The Norden Club of Lincoln www.nordenclub.com Our 71st Year 2018  Next Meeting: Norwegian Smorgasbord. Hillcrest Country Club. Dec. 9, 2018 12:00 pm Menu for Norden Club Norwegian Smörgåsbord  Reservation due by Sunday Noon, December 9, 2018 December 1 Reservations Required Send check to Ron Nielsen—5015 NW 7th St., 12:00 Noon - Hor d'oeuvres Lincoln, NE 68521 Herrings Cheeses Norden Club Officers & Committees Hard Breads/Crackers Grapes President Del Stites Cash Bar - Aquavit, Beers, Wine, Mixed Vice President Cyndi Mattson Drinks, Soft Drinks Secretary Sandy Hanson Treasurer Ray Friesen 1:00 - Norwegian-Style Smörgåsbord Membership Mary Brass Pork Roast and Baked Ham Courtesy Mary Brass Mashed Potatoes with Rutabaga and Gravy Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage w/Caraway Historian Phyllis Ericson Creamed Peas Name Tags Ingrid Stites Fruit Salad Newsletter Len Nelson Lefse Contact Song Leader Kendra Hartwick Coffee, Tea, Water Information Dessert - Apricot Cream Pianist Kristina Hanson President—Del Stites: and ginger snaps Librarian Phyllis Ericson 402-830-6679 or [email protected] Web Master Len Nelson Foundation President —Joan Inside this issue: Tomlinson White: 402-423-0023 or [email protected] Dec. meeting information ...... 1 Presidents Corner...... 2 Smörgåsbord invitation ...... 3 Foundation Report ...... 4 Membership Report ...... 4 Reservations for Norwegian Smörgåsbord Library Report ...... 5 You must pre-pay by sending a check to Ron Nielsen, 5015 NW 7th St, Lincoln, Courtesy Report ...... 5 NE 68521. Ron must receive the check by Dec. 1. Cost is $35 for members and Officers and Board ...... 5 $45 for non-members. Children 5-15 $15. Children under 5 free. Swedish Excursion ...... 6 in ...... 7 The Norden Club promotes fellowship among Calendar of events 2019 ...... 8 Scandinavian-Americans and their descendants and helps preserve Smörgåsbord Flyer ...... 9 for the benefit of the United States the best in the cultural heritage ...... 10 of . Danish Co in Nebraska ...... 11 The countries of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden Tax Facts ...... 12 make up Scandinavia. December 2018 THE NORDEN CLUB OF LINCOLN PAGE 2

