Letter from Board President, Jim Erickson
Dear Friends of Norway House,
Norway House was born of a dream of many people to have a business and cultural center where people can gather to nurture ties to modern Norway and celebrate the Norwegian heritage. It is our dream to have a facility that would link the multitudes of Norwegian organizations in the Midwest in collaborative ventures and programs so all can thrive and be energized. We are moving closer to that dream, having secured cash donations and further capital pledges of over $1 million, even before we have identified a home.
Our journey to identify a site for Norway House has taken a few twists and turns! We are now in conversation with the American Swedish Institute exploring the feasibility of building on the Park Avenue land owned by the Institute. Both our Board and the ASI Board have authorized further discussions, which are well underway as you read this.
While we are making plans and raising capital to build a facility called Norway House, we are also about the business of carrying out program and events. Norway House is a collaborating organization and we celebrate our success this part year in partnering with many Norwegian American organizations and institutions. We've hosted concerts organized by the Grieg Society, offered a lecture series, featured a presentation by the U.S. Ambassador to Norway Ben Whitney, launched a Norwegian language program for preschoolers called Barnehage, and hosted a book-signing event for Princess Martha Louise of Norway. Many more events are on the horizon for 2006 - 07 including a city wide summer Nordic festival.
Chief among these programming efforts is the Peace Initiative that Janet Dolan so elegantly challenges us with at the Midsommer Dinner. Your gift now will particularly allow us to bring that concept to life as a central theme of Norway House.
In order to support this ongoing work for Norway House operations and programming, we are inviting you to join us in making a year end contribution. Your gift will make it possible to continue the work being done as well as expand the vision for what Norway House can be about. Thank you for your partnership!
This page last modified
08/08/07