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We have just concluded our last National Spring Board meeting for the current Board in Denver Colorado. While we had a lot of items to go through, we were able to meet for lunch with 3 members of Ellen Lodge #21. This is one of my favorite “perks” of being on the National Board, being able to meet members who also are passionate about the Sisterhood.
In our meeting each of us prepare a report to let the other Board members know what has happened since the last Board meeting.
VP Nealna Gylling let us know that we did not have any applicants for the continuing education grant, so we will advertise in the newsletter again. This is a great opportunity for any member as you can get reimbursed after course completion. The annual scholarships are starting to come in, and it looks like we will be using our judges this year. We did replace 1 judge from the previous years, but else the judges are the same. We also received a request in regard to a grant for more than $100, and overall, the board thought that this could be a great rally point for the Sisterhood, and something we could focus on. Providing opportunities for young members to experience Danish Culture or intensive Danish language camps in the US or Denmark.
Treasurer Linda Brooks reported that 20 of 41 lodges have paid their dues, so hopefully all lodges will pay soon. We had some questions for us to think about in regards to members transferring and dues hardship funds for members in need.
Our financial materials from September 2021 to August 2022 has been received by the accountant, and we have requested this to be completed as soon as possible. When we get it back, we will post it in the newsletter, but until then please be patient. We are hoping for a quicker turnaround post-pandemic.
Secretary Glenda Madrid is preparing all of the
cont. on page 4
www.danishsisterhood.com
Volume 76, Number 4
Honorary Member Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark
DANISH SISTERHOOD NEWS (USPS 148-200) is published monthly by the Supreme Lodge of the Danish Sisterhood of America. Office of publication at 1557 Oak St. Solvang, CA 93463. Periodicals Postage Paid at Rochester, MN.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to DANISH SISTERHOOD NEWS, 1557 Oak St. Solvang, CA 93463
EDITOR: Lauren C. Nielsen (507) 206-9099 Email: editor@danishsisterhood.com
Articles for publication in the Danish Sisterhood News must arrive to the Editor no later than the 1st day of each month previous to publication.
Subscription: Members $12 (US) Non-Members $20 (US)
Officers of the Supreme Lodge
National President: Christina Sallee, Lodge #81 16116 SW Deline Ct, Beaverton, OR 97007-3425 (503) 928 4494 president@danishsisterhood.com
National Vice President & Scholarship Chairman: Nealna Gylling, Lodge #186 1474 Floan Point Rd, Brainerd, MN 56401 612-390-1374 vicepresident@danishsisterhood.com
National Secretary: Glenda Madrid, Lodge #177 1557 Oak St. Solvang, CA 93463 (805) 448-7631 secretary@danishsisterhood.com • glenda_madrid@hotmail.com
National Treasurer: Linda Brooks, Lodge #21 8402 Winter Berry Dr., Castle Rock, CO 80108 303-905-9934 treasurer@danishsisterhood.com
National Trustee & Butikken Chairman: Linda Holz #102 4400 EP True Pkwy Unit 47, West Des Moines, IA 50265-5615 (515) 225-0951 trustee1@danishsisterhood.com
National Trustee & Website Chairman: Anna Nielsen #20 (262) 412-4482 trustee2@danishsisterhood.com
National Trustee, Membership Chairman: Karen Vig-Keathley, Lodge #4 109 South First Street, Itasca, IL 60143 708-715-0071 trustee3@danishsisterhood.com
National Past President: Sindy Mikkelsen, Lodge #126 2938 Sweet Grass Lane, Santa Rosa, CA 95407 (707) 755-0260
National Historian: Donna Christensen Thomas, historian@danishsisterhood.com
This past month, I lost my Sisterhood Sponsor, Kirsten. As I write this, I am thinking of her and and missing her. I knew how much she loved receiving the DSN and reading this very column. I won't lie--it's harder to write this column this month, and I've been putting it off a bit because of that. But, what better way to honor my her than to get back to it and make sure all of you get your Danish Sisterhood News. I'm sure in the coming months, we'll be publishing a Resolution for her and celebrate her life, as we do with all of our Sisters who have passed.
Remembering Kirsten also took me on a walk down memory lane for my time in the Sisterhood. She was the one encouraging me to join. I've traveled across the country for Sisterhood events, I've enjoyed many a Danish meal with my lodge members back in Wisconsin, I've gotten the opportunity to interact with so many of you through this newsletter, and I've gotten to know so many wonderful people all across the country.
Always remember, Sisters, that you too have an impact on others' lives and sharing a word of encouragement or a meal with others is important. You never know the impact you'll have on others around you!
