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Swedish Press N Y A
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July/August 2019 Vol 90:06 $5.95
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Commemorative Edition Celebrating 90th Anniversary of Swedish Press
WHAT HAS SWEDISH PRESS MEANT TO YOU? We asked a handful of our faithful subscribers, readers and contributors to describe in a few words how Swedish Press has influenced their perception of Sweden and Sweden-North America. We also invited suggestions regarding future content and the best way to reach a wider readership. Here is what they told us.
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Swedish Press | July/August 2019 14
Anders and Hamida Neumüller Publishers & Editors, Swedish Press 1986 to 2012
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fter six years in retirement we still miss our dear readers and supporters from the time we were editors 1986-2012. Your phone calls, kind notes with renewals and, above all, meeting so many of you all over the continent was what kept us and Swedish Press going! You are so lucky to now have Peter, Joan and Claes continuing publishing history with quality content and a great glossy look. (We could never afford full color except for the electronic editions!) Svenska Pressen started out in December 1928, just in time for “the dirty thirties”, and one could write a book about its adventurous ups and downs, with one editor even giving up his apartment and sleeping on the printing press to save the newspaper. But financial problems persisted, and in the November 1985 issue the only professional editor that Swedish Press had ever had, called it quits. That is when we were talked into trying to save Swedish Press. We had come to Canada with our two small daughters for a two-year sabbatical, never imagining that we would stay on for 31 years and that Swedish Press would become such a big part of our lives. The first thing we did after we took over Swedish Press was
to redesign the bi-weekly broadsheet into a monthly magazine so that it could be computerized. Next we used all the ideas from the former editors for subscription drives and competitions. While they had had radio programs, we read Swedish news on both a weekly television program and a radio program. They sold music records while we sold books and “Three Crowns” gifts and wear. They even published the all-English Scandinavian Post for a few months just like we did with our quarterly Scandinavian Press (that is now published by the Allen Larson family in Minot, ND). We even took readers on a trip to Scandinavia. Through exclusive interviews with the King, Queen, Crown Princess, Archbishop, and Prime Minister, we came to understand the importance of Swedish Press, and we were also touched when celebrities like Ann Margret, Björn Borg, Candice Bergen, Astrid Lindgren and Isabella Rossellini (but not Greta Garbo who used to pick up the paper at Nyborg & Nelson in New York) opened their otherwise closed doors for us. They were all thrilled to discover a surviving Swedish paper in North America. Running Swedish Press was a tough job. We could not have done it without the help of Swedish organizations and businesses in North America – not to forget so many friends and contacts in Sweden who contributed in so many different ways. Retiring after 74 issues of Scandinavian Press and 312 of Swedish Press, we have stopped writing, but Hamida still dreams of compiling a cookery book with the fantastic recipes we ran in Treats, and Anders has not given up on editing a book with the works of the 150 Swedish cartoonists we featured in Swedish Press. He would also like to publish in Swedish the virtual trip we did on the magazines’ NordicWay site to 548 interesting Swedish American places that most Swedes have never heard of. Stay tuned!
Gregg White
Executive Director, Swedish Council of America, Minneapolis
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or the past several years, Swedish Council of America has been a regular contributor to the Swedish Press [CONNECTS] program. This has permitted SCA to reach a whole new audience with information about how we support organizations and scholars across Swedish North America. We are very grateful for this opportunity, one that is rarely offered to a nonprofit such as ourselves. We salute Swedish Press as it celebrates its 90th Anniversary. Ten times a year, the magazine provides interesting and informative articles for and about Sweden and Swedish America. We know how much work it takes to consistently produce such a fine product and we salute Peter, Joan and Claes for their stellar efforts. Their dedication to a quality product will ensure the magazine’s longevity for decades to come. [
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Swedish Press Conne cts
Swedish Council of America
By Gregg White, SCA Executive Director
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Swedish Coun cil of Amer ica
And the Winners are...
This summer’s calendar is filled with Swedish events!
