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FROM THE CHAIRMAN

Dear Drott Lodge Members and Friends,

We were so disappointed that we had to cancel our traditional Midsommar celebration. But the weatherman had forecasted a heat index of over 107 degrees F, which would have been very dangerous. More than 300 persons signed-up from our four cooperating organizations: Drott Lodge, ASA, SWEA and Finlandia Foundation. We will try next year again. A great Thank You to all that had volunteered to arrange the celebration.

Our District #9 has started a new initiative: A “Website Library” and you can read more about it below. One entry is The Frog Dance and Other Popular Swedish Ring Dances. It will show the most popular Midsommar dances that young and old would participate in: The Frog Dance - Små Grodorna – The Little Frogs. The link also has several Midsommar celebrations from Sweden this year. In addition, the new Website Library has an entry called: MY FAVORITE SWEDISH BAKING RECIPES. This is where you can find several favorite baking recipes. One describes the favorite recipe for Swedish Cinnamon Buns. 

Drott Lodge will have a special feature for its members on August 3rd.  Join us for a special showing of Mamma Mia! The Movie, under the stars in Germantown, MD. Based on the Broadway smash-hit and filled with the ABBA songs you know and love, it’s the feel-good experience that will have you singing and dancing over and over again. Please sign up here. 

Read all about the upcoming Drott events like the Welcome Back Smörgåsbord, Viking Longboat Voyage, and Sounds of Sweden – a Music Soiree. Information about the District Convention is also included.

As always, I encourage all members to be active and volunteer with the various activities that we have during the year. 

In Generosity, Truth and Unity,

Arne Dunhem

Chairman

Drott Lodge No. 168 Vasa Order of America





Join us for a

Smörgåsbord

Date: Sunday, September 8 at 2 p.m. 

Location:  Saint Mark Presbyterian Church, North Bethesda, Maryland

After a summer break, join us for our Welcome Back Potluck as we delve into the rich background of this Swedish tradition.

More than just a meal, it's a cultural event where you'll learn how to properly set up an authentic smörgåsbord.

Register here

Upcoming events

District Convention:  Pennsylvania #9 Biannual Convention

Join our 60th District #9 Convention at Geneva-on-the-Lake, Ohio on September 27-29, 2024.  

Geneva-on-the-Lake is set in Northeast Ohio's most attractive countryside. This amazing lodge even has a zipline adventure park and yoga onsite.  

We need about 6 delegates from Drott Lodge this year!  (Hotel and mileage will be reimbursed).

This is truly an amazing opportunity to get to know more about the larger Vasa Organization, meet members of our sister lodges, and help play a part in the direction of Vasa moving into the future. Please reach out to Julie Olson at Julie.Lynn.Olson@gmail.com if you might be interested.  (I attended the District convention my very first year as a member - and it was amazing!).

See all our events the next six months

Click here


Member Spotlight - Kevin shoemaker

I've been going to Concordia Language Villages since 2014 so over 9 years (skipping 2020). I was a villager for 4 of those years, and then I started working as a staff member at Concordia. I was first able to attend Concordia due to the scholarship that I received from the Drott Lodge, which I am honestly truly grateful for. I have spent the majority of this time at Sjölunden ( the Swedish Language Village), however recently I have also started working at Waldsee (the German Language Village) as well. I have also attended Lac du Bois for a brief stint as a villager, though this was only for 1 year. As part of my time working at Concordia I am a full time counselor. This means that I teach the children the target language during dedicated learning periods. I have also recently been promoted to a senior staff member under which I help to keep the village running and lead in planning the activities. Besides having been a counselor I am also a Lifeguard with the respective villages, to allow for a safe environment both in and outside the water (lake). Starting in 2021 I was promoted to a Waterfront Manager which has put me in charge of all waterfront activities. I started my career as a lifeguard in Concordia and I definitely plan in continuing this in the future outside of the village as well. For me lifeguarding is a truly meaningful experience, and I would love to keep on recertifying. Concordia truly immerses you into the target language and culture even outside of the learning periods, by speaking the target language in the village and even changing ones name to names related to the target culture. As an example my name is Anders in the Swedish village and Florian in the German village. Truly I have loved attending Concordia as the friendships that I have made are truly life long, and the experiences that one has in Concordia can only be described as unique, with the CLV magic that is in Concordia. CLV magic can only be described as loving the experiences that one gets at CLV. 

Concordia has greatly influenced my life as I will be studying my masters in Sweden at the Linköping University. This could honestly only have been achieved with the help of Concordia. 

Truly I have been blessed to be able to attend such a wonderful place. And there is no other place I would rather honestly be during the summer.




New District #9 Website Library

Did you know that many Swedes, young as well as old sing and dance The Frog Dance during their Midsommar celebrations? They dance it around the Maypole. Actually, they also sing and dance The Frog Dance during Christmas when they dance around the Christmas Tree.

Our District #9 has created on its website a new document library with a lot of information about Swedish customs and traditions. 

One of the first new Library entries is THE FROG DANCE AND OTHER POPULAR SWEDISH RING DANCES.

There is collection of popular Swedish songs and ring dances that are always performed during Midsommar and Christmas celebrations in Sweden. Young and old will be out dancing the most popular of them all: The Frog Dance - Små Grodorna – The Little Frogs. 

The lyrics for the various popular songs and dances are included in the library. Short YouTube videos are also included showing how to do the dances. In addition, videos of various 2024 Swedish Midsommar celebrations are included.

The second new Library entry on the District website that you can click on is: MY FAVORITE SWEDISH BAKING RECIPES. 

You will find some great pictures from Drott Lodge's “Baking With Eva” October 2019, baking Swedish Cinnamon Buns for the Drott Lodge Holiday Bazaar.

The initial favorite baking recipes are from Eva Dunhem (Drott Lodge). But, we hope that you can participate and submit your own favorite baking recipes. Maybe you can describe a little about your favorite recipe, how difficult or easy it is to make, how to serve it, or other thoughts you might have. Did you receive it from your mother or even grandmother? 

Who knows, but maybe our members want a little competition around the recipes? Maybe a baking contest? Maybe a book with a compilation of the favorite baking recipes? Your suggestions and ideas are welcome and appreciated.



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Join Us For Fun-filled Events Together With Our

Sister Lodges In Our Vasa District, PA #9


Why not visit our two sister Lodges within Pennsylvania District #9? The two other lodges are Nobel-Monitor #130 in Cleveland, OH and Svea Lodge #296 in Erie, PA. Check out their websites to find out what they are doing.

We plan to have some joint activities together with Members of the other two lodges to include some fun events in their areas and we will travel there to spend a day or weekend with them. We will, to the extent possible, arrange car pooling. For some other events, they will travel down to us and join our events.

Here are the websites for our District Lodge #9 and our two sister Local Lodges, just click:

District Lodge PA #9:   www.vasa-districtno9.org

Nobel-Monitor:     www.nobel-monitor.org

Svea:             www.svea-erielodge.org


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Active communication is very important to grow our Drott Lodge and make a difference. If you have not signed-up yet, here is your chance to become a member in Drott Lodge. Click and Sign-up below

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Meeting Location:

Saint Mark Presbyterian Church

10701 Old Georgetown Road

North Bethesda, MD 20852


Please do not call the Church!

Email Drott Lodge at Drott.lodge.168@gmail.com 


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