Swedish-American Society  Newsletter, March, 1999 Edition President: Leland Peterson 489-7061 Web master: Larry Leonardson 721-6827

WHEN NEXT WE MEET:  Sunday, March 19, 2000  Ruritan Club, Witchduck Road Välkommen! 3:00  Setup 4:00  Fellowship Hour 5:00  Du Gamla, Du Fria; My Country T'is of               Thee; I Jesu Namn Dinner: Rotmos" (mashed turnips and potatoes with pork).  5:45  Business Meeting 6:00  A quiz show on things Swedish conducted by Margit Thunander, who has lined up 8 members of the club as contestants.  6:30  Sing along with Ted Johnson, who has 20 of the new song books. Individuals who ordered copies should have $20 ready to purchase them. 6:45  Raffle with Andy Andersson 7:00  Helsa Dem Der Hemma and          clearing  the tables Program for the March meeting  We will have a quiz show for our March meeting.  Contestants will be asked to ponder questions about life in Sweden and America and prizes would be awarded .   An additional news item is the arrival of the new edition of Sweden and America, which contains a listing of the 100 most famous Swedes in the last millennium. This gives us material for future programs of the kind we had proposed for next November. We are interested in proposals volunteered by members.

When Last We Met  The regular monthly meeting of the Swedish-American Society was held Sunday, Feb. 20th.  The social hour was from 4 to 5 p.m.  At 5, we gathered at the tables to sing and then prayed our Swedish Table Grace.  We then enjoyed the delicious Svenska Pannkakor prepared by Betty Peterson, Joanne Lundquist, and Margit Thunander.  Marilyn Melendy oversaw the preparation and Sue Arith made sure everything was in place.  The condiments and desserts made the meal complete.  Upon completion of the meal, Nellie and the children worked on making butterflies.  Our president opened the meeting with some Swedish humor.  He announced that at our next meeting we would be featuring Rotmos Och Flasklag as our entree.  Leland then introduced our guests Paul and Jane Hodlin (friends of Ted Johnson), Roslyn Nora Anderson (daughter of Bentley Anderson), and Glenn Gerdin (a new member).  Don Lundquist gave the Treasurer’s Report.  He announced that we have 54 paid members.   Stephen Grunwald read a brief account of the life of Alfred Nobel.  Leland announced that Margit Thunander would be in charge of the March Program.  It would be a Swedish Quiz show with Andy Andersson being the Moderator.   Ted Johnson presented the idea of purchasing some Swedish Song Books to be used at the monthly meetings.  The cost would be $19.95 each.  Don Lundquist suggested that perhaps some members would want to purchase their own.  It was suggested that Ted order 20 copies and whoever would like to purchase their own copy may do so.             OUR ADDRESS ON THE WEB:                https://members.tripod.com/~SweAmer

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Leland then introduced our speaker, Hans Thunander, who spoke on Swedish History.  Hans has a great deal of knowledge concerning this history.  He spoke on Queen Christina and her involvement in the 30 Years War.   The raffle was held by Andy Andersson, following the speaker.  There were 44 in attendance, 8 of which were children.  Following the raffle, since we did not have to put away chairs and tables, we were cleaned up and ready to go by 7:00 p.m.   Respectfully Submitted,    Georgie Unser - Secretary    SWEDISH HISTORY 101 Christina was born in 1626, and became Queen in 1644.  Religion had become a hodge-podge in Europe in the later 1500's with the exception of Italy.  Queen Christina became Catholic.  The 30 Year War was being fought in Germany and was a much more devastating war to Europe than WWII.  Sweden entered the fray after 20 years.  Sweden became the Super Power in 1648.  Christina became Queen while Sweden was a supper power in 1644 at the age of 18.  Se was not good at economics but was a star politician.   The settlement of New Sweden in Delaware was the result of this war.  In 1655, Christina traveled back to Innsbrook and let it be known she had become a Catholic.  She went through a religious and moral crises.  She was received by the Pope and received communion at St. Peter’s Cathedral.  She then returned to Sweden to recapture the crown but was unable to succeed.  Her major-domo was taking money from the Treasury.  There was a trial and she was found guilty.  She died in Rome in 1689 and was buried in St. Peter’s Cathedral. CLUB OFFICERS  President - Leland Peterson 489-7061  Vice President - Alise Dilworth  Secretary - Georgie Unser   Treasurer - Don Lundquist  Newsletter Editor - Nellie Leonardson  Web Master-Larry Leonardson 721-6827  DIRECTIONS TO OUR MEETINGS   If coming from the peninsula, take I-64 across the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel, follow 64 to 264 East (144). Follow 264 to the Witchduck Road exit, after exiting, turn left onto Witchduck Road. About 1/4 to ½ mile is Ruritan Drive (fire station light is there). Turn left on Ruritan, go the end of the street, building is on the left

CHILDREN’S CORNER Empty computer or music CD cases are needed for this month’s craft. Please contribute if possible. You can reach Nellie at 721-6827.  If anyone has any craft ideas that we could use for the children’s crafts, please let Nellie know. ROTMOS MASHED TURNIPS AND POTATOES 1 ½ lbs. spareribs      1 ½ lbs. lean pork shoulder 6 cups boiling water                            3 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper             1 tsp. sugar 1 ½ lbs. yellow turnips            1 1/4 lbs. potatoes 1 Tbsp. butter                               2 Tbsp. cream 1.  Add meat to boiling water, cover kettle and           let simmer for ½ hour. 2.  Add salt and pepper and simmer another hour.       Remove meat from stock. 3.  Pare and cut up turnips.  Add to stock  and            boil 15 minutes. 4.  Pare and cut up potatoes.  Add to turnips      and boil with the turnips 30 minutes.  Drain. 5.  Mash turnips and potatoes well. 6.  Add butter, cream, and sugar and beat                   until fluffy. 7.  Put the meat in uncovered roasting pan  and          bake 30 minutes in moderate oven  (350º). Yield: 6 to 8 servings. 1 ½ lbs. spareribs      1 ½ lbs. lean pork shoulder 6 cups boiling water                            3 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper             1 tsp. sugar 1 ½ lbs. yellow turnips            1 1/4 lbs. potatoes 1 Tbsp. butter                               2 Tbsp. cream 1.  Add meat to boiling water, cover kettle and           let simmer for ½ hour. 2.  Add salt and pepper and simmer another hour.       Remove meat from stock. 3.  Pare and cut up turnips.  Add to stock  and            boil 15 minutes. 4.  Pare and cut up potatoes.  Add to turnips      and boil with the turnips 30 minutes.  Drain. 5.  Mash turnips and potatoes well. 6.  Add butter, cream, and sugar and beat                   until fluffy. 7.  Put the meat in uncovered roasting pan  and          bake 30 minutes in moderate oven  (350º). Yield: 6 to 8 servings.