VASA ORDER OF AMERICA A Swedish-American Fraternal Organization

Tucson Lodge 691

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

UPCOMING EVENTS – Mark Your Calendars

Saturday, January 12, 2019 Installation of Officers Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church 1200 N. Campbell Ave., Tucson February 2019 Casual gathering. Date to be determined. March 2019 Men’s Brunch. Date to be determined. INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS and A LOOK AT GOTLAND Officers of Tucson VASA Lodge 691 for 2019 were installed Saturday in a ceremony at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Tucson. Open-faced (finger) sandwiches from Mona’s Bakery were served. The officers for 2019 are: Chairman Gayle Anderson, Vice Chairman Kerstin Block, Treasurer Betty Ruth Fridena, Recording Secretary Carrie Aldrich, Historian Susan Nordeen and Cultural Leaders Gayle Anderson, Victoria Lofgren, Kerstin Block and Phyllis Gracy. Gayle Anderson gave a presentation on Gotland, an island off Sweden’s eastern coast, which she visited in 2018 while enjoying the Mid-Summer celebrations with relatives.

Gotland’s medieval Hanseatic city of Visby and the old walls that surround the city to the water’s edge.

VASA 691 PARTICIPATES IN TUCSON RODEO PARADE IN 1976

Al and Darlene Berg

DRAPING THE CHARTER

During the installation of officers program, VASA 691 commemorated four Tucson VASA members who died during 2018. They were Al Berg, James Colson, Norma Nelson Robertson and Ulrika Reindl. Al died on October 20 at the age of 90. Norma died in June and Ulrika died during the summer. James was a “snowbird” who lived in Colorado but spent the winter in Tucson. Al was a dynamic force during his tenure as VASA chairman (1993-1996), and many projects were initiated under his direction. Tucson VASA participated in the Tucson Meet Yourself festival since its inception in 1973, and during his chairmanship, Al designed and built the lodge’s TMY booth, which resembled a Swedish cottage.

This1976 photo will bring back memories for a number of our current VASA 691 members. In the back row, from left, are Mr. Blixt, a generous supporter of VASA 691; Amy Gustafson; Elise Bailey; Valerie Lofgren; Jennifer Johnson; David Nordeen; Magda Segerstrom; two boys from the Norwegian group; and an unknown woman. In the front row, from left, are two Norwegian boys; Victoria Lofgren; Heather Fields; and Kristen Nordeen. In the early years, the Norwegians and Finns often participated in the lodge’s activities.

The sign at the front of the wagon reads: VASA Order of America, Tucson Lodge 691. In this 1976 Rodeo Parade, the VASA children’s dance group performed on the float as it moved down the street—possibly Stone Avenue. The lodge participated in a number of community events, including the Tucson Meet Yourself Festival (TMY). The lodge joined TMY when it began in 1973. It was a very different festival from the three-day event that takes place now in October. In the early days, there wasn’t an actual booth. VASA members sold food and handmade handicrafts displayed on tables. When Al Berg served as VASA Chairman (1993-1996), he designed and built a booth, which resembled a Swedish cottage. Since 2015, only VASA’s dancers appear in the TMY festival.

Andy Tadlock

Congratulations Andy!

Andy Tadlock graduated from the U.S. Navy’s Officer Candidate School in September 2018. He is the son of Mark and Kristen Tadlock and the grandson of Dennis and Susan Nordeen, The proud Tadlocks attended the ceremony at Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island. Andy has been active in Tucson VASA 691 since childhood. For several years, he was the articulate and handsome Master of Ceremonies at the Santa Lucia celebration. His mother, Kristen Tadlock, was director of the Santa Lucia program for about 20 years.

NORDIC JULAFTON VASA expanded its Lilla Julafton program into a Nordic Julafton, when it invited our Nordic friends in Tucson to give a presentation on the way the Christmas season is celebrated in their countries. It was a very interesting program during which we discovered that the traditions are really not that different. Roger Eggen, president of the Tucson Chapter of Norwegians Worldwide, gave a slide show of the Christmas season in Norway. VASA member Claudette Olson gave a slide show about how the season is celebrated in the past and present in Sweden. Alice Johnson, president of the Danish Club and a VASA member, and Marilyn Buckelew of the Danish Club, explained the Christmas season traditions and how the Christmas tree is decorated, especially with strings of Danish flags. Joel Wasti, former president of the Finnish Club, described the Christmas traditions of his childhood in America. Of course, the smorgasbord of Nordic Christmas food was delicious.

Alice Johnson, left, and Marilyn Buckelew

PREPARING FOR NORDIC FAIR

Roger Eggen Claudette Olson

Lefse Rolling is an Art !

From Roger’s slide show

Two days before the 2018 Nordic Fair on December 1, several members of Tucson VASA 691 gathered in a kitchen at the Tanque Verde Lutheran Church to prepare rice pudding, rosettes and Swedish meatballs. From left are Victoria Lofgren, Claudette Olson, Marla Lowell and Sandra Fogarty. The photographer and “Swedish meatball sundae” chef was Chairman Gayle Anderson.