As always, I hope you are all doing well and enjoying your time with your Lodge Sisters. Spring is upon us and with it, I hope many gatherings are being planned. And don't forget, send me some news, some updates, some photos, so I can share them with all of our other Sisters!
Until next time,
Lauren C. Nielsen, Editor editor@danishsisterhood.comTitle: Koldinghus, Built in 1268
Location: Kolding, Jutland, DK
Photo submitted by: Janelle Willis
Koldinghus served from the 16th century as a residence for Danish Kings when they were in Kolding. This is the courtyard in the center of the castle.
Do you have a photo that you’d like to see on the cover of the Danish Sisterhood News? Send in your submissions and yours could be featured next!
Photographs must be high resolution and should be accompanied by a short description of the photo’s content. Photos from Danish events, Sisterhood meetings, travels around Denmark, Danish culture and more are all great topics.
Send photos to: editor@danishsisterhood.com
proposals which needs to go out to the Delegates. We are still needing answers from some lodges in regard to who is their Delegate/Proxy, please send in the information immediately as we need it for convention preparations.
As we had some questions about how to start a lodge, we found our old forms and instructions that Glenda will review and update as needed. The most difficult part seems to be the banking piece which has changed much in the last 10-13 years. We have processed 23 new membership applications and lost 10 members since September 2022.
Trustee Linda Holz has been busy with our merchandise and the Danish flag coaster, along with our new apron has been a success. We have created a committee of the Trustees to find new items for butikken so we have a larger selection, and exciting new merchandise for you to shop from. If you have any great ideas do bring them to your national representatives.
Trustee Anna Nielsen has been very busy with website updates. Our current website is WordPress based and when we last tried to make the needed updates our site crashed, so Anna had to spend some time with a website expert rolling back the updates.
As we have engaged with Joy of Joy of Membership and the JourneyCare platform, we and find the pricing reasonable, availability and expertise superb, so we will move from WordPress to JourneyCare prior to convention. The JourneyCare platform is much easier and intuitive to use and we have a team of experts ready and available to help us which is a great thing as we do not have this knowledge. It also makes it easier for the incoming Board to transition and keep
everything rolling forward.
Trustee Karen Keathley has been creating new banners for us to display at the convention and your events. Karen is our liaison with MoDA in regards to the 40th anniversary Archival Project II fundraiser that is starting to take form. Karen will also be working with the members in the Tucson Arizona area to possibly get a lodge started there.
We went through all of the proposals sent by the lodges and the ones we ourselves have proposed. We were able to slim it down as some were housekeeping and others were not proposals, but comments. Delegates should be receiving the packet at the end of April, but we will send an email to the Presidents and post it on the Lodge Leaders FaceBook page when they have been sent out.
Board meeting minutes are available 45 days after the meeting by request to National Secretary Glenda Madrid.
We concluded our regular board meeting and then turned our focus to managing the upcoming National Convention. In essence we are doing double duty, if not triple duty, and it is certainly burning our candle in both ends. I do not believe that managing a convention is a task for the board on top of our regular duties, so please consider stepping forward to arrange the next National Convention in 2027.
Christina Sallee, National PresidentDid you know there are four Danish Sisterhood members serving on the board of the Museum of Danish America? Mindy Brown, Marcia Jante, John Rasmussen, and Elizabeth Steffensen are actively working for both Danish Causes! We are very excited to share our news of a campaign to honor the rich history of the Danish Sisterhood of America AND honor the 40th Anniversary of the Museum of Danish America.
As you know in 2016 the National Danish Sisterhood Archives (historical materials) were relocated to the Museum of Danish America (MoDA). Between 2019-2021, the files were reviewed, catalogued and were moved from regular card board boxes to acid free archival grade boxes and folders. This will help preserve the originals for the future. In addition three pages of each ledger or folder were scanned and housed in the museums online data base.
What is the next phase of the archival project? Now it is time to again move forward and make these valuable historic materials available online to ALL Sisterhood members. The next phase of the Sisterhood Archival Project will involve scanning the 300 Danish Sisterhood Secretary and Treasurer Ledgers and all issues of the Danish Sisterhood News. It is hoped that convention materials and photograph albums will also be scanned, if time and funding is available.
The lodge historic materials we have will provide insight into the activities and times of Sisterhood Lodges, assist in locating family members for genealogical research and map the expenses and stability of the lodges through
time. Once scanned all of these materials will then be housed on the Museums of Danish Americas website for direct viewing by you at anytime. At your fingertips you would be able to retrieve a living history of lodges, members and activities where ledgers are available, and these fragile documents will be preserved forever!
