Viking Magazine - August 2021 - 35

Santas of the trip, which included a visit to her great-greatgrandmother
Lavrentse Knutsdatter Ryalen's summer home
on the lake Storsjø, an 11-day fjord cruise, and the four-day
pilgrimage walk starting in Rennebu and ending at Nidaros
Cathedral.
Get Moving!
Though Santas is now 77 years old, she hopes to return to
Norway once again to complete the entire Gudbrandsdalsleden
in person. " Time goes by quickly, but it would be a dream to
be able to do that, " she says.
A Cure for COVID-19 Boredom
When District 5 Vice President Cheryl Wille-Schlesser
proposed the idea of a virtual exercise challenge, it was a
way to celebrate the organization's 125th anniversary and get
members excited about the 2020 International Convention in
Ringsaker, Norway.
" Even if our members couldn't attend the International
Convention in person, this challenge encouraged our members
to keep fit and to celebrate the 125th Anniversary of Sons of
Norway, " says Wille-Schlesser, a Sons of Norway member
since 1999.
Starting in the fall of 2019, members participated in
activities like walking, biking, golfing and swimming-tracking
their distance with Fitbits, phone apps, or pen and paper-to
achieve their mileage goal, determined by calculating the total
number of miles from their home lodge to Sons of Norway
headquarters in Minneapolis, and from there to the convention
venue in Ringsaker.
Then COVID-19 hit, and even though the convention was
canceled, the virtual exercise challenge continued.
" When all of our lodges shut down, members could still do
this activity, " says Wille-Schlesser. " It kept people going, it
kept people fit, and it improved not only their physical health,
but their mental health as well. "
By the time the challenge wrapped up at the end of 2020,
146 members partook, earning certificates of participation and
medals through the Sons of Norway Sports Medal Program.
It was so successful that District 5 members are now being
encouraged to complete the Virtual Pilgrimage.
" You can't assume that your members aren't willing to do
something, " says Wille-Schlesser. " If you place the challenge
in front of them, you'll be surprised by how many people
participate. "
The Sons of Norway Sports Medal
Program is a fun and engaging
way to stay active while enjoying
the Norwegian tradition of friluftsliv
(outdoor life and recreation). It's
uniquely designed to reward healthy
habits at every age, activity level and
exercise preference.
The Sons of Norway Virtual
Pilgrimage is a window into the
experience of the pilgrims in Norway,
who walked a network of routes called
St. Olav's Way. Simply by getting out
to walk at home and follow the journey
online, Sons of Norway members
have a chance to transform into a
pilgrim on a virtual journey. For more
information, visit sofn.com.
sonsofnorway.com VIKING AUGUST 2021 35
http://www.sofn.com http://www.sonsofnorway.com
Viking Magazine - August 2021

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