July 29th marks the annual celebration of one of Norway's most famous icons, St. Olav. Because Olav converted Norway to Christianity, the holiday has a strong religious connection, but has also become a reason to celebrate Norwegian history. To mark the occasion dinners, medieval markets and concerts can be found throughout Norway. Your lodge members may not be familiar with the holiday, [...]
Beyond the greeter's welcome at the door, creating an inviting lodge can be accomplished by all lodge officers and leaders. Lodges that put an emphasis on creating a welcoming environment see the results in increased retention rates. Here are some simple suggestions you and the rest of your lodge officers can use to help create a more welcoming environment for new [...]
Polar Star 5-472 set a goal for itself in 2014: to develop lodge activities that would fulfill the requirements for parts 1 and 2 of the Cultural Skills unit on Norwegian Music. Cultural Director Barb Johnson facilitated the effort, laying out which activities each member needed to complete in order to meet the requirements. For Part 1, Barb Johnson gave a presentation [...]
Syttende Mai is a great time for every lodge to showcase their Norwegian pride in the community. However, not every lodge has the resources to organize a large parade or banquet. Luckily, the Sons of Norway Headquarters has resources available for lodges to organize their own Syttende Mai program. The info bank units, mini presentations and other tools available in the [...]
Syttende Mai is one of the biggest celebrations of Norwegian culture and is marked by parades and celebrations. In Norway, the holiday is highlighted with children marching in parades carrying the banners of their schools. It’s time to celebrate Norway’s belief that children are the future. Similarly, Syttende Mai should be a time for your lodge to invest in the future [...]
More elaborate fundraisers are a terrific option for large lodges or those with an active membership base. While they’ll require a bit more planning up front, these fundraisers have an ability to raise more money. Here are three unique ways your lodge can raise extra money during the next year: State or County Fair. This has been a very profitable fundraiser for [...]
One of the most difficult parts of volunteering is finding the right project. With so many charities looking for help, there are numerous ways your lodge can give back during the holiday season. Here are some ideas to get you started: The Salvation Army. The Salvation Army is best known for its red kettles and bell ringers outside stores during the holidays. [...]
Have an all-star recruiter in your lodge? You might! With the end of the Midsommer Madness recruitment contest the Sons of Norway Headquarters is proud to announce the 22 members qualified for the Sons of Norway coffee mug prize this year: Gary Heimark, Tusenvann #1-659 Robert Stevenson, Edmonds #2-130 Christine Ware, Leif Erikson #2-001 Karen Aanes, Sol-Land #2-086 Kaia Petersen, Hovedstad [...]
Motivating members to volunteer their time may seem like a difficult task, but there are plenty of incentives. First of all, volunteering connects members with their communities more than any activity. It brings members together, strengthening the fraternal bonds that Sons of Norway was founded on. Most importantly, members who volunteer with Sons of Norway lodges have fun! Need an extra [...]
One of the best incentives for lodges to participate in community service projects is the recognition it can get from media coverage. The media has the ability to broadcast your lodge’s efforts to a much wider audience. Not only does it publicize your lodge, but a positive image in the community can help open doors to new partnerships, volunteer opportunities and recruitment [...]
