THETHE VASA VASA STAR STAR VasastjärnanVasastjärnan PublicationPublication of of THE THE VASA VASA ORDER ORDER OF OF AMERICA AMERICA JULY-AUGUSTJULY-AUGUST 2010 2010 www.vasaorder.comwww.vasaorder.com MEB-E Art Björkner MEB-W Ed Netzel MEB-M Sten Hult MEB-S Ulf Alderlöf MEB-C Ken Banks VGS Gail Olson GS Joan Graham VGM Tore Kellgren GM Bill Lundquist GT Keith Hanlon The Grand Master’s Message Bill Lundquist Dear Vasa Brothers and Sisters, they were when we were founded in 1896, promoting our cul- I humbly and proudly accept the most prestigious office as tural heritage and providing a program of social fellowship. Grand Master of the Vasa Order and thank you for graciously We have suffered losses by death but many from lack of inter- electing me. I assume this office with excitement and much est. I plan to put programs in place to give you ideas to help enthusiasm but well aware of the challenges ahead. I am keep your current members interested and active as well as grateful and truly appreciative of your confidence in my ability make more interesting to potential members. New members to lead the Order for the next four years. I pledge to you that I bring in new enthusiasm, new ideas and new workers. will do my utmost to fulfill the goals I have set for this term. Scandinavians are no strangers to challenges. One such These include but are not limited to goals in the following challenge for all of us over the next four years is the reduced areas: Improvement in transparency between the Grand Lodge budget to The Vasa Star. A new committee has been created and the membership, Preservation of the Swedish language, to determine the best solutions. The next issue will be for Oct., Restoration of the scholarship program and the Vasa National Nov. and Dec. More information will be printed regarding the Archives, and Stimulation of available cultural programs for all Vasa Star in that issue. local lodges via a complete upgrade of the Audio Visual Your help is vitally needed for the Order and its programs Library. All of these goals and many more need to be accom- to be even better and stronger. I urge you to share with me plished at a time when the budget has been reduced and even your positive thoughts, ideas and suggestions regarding how more help will be requested from all of us individually. we can further our Order and help our fellow members. Once A talented group of Vasa members has been elected to again, thank you for your support and confidence. I will do my serve on the Grand Lodge Board and it is my pleasure to wel- best to uphold the principles of our Order, generosity, truth come them and congratulate them: Vice Grand Master, Tore and unity for in unity there is strength. Our new motto for the Kellgren, Grand Treasurer, Keith Hanlon, Grand Secretary, coming term is “Preservation of Unity.” Let’s work togeth- Joan Lindquist-Graham, Vice Grand Secretary, Gail Olson, er over the next four years to achieve amazing success Board Members – Art Bjorkner, Eastern Region, Sten Hult, through unity! Midwest Region, Ed Netzel, Western Region, Ken Banks, Bill Lundquist, Grand Master Canada and Ulf Alderlof, Sweden. Together we will work to Kära Vasa bröder och systrar! make this an awesome term. Jag känner mig både ödmjuk och stolt över att kunna A sincere thank you to PGM, Rolf Bergman and District acceptera den mest prestigefyllda befattningen man kan Lodge Pennsylvania No 9’s Convention Committee for a well erhålla inom Vasa Orden och vill varmt tacka Er för att ni run 37th Grand Lodge Convention and the fabulous arrange- valde mig. Jag tar denna befattning med spänning och med ments in the US Capital, Washington DC. July 4th, the birth- stor entusiasm men är samtidigt väl medveten om vilket ansvar day of the United States was an exciting time to celebrate det innebär och de utmaningar som jag har framför mig. Jag together in the city so rich with the history of the country. är mycket tacksam och uppskattar det förtroende som erlagts Sheila and I enjoyed the fellowship of so many friends from mig, att kunna leda vår Orden under de nästa fyra åren. Jag across the US, Canada and Sweden. förpliktar Er att jag kommer att göra mitt bästa för att fullgöra Fund raising will be more important now than at any time de mål jag satt under den här 4-års perioden. Dessa in Vasa’s history. I am excited about the potential within each inkluderar, men är inte begränsade till, följande områden: and every one of our members. We all want to see the Vasa Förbättrad kommunikation mellan Storlogen och National Archives in Bishop Hill, IL able to maintain services. medlemmarna, bevarandet av det svenska språket, You will soon be receiving