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American
Coordinating
Council of
Norway
www.accn.no
Honoring 100 Years
of a
Woman’s Right to Vote
Dear Reader
It is with heavy heart that I write this letter. After much discussion, listening and consideration, I have made
the exceedingly difficult decision to not hold an Independence Day event, here in Oslo, this year. Tradition says
that this would have been our 35th celebration here in Oslo.
As I write, the city of Oslo and the government of Norway have reduced greatly large events happening through-
out Oslo. This was necessary to stop the spreading of the COVID-19 virus.
The American Coordinating Council of Norway (ACCN), in keeping with these mandates and with the best
interests of our members, the American community and citizens of Oslo in mind, is re-scheduling our celebra-
tion to 2021.
The ACCN started the planning of our 35th Independence Day celebration, here in Oslo, in January, as usual.
Many committees were formed, and many volunteers have been working hard for many months. Hundreds of
hours of planning and organizing have now been cancelled.
I would like to thank the ACCN Board for all the hard work: ACCN Treasurer & Event Chair Karin Mandeville, Sec-
retary Bjørnar Wehn, Raffle Chair Jeanette Førland, Advisors Chrys Hellem & Jan Søderstrøm, & Ole Hillestad, &
Elaine Christiansen. In addition, a well-deserved thanks to the Committee Chairs: Lully Hillestad & Ron Krueger
& Katie Coughlin & Tylor Barrot & Tracee Mehn & Mareah Peoples & Rande Hansen & Nina Ekback-Allen, plus
all the good workers behind the committee chairs.
A special thank you goes to Kristin Haanæs and Rande Hansen for the production of the Community Guide,
and to Joshua Meek, from the US Embassy for his participation and to many other good people who actively
participate in our organization.
The ACCN has been active for 35 years and we could not have done this without the supporting companies that
advertise here in our Community Guide.
A huge thank you to ex-ACCN Chair Chrys Hellem for coming back to Norway to watch how the ACCN could
meet the future.
The ACCN is very sorry not to be in the park but will hopefully re-schedule to come back in 2021.
Best wishes to all for the rest of 2020. Stay healthy!
Bruce Allen
ACCN Chairman
VA
N E MER K
E ID 2019 Photos: Gorm G. Lund
Design and Layout: Kristin D. Haanæs
S
T
Printing: Merkur Grafisk AS
Production is carbon-neutral. CO2 emissions have been compensated for.
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2 3
Greetings from
To My Fellow Americans in Norway City Hall
It is my honor and privilege as U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of The annual celebration of the American Independence Day has become
Norway to extend best wishes to Norway’s American community as a major and joyful event in Frognerparken, and in Oslo. There is a strong
we celebrate the United States of America’s 244th Independence Day. parallel in the way Americans and Norwegians celebrate their national
days. Both commemorate decisive moments in the history of our nations,
As I reflect on my past two years serving as Ambassador, I am reminded and both put more emphasis on the social aspect of the celebration for
of my primary responsibility, which is to represent the people of the children and families , rather than showing off military strength. This year
United States and to strengthen the relationship between the United in light of the current health situation, and the COVID-19 virus, there will
States and Norway. My priorities are to reassure the Norwegians of our unfortunately be no traditional celebration.
steadfast and enduring alliance, to promote shared economic prosperity
by pursuing new avenues of trade, investment, and innovation, and to As Mayor I want to thank the American community in Oslo for your valuable
build on our strong historic and people-to-people ties. However, while contribution to our city. The American Constitution is a result of a struggle
I serve as the official representative of the United States to Norway, in for freedom and independence, and your Founding Fathers inspired, -
a very important sense, all of us, as Americans who live here - including among others, the Norwegians to create a liberal and modern constitution.
all of you - serve as ambassadors for our nation...both in our culture and
in our values every day. Together, we can share more directly our proud The ties between Norway and America are deep and strong. From about
American heritage, fostering closer ties with our Norwegian friends and 1850 – 1920, more than 800 000 Norwegians immigrated to the USA. They
partners. In particular, the American Coordinating Council of Norway is took part in building America based on hard work together with people of
a key partner in furthering this vital U.S.-Norway relationship. I thank all nations.
all of you ACCN for the important work you do.
Ambassador Kenneth J. Braithwaite Today, both America and Norway are multicultural societies. The impor- Marianne Borgen , Mayor of Oslo
This year has brought with it an unprecedented global challenge in tance of core values such as tolerance and respect for people from all nations
the form of Coronavirus – a crisis particularly concerning for expatri- is more important than ever. The Declaration of Independence paved the way for equality and the development
ate Americans like all of us who have family and friends back home. Though the challenges are daunting, I am of human rights. Despite our declarations and conventions – human rights and children’s rights are still under
deeply impressed by the response of the American and Norwegian people as we face this crisis together. Un- severe pressure, in many parts of the world. In the years to come we have an important job to secure and strengthen
precedented challenges often bring forth uncommon courage, and that has been on full display in Norway and our democracies, to secure peace and safety for our people.
the United States- by our first responders, our brave medical professionals, and all who serve our communities.
I know we will work together and support one another in this fight, and that soon we will find our way forward Americans and Norwegians have been allies in many important questions since World War II. In 2020 the COVID-19
to a brighter tomorrow. virus must be addressed by all nations. I want to thank the Americans in Oslo for your participation in our joint
efforts to stop the COVID-19 virus.
I wish for you, your families, and your wonderful colleagues a safe journey as we walk together through this un-
precedented period in history. Though we are not able to be together this year, I know we will all be celebrating A special thanks to the American Coordination Council of Norway. I hope I see you next year in Frognerparken.
in our hearts. Happy Independence Day from our Embassy family to yours Gratulerer med dagen!
My best wishes for the American Independence Day 2020, I hope you all will have a wonderful day.
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4 5
fication till today, through the revisions and reversal of
policies and through national and state amendments
100-Year Anniversary for Women’s and laws. So, we can celebrate this centennial by learn-
ing some history and gain awareness of what systems and
Right to Vote in the United States policies affect the right to vote for women, and others today.
100 hundred years of the fight for voting rights for women
The women’s suffrage movement is known as a decades-long
Article by Susan Morales Guerra, writer and facilitator fight to win the right to vote for women in the United States , hav-
ing its official beginnings at the first public gathering for wom-
In order to transform law, you need a political voice. In order en’s rights at a convention in Seneca Falls, New York in July, 1848.
