September 2017
NEWSLETTER
Welcome Back to all our members, both old and new. I hope you have had an enjoyable summer.
Our mid-September event will be the Crayfish Dinner which harks back to the much-celebrated end of the crayfish season in Sweden. While crayfish are well known in Louisiana, they are relatively unfamiliar in the rest of America. Although similar to shrimp they have a taste all their own. For our dinner, we use crayfish from Sweden to make it an authentic taste experience. Our mid-October meeting will be devoted to catching up on business, preparing for the Bazaar and enjoying a presentation by members Keith and Katrin Shoemaker and Larilyn André on their recent trips to Iceland which is famous for its unique Nordic landscape.
The Drott Bazaar comes up shortly after, on November 4. It is Drott’s biggest event of the year and brings out the participation of nearly all our members in one way or another. The Bazaar is our only large fund-raising event which enables us to support everything else the Lodge does throughout the year. It also is a great opportunity to get to know one another and enjoy the festive atmosphere!
There are opportunities for everyone. If you like to chat with people you might be a great salesman. Every section, imported gifts, imported food, baked goods, and the food line can profit by your enthusiasm.
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Each of the Bazaar sections requires prior preparation such as ordering and pricing of items for sale. Some members bake food items at home for the baked goods table —breads, sweet breads, cakes, cookies, etc. Others do prep work in the church kitchen to produce menu items for the immensely popular Scandinavian food line. Food preparation in the hall kitchen involves chopping, making sandwiches, etc. under the guidance of our experienced members Margaret Schueman and Eva Dunhem. You don’t need to be a cook to help there. Once prepared, the food line requires many people to serve, carry food trays, ferry supplies to keep the food line stocked, and help with check-out.
Last but not least, people are needed both late Friday afternoon and evening as well as on Saturday to help set up the hall. Younger members (or family and friends) would be perfect for these tasks— set-up and cleaning, moving items from our storage unit in Rockville to the hall, unpacking supplies, setting up tables, taking out trash during the lunch period, repacking afterward, etc.
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As we get closer to the event we will have publicity items available to distribute. Do you drive around a lot? How about a door sign on your car? Now is the time to decide how you can participate. Contact Linda Smith at 240-9120 or [email protected] to discuss what you can do.
Linda Smith, Newsletter Editor
COMING NEXT
September 17, 2:30 PM Our Traditional Welcome Back Dinner and Kräftskiva (Crayfish Party), St. James’ Episcopal Church, 11815 Seven Locks Rd., Potomac, MD Park and enter in the rear.
It’s time again for our Welcome Back Dinner, where we catch up and learn about everyone’s summer activities. As usual, we ask that each family group bring a dish large enough for themselves and four other people. We suggest a dish in the category below that includes the first letter of your last name. A-G: Main dish H-R: Salad/side S-Z: Dessert The Lodge will provide a selection of cold meats in addition to the crayfish.
As in previous years, we are planning to incorporate all the traditional activities; with conical paper hats and lanterns, colorful tablecloths, bibs, and a jovial atmosphere for members to socialize and toast the end of summer. You may bring your own beer (BYOB) to enjoy as we learn to sing traditional Swedish drinking songs (snapsvisor) and “How to Peel a Crayfish”. This event is free for members who have paid their 2017 dues, $10 for non-members. Please RSVP to Carol Whitley at (202) 686-6214 or [email protected] by September 12.
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HOLD THE DATE:
October 14, 9 AM, Baking with Eva
The November 4 Bazaar will be here before we know it! In preparation, Eva Dunhem has once again agreed to organize a day of group baking for the Bazaar baked goods table. It was a huge success last year when we made 29 tins of raised buns, all of which sold quickly! Even if you don’t normally bake on your own, this is a good way to learn about making raised breads and other baking tips.
Eva and others are experienced in the many steps involved. It’s a lot of fun, as well as a productive way for Drott to provide yummy home-baked goods in quantity. Last year many customers asked which baked items were made by our members and they sold first. Let’s make the most of this opportunity to participate in the ‘farm to table’ trend toward homemade products. The session ends with a fika so we can be sure everything tastes good. The session will be held in the home of a Drott member who lives close to our normal meeting site, so it’s a convenient location. Put it on your calendar and contact Eva Dunhem to sign up at [email protected] or (703) 847-0940.
OTHER 2017 EVENTS TO COME
October 15: Drott Business Meeting and Iceland Presentation November 3: Bazaar Set-up starting mid-afternoon November 4: Bazaar December 11: Lucia Celebration
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RECENT EVENTS
The weather was perfect for this year’s Midsommar, sponsored by Drott Lodge, in cooperation with ASA and SWEA.
MEMBER NEWS
Our best wishes to Ashley Mullinax and Jason Zwickl who were married on May 20, 2017 at the Mimslyn Inn in Luray, VA. Ashley and her happy grandmother Drott member Karla Dirst are admiring the VASA District 9 Swedish Wedding Crown.
