Henrik Ibsen lodge was founded in 1908 and the beloved Henrik Ibsen Park, our beautiful Kings

Mountain retreat, was purchased in April 1923. Today both

are still thriving and going strong because of the active involvement and heartfelt contributions of so
many good people over the years. This month I hope
that many of you will continue that tradition and join
us at 2 important and fun Lodge events.
First up on Friday, April 22nd is our 108th Annual
Anniversary and Awards banquet. That night we will
celebrate our rich history, honor long time members,
dine well, see old friends, make new friends and maybe even get out on the dance floor a few times.
On the following two days (April 23 & 24) quite a
few of us will head up to Kings Mountain for another
kind of party..a good old fashioned community
barn raising work party to get Henrik Ibsen Park
ready for the 2016 summer season. There will be
lots of projects for all skill-sets and ages; brush clearing, painting, cleaning, carpentry, gardening and
more. We hope to see as many of you as possible. And for our newer members, this is a great way
to get to know everyone, so come on down! A delicious lunch and the gratitude of your fellow members
will be provided.

Lodge work party at Henrik Ibsen Park - early/mid 1920s. FYI - Hats,
ties, suit-vests and/or formal ballgowns will not be required at out upcoming HIP work weekend on the 23rd & 24th. T-shirts and jeans will
be just fine!

Lodge/Park Calendar of Events

April:
22nd
Fri

23rd & 24th Sat/Sun HIP Work Weekend #1

9am-5pm Henrik Ibsen Park, Kings Mountain

May:

21st & 22nd Sat/Sun

HIP Work Weekend #2 9am5pm
Henrik Ibsen Park, Kings Mountain

27th
Fri

Dovre Hall Annual Meeting 6p *Prior to

Business Meeting
Lodge Meeting, Beef Short Rib Dinner &
Cultural Program Brotherhood Masonic Ctr
855 Brotherhood Way, San Francisco

I look forward to seeing you at both parties!

March Meeting: Tusen Takk to the Lighthouse String
band for their great music and to Jeanette Holt, Joy
Gundersen and Zoe Running for their help in making
this such an enjoyable evening.
Hilsen, John
1

HIL 108th Anniversary Banquet6:30p

Brotherhood Masonic Center
855 Brotherhood Way, San Francisco

June:
4th
Sat

HIP Opening Dinner5pm

Henrik Ibsen Park, Kings Mountain

Monthly meetings are held the 4th Friday of every month, 7:00 p.m.
Business Meeting, 7:30 p.m. Dinner & Social (unless otherwise noted)
855 Brotherhood Way, San Francisco

April 2016 Henrik Ibsen Lodge 6-007 Sons of Norway San Francisco, California

Anniversary
Awards

April Birthdays
To Be Presented
Camille Ronneberg
Kurt Tibor Tomozy
Peggy Lynn Shomaker
Stephen Bernhaud Soma
Liv Asbo
Monica Marsh
John Ole Ronneberg
Borre B Ulrichsen
Julian N Francis
Muriel s Lundquist
Rachel Leanna Tung
Helen F Sobol
Rebecca M valasco
Yvonne M Sylvia
Christian Olsen-Synoradzki
Haakon Freed Thorsen
Brody Ward
Elaine A Bodnar
Ragnhild Thoreid
Nicole Lillyann Soult
Sheldon B Lent
Don Robinson
Graeson Fee
Karl P Mittelstadt
Robert B Moriarty
Alice Asvitt
Meagan Marie Tunheim
Frances Louise Wentker

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10
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15
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19
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20
20
23
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26
27
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30
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Announcement
The Annual Meeting of Dovre Hall will take
place Friday May 27, 2016 at 6p prior to the
regular business meeting

April 22, 2016

70 Year Awards
Ronneberg, Camille

Scott, Victoria

60 Year Awards
Ellingensen, Kenneth

Kristiansen, Jane

50 Year Award
Hanson, Arnold

Golden Members
Tunheim, Richard

Westermark, George

40 Year Awards
Becker, Esther
Doving, Raymond
Piestrup, Melvin

DeMello, Galen
McCormick, Ann

25 Year Award
Anderson, Robert
Bye, Joakim
Fleming, Jeffrey
Gerhardt, Donald
Kvarna, Elizabeth
Maher, Stephen
Omodt, Kurt
Wolf, Kim

Bishop, William
Collins, Maren
Fleming, Michael
Gerhardt, Doris
Kvarna, Terje
Mittlestadt, Laurie
Tunheim, Robert

Do you have an article, event , pictures, etc.

youd like to submit?
Please send to:
Diane: synergybc@gmail.com and/or
Erdmann: erdegeo@yahoo.com
Deadline: 20th of the month

Henrik Ibsen Park, 13800 Skyline Blvd, Woodside, CA, (650) 851-9999 (summer weekends only)

GAUKMESSE
We hope your cuckoo clock is not hanging on the north wall at your house, nor
that you hear one from the north direction, especially on Gaukmesse!

