höganäs Nr 634 tttt tttttt tttttttttttttttttttttttt tttttttttttttttttttttttt tttttttttttttttttttttttt

tttttttttttttttttttttttt Distriktslogen Norra Sverige Nr 19 tttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt ttGod Jul och Gott Nytt År t Unite Members and Lodges t tttillönskas alla Vasasyskon t Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year t ttGöran och Catherine t to All Our Vasa Friends in the US, Canada and Sweden t ttBringselius Nilsson t Lisbeth H. Qvarfordt and Inge Hallberg, HM t ttPS LL Nr 678 och FDM DL Nr 20 t FDM LL751 Norrköping t tttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt tttttttttttttttttttttttt

Vasa Star October-December 2011 www.vasaorder.com Page 19 Welcome To Our New Members

On behalf of the Grand Lodge and members of the Vasa Order of America, I am pleased to welcome you to membership in these local Vasa lodges. If you are new to the Vasa Order of America we bid you welcome. If you are transferring or are a dual member, your new lodge bids you welcome. We hope you will enjoy your membership and will participate in all of the activities planned for you. Art Bjorkner, Grand Lodge Membership Chairman 31 Vasa Drive, Hackettstown NJ 07840-5314 USA

DL RHODE ISLAND NO. 3 DL LAKE MICHIGAN NO. 8 DL PACIFIC NORTHWEST NO. 13 Svea Lodge No. 362 Linne Lodge No. 153 Svea Lodge No. 469 Walter G. Josephson Joan Linnea Hartman Geneva E. Ellis George Edward Olson Austin Lodge No. 466 Jennifer Rose Pearson Allan Charles Winters Harmoni Lodge No. 472 DL NEW YORK NO. 4 Linde Lodge No. 492 Victoria Alexandra Tengblad Kreft Thule Lodge No. 127 Daniel Donald Schroeder Nancy Tuttle Carol J. Arthur Mary Ann Schroeder Dennis H. Lundberg Hagar Lodge No. 721 DL PACIFIC SOUTHWEST NO. 15 Carolyn E. Ostrom Lester Harvey Johnson Skandia Lodge No. 247 Mary Susan Wright Egon Waldemar Tietz Ernest Clair Mauritson Jubileum Lodge No. 755 Dr. Beau Stocking DL NEW JERSEY NO. 6 Christina Bergmann Mayflower Lodge No. 445 Tryggve Lodge No. 88 Dennis Lee Bergmann Christina Badour Louis S. Cassarello Nordik Folk Lodge No. 761 Golden Valley Lodge No. 616 Karl Arne Hendela Carl Erik Lundin Janet G. Bell David C. Waldron Sofia Crystina Nelson John Wayne Bell Linne Lodge No. 423 Harrison Timothy Ogrentz Ruzenka di Benedetto Dominick Anthony Durso Jennifer E. Pearson Roy Elmer Olson Three Crowns Lodge No. 704 Bryan E. Tomky Nicolette Taylor Franklin Philips Baker III Janice L. Tomky Bradley Thornton Kathy McGrath Baker Paul Carl Wakefield Sofie Thornton Stephen F. Colonna Sarah Clover Baltic Lodge No. 689 Kelly Marie Conover Wakefield Chuck Joseph Fiacco George William Gutleber Britt I. M. Holmstrom Renee Virginia Lupia DL PENNSYLVANIA NO. 9 Nelda Ilene Richards Lilian Lora Radel Nobel-Monitor Lodge No. 130 John K. Rehse Harriet B. Bush DL SÖDRA SVERIGE NO. 20 John J. Rothenberger Skåne Lodge No. 570 Laura Michele Stiller-Williams DL GOLDEN GATE NO. 12 Solvig Kristoffersson Dalahäst Lodge No. 742 Monitor Lodge No. 218 Georg Larsson Barbara E. Peterson Brian Charles Horsfield Lena Larsson Svea Lodge No. 348 Höganäs Lodge No. 634 DL MINNESOTA NO. 7 Keith McKee Crawford Mats Malmström Kronan Lodge No. 433 Marylin Joan Crawford Calle Nilsson Sally Jean Spreeman Lindbergh Lodge No. 494 Kerstin Nilsson Taylor Afton Spreeman Douglas E. Anderson Steven Michael Eliscu DL ARIZONA NO. 21 Linnea Lodge No. 504 Phoenix Lodge No. 677 Donna Mae Edstrom Keith George Anderson Nancy Lenore Anderson Neal D. Nelson

Page 20 www.vasaorder.com Vasa Star October-December 2011 CULTURE Stavkyrkan i Lillsjöhögen Svaret på varför det finns en stavkyrka i Lillsjöhögen är ganska enkel: Varför inte? Historien börjar hösten 2007 med att två bybor blev nyfikna på stavkyrkor. Byggmetoden i sig är så intressant med den bakgrund den har. De tyckte också att det fanns behov av en andlig lokal i byn. Så nu är det bara att hoppas på att byns attraktion- skraft ska öka i och med stavkyrkan. Det finns bara en handfull stavkyrkor i Sverige och det sätter Lillsjöhögen på kartan. Det finns också ev en koppling mellan Pilgrimsleden och Lillsjöhögen. Sydväst om Ösjön finns en Pilgrimskälla. Steget från idé om att bygga en stavkyrka till att faktiskt göra det, togs ganska snabbt, men utan sponsorerna hade det gammal egyptisk symbol för livet, styrka aldrig gått. Göte Falkman och Göran arbetstimmar han lagt ner på enbart smidet. och hälsa. Den representerar även visdom, Nilsson från Lillsjöhögen, har arbetat idéelt Som den smidesmästare han är räknar han inre kraft och auktoritet. Ankh-korset är med bygget. All el i kyrkverkstaden, arbetet i liter stenkol som använts. Han har Livets nyckel. Korsets cirkelformade del bränsle till verktyg och så vidare, har de smitt upp 250 liter stenkol och det är symboliserar Gud. bekostat själva. De båda kyrkbyggarna har väldigt mycket. Det går åt cirka 5 liter om Stavkyrkan i Lillsjöhögen är behandlad lagt ner flera tusen arbetstimmar var, på dagen, så det handlar om runt 50 dagar i med en blandning av tjära, terpentin och bygget. Från idé till invigning har det tagit smedjan hemma på gården i Lillsjöhögen. linolja. Genom tiderna har det kallats för en fyra år. På utsidan av stavkyrkans port finns tre rad olika saker: Båtsmörja, bryggsmörja Snickarna är pensionärer, men har inte symboler: liljor, drakar och pilspetsar. och roslagsmahogny. Roslagsmahogny ger arbetat professionellt som just snickare. Drakarna finns överst och det är en symbol träet en längre livslängd och en vacker Göte har en bakgrund som grönsakshand- som finns både inom asatron samt kristen- brunröd färg. Den kan användas till såväl lare och Göran från verkstadsbranschen. domen. Stavkyrkorna byggdes i brytpunk- altaner, trappor som till träbåtar och, som Men snickra kan de. Det har varit roligare ten mellan de olika religionerna. Drakarna synes, även som fasadbehandling på än de trodde, men det har också varit mer var en symbol för ondska och de skulle hål- stavkyrkor. jobb än de någonsin kunde ana. las utanför helgedomen. Pilarna finns där Stavkyrkor började byggas på 1100-talet Under vårvintern 2008 påbörjades för att skydda helgedomen mot det onda i när nordvästra Europa kristnades. Kyrkorna arbetet av stavkyrkan och i november 2009 världen. Längst ner finns liljor och det brukar ses som en av de viktigaste represen- började man förbereda marken där kommer från Bergspredikan där Jesus pekar tanterna för europeisk medeltidsarkitektur i stavkyrkan skulle uppföras. Våren/som- på liljorna på marken och menar att alla ska trä. Namnet stavkyrka kommer sig från att maren 2010 uppförs huvudskeppet. Koret vara välkomna till kyrkan precis som de är. kyrkan är byggd på en bärande konstruktion byggdes under sommaren 2011. Allt fin- Ett Ankhkors finns uppsatt ovanför av stolpar. Mellan stolparna är det en fyll- snickeri har utförts i Lillsjöhögen samt ingången till kyrkan. Ankh-korset är en ning av stående plankor, eller stavar som bearbetningen av timret. det också kallas. I Norge finns det flesta Christer Wall står för smidesarbetet i bevarade stavkykorna. stavkyrkan och kommer från en släkt som Under medeltiden fanns det runt 1000 levt och andats smide sedan 1800-talet, då stavkyrkor i Norge. I dag finns det 28 kvar. morfars far kuskade Europa runt som lär- I Sverige finns det endast en bevarad ling. Christer började sin bana 1958, men stavkyrka från medeltiden. Det är Hedareds det var under 70-talet som han kunde tit- stavkyrka, som byggdes omkring år 1500. ulera sig smidesmästare. Han har varit med Det finns sex nutida stavkyrkor, inräknat och smitt föremål till ett flertal kyrkor, bl a den i Lillsjöhögen. till Stora kyrkan i Östersund, Frösö kyrka Det var Jan Gustavsson, prost emeritus, samt Lits kyrka. Dessa arbeten har varit som förslog att Lillsjöhögens stavkyrka inte små jämfört med det i Lillsjöhögen. ska ingå i Svenska kyrkan. Det innebär att Till Lillsjöhögens stavkyrka har han bygdegårdsföreningen i byn kan styra över bland annat smitt dekoren till ytterdörren, verksamheten och utbudet efter eget tycke. kyrktuppen och ett stort antal bultar. Han är Kyrkan är därför sparsamt utsmyckad även den som tänkt ut vilka symboler som med kristna symboler. Byns vilja är att ska finnas på exempelvis den magnifika kyrkan ska fungera som mötesplats även för kyrkporten. Christer vet inte hur många Continued on next page

