Viking Magazine - August 2016 - 31

He pointed out that we had a decent first
quarter, increasing our surplus, but several
of our bonds had a ratings decrease, which
reduced our RBC by 22%.
Rachele Hockert is recommending
Google for Business for the District
Presidents and will speak about this with
the DPs during her session with them. She
also addressed a new technology that we
are going to be using to intereact with our
Canadian bank to accept dues in Canadian
dollars. In working with Norway, we found
that we would have to work with DNB Bank
and a third party to make it work. If we were
to invest those funds into electronic invoicing
to all of the membership, it would give
us the opportunity to bill and collect funds
electronically and in doing so, we could collect
the money in U.S. and Canadian Dollars
and in Norwegian Kroner.
Dean Stiller also spoke to the prospect of
setting dues in Canadian Dollars and Norwegian
Kroner, which would eliminate issues
with the exchange rate. This was referred to
the Finance Committee.
Minutes were approved. Secretary
Rude called for the approval of the minutes
of the November 3-6, 2015 Meeting.
Discussion. Motion carried.
Vice President Stubbings reported
that Vice President Network has had
no call since the last meeting. However,
membership is up, signing younger
members, which is lowering our median age
level. Some of the Districts have developed
their own Vice President Networks and are
very engaged, while other districts aren't
doing much.
The Redistricting Task Force, made
up of members from each District, with
President Tehven moderating and Linda
Pederson from staff, reported that none
of the districts felt that rezoning was
necessary, but felt that if a lodge wished to
be in a different district, because of distance
to other lodges/district, they should be able
to move. The Corporate Matters Committee
will develop a resolution to allow lodges to
move to other districts.
Kathleen Orth, Chief Examiner and Jan
Moenck from the State of Minnesota
made a presentation to the Board reviewing
the Minnesota State Examination Report
and the Minnesota State Management
Letter observations and recommendations.
Kathleen Orth explained the examination
process and reported that they did not find
any material concerns. Recommendations
include: strengthening our IT Policies and
Procedures; additional financial reporting
staff; to enhance cross-training and succession
planning; to enhance Board oversight
and governance; to increase board member
involvement and expertise of candidates;
and to make sure that the minutes reflect
that the Board is spending equal time to the
operation of insurance to fraternal business
and reflects what tasks are referred to which
committees.
The International Board, Senior Staff and
District Presidents met with Joe Annotti,
President/CEO of the American Fraternal
Alliance. Mr. Annotti provided the group
with an overview of the current status of
the fraternal industry which touched on the
following points: AFA's primary duty is to
be an advocate for fraternals; Advocate for
protection of the Federal Tax Exemption
for Fraternals; NAIC approved a model
regulation on Principle Based Reserves; New
Fiduciary Rules announced; Governance and
the need for qualified members; creating
Fraternal Coops, getting together to solve
issues, etc.; creating a Fraternal Brand like
" Got Milk! " ; come up with positioning
statement; Social Media Campaign; Civil
Community Activities.
The District President's Council, meeting
in Minneapolis at the same time as the
International Board, was invited to join the
Board of Directors. The following District
Presidents were present: Chris Hicks,
District 2; Barbara Olson, District 1; Martha
Elliott, District 4; Owen Christianson, District
5; Mary Beth Ingvoldstad, District 6; Erik
Brochmann, District 7; Per Mikalsen, District
8. Mary Andersen, District 3 participated in
much of the meetings by phone.
The District Presidents presented their
recommendations to the International
Board.
President Tehven related to the District
Presidents what has so far transpired during
the International Board Meeting.
Jon Grinde held a brief Memorial Service
to honor his friend and former International
Director, George Sievers.
Fraternal Director Linda Pederson
and Actuary Dean Stiller provided a
presentation on the following Strategic
Planning Initiatives. The dues resolution was
discussed which will be presented at the
International Convention in Tacoma, Wash.
The simplified dues will be $60 for individual
and $95 for family.; The Lodge Achievement
Form is ready for the District Presidents
Council to review; The newly produced
video which included an Introduction by
CEO Heiberg, the Message, and followed
up by a PowerPoint presentation made
by Fraternal Director Pederson. This video
will be shared will all delegates at all eight
District Conventions. This video will be
available to members to add to their social
media.
The following Board of Directors
Committees met: Benefits Committee:
Erlene Stevenson, Chair, Bob Hoover, Lyle
Berge and Ron Stubbings; Corporate
Matters Committee: Marci Larson,
Chair, Jon Grinde and Dan Rude; Finance/
Investment Committee: Ray Knutson,
Chair, Elaine Nelson, Gloria Benazic and Odd
Harald Olsen.
RECOMMENDATION by the Finance/
Investment Committee that we continue to
use the 990/D17 follow-up procedures that
were approved by the International Board
in 2010:
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the
following procedures shall be used to notify
lodges of the consequences of noncompliance:
*
Immediately after the filing deadline of
May 15, Sons of Norway headquarters will
contact, by certified mail, the Treasurers of
those lodges that are non-compliant.
* If compliance is still not achieved within
30 days, the District Presidents will contact
the lodge Treasurers personally.
* If compliance is not achieved within
another 30 days, the International Director
will contact the Presidents of the lodges
sonsofnorway.com VIKING AUGUST 2016 31
http://www.sonsofnorway.com
Viking Magazine - August 2016

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