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Our best wishes also to Drott Lodge Past Chairman Eric Randolph who has been accepted into the Master of Divinity program at United Lutheran Seminary (ULS), the new school of theology of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The program consists of three years of classroom study, a summer of chaplaincy, and one year of internship in a parish setting. He will be studying primarily at the Gettysburg campus. This is the first step towards ordination into the ministry.
With much regret we report the death of long-time member Lowell Finch who died April 10, 2017 at his home in Myrtle Beach, SC at the age of 92. Lowell joined Drott Lodge in 1943 and was the longest continuing member of the Lodge at the time of his death. Lowell was preceded in death by his high school sweetheart and first wife Barbara Jean Nelson in 1988 and his second wife Drott member Helen Elizabeth Tuttle in 2016. Lowell and Helen met at Drott Lodge. A longer article about Lowell’s life appeared in the April 2015 issue of the Drott Newsletter to mark his 90th birthday.
OTHER EVENTS OF INTEREST
The Nordic Dancers of Washington, D.C., begin their fall season Wednesday, September 6 at 7:30 at Highland View Elementary School in Silver Spring, Maryland. With the exception of the week of Thanksgiving and December 20 and 27, they will meet regularly on Wednesdays until June. Come any Wednesday and learn traditional dances of Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Norway. Newcomers are welcome; no prior dance experience is necessary. For more information and to verify the meeting room, contact Chris Kalke at 301-864-1596
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EXHIBITION OPENING: Witnesses by Anna U Davis Thursday, September 7 at 7:00 PM in House of Sweden Doors open 6:30 PM. Event starts 7:00 PM.
Anna U Davis is known for her bold, colorful, graphic mixed-media work, where she explores her fascination with gender relations. She has been awarded multiple DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Artist Fellowships and a grant from the Pollock-Krasner Foundation in NY for her upcoming project "Road to Recovery". Her work can be found in public and private collections in the United States and Europe. Davis currently resides and works in Washington, D.C. Join us in House of Sweden for the opening event, meet Anna and explore her work.
CONCERT: Swedish quintet Jaerv Tuesday, September 5 in House of Sweden, Doors open 6:30 PM, Concert start 7:00 PM
The award-winning Swedish quintet Jaerv is performing in House of Sweden. Jaerv presents an extroverted, vigorous and heartfelt folk music with influences from both jazz and pop music. Together, the five members have created a homogeneous, vivid sound which has established Jaerv on the folk music scene as well as in many other forums. Rooted in several different musical traditions, Jaerv offers a varied stage performance where vocal, five-voiced tunes blend in with energetic dances and free improvisations. Jaerv is an internationally well known act and has toured the U.S., Japan, Spain, Scotland, Ireland, Finland and Norway among other countries. Their discography includes Inrikes (2009), Vol 2 (2014) and the brand new and critically acclaimed album Under den linden (2016).
Joel Hagen: Flute, whistles, soprano saxophone, EWI, vocals Anders Bergsten: Double bass, keyfiddle, vocals Harald Nilsson: Guitars, vocals Markus Gustavsson: Fiddle, lead vocals Tobias Hedlund: Percussion
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Sunday, September 3, 33rd Annual Scandinavian Fest, ScanFest ’17 10 AM to 6 PM, New Jersey Vasa Park, 1 Wolfe Rd., Budd Lake, NJ, Nordic foods, varied entertainment with 6 venues, re-enactors, music, dancers, artisan demonstrations, Vikings and Viking boats, games, & contests, encampments, children’s activities, craft vendors, “the largest Scandinavian event in the East”, Admission $14, age 12 and under free, For more information: www.scanfest.org.
NOTES FROM THE EDITOR
The updated Vasa Directory, August 2017, is now available. It contains Grand Lodge Officers, the Vasa National Archives Board of Directors, District Officers, Local Lodges with Chairmen and Secretaries, Children’s/ Youth Clubs and Vasa Activities Clubs. If you wish to obtain a copy, please contact Recording Secretary and Newsletter Editor Linda Smith at [email protected].
Please submit inputs to the next issue of the Drott Newsletter by September 24.
DROTT LODGE CONTACTS
CHAIRMAN Arne Dunhem 703-847-0940 [email protected] VICE CHAIRMAN Larilyn André 703-659-5128 [email protected] RECORDING SEC Linda Smith 301-467-8477 [email protected] FINANCIAL SEC Carol Whitley 202-686-6214 [email protected] TREASURER Virginia Cain 301-424-7588 [email protected] ASST TREAS Marianne Diaz 301- 371-7273 [email protected] CULTURAL LEADER Marit Knollmueller 917-482-1899 [email protected] HISTORIAN Eva Dunhem 703-847-0940 [email protected] CHAPLAIN Donna Clarke 301-613-6691 [email protected] PAST CHAIRMAN Eric Randolph 703-273-4387 [email protected] NEWSLETTER ED Linda Smith 301-467-8477 [email protected] WEBMASTER Marit Knollmueller 917-482-1899 [email protected] WEBSITE www.drott-lodge.org
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