VOA Birka Lodge #732

04/27/2026

TONIGHT!🔥🌼🇸🇪

Great way to welcome in the Spring! Join fellow lodge VasaVasa Order of America - Drott Lodge #168 a night of Scandinavian music and fun!

Virtual Valborg!
Goodbye Winter – Welcome Spring and Summer!
Monday April 27, 2026 7:00 pm

Welcome to a joyful special virtual celebration of Swedish Valborg! We warmly invite you to join us on Zoom tonight - Monday April 27th for a 50-minute program filled with Valborg and Vappu spring celebration, music, videos, bonfires and shared memories. Whether you have celebrated many times before or are new to the traditions, this is a wonderful opportunity to connect and enjoy together.

Enjoy your favorite beverage, a glass of something festive, a cup of coffee, or simply your good spirits! Sit comfortably in your favorite chair, sofa, or at our firepit!

We look forward to celebrating the arrival of Valborg and welcoming spring and summer together with you.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81804172161?pwd=4lRHMKnVSc10I7pSndIDZ1tyXlSZx3.1

04/26/2026

On Friday April 24, 2026, Birka Lodge #732 held their April meeting with 20 members in attendance, 4 new members, and six guests. Congratulations to Brianna Blomgren, Andre Desharnais, David VanderWoude, and Meredith VanderWoude on being initiated as new members! WELCOME!

In addition to the initiation of new members, our new slate of officers were installed by Linda Christianson PDM, PGLD, PCM. While most officers are continuing their work in their roles, some have changed. Thank you Karin Caves for your years of service as Vice Chairman and Ron Holmgren for your service as Cultural Leader. The new slate of officers is as follows:

Chairman - Linda Boylan
Vice Chairman - Richard Lilja*
Recording Secretary - Judy Tanzer
Financial Secretary - Andrea Swanson
Treasurer - Michael Swanson
Past Chairman - Linda Christianson
Chaplin - June Guidara
Cultural Leader - Gregory Blomgren*
District Deputy - Ron Patient
Musician - Bob Landoni
Membership Chair - Kris Cournoyer
District Newsletter Correspondent - Tina Rawson
* denotes new to role as of 26-27

During the business portion of the meeting, discussion focused around upcoming events. Birka is planning on participating in the Haverhill Multicultural Festival on June 13th at G.A.R. Park in Haverhill, MA from 12-6pm. If interested in participating, reach out or sign up at the next meeting. Additionally, we are getting groups together to go participate in other lodges’ Midsommar celebrations. More information will come.

Members Karin, Tim, and John Caves are active participates in NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness). Birka Lodge #732 has been a proud supporter of their mission over the last years. This year, we increased our committed donation to support their ongoing efforts. In addition, the proceeds of our monthly raffle were donated too. If you would like to support this great organization, please use one of these links to donate. Karin - www.namiwalks.org/participants/682050 Tim - www.namiwalks.org/participants/693404 John - www.namiwalks.org/participants/693401

After the meeting, a cultural report was presented by Gregory Blomgren which was about Majblomman (Mayflowers). These are small paper pins sold throughout Sweden during April and May to raise money for children who are sick, handicap, and come from financially disadvantaged families. Members colored and created their own. The coloring page is linked here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TrwdzdCR-_-cgJ8W64C57vmplm5U-PUr/view?usp=drivesdk

Our next meeting is Friday May 15, 2026. Potluck begins at 6:30pm and the meeting begins at 7:00pm. This meeting will be the annual memorial service to remember all of our fallen members from over the past years.

In Generosity, Truth, and Unity!
🇸🇪🇳🇴🇫🇮🇩🇰🇮🇸🇦🇽🇺🇸🇨🇦

04/24/2026

TONIGHT! See you there🌸

Join us this Friday for our April meeting!

We will be installing our 2026-2027 officers, initiating two new members, and designing our own majblooman.

Additionally, if you are unable to physically attend, please send a message and you can Zoom in!

04/21/2026

Want to learn Swedish? This looks like a fantastic opportunity! Held on Zoom during the summer🇸🇪

Learn Swedish with the Museum! Register now for one of the Swedish American Museum's online language classes. Our Summer 2026 Sessions begin the week of May 25 and will continue until the week of July 29. Class dates are available on our Calendar of Events.

