Viking Bugle INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Winter 2014 Eric Nelson, CEO Michael Ide, Volunteer Coordinator, (206) 789-5707 x12, micha[email protected]From the Volunteer Coordinator 1 Museum News 2-3 Volunteer News 4 Special Recognition 5 Volunteer Appreciation 6 Volunteer Opportunities 7 Winter Calendar 8 From the CEO Happy New Year! I hope you and yours enjoyed a delightful Christmas holiday. It’s been another great year at the Nordic Heritage Museum. Once again, our special events saw record-breaking numbers and our programming continued to draw fantastic audience attendance and press coverage. Both Viking Days and Yulefest had their highest attendance and revenue numbers yet, and the Museum stands in a strong financial position as we look forward to making progress with the plans for the new Market St. facility. Our fundraising efforts for the Capital took us even closer to the new Museum with nearly 3 million in contributions this year. As always, 2013’s tremendous success was the result of the thousands of hours of hard work contributed by our stellar core of volunteers. I want to personally thank you for all of your support and dedication to the Nordic Heritage Museum. Since our inception, volunteer support has been the essence of our mission to From the Volunteer Coordinator As we launch into a brand new year, I am still recovering from the last one! Volunteer support was behind, if not directly responsible, for the Museum’s phenomenal achievements this year. From a handful of amazing exhibits, to record-breaking fundraisers, to every day at the Museum, you volunteers not only make possible what we do, you make it meaningful. As we get ready for another busy year, full of change and promise, I want to extend our heartfelt appreciation for all that you have done, and continue to do for this Museum. Have a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year! We’ll see you soon! —Michael share the Nordic spirit with our community. Each and every one of you has helped make a profound impact on the heart and soul of the institution, and nothing we do is possible without you. Please be sure to join our staff and Trustees for this year’s Annual Meeting, which will take place on Tuesday, February 18th. We will be reviewing highlights from 2013, as well as introducing the new slate of Trustees for 2014. It is always a pleasure to be part of the Nordic Heritage Museum community, and I look forward to working with you this year! All the best, Eric Nelson, CEO Rich Johnson’s beautiful dahlias brightened a very rain day— and always do! Thanks, Rich!
Transcript
Viking Bugle
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Winter 2014
Eric Nelson, CEO
Michael Ide, Volunteer Coordinator, (206) 789-5707 x12, [email protected]
From the Volunteer
Coordinator 1
Museum News 2-3
Volunteer News 4
Special Recognition 5
Volunteer
Appreciation 6
Volunteer
Opportunities 7
Winter Calendar 8
From the CEO
Happy New Year! I hope
you and yours enjoyed a
delightful Christmas
holiday. It’s been another
great year at the Nordic
Heritage Museum. Once
again, our special events saw
record-breaking numbers and
our programming continued
to draw fantastic audience
attendance and press
coverage. Both Viking Days
and Yulefest had their highest
attendance and revenue
numbers yet, and the Museum
stands in a strong financial
position as we look forward to
making progress with the
plans for the new Market St.
facility. Our fundraising
efforts for the Capital took us
even closer to the new
Museum with nearly 3 million
in contributions this year.
As always, 2013’s
tremendous success was the
result of the thousands of
hours of hard work
contributed by our stellar core
of volunteers. I want to
personally thank you for all of
your support and dedication
to the Nordic Heritage
Museum. Since our inception,
volunteer support has been the
essence of our mission to
From the
Volunteer
Coordinator
As we launch into a brand
new year, I am still
recovering from the last
one! Volunteer support was
behind, if not directly
responsible, for the
Museum’s phenomenal
achievements this year.
From a handful of amazing
exhibits, to record-breaking
fundraisers, to every day at
the Museum, you volunteers
not only make possible
what we do, you make it
meaningful. As we get
ready for another busy year,
full of change and promise,
I want to extend our
heartfelt appreciation for all
that you have done, and
continue to do for this
Museum.
Have a happy, healthy, and
prosperous new year! We’ll
see you soon!
—Michael
share the Nordic spirit with
our community. Each and
every one of you has helped
make a profound impact on
the heart and soul of the
institution, and nothing we do
is possible without you.
