THE VASA STAR Vasastjärnan Publication of THE VASA ORDER OF AMERICA Spring 2013 Presentation of the Vasa Orden av Amerika har utsett Swedish-American of the Year – 2013 Årets Svenskamerikan – 2013 Face Stockholm’s Managing Director, Martina Arfwidson, was born Face Stockholms VD Martina Arfwidson är född 1966 i Stockholm in 1966 in Stockholm, but has family roots in Småland. Martina is the och med rötter i Småland. Martina är dotter till Gun Nowak , som är daughter of Gun Nowak, founder of the Swedish cosmetics brand, who uppvuxen i en by på landet utanför Växjö och grundare av kos - grew up in a country village just outside of Växjö. metikaföretaget Face Stockholm. Efter avslutad skolgång i Sverige stud - After completing school in Sweden, Martina went directly to New erade Martina två år vid The American Musical and Dramatic Academy York, where she studied for two years at The American Musical and i New York. Hon startade en á cappella-trio, sången var hennes yrke. Dramatic Academy and formed her own á capella trio. While she con - 1989 gick Martina in aktivt som affärspartner i Face Stockholm. tinued to sing professionally, in the fall of 1989, she joined her mother Tillsammans med Gun Nowak öppnade Martina Arfwidson den första in opening the first Face Stockholm shop in New York. Face Stockholm-butiken i New York. Martinas musikaliska bakgrund Martina’s musical background served as a source of inspiration in her work at Face Stockholm. Providing exceptional service and superior blev en inspirationskälla i arbetet med att utveckla Face Stockholm. Hög products that are true to the Swedish beauty ideal and encourage kvalitet och miljömedvetenhet är ledstjärnor och företagandet vilar på en creativity, learning and self-discovery became the company’s mission. välgrundad filosofi: “When I started to work with Mom, I could see the link that this - företagande skall bygga på passion och skaparglädje business shared with music, bringing out a woman’s inner beauty is the - det finns inga genvägar, allt måste vara genomtänkt same as finding your inner voice,” says Martina. - envishet - att inte ge upp för motgångar Maintaining high standards of quality and committing to environ - “När jag började arbeta med mamma såg jag sambandet mellan den mental awareness have always been key principles behind the brand. Driven by true här verksamheten och musiken - att föra ut en kvinnas inre skönhet är det samma entrepreneurial spirit, Face Stockholm is guided by passion and creativity, there are som att hitta sin inre röst,” säger Martina. Svenska värderingar avspeglar sig i no shortcuts, everything must be thought out and challenges are met with tenacity- miljötänkande och det skönhetsideal som Face Stockholm representerar och som never give up in the face of adversity. Martina Arfwidson är stolt över. Face Stockholm har i 31 år stått fast vid sina ideal Remaining true to these values for 31 years has led to great success and recogni - och nått stor framgång. tion in many ways. Face Stockholm products are now available at 170 locations FACE Stockholms produkter finns nu tillgängliga på 170 platser worldwide, and together with her mother, Martina has been the proud recipient of över hela världen. Framgången med Face Stockholm har lett till flera prestigefyllda several prestigious awards, including: priser: • The Rising Star Award from Fashion Group International, May 2000, USA. • The Rising Star Award from Fashion Group International, May 2000, USA. • Entrepreneur of The Year from ICMAD (Independent Cosmetic Manufacturers • Entrepreneur of The Year from ICMAD (Independent Cosmetic Manufacturers American Division) 200l, USA. American Division) 200l, USA. • The Crystal Apple Award from Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, NY, 2003 • The Crystal Apple Award from Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, NY, • History Hudson Preservation Award, Hudson 2003rd 2003 • FöreningsSparbanken price: Net Economy Woman 2002, Sweden (“The • History Hudson Preservation Award , Hudson 2003. Economy Woman of the Year.”) • Föreningssparbankens pris: Årets Ekonomikvinna 2002 , Sverige (“The Martina Arfwidson resides with her family in Upstate New York. Economy Woman of the Year.”) Since 1960, a Swedish American of the Year has been chosen annually by the Martina Arfwidson med familj är bosatt i Hudson, norr om New York. Swedish branch of the Vasa Order of America, a non-profit organization started by Vasa Orden av Amerika har sedan 1960 utnämnt Årets Svensk-Amerikan med Swedish immigrants in the USA in 1896. The Swedish branch of the Vasa Order of syfte att uppmärksamma svenskamerikaner, som antingen har rötter bakåt till den America began in 1924. This award highlights accomplishments of prominent tidiga emigrationen från Sverige eller har utvandrat i modern tid. Swedish Americans who are either related to early Swedish immigrants, or who Utmärkelsen är ett erkännande för framgångsrik yrkeskarriär eller värdefulla have recently immigrated. insatser för främjande av goda relationer mellan Sverige och USA/Canada, men The award recognizes exceptional work by an individual in his or her profession även ett sätt att ge uppmärksamhet åt Svensk-Amerika. and/or who has made valuable contributions in promoting good relations between Mottagare av denna hederstitel de senaste fem åren: Sweden, the USA or Canada. It highlights the Swedish American community. 