We believe the most efficient and cost effective way to accomplish this big project involves:
• Hiring an archives intern to work at the museum for 6 months. Oversight will be provided by Cheyenne Jansdatter, the MoDA Archives Manager.
• Renting an overhead book scanner which will scan and format materials. (300 lodge ledgers, DSS News and convention materials)
• Upload all the materials to the Museums online library. Since this library is already in existence, the Sisterhood will not have to incur additional costs to build our own system.
We are very excited about the next phase of our Danish Sisterhood Online Archive Project! Stay tuned as more information will follow on how lodges and members can get involved to support this preservation effort.
Watch the Danish Sisterhood News for a monthly column on the project. It will provide details about the project and keep you current on how you and your lodge can get involved and support this initiative to preserve our Sisterhood History.
cont. on page 6
cont. from page 5
The Danish Sisterhood and Museum of Danish America 40th Anniversary Partnership Committee thanks you for your interest. Feel free to contact us for additional information.
Tova Brandt, Museum of Danish America, Tova.Brandt@danishmuseum.org
Mindy Brown, Lodge 21, mindysbrown@hotmail.com.
Cheyenne Jansdatter, Museum of Danish America, cjansdatter@danishmuseum.org.
Marcia Jante, Lodge 15, mjante@wi.rr.com
Karen Vig-Keathley, National Board DSS, trustee3@danishdsisterhood.com.
John Rassmussen, Lodge 300, johnfrasmu@gmail.com
Elizabeth Steffensen, Lodge 4, esteffensen@yahoo.com
April 30, 2023
8 Camp grants of up to $100 each available to Danish Sisterhood members and their children and grandchildren. For
The February meeting of the Danish Sisterhood Amber Lodge was held at the Good Shepard Lutheran Chruch in Brainerd, MN. The focus of the meeting was to celebrate Fastalavn. We started the day with singing and a game of BINGO. Prizes for both kids and adults were endjoyed. We then moved on to hitting the cat out of the barrel. Thank you to
Lodge #3 met on February 7th for their first gathering of 2023. Our weather has been unpredictable but not too bad for our life in the Midwest.
Five members were present and as always, each answered roll call with a new Danish word and meaning. That is always a fun and interesting time, given some of our pronunciations, but it's always a learning experience.
We discussed the upcoming Heartland District Convention April 21-23, 2023. Hoping many can enjoy all the activity of Convention this year.
Our Vice-President, Mary Swanson, is recovering at home from a hospital procedure and we look forward to seeing her. We all wish her a trouble-free recovery.
Don Gylling for making the barrel again this year and getting it all rigged up for the fun.
We then enjoyed a lunch with hotdogs, cookies and many other goodies, including Hanne’s Festalavn Boller. The business meeting followd lunch.
Jane Matthies-Holtan, CorrespondantWe have changed our monthly date for Lodge #3 meetings to the first Thursday of each month at noon.
Our Lodge President, Sarah Bengston and her husband Jim, recently celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary with a fantastic gathering of family and friends at the Clinton County Historical Museum in Clinton, Iowa. We wish them many more happy years together and thank them for sharing their enthusiasm for all things Danish with all of us in Lodge #3.
We wish all of you a very joyous Easter!!
Paulette Fisher, SecretaryKarla
Sune
Laura
Kim
Dale
SPONSOR
Janet Dahlman
Janet Dahlman
Martha Smith
Martha Smith
Ruth Mortensen
Ruth Mortensen
Our January meeting was mostly business. We are hosting our district convention in April, attending museum events in June as they are celebrating their 40th anniversary and The Danish American Heritage Society Conference will also be held in Elk Horn, Iowa. As always, there will be many great speakers and events taking place. Then, in October the National SH convention will be held in Minnesota. We are looking forward to a record number of people attending these events. The committees for our convention were formed at this meeting. Our delegates to the National convention will be Carol Rudisill with Cheryl Brinkman as an alternate. Guest Carmen Nelson was introduced as a possible new member. Our group keeps growing! Our monthly collections are being sent to the Food Bank and flower fund. We voted in a new slate of officers. They are President, Carol Rudisill: VP, Claudia Holcomb: Secretary, Jeanie Clark: Treasurer, Sue Fisher: Trustees, Deb Beery, Sue Stotts, and Beth Volious.
