RESTAURATION LODGE #548

July 2011 www.sofn-cedarrapids.org Volume XXXV Number 7

The July social meeting will be Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at 6:00 pm at Our Saviors Lutheran Church A cookout meal will begin at 6:00 pm for those who made reservations, and the social meeting will start at 7:00 pm.

Ann Gesme will present a program at the July meeting titled, A Look at Our Ancestors in Norway. Most of us have ancestors and/or relatives who were living in Norway during the peak years of emigration, 1880-1910. It is our good fortune that professional photographers traveled throughout Norway during this time and have left a pictorial history for us to enjoy now, a century or more later. Thousands of their photos can be accessed online, and a select sampling is included in this presentation. Come and see what Norwegians looked like and what they were doing in Norway 130 years ago.

BOOK CLUB The book for July 20 is any book by Jo Nesbo. Books are: The Redbreast, Nemesis, The Devil’s Star, The Redeemer or The Snowman. Dessert and discussion will be by Mary Durspek. We will be meeting at the home of Dean and Ann Gesme. Please call Ann at 362-6910 if you will be attending. All members of Restauration Lodge are welcome.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS - July Collect cancelled stamps for Tubfrim. No Language class June, July, August 8 9-3:00 Linn County Fair Sons of Norway table 14 Social meeting – Genealogy Surprise by Ann Gesme 20 Book Club – Books by Jo Nesbo 26 No board meeting and no newsletter 28-30 Nordic Fest at Decorah

NAMETAGS Solberg’s at 3235 Williams Parkway SW, 319-399-1385, have been making the nametags for Restauration Lodge. If you are interested in having a nametag made, please contact them.

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Minutes-June 14, 2011: Social Meeting, Restauration Lodge 1-548  Meeting was called to order at 7 PM by Vice President David Johansen. Attendance was approximately 80.  Pledge of Allegiance, singing of America, Ja Vi Elsker with Anna Marie Klein on piano.  No Secretary’s Report ( Harold Williamson absent)  No Treasurer’s Report (Ding Sather absent)  No sunshine report (Cheryl Zapf absent)  Membership report: Alan Erickson reported 138 members  Recognition of guests: Jason Gambach (Joined and now a NEW MEMBER!), Jarrett Lekwa (grandson of Verl), several guests from Storelva Lodge, Davenport: Linda & Reg Shoesmith, Jerald & Bonnie Erickson, Roger and Audrey Wilms, Martha (Mimi) Nankivell, and our speaker, Inger Heloe.  Social Secretary’s Report: Mavis Hovden & Anna Maria Klein o July Social meeting July 12 starts with a meal of brats or hamburgers at 6pm ($10 per person) . Reservations called in to Mavis or Anna Marie by Wed July 6 (Catered by L J’s). Program (at 7pm for those not attending the meal) by Ann Gesme on genealogy.  Cultural Secretary’s Report: Lois McCormick, Paula Schulte o Dennis Wheeler was presented with pins for completing all three levels of genealogy and a letter of commendation from the SofN national board was read. o Jean Reed’s picture was in the newspaper. o May 16, Lois McCormick, Mary Duspek, and Anna Marie Klein spoke at Summit Point attended by 30 people and provided Scandinavian treats (enjoyed by all). o The Cedar Rapids Gazette published an article on Syttende Mai featuring our lodge and it’s Nordic treats served at the May social meeting. o There will be Annual Scandinavian Festival in Elgin, IL on Sept 11. o Host Fest will be Sept 26-30 in Minot, ND.  Old Business – none  New Business – none  Announcements: o Book club meets at Ann Gesme’s home July 20 at 1pm. Mary Durspek leads discussion on reader’s choice of mystery by Jo Nesbo.

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Celebrating 100th Birthday Please join us in celebrating Helen Moe's 100th birthday. There will be an open house on Saturday, August 27, from 2-4 PM at Atrium Village, 117 3rd St. S., Hills, IA (first exit south of the Iowa City Riverside Dr. / Fairgrounds exit on 218). Cards may be sent to her at P.O. Box 220, Hills, IA 52235.

We will be putting the birthdays for the month in the newsletter. June July Zoe Berger 13 John Arthur Albertson 18 Jenny S Bosking 2 Fred M Amundson 25 Alan R Erickson 29 Nora A Burgess 26 Barbara L Erickson 12 Mavis M Hovden 2 Marvel Hedevig Holt 12 Laurie K Johnson 6 Wilmer A Mickelson 11 Donald H Kvindlog 7 Marilyn M Skaugstad 8 Marian A Lucken 20 Barbara A Taylor 25 Beverly B Robeck 19 Donna J Trolliet 8 Delaine C Sather 15 Sandra L Van Amburg 19 Sharon Kay Stang 4 Rachel K Steffensen 27 Nancy S Thorkildson 15 Ulla Wall 29

So members can update your SON address booklet: Revisions to Email addresses [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] New E-Mail addr [email protected] New Member Jason Gambach

Svalbard’s Sea Monsters Norway’s archipelago of the Arctic, Svalbard, is home to several animals— most notably the arctic fox, reindeer and the polar bear—but did you know that the islands are also home to sea monsters? 245 to 147 million year old sea monsters. The two sea monsters in question are the plesiosaur and ichthyosaur. Commonly associated with the loch-ness monster, the plesiosaur ranged in size from 8-46 feet and had a short tail with a broad back and four flippers. The ichthyosaur averaged 6-13 feet in length and closely resembles the dolphin, with a snout, two flippers, a fin and fish-like tail. Among the skeletons discovered and eventually unearthed in 2008 was an enormous plesiosaur. Dubbed “Predator X” the plesiosaur may be the largest ever found, measuring 49 ft in length, 49.5 tons and boasting 12” teeth !

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Elected Officers: Appointed Officers: President – Cindy Monroe 363-7420 Auditors: Vice President – Dave Johansen 319-338-7034 Verl Lekwa 738-2847 Secretary – Harold Williamson 338-5658 Ruth Christ 351-7717 Treasurer – Ding Sather 393-7310 Bob Thorkildson 721-9902 Foundation-Wally Sundet 393-6971 Membership Secretary – Greeters- Alan & Barbara Erickson 377-1707 Cultural Directors – Paula Schulte 396-1076 Lois McCormick 377-2890 Historian-Paula Schulte 396-1076 Social Directors – Mavis Hovden 393-3286 Language Facilitators: Anna Marie Klein 373-9260 Tom & Ingrid Næsse 841-2311 Past President-Dean Gesme 362-6910 Librarian-Sherry Waite Sons of Norway representatives: Marshall- David Tesdahl 286-9447 Musician-Sharon Kay Stang 351-5133 Newsletter Editors-Mary/Bill Durspek 377-4480 Lodge web site: www.sofn-cedarrapids.org Publicity-Ann Gesme 362-6910 Web master: Robert Thorkildson 721-9902 Scholarship-Ruth Christ 351-7717 Sports/Recreation/Youth-Verl Lekwa 728-2847 Sunshine-Cheryl Zapf 363-5326

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