As I write this message Karen and I are preparing to go to the district convention.
We have been working with the convention committee over the many months to
make sure everything comes off without a problem. We are excited to welcome all
the convention delegates and very excited to welcome the representatives from
BetterLife. I am sure that there will be a lot of questions for them as Sons of
Norway is partnering with BetterLife making this a new direction for Sons of
Norway. Many members have already overwhelmed me with questions about the
partnership, so I created a committee to compile all the questions which they did in
record time. The list of questions has been forwarded to the International Board,
and we are hoping for answers before the start of our convention. If not, we know
they will be asked again during our Third District Lodge meeting. It is my sincere
hope that this partnership will be a successful endeavor for Sons of Norway going
into the future.
During the Third District Lodge meeting, committees will be announcing new and
revised initiatives that will take place in the next two years to help strengthen our
lodges, one of which is the Third District Newsletter contest. I will share all the
details of our great plans in my next president’s message.
The district board is working hard to recruit new members and to that end will be
setting up a booth again at Scanfest to do just that. We hope to sign up many more
new members that day as we did last year.
Youth Camp will be held this July from Sunday the 26th to Saturday the 1st of
August at Camp Koinonia in upstate New York. I highly encourage you to send
your children or grandchildren to youth camp to learn about their heritage and
culture. It is the best gift you can give to the children. Also, Cultural Camp will be
this year from Wednesday September 16th to Sunday September 20th at Isle of the
Palms, South Carolina. The first one last year was such a success that we anticipate
being sold out soon. There is a lot more information about both camps on the Third
District Website.
That is all for now. Till my next president’s message in the fall, Karen and I and the
whole Third District Board would like to wish you all a very happy summer.
Fraternally,
Stephen Helmold