Vasa Star October-December 2011 www.vasaorder.com Page 21 Stavkyrkan i Lillsjöhögen started working on the stave church, and in several different things: Ship butter, pier Continued from previous page November of 2009 they began preparing butter, and roslag mahogany. Roslag the land where the stave church would be mahogany gives the wood a longer life människor med andra trosinriktningar och situated. In the spring/the summer 2010 span, and a beautiful brown red color. It can för dem som inte är troende. Stavkyrkan they built the central ship. The altar room be used on porches, stairs that are on wood blir på det här sättet religiöst obunden. Det was built during the summer of 2011. All of ships and also as façade treatment on stave gör att alla människor kan använda byns the detail woodwork has been carried out in churches. andliga rum för sin tro. Lillsjöhögen including the processing and Stave churches began to be built around preparation of timbre. 1100 when northwestern Europe was chris- Storleken på Lillsjöhögens Stavkyrka: Christer Wall is responsible for the tened. The churches can be seen as one of Huvudskeppet är 6,5 meter långt och 5,5 wrought iron work in the stave church and the most important representatives for meter brett. Koret är 3,5 meter i både längd comes from a family that has lived and European Middle ages architecture in och bredd. Totalt blir ytan 48 kvadratmeter. breathed the art of wrought iron since the wood. The name stave church comes from Stavkyrkan är 8 meter hög. Sittplatser: 55 1800th century, when his grandfather trav- that the church is built on a carrying struc- till 60 st. eled around Europe as a trainee. Christer ture of posts. Between the posts there are began his career in 1958, but it was during standing boards, or staves that they also are Källa: Lillsjöhögens Stavkyrkas 70s, that he could titular himself as a called. In Norway, you can find most of the Informationshäfte wrought iron master. He has done wrought preserved stave churches. Ni kan även hitta dem på Facebook iron work in several churches, such as Stora During the middle ages, there were Kyrkan (the Big Church) in Östersund, around 1000 stave churches in Norway. Insänt av: Marie Carlson, Editor, VS Frösö Church and Lit 's Church. Those jobs Today, there are 28 left. In Sweden, there is Foto: Erik Trapp, Lillsjöhögen have been small compared with the one in only one preserved stave church from the Lillsjöhögen. middle ages. It is Hedared's Stave Church In Lillsjöhögens Stave Church he has that was built about year 1500. There are The Stave Church among other things made the scenery to the six modern stave churches, where in Lillsjöhögen door outside, the church rooster and a large Lillsjöhögen is included. number of bolts. He is also the one who has It was Jan Gustavsson, prost emeritus The answer to why there is a stave figured out which symbols that will be on that suggested that Lillsjöhögens stave church in Lillsjöhögen is quite simple: Why the magnificent church gate. Christer does church will not be part of the Swedish not? The story begins in the autumn of not know how many work hours he has church. It means that the district farm asso- 2007 with two villagers that became curi- spent on the wrought iron work alone. As ciation in the village can govern over their ous about stave churches. the wrought iron master he is, he counts his activities, and make their own decisions. The way it is constructed is so interest- work in liters of coal he has used. He has The church does not have many ing and its history. They further thought used 250 liters of coal, and that is a huge Christian symbols. The village wants the that the village was in need of a spiritual amount. He has used approximately 5 liters church to function as meeting place for peo- sanctuary. So now, one can only hope that per day that is about 50 days he has spent in ple with other faiths as well as for the non- Lillsjöhögens appeal will increase with the his workshop on the farm in Lillsjöhögen. believer. This way the stave church stave church. There are only a handful stave On the outside of the stave church's gate becomes religious unrestricted, which churches in Sweden and this sets there are three symbols: lilies, dragons and means that all people can make use of the Lillsjöhögen on the map. There might also arrow heads. The dragons are on the top, village's shrine for their personal faith. be a link between the Pilgrims way and and it is a symbol that you can find both Lillsjöhögen. Southwest of Lake Ösjön is a within Norse paganism and Christianity. The size of Lillsjöhögens Stave Church: Pilgrim well. The stave churches were built in the break- The central ship is 6,5 meters long and it is From just an idea to actually doing it ing point between the different religions. 5 meters wide. The altar room is 3,5 meters was taken quite quickly, and without the The dragons were a symbol for evil and in both length and width. The total surface sponsors, they would not have been able to they should be held outside the shrine. The is 48 square meters. The stave church is 8 do it. Göte Falkman and Göran Nilsson arrows are there in order to protect the meters high. It seats 55 to 60 people. from Lillsjöhögen, has worked for free, shrine against the evil in the world. At the with the construction. All electricity in the very bottom are the lilies and it comes from Source: Information Booklet available at church, fuel for the tools and so on they when Jesus preached and Jesus points to the the church. have supplied and paid for on their own. lilies on the ground and says each and You can also find them on Facebook Both of them have spent several thousand everyone will be welcome to the church just hours working on the construction. It has the way they are. Submitted by: Marie Carlson, Editor, VS taken four years from, just an idea, until You can find the Ankh cross above the Pictures by: Erik Trapp, Lillsjöhögen the grand opening. entrance to the church. The Ankh cross is The builders are retired, but have not an old Egyptian symbol for life, strength A Vasa-bridge to your worked professionally as just carpenters. and health. It also represents wisdom, inter- Göte has a background as a greengrocer and nal strength and authority. The Ankh cross Swedish ancestors! Göran from the workshop sector. But car- is the key to life. The cross's circle shaped Looking for your relatives in Sweden? pentry, they can do. It has been a lot of fun, part symbolizes God. I have helped many satisfied but it has also been a lot more work than The stave church in Lillsjöhögen is Vasa-members finding their Swedish roots. they had imagined. treated with mixture of tar, turpentine and Further info please e-mail: During the spring/winter of 2008 they linseed oil. Over time it has been called [email protected]

