2012 Kalendar of Upcoming Events: (please email Connie email webmaster if you have pictures that can be included here)

Our Lodge Norwegian book club generally meets the 3rd Wednesday of the month, see below:

2012 Activity Kalender:

Sunday, 8 January 2012, 6:30 pm. General membership meeting at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Hancock, to Install our new Officers and plan the 2012 Kalendar for the Ulseth Lodge. Please bring a desert or finger food to share; coffee and juice will be available. All members are invited to attend to have in-put in your Lodge kalender of events. What did you like or dislike or want to add?

18 January 2012 Wednesday 11:30am at Good Shepard Lutheran Church, 1100 College Ave, Houghton: The Norwegian Book Club meets! Please join us by reading the January book: we will discuss "Kitchen of Light" by Andreas Viestad. You can find it, or order it, at North Wind Books Store at Finlandia. It includes many recipes, but also a discussion of Norwegian culture today and beautiful pictures relating to light and how it affects us. Try a recipe in the book and share your experience of making it! Please join us!

  JANUARY 28, Saturday, Heikinpäivä Festival in Hancock. The Ulseth Lodge will walk in the parade carrying the Sons of Norway Barnelopet banner, 4 volunteers needed! (meet at parade gathering just before parade)  Heikinpaiva Events: Tori Market 10am-3pm at FAHC, Parade 11-11:30am, Wife Carry Contest 11:30 next to FAHC, Polar Bear Dive 3pm on canal next to Copper Island Beach Club.

11 February 2012 Saturday, 7:30 pm right after the MTU Hockey game in the MTU Chemistry Bldg #19. We will have potluck snacks & drinks; and watch Torchlight parade and Fireworks! Michigan Tech Winter Carnival Torch Light Parade will come down Mt Ripley & Fireworks. The Sons of Norway, Ulseth Lodge members have reserved a room on the campus of MTU to view the parade and fireworks that start at 8:30pm from the warmth of the Chemical Sciences Building. That is building number 19 on the campus map here: www.mtu.edu/tools/map.html We will meet and socialize with family and friends starting at 7:30pm Saturday in second floor room 208, the Chemistry Learning Center. Juice and coffee will be provided; please bring a Norwegian dessert snack or finger food and watch this spectacular event! Please enter the building from the main entrance; across from the Union.

12 February 2012 Sunday: Barneløpet (children's ski event) at Hancock's Maasto Hiihto classic cross country ski trail, sponsored by our Ulseth Lodge, Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club, and the City of Hancock. Registration at 1 pm in the Hancock Chalet  for ages 3 to 17 and parents and community! Ski starts with age groups at 2 pm. Skiers who register and finish will receive a large enameled color medal. Hot chocolate and cookies will be available at the Chalet after the ski.  Volunteers are needed to bring baked goods, help with the race, and inside the Chalet for this 5th Annual event. Contact the Stordahls' 492-0292 if you can help.  Click here for registration form. Click here to see pictures of the 2010 year's, Barneløpet taken by KeweenawNow journalist.

Book Club! 15 February 2012 Wednesday 11:30am at Good Shepard Lutheran Church, 1100 College Ave, Houghton: The Norwegian Book Club meets! Please join us by reading the February book: we will discuss "Cod" by Mark Kurlansky. You can find it, or order it, at North Wind Books Store at Finlandia or other book stores on line. Please join us!

Thursday, Feb 23, 2012 The Barnebirkie near Hayward, Wisconsin is a race for over 1,000 children during the famous annual Brikebeiner cross country ski race in nearby Hayward/Cable. It is a tribute to the original Birkebeiner ski marathon in Norway to save the infant future King of Norway in 1206. The Sons of Norway, District 5, sponsors the cookie tent at the children's race; our Ulseth Lodge is asked to send cookies to give to the children as they finish the race. So if you can donate some cookies to this event, please package them in a box or ice cream bucket (not wrapped individually) and label the container Ulseth Lodge cookies and the amount of cookies enclosed (Nancy has containers you can use). Bring the cookies to the kitchen of Gloria Dei Lutheran church in Hancock and place in the refrigerator sometime by 4pm Tuesday Feb 21st.  Local member, Nancy Imm, volunteers at the race and will deliver our cookies again this year. Contact Nancy if you have any questions. email
Click here to see a video of a previous Barnebirkie in Hayward, Wisc.

Saturday, 10 March 2012, 10am to 2pm Ulseth Lodge celebrates Vinterfestuka! Bring your skis or snowshoes or just come and enjoy the potluck dinner! Gather at the Chalet at Maasto Hiihto ski trails in Hancock. We will eat at noon in the warm Chalet and ski or snow shoe on the trails anytime after 10am. (walkers not allowed on trails, snowshoes have to stay off the set ski tracks) Bring soups, crockpots, breads, desserts and your own plates and eating utensils; if you can bring soup or chili for this, please contact Stordahls 482-0292.  Bring the family, friends and a dish to pass and enjoy the great outdoors! March is the month that Northern Norway celebrates Vinterfestuka to honor the Sun Goddess, Sunna. This festival begins at first Sun and continues until evening shadows darken the sky. They celebrate the sun because they live without seeing the sun during the winter months. At this day they celebrate that the sun has arrived again.

