The Northern California Spelmanslag is a non-profit public benefit corporation which aims to promote Scandinavian music, dance and culture through special workshops, regular meetings, concerts and performances. The organization consists of a central organization and four member groups: Nordahl Grieg Leikarring, Nordic Footnotes, the Mid-Peninsula Scandinavian Dance Group, and Scandiadans Scandinavian dance class. The Spelmanslag also contains many individual members who are active in dancing or in playing Scandinavian music, loosely organized in groups by locality.

The Spelmanslag publishes the Northern California Spelmanslag News quarterly. The first volume began in September of 1990 and the next issue will complete our ninth volume. The newsletter keeps musicians, dancers, and members of the Scandinavian community informed regarding our activities. The newsletter includes a calendar of Scandinavian folk music and dance activities as well as related cultural events in northern California and elsewhere, news about the Spelmanslag organization, and articles of general interest.
The Northern California Spelmanslag maintains an internet web page at http://members.aol.com/jglittle/ncs.html . Besides basic information about the spelmanslag organization, this page includes a regularly updated calendar of Scandinavian events in northern California, the US, and, to some extent, in Scandinavia. It also includes an online version of the Northern California Spelmanslag Newsletter, links to other web sites, a list of members of the board, their phone numbers and email addresses, and tips for planning events and submitting event ideas to the board for approval.

The Spelmanslag has worked with other Scandinavian organizations in promoting Scandinavian culture. We have maintained contacts with numerous Scandinavian organizations and agencies, promoting communication and informing them of our activities. We have also sought to promote communication and cooperation between various groups across the country which promote Scandinavian culture. We mail copies of our newsletter to individuals and groups across the United States who are involved in organizing events which promote Scandinavian folk music and dance. The newsletter keeps them informed regarding Scandinavian folk dance and music activities in Northern California, and provides an outlet for them to inform others of their local special events. We have cooperated with several groups around the country in organizing tours of Scandinavian guest instructors.

In future years, we intend to continue striving towards our goals of promoting Scandinavian folk culture and cultural exchange. We will remain active in bringing instructors from Scandinavia to teach folk dance and music, and will continue to hold regular meetings for musicians and dancers. We hope to further develop the sense of community among local musicians and dancers, and will continue to work together with the larger Scandinavian community both locally and across the country.

The Board and Board Meetings

The Northern California Spelmanslag has a board of 15 directors. Current members are:

Jeanne Sawyer, President, (408) 929-5602
Betsy McKone, Vice-President, (415) 368-8006
Patrick Golden, Treasurer, (510) 222-2023
Frank Tripi, Secretary, (510) 654-3636
Fred Bialy, (510) 215-5974
Sarah Kirton, (650) 968-3126
Egil Larsen, (650) 967-2310
Jim Little, (650) 323-2256
Susan Overhauser, (510) 222-2023
Linda Persson, (650) 323-2256
Stewart Pugh, (510) 527-7272
Henry Sawyer, (408) 929-5602
Mikkel Thompson, (408) 998-2076
Virginia Thompson, (510) 527-7272
Jane Tripi, (510) 654-3636

If you would like to offer input regarding Spelmanslag activities or would like to become actively involved, please contact one of the directors with your ideas and suggestions. You are welcome to attend board meetings. If you are interested in being a board member, please let one of our current directors know. Normally, elections for the board take place on the first Saturday of October. Call Jeanne Sawyer for the time and place of board meetings.

Organizational Affiliations

Folk Dance Federation of California.
The Northern California Spelmanslag is a club under the Folk Dance Federation of California. The Spelmanslag obtains its liability insurance through the Folk Dance Federation.

Hardanger Fiddle Association of America.
The Northern California Spelmanslag is a group member of the HFAA, which promotes the traditional music and dance associated with the Norwegian hardingfele.

The Northern California Spelmanslag cooperates with other Scandinavian organizations such as the Swedish and norwegian consulates, The Norway Day Festival, the local Sons of Norway and VASA lodges, and the American Scandinavian Foundation.

The Year in Review: 1997-1998

During the 1997/98 fiscal year, NCS has held regular meetings for musicians in two locations where Scandinavian folk music has been taught and shared. The Spelmanslag also sponsors regular Scandinavian dance classes via the Mid-Peninsula Dancers, Scandiadans, and the Nordahl Grieg Leikarring, and has provided these and other groups with non-profit status and insurance coverage. Through these regular activities, we have been successful in introducing newcomers to Scandinavian music and dance.