Presidents Corner: The Christmas of the Green Meatball

About twenty years ago Ingrid quivered with flashing lights and Christmas, we were getting a bit and I were invited to give some resounded with the horns of bus despondent and depressed. lectures and talks at a college and after bus carrying pilgrims to nursing school in Madurai, pay homage, worship, and So, it was, early on Christmas Tamil Nadu State, southern experience this sacred city and Eve we dutifully walked into the India. We would not be on a temple. Loudspeakers blasted hotel’s tiny and empty restaurant guided tour, but on our own for out religious ragas with high- hoping to find something we much of December and January pitched chants to the beat of could eat. Food in Tamil Nadu in a country which is often called tablas and the melody of sitars. has the reputation of being one of the hottest, coldest, All of this created hypnotic among the spiciest in India. wettest, driest, richest, poorest, avalanches of sound. The air was Earlier in the week at a supper in most spiritual, Hindu and thick with the warm smells of the one of our host’s home, an Indian Muslin, and certainly the second surrounding jungles and friend had to grab the dinner largest (over a billion folks). grasslands, the sweet pungent plate away from Ingrid when her Landing in what was then known scent of sugar cane, the odors of pale Nordic face went as Bombay we began a great but kerosene, charcoal, and dried- Cornhusker red after she’d taken awesome adventure for us. From dung cooking stoves, and the a bite. No spicy Mexican or the airplane window we could see fragrances wafting from the food Indian food we’d eaten in people living, bathing, and and chai stands along the streets. America had ever been so hot. washing clothes in the drainage The hostess was very apologetic ditches lining the airport. It was After two weeks, the lectures and explaining she had only used 3 of our first immersion into an the many schooled regional tours the 13 peppers that was called for ancient society which was were over. We were exhausted. in her recipe! Ingrid had picked up a traveler’s working its way out of a third- As we waited for service at the world past. After another flight bug and was losing weight daily. It was Christmastime and our restaurant, I asked Ingrid “So to Madras and then an overnight what are we going to order?” She bus ride, we arrived in Madurai conversation often turned to our two daughters back home in whispered back, “Some plain which lies near the southern tip rice, cooked vegetables, and of India. America and past in America and Sweden. We were bottled water!” She was learning Quite soon we were immersed in to be alone for the first time on quickly! Eventually the waiter the noise, poverty, dirt, apparent . This year there came, gave us the friendly Hindu confusion, joyous religious and would be no tree, no sharing of greeting, and took our meager secular sights, holy places, presents, no midnight services, order. As we were left alone in extraordinary people, and events and of course none of Ingrid’s the darkened dining room, we of vibrant and wondrous India. delectable Swedish Christmas noticed that the hotel had in fact Madurai is a pilgrimage city Eve dinner: there would be no put up a tiny wreath on which is the home of one of the shank of ham, dishes of herring, their door…in respect to any seven holiest Hindu temples (of Swedish meatballs, pate, korv, a would-be tourists and the few the thousands) in India…a 1000- pile of potatoes, Janssons local Christians. Our year-old temple the size of a city Frestelse, red-cabbage, cheeses, conversation then turned to what block with dozens of shrines and hard-bread, coffee, etc. nor the we were missing…family, snow, dark anterooms. We were all-important glögg! Worn out, Christmas, carols… billeted in a small hotel on a away from home, missing family Continued on Page 3 main road next to the temple. All and things familiar, and having night and all day the city no expectations for a traditional December 2018 THE NORDEN CLUB OF LINCOLN PAGE 3 Presidents Corner: The Christmas of the Green Meatball—Continued

After some time, the waiter came both of our faces; we chuckled But that was then! So now, as out of the kitchen followed by the politely; and our hands spontaneous Norden Club President and on cook and kitchen staff…” Happy began to clap at the sight of this behalf of its Board and the Norden Christmas to you! Happy unusual . We Club members, we invite you and Christmas to you! Happy realized that the staff had made this the public to share a traditional Christmas dear friends! Happy especially for us and our Christmas Norwegian Christmas smorgasbord Christmas to you!” The waiter was Eve dinner! After all, green is the with us. Join us and form new carrying a platter piled with rice, color of Christmas and it was Christmas memories with other but there on top of the mound of Christmas! The tenor of our whole Scandinavian-Americans, your rice was a huge nearly fist-sized evening changed…pleasure, family, and friends. Please make ball, a great green ball of meat, a thankfulness, and newly-generated your reservations for this special neon green glob the chartreuse glow appreciation for those men and afternoon of Yuletide celebration. from which dominated the hill of what they had done for us. The But to be clear, we do promise that rice. How wonderful! The staff had room, our spirits, and the rest of the we will not serve you a huge green made us a festive Christmas evening were warmed by this meatball nor the infamous meatball!... not just a lamb-ball with unexpected thoughtfulness. To this Scandinavian lutefisk! mint, but one with enough green day with gentle feelings, we still food coloring to dye fifty Easter remind each other and laugh at the God Jul! eggs. The cook had stuck a small Christmas of the Green Meatball! Del Stites, President lighted candle in the top of the ball. Immediately smiles formed across The Norden Club of Lincoln