Book Club! 21 March 2012 Wednesday 11:30am-1:00pm at Good Shepard Lutheran Church, 1100 College Ave, Houghton. Join the Sons of Norway, Literature/Book Club Culture Group!   The March book is "The Legendary Jackrabbit Johannsen" by Alice E. Johannsen. You can buy the paperback used from Amazon starting at $8, the hardback runs about $95 new. Contact Andrea for more details on this month's selection. email

   12 April 2012, Thursday, Nordic Film Series: "Solveig: The Life and Artwork of Solveig Arneng Johnson" . Free film will be shown at 2pm and again at 6pm at the Finnish American Heritage Center.  Both the film maker and the artist will be at this!! So come meet the filmmaker Kiersten Chace, and artist Solveig (Sally) Arneng Johnson, who will be here! This beautiful documentary/love story illuminates the life of Duluth resident Solveig Arneng Johnson, whose body of artwork captures her love of Norway, family and her natural surroundings. Born in 1925, in the Arctic town of Kirkenes, Norway, Solveig reflects on life during the throes of World War II, her indigenous Sami identity, art studies, immigrating to America, and the love of her life. Film run time: 39 min
 

Book Club! 18 April 2012 Wednesday 11:30am-1:00pm Sons of Norway, Literature/Book Club Culture Group!   The Summer book is "The Ice Palace", Tarjei Vesaas. You can either buy the book locally new or used on line or borrow it from a club member: Contact Andrea for more details on this month's selection. email

19 April 2012, Thursday; Ulseth Executive Board meets: place and time TBD.

Book Club! 16 May 2012 Wednesday 11:30am-1:00pm Sons of Norway, Literature/Book Club Culture Group! meeting at a member's home in Hancock.  May book is Babe Didrickson, Susan Cayleff ((or any biography about Didrickson, or her autobiography))  Contact Eileen for directions to the meeting! Contact Andrea for more details on this month's selection. email

  17 May 2012: Thursday, 5:30-9pm, Annual Syttende Mai celebration! To be held at the Jutila Center in Hancock. There will be a Social and Children's activities, a presentation by Frida Waara and John Major, about their film "Condition One", an Antarctic story; with comparison to Michigan, and a Norwegian Dinner! There will be $15 meal charge per adult, $7.50 for children. Or just $5 for the program only. 
RSVP's are needed by May 15, contact Ralph Lund337.3392 with RSVP so they can plan the food details and room seating.
Remember, this is an important membership and recruitment event, so please invite and bring potential members or anyone interested in this great presentation!
Syttende Mai is the Norwegian Constitution Day celebration, much like America's 4th of July, and is one of Norway's most important Celebrations of the Year, so you do not want to miss this!  If you have them, wear your Norwegian clothing, or red and royal blue colors!
Click here to read and hear the Norwegian National Anthem

SATURDAY June 23, 2012; 6pm dinner, Sankthansaften (Longest Day) Celebration! At the Breakers Shelter in McLain State Park*, off M203 past Hancock; potluck dinner and watch sun set on the longest day of the year!  Dinner will be at 6:00pm, featuring a Fish Fry by members Shirley and Jerry Lamppa! The rest of us will bring all the rest of the fixings. There will be a few Brats grilled for those non-fish eaters. If you have never tried the Lamppa's fish, you will be in for an awesome treat! We will be at the shelter located at the far West end of the park. There will be a small charge to defray the cost of the fresh fish; please call Eileen at 482-0292 for rsvp on the fish/brats and what you will bring. This fun event will include games for kids of all ages and social hour starting before the 6pm dinner. If you have a fun Norwegian t-shirt, wear it!  Bring your dish to pass, your fav beverage, and bring your own plates and utensils.
*It will be FREE to drive into McLain State Park if you have a "P" sticker on your car's Plate, otherwise, there is FEE.
Remember, call Eileen at 482-0292 for RSVP on how many will be eating fish and what dish you will bring to share.
The summer solstice, is celebrated in Norway every June on the longest day of the year. It is called Jonsok/Sankthansaften or St. Hans Aften (St. John's Eve) in Norway; June 24^th is the birthday of St. John the Baptist, which used to be the longest day before the Gregorian calendar. Midsummer's Eve celebrations, were pagan in origin, and featured bonfires. They were lit to protect against evil spirits which were believed to roam freely when the sun was turning southwards again. On this day, barbeques are held featuring games and lotteries. Bonfires are still a main part of the observance in Norway. 

 Our event is on Saturday evening so you could also attend the Annual Scandinavian MidSummer Fest in Marquette 11am-Dusk at Presque Isle Park (their event started in 1999).

