Did you know that April is Financial Literacy Month? It’s true: a Congressional act in 2004 officially designated April as the month to teach Americans the importance of establishing and keeping healthy financial habits. As a fraternal life insurer company, Sons of Norway has been helping members increase their financial literacy for more than 120 years. Thanks to the organization’s talented [...]
With November here it’s safe to say winter is on its way. While this means cooler weather, it also means new and unique chances for your lodge to give back to the community. One of these efforts kicked off at the beginning of the month: Movember, the month long beard-growing that raises money for cancer research. Fun and timely volunteer opportunities [...]
Ready or not, the heart of the holiday season is upon us! With one holiday coming after another, everything can be a bit of a blur. Because of this, planning ahead is crucial. One event that often gets overlooked is New Year’s Eve. It’s too bad, too; New Year’s Eve is a natural party, meaning it’s a great opportunity for your [...]
2016 Lodge Goals As 2015 draws to a close it’s time to start looking to the future. Has your lodge leadership team discussed its vision for next year? Setting goals for 2016 is a great way to help shape the lodge in a positive way. Let’s spend some time examining what kinds of goals your lodge should consider and how you [...]
With lodges back in full swing, a lot of members are thinking of ways to raise awareness of Sons of Norway in their community and recruit new members. If you are a long-time reader of the R&R, then you know we've discussed a lot of different options for local lodges. This month, however, we are going to discuss one of the [...]
Did you know that over the last two years, Sons of Norway has been recruiting twice as many young adults (24 to 55 years old) than it has in the last five years? With this influx of new, more active members come new opportunities to meet their expectations. This often means lodges will have to incorporate new tactics and resources to [...]
Have you ever been to a St. Olav’s Day celebration? If you live outside Norway, chances are you probably haven’t. It’s even more likely that your friends and neighbors haven’t either, making St. Olav’s Day an excellent opportunity to introduce them to Norwegian culture. Let’s highlight some of the traditional aspects of the holiday followed by a few ways your lodge [...]
Often a lodge greeter is an underutilized or unfilled position. In cases where a lodge has a greeter, they are often relegated to handshakes and smiles for members at the beginning of a meeting or event. This is unfortunate because, when used properly, the greeter can be an important part of a lodge's membership retention strategy. The primary responsibility of a [...]
As leaders in Sons of Norway, we’re all familiar with what makes our organization great: the way we celebrate our Norwegian heritage, the philanthropic opportunities available and our outstanding financial products. We can list all the benefits that come with being a Sons of Norway member, but how are we selling our own lodges? Understanding the difference between being able to [...]
Did you know next month is Sons of Norway Foundation month? It’s an opportunity to celebrate a part of Sons of Norway that gives so much throughout the year. In fact, the Foundation gives tens of thousands of dollars annually to students, community projects and lodges across the organization that fulfill the organization’s mission to spread Norwegian culture in our communities. [...]