Dear Norden Club Members: will have a traditional Scandinavian Norwegian Smörgåsbord. Dinner Come join other Norden dessert, and coffee will be followed Club members, families, friends, by a celebration of Christmas in and guests at our annual Christmas Norway, carols, and a visit from Smorgasbord, Sunday, December 9. Julenissan! Celebrate your Scandinavian Throughout the afternoon heritages at this Yuletide as we give there will be a silent auction of homage to Norway and Norwegian- Scandinavian items to benefit the Americans. Begin your holiday activities and scholarship program season at this festive event! of the Norden Club Foundation. For the first time the dinner and What better way to start your program will be held on a Sunday holidays than with this festive afternoon to avoid darkness and Scandinavian event! make driving easier. We will meet at Space is limited so place your noon, Sunday, December 9th at the reservation today. The event is $35 beautiful Hillcrest Country Club, for members; $45 for nonmembers. 9401 O St., Lincoln, NE. Turn south Children 5-15 years are $15 and off of O Street onto a lane beside the under 5 are free. Advance God Jul! brown house which sits on the south Reservations Only: Deadline - side of the street. Watch for Friday, December 1, 2018. Mail the Del Stites, President balloons! names of those attending and a The Norden Club of Lincoln The Social Hour will begin check payable to Norden Club, at with the doors opening at 12:00 5015 NW 7th St, Lincoln, NE 68521. Noon and Hors d’oeuvres, a cash For more information call 402-477- bar (including aquavit), pictures, 0065. auction, and music. At 1:00 p.m. we December 2018 THE NORDEN CLUB OF LINCOLN PAGE 4

Foundation News It is the first week of your name, the item donated, and contributions. Thank you to Norden November and snow is in the suggested value. Consider donating Club members who shop for our air! My thoughts easily turn to items that you no longer use and Silent Auction as they travel the plans for the Christmas Holiday. As give them a new home. We will world. Thanks to your generosity, long as I can remember, the Norden also have a table called “The we have been very successful with Smörgåsbord has been held on a Market.” Those items are available our fundraising projects. With December evening. This will be the for immediate purchase at the Foundation grants and scholarships, first time that the Norden Club is marked price. In fairness to Norden Club members have given kicking off activities early on a everyone, we will announce when back to the community in many Sunday afternoon. the bidding at the Silent Auction ways as we share our knowledge of To accommodate the large tables will end. Therefore, the Scandinavian Countries. crowd in attendance, the Norden everyone will have an equal We always appreciate your Foundation will be making a few opportunity to put in a final bid. support and contributions. The end changes, as well. As usual, we will In advance of December 9, of 2018 is quickly have tables of Scandinavian items Scandinavian items can be dropped approaching. Everyone is finalizing available for a Silent Auction. Last off at the home of Jan Lingren (402) plans for November, December and year, a surprisingly large number of 488-1916 or contact me (402) 423- welcoming 2019. The Norden items were contributed that 0023 for item pickup. Please call if Foundation Board members are evening. We were happy and you have any questions. wishing our Norden friends and overwhelmed at the same The Silent Auction is our big family a Happy Thanksgiving, a time. That’s a good thing! To fundraiser. I have learned so much Merry Christmas and very Happy organize and expedite procedures, about our Scandinavian heritage, by New Year. we are asking you to bring your perusing through the items. Over items to the Foundation “Check In” the years we’ve had some very Joan Tomlinson White table at Hillcrest. We will record unique and one of a kind

Joan Tomlinson White, President of Norden Foundation. Board members: Jan Lingren, Len Nelson, Arlene Nelson, David Glenn, Karyn Glenn, Gordon Youngquist and Verla Youngquist

Membership Report We want to welcome our annual Christmas Smörgåsbord , or Italian? Close enough!!! If new members who attended the December 9. This year we will someone does not have a September, 2018, dinner meeting. feature Norway. Please be sure to Scandinavian heritage, do not Welcome to Suzi Kruce! always keep your annual dues paid. worry. We simply put an American Welcome to Kate Marley! You can pay for your 2019 annual flag on their name tag. Norden Welcome to her parents, Jack and dues at the SAME time you are Club is about learning, cultural Betty Eliassen! Jack and Betty making out another check for the education, and good fellowship. Eliassen have recently moved to smorgasbord. Dues for a couple or Any membership questions? Lincoln from Tennessee. Please family are just $25. Dues for a introduce yourself to our newest single are only $15. Let’s start Mary Brass, 402-483-0035 members and make them feel at 2019 with membership dues PAID! home with Norden Club. They all Remember – Everyone is have very interesting backgrounds. welcome at Norden Club. Are you [email protected] It is almost time for our Irish or German? Are you French December 2018 THE NORDEN CLUB OF LINCOLN PAGE 5