information regarding an annual återställande av stipendier och Vasa Arkivet samt mer fundraising campaign, “The Ever Living Julgrans.” I urge you stimulerande kulturella program som skall finnas tillgängliga in advance to donate generously to this annual campaign. You för alla lokala loger via en förbättring av det audiovisuella will also be asked to reach deep for the scholarship program. biblioteket. Alla dessa mål och många fler behöver fulländas Many Vasa members have benefited from our scholarship pro- under en tidsperiod då vår budget har reduserats så även mer gram as they achieved success in advanced education. I know hjälp kommer att behövas från oss allihop. we are about to enter a season of increase in this area. We are all about to experience amazing, unprecedented success Endast första paragrafen är översatt p g a att det inte finns in fund restoration. I want us to reach higher as we rebuild the tillräckligt med utrymme. named scholarships as well as develop new ones. Note: Only the 1st paragraph is translated due to lack of The foundations of our existence are the same today as space. THE VASA STAR (USPS 657-020) THE VASA STAR JULY-AUGUST 2010 July-August 2010 Vol. 103, No. 4, Serial 849 Published by: AN IMPORTANT REMINDER Vasa Order of America good quality vasaorder.com Please send pictures of in order for them to reproduce well in The Vasa Star. Electronically submitted photos should be scanned in JPEG format at a HEADQUARTERS: resolution of 300 dpi. c/o Joan Graham Grand Secretary For submitted Lodge articles, please add city and state. Thanks! 5838 San Jose Avenue Don’t forget “Kids Corner!” Richmond, CA 94804 Phone: 510-526-5512 E-mail: [email protected] IN MEMORIAM Grand Master: Please read instructions on how to send and pay for Obituaries. Bill Lundquist 1456 Kennebec Rd. Grand Blanc, MI 48439 Home Phone: 810-695-3248 Cell Phone: 810-845-5065 CORRECTIONS for the May-June 2010 E-mail: [email protected] Editor: Issue of The Vasa Star Marie Carlson New Members as listed on page 19. Correct spelling: Christel Avenhall-Harding, 9560 Curberry Drive Dawn Lagerqvist, Emily Shahbaz and Åsa Wrammerfors. Mentor, OH 44060 Phone: 440-255-4665 Submitted by: Ed Hultgren, Chair, Svea 253 E-mail: [email protected] Branting Lodge is in DL Alberta #18, lodge located in Calgary. The #417 lodge Circulation Manager: belongs to DL 18 and not 17. (Address Changes) “Remembering Ellis Island” As an immigration attorney assisting people to Cathy Anderson 13194 N. Woosnam Way immigrate to the USA and obtain U.S. citizenship, I was delighted with the Oro Valley, AZ 85755 “Remembering Ellis Island” article by Agneta Nilsson. However, there was an Phone: 520-219-9433 error contained in the article. Felix Frankfurter became a Justice of the U.S. E-mail: Supreme Court, the highest court of the land and a court for which the ‘judges’ are [email protected] called ‘justices.’ My grandparents came through Ellis Island. I’m grateful for their Send bottom section of white copy of application for new members to her. pioneering spirit and drive. Submitted by: Beryl Valien Bergquist [Farris professionally], Beryl Farris LLC Membership Chairman: Immigration Law OPEN 1986 Montreal Rd., Tucker GA 30084 Orders for advertising should be sent to: THE VASA STAR Marie Carlson Deadlines for The Vasa Star: 9560 Curberry Drive October/November/December is September 1st Mentor, OH 44060 Phone: 440-255-4665 Deadline for Christmas ads is October 1st E-mail: [email protected] Price for Xmas Greetings – $30.00 column inch Advertising Prices: Full Page Black and White $500.00 Half Page Black and White $275.00 Deadline for Lucia articles is December 24 Quarter Page Black and White $150.00 One Column Inch $ 30.00 Picture and article, 200 words or less. Half Page Color $500.00 Full Page Color $800.00 Available only for inside front cover, inside back cover or back cover. 10% discount for Vasa Lodges and Members Cover: The newly elected Executive Grand Lodge Executive Board at the Grand THE VASA STAR (ISSN 0746-0627) is Lodge Convention in Washington DC, July, 2010. published by the Vasa Order of America. Periodicals postage paid at De nyvalda Storlogemedlemmarna under Storlogens möte i Washington DC i Richmond, CA, and additional entries. Juli, 2010. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Vasa Star, P.O. Box 69997, Oro Pictures for Cover and Collage by: Tore Kellgren, Svea Lodge #348 Valley, AZ 85737-0025. and Steve Farrow, Miami Lodge #554 Vasa Star July-August 2010 Page 3 Letter from the Editor Jun 21st marked the date of the summer solstice here in the north, a time that has been celebrated by many cultures throughout the year.