Page 22 www.vasaorder.com Vasa Star October-December 2011 Två svenska jättar, Dag Hammarskjöld och Jan Eliasson Den 18 september (denna artikel mästaren i fredsskapande arbete. Deras an individual a special meaning, because skrivs en vecka senare) hade jag turen att karriärer har vissa likheter med början i in September 1961 I was still in Uppsala återvända till mitt gamla universitet i det svenska utrikesdepartementet. Dag having the same year graduated from Uppsala i tid för att kunna höra The Dag Hammarskjöld var FN:s generalsekreter- medical school and recently started my Hammarskjöld Lecture 2011 med Jan are 1954-1961 och är väl ihågkommen first residency at the surgical unit of the Eliasson som inbjuden föreläsare. Denna för sin enastående förmåga att tjäna såväl University Hospital. It was easy to recall föreläsning är årlig sedan 1988 och inra- stora som små nationer. Det var inte lätt the sad atmosphere at the time in the mas av klassisk musik, sånger av studen- och efter det första året deklarerade han: entire city of Uppsala, where Dag tkören Allmänna Sången samt presenta- “FN skapades inte för att ta oss till Hammarskjöld grew up. tioner av universitetets rektor och repre- himlen utan för att rädda oss från hel- Jan Eliasson had chosen Peace, sentanter för Hammarskjöldfonden, som vetet.” Han var en framstående förhand- Development and Human Rights – The tillsammans med universitetet ansvarar lare och i hans fotspår har Jan Eliasson Indispensable Connection as title for his för arrangemanget. tjänat vid många försök till fredsmäk- lecture. During his speech he underlined I år ägde evenemanget rum exakt på lande samt som representant för Sverige i the necessity of holding these three vital dagen 50 år efter flygkraschen nära FN och under ett år som ordförande i conceptions together at all times in the Ndola i nuvarande Zambia, där Dag dess generalförsamling. Hammarskjöld work for humanity. It was an impressive Hammarskjöld omkom. Detta förhållande tillhörde den svenska regeringen ett par speech with many reflections on Dag gav en speciell mening åt årets föreläs- år före utnämningen till generalsekreter- Hammarskjöld and his time, but also a ning. Det gav speciell mening också för are och Eliasson var under en kort tid good overview of the current conflicts of mig, som i september 1961 fortfarande Sveriges utrikesminister. Han står the world. After his speech the floor was befann mig i Uppsala som nyligen legit- alltjämt till förfogande för nya uppdrag open to questions from the crowded main imerad läkare och i min första tjänst som och är högt respekterad såväl i Sverige auditorium followed by song from the underläkare på kirurgen vid Akademiska som internationellt. choir and a ceremony at which Jan Sjukhuset. Det var lätt att återuppleva den Femtioårsminnet av flygkraschen i Eliasson was awarded The Dag tidens sorgliga atmosfär, som drabbade Ndola har föranlett nya krav på under- Hammarskjöld Medal by professor hela Uppsala, staden där Dag sökning av de alltjämt inte fullt klarlagda Anders Hallberg, Vice Chancellor, Hammarskjöld växte upp. omständigheterna vid olyckan. Det finns Uppsala University, professor Ashok Jan Eliasson hade valt Fred, hittills sekretessbelagda dokument, som Swain from The Dag Hammarskjöld Utveckling och Mänskliga Rättigheter – efter 50 år kan offentliggöras, och nyli- Foundation and Peter Wallensteen, Dag den absolut nödvändiga relationen som gen publicerade den engelska historikern Hammarskjöld professor at The rubrik för sin föreläsning. I denna under- Susan Williams sin bok “Vem dödade Department for Peace and Conflict strök han nödvändigheten att hålla dessa Hammarskjöld?” Det är inte tillfredsstäl- Research, Uppsala University. tre vitala begrepp samman vid allt arbete lande att ha så allvarliga frågor obesva- Her Royal Highness, Crown Princess för fred och humanitet. Det var ett rade, men det kommer troligen att dröja, Victoria, attended The 2011 Dag imponerande tal med många reflektioner innan några svar finns. Hammarskjöld Lecture in honor of both till Hammarskjöld och hans tid men Insänt av: Stig S. Sälgeback, Dag Hammarskjöld and Jan Eliasson. också en bred översikt över världens Karlstad, SLKL, Sverige Prior to the program Jan Eliasson nuvarande konflikter. Efter föreläsningen placed a wreath on Dag Hammarskjöld’s lämnades visst utrymme för frågor från grave in the old cemetery of Uppsala in den fullsatta universitetsaulan, följt av Two Swedish Giants, the presence of Crown Princess Victoria studentkörens sång och en ceremoni, där Dag Hammarskjöld and prime representatives from the uni- Jan Eliasson tilldelades Dag versity and the foundation. - There were Hammarskjöldmedaljen av universitet- and Jan Eliasson the two Swedish Giants of high integrity, srektorn, professor Anders Hallberg, och On September 18 (this article is writ- one of them honoring the other as the professor Ashok Swain från ten one week later) by chance I happened great master of peace efforts. Their Hammarskjöldfonden samt Peter to return to my old University of Uppsala careers show some similarities with a Wallensteen, som är Dag Hammarskjöld in time to attend The Dag Hammarskjöld beginning in the Swedish Foreign Office. Professor vid avdelningen för freds- och Lecture 2011 with Jan Eliasson as the Dag Hammarskjöld served as UN konfliktforskning, Uppsala Universitet. invited speaker. The tradition of this lec- Secretary- General 1954 – 1961 and is HKH Kronprinsessan Victoria bevis- ture goes back to 1988 and includes clas- well remembered for his outstanding abil- tade årets Dag Hammarskjöld-föreläsning sic music, songs by the student choir, ity as a civil servant for big as well as for för att hedra både Dag Hammarskjöld Allmänna Sången, and presentations by small nations. It was not easy and after och Jan Eliasson. the president of the university and repre- one year in office he concluded: “The Före programmet i universitetsaulan sentatives from The Hammarskjöld United Nations was not created in order lade Jan Eliasson ned en krans på Dag Foundation. These two institutions are in to bring us to heaven, but in order to save Hammarskjölds grav på Uppsala gamla charge of the arrangement. us from hell.” He was a great mediator kyrkogård i närvaro av kronprinsessan This year the event took place exactly and in his footsteps Jan Eliasson has Victoria och ledande företrädare för uni- on the date 50 years ago, when Dag served in many peace-keeping missions versitetet och Hammarskjöldfonden. – Hammarskjöld died in a plane crash near as well as in the UN representing Sweden Där var nu de båda svenska jättarna, den Ndola, Zambia, giving a very special and for one year as President of The ene hyllande den andre som den store meaning to the lecture. It also gave me as Continued on next page

