SONS OF NORWAY
FJELL-LJOM
(MOUNTAIN ECHOES)
 
BLAFJELL LODGE 3-646       MARCH 2012    
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President: Sharon Rohrback  540-774-0006  Vice President: Marlin Thompson  540-334-2672
Secretary:  Kathy Clark  540-977-2349      Editor:  Joann Barfield  540-380-2926
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 Mission Statement:
The mission of the Sons of Norway is to preserve and cherish a lasting appreciation of the heritage and culture of Norway and other Nordic countries .. 
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Regularly scheduled meetings:  fourth Saturday of each month, 3:00 PM,
College Lutheran Church, 210 South College Avenue, Salem
(except for special events)
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MARCH EVENT!
Family Day/Open House
"Getting to Know Norway"
Saturday, March 24, 2012, 3:00 - 5:00 PM
College Lutheran Church
Fellowship Hall  
Don't miss this Special Event!
Patterned after our annual Viking Day at
Faith Christian School (our Adopt-a-School),
we will have informational displays and interpreters of
Viking and Norwegian History,
Geography, Heritage, Literature, Culture,
Voyages of Discovery (Leif Erikkson)!
Activities for children ..
Runic Writing! Viking Shields!
and Samplings of Norwegian food!
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  President's Letter:
 
Spring is a busy time for plants, animals and us.  Lots of activities coming up for which we need your help. 
  
March 24, 2012,  3-5 pm:  Family Day Open House.  PASS THE WORD.  This will be held during our normal meeting hours.  We have no idea how many will come, but have submitted event ads to the local newspapers and flyers to churches.  The event is free and requires no reservations. Contact Cheri Johnson, Cultural Director (540-989-6330) or Larry Norman (540-721-7188) if you have artifacts or finger food samples you can provide.

May 19, 2012:  Roanoke Local Colors event.  There will be a planning meeting April 21, 1:00-2:30 pm before our regular meeting starts, headed by the Social Director and Cultural Director.  Larry Norman must submit our participation registration to Local Colors office on/before April 22.  We will again have a booth with free literature, informational displays, and baked goods for sale.  All are encouraged to come with ideas and offers of help.                                                                Submitted by Blafjell President, Sharon Rohrback
 
Blafjell Library
Joann Barfield and Sharon Rohrback have been busy organizing a Blafjell Closet area for our small library.
Sharon Rohrback has agreed to be the librarian.   The books will be displayed at each meeting.
There will be a check-out box in the library area, with one 3x5 card for each book or set of magazines.
Any item checked out is due at the next regular monthly meeting...based on the honor system.
 
Contents of the library to date:
1.  Magazines donated from members' private libraries:  The Viking published by Sons of Norway;
Vesterheim published by Vesterheim Museum; The Norsemen Magazine (5 issues); Iceland 2011 Visitors Guide.
2  Swedish language non-fiction (mysteries?).  (about 8 paperbacks which have been on the shelf for years).
3  Books:  Lion of England; Ole Goes to War (Wisconsin Brigade in Civil War);
The Norwegian Lady and Wreck of the Dictator; The Viking Invader; The Viking World; The Vikings-Crafts From the Past; UFF DA Jokes; Viking Adventure; Viking Gold.
4. Two Sons of Norway Song Books with music (in spiral notebooks)
 
If any members have contributions to our Library, they will be gratefully received.
 
Also available in the Blafjell closet are 3-ring binders with the National and District newsletters (in total if short; excerpts if long documents); National headquarters-provided Lodge procedures and officer responsibilities, Blafjell newsletter (Fjell-Ljom) archives, and Blafjell History Scrapbooks.
                                                                            Submitted by Blafjell Librarian, Sharon Rohrback 
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Minutes of February meeting:
 
The February 25, 2012, meeting was held at College Lutheran Church, Salem, VA.  Sharon Rohrback opened the meeting with the singing of the Norwegian, American, and Canadian National Anthems.  There were no corrections or additions to the January minutes printed in the newsletter.  Flyers promoting the "Getting to Know Norway" were passed out and to be distributed around the area.  Forms for the Walking Medal were passed out.  Treasurers report has a balance of $2,722.64.  Sharon Rohrback is working on revising the By Laws.  Helpers are needed for the "Getting to Know Norway" event on March 24 at College
Lutheran. 
 
A board meeing to plan for Local Colors will be April 21 from 1-2:30 PM.  Helene DeVries is no longer serving on the Social Committee.  Anne Hoose and Cheri Johnson are on this committee.  There will be a workshop on Sun. March 11 from 3-5 PM.to make items for the "Getting to Know Norway" event.   Cheri Johnson gave a very interesting program on the mountain farm seter.  Refreshments were served by Georgia Carr and Cheri Johnson.                                                                                                        Kathy Clark, Secretary   
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News of our Folks:  
Gratuleer Med Dagen
April birthdays: 
Bill DeVries .. 4-30           John Eide .. 4-25                      John Hitchings .. 4-22    
                                        Betty Lindsoe .. 4-23                Ellen Nygaard .. 4-15
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                  Getting to Know You Better ..    
if we haven't featured you in this column in recent years, we'd love to get to know you better ..
give your Editor a call or an e-mail ..
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THIRD DISTRICT NEWS: 
 
For President Ralph Peterson's letter, see the Third District Events Calendar: 
www.3dsofn.org/newsletter/index.html
        District 3 events:  www.3dsofn.org/eventscalendar
            Land of Viking (LOV) camp and conference center in Pennsylvania:  www.3dsofn.org/lov 
                                                                                                    or www.Landofthevikings.org
                New Sons of Norway E-Post:  sonsofnorway@sofn.com
                    Royal Norwegian Embassy in Washington:  emb.washington@mfa.no
                        Nordic News from the Icelandic Embassy:   http://www.iceland.is/us   
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                                       2012 Calendar of Meetings/Programs/Special Events:
 
 April 28 ..  Let's make Lefse!  learn how to make our much beloved Norwegian food!
 
May 19 .. Local Colors!  our largest public event!  Elmwood Park, Downtown Roanoke
 
June 23 .. Our Annual Summertime Picnic .. location TBD
 
July 28 ..  Movie Day .. virtual tours of Norway .. with popcorn!
 
August  .. Summer Vacation!
 
September TBD .. Adopt-a-School program at Faith Christian School, Roanoke
 
September 22  ..Viking/Nordic Auction
 
October 19 .. Local Colors/Taste of Colors/Sweden .. our 7th year .. Downtown Roanoke
 
October 27 .. Anniversary Dinner .. celebrating our 16th year!
 
November 17  ..Christmas in Norway .. getting in the holiday mood ..
                            Videos of the celebrations in Norway and the famous Jule symbols
 
December 8 .. Julefest 2012!  with the lovely St. Lucia Procession and the Julebord! 
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Are you tired of giving tax money to the government? Did you know that SON has a life insurance policy that can be funded with one single payment? Well SON can help on both accounts. SON has new product called the Single Premium Whole Life (SPWL) This product is an excellent way to transfer your assets to your heirs TAX FREE. Plus, depending on your age, the one-time payment may provide several times the funding amount in coverage. Typical sources for funding the SPWL come from savings accounts, retirement accounts, CDs, a gift, an inheritance, or an insurance payout.  Life insurance is about living.

Sons of Norway Financial Benefits Counselor: Michael Beck, LUTCF.

Office Phone: (540) 443-6485, E-mail: michael.j.beck@cox.net

 
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