April 2015 Lodge Highlights

April 2015

This month we continued our planning for the big Nordic Faire Event to be held May 2nd at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Munster.  We are all very excited for this event.  Being our first Nordic Faire, there are many unknowns but we are publicizing and spreading the word!  This month we also received 2 new membership applications and we chose our delegates for the District Lake Michigan Lodge No. 8 Convention.  They are:  Michelle Westlund, Annelise Nelson, Lisa Pearson and Linnea Ogrentz.

Following are the Minutes and Agenda for April's Business meeting:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1am6Ri-roPPit0gnNDMiHSA1simCmDuB46dE0BNa9ZJI/edit

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BdW58PHQzk_P4_2OF6_FtpK48EoxK7T-TMLLR7fj_I8/edit

March

March brought lots of St. Patrick's fun, a lovely cultural program presented by a friend of the Westlund Family:  Jake Ponton.  Jake shared his lovely photos from a trip he took to Norway and answered all of our questions.  

Jake Ponton presenting his Norway trip photos

Jake ponton & Jean Ogrentz

Jake Ponton presenting Norway powerpoint

Also, We celebrated Sven Patrick's Day

Nordikids celebrating Sven Patrick's Day

Herb Smith:  Our resident Irishman

and Jean Ogrentz' 70th Birthday:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Fe_s7FhM-gTQRWwovkIcy_XA1gyU19Srgl3Zm6aHUqs/edit

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MAp46MLi-rCBffbOJiu1O9_3pcj77SMiVEwanlbmGzM/edit

February 2015 Lodge Highlights

February 2015

February is Installation Potluck time!  We had a grand crowd and lots of food to share as Lynda Smith did the honors of Installing our new officers for 2015.  The list of officers is here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CphWzpIIZbDdZ_Ge5ybDdMFw4zdG6JnNC17LzB-oQHQ/edit

Many thanks to outgoing Chairman, Michael Pearson Jr., and congratulations to the new Chairman:  Timothy Ogrentz!

Lynda Smith, Lisa Raddatz with baby Wren, Tonia Tomky

Harry Ogrentz and Jean Ogrentz

Herb Smith

Tim, Harry & Jean Ogrentz

Bryan and Tonia Tomky

Phyllis Kalajian and Annelise Nelson

Bryan, Tonia and Janice Tomky

Micheal Pearson Jr., and Lynda Smith

Newly installed Chairman, Tim Ogrentz & Lynda Smith

(l-r) Herb Smith, Lisa Pearson, Fred Raddatz, Jean Ogrentz, Janice Tomky, Beth Rattatz, Harry Ogrentz, Lynda Smith, Michael Pearson Jr.  Front:  Tim Ogrentz

Chairman Tim Ogrentz

Lisa, Cristine & Jennifer Pearson

Mark and Barb Hannigan

Lynda Smith, Joanne Ortman & Don

In other news, February was all about planning the newest addition to our yearly calendar... the Nordic Faire. Planned for May, our hope is to invite the community to come and enjoy our Nordikids and taste some authentic Scandinavian Food, dance some authentic Scandinavian dances, hear some authentic Scandinavian music and experience Scandinavian painting, wood carving, and crafts. We want this event to be a great example of community outreach and we intent for the  event to grow every year and become a regional source for all things Scandinavian!  Of course, bringing the communities attention to our Children's group and Lodge will be an added bonus.

We continue to discuss membership, the future of VASA and what our goals are for our corner of Scandinavia here in Northwest Indiana.  The District Convention is drawing near (May 29-31) and organization politics is a big topic.  One thing we all agree on is that moving VASA forward, and bringing an antiquated organization into the 21st century is essential.

Agenda for the Feb 16th :

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ksihxbV2bQA3izYsLf4vYopSCpFlPUxDVpw0FhjNlvY/edit

Minutes for the Feb 16th Business meeting:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/10thOZGiV9ANCBtPRpt_ZMbBmeV4LKQNFo-NdXe7JCPE/edit