Daughters of Norway launch local lodge

Officials from the Daughters of Norway (DON) Grand Lodge instituted the newest lodge, Hulda Garborg #49 (Rainbow), on August 29 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Temecula.

Eighteen charter members were initiated at the event, during which officers were also installed by Grand Lodge President Mary Knutson Sullivan of Hillsboro, OR.

Almost 50 DON members and guests attended the institution, several from Washington and Oregon.

Grand Lodge Organizational Co-Chair Jill Beatty of San Francisco served as Mistress of Ceremonies after helping the group organize the lodge over the last eight months.

Several members of Turid Jespersen Lodge #44 (Mission Viejo) also helped by joining the new lodge and sharing their knowledge of Nordic customs and traditions.

The newly elected officers of Hulda Garborg Lodge #49 installed after the institution are President Janice Martinez (Fallbrook); Vice President Christine Larsen (Murrieta); Judge Berit Austin Funnemark (Lake Elsinore); Secretary Lucette Moramarco (Escondido); Treasurer Linda Larson (Fallbrook); Financial Secretary Ronna Clymens (Banning); Cultural Director Lynne LeeJoice (Temecula); Trustees Kay Samuelson (Laguna Hills), Bonnie Kozak (Laguna Nigel) and Nancy Jenkins (Dana Point); Marshal Mary Salmon-Reikes (Murrieta); Greeter Suzy Moramarco (Escondido); and Musician Lynne Bradley (Fallbrook).

Nancy Moramarco (Rainbow) was appointed historian. Assistant Marshal Diane Gravlin (Bonsall) and Greeter Julie Watts (Temecula) were unable to be at the institution.

Other charter members who attended were event photographers Phyliss Audiss (Fallbrook) and Elisia Sierakowski (Mission Viejo), chorus member Janna Armbruster (Fallbrook) and Darlene Kozak (Temecula), who helped with facility arrangements.

New President Martinez is a distant relative of the new lodge’s namesake, Hulda Garborg (1862-1934), who was a multi-talented Norwegian known for revitalizing interest in Norway’s traditional theater, folk dance, cooking and bunader (national costumes) as well as for being a champion of women’s rights.

Entertainment after the institution was provided by the newly formed Damekor (Scandinavian women’s chorus), headed by Lynne Bradley. After they sang two songs, a harp ensemble of four musicians played four more songs.

Refreshments prepared by the new lodge members included open-face sandwiches, coleslaw, fruit and the Scandinavian dessert kansekake.

Anyone interested in joining the Damekor may call Lynne Bradley at (760) 723-8758.

Ladies interested in joining the lodge may call Ronna Clymens at (760) 464-3893 or come to the next meeting, Saturday, September 12, at 11 a.m. The lodge meets at the Grange Hall in Rainbow, 2160 Rainbow Valley Blvd.

More information can also be found at http://www.daughtersofnorway.org.