The District 1 Sons of Norway convention was held in Rapid City, SD, this year on June 6-8. Besides President Linda Bjornson, Millie Hartleben, Mary Beth and Dave Mutchler, and Bob Smith represented our lodge. Also attending were lodge members Len and Kathy Carlson, as Len is the Director of Agencies on the Headquarters staff. Speaking from the perspective of a new representative, the convention was surprisingly interesting. Pictures and more information are below. In August, our picnic was well attended, and gave us a chance to try out our new sound system, which will make our regular meetings more easily heard as well.
Your representatives	Your representatives	Lodge banners	(more) Lodge banners
Dancers from host lodge Gjoa 1-065	Three bunads	Dinner on Saturday	At the dinner
The Uffda Brudders at the dinner	At Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls	Relaxing in the evening

The Festival of Nations April 25-28 got cool, rainy weather this year, resulting in a record-breaking turnout. Our lodge ran the Norway Cafe as usual, and we sold out of everything by late Sunday afternoon. The menu included lefse, fruit soup, rice pudding, julekage and gjestost, krumkage, and coffee. Our monthly meeting in May featured a memorial service for our members who had died in the last year and a presentation by Loren Opdahl on Habitat for Humanity. Our Syttende Mai celebration at Como Park on Saturday May 18 drew a good crowd and some Norwegian visitors despite cool, windy weather. Click below for pictures and more details of these events.
Festival of Nations	May Meeting	Syttende Mai

The Centennial Celebration on April 6 at Luther Seminary was excellent. We have so many pictures and information that we have categorized it below. Just click the picture to go to the category and see many more pictures. Our thanks to the Nordales, who provided some of the pictures of this event. We still need pictures of the flags outside the building and the large banner above the dining room doors. If you have either, please send E-mail to this site (see Home Page: yellow box or bottom left) -Thanks!
Schedule, Exhibits, History Book	Dancers and General	Memorial Service	Dinner	Program

The December meeting featured the Julebord dinner and the election of new officers. We celebrated the holidays with music, dancing, and even a visit from Santa!
Our officers	Main buffet	Dancing around the Christmas tree	A visit from Saint Lucia
Our members	Desert table	Installation of officers	Dancing around the Christmas tree	M/M Claus

The Settende Mai celebrations lasted through Sunday May 20. On Saturday, there was a "Celebrating Norwegian Heritage" parade, program, craft demonstarations, and entertainment near the Ole Bull Statue in Loring Park. Norm Geving demonstrated wood carving. Our Peer Gynt Dancers entertained. Thanks to Al Torvi for making the large flags we carried in the parade! On Sunday there was a traditional Norwegian breakfast and Festival Worship at Mindekirchen Church. The Bondeviks were among the dignitaries participating in these events.

Good weather, a parade, accordian music, Norwegian flags, many visitors from Norway, and Norwegian treats to eat--what more could you wish for?! Except for the Como Park grounds crew mowing the grass across the street instead of at Ibsen's statue, the Syttende Mai celebration on May 17 went very well. We appreciated the many flags borrowed from Mindekirchen, which added color and festivity. That evening there was a dinner at Double Tree Park Place in St. Louis Park, which was attended by a few of our members and by Kjell Magne Bondevik, member of parliament and former prime minister of Norway.
Our visitors from Norway	Getting acquainted	Ruth's relatives	The dinner	The Bondeviks

Our Festival of Nations booth was a big success; everything sold out except for four slices of julekage and gjestost! Best sellers included lefse and rice pudding. The inclement weather brought many people inside, contributing to our success. Thanks to all our volunteers for your help!
Making fruit soup	Making fruit soup	Making krumkake	Our booth
Ready for customers	Here they are	Buttering lefse	Our dancers perform

Erv Tanning spoke at the May 8 meeting, sharing his experiences and pictures from being stationed in Norway during World War II from May to November, 1945. His memories of the occupation and the celebrations at the end of the war made history come alive for us.

The membership dinner on April 10 drew about 130 people. The food, catered by Magnolia's, was both good and ample. We recruited six new members that night, and everyone enjoyed the humor of Janet Martin, who truly got us to "lighten up" (at least for a while!).

The 1000 Year Anniversary Leif Erickson celebration on October 8 and 9 went very well. On Saturday, there was a performance of the "Norwegian American Centennial Cantata" at Christ Lutheran Church. This was followed by a wreath laying ceremony at the Leif Erickson statue at the capitol, with our Peer Gynt dancers, and a luncheon. On Sunday, we had 350-400 people at Landmark Center for crafts and cultural demonstrations, including the cantata, the dancers, a violin ensemble, an accordionist, and the Norwegian Consulate Ole Overaas. We had 10 new members join our lodge at the Landmark celebration.
Sat. at the Park
Sun. at Landmark

The District 1 Sons of Norway convention was held in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on June 8-10, 2000. Delegates from our lodge included Ruth Gibson, Charlotte and Clayton Lance, Bob Smith, and Dallas (and Eileen) Zimmerman. They are pictured in the center thumbnail below. (Click on a thumbnail picture for a bigger one.) (Pictures courtesy of the Lances)

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