By Gregg White, SCA Executive Director
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New Nordic Cuisine
American Swedish Historical pring is perhaps the most exciting time of year at Museum, Philadelphia,
Swedish Groups
Thrive and Prosper
By Gregg White, SCA Swedish Council of America. This is when SCA Pennsylvania to preserve the Nordic Executive Director heritage in Western announces the recipients of its annual grants cycle. www.americanswedish.org Eastern Iowa. Illinois and The announcement wasfood made by Dr. Anne-Charlotte CA Proclamations Focusing on Nordic rom Vikings in MinToday its membersh are granted “View of Fort Orange, 1652” Sojourning Strangers Conference Courtesy of by the SCA Board ip stands at 150, Harvey, SCA Grants Committee Chair, after the SCA of Directors to recognize trends of the past 20 years, neapolis to disco in Len Tantillo. Augustana Students. including many significant milestone The Board of Directors approved this year’s grants at its annual affiliated organizati this exhibition explores Seattle, you could s in the American Scandinav ASA is an associate chapter of ons’ histories or outstandin meeting intraditional March. food and province of mainland Sweden to the ASHM in 1938. ian Foundation, achieveme spend the whole g Opensin New York, nts made headquartered by public figures and an affiliate of in Swedish“This year SCA is funding seven museum exhibitions, North America. At September 2018. contemporary innovation, summer crisscrossing North the Swedish Council the 2018 America, based of in Minnesota. the campus of Augustana Autumn SCA Meeting held four performance groups, one conference local production and global and three projects America experiencing dozens on College in Rock Island, meritoriou aimed at youth,” Harvey.culture “Someand recipients are large three BISHOP HILL HERITAGE ASSOCIATION, BISHOP HILL, IL Illinois reach,said restaurant of remarkable shows, exhibits s groups had their historic with milestones Swedish fine dining. Photo: Tina SCA institutions while others represent grass-roots programs The Nordland Band Concert will be part of the Bishop Hill Proclama marked home cooking. and performances – each tions. SCA congratul Stafrén/imagebank.sweden.se ates them that are important in their local area. The SCA Grants Midsommar Music Festival on Saturday, Juneall! 23, 2018, in focused on Swedish heritage Viking helmet. Photo: LindHill, Chapel CommitteeNordic sees this as a good cross-section of activities in Jenny Bishop IL. –InInaddition, about Scandinavian Museum or culture. And as been the case honour ofa workshop Gustavianum, Uppsala its 150th Anniversa In 1850, ry weMuseum, know just how important folk songs will be held in the Steeple Building Museum. Both Universitet Swedish America a group Nationaland Nordic Seattle, Washingtonfunding for over four decades, Swedish of ten Swedish immigran Lutheran ts establishe fromas SCA can be to each of these groups.” the congregat concert and are free and open to the www.nordicmuseum.org Council of America is supporting many of these projects d apublic. ionworkshop in Andover, IL. It Jenny Lind, the was named after the great pleasure of informing the various groups Swedish part of its annual grants program. Participate and enjoy!“I have Renowned famous 19th century singer, $1,500OLD who donated that they will be receiving an SCA Grant for their project,” SWEDES FOUNDATION AND HISTORIC SITE, so the photojournalist Hasse congregat ion could start the building. This said SCA Executive Director, White. “In fact, as year, theWILMINGTON, DE Jenny Lind Chapel Persson covered theGregg United The Vikings Begin! (JLC) commemo rates the entitled, often as possible, I like to deliver the check in person or150th anniversa The 17thry annual Sweden History conference States for Swedish news American Swedish Institute, Minneapolis, Minnesota of theNew move from the original the “new” visit the organization tothe personally “Sojourning Strangers: Swedes and Germans buildingin church in 1868. outlets from 1960s towitness just what kind www.asimn.org tothe Soon, over a thousand immigran of impact SCA has onand their community. Middle-Atlantic Colonies” will be held inSwedish November 2018. ts from Moline to the 1990s, also served That is one of the This major exhibition details the emergence of a distinct Peoria called this their own. congregat It will explore the interactions between individuals Eventuall asmy thejob!” official photographer Viking culture in late iron-age Scandinavia, as seen best parts of ion or y this became the “mother”of tion of the Here are examples of organizations being funded groups that led to better understanding the experiences of Vasa congregaAugustana of some New York’s legendary through the lens of rich archaeological material contained Lutheran Park – In honour Church in America. of its 65th Anniversa SCA54 Grants. A complete Mid-Atlantic Swedes and Germans between 1638 and Begun 1783. Studio