Please be sure to join our staff
and Trustees for this year’s
Annual Meeting, which will
take place on Tuesday,
February 18th. We will be
reviewing highlights from
2013, as well as introducing
the new slate of Trustees for
2014.
It is always a pleasure to be
part of the Nordic Heritage
Museum community, and I
look forward to working with
you this year!
All the best,
Eric Nelson, CEO
Rich Johnson’s beautiful dahlias
brightened a very rain day—
and always do! Thanks, Rich!
There was quite a
turnout for this
impromptu
volunteer send-off
for Sandra over the
holidays. She will be
missed by all!
PAGE
2 Museum News
STAFF UPDATE
HELLO...Ariane Westin-McCaw,
Registrar! We are excited that Ariane has
joined the Museum staff! She
started on the Monday before
Yulefest, we threw her into the
kitchen for the weekend—the
ultimate test—and she stuck
around!
A Seattle native, Ariane has
spent time all over, earning a
MA degree in Museum Studies from NYU, interning at
the Smithsonian Institution in Washingotn DC, and the
Field Museum in Chicago, and then working at the EMP.
She even volunteered here at the Nordic Heritage Museum
several years ago, so we are especially happy to welcome
her back. With Ariane on board, our collections will be in
expert hands.
GOODBYE...Sandra Nestorovic
After a 9-year tenure at the Museum, working as
Volunteer Coordinator, Grant Writer, Executive Assistant
and most recently, Administration Director, Sandra has
accepted a position at Amazon. We’ll miss her, but we are
happy for her and congratulate her on this fantastic career
opportunity! Stay in touch, Sandra!
The multi-talented
Sandra, making
dessert for the
Spring Volunteer
Appreciation
Dinner.
Halloween Volunteer
Dinner 2013!
Dorothy Trenor won as “one
confused Scandihoovian.” This
is Dorothy’s third consecutive
win for best costume! Well
done! We can’t wait to see
what you come up with next
year!
The volunteer
Halloween
costume contest
was cut-throat
again! Look at
all those great
costumes!
This year, the staff had a costume contest too! Well
done, Joan Crawford, er... Kirsten Olsen! You win!
Thanks,
Museum
Staff!
You
sure
throw
a great
party!
A VOLUNTEER
PERSPECTIVE
“Discovering
Our Heritage”
Project Revisited By Michelle Eastman
Have you ever looked at an item
at the museum and wondered
about the story behind it? I’ll tell
you the story about an item at
the Nordic Heritage Museum
that you might not even know
exists. This item is a heritage
quilt that has been seen hanging
in various places throughout the
museum, most recently next to
the Children’s Education
Coordinator’s office. I’m writing
to tell you some of the story
behind the quilt, part of a project
called “Discovering Our
Heritage.” About 15 years ago
the museum did a project with a
group of students from Ms.
Wade’s and Ms. Robel’s third
grade classes at Adams
Elementary who drew pictures
of items symbolizing their
heritage on quilt squares
(heirlooms if you will) as part of
a larger project. “Discovering
Our Heritage” was designed to
PAGE
3 Museum News
ADMISSIONS
UPDATE
New admissions rates start
January 1!
To keep pace with other regional museums
and to maintain the high quality of our
exhibitions and programs, we will be
adjusting our admission fee as follows:
Adults: $8
Seniors/Students: $7
Students (K-12): $6
Children under 5: Free
COLLECTIONS
UPDATE
Our very own
nyckelharpa
People are often mystified when
they first see a nyckelharpa, or
‘keyed fiddle’. Bart Brashers,
local musician, describes it as a
cross between a fiddle and
typewriter. It is bowed and has
keys to change the pitches, with
some strings acting as drones,
creating a unique sound. We now
have one! The instrument has been donated by Dan
Harrison in memory of his mother, who acquired the
instrument in the 1980s when she was active in Skandia
Folkdance Society - ‘in memory of Sarah (aka Sally) Ann
Streeter for her devotion to Scandinavian culture.’
~Kathi Ploeger , Music Archivist
help students look into their
cultural ancestry and remind
them that as the project
proposal by Karen Rippel
(former education coordinator)
stated “most families
[students’ families] came from
somewhere else.” The project
included doing family trees,
oral history interviews with
elders, the creation of a quilt
square with a heritage item,
and a visit to the immigration
exhibit at the Museum.