Courtesy Report The following sympathy cards were October 12, 2018, at St. Patrick’s lives. If you know of any member sent during the month of October, Catholic Church. Shirley was who is having a special 2018: Ron and Jackie Johnson employed at American Signature anniversary, special landmark and Ron’s daughter, Juli Johnson, (formerly Mid-America Webpress birthday, or achievement for the death of Ron’s sister. for over 40 years. Shirley Oliver recognized by community, illness Sympathy card sent to Kim and helped raise her step- or death in family, please contact: Mike Goracke-Olson for the death granddaughter, Kim. Shirley was Mary Brass, Courtesy Chairman of Kim’s step-Grandmother, also a long-standing member of Shirley Oliver. Shirley Oliver Danish Sisterhood of America. 402-483-0035 passed away on October 2, 2018. We like to recognize important [email protected] Her memorial service was held events in our Norden members Library Report — Phyllis Ericson The Norden Club Library book I have entered over 200 books and media collection is currently and various types of media to being reorganized. We have date. I will be having a few new shelves and currently are upcoming Library workdays to cataloging all the books and organize and shelve the media in LibraryThing.com. collection. This is a free, web listing service This will make our books and for small libraries and media more accessible to our individuals. It is a free version members. of TinyCat (for small libraries) Please let me know if you would and World Cat (the outstanding like to help a few hours with this global library book listing and project. finding aid). Don’t forget you may donate With LibraryThing.com we can Scandinavian books to the 2019 Norden Club Officers track book donor names, view library. other libraries that hold the same Board book and see which books are Email President – Del Stites unique, maybe rare or even one- [email protected] or Vice President – Cyndi Mattson of-a-kind in our collection. phone 402.499.6594. Secretary – Sandy Hanson Treasurer – Ted Ericson Past President – Ron Nielsen 2019 Norden Club Memberships Ex Officio - Norden Club Foundation Now Being Accepted Joan Tomlinson White Individuals: $ 15.00 Chairs Couples/Families: $ 25.00 Courtesy – Mary Brass Please send your check, names, address, Membership – Mary Brass phone number, and email address to: Library – Phyllis Ericson Norden Club Membership c/o Ted Ericson History – Phyllis Ericson 4130 North 42nd Street Name Tags – Ingrid Stites Lincoln, NE 68504 Newsletter – Len Nelson Questions: 402 499-6594 Website – Len Nelson December 2018 THE NORDEN CLUB OF LINCOLN PAGE 6

Norden Club’s Excursion to the Swedish Heritage Center

By Ingrid Stites

On a sunny October settlers in the region. Especially pickled cucumbers, and pickled Saturday, eleven Norden Club wonderful were a dozen or so herring. For dessert we had “real members and guests (and one handsewn Scandinavian wedding egg-coffee” and Ostkaka guest’s service dog named dresses from their past. The (Ostekaka) (cheese cake). After ‘Jackson’) carpooled the 81 miles handiwork on these was exquisite. our luncheon and social chatting, to Oakland, Nebraska to visit the The Center also has a gift shop area we visited Nelson’s Food Pride; the Swedish Heritage Center. Oakland which sells among other things local grocery which specializes in is officially the Swedish Capital of napkins, mugs, Dala horses, Swedish food stuffs. Our group of Nebraska whereas Stromsburg is Swedish knots, and some Viking raiders from the south (that officially the Swede Capital of interesting flowers made from is, Lincoln) made off with much of Nebraska. The non-profit Swedish cornhusks. their week’s supply of homemade Heritage Center, located in the Following our tour of the cardamom and rye bread, former Covenant Church, contains various displays, the Center’s meatballs, hamballs, coffee, cheese, th hundreds of artifacts from 19 and volunteer staff served us a candy, and even a couple of t-shirts. th 20 Century Swedes who traditional Swedish church Some of the group finished immigrated and homesteaded in luncheon in the Museum’s our Norden Club visit with a walk Burt County and Oakland. basement. They provide meals for through the Troll Stroll – a forested The Center displays travel visiting groups to help raise funds pathway in the town. Driving back coffers, immigrant clothes, for the Center. We feasted on to Lincoln, we all felt happy and photographs, tools, flags, maps, Swedish meatballs, Potatis Korv full of our Swedish excursion! news articles, etc. which were part (potato sausage). potato casserole, of the everyday life of the early tasty homemade lime pickles, beets, December 2018 THE NORDEN CLUB OF LINCOLN PAGE 7

