International
---- Foundation Director
Cindy Olson

Our passion is the Norwegian heritage and culture:

In the last decade or so the SON Foundation has
awarded over $900,000 in 400 grants and 2,000 scholarships.
That is the good news.

Our challenge is to provide grants to qualified applicants:
At present we do not fulfill that obligation:

For every grant and scholarship awarded
Eight qualified applicants do not receive funding,
yet they are also qualified.

1. Embracing our Norwegian heritage

a. By underwriting cross-cultural experiences through general heritage and culture grants.
b. By promoting Norwegian culture opportunities and support of the arts.
c. By sponsoring Norwegian festivals, guest lecturers and community events through local lodge partnership grants.

2. Helping our communities

a. We support Sons of Norway initiatives through "Helping Hands to Children Grants"
that include:

• Adopt A School,
• Barnas Norsk Klubb,
• heritage campus,
• children's heritage programming.

b. Outreach programs that include:

• Ski for Light (teaching the visually and mobility impaired to cross-country ski),
• USA Cup soccer tournaments,
• Norwegian Home Guard,
• National Guard troop exchange.

3. Creating study and research opportunities through scholarships and grants

a. Scholarships, for children or grandchildren of current SON members:

• King Olav V Norwegian-American Heritage Studies
  (may be repeated twice in 5 years), $1,000 - $5,000.
• Oslo International Summer School (2 awarded per year), $1,500.
• Astrid G. Cates/Myrtle Beinhauer Scholarship Fund (may be repeated twice in 5 years), 6 @ $1,000, and 2 @ $3,000.
• Nancy Lorraine Jensen Memorial Scholarship (for women only; may receive up to 3 awards), $4,000 - $14,000
• New: Helen Tronvold Norwegian Folk High School Scholarship (number varies), $2,000.

b. Grants:

• General Heritage and Culture, up to $3,000, available to lodges and individuals
  Cross-cultural exchanges of musicians, folkdancers, bands, artists, cultural skills, preservation projects
• Local Lodge Partnership Grants, matching fund grants up to $1,000
  Cultural programs, hosting visiting groups, community events, etc.

4. SON Foundation Humanitarian Fund was established in 1997

• Assistance for victims of natural disasters (floods, wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes).
• Our lodge received fund after the Flood of 1997.
• Members in Stoughton, WI, whose homes were destroyed received assistance.

Local Lodge By-laws

Article I

1. The name of this lodge shall be: ____________________________________, No. _________, Sons of Norway. City_____________________________ State/Province___________________ District _____________

2. Regular Meetings shall be held at such time and place as the Lodge itself shall determine. Special meetings may be called in accordance with the Constitution and By-laws of Sons of Norway.

Article II

Membership, Qualifications and Privileges

1. To become a member of Sons of Norway, the applicant must possess requirements outlined in the Constitution.
Membership in the lodge is effective immediately upon ONE of the following (check one):
o payment of dues; or
o affirmative vote of the lodge.

2. The Membership shall consist of insurance and non-insurance members either of whom may be Life, Golden, or Honorary members in accordance with the Constitution.

3. LIFE MEMBERSHIP shall be extended to all members who were 65 years of age or older, and who had been members in good standing in the Society for 30 years or more by 01/01/1999.

4. GOLDEN Membership shall be extended after 01/01/1999 to all members who are 65 years of age or older, and who have been members in good standing in the Society for 30 years or more.

5. All members shall enjoy equal privileges, except that only those with insurance shall have the right to vote on matters concerning insurance.

6. AFFILIATE MEMBERSHIP. Members possessing a current membership card of a different lodge may petition for affiliate membership. Affiliate members shall pay local lodge dues directly to the treasurer. Affiliate members may not vote within the lodge for, or become, district or convention delegates from this lodge and are not counted in the member totals for determining representation.

Article III

Fees and Dues

1. The Initiation Fee for insurance members and Junior Lodge members shall be waived; for members without insurance, the initiation fee shall be $_______.

2. The local lodge dues shall be $_______/$_______ (spouse) per year, plus an additional amount representing the District and International Dues. Local dues for members age 16-23 shall be $_______, plus an additional amount representing the District and International Dues.

3. Life Members are exempt from payment of International and District dues and are/are not exempt from payment of local lodge dues, which are collected by the local lodge.

4. GOLDEN Members are billed by International headquarters for 50% of International and District dues and are/are not exempt from payment of local lodge dues. The local lodge dues shall be $______per year.

5. No fee shall be charged for issuance of a transfer card nor for membership by transfer.

11/01/04

Article IV

Good Standing

1. A member who is in arrears 120 days in the payment of dues shall not be eligible for any benefits of the Lodge, and shall be subject to suspension in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Constitution.

2. A MEMBER who pays all back dues and assessments shall be reinstated effective with their original date of membership.

Article V

Lodge Funds

1. Appropriations to defray the running expenses of the Lodge shall require only a simple majority vote for adoption. Other appropriations from the Lodge funds shall require a two-thirds majority of votes cast for adoption.

2. The Lodge shall maintain one or more funds. The General Fund shall be used to defray the running expenses of the Lodge.

3. The Financial Officers of the Lodge are covered by a blanket position bond, as provided in the Constitution, with a deductible for each claim, which surety bond is maintained by the Home Office, in accordance with the Constitution.

4. THE LODGE elects (choose one) a. to retain the positions of Financial Secretary and Treasurer with duties as described in the relevant sections of the Charter and Constitutions of Sons of Norway, o

OR

b. to have a Membership Secretary whose duties are as specified in the Charter and Constitutions of Sons of Norway and a Treasurer whose duties are as described in the Charter and Constitutions of Sons of Norway. o

5. The Lodge shall participate in the mandatory liability insurance for District and Local Lodges as secured by the International Headquarters. This insurance does not cover lodge-owned real estate or buildings, or liquor liability claims.

Article VI

Changes in and Approval of By-laws

1. These By-laws may be repealed or amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the members present and voting, provided that such By-law changes were presented in writing and read at the prior meeting of the Lodge.

2. These By-laws, and any changes thereto, shall become effective upon approval by the International Headquarters.

3. The By-laws of this Lodge are subject to the terms and conditions contained in the Charter and Constitution of the International Lodge of Sons of Norway.

Date Adopted: ________ day of _________________________________, 20____.

Names of By-Law Committee:

Signed:_____________________________________ President

Signed:_____________________________________ Secretary

Sons of Norway

These by-laws approved on the ________ day of ________________________, 20____.

By:_________________________________________Chief Executive Officer

By:_________________________________________ Legal Counsel

11/0104