Lucretia Mott (left) and Elizabeth Cady Stanton (right)
to have a political voice, you need to exercise the right to vote.
Photo: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
– Anne D. Gorden, Professor of History, Rutgers University, 2016. The leaders of this convention, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and
Lucretia Mott, became politically engaged through their
Last March, while I was attending an international seminar work for the abolition of slavery. But as women, they were not able to take part in public meetings or or-
outside of Oslo, there were seven American women present. ganizations. They later realized how the law considered slaves and married women “dead” as citizens, and
I asked them to share their thoughts with me about the cen- defined them only as property of man, without any personal privilege or rights. They were, under the law,
tennial anniversary of the right to vote for women in the USA. forced to obey their “masters” (read owners) at risk of punishment for disturbing domestic life. Stanton and
Five of these were students in their twenties from a small Mott, with other activists, believed this was wrong thinking about any human being, including women.
mid-western liberal college. Each one responded with “Re-
ally?”. I wasn’t aware. I haven’t thought about it.” Their profes- In a recent anthology from 2019, The Women’s Suffrage Movement,Penguin Classics, the scholar Sally Roesch
sors who were also there, mentioned that it gets more difficult Wagner extends the timeline of suffrage in this part of the world by nearly a thousand years. She begins with
to arouse attention to women’s issues alone but they integrate the founding of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, when the Onondaga, Mohawk, Seneca, Oneida, and Cayuga
this into their classes of history, political science, literature and media studies, among other disciplines. nations, later joined by the Tuscarora, gathered in the land around the Great Lakes to form an egalitarian
society that afforded women political power. Haudenosaunee women helped select the chiefs who together
The fact that the fight for women’s right to vote took nearly 100 years and hard struggles by many women did governed by council, and they had a say in matters of war and peace. Political historians have long described the
not occur to the young women. This is not a surprise as this story is overlooked unless you are a political science Haudenosaunee Confederacy as the oldest continuously functioning democracy in the world; Wagner reminds
or women’s studies student / scholar it seems. us that those democratic principles extended to women, called a Matriarchate. The platform of the Matrirachate
is recognized in this anthology as to where the concepts of inherent rights, natural equality of condition and
After one hundred years, it can be that women’s right to vote is taken for granted. For young peo- the establishment of a civilized govern-
ple, it has always been there and we women do use this right, right? In recent elections, voter turn- ment based upon these practices is found.
out rates for women have equaled or exceeded voter turnout rates for men. Women, who constitute
more than half the population, have cast almost ten million more votes than men in recent elections. Lucretia Mott stayed in a Seneca communi-
ty while doing relief work with the Quakers,
Particularly in every presidential election since 1980, the proportion of eligible female adults who voted and Elizabeth Cady Stanton observed the
has exceeded the proportion of eligible male adults who voted. In all presidential elections prior to 1980, Oneida Nation around Seneca Falls, and ac-
the voter turnout rate for women was lower than the rate for men. tivist Matilda Joslyn Gage not only met with
people of the Mohawk Nation but was an
When it comes to numbers, the number of female voters has exceeded honorary member of its Wolf Clan. These
the number of male voters in every presidential election since 1964. (ref. early activists saw firsthand that Haudeno-
www.cawp.rutgers.edu/sites/default/files/resources/genderdiff.pdf) saunee women could own property, initiate
divorces, and voted in community matters
It is logical to assume that due to the increase of women in the work force, and leadership. The comparative equal-
the issues brought up by the feminist movements and civil rights legislation ity they discovered among these neigh-
can be accredited with this increase of female voter activity. This implies that boring societies most likely influenced
as an electorate voting group, women have exercised their power and that the first leaders of the Usa as a nation
may be a reason for attempts to revise voter accessibility in another manner. and the first generation of suffragists.
(ref. The Women’s Suffrage Movement)
I realized how little I knew about suffragette history as well. One thing I
do know is that women’s right to vote and women’s rights in general are Seneca falls - first women's rights conven-
not an isolated gender issue. Women’s access to the right to vote is directly tion: Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia
tied to the issues of personal economics, personal education, personal Mott, together with others, penned the
Policewoman arrests Florence Youmans of Minnesota and Annie
health, our laws interpretations of law and practice of what the laws allow. amendment to the declaration of inde-
Arniel (center) of Delaware for refusing to give up their banners.
Photo Source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division pendence: “ We hold these truths to be
There have always been very clear threats to this right from its rati- Continued on page 34
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Company’s territory and the colonists had no right to settle there. An
attempt was made to sail further south to their planned destination,
but strong seas forced them to return to the harbor at Cape Cod.
The Mayflower – the Origin of Thanksgiving
The colonists needed to establish Plymouth as a legitimate colony and
drafted the Mayflower Compact. The document promised to create a
government of elected officials and ”just and equal laws”, as well as
swearing allegiance to the English King. The Mayflower Compact was
the first attempt to establish a self-government and set a precedent
for future colonists.
Article by Rande Hansen
The first year
With no living accommodations in Plymouth, the colonists spent
One of America's most cherished holidays, Thanksgiving, can in 2020 be traced 400 years back its origin in their first winter months on board the Mayflower. The cold weather,
Plymouth, England. On the fourth Thursday in November, Americans all over the world gather and take time malnutrition, disease and unsanitary conditions on the ship took the
with family and friends to celebrate this special holiday. No presents, no stress, just good food and quality lives of many of the passengers and crew. The female passengers were
time with those we love. particularly hard hit, with only 5 of the original 19 women surviving the
winter. However, two wives on board were pregnant when the ship set
In September 1620, the merchant ship Mayflower set sail from the southern coast of England. On board were sail and Oceanus Hopkins was born while at sea. Peregrine White was
102 passengers, all hoping to start a new life in the New World. Nearly 40 of those on board were members of born while the Mayflower was anchored in the harbor, and is historically
the Protestant Separatist group, and their mission was to start a new church. recognized as the first European child born in New England.
The ship was set to sail back to England in April 1621, and the remaining
The Separatists passengers were moved ashore.