Vasa Star October-December 2011 www.vasaorder.com Page 23 of Uppsala University in Sweden. He deeply indebted to Dr. Vegelius as Aina Two Swedish Giants provided some information about the Lindström and I have now corresponded Continued from previous page name Fröberg and gave me names and for several years. From the pedigree chart addresses of nine individuals bearing this which follows, you will be able to see our General Assembly. Hammarskjöld surname. I wrote letters to all these peo- relationship. belonged to the Swedish government a ple and only received one reply which Then, on Christmas Day, 1991, an few years before his appointment as UN turned out not to be a relative. early morning phone call announced that Secretary General and Eliasson was for a In the meantime, in a collection of Aina’s daughter, Gun-Marie Sohlin, had short period our Minister for Foreign postal cards which my Grandmother just arrived in Ft. Meyers (where I live) Affairs. He is still at the UN disposal for Fröberg had given me when I was a child, and wanted to meet me. She was on leave assignments and is highly respected in I found two which had been sent from from her duties as a member of the Sweden as well as internationally. Sweden and which were written in Swedish delegation on the United The fifty year old memory of the plane Swedish. I located someone who could Nations interim forces stationed in crash in Ndola has raised new demands translate them and learned that they were Lebanon. My husband and I immediately on investigations of the still not fully from Härnösand, Sweden, and mentioned went to the motel where she was staying understood circumstances at the accident. some changes in a building there that had and after introductions, invited her back Questions have been put forward from been done since my grandfather had last to our home for the balance of her visit in family members and from authorities. been there. They were signed Hanna Florida. There are so far secret documents that Fröberg. I sent this information on to Dr. Then we had another surprise, Gun- could be released after 50 years and Vegelius and told him of the one reply I Marie’s daughter, Charlotte, was attend- recently an English historian, Susan had received from the listing he had sent ing high school as an exchange student in Williams, published her book “Who me. Spokane, Washington. Her mother made killed Hammarskjöld?” Dr. Vegelius wrote again. He had con- a few phone calls and arrangements were It is not satisfactory having such seri- tinued to work on my query and with the made for her to fly into Ft. Meyers. ous questions unanswered, but it will additional information I had given him, Within hours we had met two Swedish probably take some time until any solu- he made several inquiries on my behalf. relatives never known before. What a tion will be there. Following is the text of his next letter: wonderful Christmas present! Submitted by: Stig S. Sälgeback, “First I looked in a book containing Soon after these two relatives had Karlstad, GLCD, Sweden the names of all Swedish villages, farms returned to their respective homes, a and so on. There we could find four phone call from Sweden informed us that places by the name of Utvik. Two of Gun-Marie’s mother, Aina, was planning them were in Ångermanland, one in the to fly to Florida on June 1. My Swedish parish of Nora and one in the parish of family just kept growing and growing. My Swedish Ullånger. It was a long time from the first part of “I went to our city library and looked January until June 1. Many overseas tele- Connections at the telephone book of Ångermanland. phone calls were made – many letters and In the Ullånger telephone area (which maps were sent and received. Explicit How I Found My Swedish Relatives also contained Nora) I found a dozen per- directions had to be given as Aina and by Frances Fröberg Wooley sons by the name of Fröberg. her party would fly into Ft. Lauderdale “In the afternoon I called the church at on the east coast, rent a car and drive Shortly after beginning my search a Nora and the person who answered across the state to Ft. Meyers. It would be few years ago to fill in some holes on my (probably the clergyman) mentioned that after dark before they would reach our husband’s pedigree chart, I decided I the only Fröberg he found in Nora (with a home. None of the party had ever been to would try to obtain information concern- telephone) was Per Fröberg in Frok. this country before. The hours on June 1, ing my Swedish grandfather. “I phoned Per Fröberg, who said that 1992, passed slowly. At this point in time, the only thing I there had been Fröbergs in Utvik, but he Finally, a car pulled up outside of our actually knew was that Olof Fröberg, my did not know where their descendants home. The doors opened and for the first grandfather, had gone to sea as a young lived. He recommended me to call Sture time in my life I met my half-cousin man. The story I had been told was that Frolen in Härnösand whose uncle had from Sweden – a relative that until a cou- as he left Sweden, his mother stood on married a daughter (of) Dora Fröberg ple of years ago I did not know even the hill above him waving her apron in from Utvik. After a long search in the existed. It was truly an exciting and awe- farewell. He was never able to return to telephone book he found Sture’s number. some experience. his home in Sweden. On one of his sea “I called Sture Frolen and he could Those who came were Aina and her voyages, he had met my grandmother give me telephone numbers to several husband,Werner. Neither of them speak who was traveling from Norway to the children of Dora Fröberg Nilsson. English although they do understand a United States. They were married in “Finally I called Dora’s daughter, bit. Aina’s sister Elsy Syren, sometimes Chicago (Cook) Illinois in 1880. Aina Nilsson Lindström, who confirmed acted as a translator but it was difficult. With only the above information and that her grandparents had lived in Utvik However, Aina’s granddaughter, Petra the year of his birth obtained from his in Nora. She became very interested in Sohlin and her fiancé, Peter Westin, marriage license, 1856, I submitted a getting a letter from you. She says she is speak very good English as they had query to Swedish-American Magazine.A not so good at reading English but she learned it in school and did most of the response was received from Dr. Jan has a daughter who can help her.” translating. Vegelius of the Department of Statistics I assure you that Iwill always be Continued on next page

Page 24 www.vasaorder.com Vasa Star October-December 2011 My Swedish Connections Continued from previous page

Not only did Aina bring me many gifts 5. Brita Cajsa Fröberg, b. 29 Sept. 1861; Tab. 2 typical of Sweden, she even brought sev- d. 17 Feb.1872. Olof Fröberg, called himself Fröberg in eral jars of homemade jam that she had America. Grandfather of Frances Fröberg made in her own kitchen. She also Children in the second marriage: Wooley. brought the name and address of yet 1. Anders Gustaf Fröberg, b. 22 Feb. another member of our mutual family –a 1878 (see Tab. 3) Tab. 3. granddaughter of my grandfather’s sister. 2. Johan Fröberg, twin b. June 1879; d. Anders Gustaf Fröberg, grandfather of Since my grandfather’s sister had 13 liv- 24 July 1879 Aina Nilsson Lindström. ing children, I now shall have many more 3. Louisa Fröberg, twin, b. 8 June 1879; Swedish cousins to try and find. d. 26 July 1879 Aina and I poured over photo albums and exchanged notes on what we each Scandinavian American Cultural knew of our own grandparents and their families. We talked of her grandchildren and Historical Foundation and mine. She taught me a few words of Honors LeRoy Anderson the Swedish language and I tried to teach her some English phrases. Getting 2011 Outstanding Scandinavian American acquainted with each other was not difficult. We had a most enjoyable time A beloved Swedish-American musi- in Thousand Oaks and at Midsummer together. cian in Southern California, LeRoy Festivals at Vasa Park and other festivals The visit with my Swedish relatives Anderson has worn many musical hats, as in Southern California. has ended and they have returned to their a singer, choral director, pianist, accor- He is past President of the Swedish- homes in Härnösand and Uppsala. To say dionist and liturgist. Born in Chicago American Central Association of that this was one of the most important himself, his parents were from Jämtland Southern California, a past chairman of and exciting events in my lifetime is an and Skåne in Sweden. Raised in the Nordic Lodge #660 District Lodge understatement. From not ever knowing Augustana Swedish Lutheran Church, he Pacific Southwest #15 of the Vasa Order of any Swedish relatives, I now have has a love for Swedish choral music of America, a former director of SAHAC, dozens! And now it is time to begin plan- which he has enthusiastically promoted in The Swedish American Historical ning my trip to the land of my forefa- Southern California churches, directing Association of California, and a member thers. many festive choruses in concerts, can- of The Association of Lutheran Church Should anyone reading this account be tatas and oratorio. Musicians. a relative or have information that can be As a youth, LeRoy sang early in his Submitted by: Thomas Jahn, added to my family history, I would cer- church choir and in 1945 he joined the GLD, DL Pacific Southwest #15 tainly be interested in hearing from them. Swedish Glee Club in Chicago. In 1946 Photographed by: Thomas Jahn And again, I thank Dr. Vegelius for all he enlisted in the army and was stationed the time and energy he spent on my in Japan for more than a year. In 1951 he behalf. It is he who encouraged me to married Greta, a gifted pianist and organ- write this account of how I found my ist who shared his love for music. In 1953 Swedish connections! Greta and LeRoy moved to the Los Angeles Area. After two years of college Pedigree of the LeRoy continued extension studies at Fröberg-Lundin Family UCLA and USC, studying principally the Tab. 1. teaching of music. Meanwhile he sang in Olof Fröberg, born in Springare, Sabra the choir of Grace Lutheran in Bell, Parish (Vn.) 25 Jan. 1842; d. in Harno becoming director of the choir in 1969, a (Vn.) 21 June 1879. Married (1) 19 Nov. directorship he continued for 32 years 1847 Anna Brita Strinholm, born in Harno He created an early morning 22 Nov. 1825, d. in Harno 1 Jan. 1876; (2) Christmas liturgy for Angelica Lutheran in March 1877 Brita Greta Lindström, b. Church in Los Angeles and continued as 21 July 1845; d. 8 July 1921. their liturgist for seven years. In 1987 he organized a choir at the Norwegian and Children in the first marriage: Swedish Seamen’s Church in San Pedro, 1. Johan Fröberg, b. 3 March 1848, d. the directing that choir for 13 years. In the same day early ‘90s he assumed directorship of the 2. Israel Fröberg, b. 4 April 1849; went to Los Angeles area Vasa Choir. sea 1870 LeRoy is a founder of Västkustens 3. Johanna Fröberg, b. 10 June 1854, d. Spelmanslag and does music arrange- 12 Jan. 1935; mar. 10 Feb. 1876 Jonas ments for his group. This popular group Fredrik Lundin has played regularly at the Scandinavian Festival at California Lutheran University 4. Olof Fröberg, b. 3 Sept. 1856 (see Tab. 3) LeRoy Anderson

