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Dear Members and Friends, It’s truly amazing how much sunshine can enhance our daily lives. We are eager to leave winter behind and look forward to the longer days ahead. We also look forward to our spring programs, so get ready to have fun and learn more about Swedish culture. I believe I speak for everyone when I say that the February meeting was a great success. Assembling DIY Semlor in advance of Fat Tuesday was a big hit—so much so, that some couldn’t eat just one semla! Eva Dunhem and I were delighted to provide the homemade buns and traditional toppings for this Swedish delicacy that so many enjoyed. Following fika, Marit Knollmueller presented an engaging program about “Sámi in Pop Culture.” She included clips from recent films and highlighted the many challenges faced by the Sámi people in today’s world. This Sunday, March 8, we will host our annual Pea Soup and Pancake Dinner. If you haven’t signed up yet, please do so today. For those who volunteered to prepare pea soup or pancakes, this is a friendly reminder. As always, we invite members to help with event setup at 1 p.m. Following our meal, Vice Chairman Marit Knollmueller will present on gender equality in Nordic countries, offering an intriguing comparison to what is available in the United States. We are excited to announce another engaging event in the “Wednesday Evening Get Together” series. The 7 p.m. March 11 meeting will feature an interview with Jonas Wendel, the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Sweden. There will be an opportunity of a Q&A session following the interview. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link, so visit the event page for further details. Our April 12 meeting will showcase Swedish Easter celebration activities. We will have crafts for our younger members, who are encouraged to dress as Swedish Easter witches, a delightful tradition I cherished as a child. It promises to be a fun time. In Truth and Unity, Karin Weeden | 
Top: Drott members make semlor buns at February's lodge meeting. Bottom: Last month's program on Sami in pop culture. |
Sweden wins 18 medals at Cortina Olympics The Swedish team won 18 medals - eight gold, six silver and four bronze. It is the most successful Winter Games Sweden has had to date. Sweden was number 7 in the overall medal count. The Swedish women dominated in cross-country skiing. Medals were won in biathlon, curling, alpine skiing and freestyle skiing. |
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|  Want to Practice Your Swedish Conversation? The American Scandinavian Association is starting up a monthly group for relaxed conversation around a theme. Improve your Swedish language skills in a friendly and supportive setting. Other Nordic languages offered as well. Sign up at amscaninfo@gmail.com |
Member Spotlight: Alison Bennett
I came to Vasa Drott Lodge via the local Swedish genealogy group and Janet Johnson who invited me to join. I had just retired after 21 years working in budget and communication at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), one of the National Institutes of Health, so the timing for a new activity was perfect. I really enjoyed working at the bazaar at St. Luke’s in the early days. My maternal grandparents each emigrated from different areas in Sweden to the U.S. My grandmother was born in Liljedal, Ed, Varmland on Lake Vänern. My grandfather comes from a long line of glassblowers in Kosta, Småland. He came to America with a recommendation from Kosta Glasbruk and worked in several glasshouses in Pennsylvania. Surprisingly, I learned doing genealogy that my grandmother’s ancestors also worked in the glasshouse in Liljedal, which was once | Scandinavia’s largest bottled glass factory. They met in Charleroi, Pennsylvania. I’m very interested in and committed to protecting the environment and to environmental justice and belong to several groups active in that area. I also am on the communications committee for the Women’s Democratic Club of Montgomery County and admin their Facebook group. I’ve been a member of Saint Mark Presbyterian Church since 1982 and sing in the choir. I also sing in the NIH Community Chorus. I enjoy watercolor painting and cooking. I graduated from Bucknell University and have a Masters in Education from Towson University. I’ve been married 55 years to David Bennett, and we have two married daughters: one in Portland, Oregon and the other in New Orleans. |
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