If you have an interest in Scandinavia or Scandinavian culture, you are most welcome to visit our lodge or a lodge near you. You need not be of Norwegian descent to visit or join. To find a lodge near you, under "About Us" tab on the Sons of Norway's website, go to Lodge Directory by Map, or else by Zip Code or City, State.
Stein Fjell Lodge meets on the second Saturday of each month -- except July and August -- at Zion Lutheran Church, 815 E 16th Street, Loveland. Our meetings include cultural programs and socializing while enjoying light refreshments. Posten is our newsletter and is published each month that we meet. You can visit us virtually on Facebook. We look forward to meeting you and spending an afternoon together!
MEETINGS
December 14: Stein Fjell Juletrefest (Christmas Tree Party) Potluck, 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., Zion Church.Come and celebrate the holidays with us at Zion! Bring a dish to share for our potluck (last name A-M = main dish or salad, N-Z = main dish or dessert), plus carol singing around the tree, activities for the children, making lefse with Rebekah, and shopping butikken (cash sales only). Plan to bring your children and grandchildren to this celebration. Please RSVP (number in party and number of kids) by December 9th, to Sandy B. by phone or email. Mange takk.
December 15: Woodworking Club, 1 p.m., at Vicki J.'s home.Continue chip carving Christmas ornaments.
December 21: Lefse Open House at Ginger K.'s home, 4-8 p.m. Ginger’s daughter writes: “As Christmas approaches, I want to formally invite anyone from Sons of Norway that might be interested to join us for a Lefse Open House on December 21st. Feel free to drop by anytime from 4:00 to 8:00pm. We will have snacks and will be making lefse, of course.”
January 3, 2025: Rosemaling Level 1 Class, 2-5 p.m., Zion Church. Join us for a beginning level class, taught by Rebekah Strand. Learn basic strokes and complete two pieces. No experience required. $25/person (all supplies included). Register by Sunday, December 22nd. Complete online registration form or contact Jane Strand. Class limited to 20 participants.
January ?, 2025: Stein Fjell Book Club, location tbd. We will be discussing Madhouse at the End of the Earth by Julian Sancton. According to The New York Times, an "exquisitely researched and deeply engrossing" true survival story of an early polar expedition that went terribly awry -- with the ship frozen in ice and the crew trapped inside for the entire sunless, Antarctic winter. To join or get more information, please email JoAnn K.
January 11, 2025: Stein Fjell 49th Anniversary Celebration, Luncheon, and Meeting, Noon - 2 p.m., Zion Church. We will be entertained by My Experiences at Camp Norge by Elliott Holm-Johansen and Musical Accompaniments. Indulge in a baked potato bar with a tasty variety of toppings including chili, cheese, sour cream, and salsa, with some pickled herring on the side, in addition to birthday cupcakes. Drinks provided. Kids eat free, the rest of us pay $10. RSVP by January 7th to Vicki J. by text or call at 970.227.1830.
NOTABLE
LOCAL EVENTS:
December 6: Rowdy Geirsson Book Signing Event, 5-7 p.m., MeadKrieger Meadery , 452 N Washington, Loveland. The author of The Scandinavian Aggressors and the translator of The Impudent Edda, his writing has appeared in Scandinavian Review and the Sons of Norway's Viking Magazine. He's also a regular contributor to McSweeney's Internet Tendency and a slew of other humor websites.
December 18: Dr. Jackson Crawford, 6:30-8 p.m., MeadKrieger Meadery, 452 N. Washington, Loveland. Tickets required. Limited seating. A renowned scholar, and author and an expert in all things Norse, Dr. Crawford will “continue his educational and entertaining series on Norse myth, language and culture.”
If you missed the Vesterheim Museum presentation Sacred Symbols: The Folk Art of Norway, arranged by District Six, you can use this link (https://sofn6.org/vesterheim-sacred-symbols/) to reuest access to the recording.
December 31: Deadline for Sons of Norway Foundation grants The applications do take some time to complete, so be sure to allow ample time. Grants are issued in spring 2025. Questions can be directed to foundation@sofn.com.
Either January 15 or February 15, 2025: Deadlines for Sons of Norway Scholarhips. The applications do take some time to complete, so be sure to allow ample time. Scholarhips are issued in summer 2025 for the 2025-26 academic year. Questions can be directed to foundation@sofn.com. From the Sons of Norway website:
Calling all students and those who want to expand their horizons. Applications are now open for the 16 scholarship funds offered by the Sons of Norway Foundation. There are a variety of scholarships so login to sofn.com, click on the Foundations tab, select Scholarships and then study the options and start the application process. Deadlines for scholarships are either 1/15/25 or 2/15/25 depending on the fund so pay close attention.
Don't forget Sons of Norway Foundation hosts humanitarian grants for our members. These disaster relief and medical aid grants are here to provide assistance to our members in times of great need. These applications are considered on a rolling basis. To learn more, select Grants under the Foundation tab on sofn.com.
