Viking Magazine - May 2018 - 33

lodges met or exceeded the goal,
contributing to the 3,172 new
members gained last year, 91 percent
of Sons of Norway's 3,500-person
target number.
" When we talk about why we
want to grow, the goal isn't just
to add members, " says Doris
Kamstra, Sons of Norway's
membership manager. " It's because
our members do great work in their
communities. That's part of the
heritage of Scandinavian values -
a lot of community participation
and support. We want to see that
continue, and even increase. "
That sense of community is
what keeps membership strong
at Southern Star 3-630 in Myrtle
Beach, S.C., where members
support programs such as the 3rd
District's Charitable Trust and the
Land of the Vikings youth camps.
Under the leadership of president
Audrey McVean, the lodge hosts
activities like Juletrefest, classes
on making open-faced sandwiches
and Norwegian baked goods, and
excursions to nearby archeological
sites and gardens. The emphasis on
fun social events has paid off in the
form of 12 new members in 2017
- a 15.9 percent increase. " We are
a warm and welcoming small lodge.
We always have coffee and treats,
and we make sure that if you are a
guest, everyone says hello. We make
all visitors feel at home, " McVean
says.
2018
Recruitment
On the other side of the country in
Conway, Wash., seven new members
found a home at Abel 2-029 last year.
" Each new member brings more
people to learn about our mission.
The new members learn from the
current members, and the lodge
becomes stronger with the sharing of
responsibilities, " says president Brent
Reivar Weidemann on the importance
of recruiting. For Abel 2-029 that
means reaching out to friends and
family who show interest; renting out
the lodge for meetings, parties and
conferences; and hosting events like
a craft fair and Nordic bakery. One
community favorite is the traditional
cod dinner, which sells out every year.
" Every new year opens the door to
greater opportunities for recruiting
members, " Weidemann says, and as
these standout lodges demonstrate,
there is no one right way to recruit
new members. As a membership
organization, Sons of Norway
encourages lodges to choose what
works best for them to make the
organization as strong as possible
in their respective communities,
Kamstra says. " Your experience as a
member is unique because your lodge
is unique, " she adds. " Make the most
of that. "
Recruitment for 2018 is
already underway! This
year, Sons of Norway
set a goal of adding
3,300 new members,
calling for an increase
of 9 percent in new
members overall. In
addition to a prize
package at the end
of the year for lodges
that meet their goal
- which includes
fi rst access to a new
cultural program, a
2018 Founders Award
Certifi cate and $100 for
the lodge - individual
members will be
eligible for monthly
$25 gift card drawings
and a 2018 recruiter
pin that celebrates
Norway's mountains
and Northern Lights
(shown above).
Southern
Star 3-630:
Svein & Unn Nielsen
receive their 45-year
membership pins
Viking Magazine - May 2018

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