NORDIC FAIR The participation of VASA 691 in the Nordic Fair was a huge success. The new food offering, the “Swedish Meatball Sundae”, sold out quickly, as did the wonderful baked goods (limpa, braided cardamom coffee bread, apple cakes and cookies) and the Julmarknad gifts. The tobbogan booth for selfie photos, which made its debut last year, returned by popular demand and was very busy. The Nordic Fair, which is held each year on the first Saturday of December, is an opportunity to introduce the culture and traditions of the Nordic countries to the Tucson community. The fair is held at Streams in the Desert Lutheran Church. Each of the Nordic clubs in Tucson—VASA 691, the Tucson Chapter of Norwegians Worldwide, the Danish Club and the Finnish Club—offer the food specialties of their countries. About 25 vendors also offer food, handicrafts and embroidered linens. VASA 691 was beautifully represented by its Swedish Folk Dancers and the Aurora Borealis Folk Band. At the suggestion of VASA member Phyllis Gracy, the Swedish Folk Dancers paraded to their courtyard performance holding the flags of Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland. This heartwarming parade will be repeated next year. The Swedish Folk Dancers and the Aurora Borealis Band perform at several community events during the year, including the Tucson Meet Yourself three-day festival.

The Swedish Folk Dancers performing during the Nordic Fair are, from left, Gayle Anderson, Dennis Higbie, Phyllis Gracy, Sven Iverson, Lorien Tersey, Howard Yoffe and Nancy Bannister. The dancers performed in the courtyard of the Streams in the Desert Lutheran Church. This photo appeared on the Nordic Fair website. The photographer was Rachel Erickson.

The busy VASA 691 workers at the Nordic Fair, from left, are: Rebecca Block, Kerstin Block, Victoria Lofgren, Carrie Aldrich, Marla Lowell, Gayle Anderson and Claudette Olson.

Daniel Maus, below left, and Ken Walter manned the busy toboggan selfie booth at the fair. VASA Chairman Gayle Anderson, far right, was visited during the fair by Kathi, a member of the Finnish Federation and a popular local Finnish performing artist.

LUCIA CELEBRATION VASA 691 Lodge and Resurrection Lutheran Church in Oro Valley joined forces to celebrate St. Lucia, and the result was an outstanding program. Hats are off to our exceptional Lucia leader, Anita Vadis. Guests gave rave reviews of the pageant, decorations, food and organization. Several guests indicated that the pageant brought tears to their eyes. There were two Lucias: Emma Faye Enos, the daughter of Morgan Thomas Enos and Carrie Aldrich, and Julia Spencer, the daughter of Sean and Jenene Spencer. The Lucias, wearing lighted candles in a crown on their heads walked through the room with their attendants to the head table on the stage, where they were seated. Emma represented VASA 691 and Julia represented the Resurrection congregation. Emma is a multi-talented junior and National Honor Society student at Ironwood High School, and Julia is a senior at Ironwood High School. Julia will graduate with honors this year and plans to attend the University of Arizona on scholarships in the fall. VASA 691 Chairman Gayle Anderson noted in her yearend remarks that the lodge “has benefitted greatly from Emma’s generous use of her talents at the Tucson Meet Yourself Festival and at Nordic Fair, and she was the remarkable pianist at the Arizona District 21 Convention in April 2018.” Emma’s parents, Carrie and Morgan, and her sister, Elena, also regularly volunteer for VASA events. Carrie is VASA 691’s 2019 Recording Secretary. The chairman praised the Lucia pageant participants and Lucia supporters. And, she added: “Tack så Mycket to Anita and helpers Victoria Lofgren, Janet and Duane Deardorff, Claudette Olson and Sandra Fogarty.” Gayle Anderson has entered her seventh year as chairman of Tucson VASA 691 Lodge. “We have some exceptional members who have filled some of the essential offices in the lodge for 2019,” she noted. “Please enthusiastically support these people and volunteer to help at Nordic Fair, join the dance group, or help at other events. Let’s make 2019 a fantastic VASA 691 year!”

The Lucias and their attendants are, from left, Fendi Lofgren, Elena Enos, Lucia Emma Enos, Apple Girl Audrey

Spencer, Lucia Julia Spencer, Addison Young, Olivia Spencer, and the Star Boys, Elijah and Josiah Nicholson.

Dance Leader Phyllis Gracy announces the dances that the Swedish Folk Dancers will perform at the Lucia celebration at Resurrection Lutheran church. From left are: Lorien Tersey, Howard Yoffe, Dennis Higbie, Phyllis, Nancy Bannister and Gerry Spinks.

The Lucias and part of their court at the head table are, from left, Lucia Emma Enos, Lucia Julia Spencer, Apple Girl Audrey Spencer, Olivia Spencer and the Star Boys, Elijah and Josiah Nicolson.

Aurora Borealis Folk Band members are, from left, David Pauch, Odani Keiko and Bill Dickerson.

The Lucia carolers, from left, are Pattie Elliot, Karen Hustad and Lauchette Lowe. Their pianist is Pam Batten.

Morgan Enos goes tobboganing with his daughters, Emma, Lucia of VASA 691, and Elena, one of Lucia’s attendants.

Gustav Lofgren, left, and Sandra Fogarty.

One of several decorations placed on the floor in front of the stage at St. Lucia.

Dennis and Susan Nordeen. Susan baked 200 Lucia Buns for the St. Lucia celebration.

Mike and Joyce Judah and Jean Buchman, right. Joyce is Jean’s daughter.

The artistic Christmas tree, at left, was the centerpiece on the tables at the St. Lucia celebration. The display below is one of several placed on the floor in front of the stage.

Duane and Janet Deardorff and Janet Walkup.

Delicious Smorgasbord!

VASA 691’s Potluck selections were on the right side of the table.

The congregation’s selections

were on the left side of the table.

The photographers for Nordic Fair and/or Lucia were Carrie Aldrich, Gayle Anderson, David Gracy and Marilyn Kaler.