February

Thank goodness that our February weather was more cooperative!  While weather in our area has been on the strange side, it didn't keep us homebound!  This month we managed to get through a Viking Lecture Series, a Genealogy Club meeting, a Nordikid's Fundraiser and a Nordik Folk Business Meeting/Installation Dinner.  

The Viking Lecture Series was held at the Munster Public Library on February 2nd..  This series is composed of 36 separate half-hour units.  On the first Tuesday of each month, 2 of them are shown and discussed. This event is open to the public.

The Genealogy Club was held on February 8th at the Ridge United Methodist Church in Munster. Herb Smith leads members in their searches and guides all to the information they seek.  He's a master!  This event is held the 2nd Monday of each month and is also open to the public.

A Pampered Chef Fundraiser was held for Nordikids at the home of Lynda Smith on Monday, January 25th.  There were over 10 people in attendance, and approximately $200 was raised for our Children's club.

Our February Business Meeting and Annual Installation was held on Monday, February 15.  Our new Lodge Deputy Susan Nilsson conducted the ceremony.  Susan is our new District Lodge Lake Michigan No. 8 Secretary, and is a member of Bessemer Lodge No. 203 which meets in Evergreen Park, Illinois on the 1st Saturday of each month.

Nordik Folk No. 761 Agenda 2/15/16

Nordik Folk No. 761 Minutes of the Meeting 2/15/16

Newly Installed Officers of Nordik Folk 2016:  (l-r) Nordik Folk Deputy Susan Nilsson,
Trustee Phyllis Kalajian, Master of Ceremonies Janice Tomky, Auditor Lisa Pearson, Financial Secretary Jean Ogrentz,
Chairman Tim Ogrentz, Chaplain Elizabeth Flores-Allen, Guard Harry Ogrentz,
Cultural Leader Lynda Smtih, Treasurer Beth Raddatz, Mascot Wren Raddatz.

For the full List of Officers...follow this link:
Officer's List 2016

2016: January

Happy New Year 
& 
Happy "10" Year Anniversary to 
Nordik Folk No. 761!

2016

It is hard to believe that our Lodge, which was instituted in January 2006 with an original membership of 40, is 10 years old this year! We have come a long way- gaining and losing members, muddling through early ceremonies for Installations and Initiations, adding new clubs and events yearly, and attending District Conventions to learn more about VASA Order of America.  We have managed to create a pretty impressive Scandinavian Club full of dedicated, interesting and talented Scandinavian lovers.  So, while we move through our 10th year...we will be reflecting on our first ten years, and looking forward to the next.

Our Lodge Historian, Michelle Westlund, has all of our Scrapbooks and we will be showing them at lodge meetings throughout the year and at special events.  

January was a very cold month here in Chicago/Northwest Indiana, so when our January meeting date rolled around and the news told us to "Stay inside!!" we took it to heart.  Our first meeting of the new year was cancelled, and in order to keep our business on track we held Officer Elections online with 26 out of 52 members voting.  Voting online were:  Beth Raddatz, Steve Westlund, Shelly Westlund, Linnea Ogrentz, Tonia Tomky, Karrie Schwartz, John Twohy, Jean Oak, Lynda Smith, Shelly Pehlgrim, Mike Pearson Sr., Annelise Gingold-Nelson, Janice Tomky, Phyllis Kalajian, Ingrid Lesko, Barbara Hannigan, Lynnea Sinwelski, Jean Ogrentz, Katie Westlund, Wanda Huszar, Herb Smith, Sarah Wakefield, Elizabeth Flores, Timothy Ogrentz, Harrison Ogrentz, and Abigail Ogrentz. With an unanimous shoo in...here is the list of Nordik Folk No. 761 Officers of 2016:

Nordik Folk Officers 2016

Congratulations to all!  

DISTRICT REPORT:  Our District Lodge Lake Michigan No. 8 Report was due at the end of January.  Prepared by Nordik Folk Secretary Linnea Ogrentz, our report showed that our numbers are holding at 52 members.  With the new year, and efforts to reach out to the community with the help of the Cultural Enhancement Fund, we hope to raise those numbers in 2016.  So far, our efforts through the Genealogy Club & Viking Lecture Series have paid off in bringing in new members.  If we keep working and concentrating on the quality of our programs, the people will come...and we'll all have a great time and learn a few things as well.

With the addition of our Spring Nordic Faire (April) we also hope to continue building our Kubb Club & traveling tournament team (oh! How I want to go to Nationals in Eau Claire, WI):

National Kubb Championship, as well as our Scandinavian Craft Club.  We also hope to plan some trips this year.

Additionally, the Social Committee is working on a Kräftskiva Event for August and of course our Viking Festival in November where we hope to be celebrating our "10-Year Anniversary" officially.