As we approach Gaukmesse on May 1, also known as Valbordagen or Lille

Gangdagen, we surely can feel the warmer times of summer approaching and get
giddy that we finally can walk barefoot once we hear the cuckoo sing. However, it is important to
know from which direction the cuckoos song is coming from as this will foretell how your close
future will be. As a farmer that was an important matter in the Old Days. A Sgjg cuckoos song
(from the South) meant grains will be sown in good weather. Viljegjk (from the West) means all
your wishes will come true. Liljegjk (from the East) means a happy marriage or proposition is on
the way. However, Ngjk (from the North) foreshadowed disease and death. On the night before
the Gaukmesse people in many of the villages in Norway would light a candle and carry it over the
fields while taking omens for the year.
When exactly the tradition started is not quite clear; however, it most likely goes back to Viking
times. Snorri Sturleson called it already Gaukmesse in his Prose Edda and it is certainly linked to
gaukmnadr, the first summer month in the Viking calendar. With the advent of Christianity Gaukmesse became a celebration for the apostles Philip and James and a double cross was placed on the
altar in the churches.
Regardless, of the Viking or Christian traditions, the farmers throughout the centuries did pay attention to the weather around this time of the year in order to guess when to best sow their oats. Any
signs that could provide hope for a good harvest later in the year were welcome. So, listening to
what elves, huldres, ncks and trolls are whispering while you are walking with your friends over
the fields with candles in your hands might provide you some clues. Surely you hope that on the
night before the Gaukmesse the land wights are having a feast and are celebrating the spring time
ahead, so you can have a fantastic summer, too; and maybe as the morning rises the cuckoo will be
singing from the South, from the West or from the East.

An ancient Gaukmesse stab used for celebrations on

May 1. As you can see it has a cuckoo on it, too!

Please join the lodge in sending prayers and

well wishes to:
Condolences to Bonnie Anderson and family
on the passing of her brother Bruce Trygstad.
Belated condolences to friends and family of
Ingrid Husdal who passed away this last year
after moving to Norway. Ingrid would have
received her 50 year award this year.

Norwegian Seamans Church Events

In case you have not been, the church offers a Juniorklubb
for children 6-12 (Apr 12, May 10), on Sunday 11am Norwegian Services, a dinner for students and au pairs on May
5th, and an upcoming 11am Swedish service on May 8.
Other highlights include:
May 1st: At 1 PM Gro Eirin Dyrnes, the leader
of Innovation House, Norway in Palo Alto will give an introduction about their work; directed by Nordmannsforbundet
May 14th: From 1 3.30 PM Annual 17th of May picnic at
Fort Miley, Lands End. An open picnic for every Norwegian in the Bay Area. Food, Games, Parades, Speeches and
tradidional songs
May 17th: At 6 PM At church A formal celebration of
Constitutional Day

Want to know more about Silicon Valleys Nordic Innovation House: www.nordicinnovationhouse.com They have
a great Facebook page, too.

And a big thank you to the mysterious and

generous Easter Bunny who very early on
Easter Sunday left chocolate filled Easter
eggs in front of every single cabin at Henrik
Ibsen Park.

Did you miss the Norwegian movie The Wave at Embarcadero Theatre last month? Well, you can catch the hit
Norwegian crime thriller TV show, Occupied, now on
Netflix. Created by best-selling crime writer Jo Nesb, it
is subtitled in English.

Tusen takk Pskehare!

If you know of someone in need of get well wishes, please contact Louise Mosness (775-203-0801) cmosness@att.net