Christmas in Norway From Whychristmas.com

Christmas Eve is the time carry with paper stars on them. have invented them in the when presents are exchanged. The Another tradition in parts of Norway is 1860s! Instructions on how to make gifts are sometimes brought by Santa that families light a candle every night Julekurver are on this site: Claus (called 'Julenissen' in Norway). from Christmas Eve to New Year's http://www.stavanger- Presents are also brought by the small Day. web.com/baskets.php gnomes called 'Nisse'. There are also Christmas wasn't celebrated in In Norwegian Happy/Merry Christmas hobgoblins () decorations. Norway until about 1000 or 1100, is 'God Jul' or 'Gledelig Jul'. In North- Children pick up the presents from when Christianity first came to the Sami, spoken in northern parts of under the and read the area. Before this people celebrated jul Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia, cards on the presents out loud. or jòl in the middle of winter. It was a it's 'Buorit Juovllat'. Happy/Merry During /December in celebration of the harvest gone and a Christmas in lots more languages. Norway, sometimes small gifts are way of looking forward to the spring. Many different types of cakes and given on each day of December Lots of beer (juleol) was brewed and biscuits are eaten over the Christmas leading up to Christmas. These are drunk in honor of the old pagan period in Norway. One of the most known as Adventsgave or Scandinavian gods. popular is a special bread called Kalendergave. There is a similar Maybe the most famous 'Julekake' that has raisins, candied peel tradition in Denmark. The gifts are custom about Christmas in Norway is and cardamom in it. Google the recipe sometimes used together with a the big Christmas Tree that Norway for Norwegian Hole Cake. Rice chocolate ! gives to the UK every year. The tree is Porridge is eaten on Christmas Eve As in Finland, a sheaf of wheat is often given as a present to say 'thank you' either as a meal at lunchtime (served left out for the birds to eat over for the help that the people of the UK with butter, sugar and cinnamon) or as Christmas. Also a type of rice porridge gave to Norway during World War II. a dessert to the main evening email is sometimes left for the 'Nisse' who is The tree stands in Trafalgar Square in (with whipped cream mixed in!). If believed to guard the farm animals. the middle of London and often you find an almond in your portion In some parts of Norway, children like thousands of people come to watch you're traditionally given a pink or to go carol singing. Often children will when the lights are turned on. white marzipan pig. dress up as characters from the A traditional Norwegian Christmas The main meal is normally pork or Christmas Story, such as the Tree decoration are small paper mutton ribs served with 'surkal' (white Shepherds and Wise Men, and go baskets called 'Julekurver' which made or red cabbage, finely chopped and singing from house to house in their in the shape of a heart. It's said that the cooked with caraway seeds and local neighborhood. Sometimes they writer Hans Christian Andersen might vinegar) and potatoes. Musevisa - The Mouse Song A very popular song at became popular very quickly and is Here are the words of the Musevisa Christmas time in Norway is the now as popular as ever in Norway. in an English translation, by Ivar Musevisa (The Mouse Song). The In 2008 an extra verse was thought Kalleberg and Kenneth Tillson and words were written in 1946 by Alf to have been discovered (that used with the kind permission Prøysen. The tune is a traditional involved a cat!). However this was of Elin Prøysen, the daughter of Alf Norwegian folk tune. It tells the a hoax by a Norwegian Prøysen. There's also a video of story of some mice getting ready photographer called Ivar Kalleberg. some people singing it (in for Christmas and the Mother and Most people thought this was quite Norwegian) at a Christmas event, Father mice warning their children fun and that Alf Prøysen would so you can try singing along! to stay away from mouse traps! It have liked the joke!