Twelve years earlier, a group of protestants from Scrooby, Nottinghamshire, left England and moved to Leyden,
Holland. Believing that the Church of England was corrupt, the Separatists hoped they would find religious In reality, most of the colonists wouldn’t have survived if it hadn’t been Mayflower-memorial, Southampton UK
freedom in the Netherlands. They did find the freedom they wanted, but as immigrants they were excluded for the help they received from the local Wampanoags. The tribe taught
from the work force, often given low-paying menial jobs. Once again, they were forced to move on. the colonists how to hunt native animals, gather shellfish, and grow corn, beans and squash. At the end of
Back in London, they began preparations to sail to the New World, where government interference or distrac- the summer 1621, the Plymouth
tions wouldn’t be an issue. A wealthy merchant agreed to subsidize their journey and The Virginia Company colonists celebrated their suc-
gave them permission to establish a settlement on the East Coast. Finally, the King of England granted them cessful harvest with a three-day
permission to leave the Church of England, ”provided they carried themselves peaceably.” festival of thanksgiving. The
After an aborted disembarkment in August 1620, the Mayflower set sail once again in September, at the height Wampanoags were invited to
of the Atlantic’s stormy season. Sixty-six days later, November 9, 1620, the ship reached the New World. To their the feast, and it was written that
dismay, the passengers realized that the ship landed in the wrong place. Cape Cod was well north of the Virginia the native guests outnumbered
the colonists 2 to 1. Edward Win-
slow noted there were ”many of
Mayflower in Plymouth Harbor, painted by William Halsall, 1882. Located at the Pilgrim Hall Museum, Plymouth, Massachusetts.
the Indians coming amongst
us, and amongst the rest their
greatest king Massasoit, with
some ninety men.”
Thanksgiving’s History
Following the first Thanksgiv-
ing in 1621, there was no yearly
Plymouth Rock in Plymouth, Massachusetts, the traditional site of disembarkation of William
tradition of celebrating the har-
Bradford and the Mayflower Pilgrims who founded Plymouth Colony in 1620. At the left of
the rock can be seen where it was split in two in 1774, with the top part relocated to the town's
vest. Years of drought and poor
meetinghouse. The two parts were later rejoined in 1880, at which time the date 1620 was
harvests followed. Despite that,
inscribed into the rock. Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA.Photo: John O'Neill Source:Wikipedia
various proclamations were
made in an attempt to make
Thanksgiving an official holiday, but it wasn’t until 1789 that George Washington proclaimed the first na-
tionwide celebration on November 26th. The holiday would be celebrated ”as a day of public thanksgiving
and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty
God." Through the years, the official day has varied from the last Thursday to the next-to-the-last Thursday in
November. On December 26, 1941, a joint resolution in Congress fixed the national Thanksgiving Day to the
fourth Thursday in November.
Continued on page 12
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The Mayflower, Continued from page 9
Thanksgiving in Norway 2020 – a Special Year, for many reasons
ÕÕ Not since 2000 has there been so much hype about a specific year. 2020 is a special year, and
In Norway, ”høsttakkefest” is a church service celebrat-
here are a few facts:
ing the summer harvest. It has been celebrated since
ÕÕ It is the only year you are likely to live through wherein the first two digits match the second
1899 and is in connection with Mikkelsmess. There is
two. The next occurrence will be in 2121.
a special prayer for the day as well as verses from the
ÕÕ 2020 is a leap year
Bible commemorating the harvest season.
ÕÕ 2020 is MMXX in Roman numerals
With other American traditions and holidays making
ÕÕ The presidential elections will be held in November 2020
their way into Norway, it is probably just a matter of
ÕÕ 2020 is designated as the Year of the Nurse and Midwife by the World Health Organization
time before turkey and all the trimmings become a part
ÕÕ 2020 is designated as the Year of Plant Health by the United Nations
of the pre-Christmas season.
ÕÕ 2020 is designated as the International Year of Sound by the International Commission of
Sources: www.history.com and Wikipedia. Acoustics
In History:
ÕÕ 40 years since John Lennon (Beatles) was murdered.
ÕÕ 65 years since Rosa Parks’ bus boycott
ÕÕ 75 years since the end of World War II, Iwo Jima, as well as Adolf Hitler’s death, V-E day,
atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan’s surrender, Anne Frank died
ÕÕ 100 years since the Treaty of Versailles, officially ending World War I
ÕÕ 100 years since prohibition coming into effect in the US
The Mayflower II, ÕÕ 100 years since the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, recognizing
Plimoth Plantation women’s federal right to vote.
Source:Wikipedia
ÕÕ 200 years since the birth of nurse Florence Nightingalee
ÕÕ 245 years since the creation of the United States Navy
ÕÕ 250 years since the birth of German composer Ludwig von Beethoven
ÕÕ 500 years since Ferdinand Magellan became the first European to cross the Atlantic to the
Pacific through the Strait of Magellan.
GAT E G O D S VA T E KN I KK
BYG G, A N L E G G
O G UT E M I L J Ø
ulefos.com
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12 13
port. Although the settlement still had no official name,
”Longyear City” was increasingly used by the workers and
Norway’s Frontier in the North - later became officially called Longyearbyen.
In the years that followed, labor strikes, two world wars,
100 years in the making the destruction of the city by the Germans in 1943, and
sinking coal prices have affected the small community in
the far north. But demand for coal was ever present and
kept the city from shutting down. Although 6 mines have
Article by Rande Hansen been exhausted for resources, ”Gruve 7” in Adventdalen is
still in operation.
”Svalbard is a sovereign part of Norway and managed by
Modern-day Longyearbyen A highlight of our last trip to Longyearbyen was a visit to the abandoned
Norwegian legislation. At the same time, the Svalbard Treaty mine, Gruve 3. Sections of the mine are now housing the Global Seed Bank,
Historically a male-dominated laborer society, the city has
from 1920 gives other signatory states the right to engage in as well as the Arctic World Archive, but are currently not open to the public.
seen significant changes in the past 25 years. Technological
exploitation and natural resources.” (The Barents Observer,
research and a modern university attract a workforce and
10.12.17) This year is the 100th anniversary of the Svalbard
students from around the world. Radar and satellite stations began popping up in the 1990’s as well as research
Treaty and the background for the Norwegian Broadcasting
facilities that study changes in the arctic climate, nature and wildlife.
