HIGHLIGHTS
Over two hundred fifty plus Daughters of Norway sisters began converging on the newly renovated and glass art filled Hotel Murano in downtown Tacoma, Washington on Wednesday, July 16, with suitcases of Norwegian sweaters, garment bags holding bunader, boxes of crafts, scrapbooks, banners, handwork for display and sale, and a great enthusiasm for Celebrating Our Future and the Centennial of Daughters of Norway. The hostesses were the members of Embla Lodge #2, who celebrated their Centennial in 2007. Janet Ruud and Lisa Ottoson chaired the Convention Committee.
DAY ONE: Thursday
Class/Cultural Day on Thursday found everyone in the hotel’s Bicentennial Pavilion, for the many and varied individual lodge display and sales tables. Grand Lodge had information tables for prospective members, the upcoming cruise in September 2009, and the new Endowment Fund.
Many members took time out from helping at the tables and browsing the items for sale to attend one or more of the many classes, trying their hand at rosemaling or hardangerstrøm (embroidery), preparing several musical numbers with the Convention Chorus, learning about Norway, or dabbing away a tear or two while watching the exciting and touching documentary film Through Hell and High Water about the British navy's rescue of Norwegian citizens in hiding in North Norway in the waning days of WWII.
There was barely time to change clothes and have a bite to eat before heading off to the Opening Reception and Auction. Competition for silent auction items was intense through the greetings, introductions, two songs by the Convention Chorus and music by Nordic Exposure. The refreshments included kransekake. Then a fast-moving live auction was conducted by a professional auctioneer. Everyone departed with the many fine items that Embla Lodge had gathered from local merchant.
DAY TWO: Friday
Friday’s business meeting opened with a dramatic call from a lur, and a procession of bunad-clad delegates with lodge banners, flags, and Grand Lodge officers, accompanied by Hardanger fiddle music. The organization's official anthem, We’re Proud to be Daughters of Norway, was led by Eileen Bianchi, the composer, and Convention Musician. Eileen kept us singing at every break in the business.
President Carol Kemp ably ran the business meeting, which included reports, discussion and voting on constitutional amendments; on Friday afternoon, a memorial service was conducted by Chaplain Nina Kurrle, remembering all sisters who had passed away in the two years since the last convention.
The Friday luncheon ended with a fast-paced fashion show of beautiful garments and blankets by Oleana of Norway , and presented by the Gig Harbor boutique, Chalet in the Woods.
At the close of business Friday, the entire group assembled on the main lobby staircase of the hotel after the meeting adjourned for the day for a group photo by the official convention photographer, Jim Seiber. Jim was around all three days taking pictures, and you are enjoying some of them accompanying this article.
Friday evening’s Hot Night at the Museum of Glass gave the attendees a chance to see a wide range of the glass art that Tacoma has become known for and enjoy the tasty cuisine available at various stations in the museum. Julie Bergen, a local Norwegian-American glassblower, demonstrated the creation of glass art in the hot shop, and folk dancers Richard and Beverly Smaby entertained.
DAY THREE: Saturday
Saturday’s business meeting continued with more debate and voting on the proposed amendments in the morning. After the Saturday luncheon and fascinating lecture on the Sámi people by Professor Troy Storfjell, business continued with an Endowment Funding Ceremony, Election of Officers, a bunad parade, gift presentations, and closed once again with We’re Proud to be Daughters of Norway. Also, members were invited with a skit and a PowerPoint presentation to attend Convention 2010 in Orange County, California, hosted by Turid Jespersen Lodge #44. The Installation of Officers took place immediately following the business meeting.
The Farewell Banquet was the perfect end to a busy and fun-filled convention. The Convention Chorus sang once again, and we were treated to a concert of Norwegian music by Pacific Lutheran University Professors Sven Rønning (Violin) and Erin Chung (Piano).
Note: all pictures courtesy of Jim Seiber of Seiber Photos (Renton, WA)
Submitted by Mary Ashley, Sigrid Undset Lodge #32
CONVENTION 2010
Turid Jespersen Lodge #44 of Mission Viejo, California will host the next Daughters of Norway convention. The dates are set: July 22–24th, 2010. The Orange County/Costa Mesa Hilton Hotel is ready to take your bookings. Convention registration materials will be available no later than February 2010, so check back on the Convention 2010 site at that time.
Details for the Daughters of Norway 2010 Convention found here. See you in July, 2010 in sunny Costa Mesa, Orange County, California! Highlights of Orange County found here...
