Washington Lodge Website
Version 3.5 May 1, 2024
Syttende Mai Picnic
Sunday, May 12, 1 to 3 pm
Carderock Picnic Grounds Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath, Potomac, MD (directions) RSVP here
Each year the Norwegian Embassy and local Norwegian and Norwegian American organizations celebrate Norway’s Constitution Day, Syttende Mai (17th of May) with a picnic at Carderock Park in suburban Maryland. This year’s picnic will be Sunday, May 12. We’ll have hotdogs, ice cream and popcorn under the picnic pavilion. There will be games for the kids and music by the Rockville Brass Band. A keynote speaker (to be announced) will address the crowd followed by a flag-filled parade around the picnic area.
The event is free but please RSVP so adequate food can be planned. See page 23 of the May Newsletter for the flyer.
Help at the Picnic:Our lodge has a few jobs at this event and we would love your help. We man the popcorn machine (lessons given—very easy!), help prep the area before picnickers arrive, help serve the hotdogs, and help clean up afterwards.
Our picnic committee is headed by Christine Knight this year. If you can help please contact Christine at peterk1092@comcast.net or 410 375-6417.
Lodge Picnics
Washington Lodge will be celebration the summer with three Picnic. Mark your calendars for three exciting events. Details of the individual Picnic will be provided in the newsletters and this website.
Saturday June 15, Saturday July 20, and Sunday August 18.
NHR, Sun., May 19, 3 pm, Zoom
The Norwegian Gold Run
In 1940, Norwegian patriots were able to save the entire Norwegian gold reserve from Nazi invaders. This Gold Run is the true story of arguably one of the greatest gold snatches in history. It is a tale of immense bravery, endurance, and great leadership, plus a little good fortune and help from the British against intrigue and overwhelming odds. Robert Pearson will describe this heroic tale using the research he developed for his book "Gold Run".
Norwegian History Roundtable (NHR) is a special Interest group sponsored by Washington Lodge. Meeting are by Zoom and are open to anyone interested in Norwegian history. Contact Bill DeRoche for links to this and upcoming meetings (programs@norwaydc.org) and for other information about the group.
In honor of the award of the Nobel Prize in literature to Jon Fosse, we have added a page to the reading circle website with articles by Christine Meloni on Fosse and his work.
Language Classes Resume
The lodge offers beginning, intermediate and advanced Norwegian language classes every Thursday evening at Norway House. Our instructor is Anne-Grethe Phillips, a native Norwegian speaker with many years of experience as a certified Norwegian/English teacher. See page 9 of the January Newsletter.
GIG, Sat., May 25, 3 pm, Zoom
Unraveling Your Norwegian Roots Through DNA
On May 25 at 3:00 pm on Zoom the Genealogy Interest Group will have a presentation from Dana Kelly, Executive Director of the Norwegian American Genealogical Center in Madison, Wisconsin. She will walk us through steps to get more out of your DNA test. She will explore ways to identify mysterious ancestors and confirm that we have found the right Ole Anderson.
For any questions and the Zoom information, contact by Joel Myklebust, Genealogy Interest Group Co-chair genealogy@NorwayDC.org.
Welcome to our Website
Are you interested in Norway Literature, History, Folklore, Genealogy, Food, or Language? Do you want to connect to your roots, study the Viking age or the Norwegian Resistance in WWII, or discuss the latest in Norwegian culture?
The Sons of Norway members in the nation's capital, representing a diversity of background and nationality, share an interest in Norwegian and Scandinavian Culture. We trust that all ages will find something of interest -- in our web site and in our lodge. We have almost 400 members. Most are from the local area of DC, Maryland, and Virginia, but we also have members from another 16 states as well as Norway, Canada, and Great Britain.
For information on membership, contact Jeff Jorgenson at Jas_jorgenson@yahoo.com.
To Join Washington Lodge Click Here
For other information, contact Dave Brown President@norwaydc.org .
Hint: When you push a brown button, it will open a new tab on your screen. However, if you close the tab, it will return you to the previous screen.
Cultural Skills
This fall the lodge is running a Cooking Pin Challenge. Photograph the Norwegian treats and main dishes you cook this fall, and let’s see how many lodge members can earn a first, second, or third cultural skills pin before the end of the year! Email culturalskills@norwaydc.org to find out more about the Cultural Skills program.