I was one of the students to
participate in “Discovering
Our Heritage” and my family
did indeed come from
“somewhere else”. My
mother’s paternal grandparents
came from Norway and I
chose to embrace that aspect of
my heritage to share with
others during the project. For
my quilt square I depicted a
PAGE 4
Volunteer News
PAGE
4
In Memory We fondly remember our dear friends who passed away this fall. Each was
a strong supporter of the Museum and worked hard to advance its mission in different ways. We cherish their
commitment, and celebrate their contributions.
Please consider sending along photographs of the members of our Museum’s volunteer community who have
passed away this year. I will create a slide show in remembrance to present at the Spring Volunteer
Appreciation Dinner.
Joanne Jonsson John Hendricks Arlene Oberg Morris Moen Olaf Kvamme
spoon that belonged to my great-
grandmother, Othilie Gulliksen, who
emigrated from Norway to get off
her family farm. The spoon in itself
had little personal significance for
me, aside from being pretty, and
having belonged to my great-
grandmother who came from
Norway. Now though, the spoon
represents something more
significant, the beginning of my
interest in heritage stories.
One of these heritage stories was
told to me during the interview
portion of the project. For my
interview, I chose to speak with my
great-grandmother’s son, my
Grandpa Odd, who told me the story
of his birth. On that day in 1919 his
mother was ill with the swine flu.
When she went into labor she could
barely breathe from all the phlegm
she had in her throat. She needed to
be able to breathe in order to deliver
her baby. A doctor was called in to
help with the birth. The doctor made
the decision to pour liquor down her
throat to cut down on the phlegm, so
she could breathe to deliver her son.
She delivered him safely of
course (or I wouldn’t be here) and
survived herself. The story
reminds me of the strength of my
family overcoming difficult times
and I don’t think I would have
ever heard this story if not for the
project. I know that this story
sparked my interest in my
ancestry and especially a woman
in my family who I would hear
more about later in life.
While I didn’t learn much about
my Norwegian heritage through
this project (I did at other points
in my life.), I learned about my
family’s past, a past that I would
like to keep alive. Part of keeping
my family’s past alive,
particularly my great-
grandmother’s, for me is to
volunteer here at the Museum
where I can also learn and share
more about the country from
which she came.
I hope I gave you a little story to
think about the next time you see
the quilt.
Michelle Eastman has been a
connected to the Museum
since her class participated
in this quilt project in the 3rd
grade. In recent years she
has become one of our most
active volunteers,
contributing her time and
talent to a number of areas
including kids’ programs,
public programs, special
events, outreach events and
visitor services. Thank you
Michelle, for all you do!
PAGE
5 A Special Yulefest Thanks! We had another unbelievable Yulefest! Thank you all for making it a record-breaking success!
Aaron Kitson, Aashild Pratt, Aidin May, Alan Lundeen, Albert Brown, Alexi Oliver, Allie Sterling, Allison Zaidi, Amanda Witt,
Amanda Munro, Amanda Rough, Anders Rogers, Andrea Bonnicksen, Andrea Bedini, Andy Ashmead, Ann Durant, Ann Bates, Anna Falck, Arlene Amundsen, Arnfridur Sigurdardottir, Astor Rask, Astrid Domenic, Barbara Paquette, Barb Johnson, Barbara
Jeniker, Bella Allen, Ben Saari, Bengt Hag, Berit Sjong, Beth Kitson, Beth Johnson, Bill Weed, Bill Briest, Birgit Amundson,