Join us for Beginners I, Beginners II, Intermediate, Conversation, Advanced, and Swedish Media. The pace of each class is determined by the needs of the specific groups of students. Classes generally advance through 3-4 chapters a semester.

Learn more information about our various classes or enroll now at https://www.swedishamericanmuseum.org/swedish-language-classes.

04/20/2026

Join us this Friday for our April meeting!

We will be installing our 2026-2027 officers, initiating two new members, and designing our own majblooman.

Additionally, if you are unable to physically attend, please send a message and you can Zoom in!

04/12/2026

Are you interested in Scandinavian dance or fiddles? Check out this fun week up in NH with the Nordic Fiddles and Feet. They are located about 2 hours north of the lodge! 💃🏻🎶🎻🇸🇪🇳🇴🇫🇮

Get your registrations in this weekend to secure the early bird discount! Full tuition must be postmarked by 15th to receive $100 off for adults.

Unsure about your schedule? Not a problem - just please drop a line to our registrar. We need to let GPC know how many cabins we will need to reserve, and we would love to hold a space for you just in case.

Remember, there’s a little survey in the last camp newsletter! (TLDR - camp swag!!)

04/05/2026

Glad Påsk!

Happy Easter from Birka Lodge #732!

04/05/2026

One week ago, Birka Lodge #732 hosted their first annual Våffeldagen celebration 🧇. Over 75 waffles were made and served alongside strawberries, lingonberry jam, and whipped cream. The small påsk marknad (Easter market) was a success too. It was a great day full of delicious waffles, many laughs, and lifelong memories!

Thank you everyone who helped put this event together and those who came to partake in the festivities. We are super excited to have you back next March 2027 for our second Våffeldagen celebration. Please keep an eye out on our socials for next year’s date!

In Generosity, Truth, and Unity.
🇸🇪🇳🇴🇩🇰🇫🇮🇩🇰🇦🇽🇺🇸🇨🇦

04/01/2026

On Friday March 27, 2026, Birka Lodge #732 held their March meeting with 24 members in attendance, 2 soon-to-be members, and one guest. The meeting focused in the upcoming Våffeldagen breakfast as well as the desire to be more visible in the community.

After the meeting, a cultural report was presented by Gregory Blomgren which included the origin of Våffeldagen and the Swedish Påsk tradition of påskris (feathered branches). Anna Bruce shared a story about the little yellow feather of the påskris. This story is from the book The Easter Witch's Secret Friend: Bilingual Swedish-English Children's Stories for Easter which can be found online.

The lodge then prepared the hall for the Våffeldagen breakfast the next morning and created påskris which were sold at the event. Thank you to soon-to-be members Brianna Blomgren and Andre Desharnais, as well as member Eric Blomgren, who made all of the waffle batter for the breakfast.

Our next meeting is Friday April 24, 2026. Potluck begins at 6:30pm and the meeting begins at 7:00pm. This meeting will be the Installation of the 2026-2027 Officers. Our District Deputy Ron Patient and Grand Lodge Secretary Marlene Patient will be joining us for this ceremony.

In addition to the installation, we will be initiating two new members into the lodge. At the conclusion of this meeting, there will be a cultural presentation about Kurbits, Swedish folk art, prepared by lodge member and local Swedish artist Tina Rawson

In Generosity, Truth, and Unity!
🇸🇪🇳🇴🇫🇮🇩🇰🇮🇸🇦🇽🇺🇸🇨🇦

03/27/2026

TONIGHT!

Join us this Friday for our March meeting!

We will be discussing our Våffeldagen breakfast, upcoming events, and Påsk. Please bring a branch to make into a påskris.

Additionally, if you are unable to physically attend, please send a message and you can Zoom in!

01/01/2026

Gott Nytt År!

Happy New Year to all of our Vasa brothers and sisters. May this new year bring strengthened brotherhood, unity, and generosity!

Come join us on our first meeting of the new year as we discuss our events for the upcoming year, learn Swedish songs, and explore the history of St. Knut’s Day!

When: Friday, January 23, 2026 at 7pm
Where: Holy Trinity United Methodist Church - 16 Sylvan St. Danvers, MA 01923