Eva Nansen Yearbook 2020
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2020 Yearbook and Directory Taste of Norway TABLE OF CONTENTS Welcome…………………………………………………………………………………..2 Who Are We • What Daughters of Norway Is All About…………………………………………..2 • Daughters of Norway……………………………………………………………….3 • Communications Resources (magazine and media)…………………………………3 • Eva Nansen Lodge 46….…………………………………………………………..3 • Eva Nansen Lodge 46 History.…………………………………………………….5 • Member’s Interests, Time, Talents …………………………………………………6 • Getting To Know You…………….………………………………………………….7 • Lodge Prayers and Song …….…………………………………………………….8 Calendar • Cultural Program….…………………………………………………………………9 • Hostesses ..………………………………………………………………………….9 • Board and Committee Meetings………………………………………………….10 Directory • Lodge Board and Officers…………………………………………………………10 • Committee Chairpersons………………………………………………………….10 • Membership.……………………………………………………………………11-15 2020 Eva Nansen Lodge 46 Officers & Board L to R, front row: Kay Sacquitne, Debbie Ellsworth, Sharon Knudsen, Jan Evans and Pat Fischer. Back row: Tamra Voigt, Lois Wergeland, Catherine Kaiser, Shirley McLaughlin, Donna Ragner and Becky Patterson. NOT PICTURED: Sandy Hansen, Pat Voigt, Jan Glenn, Kris Shepard-Bain, Lee Ann Bakros, Christy Wilkins, Sue Thompson, Christina Thompson and Karma Cahill. 2020 Yearbook & Membership Directory prepared by Sandy Hansen Updated as needed page 1 VELKOMMEN Welcome Sisters to our 2020 Yearbook and Directory. This informative and interesting handbook provides the Lodge Sisters with information about our organization. You are all very welcome to be an active member in our lodge and hope that you will enjoy making new friends, participating in our cultural programs and activities and learning more about your heritage and history. We have so much to share and want you all to be a part of the hospitality, activities, fun and fellowship. We want our lodge to be a “Shining Light” in our community and with our Scandinavian Sisters. We welcome you to our Scandinavian Gatherings, enjoy, share, learn and celebrate with all of your Scandinavian Sisters. Sisterly, Sharon Knudsen, President Eva Nansen Lodge #46 Daughters of Norway WHO WE ARE What Daughters of Norway is About originally written by Nancy Peterson, Frida Hansen Lodge 37, Portland, OR September 2013 The Daughters of Norway helps us as individuals to cultivate our special interests in the Scandinavian community, and as Sisters especially look forward to the many and varied social opportunities that await us throughout the year. We take time to remind each other why and how we became members of the Daughters of Norway, discuss what will enrich our membership experience, and encourage each of our sisters to invite at least one person to our gatherings who might be interested in joining our wonderful lodge. Once a year Sisters take time for goal setting, and with many people working together in an organized fashion, we can accomplish more than we can as individuals. The sharing of ideas and working together to accomplish a goal will impact one’s lodge, but more importantly, bring our membership closer together. Lodge activities and experiences enrich each member personally and as an organization. It is a time to enjoy each other’s company, work towards expanding our membership, and continuing to provide opportunities for cultural enrichment as the Døtre av Norge [translate: Daughters of Norway]. 2020 Yearbook & Membership Directory prepared by Sandy Hansen Updated as needed page 2 Daughters of Norway • Brief Organization History. The Grand Lodge of the Daughters of Norway was founded as “Daughters of Norway of the Pacific Coast on February 2, 1908, by three indecent lodges all in Washington State. In 1956, the organization officially changed its name to Daughters of Norway. See website for full history. http://www.daughtersofnorway.org/ heritage/our-organizational-history/ • Eligibility. Any women at least thirteen years old and of Nordic birth or descent, or women who have a spouse of Nordic descent, or a relative of Norwegian descent, are eligible for membership. • Benefits. Each member receives the bi-monthly Døtre av Norge Magazine mailed directly to their home as well as an opportunity to attend the Grand Lodge Convention held in even years. • Convention. The 2020 Grand Lodge Convention is being held Thursday-Friday, July 21-26 at the beautiful Kitsap Conference Center located by the water in Bremerton, WA. The WA lodges of Thea Foss #45, Nina Grieg #40, and Prillar Guri #30 are convention hosts. • Lodges. There are a total of thirty subordinate lodges between the west coast and central United States; none beyond Iowa to the east coast at this time. Lodges are being initiated each year. See Daughters of Norway website for map and locations. website: http://www.daughtersofnorway.org/lodges/list-of-lodges/ • Motto. Uniting into a sisterhood, women who wish to preserve Norwegian heritage; maintain among members a knowledge of the history, culture and language of Norway; and build a strong support system and bond of friendship within the sisterhood. • Organization Colors. Red and Blue. • Daughters of Norway