Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 25

International Board of Directors
Fall Meeting 2013
T
he Fall 2013 Meeting
of the International
Board of Directors was
held November 6-9, 2013, at the
Sons of Norway Headquarters
in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The
following Officers and Directors
were present: President Marit
Kristiansen, Secretary Jon
Tehven, Treasurer Bill Fosmoe,
and Directors Bob Hoover, Erlene
Stevenson, Marci Larson, Elaine
Nelson, Ray Knutson, Janie Kelly,
Ron Stubbings and Ernst Granly.
Attending from the staff were
Chief Executive Officer Eivind
Heiberg and Legal Counsel
David Ness. Vice President Ralph
Peterson excused himself from
the Board meeting. Other Senior
Staff joined the meeting when
requested by the Board.
On Wednesday, November
6, 2013, an Executive Session
meeting was held with the Board
members at the Normandy Inn.
Jeff Birdsley and Annette
Shaw of BTC Capital Management
presented the Sons of
Norway investment portfolio.
The presenters provided a
review of the economic outlook
and how the current investments
are in line with the
revised Investment policy.
Denny Gronner, of Gronner and
Associates presented to the Board
an overview and history of the Enterprise
Risk Management (ERM)
program and process, highlighting
its importance to the Insurance
industry. Dean Stiller followed up
his presentation with a presentation
of what Sons of Norway is
currently working on to set up a
working ERM program within our
organization.
CEO Heiberg introduced our
two new Senior Staff members:
Dean Nelson, Controller and Diane
Gill, Director of Underwriting.
Controller Lee Goranson provided
an overview and summary
of the third quarter financials. CEO
Heiberg informed the Board of
the State of Minnesota's decision
for financial recognition of our
property. The State is allowing an
additional $4.6 million asset, raising
our surplus to $12.5 million and
increasing our RBC to 387%.
Controller Dean Nelson provided
an overview and summary
of the Sons of Norway Foundation
third quarter financials.
Information Technology Director
Rachele Hockert reviewed the
Sons of Norway's Business Continuity
and IT Disaster Recovery
plan. She also spoke of a company
that would provide a hosted email
for the International Board.
Foundation Director Cindy
Olson stated that the Foundation
has received seven applications
for the three open positions on
the Board of Governors. She also
spoke of a new partnership with
the Red Cross and the Legacy Giving
program.
Director of Agencies Len
Carlson spoke of recruiting new
Financial Benefit Counselors and
the ongoing struggle for lodges to
invite them to their meetings.
Fraternal Director Linda Pederson
reviewed her meeting with
Marci Larson, the 2014 International
Convention Co-Chair. The
Host Committee is making great
progress towards an outstanding
event in 2014. She also spoke
of the model lodge study, citing
volunteerism from a large number
of the responses received from
the lodges interviewed. There was
discussion of our attendance at
Høstfest and our future involvement.
She updated the Board of
an exhibit that is being planned for
the 2014 Norwegian Bicentennial
celebration with the potential of
having it at the 2014 International
Convention.
Actuary Dean Stiller presented
the five-year projections and
reviewed acceptance of additional
state endorsements.
MOTIONS were made and
seconded to approve the following
International Board Meeting
mintes: April 24, 2013, approved
with corrections to pages 2 and 3;
April 25-27, 2013, approved with
corrections to pages 1 and 2; May
10, 2013 teleconference, approved
with corrections to page 1; May
16, 2013 teleconference, approved
as presented; May 26, 2013 e-mail
resolution, approved as presented;
July 23, 2013 teleconference,
corrected to include that International
Director Marci Larson didn't
receive notice of the teleconference
and approved as corrected;
edits to the 2012 International
Convention Minutes, approved as
corrected.
The Standards of Conduct
Statement and Disclosure
Questionnaires were distributed
to the Board to be completed and
returned to the CEO before end of
day Saturday.
The Board received committee
reports from the Vice President's
Network, International Youth
Director, the Executive Committee,
and the 2014 International
Convention.
MOTION was made and
seconded to remove the Lodge
Assets Distribution Plan resolution
from being tabled. Motion carried.
Secretary Tehven reported on
Friday's Governance Committee
meeting. The committee reviewed
the election process for Local,
District and International Lodges.
The Local Lodges require a Nominating
Committee to submit candidates
for office; however, District
8 is the only District requiring a
Nominating Committee.
MOTION was made and
seconded to approve the recommendation
of the Governance
Committee to adopt consistency
in having nominating committees
at all levels. Motion carried.
Legal Counsel is to prepare a
draft resolution by December 15th
to be distributed to each of the
Districts for approval at their consonsofnorway.com
VIKING FEBRUARY 2014 25
http://www.sonsofnorway.com
Viking Magazine - February 2014

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