SACHF News April 2017
As the ScanFest parade marches to the CLU park
to launch the 42nd Scandinavian Festival April 1-2, the SACHF "operations team" readies for an influx of participants. SACHF leaders-in red shirts-were supported here and across the park by hundreds of helpers from the campus and community.

In addition to the information tents such as this, the Festival featured several other activity "locales" as well as some 50 "merchants" promoting their Scandinavian-related wares. A Viking village served as one of the centers for the sharing of Scandinavian historical heritage. Meanwhile, the main tent featured speakers and anthems at the opening ceremony as well as a continual series of performers later.
Setup of the tents began with the pre-Festival unloading of four truckloads of equipment delivered by the Lister events-supply company.

Meanwhile, professional events planner/implementer Mindy Miller literally handles some of the mix of hardware--in addition to her commissioned role to help plan, promote and coordinate the increasingly complicated and labor-intensive Festival. She also worked with various SACHF and CLU leaders and an array of other helpers.
Gate staff/toll-takers got info
from SACHF treasurer Gary Lindgren (at head of table) in preparation for their responsibilities, while in another session, SACHF Festival leader Jaynee Morse (at left) of the local Sons of Norway pointed out some provisions related to the Festival entrance responsibilities. 
In the same setting at another time, SACHF secretary  Joy Brooks  instructed Cal Lutheran helpers about techniques of creating Scandinavian kids' crafts.

Volunteers from nearby Holy Trinity Lutheran
(clockwise from upper left) Gordon and Shirley Stone and retired-Pastor Larry Johnson and his wife Sally helped at the Festival gates. Several others from Holy Trinity, as well as volunteers from Ascension Lutheran, helped in various ways during the Festival.

Meanwhile, during the year, Holy Trinity has allowed participants in the ScanCenter Brown-Bag Lunches and other Center programs to park at the church, which is next door to the ScanCenter.
More SACHF board members in the Festival
included President Anita Hillesland Londgren, Eric Renn and Jack Holmgren. Not shown, but Board members Dennis Mattson and Howard Rockstad were based in the SACHF booth during the Festival. Below, Board member Nancy Truex lent a hand in the dramatization of the story of the Troll and the Three Billy Goats Gruff.
Scandinavian  Student Club at CLU got visibility  during the Festival: Music professor Michael Hart (carrying the Norwegian flag) is faculty advisor of the Club (and on the SACHF board). Katherine Reaves (standing at left) is  president of the Club (and on the SACHF board).  Anna (left) and  Sarah Berg are members of the Club and all had roles in the Festival.  Britta Grampp (of the Club and on the SACHF board, shown here in her work-study at the CLU Security Department), received during the Festival, the first SACHF $500 Scholarship awarded to a Scandinavian Club member.
The VIKING JAZZ BAND of Redwood Middle School blasted out with their rousing music for enthusiastic Festival listeners. The band from the nearby Thousand Oaks school came with their appropriate name, and "rocked the place" with their powerful music. 
SACHF genealogy advocates
Diane Seal (above), preparing the "Roots" map for the Festival genealogy information tent, checks placement of pins marking locations of members' ancestors.

Glenn Gustafson (left) specialized in heritage and genealogy related to Iowa.

Visiting genealogy specialists at the Festival attracted a steady stream of curious-and dedicated-researchers.
Reflections from SACHF President Anita Hillesland Londgren

GREAT!

This Scandinavian Festival was a great success...but it is also great to wind it down...because it demanded a great amount of time, energy and a great number of helpers.

Now we want to thank our "helpers extraordinaire"-Karen and Larry Ashim, who led the way to the Festival's success, and devoted time and talent way beyond the call of duty.

Our March SACHF e-news promoted the Festival as a challenging coming event, and we heralded many leaders in that edition--including the Ashims.
In this issue, mainly through photos, we're focusing on many other helpers as we cherish in what we have achieved.

Then, for a "news report" with the details of the activities in the Festival, we invite you to log on to our Internet highlights via www.ScandinavianFestival.org.

In my role as President of this "pan-Scan" organization, I marveled at the energy, friendliness, and endurance of the Festival volunteers all around the CLU campus on April 1 and 2. But that reflects our SACHF mission: to preserve and promote Scandinavian Heritage and Culture for the education and enjoyment of present and future generations.

Bottom line is that I'm PROUD of each member of this remarkable team!

SACHF e-news prepared by Richard Londgren
Scandinavian American Cultural and Historical Foundation