From the chair - pat bellingham

Svea Lodge is starting the year with wonderful activities, dedicated members, new members, and a renewed sense of our purpose; bringing the Scandinavian culture to our community.  There is a lot happening so you'll need to visit our website often to keep up!

One of those activities is BOWLING at Greengarden Lanes on Sunday, April 13th 1PM.  Contact Kathy Williams or register here under Events so that she can reserve the lanes.  

As part of our membership perks, each family receives a copy of the The Vasa North Star, published by Nordstjernan, a Swedish American Newspaper.  It is published for us 4 times per year.  Individuals may also subscribe to the Nordstjernan for monthly subscriptions.  You can learn lots of cool information about happenings in Scandinavia.  For example, in the latest issue of the Nordstjernan there was an article about a miniature Swedish red cottage placed on the surface of the moon.   It is the first site specific artwork on the moon.  For more info, see www.themoonhouse.se.  You'll also learn that in Sweden, it is forbidden to throw textiles in household waste.   As of the first of the year, textiles will be collected by municipalities for recycling.  I wonder if that includes your unmentionables?

Svea has always prided itself in being a benevolent society.  Over the years we have contributed to Bethany Outreach Center, Erie City Mission, SOAP Project (Saving Our Adolescents from Prostitution), St. Patrick's Haven, and many others.  In addition, we are putting a new initiative in place that will benefit our own members.  Perhaps someone just needs an extra bit to help pay for medicine this month, or could use a gas card.  The request for $25/member can be made to Cathy Beck or Karen Lundwall.  Other than making the request to one of these ladies, all inquiries will remain anonymous.  Their report will only include when and for what the aid was given.  Presently, we have $205 in our fund, if you would like to contribute to this cause, it would be appreciated.  What we don't have is a catchy name that would help define our mission for our members.  If you come up with something clever, let me know!

Sov I Ro - Nobel-Monitor member and long time friend of many Svea members, Karen Chilcote, passed away on February 19th after a battle with cancer.  She served Nobel-Monitor and District #9 for many years and will be sadly missed.

Stay warm and be kind to your neighbors, they're freezing too!

Pat

Local Lodge Svea #296 meets on the third Sunday of the month at Luther Memorial Church, 225 West 10th Street, Erie, PA for general business meetings.  General meetings include a short cultural program and of course, Fika!   From May - August our meetings involve cultural activities in various community locations. We celebrate Walpurgis, Midsummer, Kraftskiva, Leif Erickson Day, and Santa Lucia Festival of Light.  The Mission of Vasa Order of America is to promote our Scandinavian heritage.  Our Order does not conflict with religious beliefs or common law - ALL are welcome!