(NRK) company’s 9 day minute-by-minute sending from a
cruise ship that encircled the Spitsbergen island in August
Svalbard is the home of the Global Seed Vault, archiving and preserving plant seeds from around the world. In
2019. The following article is a reprint from the Community Colorful Longyearbyen. This picture was taken on our first
the event of a natural or human-made disaster, the seeds can be used to replenish crops and other plants that
Guide in 2014, with some updated information. visit to Svalbard and shows some of the homes that were
unfortunately destroyed by an avalanche in 2015. have been destroyed. In March 2017 the Arctic World Archive facility was opened in one of the abandoned coal
mines near the seed vault. The AWA will preserve data stored offline on digital film that has a reported lifetime
Lying at 78 degrees North, Longyearbyen is the administrative
of 500 years. Several countries have bought into the concept.
center of the island Spitsbergen in the Svalbard archipelago. With its approx. 2100 residents, Longyearbyen is the
world’s northernmost settlement and a very popular tourist magnet. One might believe that the town’s name
The close-knit society of permanent residents enjoy the winter season, after most of the tourists have ”flown
is derived from the long winter nights and the long summer days, but it actually commemorates the founding
south.” It is apparent that there is a good social network that brings people together when darkness sets in. On
father, John Munroe Longyear from Michigan.
our visit, we attended the 17th of May talent show in the Culture House. Dance groups, rock bands, children’s
choruses and even a ukulele orchestra entertained the audience for 2 hours straight.
A Very Brief History
As early as 1862 it was known that Svalbard contained coal reserves, and in 1899 captain Søren Zachariassen from The Svalbard Museum is perhaps the best place to start your island
Tromsø loaded coal onto his ship from Isfjord. Some of the first coal cargo was sold to a boat lying in Adventfjord, adventure. History, culture and nature are presented in an exciting and
owned by Prins Albert I of Monaco. The Trondhjem-Spitsbergen Coal Company soon began mining and shipping family-friendly atmosphere.
coal from Svalbard. Coal was an important commodity
in Great Britain and Europe and other companies soon
Tourist Life
followed suit.
The earliest tourist ”blog” was written in 1807. The earliest tourists to
Svalbard came on private yachts in the summertime. Later, luxury cruise
In 1901 the American businessman and his family took
boats with 100 passengers sailed into Adventfjord. A prefabricated hotel
a cruise to Svalbard. On the tour, he learned of the large
was built in 1896. Many tourists enjoyed hunting polar bears, and it is
resources of coal on the island and realized the poten-
estimated that nearly 700 bears were killed in the years up to 1973, when
tial for mining. In 1903 he returned to Adventfjorden
the government declared the bears an endangered species. Tourism
in Svalbard and dug out samples of coal that were later
continues to grow and the city struggles with meeting the needs of the
analyzed in the US and found to be of good quality. The
tourists while preserving the natural resources in the area.
Trondhjem-Spitsbergen Coal Company in Blomsterd-
alen had been looking for a buyer to take over its area in
SAS and Norwegian fly non-stop to Svalbard, an approximately 3 hour
Adventfjord, and soon came in contact with Longyear.
flight. Shuttle buses transport passengers to town, with stops at the
In 1904 he started the Ayer & Longyear company and
major hotels. Hotels in Longyearbyen and Svalbard offer everything from
later assumed control over the Trondhjem-Spitsbergen
a basecamp experience to spa activities – or perhaps overnighting on a
Coal Company for the sum of 18,000 Norw. crowns (kr.)
boat frozen in the fjord ice!
plus 50,000 kr. in stocks in the newly organized Arctic
Coal Company.
The majority of food and supplies to the island arrive by boat or plane
One of the abandoned coal mines outside of town. The Wild West meets Norway. Due to the danger of from the continent. The residents who live year-round reported that
In June 1906 equipment and dynamite arrived in Sval- polar bear visits in town and the necessity to carry providing for their families is a challenge, as many food staples quickly
bard and preparations were soon underway to begin mining in Adventdalen. Within three years the mining protection, the stores and businesses advise “leaving your
sell out from the grocery stores. It can be days or weeks before the next
shaft had reached 500 meters into the mountain and a railroad line was built to transport the coal directly to the irons” outside the door. Photos: Rande and Per Hansen
Continued on page 40
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14 15
in charm and excellent skill.”
Put a winged dummy in front of her, ask her to fetch a clay pi-
Rosetta’s Big Gift: A Little Miracle geon, a stray pheasant or follow a hare in the forest and she ran
and climbed like the most agile rock climbing mountain goat.
She kept her nose down on the ground until she completed her
job. She loved her work.
Rosetta could not care a bit that the fur on her left side was
longer than on the right side making her appear like a home-
Article by Susan Morales Guerra less stray sometimes, and that her hair sun-streaked very easily
so she had strains of dullened blonde in her liver brown and
cream- colored coat. The hair on top of her head stood out in a
Coming from Texas, and a Mexican-American at that, we are known for Texas hospitality and being socially inclined. You natural punk style, which many children and adults have had
have heard the “Come on down!” or “Mi casa es tu casa” sayings, I’m sure. If you sometimes feel like a stranger here in Nor- the pleasure of playing “Frisør” or hairdresser on. She was patient as patient can come.
way, and you have a dog, I ask you to please read and listen. There are little miracles taking place when you least expect it.
I have done a lot of community work and this was some-
This story is to let you know about how little miracles happen right here in little Norway, which is to me “the thing else we had in common. She also did community
heart of Scandinavia”. Right here, in the big city of Oslo, in urban spaces without gardens and trees, birdsong work, with special needs children who went to camps
or flowers, brief encounters happen. Sometimes people bear gifts, the kind you cannot see, exactly at the right for recreational activity. She served in prisons as well,
moment. In this case, I believe it was Rosetta, my Working Cocker Spaniel, who gave her spirit to what occurred two weeks at a time, three times a year. The children at
on the day she died. the camps, and the long-term prisoners, learned to pet
her, train her and groom her. Everyone loved her, cried
Yes, my Rosetta died this year on January 15th, 2020, 14 years old. when she left and I felt pride that she was mine; dorky,
goofy, dog-wise and mine. Her personality gave those
Rosetta, a beautiful Working Cocker Spaniel, lived in my country home together with her dog family and my children, men and women a chance to give care and
sweetheart and best friend, Val. She lived in the wide-open spaces. I guess you can say she lived the life of a then to feel cared for, due to her gratefulness for the
true “lucky dog”. I was a “lucky dog” of a person as her owner. She was the first dog I ever witnessed being born. attention they gave her. She was made to give.
