Swedish-American Society
Newsletter, June 1999 Edition President: Leland Peterson 489-7061
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WHEN NEXT WE MEET:
Sunday, June 20, 1999 Ruritan Club, Witchduck Road VALKOMMEN
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5:30 For the Sing Along we will depend on Ted Johnson for our practice of the Sorgasbord specials. This may also be the time for that ancient sentimental favorite of the homesick immigrants, Helsa Dem Dar Hemma, for which Elva Giordano has provided the music with a translation. 5:40 And then into the polka and schottische dancing. If rain threatens, we will set up a dance floor within the building; if the weather is clear, we could clear an area of the parking lot next to the cookout for the dancing. Elva has also provided the music for two of the most popular Swedish American dances ever, a shottische (Johan pa Snippen) and a polka (A Janta A Ja). Steve and Patti Carlson will bring instru-ments and all fiddlers and accordionists should likewise come prepared. Somewhere in our membership we have someone who can provide elementary lessons in the art and joy of the shottische and polka. These dances require much more energy than the elegant ballroom dancing we associate with the Swedish nobility, but the joyous rhythms and foot stompin' precision and singing guarantee a hearty good time for all.. If the truth were known, most of us are of peasant descent though we hear often enough about mysterious connections to Swedish royalty. Apparently excursions of male members of the Swedish royal family to the provinces occasioned the rise of a popular class of merry tales, the jordbrukers dotter. 6:45 The raffle will be held after the dancers have had a chance to recover from their exertions. In May, the raffle yield was more than eighty dollars for the club treasury. We much appreciate the contributions and the participation of the members in this raffle. |
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7:00-7:30 Cleanup this time may involve
bringing furniture from the outside into the storage rooms, so we will need a good number of helpers It is indeed heartening to see the energy that goes into the cleanup after the meeting.
LOST AND FOUND
DIRECTIONS TO OUR MEETINGS
CLUB OFFICERS
OUR ADDRESS ON THE WEB:
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WHEN LAST WE MET
Monthly meeting was held on May 16th. Our president, Leland Peterson, introduced our visitors, Sharon Anderson’s son, and Ted Johnson’s friend Sandy. Preceding the meal at 5:00, as is now customary, Ted Johnson led us in song, which was followed by our Swedish table grace. The meal consisted of Swedish meatballs, meat oaf and an assortment of vegetables. Our dessert included a birthday cake to celebrate the 22nd anniversary of the local Swedish-American Society. At the conclusion of the meal, Nellie took the children to an adjoining room where they made their individually colored mugs. Leland began the business meeting by telling some Swedish jokes. He also recommended a book he had found on Swedish Immigration, “A Community Transplanted”by Robert C. Ostergren. Don Lundquist gave the Treasurer’s report. Plans were discussed for the next meeting. We will have a picnic. Each member is asked to bring their own meat and a side dish. Don Lundquist read a Memorial List of those who had died since 1981. We rose during this time for a prayer and moment of silence. This tribute was in keeping with our Independence Day or Memorial Day celebration this month. Nellie announced that at next month’s meeting the children will be making May Poles and she needs small (tiny) dried flowers. She also asked that we save any oyster shells that we may come across during the summer for the children’s fall project. Leland discussed “A Modest Proposal” to have a raffle beginning in May 2000 for a drawing of $1,000 to fund travel expenses for one person’s two week trip to Sweden. After some discussion, Bob Olson sponsored the motion, and Don Lundquist amended it, that a committee be appointed to study the proposal, and report on it in June. The final report of the committee will be given in Oct. The motion was seconded, voted on and the motion was carried. The meeting concluded with a Sing- Along led by Ted Johnson. There were 40 adults and 7 children in attendance. The meeting was adjourned, followed by the raffle. The program ended at 6:50 p.m., with clean up completed by 7:00 p.m.
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MEMBER NEWS Hans and Margit Thunander have gone to
Don & Joanne Lundquist left on the same plane
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Swedish Folk Dancing
Some of the members may wonder if the
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