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Vi Blogger!

What's The Buzz? The Latest (And Greatest) 3rd District Happenings!

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District 3 Recruiters Lead The Way!

The latest Viking Resource lists the leading SON recruiters for the year 2011. Terry Francis, from our new Gulf Coast lodge 3-683 was the leader by a huge margin with being credited for signing up 85 new members. These new members make up a significant portion of the new lodge in Estero, FL. This amazing accomplishment shows you what persistence and a telephone can do for you. The average number sign ups for the previous 4 leaders was 37.25 so that makes the 85 that Terry signed up even more remarkable.

While Terry was leading the way, D3 had some other members performing at an extremely high level as well. At least one of the Larson siblings from Gateway to Florida has been listed in the top 7 since 2006. Marci was the number 6 recruiter in 2006 and number 7 in 2007. Then Brother Kent took over. He was number 2 in 2008, number 1 in 2009 and number 2 in 2010. A rather remarkable performance by the Larson family I would say.

District Three has had several other members listed as top Recruiters listed in the Viking resource publications including; 2009-Dave Thorsen, Nansen lodge and Art Ellison, Drammen; 2008-Eric Kind and Nina Rosvoll, Vennekretsen; 2007- Ardis Morton, Washington lodge; 2006-Ralph Peterson, Hampton Roads, Evelyn Karpack, Nor-bu.

Special congratulations to Terry Francis for her remarkable performance in 2010 and likewise to the Larson family for the great performance these past 5 years. To the others listed above thank you for a great job. Your recruiting performance puts you in a very elite group of SON members. And to all you D3 members who missed this list thanks for your efforts and hopefully we will see your name in the January 2012 Viking Resource.

3D Membership Status 2010 from President Ralph Peterson

The bottom line is that we are doing much better in the first 6 months of 2010 than we did the first 6 months of 2009. Our membership numbers are holding, but we need a few “big months” if we are to see a net growth in 2010.

One area where the District has made a significant improvement is in reducing the number of members leaving voluntarily. Through June we have decreased that number by 11% compared to the same time period in 2009. The rest of the SON voluntary loss has increased by about 1% so we are doing something right in D3. We have also reduced the number of 999 members voluntary leaving by 33% compared to 2009. Through out the SON, the number of 999 members leaving voluntarily has decreased as well but not as sharply as in D3.

Our recruiting is up compared to 2009. While our local lodges have signed up more members in 2010, the number of departures both voluntary and involuntary has caused a slight reduction in our total numbers. As of 30 June we are down by 84 members, or 1.2 %, and that includes those who left involuntary.

Based on the numbers from the last three years, we should come close to a net gain if we keep going at the same rate. Past membership records indicate that during the last six months of the year the voluntary loss rate is reduced by about 8% and the new member signup increases about 3%. This would be an approximate gain of 50 members but we are down 84 as of 30 June and we will have about 60 members pass on over the next 6 months. Based on that we need a combination of 100 new members/fewer members leaving voluntarily over our projected numbers for the next 6 months in order to see an increase for the year. This is very doable. Our fall bazaars do not only produce money for our operations they produce new members.

We must continue to work on keeping our members. We seem to be successful in recruiting new members. The internet has been a great help in the past few years. We routinely sign up 600 plus new members annually but we are not retaining them. Poor programming, lack of communications, inability to develop new leaders and a great reluctance to change are the more prominent reasons for the constant departures.

When you see a program that is working, make sure the information is passed on. Remember to get those membership committees and mentoring programs working and as our VP says, ask and advertise.

President Ralph Peterson reports on 3D Gas Lease Update

At the District Convention I mentioned that we received a verbal report that Chesapeake had sold the 3D gas lease rights to Hess Corporation. I have since received a letter from Hess confirming that they purchased many of the Chesapeake leases in Preston, Scott, Buckingham and Starrucca Townships including the 3D Sons of Norway lease. I have received no word on the pipeline right of way agreement. Hess is looking into that question.

In the letter I received, Hess stated that they will be constructing 4 vertical test wells. Work has started on those 4 wells and at least one of the drill rigs is in route to a drill site . At least one of the 4 sites is in Scott Township. Scott Township is the home of LOV.

It appears that a recent court ruling will allow for at least 2 more test wells and it is very probable that at least one of those wells will be in Scott Township. We will keep you advised as more information becomes available.

D3 leads SON in membership growth

President Ralph Petersen reports that District 3 leads all SON districts in membership growth in 2010! The March membership statistics just released show that D3 is the only district reporting positive membership growth in 2010 so far. Ralph notes that we have accomplished this despite having more members leave voluntarily this year as compared with 2009. He added that we all need to do a better job of reaching out to members who may be thinking of leaving SON.

Ralph also reports that D3 is a district leader in moving 999/000 members to local lodges, moving 19 of the 66 in all of SON so far this year. Pat yourselves on the back!

Welcome to Drammen, our 52nd active lodge!

Drammen Lodge 3-682 celebrated its institution February 20 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.

District Three Lodges qualify for 2009 Founder 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!!!