Not just witnessed but she slipped out of the womb of her mother, Bonnie, directly into my hand. I had never
felt the sensation of the warmth and wetness of a newborn pup. Such a beautiful clump of innocence. This I say dorky and goofy because when I came home
made her mine. Her name would be Rosetta, like the Desert Rose crystal stone, with her marbleized swirls of from the city, or she came home from her work, all she
sandy-brown, cream-colored fur and mesmerizing, big yellow eyes. wanted was for me to pet her, play with her and in the
evenings, she wanted to sit on my lap when we could
Ever since I turned 65, she and I followed the same path of our transitioning to becoming old. We took our watch television, and she always let me know that
walks in the forest, but with a tempered tempo. We went up and down the stairs many times a day, as we both watching tv time meant time for me to give her constant back scratching and cuddling.
liked being busy, but with caution to not miss a step. We ran and played in the fields but made sure to rest and
nap afterwards in the lazy boy. That tended to get old,
especially when she had
Her hair was graying as was mine, and we agreed to keep the natural look considering old age as a phase the classic “bad- breath-
of beauty and dignity, as well as a in- dogs” breath, fidget-
preferred alternative to not becom- ing on my lap wanting to
ing old. I suppose you might say we sit nose-to-nose with me.
considered ourselves feminists. Dogs We came to some com-
are regal role models for how to be a mon rules as to where
true “bitch”. Take Rosetta. Her looks she could place her face.
never impressed any of the other
members of the cocker spaniel clubs As she slowed down that
at field trials, but she held her head winter just before Christ-
high when she achieved all the tasks mas, and could no longer
put before her to fetch ducks out of the briskly hop onto my lap, I
thick sieve, to brave the thick bracken made her a perfect hand-
to locate hare. As someone once told icap ramp so she could
me; “I do not want to be rude, Susan, easily climb onto my lap
in “our” chair in front of
don’t get me wrong here. Rosetta is
the television. Worried,
Find your nearest store or
not a very pretty cocker but whatever
she lacks in beauty she makes up for Continued on page 42
check out our webshop at kaffebrenneriet.no
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16 17
better weather, that we tried Rampestreken for the first time.
The website www.visitnorway.no grades the hike as ”challenging,”
Four Hikes in Western Norway but we felt it was more a seemingly ”endless” uphill walk on the well-
marked trail. There is an ”airy” rocky section just before the ramp
that might be a bit scary for some. Just take your time. It’s worth the
effort. The open-air ramp juts out from the mountainside and gives
an impressive view over the valley and town below. Hikers take turns
out on the ramp, photographing and making video clips to share with
Article by Rande Hansen their friends and family. It can take time before you have your chance.
We decided to turn at this point and hike down to town to enjoy a
well-deserved soft ice cream cone. However, I have since learned that What feels like an endless uphill walk
Loen Skylift ”Romsdalstrappa” continues from Rampestreken up to the summit, with will soon be worth the struggle.
Every year our summer vacations take us to western Norway. My stone steps along steep mountain side. We’ll have to plan a new hike!
husband’s family built a cabin on the ancestral farm outside of Volda
in Sunnmøre, and our goal is to find new challenges en route to or
while at the cabin. If your travels take you to this part of the country, Dronningstien (The Queen’s trail), Kinsarvik
here are a few good suggestions. Queen Sonja’s panorama tour takes hikers 1100 meters up and along the mountain-
Loen Skylift side between Kinsarvik and Lofthus in Hardanger. After spending a night in our tent
amidst cherry trees at Lofthus Camping, we drove to the Røte car park near Kinsar-
Not far from Stryn, a major crossroad in Sunnmøre, lies Loen and vik. From there, a tractor road winds its way up to the first lookout point, 890 moh.
Olden, once sleepy villages that were best known for the popular Skylift: Up, up and away! The panoramic view over the fjord and The DNT tourist association (www.ut.no) rates the 6-hour hike as challenging, but
tourist attraction Briksdalsbreen, a glacier that gracefully slid into mountains begins right after “take off” from the station.Photos: there are no real difficult or tricky climbs along the trail. Since the trail follows the
a turquoise colored lake. Global warming has caused the glacier to Rande and Per Hansen mountain ridge, there are spectacular views along much of the hike. Remember to
recede and lose its beauty. But in 2017 a new attraction now brings pack your sack with lunch, snacks and water, as you’ll want to take several rest stops
hoards of tourists to Loen. The Loen Skylift gondola lifts you from the at viewpoints along the route. On a sunny day, the trip down via the ”Munketrappene”
fjord to 1011 meters over sea level, ending at the Hoven mountain station can be both warm and exhausting. The stone steps are said to have been built by the
and restaurant less than 7 minutes later. From the station you can enjoy local munks from 1210-1537 A.D.
a 210 degree panoramic view overlooking Mt. Skåla, Lake Lovatnet, the
Jostedalsbreen glacier, and Nordfjord. Once in Lofthus, you can take a taxi back to your car in Røte – or spend a memorable
evening at the exclusive Ullensvang hotel!
The roundtrip ticket for the lift is pricey, but once at the station you The Queen’s Trail. One of Queen Sonja’s
have an opportunity to hike several trails that provide more spectacular Can mention that many of the campers we met at Lofthus camping had taken the
favorite hikes. The white stone was signed
views in all directions. Spend a few hours at the summit. We opted for and inscribed by her in 2013.