Birgitta Beck, Bjarne Jacobsen, Brad Borland, Brandon Benson, Brenda Wilson, Brian Kruse, Britt Sellers, Brittany Bryant, Brook Boeskov, Bruce Smith, Elmer Skold, Caitlin Cotter, Callie Moore, Carmen Minaker, Cameron Wressell, Camilla Koczara, Cari
Brown, Carl Field, Carleen See, Carli Anderson, Carol Kennedy, Cecilie Roaldset, Chris Siddons, Christina Cantillo, Christine
Cummings, Chris Hardy, Cindy Johnston, Clara Cowan and Friends, Coco Angell, Curtis Jacobs, Dagmar O’Brien, Dan Brown, Dan Kaylor, Dave Swain, David Juhl, Dawn Bowtcher, Desiree Gobles, Dianne Anderson, Don Meyers, Donna Pedersen, Doug Kilgren,
Douglas Sinn, Ed Cook, Edla Deppman, Eileen Kilgren, Einar Pedersen, Elaine Stevens, Elaine Carpenter, Elena Manenti, Eli
Mrozek, Elia Smith, Elida Tepper, Elizabeth Rudrud, Ellen Juhl, Ellen Duernberger, Emelie Linden, Emily Uhde, Emily Baravics, Ericka Newman, Erik Ronning, Erin Sterling, Gabe Peterson, Geoff Stone, GeorgeJean Erickson, Gloria Chenoweth, Gloria
Davidson, Gordon Olson, Gordon Strand, Greta Haagensen-Roseberg, Greta Buus, Hannah Cowan. Harriet Kemp, Henning Buus, Inger Saltonstall, Irene Andersen, Ivy Watkins, Jacob Tice, Jan Backman, Jane Kern, Janelle Guldahl, Janice Kaplan-Klein, Janice
Bogren, Jason Brooks, Jason Rudd, Jayne Jaderholm, Jenna Gregor, Jennifer Anderson, Jenny Linhoff, Jeri Whitsett, Jill Wasberg,
Joan Christ, Joanne Foster, John Speake, John Festa, Jolie Bergman, Jon Halgren, Jordan Eng, Judith Dern, Judith Mallory, Julie Coulter, Kaitlin Kjeldtoft, Kari-Lise Alexander, Karl Randolph, Karl Stutz, Kate Wiebe, Kate Gabowski, Kathi Erickson, Kathleen
Leslie Klein, Lindsey Castle, Lori Key, Lori Larsen, Lorraine Lofgren, Louise Torseth, Lucas Sheetz, Margaretta Campagna, Malina Hubler, Manuel Lopez-Santaillana, Margaret Lidberg, Mari-Ann Kind Jackson, Marianne Olson, Marianne Livingstone,
Marietta Ronnestad, Marietta Stark Foubert, Marilyn Sheldon, Marion Hafterson, Marisa Way-Rogainis, Marit Thomson, Markus Rook, Marta Kalve, Mary Lindholm, Mary Brothers, Mary Mohler, Mary Ann Stewart, Mary Lou Salter, Matt McCallum, Max
Parker, Nathan Kruse, Nicole Godbout, Nola Irish, Obert Ronnestad, Orva Anderson, Pam Kruse, Pat Loftin, Pat Charlson, Pat Skold, Paul Jacobson, Paul Riek, Pete Schroeder, Peter Boeskov, Pirkko Borland, Priscilla Featherstone, Randi Parker, Richard
Svensson, Rich Johnson, Rita Vermala-Koski, Robert Abrahamsen, Robin Hanley, Ron Hornung, Ronda Holmdahl, Ryley
Steven Luksan, Sue Gregor, Susan Haris, Susan Johnston, Susan Silverberg, Sven Kalve, Sylvi Thorstenson, Sylvia Key, Sylvia Vikingstad, Sylvia Thompson, Terry Rodriguez, Tiara Adler, Tim Hunter, Todd Clayton, Troy Monson, Unn Maeland, Ursula
Lawson, Vaughn Kiefer, Vela Dyrness, Victoria Sangrey-Hunter, Vince Jolivet and more!
Volunteer Appreciation PAGE
6
We thank the
following people for
their dedication
throughout the fall!
Fall Program and
Receptions Michelle Eastman Andrea Phillips Andrea Michelbach Meera Parmar Terry Rodriguez Rich Johnson Erik Sundholm Jenny Linhoff Malina Hubler Arnfridur Siguradottir Dane Woldseth Aaron Kitson Margaret Lidberg Mary Lindholm Barbara Paquette Sandy Haug
Soup and Cinema
Series Jan Backman Barbara Jeniker Lorraine Lofgren Terry Rodriguez Harriett Kemp Anna-Maria Svahn
Partner Events Rich Johnson Joanne Foster Toni Eaton Carleen See Jason Rudd Aaron Kitson
Interns and
Departmental
Assistance
Administration: Jonathan Wintrip Astor Rask
Development: Matt McCallum Ashely Russell Jean Wirch
Collections: Marilyn Whitted Angela Bartlett Mike Olson Kerri Keil Alison Goetz Emily McDade Marianne Kolden Ann Willott Robin Kaufman Steve Harvey Liisa Mannery Julie Coulter Kelley Staab Valerie Vega Kathi Erickson NAV Members
Marketing:
Kirsten Chalfen
Teen Council: Lucas Sheetz
Special Thanks
Special thanks from
Kirsten and Lizette for
all your hard work and
long hours on the new
exhibit, Pull Twist
Blow!