Vasa Star October-December 2011 www.vasaorder.com Page 25 HAPPENINGS Royal Glamour at New York Gala New Jersey Vasa Park Scandinavian royalties and other heads-of-states joined for an historic gathering at Celebrates 75 the Hilton Hotel in New York City. They were all in town to celebrate the Centennial Wonderful Years of the American-Scandinavian Foundation. Read all about it at www.amscan.org or www.nordstjernan.com HRH Queen Silvia of Sweden looked beautiful as always and Even though the official festivities were especially elegant in that violet ball gown! This event, with tickets starting at not to begin until Saturday, August 27th, $500/person was on October 21st. The next day King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen parties started Friday afternoon as District Silvia flew up to the still-Swedish community of Jamestown, New York. Children’s #6 New Jersey members from far and wide Club Thule Folkdancers performed in the royals’ presence and Queen Silvia joined descended on Vasa Park in Budd Lake. them for “Små Grodorna.” Gatherings at the summer cabins Friday Donna Johnson of Vasa Lodge Thule and three others received an award directly afternoon, prior to the weekly Friday night from the King commemorating her 50 year membership with The Nordic Club, cele- dinner, found old friends getting together brating their own 100th anniversary. Coordinator of the Scandinavian Folk Festival in just like old times. After dinner folks lin- Jamestown, Don Sandy received the Order of the Polar Star medal from the King of gered on the patio late into the night sharing Sweden. Grattis! Don is also a member of Vasa Thule Lodge, accordionist for both the photos and memories of their years at the adult and children´s folkdance clubs in Jamestown, as well as a member of two musi- Park. cal groups Nordanvind and Svenska Spelmän. Wish New York City weren’t so high Unfortunately the threat of hurricane society – it would have been spectacular to have a chance to meet and greet our King Irene kept some folks away on Saturday, and Queen on a more intimate venue. Kanske nästa gång! but the majority of those who had been Submitted by: Jeanne Eriksson-Andersen, Chairman, looking forward to this day for nearly a Lindbergh Lodge #505, New York, -Jeanne/[email protected] year, braved the stormy weather. And they Source: Sweden Today were glad they did! Members from as far away as California, Utah and Colorado Tranströmer Wins Nobel Prize in Literature made the trip. License plates from NJ, NY, CT, PA, MO, NC, TN and FL were in our Swedish poet Tomas Tranströmer has won the 2011 Nobel Prize in Literature. The parking lot along with a bus load of Swedes academy said it awarded the 80-year-oldpoet “because, through his condensed translu- that happened to be visiting NYC. cent images, he gives us fresh access to reality.” Born in 1931 in Stockholm, The entrance fee to the Park was twenty- Tranströmer is a poet, translator and psychologist, who have been translated into 50 five cents. Not only did that modest sum languages. The child of divorced parents, Tranströmer studied at Soda Latin in gain you entry, and a commemorative jour- Stockholm and graduated as a psychologist from Stockholm University in 1956. He nal but also tickets for either a hamburger began writing early, at age 13 and published his first collection of poems in 1954 titled or hot dog platter and a free soft drink. “17 dikter” (Seventeen poems). Remember when you could actually get His work, though, lies within and further develops the Modernist and something great for a quarter? Expressionist/Surrealist language of 20th century poetry; his clear, seemingly simple The opening ceremonies on Saturday pictures from everyday life and nature in particular reveals a mystic insight into the dedicated 657 new memorial plaques bear- universal aspects of the human mind. Tranströmer is a close friend of the American ing the names of our Vasa members who poet Robert Bly and their correspondence has been published in the book “Air Mail.” are now departed. This monumental under- In 1990, Tranströmer suffered a stroke that affects his speech, but he continues to taking was completed by our Vice District write. Tranströmer has in the past been mentioned as a candidate for the Nobel Prize Master Kevin De Feo with assistance from in Literature, and is considered one of Sweden's foremost poets. In addition to his his wife Elve and daughter Emily. The new work as a writer, Tranströmer was also a respected psychologist before he had his name plates are laser etched on material stroke. He worked in juvenile prisons, and with disabled, convicts, and drug addicts. that will be weather resistant and will hold He is also a pianist, something he has been able to continue after his stroke, albeit with up for many generations to come. It is a one hand. Here are a few lines describing a forest from one of Tranströmer’s poems beautiful memorial to those who helped from the book “Dikter” 1985. build Vasa Park. A presentation was then made by our “… Skogen är tysta övergivna lokaler så här års. District Master Jack Hanright. He and his Bara några få slags ljud: som om någon flyttade wife Inger unveiled the rune stone they cre- kvistar ated for Vasa Park along with their son försiktigt med en pincett Patrick. It stands proudly next to the carved eller ett gångjärn som gnyr svagt inne i en tjock stam.” wooden Viking outside the Cultural Center. Jack explained that he selected the stone This is the first time since 1974 a Swede has been awarded the prize (Harry from an old stone wall on Park property. It Martinsson and Eyvind Johnsson shared the honor that year). could barely be lifted by a front-end loader. Submitted by: Carol Blackwell, Phoenix Lodge #677 He reduced its size and chiseled it into a shape that is reminiscent of the rune stones

