Norwegian-American Bygdelagenes Fellesraad

"Happy to provide you with the most current bygdelag information available, on the web,
 or anywhere else!"

 

  1916   

Celebrating more than 100 Years of the bygdelag in America

What is the Fellesraad?

"Norwegian-American Bygdelagenes Fellesraad" (NABF), is the national council for the thirty-two (32) affiliated Norwegian-American Bygdelag.  Founded on November 17, 1916, the Fellesraad has been continuously active in the bygdelag movement for over ninety years.   

From a translation of entries found in the 1929 year book come the following statements of purpose:

  1. To stand as a connecting link between bygdelag.
  2. To create a forum for the member groups where questions of mutual interest and meaning could be drafted by lag representatives.
  3. To be an advisory organization, to support and guide development of the lag movement  and to influence its cultural activities.
  4. To manage cooperative projects for the good of all bygdelag.

For corrections to or questions about this site, you may contact us via Webmaster: .

 

Links to Fellesraad information

Contacting the Fellesraad.

What is a Bygdelag (Lag)?

Which Lag would interest me?

How would I join a Lag?

There is no Lag for me!

Exploring your Norwegian roots.

List of Upcoming Stevne/Events

Links to sites of common interest.

Pictures from recent events

Copy of the latest brochure

Copy of the latest bulletin

 

 


Fellesraad Special Projects

 

Use this list of Norwegian Fylker (Counties) to find related Bygdelag.

Akershus
Aust-Agder
City of Bergen
Buskerud
Finnmark
Hedmark
Hordaland
Møre og Romsdal
Nordland
Nord-Trøndelag
Oppland
City of Oslo
Rogaland
Sør-Trøndelag
Sogn og Fjordane
Telemark
Troms
Vestfold
Vest-Agder
Østfold

 

  Use this list of Bygdelag to find related Fylker and links to Lag pages.

Gudbrandsdal
Hadeland
Hallingdal
Hardanger
Landingslag
Lappmark
Møre og Romsdal
Nord Hedmark og Hedemarken
Nordfjord
Nordhordland
Nordland
Numedal
Ringerike Drammen Districts
Opdalslag
Rogalandslag
Romerike
Sigdal
Sogn
Sognefjord
Solør
Sunnfjord
Sunnhordland
Sør-Trøndelag
Telelag
Toten
Trønderlag
Valdres Samband
Vosselag
Østfold

 

Exploring your Norwegian roots.

You may start your search of these pages from a geographic location (Click on a numbered area on the Fylke Map of Norway below), from the List of Norwegian Fylker (Counties) above, or from the List of Bygdelag above.


Fylke Map of Norway
Fylke map of Norway

What is Bygdelag?

Bygdelag are organizations comprised of descendants of emigrants from Norway to North America. Every "Lag" seeks to preserve and strengthen bonds with its home district or community-of-origin in Norway.

Because groups usually hold meetings (stevner) once each summer, Lag publications continue to be essential communication tools in most groups. Except for wartime, these reunions have been occurring since several hundred people from Valdres met in a Minneapolis park in June 1899. Close to 1100 participants celebrated Valdres Samband's 100th year at the Norwegian-American Bygdelag Centennial, which also honored every subsequent "Lag" at Luther Collage, Decorah, Iowa, July 29-31, 1999.

 

Stevne programs may feature a variety of Norwegian cultural and educational activities. Displays of Norwegian arts and crafts, consumption of ethnic foods, choral and instrumental music, books and readings, fiddlers and folk dancing, genealogy classes, noted speakers, video tapes, and Norwegian language in signs, songs or speech may be used.

Fun and fellowship-as well as help in tracing your ancestry and re-establishing contact with relatives are possible.

 

 

 

 

 

Which Lag would interest me?

Knowing a little about your ancestors helps. What part of Norway did they come from? Did they move around the country before emigrating?

If you know the geographic area where they first lived, click on the numbered area of the Fylke Map of Norway near the top of this site.

 

If you know the Fylke (County) a good place to start are the links in the table of Counties above.