Trolltunge hike that day. A hike we’d like to put on our bucket list. Maybe….
the trail to Staurinibba, 1379 moh, a well-marked path that was under
further renovation headed by Sherpas from Nepal while we were there. Runde bird island – Herøy
You can enjoy a coffee break or meal at the restaurant before heading The island Runde lies in Sunnmøre and is best known for its cliffs hous-
back to the lift. ing hundreds of thousands of seabirds. However, it’s also the site of
View from the trail to Staurinibba. The skylift support is on present-day treasure hunters hoping to find gold and silver coins from
the right side. For the more adventurous tourist, the the Dutch Akerendam shipwreck in the 1700s. Runde is easily accessible
Loen Via Ferrata rock-climbing hike by car and offers camping facilities. Not more than 150 residents live
promises an experience of a lifetime. A highlight of the hike is crossing the on Runde, but more than 500,000 birds visit the island from February
gorge on the Gjømunnebrua, 118 meters long and with a 160 meter drop. The to August, consisting of over 230 species of birds. Of these, 80 species
walkway resembles a metal mesh balance beam, and it goes without saying use Runde as their brooding spot.
that hikers are secured with harnesses and ropes while crossing. The trail ends
at the mountain station and hikers can either take the skylift down or follow A well-marked network of trails draws tourists to points where you can
the trail to Oppheim’s parking area. view the nesting birds on the cliffs. We almost missed the best point
www.loenskylift.com and www.loenactive.no to view the puffin (lundefugl) colony. Here, we came very close to these
colorful and amusing birds.
Rampestreken, Åndalsnes
Looking for a three-hour hike with a breathtaking viewpoint? Rampestreken Many tourists opt to take a guided boat trip along the shoreline, giving
is just that! On a rainy evening in 2018, we stopped in Åndalsnes for dinner a different perspective of bird island.
on our way home from the cabin. Looking around at the guests in the pizza www.fuglefjelletrunde.wordpress.com
restaurant, it was confirmed that Åndalsnes is a centrally located town for hik-
Wow! Not as scary as some glass-floor walkways,
ers. Mountain boots, knapsacks and climbing gir. We discovered that one of The puffin colony on Runde is popular
Rampestreken will still give you goosebumps with birdwatchers and photographers.
the newest attractions was within walking distance, but it wasn’t until 2019, in when you peer over the edge.
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18 19entertainment, raffle, charity, children’s games, tents
for exhibitors and ACCN members, arts and crafts, and
a website, www.accn.no, were added. Minus NATO and
ACCN Celebrates its 35th Anniversary a few other organizations that disappeared with the
base in 1995, ACCN membership has ranged from 24 to
the current 13 (2019), all of which illustrate the strong
ties between the U.S. and Norway and provide ample
reason for celebrating our shared values of freedom
and democracy, no matter which party is in power. “It’s
not political. It’s all about people coming together and
Article by By Dana Fossum, revised by Rande Hansen having fun. It’s just plain fun,” says Bruce. Attended by
thousands every year, it is believed to be one of the
The old adage “One person can make a difference” is certainly true in the case larger public celebrations of American Independence
One of the early parades through the streets of Oslo
of the Independence Day celebration in Frogner Park. In the early 80s Chicago Day outside the U.S.
native Bruce Allen became involved in forming the Sons of Norway Christiania
Lodge in Oslo. In 1984 the lodge organized the first major public celebration of Apart from rain, which has only put a dent in only a few celebrations, the event has weathered the occasional
America’s Independence Day in Oslo, with an event emceed by the late Erik Bye glitch. One year in the early days of the event a city park official threatened to shut down all the food vendors
on the grounds of the Henie Onstad Art Centre. It was a huge success. until Bruce walked over to the restaurant in the park to get their permission to operate. He got it and food sales
could continue. Another year no one could find the key to the port-a-potties and it took some time to get a hold
The next year the organizations that now make up the ACCN went back to holding of the vendor, who told them where it was hidden (on the roof). In the plus column, Bruce credits the absence
their own small, often competing celebrations and Bruce began to think about a of brawls and fights to the ACCN’s no alcohol sales policy, and he knows of at least one couple who got married
way for them to join forces and organize an authentic 4th of July celebration for after they met at the event.
all Americans and their Norwegian friends to enjoy. Drawing on his first-hand
experience with the Norwegian National League, which coordinated ethnic Since 1986, 10 Ambassadors have resided in the Ambassador's Residence, Villa Otium, Nobels gate 28, on the
events for Norwegian-Americans in Chicago, Bruce went to Christiania Lodge outskirts of Frogner Park. The ambassadors have generously opened their home and gardens to Independence
with a plan to call a meeting of the various Norway-U.S. linked organizations Day celebrations where local business contacts, celebrities and ACCN volunteers have been among the guests.
Bruce Allen,(on right) "Mr. Independence Day,"
and sent out 10 or 12 letters. Kenneth Braithwaite II is the current Ambassador and assumed the post in February 2018. On March 2, 2020,
and Ambassador Kenneth J. Braithwaite
President Donald Trump nominated Braithwaite to serve as the U.S. Secretary of the Navy. The ACCN thanks
In September 1985 representatives of the American Lutheran Church, American Ambassador Braithwaite for his support and congratulates him on his new position.
Women’s Club, the Norway-America Association, Nordmanns-Forbundet and the 7240th Air Base Squadron at
the former NATO base (also known as the U.S. Military Support Element) gathered in the Allen’s living room to One of the most popular additions to the Independence Day event in Frogner Park has been the American
form the ACCN and plan the 1986 celebration. Helped by the publicity provided by old “NATO Radio” station, veteran and classic auto park/display behind the stage. AMCAR nearly lost permission to attend this year’s
the event got off to a rousing, if at times, bumpy start of navigating the testy waters of official permits and the event. However, after negotiations between Raceworz Norway, ACCN, Bymiljøetaten and AMCAR, a permit
skepticism of the Norwegian media. was granted! Unfortunately since COVID-19 has scuttled this year's event, we can only hope that AMCAR will
be back next year with a plethora of classic cars.
Since the event is free and receives no public fund-
ing, the ACCN, under Bruce’s leadership, began to sell Over the years, many energetic and hardworking chairpersons have taken the helm in organizing the event
advertising and produce a program lated named the and hundreds of volunteers have put in countless hours behind the scenes. However, without the funds gen-
ACCN Community Guide, which is also distributed erated by the ad sales and raffle, the celebration might never have happened or kept going. As Bruce puts it:
“It’s my baby. As long as I’m alive I’ll keep on. My thanks is seeing people enjoy themselves.”