Song. “We Are Proud To Be Daughters of Norway” • Website “members only” section requires an ID and password. dnsister uffdameg • Keep in touch with your Nordic Roots…Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden. Share your heritage with family. Invite family and friends to join a nearby lodge. COMMUNICATION RESOURCES • Magazine: Daughters of Norway Døtre is published bi-monthly. See website for online editions: http://www.daughtersofnorway.org/daughters/newsletters/ • Website: http://www.daughtersofnorway.org/lodges/list-of-lodges/eva-nansen/ • Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Daughters-of-Norway-Iowa-151860601505394/ • Twitter https://twitter.com/DofNsisters 2020 Yearbook & Membership Directory prepared by Sandy Hansen Updated as needed page 3 Eva Nansen Lodge 46 - Des Moines, Iowa Lodge’s Named in honor of Eva Helene (Sars) Nansen (7 December 1858 - 9 December 1907) was the twenty-first child born to Michael and Maren Sars, one of Osloʼs finest families. Eva was always in a good mood and therefore well liked by everyone. Her mother Maren, was the dayenne of an artistic salon in Oslo – she knew Edvard Grieg personally – so he was able to help Evaʼs career. Eva was an independent woman and knew what she wanted at the age 28. In 1886, she left for Berlin to study opera contemporary of Tchaikovsky. She chose early to specialize in Lieder and in the works of Schumann. Edvard Grieg knew Eva and she performed his music wonderfully. Her operatic voice was very beautiful and expressive. Blessed with musical talent, Eva had a wonderful voice, and at the time she met her husband, Fridtjof Nansen, she had already made a name for herself as a singer of romance songs, or “Lieder.” A pianist friend once commented that many singers know how to sing light- hearted songs, but few manage the ones that paint the innermost seriousness of the soul. “It was here that Eva was strange and unforgettable. ”For an opera singer, Eva was relatively short and very athletic. Not only did she love the outdoors, but was also very daring and unconventional. She was not the average bourgeois woman of her era. The new winter sport of skiing (both mountain and cross country) caught her attention. Skiing since age 16, Eva became a pioneer in this daring sport and was one of the first Norwegian women to take it up skiing in Christiania (Oslo). She was a smart and practical woman and realized the need for a woman to stop wearing only dresses while practicing the sport that was not considered proper for women at that time. Eva was the first woman to ski in trousers instead of a skirt! Music and skiing were Eva’s passion. On 11 August 1889 Fridtof Nansen announced his engagement to Eva Sars. The two then famous Norwegians (he the famous explorer and she the up and coming famous opera singer) were married 6 September 1889. This very “modern” couple continued their individual vocations. To this union were born five children: Liv, Kåre, Irmelin, Odd and Åsmund. She premiered Grieg’s Barnlige Sanger (children’s songs) in February, 1895, in the presence of the King of Sweden/Norway. She toured Sweden, Denmark, Finland and once, Paris, continuing her career independently even after her husband returned home to public adulation. Her last public concert was in December 1899, when she performed the newly composed Haugtussa song cycle, based by Edvard Grieg on Arne Garborg's poems. In 1907, she came out of her retirement for a final and well received performance in London. Even at age 49, she sounded wonderful! In December, 1907, Fridtjof was away in London when he got word that Eva was ill. She died of pneumonia on December 9, 1907. 2020 Yearbook & Membership Directory prepared by Sandy Hansen Updated as needed page 4 Eva Nansen Lodge 46 history LODGE ORIGINATED A Daughters of Norway Associate member, Kathy Miller, initiated interest among friends and family in 2005 on Thursday evenings known as the Valborg Vikings. They met in private homes and soon were outgrowing space. A March 17, 2006 organizational meeting at the West Des Moines, Iowa Public Library was held with an overwhelming attendance and interest in learning more about their Norwegian and Scandinavian heritages. During the April meeting many women had conflicts and gatherings were moved to the first Tuesday. The group approved moving forward to seek membership into the Daughters of Norway organization and moving to Redeemer Lutheran Church, 3615 University, Des Moines effective September 5. 2006. Janet Ruud, Grand Lodge Organizational chairperson, returned in September where she presented information in becoming a sister Lodge. The Valborg Viking members approved a name change in accordance to the Grand Lodge required lodges be named after well-known Norwegian women. The name selected was Eva Nansen Lodge #46, Daughters of Norway. LODGE INSTITUTION, NOVEMBER 5, 2006 An exciting and new Daughters of Norway Lodge was instituted on Saturday 5, 2006 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 600 Sixth Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa, 2:00 p.m. with forty two charter members along with family members and Grand Lodge officers in attendance.