Many Lags have names that are taken from the major community or feature in their area. You may find a similar name in the List of Lags, also found above.

 

 

 

 

How would I join a Lag?

Lag membership is usually a matter of contacting the membership secretary of the Lag and paying a yearly membership.  Dues the generally range from $5 to $25 US. (Please see the information supplied for the Lag you have interest in for more information!

 

There is no Lag for me!

Unfortunately there are still a couple of fylker for which no individual Lag exists.  Finnmark, Nordland, and  Troms are represented by two Lag, Lappmark and Nordland.  These fylker cover a large geographic area but admittedly have a smaller population.

We would like to see Lags available for all fylker and would be willing to help you set up a Lag if there is enough interest.

At the moment Vestfold is the only fylke with no lag representation at all. (See area 18 on the map.)  If your ancestors are from this fylke try contact lags the neighboring fylker to see if they might be of help to you.

 

List of Upcoming Stevne/Events.

Some bygdelag also plan occasional trips to Norway.  Check with the individual lags or their web sites for more information.

 

----------------------- 2008 -----------------------

May 2008

Annual Meeting always1st Saturday in May,  May 3, 2008  ( See the Mini-Bulletin)

 

June 2008

Hallinglag - June 19-22, 2008,  at the Holiday Inn, Minot ND.

Vestlandslag - Sognalag CENTENNIAL - June 19-20-21 at Waldorf College, Forest City, Iowa
(Hardanger, Møre og Romsdalslag, Nordhordland, Rogalandslag, Sognalag, Sunnhordland, or Vosselag)
For registration information contact Dick Flisrand, Marilyn Cornell or Robert Hanson

Valdres Samband - June 26-28, 2008   In Austin, MN. at the Holiday Inn. Call Earl Evenstad, 612-861-4793

Sunnfjordlag - June 27-28 , 2008, meets in Grand Forks, ND. Call Dick Rem 608-873-9332

Nordlandslag & Lappmark Lag - June 27-29, Holiday Inn Express, Bemidji, MN. Call Christian Skjervold, 763-786-2427 

 

July 2008

Seven Lag - July 16-19, Ramada Stevens Point, Stevens Point, WI 
Sandra Hendrickson, coordinator, 952-892-5402
(Hadeland, Jan Huesinkveld 507 285-9483
Landingslag
, Chuck Hauke 320 846-0088
Numedalslågenlag
, CENTENNIAL Chet Habberstad218 826-6268
Ringerike-Drammen Districts
, Narv Somdahl 952 831-4409
Sigdalslag
, Judy Sosted 507 645-0499
Telelag
, John Haugo 715 381-1430
Toten
) Marie Brown 763 588-6666

 

August 2008

Tre Lag, August 6 - 9,2008  at the Bigwood Event Center, Fergus Falls, MN.  
(Gudbrandsdalslaget, Betty Strand, 763 571-1831
Trønderlag
Linda Schwartz 847-516-0085
and Nord Hedmark og Hedemarken Dixie Hansen 651 690-0872)

On Saturday, August 9, Tronderlag of America will be celebrating their Centennial Anniversary at the birth place of the lag--Fergus Falls, MN.  
Contact people: Elaine Hasleton, Centennial Chair - 801-292-5806 or 
Linda Schwartz
, President - 847-516-0085 

Sognefjord Lag - Aug 6-9,2008 in Albert Lea, MN. Call Kathy Johnson, 608-238-1785

 

September 2008

Opdalslaget- Sept. 6, 2008 held at Scandia Lutheran Church in Centerville, SD
                    Pauline Strait, 605 983-5488

Solørlag - Sept. 10-13, 2008 stevne will be held at the Sawmill Inn, Grand Rapids MN.
                Homer Saetre, 218 864-5287

Nordfjordlag - Sunday Sept.  21, 2008 at Green Lake Bible Camp, Spicer, MN.
                        Call Betty Rodi, 320-796-6800 or contact Gene Rodi 

Romerikslag - Sept. 25-27, 2008 we will meet in Decorah, Iowa at the Winneshiek Hotel.
                        Joel Botten, 507 388-1995

 

 

* * * * Future Dates * * * *

----------------------- 2009 -----------------------

June 2009

Hallinglag - June 11-14, 2009,  location TBD - possibly in SE MN.

