Lodge History - Sarasota 539
A DREAM OF VISITING NORWAY ON REASONABLE CHARTER FLIGHTS AND CONTACT WITH SONS OF NORWAY HEADQUARTERS led to the formation of Sarasota Lodge. People of Norwegian descent were found through friends, churches, newspaper ads, and through a local store that advertised lutefisk. Many of the Charter Members came from the so-called LUTEFISK LIST.
After many planning sessions and organizational meetings with Insurance Representative Alvin Hanson Sarasota Lodge 3-539 was instituted on 30 March 1974. Tampa Bay Lodge #515 was the sponsoring lodge. Our Charter listed 92 members.
During our first years the emphasis was on getting to know the organization’s purpose, goals, rules and modes of operation. Highlights included Norwegian language classes, Rosemaling courses and even cooking classes. We observed the 17th of May with a Norwegian dinner and a brief report on its historical significance. We celebrated Christmas with Julenisse, ribbe og surkål. Members became active in Zone and statewide events like Leif Erikson Festival and Sankthans/Rekefest.
In 1977 Sarasota Lodge sponsored Suncoast Lodge #562 and a bus-load attended the institution in Clearwater. We asked all the lodges in Florida to join us in Camp UffDa where we featured the culture and heritage of Norway with Rosemaling, Norwegian Stitchery, Hardangersøm and lessons in the Norwegian language. And in 1978 Florida lodges sponsored the 3/D Convention in Orlando. Arline Clark was the Journal Chairman. The following year the lodge purchased books from the Norwegian/American Historical Association and donated them to the Selby Public Library in Sarasota. The cultural summer program continued for several years, in motels on Lido Beach and also in a State Park.
In 1980 we raised enough funds to produce the annual Florida Viking Queen at Jensen Beach. This was a statewide fundraising event for the S/N Foundation. The next year we sponsored a Young Adult Family Camp Weekend where the highlight was a goat-milking contest..
An event in 1981 changed the Florida lodges forever. Gulfstream Lodge made fiberglass copies of an åttiring (a fishing boat from the West coast of Norway).. And soon we had regattas with these boats that could hold eight rowers and a coxswain. Our boat, the P J Viking, was donated by Peter J. Nilsen and lodge members made sail, oars and a scary dragon head for the bow. We had competition and friendly sail-bys at SpringFest in Sanford, 17 of May Regatta in Clearwater and at the Leif Erikson Celebration at Jensen Beach.. A first place trophy was brought home by our ladies team one year.
Our 10th anniversary was celebrated at the Crown House Restaurant and 39 members got their 10-year pins, and three members received their Life Membership. Lodge members continued visits to neighboring lodges, chartering buses for the trips like the institution of Sun Viking Lodge in Spring Hill and a very memorable Western Night in Everglades Lodge in Ft. Myers..
Our Fall Bazaar was changed to Festival where we sold open faced sandwiches, authentic Pea Soup, imported food from Norway and arts and craft articles made by lodge members. And who can forget Dottie Clary’s layered bløtekake. Visitors from Tampa Bay Lodge showed us how to make lefse (with free samples). The profits from the Festival and the raffle enabled us to put some money in reserve and the lodge is still the proud owner of a Money Market Account.
The lodge always participated in the 3/D Conventions and submitted numerous resolutions, some passed and some were rejected. Arline Clark went from Zone 11 Director to District President and International Director. Roger Sean was Zone Director of Zone 11 and also Zone 5 after the consolidation of 3/D Zones. In 1996 we proudly sponsored Norsemen Harbour Lodge in Port Charlotte.
Our 25th Anniversary was a Gala affair with visits from the top echelons of Sons of Norway and the District as well as representatives from most Florida lodges. Our Editor produced a 36 page “newsletter” to commemorate the event. And as this is being published on the 3/D Website, we are celebrating our first 35 years as a Sons of Norway Lodge.
. . . . . Roger Sean, Editor
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