SOLVANG LODGE 457 WESTBY, WISCONSIN NEWSLETTER Sons of Norway Sandhetter Volume 48 Issue #4 Westby, WI December 29, 2015 (The answer to the Newsletter quiz above is on Page 8.) PRESIDENTS MESSAGE During this busy time I want to say thank you for all the help this past year while I have been trying to learn a new role as president. Thank you for good officers and committee folks and thank you to those who are willing to take new offices for next year. We are preparing for a busy year again with our 100th anniversary celebration in April and our annual Frokost for Syttende Mai. There will also be another Leif Erickson day and our Rommegrot went over very well last year so more to think about. We have a wonderful group of workers who always come through when needed. I also want to welcome all new members that have joined us in 2015 and hope they will become an active part of our lodge. Let’s all make them feel welcome. There are some good programs already arranged and more in the works, more ideas are always welcome. Also please remember our members who are in nursing homes and those suffering from health issues with cards or visits. Ron and I want to wish you all a very God Yule and a wonderful 2016. Sandy President Sandy Iverson also sent the below list of new members in 2015 Earl Anderson, Lavonne Barlow, Jerry Burke, Kay Burke, Marlene Dahl, Fred Jefson, Jim Knutson, Nancy Lovstad, Courtney Moser, Joy Moser, Sue Ostrem, Michael Sletten, Carol Steneman, Betty Bolton, Larry Leland, Kay Root Two Norwegian Jokes submitted by Editor Hazel Cornell Coach Hjamer was having a bad football game and was not happy with his players!!! Finally he rushed over to the reserve tackle who was seated on the bench. “Iverson get in dere and get feocious!!” he yelled. “Vell, ya, sure, ya betcha, coach,” replied Iverson. “Vat’s his number?” Sven and Ole were out deer hunting in the woods!! All of a sudden they realized they were hopelessly lost! “Vell vat in da vorld shall ve do, Sven,” asked the excited Ole. “Ve are really lost dis time!! “Vell, don’t’ get so shook up, Ole!” said Sven. “Ve will yust shoot an extra deer and da game varden vill find us in thirty seconds!!” PAGE 1 Solvang Lodge 457 September 29, 2015 meeting Our monthly meeting was called to order by President Sandy Iverson, we had 45 people in attendance at the Bekkum Library Community Room. Guests tonight were Ilene Gustafson, Jess Reed and a new member Susan Ostrem. Vicki Brueggen won the “Pot of Gold” and donated it back to the Foundation Fund. We sang Happy Birthday to Dianne Hanson and Lou Ann Jelinek. We keep several members in our thoughts as they deal with health issues. Our Secretary Margaret Veum and Treasurer Roger Hanson gave their reports. Our Sons of Norway “Library” has a more permanent home now. We have been given the use of a cabinet in the Community Room. We are encouraged to enjoy the many interesting books available to our members. Just sign when you take one and then return when finished reading it. We thank Karen Hankee for the years of toting these books back and forth from her home each month. A recruitment award was presented to Deb Olson for 2 new members and Gary Daines for 1 new member. We will be selling cookies and rommegraut at the VFW during Leif Erikson Days and our Viking Ship will be in the Oktoberfest Parade as entry number 49. David Torgerson entertained us with a movie about Leif Erikson. Servers for the lunch were Karen Hankee, Vicki Brueggen, Larry and Geri Leum and Buddy Rundhaugen. We as members need to do a better job of filling out the paperwork to report our volunteer hours each month. Solvang Lodge 457 October 27th, 2015 meeting The meeting was held in the Community Room at the Bekkum Library, and called to order by our President Sandy Iverson at 7:00 P.M. We had 52 members and guests in attendance. Guests were Earl and Glory Mikkelson from Tacoma Washington, Arnston Hjelde from Halden Norway, Marilyn Dahl, Fred Solverson, Faith Call, Alice Thorson, Hirum Lund, Josephine, Christina Reeiser-Jaynes. Josephine presented our program for the evening. As an eight grader at Kickapoo Schools she traveled to Norway for a 3 week “Norge Summer School.” The theme for this year was “Nobel Peace Prize.” Josephine had many pictures and gave an entertaining talk about the school, learning the language, trips, and the many interesting students she met. Our member Arlene Hall was recognized by Vernon County at the Fair as a “Senior of Distinction.” Leif Erickson Day was a success and will be held again next year. Photo above is of Left to Right – Josephine and Christina Reeiser-Jaynes. PAGE 2 Arnston Hjelde