Starting 2026 with a Bang!

We had a very busy first gathering of the year this past Sunday! Between Sveaskolan, our business meeting, and cultural program, 67 people attended! What a great turnout to start the new year. VASA Vice Grand Master Tom Cleveland and his wife Susan joined us to help initiate our 2026 slate of officers. Then, we initiated six new members! Welcome Matthew, Erin, Diane, Heidi, Hannah and Grace! We had three additional applications for membership, which were approved by the board. WOW!

For our cultural program, Marissa, Ingrid and Matthew Childs regaled us with stories about their visit to the Ice Hotel in northern Sweden last February! It was so neat to learn about that area of Sweden, how the Ice Hotel is built, and all of the arctic activities you can do there. Thank you, Childs family! Then everyone enjoyed a delicious fika together.

At Sveaskolan, there was an orientation meeting with parents and children, plus a greeting from Tom Cleveland, followed by ice watercolor painting to go with our cultural program (thanks, Brenda Miller!) The kids also began learning songs and dances for Midsommar.

See you on Sunday, February 1 for our next meeting! The cultural program will begin at 2:30 after a few housekeeping announcements.