We had a good attendance at our February meeting including Carol and Rudy Rudisill on face time from their vacation. We had a proposed by-law read three times at past meetings, voted on by our group, and will be presented at the National SH convention for a final vote. Our program presenter was member Cheyenne Jansdaughter
Shirley M. Jensen passed away February 13, 2023 at the age of 92.
She was born in Geneva to Ernest and Esther (Jensen) Larsen.
Upon graduating from high school, she married a farmer, Clarence Jensen, and moved to Penn Yan. They had a daughter and two sons. They were blessed with five grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Shirley was employed by the Penn Yan Central School District for more than 23 years, first as a baker in the elementary school. She worked her way up to be Food Service Director before retiring in 1994.
Shirley was active in the Penn Yan community. She was a member of the Penn Yan United Methodist Church. One of her interests was the Soldier and Sailors Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. Before the pandemic, she worked in the Peppermint Patty Cafe and the Gift
in charge of the DSH of America Archive from the Museum of Danish America. An intern was with her helping with the technology. We are always happy to meet these bright young people. We enjoyed Cheyenne’s information about the DSH history. She made it personal for us with power point selections from our lodge showing some interesting connections with some of our members. In March, we updated our district convention committee responsibilities and helped put program materials together for this event. Delicious refreshments were served while we enjoyed member Ken Gregersen’s slide show on his summer trip to Denmark. It was full of history of the country and made us wish we were there. H.C. Andersen said, “To Travel is to Live”. We had 20 members and 4 guests present. Our delegates to the district convention will be Christina Hudson and Donna Archer. The alternate is Carol Christiansen. Cards were sent to Erna Jensen as she has moved to Nebraska to be near family. We also remembered Diane Lindsey with a thinking of you card. Carmen Nelson received her membership pin.
Hope to see many of you at the many Danish events this year!
Carol Christiansen
Shop. During the pandemic, she helped with several fundraising projects.
Clarence belonged to the Danish Brotherhood. Shirley wanted to belong to the Danish Sisterhood. Penn Yan Lodge 56 was fading. Its members were all older so Shirley founded Lodge 173. She was a member for over 70 years, holding every office. The last 30 years she was treasurer. She resigned from that position a few weeks before her death.
After the funeral, a luncheon was served by the Penn Yan United Methodist Church to which Shirley was a loyal and very active member and her Sisters of Lodge #173 provided various danish desserts.
Lodge meetings will not be the same without her. She will be missed.
Meredith Sorensen, Secretary Lodge 173
DSS Room Rate: $165 per night plus applicable tax, fees, single or double occupancy
Prices honored 3 days pre/post convention depending on room availability Call 800-333-3333, M - F 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. Ask for: 2023 National Convention for our block of rooms.
Or book on their website – www.radissonblumoa.com
Use booking link: 2023 National Convention – Radisson Blu Mall of America
Promo code : DANSIS
You can also reserve using the QR Code --- >>
***Note the deadline of August 15***
Please indicate selec)ons:
October 5-8, 2023
Registra)on Deadline – August 1, 2023
Thursday, Oct 5 1: - 4:00 Twin Ci,es Highlight Tour (min 30) $ __50 _ $____________
7:00 Opening night dessert recep,on $ -0- Y_____N_____ (No host cocktail & coffee bar)
Friday, Oct 6th
9:00 – 10:30
10:30 – 11:00
11:00 – 12:00
12:00 – 1:30 pm
1:30 – 2:30
2:30 – 3:00
3:00 – 4:30
Breakfast - (on your own)
Conven,on Opening Ceremony & Business
Morning break – (included)
General Mee,ng
Lunch – (on your own)
General Mee,ng
ATernoon Break –
General Mee,ng
5:30 – 6:30 No Host Cocktail Recep,on
6:30 – 10:00
Dinner and Entertainment $__80 ___ $____________
Walleye ______ Chicken Wellington_______ Angel Hair Pesto (Veg) _______
Saturday, Oct 7th
Breakfast - (on your own)
8:30 – 9:00 am Reading of the Minutes (required of Delegates)
9:00 – 10:30
10:30 – 11:00
11:00 – 12:00
12:00 – 1:30 pm
1:30 – 3:00
5:30 – 6:30
6:30 – 7:00
7:00 – 11:00
General Mee,ng
Morning Break – (included)
General Mee,ng
Lunch - (on your own)
General Mee,ng, ATernoon Break
General Mee,ng – Workshops following
No Host Cocktail Recep,on
Installa,on of Officers
Dinner and Entertainment
$__90.__ $___________
Beef tournedo ______ Alaskan Salmon _______ Ar,choke Feta Cannoli (Veg) ______
Special dietary needs:
Registra)on Fee $_______30.00
TOTAL DUE: $______________
Name ______________________________________________________________________________
Address ____________________________________________________________________________
City______________________________________________________State_________Zip __________
Telephone/Cell _______________________ Email _________________________________________
Check one: Natl Officer ______ Delegate, Lodge #______, Alternate, Lodge # ______, Guest Lodge #_______
Guest City ___________________________
Please make checks payable to: Danish Sisterhood of America
Remit to: Linda Brooks, Na,onal Treasurer, 8402 Winter Berry Dr, Castle Rock, CO 80108
Cancella)ons must be received by September 1, 2023, No Refunds can be made aTer this date !
