Swedish Club News Vol. 58, Issue 10: October 2019 Swedish Club . Seattle . Washington A home for the Nordic-American community Club Honors Dr. Azita Emami Gender equality in the Nordic countries began during Viking times. When the men went a-Viking and sailed their longboats to farflung places for months or years at a time, who do you think held down the farm? The women did! Although the man Our Mission was the ruler of the farm, women played an active role in To promote better understanding managing households, particularly when their husbands were between the United States and absent. Women could own property, request a divorce and the Nordic countries, with reclaim their dowries if their marriages ended. emphasis on Sweden, and to Today, although Sweden admits it still has a way to go to attain full gender equality, such equity is a fundamental perpetuate Nordic culture Swedish value and Sweden outpaces most other nations. and traditions through the To mark this important Swedish value and to honor teaching, observance, practice women leaders in our community, the Swedish Club began and celebration of this culture celebrating Kvinnor Kan! (“Women Can”) in 2015, naming and its traditions. Alene Moris as the first Kvinnor Kan! honoree. (See more about Alene on p. 4.) Her partner, Floyd Jones, thought it was such a good idea, he helped us choose the next three honorees: Kathleen Taylor, executive director of the ACLU of Washington (2016); former Washington Governor Christine Gregoire (2017); and University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce (2018). He proudly made the introductions at each dinner. Our honoree for 2019 is Dr. Azita Emami, dean of the UW School of Nursing. Though her field of nursing is histori- cally a typical female occupation, her story is unique. Dr. Emami was born in Iran but immigrated to Sweden with her Dr. Azita Emami family, where she was educated at the Karolinska Institutet (top) is our latest and started her career. Later she came to Seattle, serving the Kvinnor Kan! schools of nursing first at Seattle University and later at UW. honoree. The late She has remarkable accomplishments and is a perfect choice philanthropist Floyd Jones for our Kvinnor Kan! honoree for 2019. (middle, left) We are also honored that UW Senior Lecturer Emerita introduced Dr. Ia Dübois will introduce Dr. Emami. Dr. Dübois is our previous honorees, particularly suited to make the evening’s introductions. Her including Alene popular course, Sexuality in Scandinavia: Myth and Reality, Moris (middle, sought to impart a comprehensive understanding of how right), but Dr. sexuality and gender are perceived in Scandinavian culture. Emami will be introduced by Malin Chef will make our cod dinner. The cost is $40; buy tickets at www. Dr. Ia Dübois swedishclubnw.org. Full-time students may purchase reduced-price tickets for $25 by (bottom). calling our office at 206-283-1090. Social hour 6 p.m., dinner 6:30. www.swedishclubnw.org Swedish Club Club Notes 1920 Dexter Avenue North Seattle, WA 98109 ife is simple. You get out what you put in! It’s really a dynamic and exciting time to We all know that directive. I’m going out on be part of the Swedish Club Board. The project 206-283-1090 Club Business L 206-283-1078 Rentals a limb to suggest that if you get involved in the of building housing units in our parking 206-283-2970 FAX Club, in all cases, you’ll get something out of it. lot—while conforming to our members’ [email protected] In fact, I guarantee it! directives of “save our building, our views and [email protected] One way is by volunteering. Around 10 our parking, and don’t sell anything”—is still on [email protected] www.swedishclubnw.org percent of our members are also our volun- the table, and the proposal from Barrientos is Office Hours teers, but we could use more of you. From still under consideration. The Board is also Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. pancake Sundays and other meals to disco considering a proposal from Point32 to Board of Directors nights such as ABBA Night or Viking Disco to undertake a major overhaul of the building. President Gary Sund Vice President Mary Hillman Christmas tree decorating and so on, we often Furthermore, the Board is overseeing two Secretary Mary Emerson need help. You get to interact with fun people; member surveys: one about the restaurant and Treasurer Don Wahlquist you learn something new; you become part of bar, and another in a month or so about Directors: Janice Bogren, Dave Enfield, Paul Heneghan, Monica Grafstrom the community; and you get the reward of program planning and members’ satisfaction. It’s Hinckley, Chris Jones, Langdon Miller, helping. It’s really a very simple equation. To be not your grandpa’s Board or just