spoke to us about his visit to the area. He is doing research about the Norwegian Language still being spoken in the Coon Valley, Westby area. He is recording conversation with area residents and will present this information to the University in Oslo. Photo is Left to Right Arnston Hjelde, Ron Iverson, and Christina and Josephine. Lunch was served by John and Sharon Evenstad and Verda Lund. Solvang Lodge 457 November 24th, 2015 meeting Forty two members and guests of Solvang Lodge 457 met at the Westby Community Room November 24th 2015 for the monthly meeting. Guests for the evening were: Joy and Cortney Mosher, Larry Leland, La Von Barlow, Earl Anderson, Kris (Jefson) Erickson, Lee Grippen, and Jill Storlie. Jill presented our program with an interesting talk and pictures of her “Summers in Norway.” She lives and works on Litle Fae Roy Island, located off the South West Coast of Norway. She teaches along with Roar Moe, cooks and paints while living on this small island. Jill displayed many samples of tanned hides of the beautiful sheep that inhabit the island. The Lodge will be making donations to the “Ski for Light” event at Camp Rosholt, Bethal Boutique, and our Foundation. Lee Grippen won the “Pot ‘O Gold”. Servers of our lunch were: Inga Gerber, Brian Rude, Fred Jefson, Nancy Lovstad, and Dick Iverson. Our Christmas party will be December 15th. OPPSKRIFT (Recipe) Preheat oven 375* *LILLIHAMAR CREAM MELTS* 3 3/4 Cups Flour 1/2 Cup Plus 2 Tablespoons Sour Cream 2 Cups Butter In a large bowl, mix all ingredients together and chill. Roll out dough to 1/8 inch thickness and cut with a doughnut cutter. Bake until light brown, about 12 minutes. Cool and frost with powdered sugar frosting if desired. PAGE 3 WE WISH OUR SPONSERS A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS, AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR Old Norwegian Sheep Also Known By: Gammelnorsk, Utegangarsau, Vildsau The Old Norwegian is of the old Northern short-tailed breed. It is found in Selbjorn, Austevoll and Horda (Sunnhordland) in western Norway. Adult males weigh on average 43 kg and females 32 kg. This breed is thought to be the origin of the Icelandic, Faeroes and Spælsau breeds. One of the most spectacular animals on the Western coast of Norway, also present on the island of Froya, is the old Norwegian breed of sheep which are called "gammel norsk spælsau" or in English translated to: Old Norwegian Sheep, (ovis brachyura borealis). This breed represents one of the most primitive kinds of domestic sheep still present in Europe, probably only the feral Soay Sheep at St. Kilda are more primitive. How is it possible that a relic population of such an old breed of sheep should have survived on the Norwegian West coast? 1. First it was represented by the rest of the old Atlantic type of agricultural tradition, still surviving on the islands of the Western coast of Norway, like many other of the remote islands in Northern Europe. 2. The inaccessibility of the region itself prevented import of other breeds. 3. The people living on the coast themselves, valued the animals very much and used the unique mutton and the wool as well for production of high quality craft products. 4. But most of all the sheep itself because of their ability to survive in extreme winter conditions. 5. The Old Norwegian Sheep is better adjusted to the climate and the poor vegetation on the coast than many wild animals like deer and roe-deer. 6. The animals graze the whole year and even in the winter they find food outside and have a minimum of artificial shelter and feeding. PAGE 4 The Old Norwegian Sheep is the small primitive type of sheep which inhabited Norway and the rest of Scandinavia as well, including Iceland and Faeroes, and was probably present on the Western islands too. Remains of similar type of sheep discovered near Bergen, are dated to be 3000 years old. Today the largest number of the sheep is found in the region around Bergen and along the coastline and on the islands outside Trondheim. The population of Old Norwegian Sheep numbers around 10,000 animals. This number is in great contrast to the situation around 1955, when the breed had almost disappeared. Other breeds and new agricultural methods as well as misunderstanding from the society for the prevention of cruelty to animals led by high society ladies in Bergen, almost set the rest of the breed on the road to destruction because of what they believed to be mismanagement of domestic animals. The sheep are small framed, with good legs and a fleece varying in color from almost white to greyish, dark brown, badger face, muflon pattern and black.