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Dear friends and members, In April, we had an amazing Easter celebration that marked the kickoff of our new children’s club, Tomtar and Troll. You might have already seen the front-page coverage in the Vasa Star. The kids dressed up as Easter witches, created colorful Easter cards, and traded them for some sweet treats at each table. In the meantime, the adults got a bit crafty by adding colorful feathers and eggs to the påskris, and they lined up to dip white candles into wax in cheerful spring colors. As always, our påskbuffet was a hit, featuring plenty of deviled eggs, Jansson’s temptation, and a variety of side dishes. Many guests brought delightful desserts for our coffee time. It’s truly heartwarming to see so many happy faces enjoying Swedish crafts and our delicious buffet. On Monday, April 27, Drott and ASA teamed up to host a Zoom event for Valborg. The program featured the history of Valborg, Valborg songs, personal stories and pictures, and time for conversation around the virtual bonfire. It was a well-attended event and received fantastic feedback from participants. If you missed it, you can catch the recording at this link. Now that May is here, we have two inspiring Drott events to look forward to. On May 17, we’ll have new member installation and dive into a presentation about Norway’s Swedish history. Then, on May 30, we’ll gather at Carderock Park, MD, to celebrate the summer solstice a bit early. We’ll aim to enjoy our Swedish midsummer holiday tradition in more comfortable weather. Another highlight is the 100th anniversary of the John Ericsson memorial in Washington D.C. The Swedish embassy will host the ceremony on May 29 at 9 AM. We’ll share more details as the date approaches. Lastly, the summer months promise innovative changes for Drott Lodge! We’ll continue to meet at St. Luke’s for fun, creative, and team-building events. Our board is currently planning programs, so be sure to save June 14, July 12, and August 9 for Drott Days of Summer. In Truth and Unity, Karin Weeden |
Swedish Footprints in the United States - Celebrating 250 Years of Shared HistoryEmbassy of Sweden
For nearly four centuries, people of Swedish descent have helped shape the United States—from the early settlers of New Sweden in the 1600s to the innovators, entrepreneurs, artists, activists, athletes, public servants, and cultural figures of today. Presented in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, the exhibition traces the diverse stories and enduring legacies of Swedish Americans through prints, photographs, videos, and music. Reserve your spot here. |
Upcoming Events
|  District 9 Scholarship Winners The Youth Scholarship was awarded Linnea Maypole, age 12. She is affiliated with Nobel Monitor. This is her second win having won the scholarship 2 years ago. The Adult scholarship winner is David Hills of SVEA Lodge. He will be conducting research on wool and sheep in Swedish craft and culture and will be sharing his findings at the 2028 District 9 convention and/or through multi lodge online programming. Scholarship applications will be available again in 2028. |
Member Spotlight: Carol Boquist
What is your connection to Sweden? My great-grandparents were born in Sweden. My grandfather was born in New York before they settled in New Jersey. They had 5 more boys and 2 girls. He and my grandmother moved across New Jersey near the border with Easton, PA where my grandfather and a brother opened an optical office. My dad and his 2 sisters were raised in nearby Phillipsburg, NJ. Tell us a little about yourself After Pearl Harbor, my father enlisted in WWII; he was in Europe when I was born. My mother and I lived with her family in Nazareth, PA until Dad came home. We then moved to Phillipsburg, NJ where my brother and I grew up. My earliest Swedish memories were hardtack at Christmas Eve dinner at my grandparents. As the roads got better, we occasionally made the trip across New Jersey for get-togethers with the Boquist Family, in the summer, Christmas, and vacations at the Jersey shore. They were always so welcoming! I worked at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, supporting early computers and supercomputers, spacecraft telemetry, as well as Earth and Space science research and data distribution. I retired in 2012 and went back part time for almost 5 years. I consider myself fortunate to have worked for so long at such an amazing place. My passions are cats, dogs, reading cookbooks, and being outside. I bought a small house because I wanted a dog and a cat. After retiring, I started volunteering in my neighborhood, recently on water remediation and a conservation garden. Over the years I’ve had some great trips traveling through Europe and the Middle East. In 1963 while in Copenhagen, I took the hydrofoil to Malmö so I could set foot on Swedish soil! My most recent trip was with my partner, Richard Glassbrook, visiting his family in Dusseldorf. |
How did you discover Drott Lodge, and what keeps you involved? In the late ’70s I saw an ad for a Scandinavian cooky class. The woman sitting next to me mentioned the American Scandinavian Foundation (now ASA). I went to the next event, which was Lucia. I met some really nice Vasa members and soon became a member of Drott Lodge! At some point we had a bazaar; pretty soon I was chairing the bazaar, the kitchen, imported foods, and gifts. For several years I was active at ASA, danced with the Nordic dancers, and attended Saturday Swedish school. So many great presentations and events over the years. So many amazing people and their wonderful stories! |
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