CVIIl EST. 1906 La Palma, California March 2015 Number 1 www.orderofruneberg.org International Order of Runeberg Supreme Board President’s Message Greetings to our members archive with SFHS. SFHS reim- burses the sender for the postage. & friends in Canada, 2015 is the 150th anniversary of Finland, and USA. the birth of Finnish composer Jean As most of you are aware, the Sibelius. Finlandia Foundation dissolution of the International Or- National has a section of their der of Runeberg will occur on website dedicated to Sibelius’ 150th March 31, 2015, as was voted on at anniversary: the August 2014 IOR Convention. http://finlandiafoundation.org/ This was precipitated by a lack of sibelius-150-calendar. This website members willing to fill the IOR provides a calendar that includes Board positions combined with a dozens of events supported by dearth of younger members, espe- Finlandia Foundation National. cially in lodges that have dis- You may also learn more about banded. There are exceptions to Sibelius at our website: From the this trend, with some lodges bring- home page, orderofruneberg.org, ing in younger members. select the “Cultural Topics”, then On the positive side, $9,000 select “Sibelius & Finlandia”, or use has been allocated to continue The IOR Board encourages all this link: both: (a) publication of the Lead- lodges, whether disbanding or con- www.orderofruneberg.org/ ing Star, which will allow continu- tinuing, to send in past IOR records culturaltopicssibeliusfinlandia.html. ing this newspaper that has been of interest to SFHS. You will find In addition to learning about in publication since January, 1906 within this issue of the Leading Sibelius, the web page has two links (109 years), and (b) publication of Star, an article that provides the to performances of Sibelius’ our website, SFHS Guidelines to IOR for Finlandia (Hunter College & NPR), www.orderofruneberg.org. Records of Interest. These guide- and since these links will open in a Also on the positive side, lines list, in order of priority, the separate browser window, you’ll be lodges that have plans to continue records that are important to able to listen to “Finlandia”, while may use the “Order of Runeberg” continued on page 2 in their name. For example, “Or- der of Runeberg, Lodge #205, New Haven.” There are six lodges that plan to continue independently af- WHAT’S INSIDE: ter the March 31 IOR dissolution. They are: Lodge #8, Dollar Bay; IOR Website...............................................3 Lodge #102, Eureka; Lodge #106, Lodge News................................................4 Tacoma; Lodge #124, Vancouver; Lodge #126, North Bend / Coos Resolution..................................................7 Bay; and Lodge #205, New Haven. SFHS Guidelines.........................................7 The seventh lodge, Lodge #105, Butte, is planning to dis- Scholarships...............................................8 band. Genealogy Corner.....................................10 2 March 2015 Change President’s Message he Leading Star will soon continued from page 1 replaced by article contributions change from being part of the from the six lodges, alternating at the same time, continue explor- International Order of alphabetically. I suggest lodge T ing our website! Runeberg to being a paper for the members think about possible top- With the IOR dissolution on Order of Runeberg. The format will March 31, there will be many ics, and let Dale and Mary Lou or me know when you or your lodge not change, but some of the con- changes—two of immediate note: have an article to publish. Our tent will. There will be no (a) On our website references to Leading Star editors, Dale and President’s Message, as mentioned IOR will be removed, other than Mary Lou, suggest articles that are in Stew Lyon’s President’s Message history-related references. Also, 300–500 words in length. in this issue. Some suggestions “International Order of Runeberg” have been made then as to what to will be replaced with “Order of I would like to extend congratu- lations to Vancouver Lodge #124, replace it with. Let us know if you Runeberg Lodges,” (b) As men- as the lodge celebrates it’s 90th an- have ideas or would like to volun- tioned in the December issue of the niversary, with a dinner and enter- teer with an article. Please continue Leading Star, please think about tainment on March 28 at the Scan- to send in news about your lodges and offer your suggestions for a dinavian Community Centre in so we will have plenty of articles for Leading Star column to replace Burnaby, BC. the paper. this IOR “President’s Message” col- Lastly, I would like to thank all Please note the article on page umn. You may email your sugges- members of IOR for the opportu- tions to the Leading Star editors 7 about the SFHS Guidelines for nity to serve you during my 2010– (Email: [email protected]), or sending in records. SFHS will re- 2014, and this 2014-2015 extension myself(Email:[email