Fall 2013 Vasastjärnan Publication of the Vasa Order of America
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THE VASA STAR fall 2013 VASASTJÄRNAN Publication of The Vasa Order of America “Christmas Evening.” Painting by the most favorite of all Swedish painters Carl Larsson. (Turn to page 10 for a brief further introduction to the artist) THE GRAND MASTER’s MESSAGE and I attended District Conventions of help you find nearby cozy accommodations. and numerous activities planned. three Districts on the east coast and one on I am pleased that Districts have made This will be the second issue of the the west coast, Massachusetts No. 2, Con- excellent Grand Lodge Delegate choices Vasa Star included within an edition of the necticut No. 1, New York No. 4, and Pacific for the 2014 Convention. Delegates to this Nordstjernan. I’ve heard from many mem- Northwest No. 13. It was a pleasure sharing convention must be farsighted since GL bers that they are enjoying reading both positive news with our members of how far Conventions take place only once every four publications. I am sure Nordstjernan editor we have come in a relatively short time. Our years. We cannot afford to delay decisions and publisher, Ulf Mårtensson would love Education/Scholarship Fund is now double related to several controversial topics until hearing from you regarding how pleased what it was in 2009. The Vasa National 2018. Workshops will be provided for GL you are with the new format. Ulf’s contact Archives’ financial situation continues to Delegates so all will understand the motions information is located on the bottom of challenge us. I want to encourage all Dis- to be addressed. There will be many oppor- page two. Both the Vasa Order and Swed- tricts to remember the opportunity to donate tunities for Delegates to ask questions and ish News, Inc. are excited and pleased with up to 5% of their unused OA&B funds to seek clarification. Membership decline and our new partnership. The Vasa Order also the Archives in support of its operation or economic challenges are not going away. I proudly announces and celebrates Ulf’s and endowment. Thank you to the Districts truly believe the future of the Order depends his wife (and Nordstjernan Publications who donated to the Archives during the on these GL Delegates. Please support them Director) Mette’s new membership in our past year and I encourage all Districts that and their decisions. They will return from Order. They recently joined Diana Birger DEAR VASA BROTHERS AND SISTERS, meet in 2014 to also approve this necessary the convention with all the information they Jarl Lodge, No. 3, Connecticut No. 1. Wel- It is that time when local lodges are busy donation. The Archives, such an important will need to educate members regarding come Ulf and Mette! with their Lucia pageants and holiday din- branch of our Order must survive as home of the decisions. Please consider coming to The friendship, support, and cooperation ners. The many Christmas traditions stir up the Vasa Order in the future. Visiting Bishop the convention as visitors and listen to the I have experienced throughout my term have happy memories for most of us. The tastes, Hill in winter would surely help you un- proceedings so you get first-hand informa- been overwhelming. My wife, Sheila and I smells, visits from family and friends, deco- derstand the hardship our brave forefathers tion. The Grand Lodge meeting hosted by wish all Vasa members in the US, Canada rated trees and store fronts excite us all. I felt in blistery weather with snow drifting New York District No. 4, will be held in and Sweden a joyous Christmas and a happy, get just as excited about the progress Vasa across the Midwest plains. Don’t let weather the beautiful wooded setting of the West- healthy New Year, God Jul och Gott Nytt År. has made over the past three years. discourage you from this experience. Our chester Hilton in Rye, New York. Officers, in truth and unity, During September and October my wife Archivist, Victoria will welcome you and delegates, and visitors will enjoy the tours bill lundquist, grand master Catch 22 as an immigrant Grand Lodge News Lodge News Sweden in the world Different times, different challenges: Archi- How individual members, local lodges, or district Inspired lodge members have gathered for For 24 hours during the first week of September vist Viktoria Almgren from Bishop Hill on the lodges may submit motions to the Grand Lodge crayfish parties, baking sessions, and celebrating Sweden and most of all Stockholm was a very challenges of being a U.S. immigrant in the 21st meeting of July 2014. All motions will have to be members; even a 900-km bicycle trek — some- special