The Friendly Fifth

Leadership Workshop

Destination Stoughton- SN District 5 Adult Camp a Success!

Sons of Norway District 5 welcomed 21 members from Wisconsin and Illinois to greater Dane County on October 27-29, 2023. The camp allowed our members  to experience a weekend of learning, fun, and networking!
 

Friday’s activities included a tour by Craig Bluschke of the historic Hauge Church in rural Mt. Horeb, touring the HIstorium in Mt. Horeb, a presentation about the Norway Building by Brian Bigler, and then venturing to Stoughton. Participants could visit the Norwegian American Genealogical Center & Naeseth Library in Madison that day to see their facility and learn about the resources. In Stoughton, Livsreise was open as well as many shops downtown. Sons of Norway-Mandt Lodge offered a meatball meal and the group watched “Kaskeland” about the Koshkonong Prairie. We ended the night with presentations Director Wendy Furseth and six of the Stoughton High School Norwegian Dancers on their trip to Norway followed by the Authors and Illustrators, Gary Nauman and Nathan Peterson, of Vidar and Hans, will share their story of starting an independent comic book right when the pandemic hit. The Vidar and Hans Series is about a Viking and a Troll hanging out in Stoughton, hiding their secret identities, and aspiring to be superheroes.

A busy Saturday allowed the participants free time in the morning to go to the Wisconsin State Rosemalers Sale, visit Livsreise and the Stoughton Historical Museum, do some shopping, and take in the stamping class the District is offering. Connie Aiello showed the group how to make a card using the District stamps and explained the various sets in our collection. In the afternoon, Howard Kietzke gave a presentation on the Hauge Log Church, Roxy Engelstad gave a presentation about St Paul’s Liberty Church near Deerfield, and International Board members, Duane Kittleson and Robin Fossum, gave updates and took questions. District Board members Darlene Arneson, Cheryl Wille-Schlesser, Connie Kross, Connie Aiello, and Judy Ghastin gave updates on the bylaw proposal, 2024 Convention, recent board meeting, fundraisers, and took questions. The group took a break to go watch the Dancers perform and then enjoyed a fish chowder meal will be at the lodge. That evening they had chocolate presentation by Yahara Chocolate owner Brook Johnson and we ended the evening with a fun presentation by Bill Amundson on Stoughton's Norwegian Culture: An Outsider's Guide.  

On Sunday, some attended church at East Koshkonong Church and enjoyed many treats and coffee afterwards. Bonnie Ehrke and Marilyn Gunderson gave the historic upper church and of the cemetery. We were the first group to see the rock marker showing where the first service was held. Then then group moved to St. Paul’s Liberty Church where Pastor Holly and Roxy Engelstad gave a tour of the church and cemetery. 

Ten lodges were represented during the weekend with members coming from Wisconsin and Illinois. Thank you for Fosselyngen Lodge for their financial support through the Sons of Norway District 5 Nordic Legacy Foundation to off-set the expenses of Adult Camp.
 
First Last Lodge City State
Dawn Gunderson Cleng Peerson Leland IL
Connie Kross Cleng Peerson Sandwich IL
Robert Fossum Dovre Chetek WI
Robin Fossum Dovre Chetek WI
Susan Van Lith Fosselyngen Brookfield WI
Carol Brunner Gronnvik Green Bay WI
Lucy Ghastin Idun Middleton WI
James Eliason Idun Madison WI
Dee Grimsrud Idun Madison WI
Vicky Goplen Mandt Edgerton WI
Bruce Goplen Mandt Edgerton WI
Darlene Arneson Mandt Stoughton WI
John Arneson Mandt Stoughton WI
Patricia Boelsing Mandt Stoughton WI
Judy Ghastin Norse Valley Appleton WI
Corlene Bartels Norsemen of the Lakes Lyons WI
Barb Johnson Polar Star Yorkville IL
Nancy Andersen Polar Star St. Charles IL
Arthur Andersen Polar Star St. Charles IL
Duane Kittleson Vennelag Madison WI
Cheryl Wille-Schlesser Vennelag Mt. Horeb WI
 
Photos can be found on Facebook- Sons of Norway District 5 and will be uploaded to the District website in the near future. The hashtag for the weekend was #SND5AdultCamp2023.