Then and now!
free of charge at the event. The first celebration
consisted of a parade led by a visiting high school
band from downtown to Frogner Park and a big
picnic with sports. Later on, food vendors, a stage for
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20 2135 Years of Great Family Entertainment
1985 Charter members of the American Coordinating Committee, later renamed American
Coordinating Council of Norway (ACCN), meet in Bruce and Wenche Allen's living room to
plan Independence Day 1986
1986 Parade from downtown to Frogner Park, picnic and sports
1987 Parade, Caledonian Jazz Band, Fjord Frolickers, Davido Magic, Touch football
1988 Parade, Stillwater High School band, Fjord Frolickers
1989 Parade, Ellingsrud School Band, John Fastings Dance Courses, Norwegian Rhythm Band,
Fjord Frolickers, Sing-a-long
1990 Parade, Georgia National Guard Band, Shirley Jones, Chicken Soup Jazz Band, Fjord Frolickers
1991 Parade, Princess Pale Moon, Black and Blue Band, Square Dancing
1992 Parade, Northport High School Band, Magician don Carlo, Skydiving Team, Troubadour X
1993 Parade, Shirley Keller, Odin Skydiving, Kings Guard
1994 Parade, Blue and Grey Civil War, Odin Skydiving, Rio Band, King’s Guard
1995 Parade, Western Riders, King’s Guard, Bill Booth and the Convertibles, Blue and Grey Civil War,
Square and Line dancing
1996 Parade, Mississippi Jazz Band, Western Riders, Volleyball, Sagene Janitsjarkorps, Square and
Line dancing
1997 Parade, Tacoma Norwegian Youth Choir, Kentucky Riders, Line Dancers, Football
1998 Parade, Tacoma Norwegian Youth Choir, Kentucky Riders, Don't Mess with Alice Band, Pie &
Quilt contest, Cheerleaders
1999 Parade, Ila Ungdoms Korps, Western Riders, Fjord Frolickers, Kjell Elvis and Fattigmanns Band
2000 Parade, Tempo Høybråten Janitsjar, U.S. Air Force Band, Fjord Frolickers, Line dancers, Waikiki
2001 Parade, U.S. Air Force Band, Kom og Dans Swing Dancing, Waikiki
2002 Parade, U.S. Air Force Band, Waikiki, Sinatra Songbook, Circus dos Mosquitos Band
2003 Final parade, Oslo Swing Company Big Band, Waikiki, Circus dos Mosquitos Band
2004 Vanessa Trouble Band, Fjord Frolickers, Pony Rides for children
2005 Horse Show, Romerike Concert Orchestra, Teddy Trigger and Gatling Guns Band, Sinatra Songbook
2006 Romerike Concert Orchestra, Teddy Trigger and Gatling Guns Band, Sinatra Songbook
2007 Foggy Boys, Cheerleaders, Rockback Line dancers
2008 Cascade Youth Symphony, Foggy Boys band, ViQueens Cheerleaders, Arild Lekanger Line dancing
2009 Traces Gospel Choir, Ila Auto Band, Kickin with Kelli - Line Dancing
2010 Ragnhild Groven, Independence Idol, Larkin Poe, Rock Back Dancers, OCT Galaxy & NRC Tigers
Cheerleading
2011 Airbuzz, Duo Scandinavica, and Line Dancing with Kelli Haugen
2012 Airbuzz, down-b-low, Line Dancing/Swing with Kom og Dans, and Cheerleaders from Fredrikstad
Turnforening
2013 Airbuzz, Johnny Sansone, Kickin with Kelli, Anee Karin Lee
2014 Airbuzz, Tracee Lewis Meyn, Rock Back Dancers, Lady Moscow, VSK Cheerleading Fame
2015 Moving Day!, Project Brundlefly, Viqueens and VSK Cheerleading Fame
2016 Moving Day!, Glory Days, Ida & Kari-Elisabeth Line Dancers, Cheerleading
2017 Moving Day!, Glory Days, Kickin with Kelli, OCT Galaxy Cheerleading
2018 Lawson Vallery Band, Glory Days, Kickin with Kelli, OCT Galaxy Cheerleading
2019 Lawson Vallery Band, Daryl McDade & SOUL XL, Kickin with Kelli, OCT Galaxy Cheerleading
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22 23Memories of ' 19
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25Memories of ' 19 Memories of ' 19
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26 27Memories of ' 19 75th Anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE Day)
Article by By U.S. Embassy Oslo
This year we mark 75 years since the end of hostilities in
Europe in the Second World War. We pay tribute today
to all those who stood up for humanity and freedom in
the face of tyranny, and we honor the sacrifices of all
service members involved in ridding the world of Nazi,
fascist, and other aggression.
We remember with sorrow the unique suffering of
the Jewish people in the Holocaust and the merciless
slaughter of so many other innocent civilians. As we
Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel signing the final surrender terms on
8 May 1945 in Berlin. Photo Source: Wikipedia
honor their memory, we renew our vow to never allow
such atrocities to take place again.
We remember today, too, that for many people living
in countries that were behind the Iron Curtain after the
war, the end of the war marked the start, or continua-
tion, of a different kind of oppression.
Since 1945, Transatlantic cooperation has been vital
in promoting peace, democracy, and tolerance, and in
upholding our shared values of freedom and the rule of
law. After the fall of the Iron Curtain, more people were
United States military policemen reading about the
German surrender in the newspaper Stars and Stripes.
Photo Source: Wikipedia
free to live under these common democratic
values. We have a shared history. And in the
spirit of collaboration, we look forward to a
shared future.
The royal family on the castle balcony beckons to people
celebrating peace and the king on June 7, 1945, the day
King Haakon and Crown Princess Märtha with the children
Astrid, Ragnhild and Harald returned to Norway after the
war. Crown Prince Olav arrived in the country on May 13.
Photo Source: Oslo Museum / digitalmuseum.no
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28 29Oslo Barnemuseum Memories of ' 19
Sustainable culture, or not?
Article by Katie Coughlin,
Director for Oslo Barnemuseum, a non-profit organization working towards a permanent interactive
children’s museum in Oslo (www.oslobarnemuseum.org) and producing CityKids events
In March 2019, CityKids welcomed hundreds of visitors to one of six annual weekend events at culture
house, Sentralen. Entrance tickets provided vital income for the year. On the same weekend in March
2020, CityKids was closed. Also in April.
The cultural sector is among the hardest hit by the coronavirus crisis. Income loss and layoffs were immediate
and extreme, especially to small organizations and freelancers. Americans for the Arts estimates $5B in losses in
the USA´s cultural sector alone. Cultural content and events contribute to social well-being. The OECD warns that
many vulnerable cultural organizations will face bankruptcy, and that losing this fragile part of the sector could
cause both economic and social damage. Relief programs are being put in place, but more sustainable business
models are also needed.
