Viking Magazine - February 2018 - 33

is being implemented. User reviews against all known
systems used by Sons of Norway have been conducted.
Lodge Owned Real Estate
President Tehven raised the topic of local lodges who
own real estate and who are not in compliance with Sons
of Norway bylaws regarding their property. Approx. 60
lodges own property, and only half are in compliance.
President Tehven said this is one of the biggest issues facing
SON, and we need to decide what penalties to impose for
non-compliance. The District Presidents Council was also
present for this discussion, and Legal Counsel Dave Ness
listed for the Board and the Council what steps must be
taken to achieve compliance. Mr. Ness pointed out that the
lodges have had many years to comply. The original bylaws
governing real estate have been in place for decades (Section
1, Chapter 17), and the lodges have been receiving repeated
warnings from SON headquarters since 2010.
The Corporate Matters & Governance Committee will
be sending a letter to the non-compliant lodges with these
deadlines:
1. Affirm that you have started the registration process
and identify the professional resource helping you by
December 15, 2017.
2. If there is no response by January 15, 2018 the noncompliant
lodge's dues will be withheld and the
lodge will be suspended and will not have delegate
representation at the district convention until the lodge
is in complete compliance.
District Presidents Council - D17s / 990 List
Dean Nelson distributed to the District Presidents a list of
those lodges who have not filled out their D17s and/or 990s.
The District Presidents plan to contact those lodges to see
what obstacles are preventing the lodges from completing
those forms.
RESOLUTION - 401k Employee Contribution Plan
A motion was made by the Finance / Investment Committee
to approve the Sons of Norway 401k employee contribution
plan. The new safe harbor plan will benefit all employees
by increasing the employer match up to 1% to a 4% match
and a 2.5% discretionary contribution based on qualified
payroll. The committee requests research on 401k plans and
requests a report of these findings to the Finance Committee
for the fall 2018 board meeting. Motion carried.
RESOLUTION - International Nominating Committee
Whereas: The regulatory climate continues to change, and
Whereas: Governance is of increasing importance, so
Therefore be it resolved that: the International Nominating
Committee seek and review candidates for International
Officers and Directors for corporate governance core
competencies specified by insurance and finance industry
standards or listed in the International Board of Directors
Policy Book. The Benefits Committee moves this resolution.
Motion carried.
RESOLUTION - Policy Book Updates
Whereas: There is a Policy Book for the International Board
of Directors of Sons of Norway last revised November, 2014,
and
Whereas: this document needs to be updated, so
Therefore be it resolved that: The International President,
Sons of Norway, assign the review and updating of said
book to a committee to be reported at the spring 2018 IBD
meeting. The Benefits Committee moves this resolution.
Motion carried.
RESOLUTION - Appointed Directors
Whereas good governance requires the proper mix of
expertise and experience in order to achieve the aims and
requirements of any organization, and,
Whereas the need may arise to broaden the board with
particular skill sets that further these aims and goals, and,
Whereas certain specialized fields of knowledge such as
financial, legal, organizational or business may not all come
forward through the nomination and election process;
Therefore be it resolved that Chapter 11, Paragraph 2.11.3
Directors be amended as follows:
2.11.3
2.11.3.1
DIRECTORS
There shall be a director from each District
who shall be nominated as hereafter set
forth and elected from among the members
of the International Lodge. (8/96)
2.11.3.2
Appointed Directors. The International
Board of Directors may appoint up to two
additional directors as needed in order to
enhance proficiencies, skills or knowledge
as deemed necessary by the current board
sonsofnorway.com VIKING FEBRUARY 2018 33
http://www.sonsofnorway.com
Viking Magazine - February 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Viking Magazine - February 2018
