History of Lodges

The Traverse City lodge was established November 5,1977, with 36 charter members. From the initial charter membership of 36, our lodge had grown to about 80 (not including juvenile insurance members), but has since leveled off to the present membership of about 60.

Traverse City is located at the end of a 30 mile long peninsula that separates the East and West Grand Traverse bays that reaches into Michigan from Lake Michigan. These bays were formed from the Glacial period, making them true "fjords". It was natural, then, that "Tvilling Fjordene" was adopted as the lodge name.

We meet the first Friday of every month at the fellowship halls of local churches. About 20 of our members come from Frankfort, about 40 miles away. As a result some meetings have been held there as well.

The most noteworthy project for our lodge has been our involvement with SKI FOR LIGHT. During our 10 years of existence we have hosted, together wIth the Christian Radich Lodge in nearby Suttons Bay, the International SKI FOR LIGHT event. In addition, our local lodge has supported a local SKI FOR LIGHT chapter for several years, but this is not presently active.

Another successful event has been an annual meatball dinner. Initially, it was held near the 17th of May, but has lately been moved to Leif Eriksen Day in October. This has been a fund raising event for the lodge.

.... Karen Sullivan