On the list of famous Norwegians, Leif Erikson places very high. As you probably know, more than 1,000 years ago Leif and his fellow Vikings established the first European settlement in North America at Vinland. In the 10 centuries that have followed, Leif Erikson, and Vikings like him, have captured the imagination of people around the world. Next month marks the [...]
Did you know that over the last two years, Sons of Norway has been recruiting twice as many young adults (24 to 55 years old) than it has in the last five years? With this influx of new, more active members come new opportunities to meet their expectations. This often means lodges will have to incorporate new tactics and resources to [...]
With lodges back in full swing, a lot of members are thinking of ways to raise awareness of Sons of Norway in their community and recruit new members. If you are a long-time reader of the R&R, then you know we've discussed a lot of different options for local lodges. This month, however, we are going to discuss one of the [...]
Have you ever been to a St. Olav’s Day celebration? If you live outside Norway, chances are you probably haven’t. It’s even more likely that your friends and neighbors haven’t either, making St. Olav’s Day an excellent opportunity to introduce them to Norwegian culture. Let’s highlight some of the traditional aspects of the holiday followed by a few ways your lodge [...]
Did you know that Scandinavians are among the world’s top coffee drinkers? Their love of coffee is more than just about an energy boost. It’s a cultural custom that has been bringing people together for centuries. Viking magazine’s November cover feature explores coffee in Norway—from the Nordic approach to brewing and top coffee shops. Plus, it’s no surprise that Norway is [...]
In the November issue of Viking magazine, we highlight multi-talented writer, director, choreographer and performer Alan Lucien Øyen. The award-winner runs a company called Winter Guests, which works with skilled performers to create theatrical works in English for the international stage. From Nov. 28 to Dec. 8, catch his new play, “Jingle Horse—A Christmas Special” at the Norwegian National Opera and [...]
This morning close to 900 members of the Twin Cities’ Nordic American community gathered in celebration of the privileges of freedom, faith, family & friendship at the 2015 Nordic American Thanksgiving Breakfast. The event, which was held in Bloomington, MN, not only celebrated these privileges, but also served as a fundraiser for two important charities that serve communities in need throughout [...]
Last week marked a major accomplishment for Sons of Norway and Viking magazine. During the 2015 ceremony for the Minnesota Magazine Publishing Excellence Awards Viking magazine was recognized seven times! This is an all-time high for Sons of Norway and was characterized by one publishing professional as “dominating its category.” In addition to awards for design and editorial coverage, Viking was [...]
Often a lodge greeter is an underutilized or unfilled position. In cases where a lodge has a greeter, they are often relegated to handshakes and smiles for members at the beginning of a meeting or event. This is unfortunate because, when used properly, the greeter can be an important part of a lodge's membership retention strategy. The primary responsibility of a [...]
If you haven’t ordered your tickets yet for the Nordic American Thanksgiving Breakfast, we’ve got some news that might just change your mind. We’re proud to announce that this year’s event is also going to be attended by none other than Norway’s Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Kåre R. Aas! Even better—Ambassador Aas will also join this year’s speakers [...]