Ringerike - Drammen Districts Bygdelag
President's Letter

Fra Presidenten

HOT!!! The stevne in Fargo last month brought back memories of Decorah, IA, in 1999 – the year of the Valdres Samband‘s 100th anniversary. But we survived and had an excellent turnout that included 137 attending from Norway. They also agreed that it was hot.

It was great to welcome five of our members to their First Stevne. Welcome to Ruth Dahlquist, Jan Fuglseth, Peg and Steven Schellin and Sharon Sundre! I hope you‘ll make it a habit to return to many more meetings. After the Schellins registered, they found out, fairly happily, I think, that the 2012 stevne next year is in Oconomowoc, WI, which is in their backyard! Personally, I have a couple of pet projects in need of a couple of volunteers that love to work on their com-puters. I‘d like to improve our genealogy ability by creating a searchable data base that would allow quick an-swers about our ancestors, what farm, parish or kommuner they came from.

Secondly, I think a master list of our membership since the 1985 reorganization would be helpful. With this it would be easy to check if a person was a member and when. Who will step up and help? This could be a win-ter project that can be done in your home and on your schedule. I‘d appreciate if you gave me a call or sent an e-mail to talk about it.

After such a good stevne with our Norwegian guests, I am sure that all of you were horrified to hear the details of the tragedy in Norway. We Americans are almost as shocked as the Norwegians at the assaults. We can‘t say how sorry we are for them to bear these unfathomable happenings in Oslo and in a place of such scenic splen-dor. Please remember the people of Norway in your prayers. It is important in life to express our joys and our problems to others—in thoughtful words.

This is closer to us as RDD members than you might have thought. Did you know that the island of Utøya, where the massacre of the young people took place, is in Hole‘s part of Tyrifjorden? That is the huge (tooth-shaped) body of water between Hole and Modum and Lier. It is about 11 miles south of Hønefoss and about 12 miles north of Sylling in Lier.

Three of our friends—one from Oslo, one from Krød-sherad, and one living in Sylling in Lier—all attended the 11 a.m. morning service at the Norwegian Memorial Church in Minneapolis July 24. The one we happened to see on Twin Cities TV at 5 or 6 p.m. (while switching channels on two sets) happens to be a second cousin (once removed) of my wife. She lives in Sylling, and we were together the next evening so she could meet our family. She expects she will know grieving families with losses when she arrives home.

At the annual business meeting we discussed our 100th anniversary, which is coming up in 2016. It was decided to start researching historical sources, such as newspapers and histori-cal societies, to obtain history about the early lag activities. There was interest in producing a book to document our history, in text and pictures, both of the lag and of its individual lag me-bers and their families.

Another change, effective Jan 1, 2012, will be a modest increase in dues for the first time since 2004. We publish four issues annually and printing costs have risen. New rates will be $12 for one year, $33 for 3 years, and $50 for 5 years. This is a $10 savings for the longest term if you wish to keep the pre-sent rate. Subscribe for gifts, now. Hilsen, Narv

Updated on December 30, 2007