nightclub. This list of 2018 SCA in recently excavated Viking graves from Sweden andby this year’s ry in the early 1950s, Grant recipients and the projects funded is available on the Vasa Park outside exhibition provides a rare the Baltic region. Curated by Gustavianum, an Uppsala has been a place of Chicago for families to gather Andy Warhol and friends. SCA website, www.swedishcouncil.org. SWEDISH AMERICAN MUSEUM, CHICAGO, IL look inside the 1970s most University museum. and enjoy the great outdoors as they Photo: Hasse Persson Studio 54 celebrated their The Kungsholm Miniature Grand Opera exhibit will exclusive party scene, and Swedish heritage. and Beyond: A Swedish Lens on a the group has expanded to present the traditions Today AMERICANshowcases SWEDISH Persson’s HISTORICAL MUSEUM, showcase the puppets and set that were once a part ofNordic the Turbulent America iconic Dressing with Purpose: countries to people of all the PHILADELPHIA, PA renowned Kungsholm restaurant in Chicago from 1941 of all cultures. photographs of the Vietnam War, the civil rights movement, Belonging and Resistance Not just Scandinav ians but the general The exhibition From the Heart, by Hand: to 1971. and newsmakers fromMade Muhammad AliCelebratto Richard Nixon to The exhibit will highlight the history and perforin Scandinavia pate in the annual public particiMidsommar Festival ing 80 years ofDylan. Hemslöjd at the ASHM will introduce mances of the Kungsholm puppets. Associated eventsthe will Bob Museum of International Folk in June as well as Fish Boil held in fall. Bringing a taste the rich tradition of hand craft in Sweden to the museum’s include lectures, tours of the original Kungsholm building Art, Santa Fe, New Mexico to the Chicago area of Scandinavia is key to Vasa Park’s visitors through a remarkable gift of 64 textiles from every on Michigan Avenue, and more. Autumn 2018. www.internationalfolkart.org continuing success. This exhibition examines Resources on the SCA website: www.swed three dress traditions A directory of 150+ ishcouncil.org Swedish organizations Details of SCA Award today – Swedish folkdräkt, of Merit Details of SCA Proclamation nominations Norwegian bunad, and s bestowed SCA is Swedish America’s community foundation. Our mission is to promote American SCA Award Nomination Scandinav ian Association Sámi gákti – exploring forms knowledge and appreciation of Swedish heritage and culture in North at Augustana – In Honour of its American life and to strengthen contemporary cultural and educational their contemporary uses, 85th Anniversary Thethis ties between North America and Sweden. We achieve by providing American Scandinavian Associatio aesthetics, and meanings grants to organizations, scholarships to youth, recognition SCA is Swedish America’s n was founded in 1934 bytoaleaders groupand of Scandinavians in light of two centuries of communications to the community – all focused on furthering our mission. knowledge and appreciationcommunity foundation. Our mission Caption: Swedish folk costumes. living in the Quad area. Just as they is to promote Swedish Presswww.swedishcouncil.org | May 2018 [24] of Swedish heritage City Photo: Carrie Hertz social and political change. were then, the goals American life and and culture in North to strengthen contemporar of the ASA are to stimulate and promote ties between North interest in relations America and Sweden. y cultural and educational between the U.S. grants to organizations and culture We Swedish Press | June 2019 26 and all five of the , scholarships to youth, achieve this by providing communications to Nordic countries, recognition to leaders the community – all and and www.swedis focused
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Kristine Leander
Executive Director, The Swedish Club, Seattle
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y appreciation of Swedish Press goes back quite a few years and predates Joan and Claes Fredriksson’s role as the publishers of this fine magazine. I’ve watched it mature and take a more sophisticated tone to the topics that permeate the magazine, namely, what does it mean to be a Swedish-American and how does one maintain a connection to Sweden or make a new connection with modern Sweden? Unlike my father’s era when being called a “tow-headed Swede” was the worst insult a school-aged child could endure, being Swedish or SwedishAmerican is chic in Seattle these days. But what’s a person to do if the Swedish relatives are long lost, flying over frequently isn’t an option, or one doesn’t speak good Swedish? Read Swedish Press, of course! From election news to business, from politics to recipes, I get informed about contemporary Sweden when I read Swedish Press. I also trust Swedish Press. I feel like I’m getting a balanced view of events and news. Maybe I’m naïve about Swedish news, but I don’t detect either censure or commendation in the reporting. Just the facts, all about Sweden. I love the magazine!
