A big hello everyone. It has been a while since my last president’s message, so I wanted to bring you up to date on
what is happening in the district.
I have just returned from the wake for Audun Gythfeldt, past Sons of Norway International Secretary and Third
District President. It was nice to see so many turn out from all over the district to pay their respects for Audun and
participate in the Sons of Norway Funeral Service. It was a fitting tribute for him, for his many years of service to our order. For me, Audun was a good friend and advisor as he was for many of us, he will be very sadly missed, it is a great loss for Sons of Norway and the Third district.
With Summer almost over and fall just around the corner there are just two more events left to hold. One is the
district picnic at Nansen lodge on Staten Island on August 23rd which the district board hopes will be a big success, if not it may not happen next year. The other event is a district membership drive at Scanfest, in Budd Lake, NJ to get new members. The district will have a table with lots of information to hand out and hopes to sign up many new members that day.
Earlier this summer, the district cultural camp in South Carolina and the district youth camp were both a great
success. The cultural camp had a great turnout with members from all over the district that were interested in
learning about cultural activities. Those that attended would like to see it happen again next year, so the district
board voted to investigate having another cultural camp in North Carolina about mid-September of 2026.
The district youth camp had more children attending this year over last year. The children enjoyed camp so much
that they asked if they could attend next year. So, the district board voted to have it next again from July 26th to
August 1st. This is the best gift that we as Sons of Norway members can give our children. So, if you have children,
grandchildren or great grandchildren of camp age 8-17 years old, please, highly consider sending them to youth
camp next year.
The success of both of these camps is due to the hard work of our Cultural Director Cheri Johson and our newly
appointed Vice President Katie Brink. These ladies along with their volunteer committees went above and beyond
to make everyone happy.
Also happening next year is the Third District Convention, Thursday June 4th to Sunday June 7th at the Holiday Inn
Hotel and Conference Center, Virginia Beach, Virginia and will be co-hosted by Hampton Roads lodge and the Third
District Board. I encourage you to come to the convention as a delegate, non-delegate or guest, where you can
meet other members from other lodges in the district, hear from them what their lodges are doing and learn what
the District is all about. I am sure you won’t be disappointed, and for all past delegates I hope you will return as
delegate again.
The District Lodge Revitalization Committee has been very busy working on ways to help lodges. One thing they
have been working on is contacting the Spirit New Century 3-999 Lodge members with a personalize snail mail
letter and information about Sons of Norway lodges in the third district. They are Sons of Norway members, just
not in any lodge. It is the hope of the committee that these members will transfer to a lodge in the district, which
will help those lodges. The District Board also approved reimbursing lodges for the purchase of a banner to be
used for recruitment. Information regarding the ordering of these banners has been sent to all lodge presidents.
At this time, I want to wish you all a happy fall. Look for my next message in December.
Fraternally,
Stephen Helmold