When nights are getting longer, and lakes will freeze to ice; Musevisa (The Mouse Song) Father Mouse warns strongly about a foul device: English Translation "If we avoid the mouse trap, we will have naught to fear. We'll all be celebrating, at Christmas time this year." Heyday and howdy and toodeladdeloo. A Merry Christmas season is good for me and you. (x2) December 2018 THE NORDEN CLUB OF LINCOLN PAGE 8

Norden Club 2019 Calendar of Events

Newsletter Board Meetings Deadline Member Meetings 1-2 wks. prior to 5 wks. prior 6:30 pm 3rd Monday, March, May & Sept. Newsletter Deadline to Member & 2nd Sunday in December Mtg. Tuesday, January 29 Monday, March 18, First Lutheran 5:30 p.m. Monday, 1st Church, First Lutheran Church Feb 11 Q Lower Level, Room 7 1551 So 70th St.

7:00 - 8:30 pm 6:30 pm Dinner:

Program: TBD Tuesday, March 26 Monday, May 20, 5:30 pm First Lutheran First Lutheran Church 2nd Church, Monday, 1551 So 70th St. Q Lower Level, Room 7 April 15 6:30 pm Dinner: 7:00 - 8:30 pm Program: Jensen – TBD

Tuesday, August 13 Monday, Sept. 16, 5:30 pm First Lutheran First Lutheran Church Church, 1551 So 70th St. Lower Level, Room 7 3rd Monday, 6:30 pm Dinner: 7:00 - 8:30 pm Q August 19 Program: TBD Nominating committee for 2019 Smorgasbord Committee Tuesday, October 15 Sunday, December 8, 12:00 p.m. First Lutheran Swedish Christmas Smörgåsbord, Hillcrest 4th Monday, Church, Country Club Q Oct. 28 Lower Level, Room 7 Program: Lucia Pageant 7:00 - 8:30 pm Foundation Silent Auction

Coffee, Pie, and Program– Presentation on Scandinavian Runic Stones - Monday, April 29, 2019, 5:30 p.m. at First Lutheran Church, 1551 So. 70th Street. Guests Welcome. December 2018 THE NORDEN CLUB OF LINCOLN PAGE 9

Join the NORDEN CLUB for the Annual Smörgåsbord Dinner & Program The public is welcome!

Norway is our featured country this year. The Norden Club of Lincoln was founded in 1947 for Americans of Scandinavian heritage (Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland).

Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018 Noon-3:30 p.m. Hillcrest Country Club 9401 O ST., LINCOLN, NE

Noon Social Hour with Hors d'oeuvres, Cash Bar & Silent Auction 1:00 p.m. Authentic Smorgasbord Dinner & Program Program: Christmas in Norway

Norden Foundation Silent Auction Reservation deadline is Dec.1 Seating is limited. Members = $35; Nonmembers = $45 Children 5-15 years = $15, under 5 Free. Mail Names of Attendees & Check to: Norden Club 5015 NW 7th St, Lincoln, NE 68521 For more information call: 402 477-0065