Continued on next page

Page 26 www.vasaorder.com Vasa Star October-December 2011 New Jersey Vasa Park taken that day to preserve the occasion. I’m over a year to make the day a memorable sure they will be on display at the next cele- event. District #6 is very lucky to have Celebrates 75 Years bration. Fond farewells were said as hurri- beautiful Vasa Park and so many dedicated Continued from previous page cane Irene descended on New Jersey but members who work to keep it going. many hearty Vikings lingered to dance and So save the date: Summer 2036. Vasa seen in Sweden. He engraved the message socialize, not wanting the evening to end. Park turns 100! that Inger composed, designed and translat- A huge thank you goes out to the 75th Submitted by: Beverly Blake, District ed into the runic alphabet. Patrick painted Anniversary Committee. These dedicated #6 New Jersey the letters in the traditional rune stone red. Vasa members planned and worked for It reads, “In the year 1936 the Swedes bought this land and named it Vasa Park. For 75 years we have kept it so that our sons and daughters will know of their ancestors. This stone was raised to remember the people that built this park.” Then it was time for the Vasa Olympic Games to begin, a tradition from years past, resurrected for this special occasion. The parade of District #6 Lodges ended at the basketball court where Games’ Chairman, Chad Peterson lit the Vasa flame. Nine District 6 Lodges competed for glory. After tug-o-war, keg toss, ticket ripping and various other feats of skill Frithiof #63 came home with the Gold, Goithoid #486 the Anniversary committee pictured left to right; Inger Hanright, Candace Peterson-Phelps, Chad Silver and Tryggve #88 the Bronze. At the Peterson, Chairman, Cathy Peterson, Co-Chair, Debbie Larsson, Jerry Meloskie, Terry awards ceremony the following Past Park Meloskie, Helen Haumacher and Art Haumacher. Presidents were recognized: Rodger Grady (1998-2000), Art Antonucci (2000-2001), Let’s Take a Lesson from the Norwegians Roy Persson (2001-2003), Mark Bernabei We here in northern Minnesota who is and waving of Swedish and Norwegian (2003-2004), Art Bjorkner (2007-2009), of Swedish and other ethnic backgrounds flags. And the Norwegians are always Jack Hanright (2009-2011) and Chad have watched with awe and perhaps some good sports, because the Swedes once Peterson (2001). Current and Past Park envy as Norwegian-Americans have again took the honors and carried away the President BJ Peterson (1996-1998, 2006- engaged in a frenzy of preparation for King trophy for another year. Once again we 2007) was also in attendance as was James Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway's visit Swedes were impressed with the integrity Radel (2004-2006). to Duluth, Minnesota this week. Duluth of the Norwegians, even as they lost. And A wonderful meatball dinner was served Sons of Norway members spruced up their we of the Swedish persuasion admit that in the Cultural Center for the bargain price Norway Hall to the tune of $50,000.00 in we have had some talent who are of of $5. There was also a video display set preparation for the visit and rededication of Finnish descent that has demonstrated up of old home movies from past Park Enger Tower, a beautiful landmark on the good throwing arms for our team. events along with several tables of family hill above the majestic Lake Superior However, when an article appeared in albums and photos of the members that shore. This property and tower were built the local Lake County News Chronicle made Vasa Park what it is today. There was and donated to the city of Duluth by a suc- describing the contest, it stated that the no shortage of hugs, smiles and tears of cessful Norwegian immigrant as thanks for Swedes defeated the FINNS! Could there remembrance as fond memories came his good fortune. It was dedicated by be a closet Norwegian on the newspaper flooding back. It was wonderful to see so Crown Prince Olav in 1939. A lovely lun- staff? Was there an attempt to cover their many family photos, lodge photos and folks cheon with city and state dignitaries was loss? No! Surely not! We Swedes are trust- at their favorite spots in Vasa Park being attended by 500 people and throngs of resi- ing folks and we are certain that it was only dents from all over the area lined the a typographical error! Or not? Hmmm. streets to greet the royalty. Norwegian In the meantime, let’s take a lesson flags flew in the breeze and the Norwegian from the Norwegians – be loud and proud national anthem was sung. We of other about our Swedish heritage, wave the flag, Nordic countries, in particular, should be learn the words to the Swedish national very impressed with the passion and dedi- anthem, sing it loudly, encourage member- cation and pride of Norwegian-Americans ship in our organization and if our Swedish in their heritage (and perhaps work harder King and Queen come to visit someday, to do the same with our Swedish heritage)! let’s be “copy-cats” and give them a royal Locally our Göta Lejon Lodge each welcome that will make the front pages of summer challenges the local Norwegians our newspapers! to a fun-filled event called the Lutefisk Submitted by: Patricia Olson, Toss. This is held during Two Harbors Göta Lejon Lodge #251, Heritage Days in July and it is always a Two Harbors, Minnesota Chad Peterson lights the Vasa Olympic torch. popular event with cheering and laughter

Vasa Star October-December 2011 www.vasaorder.com Page 27 Vasa Orden av Amerika medlemmar från Sverige besöker Vasa arkivet i USA LUCIA My name is Lucia Under augusti månad passade I come with the light; logesyskonen Karl-Erik Axelsson, There is nothing to fear Elisabeth Agge, Anne-Sofie Hjort från When the embers are bright; logen Enköping Nr 646, Håkan Hjort från No shadow is so dark logen Linde Nr 492, Hillivi Sjöberg logen That you're ever alone; Eskilstuna Nr 633 samt Lars-Åke Sjöberg Look to the light logen Mälardrottningen Nr 563 att besöka And find your way home. ordenssyskon samt Vasa arkivet i USA. Vi bodde hos Jake och Marge Gruel In life, I had plenty, som är logesyskon från Linde logen i Both riches and gold, Milwaukee. Under sin vistelse i USA träf- But how can you be warm fade vi ordenssyskon från Linde logen samt When others are cold? deltog på deras kräftkalas hos Lisa och There is no glory in fine clothes Rolf Ekstrand. Varmt tack till familjen And shoes for your feet, Ekstrand. When people go to bed hungry Under besöket i USA begav vi oss till- With nothing to eat. sammans med Jake och Marge Gruel till Vasa arkivet i Bishop Hill. Där fick vi träf- I traded my gold fa den nya föreståndaren Viktoria Karl-Erik Axelsson LL 646 samt Lar-Åke To share with the poor; Almgren-Kofoid. På arkivet kunde man se I went out by night att fastigheten fått sig ett ordentligt lyft och Sjöberg LL 563 studerar handlingar i vasa arkivet. And laid a bounty at their door; utanför stod tre flaggstänger med USAs, I can only imagine Sveriges och Kanadas flaggor som hälsade oss välkomna. Även inne på arkivet hade The smiles on their face, många bra förändringar skett. På övervåningen finns ett kontor, sovrum samt kök. Where instead of dust, Viktoria Almgren-Kofoid som nu är den nya föreståndaren, upplevdes som en positiv Love took its place. och inspirerande person med ett stort engagemang. Hon pratar flytande svenska och amerikanska. You see me clad in white, Under vistelsen i Bishop Hill hittade man tidningsurklipp då Amerikanska ungdomar With lights all aglow, besökte Biskopskulla utanför Enköping i Sverige. Offering a gift of plenty Vi tog en promenad ner till kyrkogården för att titta till Eric Janssons gravsten. Eric As I did so long ago; Jansson som föddes i Biskopskulla utanför Enköping och bosatte sig i Bishop Hill, I travel from place to place, Illinois. Bringing hope and cheer; Vi fick även vara med när Jennifer Johnsson, dotter till Jake och Marge Gruel avtack- Come, be at peace, ades efter det att hon avslutade sin tjänstgörning inom polisen efter 24 år. Tillsammans You are welcome here. med arbetskamrater samt chefer samlades vi i polishuset i Waukesha där det hölls tacktal samt bjöds på kaffe med tårta. --Joel Bjorling, 2010 Dessa veckor i USA tillsammans med ordenssyskon, gör att man känner den gemen- Member of Bishop Hill skap som vår orden står för och som sträcker sig mellan kontinenterna. Varmt tack till familjen Gruel och Ekstrand som vi fått som vänner inom vår orden för hela livet. Insänt av: Elisabeth Agge

Karl-Erik Axelsson, Elisabeth Agge,Enköping Lars-Åke och Hillivi Sjöberg, Stockholm Viktoria Almgren-Kofoid nya föreståndaren samt Håkan och Anne-Sofie Hjort, Enköping.