 

----------------------- 2010 -----------------------

 

Contacting the Fellesraad.

2007 Officers
Sonia Rache, Marilyn Somdahl, R. Lee Brown, Marilyn Sorensen, Eunice Helgeson, and Eugene Rodi

Officers of Bygdelagenes Fellesraad 
President: Marilyn D. Somdahl
5100 West 102 St #209
Mpls., MN  55437
(952) 831-4409
President:
Vice President: Marilyn Sorensen
4468 Arden View Court
St. Paul, MN  55112
(651) 633-1329

Secretary: Sonia Rache
10736 Toledo Court
 Bloomington, MN 55437
(952) 888-8094
Secretary:
Treasurer: R. Lee Brown
2210 Spruce Trail
Golden Valley, MN  55422
(763) 588-6666
Treasurer:
Director: Eunice Helgeson
5541 Woodlawn Blvd 
Minneapolis MN 55417 
( 612) 724-7202
Director:
Director: Eugene A. Rodi
2600 East 43rd Street
Minneapolis., MN  55406
(612) 722-3324
2nd.Director:
Past. President: Christian Skjervold
7389 Memory Lane NE
Fridley, MN  55432
(763) 786-2427
Past President:

 

 



Click photo to see pictures from recent events!

 

Shirley Evenstad holding one of the plates commissioned for 100th anniversary lags.


Yearly annual meeting of the Fellesraad

Two official representatives from each of 32 bygdelag next meet in Minneapolis MAY 3, 2008 (See events)

 

Map Area #1. Akershus

Links to Lag contact data for this fylke:
    - Romerikslag

 

Direct links to Lag home pages:
Romerikslag

 

Map Area #2. Aust-Agder

Links to Lag contact data for this fylke:
    -No lag currently active

 

Direct links to Lag home pages:

 


Map Area #3. City of Bergen

Links to Lag contact data for this fylke:
    - Nordhordland

 

Direct links to Lag home pages:

 

Map Area #4. Buskerud

Links to Lag contact data for this fylke:
    - Hallinglag
    - Numedalslågen Lag  Includes:
                 Lardal and Larvik Kommune
    - Seven Lag Stevne
    - Sigdalslag
    - Ringerike-Drammen Districts

 

Direct links to Lag home pages:
Hallinglag
Numedalslågen Lag


Sigdalslag
Ringerike-Drammen Districts

 

Map Area #5. Finnmark

Links to Lag contact data for this fylke:
    - Lappmark
    - Nordlandslag

Direct links to Lag home pages:
Lappmark
Nordlandslag

 

Map Area #6. Hedmark

Links to Lag contact data for this fylke:
    - Solør
    - Nord Hedmark og Hedemarken

 

Direct links to Lag home pages:
Solør
Nord Hedmark og Hedemarken

 

Map Area #7. Hordaland

Links to Lag contact data for this fylke:
    - Hardanger
    - Nordhordland
    - Sunnhordland
    - Vosselag
    - Vestlandslag Stevne

 

Direct links to Lag home pages:
Hardanger


http://www.vosselag.org/

 

Map Area #8. Møre og Romsdal

Links to Lag contact data for this fylke:
    - Møre og Romsdalslag
    - Vestlandslag Stevne

 

Direct links to Lag home pages:
Møre og Romsdalslag

 

Map Area #9. Nordland

Links to Lag contact data for this fylke:
    - Lappmark
    - Nordlandslag

 

Direct links to Lag home pages:
Lappmark
Nordlandslag

 

Map Area #10. Nord-Trøndelag

Links to Lag contact data for this fylke:
    - Trønderlag

 

Direct links to Lag home pages:
Trøndelag

 

Map Area #11. Oppland

Links to Lag contact data for this fylke:
    - Gudbrandsdalslaget
    - Hadeland
    - Landingslag
    - Seven Lag Stevne
    - Toten
    - Valdres Samband

 

