Viking Magazine - August 2013 - 30

Member Matters
five-minute skits that are part of the
competition each year. Inspired by
an elderly neighbor who was having
trouble getting to her mailbox, " the
kids created a skit about a Norwegian
nisse and how they could help a
farmer reach his mailbox. The kids
even sewed their own red fleece hats, "
Carlsen says. " It's inspiring that our
kids wanted to stay together and bond
through their culture by joining Viking
B.Y.T.E.S. They get to learn about
Norwegian culture, team work and
communication, " says Carlsen.
Other science-related projects with
Nordic themes have included the
" It's inspiring that our kids wanted to stay together
and bond through their culture by joining Viking
B.Y.T.E.S. They get to learn about Norwegian culture,
team work and communication. " -Monica Carlsen
Scandinavian Hydrogen Highway
Partnership, and nutrition and food
safety in a mock Norwegian game
show format.
Johansson and Carlsen agree that
the key to their success has been
lodge support through fundraising,
collaborating as leaders, and keeping
the kids excited about Norwegian
culture through activities, field trips,
skits and interactive programs. They
predict that the close-knit group
of kids will stay active in Sons of
Norway, due to the friendships
formed and the Norwegian culture
experienced in the group.
Global Outreach
S
Members open their hearts and hands to help people in need around the world. BY AMANDA LEPINSKI
Sarissa Miller, 9,
raised funds for clean
water in Ethiopia.
ometimes the youngest hearts
can make the biggest difference.
Sarissa Miller, a 9-year-old
from Fedrelandet 2-23 in Petersburg,
Alaska, learned about the clean water
crisis in Ethiopia, and she wanted to
help. " When I heard about all these
people around the world who didn't
have clean water, I felt spoiled and
that life wasn't equal for everyone, "
Miller says. That sense of inequality
prompted her to ask her grandmother,
a lodge officer, if she could set up a
donation table at the upcoming lutefisk
dinner this past February. After getting
clearance from grandma, Miller
and her friend printed information,
brochures, pictures and donation forms
to decorate the table they stationed at
the lodge entrance.
As members arrived, Miller and her
30 VIKING AUGUST 2013
sonsofnorway.com
friend greeted them and handed out
handmade Valentines to anyone who
donated to their clean water project.
Lodge president Sally Norheim Dwyer
says she was impressed with how
thorough and professional Miller was.
" She came up with me at dinner and
spoke about why she was there that
night and how important 'Water for
Ethiopia' was to her, " Dwyer says. " The
response from the crowd was great; she
met and exceeded her goal that night! "
Lodge members donated $650
toward Miller's fund, which has more
than doubled since that evening.
" When I raised all this money for
Ethiopia, I felt grateful, joyful and very,
very, very happy, " Miller says. " I hope
all of the people in Ethiopia will one
day have a life where clean water is
easy to get. "

http://www.sonsofnorway.com

Viking Magazine - August 2013

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