Robin Kaufman Jenny Linhoff Alexi Oliver
Sincere thanks from
Jeremy to all the
volunteers who helped
us make the
Wallenberg Dinner
such a success! Whitney Hoppen Anna-Maria Svahn Mari-Ann Kind Jackson Rebecca Bolin Rebecca Janssen Jenny Linhoff Meera Parmar Michelle Eastman
Angie Johnson Susan Silverberg
Special thanks from
Alison: A big thank you
to all the volunteers
who helped out with
children’s Christmas
programming: Molly Andrus Pat Charlson Karen Cowart-Smith Ann Durant Andrea Faste Sandy Haug Sophia Ingham Mary Juntilla Kaitlin Kjeldtoft Camilla Koczara Margaret Lidberg Mary Lindholm Barbara Paquette Anders Rogers Marilyn Sheldon Geoffrey Stone Ingela Wänerstrand Mari-Ann Kind Jackson
And a big year-end
thank you to my
wonderful children’s
docents Shirley
Fjoslien and Janice
Bogren; and Roberta
Morrow, who is always
willing to go speak to
schools.
Special thanks to the
Monday and Thursday
Crew and Friends who
again worked tirelessly
to keep the building
operating and getting
us ready for another
Yulefest! Bill Weed Ron Hornung Chris Hardy
Did I miss someone? Let me know!
Maurie Inglis Karl Randolph Sig Eriksen Bill Briest Erik Ronning Jon Hanson
Thurs 2 10-11 AM Nordic Stories: Fat Cat (Denmark)
Mon 13 10:30 AM Volunteer Council Meeting
Mon 13 Noon Volunteer Potluck
Tues 14 Noon Soup and Cinema: Patrik: Age 1.5 (Sweden)
Fri-Sun 17-19 Northern Lights Film Festival (at SIFF Cinema)
Thurs 30 7 PM Nordic/Baltic Book Lust Lecture Series: Prof. Marianne Stecher
Sun 5 1-4 PM Knit/Spin Cafe
January
February
Thurs 6 10-11 AM Nordic Stories: Moomin and the Winter Snow (Finland)
Thurs 6 7 PM Lecture: Simply Beautiful: A History of Nordic Glass
Sat 8 2-4:30 PM Tours and Demo: Pull Twist Blow Exhibit and Pratt Fine Art Center
Tues 11 Noon Soup and Cinema: Mother of Mine (Finland)
Tues 18 6:30 PM Annual Meeting
Thurs 20 7:30 PM Glass Art Program for Kids
Sun 23 4 PM Mostly Nordic: Devilishly Danish
Sun 2 1-4 PM Knit/Spin Cafe
March Sun 1 1-4 PM Knit/Spin Cafe
Thurs 6 10-11 AM Nordic Stories: Oliver (Iceland)
Thurs 6 7 PM Nordic/Baltic Book Lust Lecture Series Prof. Guntis Smidchens
Thurs 13 7PM Book Talk: Against My Dreams: An Immigrant’s Story
Sun 23 4 PM Mostly Nordic: How Swede It Is
Sat 29 10 AM Breakfast at Pippi’s
Tues 18 7PM Book Talk: Jim Cole
Mostly Nordic 2014
Sunday, February 23, 4 PM “Devilishly Danish”
Sunday, March 23, 4 PM “How Swede It Is”
Sunday, April 27, 4 PM “Breaking the Language Barrier: Norwegian and Danish Songs by Foreigners”
Sunday, May 18, 4 PM “Fantastically Finnish”
Sunday, June 1, 4 PM “Iced Coffee”
Save the Dates
Northern Lights Auktion Saturday, May 10 Syttende Mai Saturday, May 17 Viking Days August 16 and 17 Knitting Concert October 3-5 Yulefest November 22 and 23
