The Friendly Fifth

Sports and Recreation

District 5 Member Sports Challenge 2023 / 2024

A member sports challenge was approved by the D5 Board at our recent fall board meeting and in advance of the June convention in Indianapolis.

*The Board encourages our members to exercise via the mode they prefer. Hike, bike, walk, snowshoe, ski, or swim your way to Indianapolis! Keeping ourselves healthy and strong is the goal. Fight off the winter doldrums and create a new you in 2024!

*The challenge will run from October 19, 2023, to May 19, 2024.
Local sports directors can plan specific outings for their lodge, or individuals can chart their own course. Choose a warm time of the day and simply GO FOR IT!

*Another perk, members can also earn Sons of Norway sports medals in the process.

If your lodge is planning a friluftsliv event, include the challenge as part of your day!

*Keep track of your miles and submit them to your lodge’s sports director or give them to your lodge president for recognition.
Participants could be recognized at your Syttende Mai banquet or May lodge meeting.

We will also acknowledge members at the 2024 District 5 Convention. Their names will be posted to the D5 webpage, and they will receive a participant award from their local lodge. A template will be provided. 

The route:
All participants will begin by leaving their residence and heading to our northernmost lodge geographically, Dovre Lodge, in Chetek, WI.

They will redirect themselves to our southernmost lodge, Vikings of the Smokies Lodge, in Knoxville, TN.

Lastly, participants will head for the finish line in Indy!


Cheryl Wille-Schlesser
District 5 President and Interim Sports Director
cwschlesser200bc@gmail.com

How To Play Kubb

  Basic Kubb instructions by Mandt Lodge Sports Directors Jens Arneson and Todd Fossum explain the game of kubb.
  https://youtu.be/8rPFXNUxXSI

Virtual Walk to Norge 2020



Since the Convention in 2020 for Ringsaker, Norway was cancelled, we exercised our way to Norway.  The results for the Virtual Walk to Norway showed it to be a popular activity.  Many members jumped at the chance to participate! Many people committed to a healthier lifestyle through exercise. With restrictions placed on many of us, the challenge provided motivation for many members.  Many participants earned sports medals for their efforts, too. Personal certificates were made for all members no matter the mileage they charted.  The certificates were mailed to each lodge’s president for awarding.  In addition, the power point slide show which was created for this activity is posted in the Photo Gallery. 

A total of 146 District 5 members participated in this activity. Congratulations to all who participated. Enjoy a healthy 2021!
Lodges and those reporting totals that I have are the following:

Polar Star Lodge  Montgomery, IL  walked 13,155 miles
Vennelag Lodge  Mt, Horeb, WI   logged 27,852  miles
Wergeland Lodge  LaCrosse, WI   had 9,981 miles
Mandt Lodge    Stoughton, WI
Norse Valley Lodge    Appleton, WI 
Nordkap Lodge     Farmington Hills, MI  walked 10,817 miles
Valkyrien Lodge   Woodville, WI had  6,526 miles
Grønnvik Lodge    Green Bay, WI logged  4,776 miles
Edvard Grieg Lodge    Cincinnati, OH  walked 5,268 miles
Valhall Lodge    Rockford, IL  logged in  3,575 mi
Askeladden Lodge    Kalamazoo, MI walked  2,813 mi

Sports and Recreation Committee Report

A new Sports Medal named the Sports Hero Pin or Idrettshellt became available in August for a fifth medal after the Enamel Sports Medal in any sports category.  One must earn twice the points or mileage of the Enamel for this new medal.  
Also an Outstanding Achievement Award medal or Hederspris is available after someone has earned three enamel sport medals.  

We can still do the Virtual Pilgrimage online which is on the International Sons of Norway website.   For those who want to continue keeping track of their walking, running or skiing, this route is from Oslo to Trondheim with info of sights along the way.   A very interesting way to learn the history and geography of Norway.  Recognition would be at the lodge level.

Birding