Springing into Summer at HIP 2016

Happy Spring to you all! The rainy winter has brought
back to life so much greenery and the Park looks beautiful! Now is the time we prepare for a great summer season. Our first clean up will be likely concluded by the
time you read this, but our second clean up weekend will
be held May 21-22. Please join us to pull a few weeds,
sweep, wash plates for summer dinners and share some
fellowship and food. Please remember we are an all volunteer group and even an hour or 2 of your time matters. We have jobs big and small and your service to the
lodge and park help keep our membership Viking Strong!
Opening dinner will be held June 4th, so kindly watch for
the Flyers, and respond by the dates requested so we can
accommodate all attendees . I will be posting a few question & answer items this summer and also keeping the
members updated on money raised and how we are using
those funds. The dance hall and kitchen have all new
heating systems this spring. Special thanks to Len Jacobson for all his time and effort given to get this job done.
Rather than take any compensation for a small part of his
big effort, Len chose to donate the money back to the
park to be used on more work to be done in the dancehall. Mange Takk Len Jacobson! Dave T, also donated his
time for electrical work on this project with Len, again
gentleman, THANK YOU! Money from the children's
fund last summer, allowed us to purchase a new Norwegian flag bean bag toss, lawn dice, and a few other outdoor games for all to enjoy this summer. The dressing
rooms at the clubhouse and bathrooms, have been steam
cleaned and have a few new Viking items to start off the
season. The pool is getting tuned up and ready for summer cannon balls & Jack knife's..SPLASH ..Thanks to Jeff
Fleming and Vibs for getting the pool ready for all our
enjoyment!
QUESTION :. How much of your membership fee actually gets to be used at Henrik Ibsen Park? Answer:
NONE...those fee's do not aide the park or its facilities .
When you pay to swim, when you rent for an event,
when you eat one of our delicious meals or shakes, as
well as funds from residential leases after expenses, is
how we keep money available to keep improving and
maintaining Henrik Ibsen Park. So please order that extra
shake or burger or join us for a summer dinner. Your
support keeps this beautiful place moving forward and
improving one project and over a Century of time.
Gratitude in service,
Maren Collins

Henrik Ibsen Lodge Board Members

President
John Ronneberg
Vice President
Vicki Running
Counselor
John Conlan
Treasurer
Larisa Holt
Financial Secretary
Jeannette Holt
Secretary
Warren Anderson
Asst. Secretary
Bonnie Anderson
Social Director
Sara Skokan
Trustee
Jeff Fleming
Trustee
Vibeke Gade
Trustee
Laurie Mittelstadt
Marshall
Ron Tunheim
Asst. Marshall
Zoe Running
Youth Director
Ross Tunheim
Eden Washburn
Signal Mgr.
Erdmann Rogge
Publicity Director
Vacant
Sports Director
Jens Francis
Historian
Norman Ronneberg
Asst. Historian
Lynn Nichols
Signal Editor
Diane Acevedo
Email: synergybc@gmail.com
Foundation Dir.
Bob Wright
Sunshine
Louise Mosness
Email: cmosness@att.net
Cultural Dir.
By Committee
Tubfrim Chairman
Vibeke Gade
Adopt-a-school
pending
Membership Chairman Vicki Running
Musician
Bob Anderson

Surf the web.

415-518-1704
650-248-9636
415-664-4627
415-361-1937
650-588-0727
415-334-0308
415-334-0308
650-200-8081
650-369-0406
650-851-1912
650-274-8520
650-529-1891
650-851-4065

Camp Norge
www.campnorge.org
Sons of Norway
www.sofn.com
District 6
http://sofn6.org/

650-851-8509
415-710-0171
415-254-8313
510-333-4705
650-851-7815
650-996-0905
650-851-1912
775-203-0801

650-851-1912
650-248-9636

Henrik Ibsen Park Board

President
Maren Collins
916-599-0586
Email: 4markings44
Vice President
Vicki Fleming
650-867-4454
Email: missvicann@aol.com
Treasurer
Laurie Mittelstadt
650-274-8520
Secretary
Jens Francis
415-254-3813
Email: jens.francis@faultlinegroup.com
Member
Dave Tensfeldt
650-208-9162
Email: bigdt@comcast.net
Member
Len Jacobson
650-743-4209
Email: ljacobson9999@yahoo.com
Member
Jack Simensen
415-504-8203
Email: kiaprop@aol.com
Member
Warren Anderson
415334-0308
Member
Kathy Smallman
650-592-2796 x 102
Email: Kathy@smallmanconstruction.com
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This information is for official Sons of Norway business use only. Use of this information for solicitation or commercial purposes is a
violation of the Sons of Norway privacy policy and is strictly prohibited.

Newsletter information deadline 20th of each month

THE SIGNAL
HENRIK IBSEN LODGE
SONS OF NORWAY
Business Manager
767 Sixth Ave. #1
San Francisco, CA 94118

FIRST-CLASS MAIL
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
SAN MATEO, CA
PERMIT NO. 827

Years

The mission of Sons of Norway is to promote and

to preserve the heritage and culture of Norway,
to celebrate our relationship with our Nordic countries
and to provide quality insurance and
financial products to its members.
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