Dear Sisters, we are asking for some help with the National Convention. We’ve assembled a list of various areas that might be of interest to you. Please contact Linda Holz, trustee1@danishsisterhood.com if you can help in one or more of the areas noted. Thank you!!
Lodges: Table decorations for Friday night
Raffle baskets/items for Convention
Individuals: (Delegates are unable to help Friday and Saturday, before 5:00, due to meetings)
Registration Table
Thursday afternoon12:00 – 5:00
Friday morning 8:00 – 9:00 (possibly longer if late arrivals)
Lobby Greeter (to greet people as they arrive)
Thursday afternoon12:00 – 5:00
Friday morning 8:00 – 9:00 (possibly longer if late arrivals)
Sell 50/50 raffle tickets
Friday night - (2 people)
Saturday night – (2 people)
Raffle Tables - National & Convention (monitor and sell tickets – best if 2 people work together)
–
Natl Butikken sellers
– 5:00
Help set up Meeting Room (2-3 people) Friday morning 8:00 – 8:45
Food service liaison w/hotel –
On October 6-8, 2023, the Danish Sisterhood of America will hold its 28 th National Convention in Bloomington, Minnesota. Radisson Blu MOA
We are happy to offer you space in our Merchant Mall at $125.00 for three days. There will be a 6’2” table w/cloth available to you along with two chairs. Tablecloth plus skirting $10.00 per day. Electric $80.00 per day Due to the size of the room, we are limited to 10 tables on a first-come basis. Deadline for return of Convention Vendor Form is October 31, 2022
May 31, 2023.
Vendor Name/Lodge ___________________________________________________________________
Contact Name __________________________________________________________________
Mailing Address ___________________________________________________________________
Email _______________________________________ Phone ______________
The set-up time will be available Thursday October 5 th 8:00 am to 11:00 am. Please mail your check payable to Danish Sisterhood of America
Table $125.00__
Tablecloth
Electrical Total
Karen Vig -Keathley
109 South First Street
Itasca, IL 60143 -2114
If you have any questions, please contact Karen Vig -Keathley at trustee3@danishsisterhood.com Or 708 -715-0071. Tak
Thank you in advance for your interest and continued support and association with the Danish Sisterhood of America.
The Danish Sisterhood has a new and very special member status, the DSS Angels. This status belongs to those members that wish to gift their funeral benefit back to the Sisterhood. We have had some members in the past make the Sisterhood their beneficiary. We believe this is a generous and significant gift, and wish to honor them while we can, keeping a list of our current “Angels” posted.
On behalf of our entire membership, we wish to thank and honor as our first Angels:
Name
If you have moved please use this form to notify the Danish Sisterhood of America.
Clip and mail to:
Danish Sisterhood News
National Secretary: Glenda Madrid
1557 Oak St. Solvang, CA 93463
Viola Wilson
Joann Scott
Dorothy Petersen
Karin Plagens
Sandra Nelson
Carole Hodges
Andrea Sue
Welling Leih
Elizabeth Haar
Glenda Madrid
Nancy J. Mayland
Johanne Gade
Diann Weinman
Susan R. Fisher
Lou Ann Jensen
Hanne Skaarup
Else Lassiter
Pamela H. Ruben
Carolyn Sias
Ruth M. Brigden
Kristine Huss
Seena Drapala
Margaret Wetzel
Verina Farrell
Lorraine Buchanan
Janice L. Schneider
Debra Spotz
Vicki Bousquet
Marianne Larsen
Bente Bob
Linda Holz
Janelle Willis
Margaret Schoewe
I belong to Lodge #: Name: New Address: City: State: Zip Code:
Submissions should be received by the Editor by the 1st of the month previous to the month published.
Please submit captions for pictures, including names of people in the picture. Text for submissions should be less than 600 words (one typed page).
Mail or electronic submissions are welcomed Please proofread for clarity, spelling and grammar before sending in your submissions.