Christina Hallmert
Internationell ordförande, SWEA International, Inc
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om internationell ordförande i SWEA, som fyller fyrtio år i år, är det särskilt roligt för mig att få gratulera till Swedish Press 90-årsjubileum! När jag tillträdde för snart fyra år sedan var Swedish Press en ny bekantskap för mig, men jag förstod mycket snart vilket värdefullt och viktigt forum det är, särskilt i Nordamerika. Jag läser varje nummer av tidningen med stort intresse och förundras ständigt över det stora engagemang som förenar oss Sverigefrämjande organisationer och forum. Det är så viktigt att få synas tillsammans och visa hur viktiga var och en av oss är, med olika målgrupper och olika syften, men med Sverige som gemensamt förtecken. Jag brukar säga att vi alla är små gulblå partiklar som direkt eller indirekt marknadsför Sverige, och vi gör alla ett strålande arbete! Eftersom jag är bosatt i Europa, skulle jag förstås önska att tidningen skulle få ett bredare internationellt fokus, något jag samtidigt förstår utmaningarna med. Självklart är det viktigt för SWEA att även fortsättningsvis ha goda relationer med Swedish Press och vi ser fram emot viktiga framtida projekt och samarbeten. Många gratulationer till jubilaren och tack för allt viktigt arbete ni lägger ner!
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Swedish Council of America
Combining Swedish with Compassion By Brian Kays, SCA Communications Intern
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orking with migrants and refugees faceto-face on a regular basis, Elizabeth (Liza) Johnson of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is intimately familiar with the struggles facing newcomers entering a new country. Since high school, Liza has been an active volunteer for Our Savior’s Community Services (OSCS), a social service organization that assists immigrant and refugee families with housing, life skills, and other kinds of aid. On a more personal level, Liza’s grandmother came to the United States as an immigrant from Ireland in the mid-1960s. Says Liza, “I have first-hand knowledge of what it means to enter a new land and having to navigate systems that are not always meant to help you.” She realized early on that Gustavus Adolphus College was a perfect fit for her – an institution that values the daily struggles experienced by migrants around the world.
Elizabeth is the recipient of the 2019 SCA Swedish Language Scholarship, nominated by Gustavus Adolphus President Rebecca Bergman. President Bergman states that “[Elizabeth] is curious about the world around her; she is able to offer her view diplomatically and compassionately [in addition to being] open-minded, ambitious, and independent. She will step outside of the halls of Gustavus to pursue the DIS Stockholm program in the field of Public Health in Stockholm, Sweden.”
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While in Stockholm, Elizabeth, who is a double major in Political Science and Scandinavian Studies at Gustavus, will explore Sweden’s social welfare policies pertaining to the most recent wave of refugees from countries like Syria and Somalia. “While in Sweden, my goal is to understand the strengths and weaknesses of Swedish migration policy, compare such policy to the United States’ migration policy, and ultimately explore methods how the United States can better serve migrants arriving at its borders.” Additionally, Elizabeth wants to immerse herself in Swedish language and culture as a complement to her public health studies. “It is my intention to engage in all possibilities that I am given to speak, read, and write in Swedish,” she states. “This will come in the form of living in studentboende among Swedish students, conducting research projects where I may have the opportunity to speak Swedish with government officials through interviews, and keeping up with politics by reading policy briefings in Swedish.” Accomplishing such tasks is completely within Elizabeth’s character, according to Chad Winterfeldt, Cantor for Gustavus’ Christ Chapel. “She is a self-motivated learner and possesses a high level of maturity and integrity. […] I know that once she commits to doing something, she will follow through with quality.” We look forward to reading about Elizabeth’s experiences on SCA’s website after her return.