2020 would have been our 14th year providing children´s activities for ACCN´s American Independence Day cel-
ebration in Frogner Park. Since 2005, we have been working to produce inspiring, multisensory activities which
stimulate children´s development and learning. Our events celebrate creativity and hands-on experiences for the
most curious among us: children.
While our hands-on focus has been our strength, it is now also our greatest challenge in the pandemic situation.
As with many other cultural organizations, our future is uncertain.
Since March, my thoughts have often been with one family who would visit CityKids on every open day with their
daughter who has autism. She does not speak but thrives with our activities. We gave her a CityKids t-shirt, and
her mother told me that she points to the shirt to say that she wants to visit CityKids. I hope that we will be able to
welcome her back again, along with everyone else.
We are always, and especially now, looking for new ideas, partners, artists, sponsors and volunteers. If interested,
please contact info@oslobarnemuseum.org.
Follow us on Facebook for more information and updates: www.facebook.com/oslobarnemuseum.
We will miss being in Frogner Park this year for Europe´s largest and best American Independence
Day celebration. Wishing a very happy 4th of July to all!
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30 31For Kids . . . And the Young at Heart
4th OF JULY WORD SCRAMBLE
answers on page 47
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32 33Women’s Right to Vote continued from page 7
self-evident, that all men and women are created equal; that they are endowed
by their Creator with certain inalienable rights.” – rewrite of The Declaration of Criticized and condemned as “ aggressive militants,” women who stood vigil in front
Independence, 1848. of the White House were the first people ever to stage a protest there, and dozens of
them were sent to prison. Many more were heckled or spat upon by passersby, had
Disagreements over strategy threatened to cripple the movement more than once their banners and sashes torn to pieces by mobs, and were knocked down by police.
and the campaign was not easy. In 1890 two groups merged to form the National
American Woman Suffrage Association. Elizabeth Cady Stanton was the organiza- Although the Civil War was a period which put the struggle for women’s rights
tion’s first president. on hold, World War I strengthened awareness of the value of the contributions of
women during the war, thus lending power to their argument.
By then, the suffragists’ approach had changed from before the Civil War. Instead of
arguing that women deserved the same rights and responsibilities as men because Activists presented their case by using the experiences of women during
women and men were “created equal,” the new generation of activists argued that World War I as a major part of the continued political pressure, which in
women deserved the vote because they were different from men. They could make 1918, forced President Woodrow Wilson’s endorsement of women’s right
issues of domesticity into a community of interest for mobilization and organizing. to vote. “We have made partners of women in this war. Shall we admit
(ref https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/07/08/the-imperfect-unfin- them only to a partnership of sacrifice and suffering, and not to a partner-
ished-work-of-womens-suffrage) The diversity of the voting-rights advocates is ship of privilege and of right?” – Wilson, speech before congress 1918.
less shocking than the diversity of voting rights themselves. Mary Winsor (Penn.) '17 [holding Suffrage Women of Protest, 1917 July 6-8: Helena Hill (ref. http://www.crusadeforthevote.org/wilson)
Prisoners banner],Harris & Ewing, Washington, Weed, Norwalk, Conn. Serving 3 day sentence in
One of the last and most telling objects in another recent book covering the suffrage D.C. , Photographer Photo source: Library of D.C. prison for carrying banner, "Governments Finally, on August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified.
Congress Prints and Photographs derive their just powers from the consent of the
movement, Why They Marched, Harvard; is a handbill titled “Seeing Is Believing” On November 2nd of that year, more than 8 million women across the United
governed." Photo source: Library of Congress
which features three maps of the United States. Prints and Photographs
States voted in elections for the first time.
The first map is from 1869, when Wyoming was the only state that allowed women to vote. The second is from The 19 Amendment granted women the right to vote, and reads:
1909, when, after four decades, just three other states had enfranchised women: Colorado, Idaho, and Utah. The “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on
last, from 1919, shows a complicated patchwork of the various voting rights held by women around the country. account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.”
By then, fifteen states had passed constitutional amendments allowing full female suffrage; others had partial
suffrage, allowing women to vote in school or local elections. The handbill, along with many other artifacts from New organization for women
the time, demonstrates the steady advance of women’s suffrage while also complicating the standard portrait of it: The League of Women Voters (LWV), a civic
the right to vote is less a switch than a dial, one that can be turned up or dimmed down. (ref. Why They Marched) organization; was formed to help women
take a larger role in public affairs after they
The generation of suffragettes, in early 20th century, had many issues on the agenda like ending child labor, won the right to vote. It was founded in 1920
worker’s rights in industries where most workers were women, curbing corruption, and equal quality education to support the new women suffrage rights
for children. Without the right to vote, there was no power to influence policymakers. They therefore organized and was a merger of National Council of
militant protests and, mobilization was done by holding parades, pickets, marches, town hall meetings gather- Women Voters, founded by Emma Smith
ing a broad sphere of women through state-by-state organizing of working women and also women-of-color, as DeVoe, and National American Woman
well as those not employed were able to be reached. A fraction group, known as the Silent Sentinels, held their Suffrage Association, led by Carrie Chap-
tongues while they held their banners. Some had taken to burning Woodrow Wilson’s speeches in tiny urns and man Catt, approximately six months before
even burn an effigy of him, too. the Nineteenth Amendment to the United
The first picket line - College day in the picket line Photo source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
States Constitution gave women the right
to vote.
The League of Women Voters began as a
"mighty political experiment" aimed to help
newly enfranchised women exercise their
responsibilities as voters. Originally, only Suffragettes, [Washington, D.C.], 1917 Photo source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
women could join the league; but in 1973 the
charter was modified to include men. LWV operates at the local, state, and national level, with over 1,000 local and 50 state
leagues, and one territory league in the U.S. Virgin Islands. (ref.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/League_of_Women_Voters)
With this centennial, it is worth considering not only what women were fighting for then but why they had to fight so
hard, and who, exactly, was fighting against them.
Challenges then and today
Challenges to voting rights, as women and others experience in our country today, are hardly a 21st-century invention.
In the late 1700s the right to vote began when only white male landowners were granted this right. All others were not
considered in position to have this right. Since those times, the women’s suffrage movement broke open the path for
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