place in the world when the United States century / p3 received by March 1, 2014. / p5 thing to suggest at your next meeting?. / p6 President Obama came for a visit. / p14 archive news » p23 grand lodge news » p5 lodge news » p6 swedish news » p13 swedish language corner » p13 in memoriam » p14 district lodge news » p15 THE VASA STAR / Fall 2013 INTERIM EDITor’s MESSAGE issue highlights by Joanie Graham It is with regret that we announce that the position of Vasa Star The Vasa Star has gone through several Editor is once again vacant. We would like to thank Annelie Lind- changes in the past few years, from a berg for her valued efforts for the past two years serving as editor glossy magazine published six times a of The Vasa Star. year, to a quarterly tabloid-format publi- cation. Earlier this year the Grand Lodge Please send your articles and photos to me for the Winter issue was approached by Swedish News staff while we restructure the editorial process of The Vasa Star. with a proposal to join with them in publishing The Vasa Star together with Your Lucia articles and photos must be at my desk by the deadline Nordstjernan. This is the second issue of December 31st. Please send to: [email protected] of our joint venture and we have heard Joanie Graham Evan Wood, 2012 Texas Lucia with a diploma many very favorable comments from Vasa members about the pub- Grand Secretary and Interim Vasa Star Editor from Logen Småland #618 with the lodge's KL Sy Eva Dahlberg. / p12 lication itself, as well as the addition of current news from Sweden and Swedish-America. How to submit Photos Deadlines for The Vasa Star Occasionally photos are submitted to Vasa Star that are not Winter Deadline » December 31 usable, and you’re disappointed when your photo isn’t used. Spring Deadline » March 15 Here are some guidelines to follow: 1. Best photos are taken with a digital camera or a cell phone • Picture and article, 200 words or less. Crayfish, crawfish, in Swedish simply kräftor camera. These are perfect when downloaded to a computer [kr'ef:tor] and, in Sweden boiled with dill, • For Letters to the Editor column, 150 words or less. and emailed directly to the Editor. Please don’t try to modify sugar and salt and served cold. / p7 • Please send pictures of good quality in order for them, no tweaking, no changing to black and white. them to reproduce well in The Vasa Star. Electroni- 2. Photographs can be scanned, but be sure they are good cally submitted photos should be scanned in JPEG quality photographs, at least 4x6 in size. If you scan them, format at a resolution of 300 dpi. be sure they are saved as a .jpeg and 250-300 dpi. If you are • For submitted lodge articles, please add city and not sure of the size, attach the original photograph. bilar state. Thanks! 3. Photos pasted into a Word document are difficult to work and with, so whenever possible don’t use this method. Send the IN MEMORIAM » Please read instructions on how to photos separately, as an email attachment or as in #2 above. telefoner send and pay for Obituaries. 4. Most importantly, be sure to include a caption naming each person (if it’s a small group.) Svenska Språkhörnan — The Swedish Lan- guage corner. Siv Swan-Piersson explains the enigma of Swedish nouns in plural. /p13 Delivering Audio, Visual Materials the vasa star (usps 657-020) Fall 2013 Mike Pearson, Audio-Visual Vol. 105, No. 4, Serial 848 Director Published by The Vasa Order of America 7309 New Hampshire Pl www.vasaorder.com Hammond, IN 46323-2937, USA HEADQUARTERS (219) 588 4752 Grand Secretary / Joan Graham [email protected] 5838 San Jose Avenue Richmond, CA 94804 (510) 526 5512 Online: [email protected] Access the top navigation item — “Materials” — at www. Grand Master / Bill Lundquist 1456 Kennebec Rd. vasaorder.com for the listings Grand Blanc, MI 48439 of audio and visual materials Phone: 810-695-3248 | (810) 845 5065 available. [email protected] Vasa Star Editor / If you are unable to use the Send articles, photos & memorials to: Vasa website, you can still ask Joanie Graham 5838 San Jose Avenue that a listing be sent to you by Richmond, CA 94804 mail. (510) 526-5512 [email protected] Circulation Manager / Joan Graham 5838 San Jose Avenue Richmond, CA 94804 (510) 526 5512 Interested in finding [email protected] out more about Send address changes and bottom section of Vasa Order of America? application for new members to Joan Graham. See our web site for Membership Chairman / Art Bjorkner membership information 31 Vasa Drive Hackettstown NJ 07840-5314 and more: www.vasaorder.com Advertising / Joan Graham 5838 San Jose Avenue Richmond, CA 94804 (510) 526 5512 [email protected] Layout & production: Nordstjernan Swedish News, Inc.