one hour a Ib Odderson, Larry Omdal, Judith Peterick, Vi Reno, Dale Roberts added to our volunteer list, either call and let us month of your time. It’s more. It’s being actively Swedish Club Foundation know at 206-283-1090 or e-mail kiki@ involved in planning the future of the Swedish President Marta Schee swedishclubnw.org. Club. If you’d like to learn more, contact Trustee Bob Blair Secretary Berit Lehner Another is by giving. Yes, we do mean Nominating Committee chair Jan Sullivan at Club Operations money—and for that, the fall appeal is just 206-542-9297. Executive Director Kristine Leander around the corner. But we also mean cookies Might we add another simple way to Rentals/Facil. Mgr. Doug Newlands Rentals Coord. Court Potter for our Holiday Bazaar in early November, or enhance the Club and help us continue to have Staff Accountant Toenette Hayes Admin. Asst. Kiki Hendren Nordic-style sweaters for the Sweater Snag sale a bright future? It’s for you to come to events, Admin. Maggie at the Swedish pancake breakfast in December bring friends and encourage others to join the Hawthorne Kaye or clothing for the women’s clothing sale in the Swedish Club. Guaranteed. You’ll get from it Nominating Committee Chair Jan Sullivan spring. (The Swedish Club Guild will take them what you put in—or maybe even more! Club Historian all year long.) Our focus right now is on Aina Oscarsson cookies. We make money for the Club by KRISTINE LEANDER, Executive Director Swedish Club Guild selling your homemade, Scandinavian-style [email protected] Vice President Carol Graves Secretary Jan Sullivan cookies and cakes at the Bazaar on Nov. 2 & 3. Treasurer Judy Nilsen Cooper If you like to bake, let us know by contacting P.S. If you want to donate toward something at Parliamentarian Jean Wirch 206-283-1090 or [email protected]. the Club that immediately brings you rewards, Swedish Singers of Seattle [email protected] The third way to get involved in the Club is consider buying a wine glass or beer mug in swedishsingersofseattle.org by serving on a committee, or even on the Board. our bar. Three hundred dollars for a beer mug Swedish Club News We’re particularly looking for future Board means free beer when we’re open. One Editor: Kristine Leander Copy Editor: Martin Stillion Members with Swedish heritage, but if the hundred dollars for a wine glass means you still Nominating Committee determines that the Board pay for wine, but it’s a bigger pour. Instant Swedish Club News (USPS 533-750) is published monthly as part of could use your skills, they’d like to talk to you. gratification for your generosity! yearly membership dues at $15 per person, per year, by the Swedish Friday, Nov. 1. Chilling Tales. Club, 1920 Dexter Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98109-2795. Telephone is Storytellers Larry Hohm and Mary Anne 206-283-1090. Periodicals post- “Auntmama” Moorman return to the Swedish age paid at Seattle, Washington. Postmaster: send address changes Club with chilling tales for a November night. to Swedish Club News, 1920 Dexter Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98109-2795. Hear these spirited storytellers bring melancholy Deadline for material for the literature to life. The evening will include stories next issue is Oct. 15. Bring articles into the office or fax by Anna Starobinets and Ursula K. Le Guin, and to 206-283-2970. You may also tales of Mary Anne’s Appalachian gothic ghosts. e-mail articles to [email protected]. Free admission. Donations welcome. 2 october 2019 President’s Message SC Announces an you News about, or in the interest Cimagine a of our members... sign or poster The Swedish Club announces 1,383 that has had a member households, including 84 quicker and more Lifetime members and 159 Social members. Our members’ names dramatic impact appear in boldface in Swedish Club on the world News. than “Skolstrejk New Members för Klimatet”? Brigit & Brad Anderson Unless you were Lauren Anderson totally isolated Åsa & John Davis, Magnus & Björn for the past year, Davis you’ve seen Greta Chris Fraley & Mark Seligman Thunberg’s Carol Jean Gregory & Helen Bakker Gerald & Marilyn Larson “school strike for values they have been sacrificing to continue Reagan Lynch & Hana Glasser climate” sign. making unimaginable amounts of money. Gaddy MacKenzie Greta, a Swedish teenager, took time off Alexandra Nelson So what are those values? Well, in many ways from school to demonstrate outside the Ann Proffitt I think Greta exemplifies the Nordic values Swedish Parliament, asking them to reduce Jenny Roraback-Carson & Ryan we’ve been discussing in Swedish Club News. carbon emissions in accordance with the Paris Carson, Clara, Oscar & Etta Carson The list bears repeating: Baron Schaaf & family Agreement.