December 2018 THE NORDEN CLUB OF LINCOLN PAGE 10

NORWEGIANS Leif Erikson (970-1020) up farms in Wisconsin, Minnesota, The bygdelag movement was a was a Norse explorer from Iceland. & Iowa. distinctive Norwegian organization He was the first known European to After the Civil War, formed by immigrant families and have set foot on continental North Norwegians followed the railroads their descendants from a specific America, before Christopher westward onto the Northern Great Norwegian valley, fjord area, or Columbus. Norwegian Plains. Some came directly from community district. They tended to immigration to North America in Norway through Quebec, because be a rural phenomenon and to have the modern era began in 1825. The of its proximity to Norway, before a religious orientation. A strong Norwegians were the earliest of the going to the Dakotas and attachment to the local Norwegian Scandinavians to migrate in Nebraska. community from which they came considerable numbers. The Swedes Of all the states, North was the major motivation behind and the Danes soon followed, and Dakota was, and remains, the most the creation of the bygdelag. by the middle of the nineteenth Norwegian in proportion to its total In contrast, the Sons of century the migrations of all three population. Traill County, in Norway tended to be an urban were well under way. This eastern North Dakota was 74 organization, a fraternal and secular tremendous emigration is indicative percent Norwegian in 1880. By society offering life insurance to its of the fact that Norway was 1900 Norwegians comprised almost members. Clergy often attacked the physically incapable of adequately one-fourth of the state's Sons of Norway as a secret society supporting its population. About population.They were successful similar to the Masonic order. two million Scandinavians went to farmers, quickly adjusting to Plains According to the 2010 America after 1825. With them agriculture. In the early years the census, There are more than 4.5 they brought the heritage of men supplemented their incomes million people of Norwegian generations of thrifty folk, by working as carpenters, ancestry in the United States today. accustomed to hard work, generally teamsters, and railroad laborers, Of these, approximately three literate, respecters of property, and single women took jobs in million claim "Norwegian" as their believers in democratic towns, often as maids or cooks. sole or primary ancestry. The government, religious, aggressive For most Norwegians population of Norway itself in 2013 and independent. religion played a central role in was 5.1 million. The majority of the community and private life. The There are nearly 40,000 Norwegians in the United States Norwegian state church was Norwegian-Americans living in settled in the upper Mississippi and Lutheran but this apparent source Nebraska, representing 2.2 percent Missouri valleys. Before the Civil of cultural unity was also one of of the state's population. Many War, Norwegian settlement division, as Norwegians founded settled in the far north part of centered in Michigan which offered fourteen different Lutheran synods, Nebraska. Mons Nilsen of an immediate income in or denominations. Many of these Vossevangen, Norway, has the accustomed occupations. It’s competing synods later merged into distinction of founding the oldest lumbering and mining were larger organizations that are now Norwegian settlement in Nebraska familiar occupations to the northern part of the Evangelical Lutheran in about 1857. The settlement was peoples. The Great Lakes Church in America. The different located near Lime Grove in Dixon themselves offered opportunities to synods were maintained by an County (just west of South Sioux Scandinavian seamen and captains, assertive and vigorous clergy who City). and, in particular, to Norwegians, promoted an active cultural In 1867, Nils Nilsen of many of whom lived in the coast awareness. Valders was the first Norwegian towns of Michigan. Many, after In addition to the church, settler in Madison County earning a competence in the lumber two other organizations maintained establishing his home near camps, mines, or factories of and fostered Norwegian culture in Continued on Page 11 Michigan, went farther west to take the Great Plains. December 2018 THE NORDEN CLUB OF LINCOLN PAGE 11

NORWEGIANS Continued Newman Grove (southwest of Wisconsin with his family of the bygdelag and the Sons of Norfolk). At the time of Nilsen’s twelve and set course for Nebraska Norway are indicative of cultural arrival, “Newman Grove was an in two wagons hitched to four pride. On the other hand, army camp . . . and life in the area wagons. It took them ten weeks. Norwegian humor tends to poke fun was dangerous. It happened often The Norwegians' ethnic at fellow countrymen, usually that the Indians shot at the settlers. identity is a curious combination of named Ole, Lars, or Lena. However, the gunshot wounds were pride and humility. Though a For more information on not always dangerous.” church or Sons of Norway lodge Norwegian immigration Ole Hendriksen Kuslien from may still serve a traditional meal read, Giants in the Earth by Ole Forde, Sondfjord, was Knox of lutefisk and lefse, most Edvart Rølvaag - a classic County’s (northwest of Norfolk, Norwegians are culturally Norwegian-American immigration along the Missouri river) first assimilated. The creation and novel. Norwegian settler. In 1872 he left continued existence of

Danish Company helps Nebraska Farmers

A Danish company that marks Novozymes as certain that more food, better farming, operates internationally, the Iowa and Nebraska renewable energy, and clean air and Novozymes makes enzymes for the corn/ethanol/cattle cycle is worthy water. Our products really make a ethanol industry at a plant in Blair, of continued aggressive investment. difference, and I believe that is a NE. It plans to invest another $36 The company has annual revenue of great motivation for everyone at million in its plant here, saying it is about $2 billion. Novozymes.” counting on the ethanol industry’s Polled employees by Novozymes has been in the continued growth. Science Magazine named field of industrial biotechnology The Blair plant will increase Novozymes #1 in the since the 1940's. As the world’s by half fermentation capacity of biotechnology, pharmaceutical and largest maker of industrial enzymes enzymes that ethanol plants use to related industries as the best place and microorganisms, Novozymes’ squeeze more starch from each to work. The key driving biotechnology is used by companies kernel of corn, said Kyle Nixon, the characteristics of the ranking were to save energy, water and raw plant’s general manager. With the "Innovative leader in the industry", materials in the production of a expansion, perhaps a half-dozen "Treats employees with respect" and wide range of products, from new hires will be added to the "Is socially responsible". laundry detergents, textiles and workforce of about 125 people. Per Falholt, chief science officer at beer, to biofuels, animal feed and But the investment in new tanks and Novozymes, said in a news release: crops. related appurtenances where “We develop biological answers to -Edited from articles in the Omaha ethanol-encouraging enzymes are some of the greatest challenges of World Herald and Lincoln Journal fermented from freeze-dried fungus our time. Our growing world needs Star December 2018 THE NORDEN CLUB OF LINCOLN PAGE 12

