The Sons of Norway

The Sons of Norway Lodge No. 52 members held its monthly meeting Dec. 15 at the Albert Lea Senior Center.

Virgil Holstad, president of the Sons of Norway Forest City, Iowa, Lodge was present and installed the group’s officers for the coming year of 2013. They are as follows:

President: Wayne Olson

Vice president: Paul Anderson

Counselor: Orren Olson

Secretary: Deb Stolarcek

Membership Secretary: Marlie Citsay

Treasurer: Linda Phelps

Editor: Gretchen Daniels

Publicity director: Ann Bryson

Cultural directors: Bev Wessels and Rachel Knutson

Muscians: Karen Mandsager and Paul Fornberg

Historian: Lavaun Ausen

Foundation representative: Donna Oakland

Parlimentarian: Orren Olson

Marshalls: Andy Rhiger and Gerhard Kleih

Greeters: Inge Rhiger and Irmgard Kleih

Trustees: Paul Fornberg, Shane Dahl and Mary Severtson

Auditors: LeMoyne Eggum, Leola Anderson and Ray Otterson

* Those not present will be installed at the January meeting.

For the winter months of January, February and March, lodge members will continue to meet the third Saturday of each month, at 9:45 am, at the Senior Center.

Members are reminded and asked to save canceled postage stamps. Please trim the stamps and leave about a quarter inch margin; bring these to the meetings. These are collected, saved and given to the Circuit Visitor at the biennial National Convention. There is an award given to the lodge accumulating the most canceled stamps via weight. The stamps are then sent to Norway and sold with the funds used to financially assist a children’s home in Norway. This is a very easy and worthwhile endeavor; so invite your friends and neighbors to support this project!

Christmas goodies and coffee was served by the officers of the month: Twyla Haugen, LeMoyne Eggum and Judy Menssen.

 

Freeborn 4-H Club

The Freeborn 4-H Club held its awards banquet Nov. 10 at the Freeborn Legion Hall. Social time began at 5 p.m. There were games and a craft for the youth to do.

President Matthew Chicos called the meeting to order. Key Leader Sandy Anderson welcomed everyone to the banquet and reminded everyone to sign up for the door prizes and for the guessing game. The new members were welcomed and the group’s guest Amy Wadding from the Extension Office was introduced. Matthew led the group in the flag pledges and said a prayer before a meal of grilled chicken breast, Salisbury steak, fruit salad, lettuce salad, corn, buns and with Oreo cream pie for dessert was enjoyed. This was catered by TB3’s Bar & Grill.

Following the meal, the installation of the new officers for the 2012-13 4-H year was held. The following are the officers for the new year: President will be Monica Bye, vice president and secretary is Chris Anderson and treasurer is Travis Bye.

Next followed the awards presentation. Wadding presented the awards from the county as follows:

Freeborn Club received a Club Seal for being 84 years in existence. The group received a blue award in the Club of the Year standings. The club received a check for herdsmanship, having a booth and a banner. Also for helping with the recycling at the county fair and for receiving grand champion on the community pride project.

Chris Anderson was last year’s club treasurer and represented the club at the Minnesota State Fair with the community pride project, receiving a blue ribbon. Monica Bye was last year’s club secretary. Monica received reserve champion on her self-determined project at the county fair and a blue ribbon at the state fair.

Matthew Chicos was last year’s club president. Matthew showed dairy beef and swine at the county fair. At the county level Matthew was a livestock interview finalist for senior beef and received a medallion. Matthew also received the Leadership Award “I Dare You” from the Gary Goette family which was a book, a certificate and plaque. He received a record of recognition certificate for both beef and swine and a county project medal for beef. Matthew also received a graduating member certificate ending 11 years in 4-H.

Megan Chicos was last year’s club secretary. At the county fair Megan took numerous projects for both livestock and non-livestock. For her foods project she received a purple ribbon on the county level and a blue ribbon at the state fair. Her indoor gardening received reserve champion on the county level. Megan showed dairy beef, sheep and swine at the county fair. She received purple ribbons for her dairy beef and for her sheep and a blue ribbon at the state fair for her dairy steer. On the county level Megan received the home economics award, which was a monetary award from the Freeborn County Home Council. She also received the outstanding junior leader award (in memory of Randy Knutson) which was a plaque from the Dean Knutson family. Megan received a record of recognition certificate for foods and sheep. Megan also received a graduating member certificate ending 11 years in 4-H.

Taylor Jacobsen was junior champion for her home environment project at the county fair. She received a record of recognition certificate for her home environment project. Abbey Redman’s foods project received a purple ribbon at the county fair. She also received a record of recognition certificate for foods and vegetable gardening. Abbey received a county project medal for vegetable gardening and a first year member pin.

Anne Szymanski was the club’s reporter. Peter Szymanski was a camp counselor, BLU participant and YELLO participant. He received a certificate for county ambassador. Peter was a county extension committee youth representative. He received a certificate for county horse committee-executive youth representative. Peter was also a Clover Stand manager at the county fair. His potatoes received reserved champion at the county fair and a blue ribbon at the state fair. At the county level Peter was a livestock interview finalist for intermediate llama and received a medallion. For his demonstration award he received a 4H Pick a Pen notebook. At the state fair for Youth in Action individual he received a red ribbon. Peter participated in state arts at the state fair. Peter is the retiring County Executive Council president, and he received a picture plaque from Freeborn County Leader’s Council. He also received a graduating member certificate ending his 11 years in 4-H. Peter received one of the highest awards possible when he received the Lawson Memorial Award which was a plaque from the Betty Lyle family.

Sandy handed out some club awards. The officers all received a $10 gift card to Walmart. Megan Chicos, Matthew Chicos and Peter Szymanski each received a Graduating Certificate and a $10 gift card to Walmart. Each family received a 4-H scoop and a pancake turner. Each member received a gift bag with 4-H items. Each new member also received a gift bag with 4-H items.

Following the awards ceremony, drawings were held for the door prizes. Taylor and Peter won the two main door prizes but each name was drawn to receive a prize from the 4-H items box.

The guessing game was won by Taylor.

New Vice President Chris Anderson asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. The group’s next meeting was planned for 5 p.m. Dec. 8 at the Freeborn Legion Hall.

 

Trinity Lutheran Church

Trinity Lutheran Church Women met at 2 p.m. Dec. 5 in Trinity Hall for a Christmas gathering.

Co-President Bev Jackson Cotter conducted the business meeting and welcomed the guests.

Mary Ann Martinson, Elizabeth Circle chairwoman, gave a reading titled “O Little Town of Bethlehem” and also the biblical meaning of the song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” Devotions were given by Virginia Plantage and all responded to the Lord’s prayer.

Marcia Peterson, treasurer, presented the budget for 2013. A motion was made by Eleanor Schou to accept the budget and the Rev. Marcia Hall seconded it.

Cotter announced the group will meet at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 8 and the workshop for all circle officers will be at 1:30 p.m. in the conference room.

A lunch was served by the Elizabeth Circle. There were two offerings. The first one was for the Oak Mission in Oaks, Okla., to support orphan Indian children. The second offering was for the group to help with expenses.

After the meeting, all went to the church sanctuary. Jan Drews introduced the Albert Lea High School Chorale under the direction of Diane Heaney. The group gave a beautiful Christmas concert.