Mission

The mission of the Sons of Norway is to promote and preserve the heritage and culture of Norway, to celebrate our relationship with other Nordic countries, and provide quality insurance and financial products to our members.

Our previous logo.

Who We Are

Norumbega Lodge is one of 380 lodges of the Sons of Norway. We have regular monthly meetings of a social and cultural nature, as well as monthly business meetings. Additional activities include the 17th of May (Norwegian Constitution Day) Family Picnic, our Scandinavian Fair, sports programs, community service opportunities, and other events. Learn more about our events and programs.

The members of Norumbega Lodge receive the “Tidende”, our Lodge newsletter, in addition to “Viking“, the national magazine. A wide variety of additional literature in the form of books and videos are available at meetings in the Lodge’s library.

History

Parading in Boston on Leif Erikson Day, October 7, 2000. Photo by Kari Heistad.

Norumbega Lodge No. 3-506 was instituted on September 19, 1970, at the Marriott Hotel in Newton, MA, with the sponsorship of Washington Lodge No. 428.

In 1976, the Lodge found itself host for the Third District Convention in Boston. Involving the participation of over ninety percent of Lodge membership, this convention left impressions – best planned, best carried out, most heritage and cultural displays.

Then there are the many successful Scandinavian Fairs that the Lodge has sponsored over the years on an annual basis. They have taken place in Waltham, Concord, Wellesley, Natick, and Acton. They continue to provide opportunities for fraternalism and public awareness and to furnish the means of funding the Lodge’s activities and numerous charitable contributions.

Also of great benefit has been the involvement of many Lodge members in Ski-for-Light. This involvement started at the 1977 Woodstock, Vermont, Ski-for-Light program, and has continued ever since.

Norumbega Lodge has taken part with enthusiasm in welcoming the Norwegian cadet training ship, “Christian Radich” to Boston in two massive Op Sail – Tall Ships events in Boston. In 1976, Norumbega Lodge was fortunate in being able to sponsor a cocktail party aboard the ship. On the return of the Christian Radich in 1992, Lodge members individually entertained crew members, and the Lodge held a special party for them.

Leif Erikson statue on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston

The Lodge has been eager and willing to participate in all public opportunities in the area to display Norwegian culture – such as International Fair at Boston’s World Trade Center, Scandinavian Day at Newton Free Library, and the Cultural Diversity Festival at Boston University Medical Center. Members also participated, on behalf of the Lodge, in Whole World Celebrations in Boston, Norway Day at the New England Aquarium, Southborough Heritage Day, United Nations Day in Acton, and the Burlington Cultural Festival.

With other Sons of Norway Lodges in New England, Norumbega Lodge took part in a very special project – restoration of the Leif Erikson statue on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston. Funds were raised from individuals and all Scandinavian organizations, including Norumbega Lodge. The statue was fully restored and was rededicated on Leif Erikson Day, October 9, 1988, following a parade down Commonwealth Avenue. A celebratory reception took place at the State House.

Parts extracted from material submitted by Vera R. Gregg, 1986, and Jean M. Husher, 1994

Meetings

Cultural meetings are held in The Scandinavian Cultural Center, West Newton, MA,on the first Friday each month at 7:30 PM (April-June and September-December) or the first Sunday each month at 3:00 PM (January-March). The first half hour is a social period with light refreshments, followed by the meeting at 7:30. Times and days may vary due to weather or program. For more information about meeting programs, times, and locations, please visit our Calendar page.

Social and Cultural meetings and Lodge activities are open to all those who are interested. Contact us for more information.

Board Members

Here are the 2023 Board Members of Norumbega Lodge 3-506:

Title

Name

Email Address

President: Steve Oyangen president@norumbegasofn.org
Vice President: Luana Marie Jøsvold vicepresident@norumbegasofn.org
Counselor: Peter Hanson counselor@norumbegasofn.org
Recording Secretary: Karen van Hook recording@norumbegasofn.org
Corresponding Secretary: open corresponding@norumbegasofn.org
Membership Secretary: Arne Buck membership@norumbegasofn.org
Treasurer: Frederick Hinchliffe 2nd treasurer@norumbegasofn.org
Social Director: Frederick Hinchliffe 2nd social@norumbegasofn.org
Cultural Director: Steve Oyangen, Karen Lein cultural@norumbegasofn.org
Trustee: Peter Vatne
Trustee: Judi Mack
Trustee: Peter Hanson
Directors
Sports Director: Karen Lein sports@norumbegasofn.org
Youth Director: open youth@norumbegasofn.org
Publicity Director: open publicity@norumbegasofn.org