GREETINGS FRA PRESIDENT:

I wish everyone a very Happy New Year and a prosperous 2012 ! We had a great turnout at our Christmas Party in December with 98 people attending and all enjoyed a good potluck supper!

Congratulations to the raffle winners!

Gyda Varden has lots of fun things planned for the coming year and we hope to see everyone at the next meeting or special function!

Godt Nytaar!

Med vennlig hilsen,
Cory Lien, President

LODGE HISTORY:
June 22, 1903 the Varden Lodge of Sønner av Norge was founded. "Varden" means "beacon" or "lookout," and is also a masculine name."Gyda" is the ninth century princess who first had a vision of a united kingdom of Norway. The Gyda Døtre av Norge was established two years later in 1905. The Gyda Lodge merged with the Varden Lodge in 1951, to be known as The Gyda Varden Lodge #21. See the Centennial web page (klikk på mus å se HUNDREÅRSDAG siden).

VIKING MAGAZINE ONLINE:
Flip though digital versions of Viking, from November 2009 to the current issue. On the Sons of Norway home page , click on Viking Magazine Online. Be sure to log in as a member to view the whole issue.

FUND RAISING:
Through fund-raising projects, lefse baking, and the fantastic support of members and the community, Gyda Varden has engaged in unlimited cultural, social, and charitable activities. Each June an impressive service is conducted to honor the memory of departed members. Within our lodge a sunshine committee seeks to cheer the sick and bereaved with flowers or a sympathy card. If you hear about a member in the hospital or a death in a family, please notify Deb Meuwissen at 701 740-3428
Or at robertmeuwissen@gra.midco.net.

Gyda Varden contributes through fundraisers sponsored by the Sons of Norway Foundation, and has benefited from the Humanitarian Fund, which began in 1997 in response to the Red River Flood.
---1. Disaster relief.
---2. Outreach grants for the lodge.
------------ (see Officers page)
---3. Scholarships for
Norwegian-American education exchange.
------------(see Jr. Lodge page)

Gyda Varden is looking forward to providing aid for the handicapped by supporting the TUBFRIM PROJECT. E-mail John Schaffer to receive credit. --Klikk på mus or or for information.

With your used phone cards& stamps the lodge provides medical aid for children in Norway because we give them a "new" value. "Several hundred handicapped children benefit from the fund raised by TUBFRIM -- every year!"

TUBFRIM was established in Nesbyen in 1928. Postmaster Ditlef Frantzen took the initiative to collect and sell used stamps to fund a better quality of life for handicapped children and youth and to support tuberculosis research.

The Gyda Varden Lodge supports many other commitments, including Trollfjorden Language Camp, a scrapbook, and the Nordic Initiative, among others.

May 17 everyone is invited to celebrate Syttende mai at the Gyda Varden Lodge. Noon Lunch: 11 am -2 pm we'll be serving smorbrød, rømmegrøt, lefse, søtsuppe, riskem, bløtkake, flatbrød. Afternoon coffee: 2 pm - 4 pm and entertainers will be performing.

- LODGE MEETINGS:-
- (see calendar) We invite you to come to a lodge meeting. Through the years, lodge members have discovered intangible friendships fostered when enjoying traditional Norwegian activities together, including: literature and history -- Norsk Lese Lag (book club), Norwegian language classes, rosemaling, wood carving, genealogy research, ethnic programs, pancake breakfasts, chili suppers, corn feeds, lefse baking, bløtkake demonstrations, pot-luck meals, tours, and celebrations. The meetings contain some business content, but also some youth-oriented cultural and social events.

In recent years the lodge has developed a Sister-Lodge friendship with a lodge in Lillehammer, Norway. The BIRKEBEINER Lodge adopted the Birkebeiner name being that a long-distance cross-country ski marathon starts at Rena and ends at Lillehammer near their lodge. The Birkebeinerrennet is one of three races held under the Birkebeiner moniker, the other two being Birkebeinerrittet (bicycling) and Birkebeinerløpet (cross-country running).

In addition, on October 10, 2005, Grand Forks City established a sister Sister City Agreement with the city of Sarpsborg, Norway.


With a bit of joy & vanity, Gyda Varden hopes you will join with us and celebrate the heritage and culture of Norway and other Nordic countries around the North Sea. We think of each member, as when one thinks of a brother who has been lost and forgotten but found again in discovering a beautiful source of identity. If you are not a member of Sons of Norway we hope that after seeing all of the activities we offer you will consider joining our organization.

Click to hear the Norwegian National Anthem. ( klikk på mus).

- - - - Ha en god dag! -