18 August 2012 Saturday, Lodge Meeting and Heritage Days in Calumet, need volunteers for the Norwegian Lutheran Church tours in Calumet for Heritage Days! (NLC is the future home of the Ulseth Lodge!) Help is needed this year to scrape and paint the front steps of the Norwegian Lutheran Church in Calumet. Call Ralph at337.3392
 

  September Time/Day TBD: CANCELLED THIS YEAR Fall Round-up Rally Lodge meeting!  Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Hancock; Please attend our Frokost møte!  Including pannekake frokost, meeting and program, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Hancock. This will be a breakfast meeting, serving Norwegian waffles w/ lingonberry jam, sausage, hard & soft boiled eggs, juice, milk, & coffee. There will be a $5.00 charge per person. Bring a dozen or so of your favorite ginger snap, shortbread or sugar cookies or blueberry muffins for enjoyment with coffee or milk.
RSVP to the Stordahls at 482-0292 by noon Friday 9/xx so we can get the necessary food items and to indicate if you can help in the kitchen set up &/or clean up. 
We are encouraged to Please bring guests who may be interested in the Culture and Heritage of Norway and in joining our Lodge! Meeting will be done in time to watch the Parade of Nations starting at 11am in front of the old middle school in Hancock! Please volunteer to carry our Norwegian Flags in the parade!

Book Club! 19 September 2012 Wednesday 11:30am-1:00pm Sons of Norway, Literature/Book Club Culture Group! meeting at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1100 College Avenue in Houghton.  September book is "Giants in the Earth", Ole Rolvag. You can either buy the book locally new, or used on line or borrow it from a club member: Contact Andrea for more details on this month's selection. email

11 October 2012; Thursday 6:30 PM, Lodge Meeting: Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 1000 Quincy Street in Hancock; Program on Famous Norwegian-Americans. Nomination Committee, reports, and Plans will be discussed for the Norwegian Julefest meeting, potluck and silent auction in December.  Please bring a snack to share! There will be coffee and juice available and paper plates/cups etc to minimize clean up. Bring friends interested in all things Norwegian!!

Book Club! 17 October 2012 Wednesday 11:30am-1:00pm Sons of Norway, Literature/Book Club Culture Group! meeting at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1100 College Avenue in Houghton.  October book is "The Ice Museum", Joanna Kavenna. You can either buy the book locally new or used on line or borrow it from a club member: Contact Andrea for more details on this month's selection. email

    8 November 2012 Thursday, 6 pm Ulseth Lodge General membership meeting!

28 November, after Thanksgiving: The Norwegian Book Club will meet Wednesday, November 28, at 11:30am-1pm; at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1100 College Ave. in Houghton, to discuss Vikings in the Attic by Eric Dregni. Everyone welcome! (the book club will not meet in Dec, see you again Jan 16th.)

9 December 2012 Sunday 5 pm, Annual Julefest celebration and pot luck dinner, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Hancock; Program, games and Silent Auction! We will have a huge Silent Auction this Julefest from a gift of many Norse items from a Keweenaw resident who recently moved away. (If you have items this year, please arrive early (4pm) with your silent auction items and give us an idea of minimum price. Nancy Imm and Patricia Van Pelt will coordinate the auction. Click here for a Donation/Bid form to fill out in advance for your donations.) If you need a ride, please contact us. If you have them, wear your Norwegian clothing or red and royal blue colors and bring your tasty Norwegian specialty foods! The lodge will provide juice and coffee. Pot Luck Dinner at 5:30. We also like to donate to the GDLC food drive box, so bring in a non-perishable food item to add to the box! If you have been collecting used postal stamps for the Norwegian children's charity TUBFRIM, bring them too! If you have taken any pictures of our Ulseth Lodge events, bring them to include in our album! Program will be a 30 minute video on Lutefisk! Can someone make some Lutefisk for us all to have a little taste?!!  Bring Family and Friends and Dish to pass!

I Jesu navn går vi til bords å spise, drikke på ditt ord. Deg, Gud til ære, oss til gavn, Så får vi mat i Jesu navn. Amen.

In Jesus' name to the table we go To eat and drink according to His word. To God the honor, us the gain, So we have food in Jesus' name. Amen.

Ulseth Lodge Videos:

Julefest 2008: Ole & Lena skit by our local Ole & Lena, Paul and Sue Slinde!

Syttende Mai 2009 program: Norwegian Waltz composed by Connie Julien's Norwegian grandfather, Arthur Bell (1886-1966) performed by Dave Bezotte with Luke Dedo.

   Julefest 2009: video of Lief playing Edvard Grieg on piano

We have started a scrapbook with pictures of Ulseth Lodge past events, so if you have any pictures you could share for this scrapbook, please bring them to our meetings!
Here are a few Julefest songs on youtube: Kerstin Blodig: Det kimer nu til Julefest  and Sissel album "Glade Jul (Silent Night)"