Did you know that people who belong to a Sons of Norway lodge are typically among the most active members of their communities? In fact, our lodges participate in tens of thousands of service projects in their communities each year. Our members spend hundreds of thousands of hours volunteering with their lodges. Knowing that, the Sons of Norway Fraternal Department is [...]
As part of Sons of Norway's celebration of community service, this month's Spotlight on Volunteerism highlights one lodge's fundraising efforts this past January. Snorre 6-061 in Hayward, California partnered with a local high school to hold a dinner in order to raise money for scholarships and to promote Norwegian culture in the community. At just under 100 members, the Snorre lodge [...]
This summer Tordenskjold 2-005 in Spokane, WA paid tribute to U.S. veterans by raising money for the Honor Flight Program. In all, members of the lodge spent nearly 200 hours preparing and serving breakfasts to raise money for the program, which flies veterans to their respective monuments in Washington, D.C. The fundraiser is one of Tordenskjold's most publicized events. Using community [...]
Not every fundraiser needs to be a big endeavor for your lodge; often smaller projects can be as effective as a large event, but better suited for a lodge with fewer resources. The following ideas require less planning, while still providing extra income for your lodge: Collect printer cartridges. Depending on the printer, used cartridges can be worth anywhere between $1 and [...]
Have you gotten your invitation to the Recruiters' Reception yet? Recruiting one new dues paying member between now and the August 21 gets you an invitation* to one of the most fun events at this year's International Convention in Fargo. Hosted by the Sons of Norway Fraternal Department, the Recruiters' Reception celebrates the organization's most passionate and engaged members. Here are some [...]
Several lodges throughout Sons of Norway participate in cultural fairs by either joining other groups or by hosting one themselves. These events provide a unique opportunity for a lodge to showcase the best of Norwegian food and culture for people in the community who may not have an opportunity to experience it otherwise. One lodge, Vestland #1-601, has found success with [...]
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, [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