DIS in Brief: DIS is a study-abroad foundation with locations in Copenhagen and Stockholm that provide upperdivision undergraduate programs taught in English, offering high-impact learning experiences with a broad curriculum.
SCA is Swedish America’s community foundation. Our mission is to promote knowledge and appreciation of Swedish heritage and culture in North American life and to strengthen contemporary cultural and educational ties between North America and Sweden. We achieve this by providing grants to organizations, scholarships to youth, recognition to leaders and communications to the community – all focused on furthering our mission. www.swedishcouncil.org
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Swedish Women’s Educational Association international
En hälsning från SWEAs grundare Av SWEA International
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lla Sweor önskas ett roligt och minnesrikt 40-årsjubileum! Var än ni firar i världen går mina varma och tacksamma tankar till var och en av er. Det var lättare att tänka på och följa er alla i begynnelsen, då vi det första Agneta Nilsson njuter under 40-års festen hos SWEA Orange County året 1979 var 120 medlemden 20 april 2019. mar i SWEA Los Angeles. I slutet av 1981 var vi, tillsammans med SWEA Orange County och SWEA San Diego, 350 och idag är vi nästan 7000 medlemmar. Det är nästan svårt att ta till sig! Men var säker på att jag tänkt mycket på SWEA och dess medlemmar de senaste månaderna och läst ovanligt mycket som våra duktiga SWEA International-damer har satt ihop. Så mycket historia på vår hemsida, SWEA.org, om allt man skulle kunna tänka sig. Min egen sida där är fylld med saker jag har haft roligt med under årens lopp, så gå gärna in och läs. (Se swea.org/oversikt-sweas-grundare/) Att få ha glädjen att kunna följa den otroliga utvecklingen inom SWEA under dessa 40 år är en glädje och ära för
mig. Tur att jag endast var 37 år när jag började det hela i mitt garage i Manhattan Beach, så att jag fortfarande är ung och vital och någotsånär kan hänga med i den otroligt snabba utvecklingen de senaste åren. Vi är så lyckligt lottade att alltid ha haft otroligt duktiga och arbetsvilliga svenskor som genom åren har format SWEA till den bästa av alla organisationer som jag kan tänka mig. Våra nuvarande Sweor inom SWEA International, som håller i rodret med fast och klok hand, är en stor källa till glädje, och så har det varit under alla 40 år. Dessutom har vi så många dedikerade volontärer i varenda avdelning som gör att maskineriet fungerar bra och har gjort det nu i 40 år. Jag sätter stort värde på den uppskattning och tacksamhet som jag åtnjuter var än jag reser, Sweor så väl som deras män. Mitt kära garage i Manhattan Beach var ett lyckokast från första stund och ingen är gladare och stoltare än jag. Ett varmt och innerligt tack till er alla som varit med att bygga upp detta spännande och unika nätverk världen över, vad månne hända inom nästa 40 år? Njut nu av 40-årskalas runt om den vida SWEA-världen! Jättekramar från Agneta Nilsson SWEAs Grundare och Chairman Emeritus
SWEA är ett globalt nätverk för svensktalande kvinnor i ett 30-tal länder. SWEA grundades för 40 år sedan i Kalifornien och har idag ca 7000 medlemmar. SWEA är den största ideella Sverigefrämjande organisationen utanför Sverige och vårt syfte är att främja det svenska språket samt sprida svensk kultur och tradition. Varje år ger SWEA drygt 2 MSEK till donationer och stipendier. www.swea.org
SWEA Singapore: Ballonger
SWEA Dallas: Fyra Sweor inrammade
SWEA Budapest: En samling Sweor
SWEA Genève: Alla samlade
SWEA Örestad: Några Sweor
SWEA Göteborg: Gamla museivagnen
SWEA Washington DC: Några Sweor med Ambasadören
SWEA Moskva hälsar
SWEA North Carolina: Tårtan!
SWEA Zürich: Sweor i folkdräkt
SWEA New Jersey: Ballongerna
SWEA Seattle: Några Sweor och hästen
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