What's The Buzz? The Latest (And Greatest) 3rd District Happenings!
Newest 3rd District lodge organizes!
District Three’s 53rd lodge, the Gulfcoast Vikings 3-683, Estero, FL, held their first organizational meeting on Sunday 1 March. Approximately 70 members and prospective members joined District 3 Vice President Gail Ekloff and District 3 President Ralph Peterson to discuss the SON and the new lodge. Seventeen new members joined that day. That brings the total membership to 77. Almost 60 of the members are new to the Sons of Norway.
The members chose their name and elected temporary officers. Peter Justinius was elected Interim President. He can be reached at peterjustinius@aol.com or 239 248 8641.
The lodge will be instituted on 28 March 2010. The social hour will be held 6-7 PM followed by the Institution and then dinner. Information on the event will be posted on the District 3 events calendar with all the information shortly.
Welcome to Drammen, our 52nd active lodge!
Drammen Lodge 3-682 celebrated its institution on 20 February 2010 with a festive party that included over 90 SON members coming from 9 District 3 lodges. District 3 President Ralph Peterson was the Installing officer. Assisting in the ceremonies were International Secretary Audun Gythfeldt, District 3 Vice President Gail Ekloff and District 3 Secretary Marci Larson. Greetings were read from International President Dan Rude, District Four International Director Elaine Nelson and Nørrona President Solvig Hellstrom The sponsoring lodge, Southern Star was represented by a large contingent including Past President Karen Mc Ilrath, who presented the Drammen lodge with an engraved gavel.
Drammen Lodge, located in New Bern NC, has a very active program; they have already acquired a “Viking Boat” and hope to start sailing shortly. President Arthur Ellison is a former member of the Nørrona Lodge.
Gateway to Florida Lodge’s Spring Viking Regatta
Gateway to Florida Lodge’s Spring Viking Regatta in St. Augustine is March 19-20. Friday tour Fountain of Youth at 4 p.m. Welcome Reception at hotel Hospitality Room 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday Viking boats Regatta 1 p.m. in front of Fort on Matanzas River. Free to public. Attend awards banquet on Black Raven pirate ship 6-8 p.m. Reservations by March 16.
Rooms at Ramada Historic, 116 San Marco Avenue, St. Augustine, FL, 32084, $79 plus tax. Call Ramada 800-575-5289 for reservations, request SON group rate. Rooms held until March 1. Extra parking provided for the Viking boats.
District Three Lodges qualify for 2009Founder days awards.
Sons of Norway lodges with a membership growth of 3% or more during 2009 will be awarded a Founders Award certificate along with a cash bonus at their district convention. Those growing 3% to 19% will receive $50 and those above 19% will receive a check for $100
The Oslo and Gateway to Florida lodges will receive checks for the third year in a row. Bondelandet, Dovre and Maine Nordmenn are winners two years in a row. Congratulations to them all!!!
3-438 Oslo 33%
3-232 Dovre 25%
3-541 Gateway to Florida 17%
3-630 Southern Star 13%
3-433 Scandavian Heritage 6%
3-664 Maine Nordmenn 5%
3-410 Nansen 3%
3-612 Bondelandet 3%
3-643 Norsemen Harbour 3%
Fall Membership Contest--We have a winner and they're part of the Thundering Third!
A great big CONGRATULATIONS to lodges Gateway To Florida (3-541) and Dovre (3-232) for winning the SON fall membership contest. The contest was decided on total membership growth with Gateway To Florida winning the large lodge category with a growth of 19.8% and Dovre winning the small lodge category with a growth of 36.4%.
A special "well done" to Gateway's Kent Larson, whose personal recruiting efforts were above and beyond the call of duty!! Hey, Kent--what's your secret?
Learn Norwegian Online!
How about that New Year's resolution to learn Norwegian?? Here's a wonderful opportunity to make that happen!
Mette Andersen from Norsk Carolina lodge is offering an on line Norwegian class for beginners that began January 17th. Mette reports that she already has over 50 students from 3 continents, 8 countries, and at least 17 US states. Talk about the power of the Internet!
There's still time for you to join in--Mette has extended the registration deadline until January 29. Contact mettenc@carolina.rr.com for details, and do it now! A big "Thank You" and congratulations to Mette for her outstanding contribution to Norwegian cultural growth!
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