2008 Barbro Osher , generalkonsul, 2009 Anne-Charlotte Hanes Harvey , On behalf of the Swedish American of the Year Committee 2013 dramaprofessor, 2010 John E. Norton , statsvetare/historiker, 2011 Kerstin Lane, Catherine Bringselius Nilsson museichef, 2012 Ingvar Wikstrom , entreprenör för svensk matkultur. For more information, contact: För Årets Svenskamerikan-kommitté Ewa Pilhammar, tel +46(0) 303-22 55 47, email: [email protected] Catherine Bringselius Nilsson Catherine Bringselius Nilsson, tel +46(0) 470-28588, email: [email protected] THE GRAND MASTER’S MESSAGE committee work necessary to Grand Lodge Convention as a fore, delegates will be asked to Please go on line for informa - form recommendations related to guest. make important decisions related tion regarding Bishop Hill, IL, each motion. Decisions made by This is also the time that you to the necessary future financial and consider planning a visit. the delegation determine whether as a member, local lodge or dis - support of the Archives. The I would like to encourage your programs continue over the fol - trict lodge should be considering Archives is an important arm of first visit be during a festival time lowing four-year term, therefore constitutional changes you feel the Order. in Bishop Hill such as careful thought, broad minded - are best for the future of the I realize that many of you Juldbruksdagarna (Agricultural ness and progressive thinking are Order. Please pay careful atten - haven’t visited the Archives locat - Days, Sept. 28-29), Julmarknad required. Innovative thinking is tion to the facts I’ve shared with ed in Bishop Hill, IL, nor will you (Christmas Market, Dec. 7-8) or the only way to help the Order you, both in my addresses when in the future, therefore you can’t Lucia Nights (Festival of Lucia, move into the next term. Another I’ve visited your districts and in visualize what we are supporting. Dec. 13-14) when the shops with expectation of your chosen dele - my articles in the Vasa Star I often share visual information many handcrafted items avail - gate/s is a willingness to take a regarding the health of the Order regarding the Archives when I able, restaurants and museums Grand Lodge office if elected or where I’ve shared the reasons visit your district conventions and are open for business. Bishop Hill appointed. Time and travel will why we’ve progressed over the I would be happy to send you my is a rural community but there are be required while serving in an past three years, when you submit program electronically so you can many area hotels available for office. I don’t mean to paint a your suggested changes. view it yourself or show it to your your visit. Our Archivist, Victoria picture of “all work and no play” The Vasa National Archives membership as a program to Almgren, will greet you at the Bill Lundquist at a Grand Lodge Convention as would not have been able to familiarize yourself with this Archives. Please remember the host districts plan interesting out - operate this term without the sup - important piece of history. The Sami exhibition at the Archives Dear Vasa Brothers and Sisters, ings and social functions where portive motion that was approved Vasa National Archives holds the during the month of June. We’ve now entered the fast delegates and guests have ample by the last Grand Lodge in history of the Vasa Order, the his - I hope to see many of you at cycle of District Conventions for opportunity to develop and renew session allowing districts the tory of the many brave Swedish your district conventions during 2013. Many districts will be friendships with other Vasa mem - “opportunity to donate up to 5% immigrants who left Sweden due this year and thank all of you for electing their Grand Lodge bers. If your district hasn’t made of their undrawn allocated funds to famine and religious persecu - your continued support for all the Delegate/s this year as the choice the decision regarding your in the OA&B.” Money from tion. They faced tremendous important benefits of Vasa mem - must be made before March Grand Lodge Delegate, I am member dues currently pays only obstacles to come to America. bership and your personal support 2014, 120 days prior to our hopeful you will nominate 50% of operating cost. Volunteer Our members in Sweden celebrate and friendship. next Grand Lodge convention, your best candidate/s to achieve efforts currently help with some their courage and Swedish In Truth and Unity, July 4-11, 2014.