protected]). imburse the sender for postage. of IOR office term. This may take time and effort to do In the 2/22/15 Board meeting it was suggested that this IOR Stew Lyons but will be a valuable treasure for IOR President future generations. “President’s Message” column be –DH The LEADING STAR (ISSN No. 0744-7485) is published quarterly by the International Order of Runeberg for its members and others interested in the Order at 7682 Tracy Lane, La Palma, California 90623-1501. The Leading Star / Ledstjärnan Correspondents: Information received by the first Friday of Int’l. President: Stewart Lyons the quarterly month or as noted will be included in that Editors: Dale and Mary Lou Hjort quarter’s issue. Subscriptions payable in advance To correct our listing of your address, fill in the requested One Year, U.S. & Canada $15.00 information in the form below and send your old mailing label to: Overseas $20.00 Dale & Mary Lou Hjort 7682 Tracy Lane Resolutions, single column, per inch, $5.00 La Palma, CA 90623-1501 Advertising rates available upon request. Address all correspondence to: Name:_____________________________________________ Postmaster: Send changes of address to: Street:_____________________________________________ The Leading Star, Attn: Dale & Mary Lou Hjort City:_______________________________________________ 7682 Tracy Lane La Palma, CA 90623-1501 State:______________________________ Zip_____________ Telephone/Fax: 714-739-0932 Lodge & Number:____________________________________ Email: [email protected] ___________________________________________________ March 2015 3 IOR WEBSITE 2014 4 March 2015 LODGE NEWS Lodge #106 Tacoma, Washington There were 28 members present at the Order of Runeberg meeting on October 4, 2014. Our speaker was Paul Lundborg, a retired min- ister who attends the Gloria Dei Paul Lundborg, Lutheran Church together with his a story of Swedes in wife Rose Ann Lundborg. America in 1862: Coming up will be our Christmas “Death of a Dream” meeting in December on December 6, 2014. It will be a potluck meet- ing and it will be held at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church on College Street—continue on between 19th and 21st. The church is across from the Mountain View Elementary School directly across the street. A big welcome to all who will at- tend. There will be a singing group present in December. From left: Birthdays in December are: Marilyn Thompson Marita (Gustafson)Agnew Dianna Nelson—Dec. 5 Rose Ann Lundborg Larry Sandell—Dec. 14 Carina Mohammadi—Dec. 31 Carina and Joe have already left for Puerta Vallarta and will turn back the 25th of December. God Jul Sincerely, Marita Agnew President of Tacoma From left: Lodge #106 Carina Mohammadi Barbara Soderberg Joe Mohammadi From left: Marilyn Thompson and Patricia Backman From left: Virginia Ulrich and Eileen Scott March 2015 5 LODGE NEWS Lodge #106 Tacoma, Washington Today would have been— “Johan Ludwig Runeberg’s 211th B- day.” He was born on the 5th of Feb- ruary 1804 in the Jakobstad Fin- land, which was a small city half- way up the Gulf of Bothnia. He was a very educated man and spoke sev- eral languages. Must say we have had some warm and beautiful days lately. The Christmas at the Agnews 2014, showing above the fireplace rose bushes are beginning to show green leaves, the daffodils are blooming and so is the Christmas Cactus here in my “Office” where I work. It’s unbelievable how many blooms it has had. This cactus was a starter from my grandmother Sanna Amanda Karlsson in Kantlax, Munsala, and then passed it on to my mother, Phoebe Amanda Gustafsson, and now to me, Marita Phoebe Agnew. I have a crocus plant that is also in bloom. I’m looking forward to seeing a lot of you at the Order of Runeberg Meeting in February 2015. Sisters [left] Monica (Karlson) Mason and Sincerely, Marita Agnew [right] Carol (Carlson) Hahn. President of Tacoma #106 Lodge Monica born at the hospital in Jakobstad, P.S. There were 28 present this last Finland; Carol born in Michigan, U.S.A. Saturday at the Tacoma Lodge Christmas tree 2014 #106. at the Agnews in Sincerely, Olympia, WA, Marita (Gustafson) Agnew Marita Agnew and Monica Mason An old spinning wheel made as a gift from her father inscribed: “Sanna Amanda Eriksdotter Laggar” year 1893 The yarn was spun and carded when the sheep’s wool was trimmed off. 6 March 2015 LODGE NEWS Lodge #205 New Haven, Connecticut “Bowling & Pizza” event Our annual “Bowling & Pizza” event, held on January 25, was well attended, including children, as Doug on left, shown in this article’s accompany- Ken keeping score, ing pictures. After an enjoyable time bowling, George & Brenda Kirsti with a nice smile, Nousiainen hosted the lodge mem- Peter seated on right, bers at their home. Following the and Lise bowling “disposal” of six pizzas, everyone enjoyed dessert—”make your own sundae,” featuring a selection of ice cream flavors, numerous toppings, and a variety of cookies.