Daughters of Norway

THE GRAND LODGE

The Grand Lodge is the umbrella organization of all Daughters of Norway members. The Grand Lodge Executive Board conducts the business of Daughters of Norway, including instituting and disbanding subordinate lodges, promoting cultural opportunities, holding biennial conventions, publishing a bimonthly newspaper and a website for the membership, overseeing a scholarship program and an endowment fund, collecting dues and budgeting for expenses, and conducting other business that is deemed in the interests of the organization and Norwegian-American women and the Scandinavian population in general.

DofN Grand Lodge Board, 2010–2012
(Lf-Rt:) Trustee S. Henneman, Trustee S. Hansen, Secretary J. Hadlock, Presidnt E. Hinds, Vice-President, H. Barcia, Judge M. Sullivan,Treasurer B. Kozak, & Financial Secretary J. Swensen (click on pix for larger view)

The Grand Lodge Executive Board consists of president, vice-president, judge, secretary, financial secretary, treasurer and two trustees. Board members are elected by the subordinate lodge delegates at each biennial convention. Each subordinate lodge is allowed one delegate, plus an additional delegate for each 25 members or the majority portion thereof. The editor of the Døtre av Norge newspaper, webmaster and chairs of various standing and ad hoc committees are appointed by the president. Committee chairs, the editor and the webmaster report to the Board and are always welcome to attend meetings, as are all DN members. The president also appoints an assistant secretary, marshal and assistant marshal, inner and outer greeters, musician, two parliamentarians, and various committees who serve only during convention.

SUBORDINATE LODGES

There are presently 26 subordinate lodges in the Central and Western United States. Since our founding in 1908, 49 lodges have been formed and 24 have disbanded, because of changing demographics and interests. Over the last few years we have gained approximately two lodges per year. If you are interested in joining or forming a lodge in your area, see the Membership page. Additional information on subordinate lodges activities available here.

ORGANIZATION'S HISTORY

Daughters of Norway evolved from the original organization Daughters of Norway of the Pacific Coast (DNPC). DNPC was formed in 1908 by three independent Washington Daughters of Norway lodges that had been chartered through their local Sons of Norway of the Pacific Coast.

The organization's name was changed in 1950 to Daughters of Norway (DofN) when the competing midwestern Daughters of Norway folded into the Sons of Norway organization. Since its inception, the organization's mission has remained rooted in promoting and protecting their cultural heritage. Additional details on Daughters of Norway history is available here.