The Norwegian Slooper Society of America held their 2017 annual meeting on October 8, 2017, in Norway, IL.  There were 61 in attendance.

Kirk & Renée Mies (Lindenhurst, IL) spoke on “An Enduring Legacy”, a story of their ancestors.  Kirk’s story is that of Daniel and Brita Rossedal (present descendants: Rosdail) making their way from the farm in Norway to boarding the sloop Restauration in Stavanger.  Kirk is a descendent of Daniel and Bertha, and followed in their footsteps going from the Rossedal farm in Trysvær, Norway, to the Hersdal farm, then on to Stavanger to catch the ship to America.  Renée shared her Irish ancestry, which was intriguing as well.  Who knows, we Norwegian-Americans may be related in some way to the Irish via the Vikings!

A special treat were the twenty-three Viking ship table place settings, each handmade from card stock and painted by Phyllis Benson of the Cleng Peerson Sons of Norway lodge #5-525 (Ottawa, IL).  These are 17 inches long, 3 inches wide, and 10 inches tall.  Beautifully done, Phyllis!

New officers were elected:
  PRESIDENT:    Steve Rosdail Southcombe
VICE PRESIDENT:  Kirk Rosdail Mies
SECRETARY:   Renée Rosdail Mies
TREASURER:   Steve Rosdail Southcombe
Congratulations to the new officers of the Slooper Society!

(left to right)  Renée Mies, Kirk Mies, and Steve Southcombe

And “mange takk” to the outgoing officers, who have served during the many past years:  Pat Goodman Hayes (President), Rev. Wesley Hougsted (VP), and Lou Hougas Wise (Secretary).

(left to right)  Pat Hayes, Rev. Wesley Hougsted, Lou Wise, and Steve Southcombe (Treasurer).

August 21, 2017

Dear Sloopers and friends,

You are cordially invited to the 92nd annual meeting of the Slooper Society of America. This meeting also extends to include our Sons of Norway friends.

Please mark your calendar for Sunday, October 8th, 2017, and plan to join us at the Norway Community Building, Norway, IL, just off Route 71.

Dinner will be served at 1:00 pm. We ask that each family bring a dish to pass. Table service and drinks will be provided.Our program this year will be presented by Kirk Mies (Rosdail descendant) and will be entitled, “An Enduring Legacy”. He is passionate about knowing and preserving his Norwegian heritage as well as creating renewed interest in it for the next generations.

There will be a short business meeting following the program. As in the past, the Norsk Museum will be open for those interested.  The Norway Store has many Norwegian items and foods and will be open until 5:00 p.m.

The re-printed book, The Sloopers: Their Ancestry and Posterity (Collector’s Edition), will be offered for sale at a special discounted price this day only for those that attend.

Please join us for an afternoon of great food and fellowship!

Sincerely,
Lou Hougas Wise, Secretary

P.S. Kirk will have Slooper lapel pins available for $5 each.

Dear Sloopers and friends,

You are cordially invited to the 91^st annual meeting of the Slooper Society of America.  This meeting also extends to include our Sons of Norway friends.   Please mark your calendar for Sunday, October 9^th, 2016, and plan to join us at the Norway Community Building, Norway, IL, just off Route 71.  Dinner will be served at 1:00 pm.  We ask that each family bring a dish to pass.  Table service and drinks will be provided.

Our program this year will be presented by Linda Anderson.  It will highlight the “Leif Erikson Legacy”.

There will be a short business meeting following the program.  As in the past, the Norsk Museum will be open for those interested.  The Norway Store has many Norwegian items and foods and will be open until 5:00 p.m.

The re-printed book, The Sloopers: Their Ancestry and Posterity, will be offered for sale at a special discounted price this day only for those that attend.

Please join us for an afternoon of great food and fellowship!

Sincerely,

Lou Hougas Wise, Secretary

The topic of the speaker for the upcoming 2016 Slooper Society Annual Meeting is expected to be “The Leif Erikson Legacy.”  The date for the 2016 annual meeting is:  Sunday, October 9, 2016, in Norway, IL.  Dinner starts at 1:00 pm.

Takk for your patience.  Hope to see you there!

Dear Sloopers and friends,

You are cordially invited to the 90^th annual meeting of the Slooper Society of America.  Please mark your calendar for Sunday, October 11^th, 2015, and make plans to join us at the Norway Community Building, Norway, IL, just off Route 71.  Dinner will be served promptly at 1:00 pm.  We ask that each family bring a dish to pass.  Table service and drinks will be provided.

Our speaker this year will be Ms. Anna Pierce of North Aurora, IL. She graduated from Aurora University in 2015, with a Bachelor’s in History and a Minor in Museum Studies and Film Studies.  Within her presentation, “Creating a Museum from Forgotten Treasures,” she will discuss her personal experiences in the challenges and joys of operating and organizing a museum….and the preservation of its collection into the future.

There will be a short business meeting following the program.  As in the past, the Norsk Museum will be open for those interested.  The Norway Store has many Norwegian items and foods and will be open until 5:00 p.m.

The newly re-printed book, The Sloopers: Their Ancestry and Posterity, will be offered for sale at a cost of $78.

Please join us for an afternoon of great food and fellowship!

Sincerely,
Lou Wise, Secretary

Dear Sloopers and friends,

You are cordially invited to the 89^th annual meeting of the Slooper Society of America.  Please mark your calendar for Sunday, October 5^th, 2014, and make plans to join us at the Norway Community Building, Norway, IL, just off Route 71.  Dinner will be served promptly at 1:00 pm.  We ask that each family bring a dish to pass.  Table service and drinks will be provided.

We are pleased to announce that our newly re-printed book, The Sloopers: Their Ancestry and Posterity, will be presented and offered for sale.  One of our honorary members, Bill Injerd, will be making the presentation.  The list price for The Sloopers is $78.  However, attendees with a discount coupon (enclosed) can purchase the book for $58.50 — a 25% discount off the list price.  It will also be available for sale at the Norsk Museum.  We encourage all to make it to the annual meeting as these are the first books “off the press” to go on sale before The Sloopers is released for sale on Amazon.com, as well as at museums and bookstores.  For more information, visit our website listed at the bottom of this letter.

Our nearby Sons of Norway lodges (Cleng Peerson #5-525 and Polar Star Lodge #5-472) are invited to participate in this event.

There will be a short business meeting following the book presentation.  As in the past, the Norsk Museum will be open for those interested.  The Norway Store has many Norwegian items and foods and will be open until 5:00 pm.

Please join us for an afternoon of great food and fellowship!

Sincerely, Lou Wise, Secretary