STEIN FJELL BOOK CLUB: Meets every other month to discuss a book relating in some way to Scandinavia. To join or for more information, email JoAnn K.
STEIN FJELL WOODWORKING CLUB: Usually meets at 1 p.m. at Vicki's home the day after our lodge meeting, but be aware that sometimes the date changes! Current projects include chip carving Christmas ornaments.
STEIN FJELL GENEALOGY GROUP: Have you ever wondered about those thousands, even millions, of people that had to live and produce families so that you are here today? Join our Genealogy Group to share stories, resources, and motivation.
ONLINE NORDIC VENDOR DIRECTORY: Looking for a new Norwegian sweater, a heart-shaped waffle iron, or help planning a special trip to Scandinavia? The Norwegian American has a nationwide directory resource -- NorwegianAmercian.com/Nordic-Vendor-Directory
CAMP NORGE NEWSLETTER, CAMP CONNECTION: Keep up on the latest news from Camp Norge, 46 forested acres in the mountains at Alta, California. The camp is open to all Sons of Norway members for day-use, overnight stays, and special events. Find out about the Hygge Hus Campaign and more!
CAMP NORGE CENTURY CLUB: Support Camp Norge by joining Century Club and contributing $10 a month. Every year half of the funds raised by the Century Club go directly to camp maintenance projects while the other half is set aside to build an endowment – meaning that your donation to the Century Club will help make an impact for generations to come!
NORGE NÅ: The Royal Norwegian Embassy's newsletter covers the latest developments at the Embassy and in Norway. Click on the link to see previous editions. There also is a wealth of information available on the site (menu box, upper right corner) in addition to social media account links and how to become a subscriber. It is published biweekly.
CROSSINGS WEBSITE LAUNCHED: The site will serve as the virtual communications hub for the bicentennial of the Norwegian migration to North America, to be commemorated in 2025. Visit crossings.norwegianamerican.com for historical context, upcoming events, and to subscribe to the official Crossings newsletter. The website is hosted by The Norwegian American. (Text used with permission from The Norwegian American)
SAVE THE DATE
January 26-February 2, 2025: Ski for Light International Week, Provo, Utah
February 21, 2025: Ski-In 2025, 9 a.m. - 9 p.m., at Ski Cooper/Chicago Ridge,232 County Road 29, Leadville. Hosted by Erik Brun and the 99th Infantry Battalion (Separate) - WWII Norwegian Americans. An annual tradition hosted by the 10th Mountain Division Descendants since 1976. Skiing, snowsports, and history are highlighted during this event at this authentic Colorado ski resort with all-natural snow and a family-friendly vibe.
February 22, 2025: Barneløpet (Children's Cross-country Ski Race), Snow Mountain Ranch YMCA Nordic Center, Granby CO Organized by the Colorado Sons of Norway lodges. Come with your children and grandchildren so that fun in the snow on skinny skis becomes part of their childhood memories. Spend the weekend at the YMCA and enjoy ice skating and tubing, etc. as well!
Come to volunteer and help make this special event possible. There are many ways to help: setting up the course, being a course marshal, helping with food, etc. Join us in the snow -- you will find the children’s enthusiasm quite delightful! For registration, or to volunteer, go to barnelopet.com. More info next month
February 26, 2025: Vesterheim Museum Zoom Presentation, 7 p.m. MT - In trunks, Hands, and Hearts: What Norwegian Immigrants Brought to the United States. Arranged by District Six, you may join this live Zoom presentation from your home via computer or smart phone, invite a group of friends for a watch party, or organize a watch party at your Lodge. We are limited by the number of connections (computers), not the number of viewers, so watch parties will allow more participants. If you are not able to atend the live presentation, a recording will be made available.
Speaker: Jennifer Kovarik, Collection Manager
Program: Between 1825 and 1980, nearly one million Norwegians left for new lives in America. Consider the reasons for leaving, what they brought, and where they settled. Explore the immigrant experience through stories associated with artifacts in Vesterheim’s collection.
Request Zoom link here: https://sofn6.org/vesterheim-trunks-hands-hearts/
June 18 - 22, 2025: Crossings and Connections conference. The Norwegian-American Historical Association (NAHA), Det norsk-amerikanske historielaget i Norge (NAHA-Norge), the Norwegian Teachers and Researchers Association of North America (NORTANA), and the Norwegian Dept. at St. Olaf College will co-host a conference commemorating 200 years of Norwegian migration to/from North America. A variety of experiences will appeal to scholars and researchers of Norwegian migration as well as the general public, including Norwegian-American music, dance, and historic sites. For more information as it is available, including registration, lodging, pre- and post-conference excursions, use the Calendar tab at crossings.norwegianamerican.com.
October 9, 2025: Arrival of a replica of the sloop Restauration at New York City, repeating the original voyage from Stavanger, Norway in 1825, to celebrate the bicentennial of the Norwegian migration to North America. (Photo: Used with permission, The Norwegian American.)