Viking Magazine - February 2016 - 29

Member Matters
Information + News + Helpful Tips
EXECUTIVE IDEAS
Convention Resolutions:
For the Benefi t of All
ou may remember in my last column
that I discussed the implementation
of nominating committees in all of
our districts for the purpose of identifying
qualifi ed leaders because of its potential
benefi t to the entire organization.
This month, in keeping with the
same line of thought, I would like
to talk about another topic that
can benefi t Sons of Norway:
convention resolutions. This
is an important part of our
organization's governance as
well as a great opportunity
to modernize and help Sons
of Norway continue to be relevant.
In the coming weeks and months
your lodge may discuss important
issues to be proposed as a resolution
for deliberation at your upcoming
district convention. So, to help your
lodge as it considers resolutions, I
have put together some thoughts, based
on my experiences over the past decade
or so of working with lodges during the
run-up to a District Convention.
First, consider whether the resolution
needs to be a resolution at all. Often there
are resolutions brought to the district or
international convention that could have
been addressed more expediently with a
positive outcome by having a conversation
with Headquarters Staff. At other
points throughout the year we
make changes based on requests
from members without it coming
from a resolution, and potentially
consuming valuable time during the
convention.
Y
30 Family Matters
Celebrating the Sámi
31 God Appetitt
Chocolate Almond Torte
32 Innovative Leadership
Conference
Then, have an open discussion about the feasibility
and practicality of your resolution. This really
comes down to a cost-benefi t analysis. Is the cost of
implementing a resolution, be it in dollars, hours, or
other resources outweighed by the total benefi t to the
organization? I know that can be hard to quantify,
but I strongly recommend you and your fellow lodge
members at least discuss this point. It may be an
enlightening discussion that leads to other ideas or
different approaches to the issue you are attempting
to address.
Last, but most importantly, remember this: It is
OK to ask questions. In fact, it is more than OK. If
you are unsure how a resolution should be worded,
whether it properly addresses the issue at hand, or if
its passage would have any unintended consequences,
there are a number of people within Sons of Norway
that you can reach out to for assistance. In addition
to District offi cers, I encourage you to have a
dialogue with Headquarters Staff. Not only can
they help provide context and historical background
information on your resolution, they can also help
you navigate the process of presenting a resolution.
Needless to say, this is an excellent resource and
I encourage all lodges and districts to take full
advantage of it.
In closing, I look forward to hearing about all the
resolutions that will be presented at the eight district
conventions. I know they are the product of a lot of
hard work from dedicated members.
I wish you all a successful convention season!
Eivind J. Heiberg
For resolution questions, please email ceo@sofn.com.
sonsofnorway.com VIKING FEBRUARY 2016 29
http://www.sonsofnorway.com
Viking Magazine - February 2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Viking Magazine - February 2016