Page 28 www.vasaorder.com Vasa Star October-December 2011 Kära Vasasyskon! The Volvo Open Sitter i Palo Alto i Kalifornien, USA och funderar över det senaste Distriktsmötet Race 2011 Vasa-orden hade i Ljungby i våras och hur det ska gå för min kära Vasa-loge. Vice My husband and I had the opportunity Grandmaster visade hur det går utför med Vasa om vi inte gör något och det är där to sail on Kings Legend in the Volvo mina tankar kommer in. Om en organisation eller liknande inte är förändringsbenägen Ocean Race Legends Regatta and kommer den att tyna bort. I vår ungdom kunde en gudstjänst hålla på i 1½ - 2 timmar Reunion in Alicante, Spain in November. – idag tar den ca 45 minuter – och ändå har kyrkan kvar sina ritualer. En begravning It was sponsored by The Jalousie tog då minst 1 timmar – idag ca ½ timma. Men både en högmässa och en begravning Enclave, an exclusive property develop- är fortfarande stilfull! Hur har kyrkan lyckats bevara sina ritualer trots den mycket ment in a UNESCO World Heritage site, förkortade tiden? Val des Pitons on the Caribbean island of Vi måste också på något sätt korta ner våra ritualer och våra möten! Hur ska vi St Lucia. marknadsföra oss? Ska vi ta ut svängarna? The first day of racing was abandoned Här kommer så några mer eller mindre vilda idéer för att få fart på diskussioner- through lack of wind, conditions on the na: second day could not have been better, • Ska vi stå med bokstånd på Skänninge eller Kiviks marknader? Eller ska vi stå på with the Legends boats powering around stormarknader typ A6 i Jönköping, Väla i Helsingborg eller Entré i Malmö? a 22-mile course in up to 30 knots of • Ska vi engagera oss med det lokala föreningslivet på vår nationaldag? breeze. • Kan vi få in emigrationshistorien som en kursplan på t ex en folkhögskola och A testimony to the Volvo Ocean som skulle ge poäng för vidare studier? Race’s 38-year history, the Legends • Ska vi annonsera i de stora reklamkanalerna i TV? Regatta was the largest ever gathering of • Ska vi göra en större sak om årets svensk-amerikan, som t ex anlita en marknads- yachts and sailors from previous races. föringsbyrå som spelar in hela tillställningen och gör ett färdigt manuskript, för During the event, which took place in att ha ett färdigt koncept att plantera i ett soffprogram i TV. the week prior to the start of Leg 1 of the • Ska vi gå ihop med lokala släktföreningar och starta släktforskning särskilt för Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 from dem som har släkt i USA och Kanada? Alicante to Cape Town, South Africa on November 5, more than 600 past com- Om vi går tillbaka till Distriktsmötet: Det blev en hel del avtackningar – lite tamt petitors travelled from across the globe to och enformigt tycker jag. Skulle man inte kunna utveckla det t ex bjuda de berörda på renew old acquaintances and reminisce högtidsmötets supé? Eller kanske skulle man lämna över ett antal Triss-lotter och om about past adventures. de gav en större vinst kunde en viss procent gå till logen. Den loge-medlem som skaf- Seven Legends Ambassadors were in far flest nya medlemmar i förhållande till hur många medlemmar det finns i dennes attendance: Lady Pippa Blake; Tracy lokal-loge, kan t ex få åka till USA och uppleva ett storlogemöte. Edwards MBE; Magnus Olsson; Skip Det finns säkert många som också har tankar och idéer om hur vi ska förfara. Jag Novak; Pierre Fehlmann; Alain Gabbay vet att det kostar en del pengar, men på något sätt måste vi gå vidare. Vi får se det på and Juan Vila. Sir Chay Blyth was unable lite längre sikt – t ex 6-8 år, sätta upp delmål och ha utvärdering efter halv tiden, så att to attend having sustained a broken leg det går att följa hur vi ligger till i förhållande till den uppsatta målen. shortly prior to the event. • Måste våra ritualer vara så omfattande? Kan vi trimma dem utan att innebörden From the 1977-78 race was the British går förlorad? 65’ sloop King’s Legend, and from 1981 • Måste alla i styrelsen vara med på alla styrelsemöten – kan det inte ibland räcka was the 57’ Berge Viking from Norway. med presidiet och FDO? Kings Legend now had has Dutch • Måste en DD vara med och kanske köra långa sträckor för att delta i ett ownership! styrelsemöte? Eller det är ett moraliskt ansvar av hävd och tradition? Submitted by: Marie Carlson • Kan vi använda de sociala medierna mera? Source: Volvo Open Race info sites • Det kanske finns företag som har verksamhet båda sidor av Atlanten – där kan Picture by: Marie Carlson man kanske göra någonting tillsammans t ex den 4 juli. • Jag skulle vilja veta hur det går för Norra distriktet och hur logerna där gör – där tycker jag vi saknar en del information. • Kan man slå ihop distrikten?

Hur är det: Finns det en tidskrift för Norra distriktet typ vår Vasa-Nytt? Om så är fallet kanske det kunde startas ett samarbete och samtidigt förbättra informationen därifrån, och hur ska man göra med USA-delen som vad jag förstår tappar flest medlemmar. Det har jag alldeles för lite kunskap om, men det finns säkert duktiga medlemmar där som kan utveckla den biten. Jag hoppas att mina tankar kan starta en förutsättningslös diskussion, och jag hoppas få slippa höra kommentarer som t ex: ”Så här har vi aldrig gjort förr – gör vi ingenting tynar vi bort!”

Med de bästa Vasa-hälsningar I sanning och enighet Sven Broddesson, LL Kärnan Nr 608, Helsingborg

Vasa Star October-December 2011 www.vasaorder.com Page 29 TIDBITS Kurbits På More Men Than Women Catwalk In about four years there will be a historical trend break in Sweden: There will then be more men than women living there. And subsequently, the male dominance will MODE: Slotts Barbro från Fjäkelmyra increase every year. Sweden has had more females than males since long before the – där har ni årets svenska modeexport. start of the national registration in 1749. Daily Sydsvenskan has looked into the matter Kläder med hennes traditionella dalamå- and pinpointed the breaking point as April 26, 2015. After that date, expect to see leri har visats på catwalken i Paris och more men than women, as the life expectancy of men will increase due to a number of sålts på exklusiva varuhus världen över. medical advances. Meanwhile, Swedish women are leading less healthy lives than Franska modehuset Rochas anlitade before, they work harder, smoke and drink more and are also more susceptible to Slotts Barbro då chefs-designer Marco stress and exhaustion. “There’s probably a ceiling for how quickly life expectancy can Zanini, vars mor är dalkulla, ville increase,” says Sven-Olof Isacsson, professor of community medicine at Lund återknyta till sina svenska rötter. University. – Han kom hit ett par dagar och vi job- “Swedish women are close to hitting that ceiling, therefore men are catching up bade tillsammans fram mönstren, berättar with them.” The increase in men also has to do with immigration, more men than Barbro som målar enligt traditionella women immigrate to Sweden from former Yugoslavia, Africa and the Middle East. metoder med äggoljetempera och limfärg Manliest city in Sweden? Övertorneå with 53.1 percent men. Stockholm, Malmö and. på gammalt hemvävt linne. Göteborg still has a 51 percent female dominance. Originalmålningarna fördes seda över till Submitted by: Carol Blackwell, Phoenix Lodge #677 siden av specialister i Italien. Nu har lugnet lagt sig i ateljén hemma på Fjärdmansgården utanför Börlänge. Biathlon instersund Men i garderoben hänger en klänning, special designad av Marco Zanini. – Hen gjorde en särskild version till COLD NOSE WARM HEARTH mig och en likadan till sin mamma. Lite mer klädd, med rejäl ärm och krage. Ateljén är öppen för besök, men ring först. Hedestad Alias Sollefteå FILM: “Hedestad” säger stationsskyl- The logo symbolizes the core values of biathlon in the winter city Östersund. ten.Men det är i Sollefteå som - Hosting, we might give you your next cold but we receive you with a warm heart. Bondstjärnan Daniell Craig, i rollen som - An event in true winter conditions with cold and snow Mikael Blomqvist, kliver av tåget i kom- - An event in an urban environment mande Hollywoods tolkning av Stieg - The proximity to the world Larsson: The girl with the draton tattoo, In short: Cold nose – warm heart! med premiär i december. Även Kilafors och Segersta utanför WORLD CUP 2011 IN FIGURES Bollnäs har fått ta på sig rollen som den - 500 leaders - 350 active, 38 nations fiktiva norrländska orten. - 130 media representatives - 15 Radio & TV Stations - Over 50 million TV viewers in the EBU - 22,000 visitors - 600 volunteers - Five days of competition - 6 races Logot symboliserar det huvudsakliga värdet av skidskytte i vinterstanden Östersund. Sites of Interest - Som värd, kanske vi ger dig din nästa förkylning men med ett varmt hjärta. - En händelse i riktig vinter med kyla och snö Swedish program about Americans visit- - En händelse i en stads - miljö - Närheten till världen ing Sweden to find their roots! A must see!! Kort och gott: Kall näsa - varmt hjärta! VÄRLDSCUPEN 2011 I SIFFROR http://svtplay.se/t/167318/allt_for_sverige - 500 ledare - 350 aktiva, 38 nationer - 130 massmediatekniker - 15 radio & TV-stationer - Över 50 miljon TV-tittare i EBUEN - 22,000 besökare - 600 volontärer - Fern dagar med tävlingar - 6 races