Direct links to Lag home pages:
www.gudbrandlag.org
Hadeland
Landingslag

http://www.totenlag.org
Valdres Samband

 

Map Area #12. City of Oslo

Links to Lag contact data for this fylke:
    - Romerikslag

 

Direct links to Lag home pages:
Romerikslag

 

Map Area #13. Rogaland

Links to Lag contact data for this fylke:
    - Rogalandslag
    - Vestlandslag Stevne

 

Direct links to Lag home pages:
Rogalandslag

 

Map Area #14. Sør-Trøndelag

Links to Lag contact data for this fylke:
    - Trønderlag
    - Opdalslag

Direct links to Lag home pages:
Trønderlag
Opdalslag
or Fellesraad - Opdalslag

 

Map Area #15. Sogn og Fjordane

Links to Lag contact data for this fylke:
    - Nordfjordlag
    - Nordfjord Wisconsin
    - Sognalag
    - Sognefjord
    - Sunnfjord
    - Vestlandslag Stevne

 

Direct links to Lag home pages:
Nordfjordlag


Sognefjord
Sunnfjord

 

Map Area #16. Telemark

Links to Lag contact data for this fylke:
    - Seven Lag Stevne
    - Telelag

 

Direct links to Lag home pages:

Telelag

 

Map Area #17. Troms

Links to Lag contact data for this fylke:
    - Lappmark
    - Nordlandslag

 

Direct links to Lag home pages:
Lappmark
Nordlandslag

 

Map Area #18. Vestfold

Links to Lag contact data for this fylke:
    - Seven Lag Stevne  
   - Numedalslågen Lag  For:
                Lardal and Larvik Kommune

 

Direct links to Lag home pages:

Numedalslågen Lag

 

Map Area #19. Vest-Agder

Links to Lag contact data for this fylke:
    - Currently no lag active

 

Direct links to Lag home pages:

 

Map Area #20. Østfold

Links to Lag contact data for this fylke:
    - Østfoldlag

 

Direct links to Lag home pages:
Østfoldlag

 

Links to the latest Printable brochure

Click on the desired file name below to download a printable .pdf copy of the file (less than 200k):

Formatted for printing on 4 sides of letter size (8.5" x 11") sheets or for direct viewing on your screen:

     2008 Explore Your Norwegian Roots (May)

NEW - Formatted for printing on 2 sides of  a legal size (14" x 8.5") sheet as a booklet:

     2008 Explore Your Norwegian Roots (May) as a booklet

 

 

Links to the latest Printable Bulletins

Click on the desired file name below to download a printable .pdf copy of the file:

    2008 Bulletin (Feb)

    2007 Bulletin (Dec)

    See the Mini-Bulletin

Links to Relevant Web Sites Common to all Lags

Sites on Norway
http://www.norway.com

http://www.norway.org

A Norwegian paper in english
http://www.norwaypost.no

Ancestors from Norway 
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~norway/index.html

Cindi's List on Norway 
http://www.cyndislist.com/norway.htm

Genealogy in Norway 
http://home4.inet.tele.dk/skin_rup/norway.htm

Norway Roots
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/3856/

Slektshistoriske Kilder 1500 to 1900
http://www.dis-norge.no/genress/

How to trace your ancestors in Norway
http://odin.dep.no/odin/engelsk/bn.html


The Norwegian-American Collection collects family histories.  They are a source for Norwegian genealogists who seek information about their family in the US.
http://www.nb.no/html/norsk-amerikansk_samling.html
http://www.nb.no/html/norwegian-american_collection.html
http://www.kb.nl/gabriel/libraries/pages_generated/no_en.html

©Copyright

NABF is proud to sponsor this site.  You are free to copy information from these pages for use in your Lag activities, publications, or genealogical research, but we sincerely ask that you respect the privacy of the individuals list herein by refraining from posting their personal information on any other web related site or mailing list.  

Since the information list here is constantly being updated we welcome and recommend links to this, the main site (http://www.fellesraad.com) instead of copying the material to a site of your own.

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Last updated 05/05/2008 09:38 AM -0600