We are not financial advisors In 2018 the Federal Income exclude that amount from taxable IRA with funds you have to take out Tax laws changed considerably. income. anyway?" One of the changes involves tax Charitable contributions can A $100,000 charitable deductions for charitable only be made from IRAs, not contribution from your IRA could organizations. At the September 401(k)s or similar types of save you tens of thousands of meeting of Norden Club, Arlene retirement accounts. So you might dollars in taxes, depending on your (not a tax advisor) briefly need to roll funds over from a tax rate. But you don't have to make discussed an option for making 401(k) to an IRA if you want to a huge donation to benefit from this contributions to reduce your make tax-free charitable tax break. For a retiree in the 25 taxable income while helping any contributions part of your percent tax bracket, an IRA organization especially ours. The retirement plan. You don't need to charitable contribution of $5,000 following information is a more itemize your taxes in order to make could reduce your income tax bill detailed description of the option an IRA charitable distribution. by $1,250. Even a $1,000 donation she was talking about: However, you cannot additionally would save you $250 in taxes. The After years of contributing claim a charitable contribution tax benefits of making a charitable to tax-deferred 401(k)s and IRAs, deduction on a charitable contribution from your IRA are income tax is due on that money distribution from your IRA. "You even bigger for those in higher tax when you take withdrawals in are not getting taxed on this money, brackets. "Essentially what happens retirement. Annual withdrawals so you don't get to count it as a is you are not receiving this from traditional retirement accounts charitable deduction in addition," distribution, you are not getting are required after age 70 1/2, and says Jill Schlesinger, a certified taxed on the distribution, it goes the penalty for skipping a required financial planner and Senior CFP straight to the charity," Schlesinger minimum distribution is 50 percent Board Ambassador. Remember to says. "Most people actually need of the amount that should have been request an acknowledgment of the the money that's coming out of their withdrawn. However, if you are in donation for tax purposes if you retirement account, but if you are the fortunate position of not needing don't receive it automatically. lucky enough that you don't need it, your distribution for living expenses An IRA charitable one of the cool things that you can and are charitably inclined, you can contribution also satisfies the do is satisfy your required minimum avoid income tax on your required annual minimum distribution distribution by taking this money withdrawal by donating your money requirement for your IRA. You can Funds must be transferred directly to a qualifying charity. donate part of your required directly from the IRA to an eligible Here's how a qualified charitable distribution to charity and withdraw charity by the IRA trustee in order distribution from your IRA can be the rest of it as retirement income as to qualify for the tax break. If you used to help others and reduce your long as you meet the minimum withdraw the money from your IRA tax bill. distribution requirement by the end and later donate it, it won't qualify IRA owners must be age 70 of the calendar year. "Oftentimes as a tax-free qualified charitable 1/2 or older to make a tax-free they don't donate the full distribution. "You have to make the charitable contribution. Those who distribution, but break it up and distribution check payable to the meet the age requirement can send it to multiple destinations," charity directly," Schlesinger says. transfer up to $100,000 per year says Michelle McKinnon, a "If it is somehow sent to you by directly to an eligible charity certified financial planner and mistake, that is not considered a without paying income tax on the senior wealth advisor at Payne qualified charitable distribution." transaction. Qualified charitable Capital Management in New York contributions must be made by City. "A lot of people already do December 31 each year in order to give, so why not give from your

We can supply the proper tax ID # for the Norden Club Foundation if you choose to use this method to contribute to our Foundation.