Page 30 www.vasaorder.com Vasa Star October-December 2011 V.O.A. Kronan Lodge #544 in St. Paul. Their com- LUCINDAA.(DANIELS)JOHNSON of mitment to each other, their family, to God, and to Cannomsburg, PA, passed away July 12, 2011, at In Memoriam their Swedish heritage is a model for all who knew the age of 52. She was born in Johnstown, PA, on them. October 27, 1958, and was initiated into Balder Till minne av hädangångna Lodge #308 on June 11, 1994. ordenssyskon genom vilkas bortgång syskonkretsen gjort FERNRICHTER was born in Minneapolis, en kännbar förlust Minnesota, August 16, 1921. She passed away in WASHINGTON In memory of our departed Los Angeles, California, July 20, 2011. She joined CARLD.MILLER, a lifelong resident of Skagit North Star Lodge #106 on November 7, 1989 as Valley area of Washington, passed away August 9, members who will be member #2122 and served as auditor for many 2011. He was a beloved member of Solidaritet sorely missed years. Fern is survived by three children and grand- Lodge #396. He is survived by nice Donna Cook, children. her family and extended family members. He served his country in WWII and married in 1951. CALIFORNIA For many years he came early in the morning to DORINDA NYLAND died on July 3, 2011 at the OHIO help with the pancake breakfast. age of 89. Sister Dorinda was born on March BETTYARVIDSON, age 86, of Mentor, OH, 15,1922 in Oakland, California. She Joined Tegner passed away on October 19, 2011, at Hospice Lodge #149 on February 5, 1975. She is survived House in Cleveland, OH. She was the beloved wife JENNIE C. PEARSON passed away in Cathlamet, by her daughter Celeste Spencer and husband John of Emil Arvidson and William Becker (deceased), WA, on October 18, 2011. She was born in Spencer, and her children Ellen, Tyler, and Linnea. loving mother of Kim (Mark) Sample, grandmother Centerville, WA, on February 25, 1914. She was a of Matthew, Gwen, and Tim; great-grandmother of 73-year member in good standing with Svea Lodge 8; stepmother of Penny (Neil) Richards and Pam #469 in Longview, WA. She loved her social life COLORADO (Jim) Hooley; step-grandmother of Cameron, Ian, andwas active in the community. She leaves a MARGARETAGUSTAFSON passed away on Dylan, and Rose; loving sister of the late Carl Lind; daughter udith (Lewis) Jones; daughter-in-law August 15, 2011. Preceded in death by her husband and sister-in-law of Eric Arvidson. Betty joined Bernice Pearson, 8 grandchildren and 3 great-grand- on March 2, 2011. They joined Runan Magnet Nobel-Monitor Lodge #130 on February 28, 1947, children. Lodge #120 in 1971 and transferred to Enighet and was a Life Member. Lodge #178, Denver Colorado on October 28, 1990. MARIA I. ARVIDSON (nee Wenzel), 84, died at WISCONSIN home (Mentor, OH) on September 9, 2011. She was Richard Allan Priem, longtime resident of ILLINOIS the beloved wife for 55 years of Eric O. Arvidson, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, passed away Monday, GEORGE KENNETH MICHELSON, 97, born loving mother of Gerda (Gunner) Maidhof, and November 7, 2011, at age 78 years. He was a spe- February 23, 1914, in Batavia, IL, passed away grandmother of Sylvia, Katia, and Peter, all of cial friend and comrade for 50 years of the late August 27, 2011, in Blooomingdale, IL. He joined Germany; sister-in-law of Emil (Betty) Arvidson of Robert Paul Thekan and was preceded in death by Viljan Lodge #349 on February 27, 1975 and was a Mentor. Maria was a 50-year member of Nobel- his parents Raymond and Ruth Priem. Richard 36-year member. He is survived by a son, a daugh- Monitor Lodge #130, having joined January 6, Priem was the brother of Ronald, Roger (Valerie), ter, and 2 grandchildren. 1961. and Russell (Donna) Priem, and is also survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends. PEARL L. BLACK passed away July 11, 2011, at Richard Priem was a longtime member of the MINNESOTA the age of 85. She was born March 17, 1925, in Finnish - American Society of Milwaukee, and VERNETTE ANN HALLDEEN passed away on Youngstown, OH, and was initiated into Harmony Linde Lodge 492 Vasa Order Of America. He was August 13, 2011. She was born Dec. 9, 1924 in Lodge #465 on September 13, 1997. Her husband, retired after 30 years of service at Boston Store. Minneapolism MN. She joined Stenbock Lodge James A. Black, whom she married in 1948, is #138 on Dec. 1, 1950 and was serving as Master of deceased. She leaves a son, Dudley A. Black, a Ceremonies. She is survived by Sisters Gloria daughter-in-law, Elisa, brothers Paul Storm and TEXAS Adolphson, Vivian Cushing, Joyce Carlson, and Carl, and grandchildren Kristin Yates and Colin VIVIAN ANDERSON BROWN passed away on brother Ray H. Halldeen, Jr (Peggy). Black. May 6, 2011 in Dallas, TX at the age of 90. She was born August 27, 1920 in Manor, TX. She was D.ARLENEHOLMGREN - age 86. Passed RICHARDF.KANENGEISER, age 83, dear a Charter member of Carl Widen Lodge #743 where away on October 9, 2011 after a lengthy illness. husband of Frida (nee Ek) for 60 years, passed away she served as Cheer Ch, Recording-sec, Financial- 1951 graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College. on September 25, 2011. He was the devoted father sec, and Auditor. She is survived by sister-in-law Loving wife, mother, former parish worker and sub- of Paul (Patricia) and David (Lynn); proud grandpa Rose Anderson, nieces, nephews, step-children and stitute teacher. Follow in death by husband, Arthur, and “papa” of Nicole, Alyssa,and Richard; brother- grandchildren and great-grandchildren. on October 20, 2011. (See C. Arthur Holmgren in-law of Elsie Jones (Robert, deceased), Irma memorial) Jackson (Delbert) (both deceased), and Barbara Ek. Dearest uncle of many. Dick joined Nobel-Monitor C.ARTHURHOLMGREN - age 88. Passed Lodge #130 on February 11, 2001. away on October 20, 2011. “Arthur” was preceded in death just 11 days earlier by his wife of 58 years, PENNSYVLANIA MEMORIAL NOTICES “Arlene.” Arthur was a P38 pilot in WWII. Later, EDWARDJ.APPELGREN, 96, born July 13, he worked as a teacher in the St. Paul Public 1915, passed away October 26, 2011. Ed joined should be mailed with check or money Schools. He held a bachelor's degree in teaching Oscars Borg Lodge No. 172, Phila., PA, February order to: Joan Graham, 5838 San Jose from St. Cloud Teacher's College and went on to 27, 1994. Ed was a faithful and active member of Avenue, Richmond, CA 94804. Phone earn his Master's Degree from St. Thomas College. Oscars Borg Lodge, including a two-year term as 510-526-5512. E-mail: [email protected]. The Arthur and Arlene are survived by: two sons, David chairman, 1998-99. Dear father of Brenda Ferich fee is $8.00 for 1 column inch. Longer (Natalie) and Wayne; Arlene's sisters and their and the late Edward Appelgren; loving grandfather obituaries will be charged a flat rate spouses; niece Maryellen Mikwold; nephew of 4 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren; and of $25.00. All notices MUST be typed and Clifford Trudell; and many friends in Minnesota dear brother of Dorothy Paley. Sov i ro. WRITTEN in a format similar to those in and Sweden. They were both long-time members of this column. NO newspaper clippings.

Vasa Star October-December 2011 www.vasaorder.com Page 31

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