On February 21st and 22nd, Nordic Footnotes sponsored a two day hardingfele workshop with Telemark Fiddler Alf Tveit, who had been the featured dance fiddler at the February Scandia Festival the previous weekend. The first day of the workshop was at an intermediate level, the second day at an advanced level. He also played at the regularly scheduled Nordic Footnotes (South Bay) dance the evening of the 21st.
Alix Cordray and her dance group "Springar'n" made a visit to the Bay Area in late July. The group is based in the Oslo area. Scandiadans in Oakland hosted a potluck and dance on July 31st for this dance group. There were about 80 people in attendance. On August 1st Nordahl Grieg Leikarring hosted a dance workshop, potluck, performance, and dance in Palo Alto.

The Nordahl Grieg Leikarring and Spelemannslag hosted two weekend workshops at the Sons of Norway Camp near Alta, California. The November event provided an Introduction to the Music and Dance of Norway, taught by Mikkel Thompson. Instruction on fiddle and hardingfiddle was provided by Bill Boyd of Seattle. The last weekend in March featured Norwegian Gunnulf Sletta along with Valerie Thompson who taught Telegangar and Telespringar in the tradition of Tuddal, Norway.

We have also provided performances of Scandinavian folk music and dance for other Scandinavian organizations and for the general public (see the table of activities and performances included in this report). The Nordahl Grieg Leikarring continues to be a busy performing group with over 50 appearances.

Financial Policies

All activities of the Northern California Spelmanslag are organized and provided by volunteer services. Board members receive no compensation for their services. Volunteers do not typically receive free admission to events.

The Spelmanslag does pay guest instructors to cover their expenses; typically we are able to cover airfare and a stipend which should cover their ground travel and per diem expenses while in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Admission costs to special event workshops are based at cost divided by expected attendance. Admission to concerts and dances is based at or slightly above cost. Any profit above expenses is deposited in Spelmanslag accounts for use in future special events. There is no admission charge for regular musicians' gatherings.

Financial policies may vary somewhat for member groups.

Financial Goals

Our financial goal as an organization is to develop a reserve fund equivalent to the total budget for a special event festival (typically $8,000 to $12,000), plus the annual budget for the newsletter (approximately $2,500). This brings our goal to about $15,000 for the central NCS account. Having this amount in our account would allow us more leverage in organizing special festivals, and would allow us to take risks such as sponsoring a festival of music and dance from less-known regions of Scandinavia. Our financial reserve allows us to pay for up-front expenses (airfare, hall deposits, publicity) as they occur.

The central NCS account has continued to obtain contributions from members and individuals who wish to promote Scandinavian folk music and dance. However, these contributions do not yet cover the annual cost of producing the NCS news. We hope in future years to increase contributions in order to fully support the newsletter and to increase our reserve fund. §
 

Financial Report

The Northern California Spelmanslag operates on a fiscal year which runs from October 1 through September 30.
The treasurer, Patrick Golden, has prepared the financial statement for the Northern California Spelmanslag. This report is a consolidated report reflecting the activities of the central NCS organization, Nordic Footnotes, Mid-Peninsula Dancers, Scandiadans, and the Nordahl Grieg Leikarring. Please note that only the income and expenses which fall in the fiscal year of 10/1/97 - 9/30/98 are reported.

Note also that the expenses for the NCS Newsletter were not submitted in time to be included in this report, and will appear in next year's report. §
 
 

Donors

Sponsors ($100 and up)
Fred Bialy
Liberty Elyash
Joseph Finn
Carolyn Hunt
Ralph Morewitz
Virginia Thompson
Mark Wegner & Mary Korn

Patrons ($25 to $99)
Patsy Bolt
Wanda Collins
Folklore/Scandia (Camps)
Annie Grace
Chris Gruber
Bob Hamilton
Deborah Jones
Karen Lassen
Nordahl Grieg Leikarring
Nancy Linscott
Loretta Litke
Heather MacKay
Darlene Martin
Ted Martin
Jim Little & Linda Persson
Don Meyers & Kathi Ploeger
Raymond Monson
Mary Nelson
Hazel Olsen
Carol & Robert Olson
Peter Ostapenko
Keith & Lena Rogers
Jeanne & Henry Sawyer
Diane Schoenfeld
Skandifest (Turlock Scand. Festival)
Tom Smithberger
Stephen Taylor
Donna Tripp
Mark Walstrom
Brian West
Brian Wiley

Supporters ($10 to $24)
Wilma & Svend Andersen
Art & Grace Andrews
Mary Abendroth
William & Diana Blanchard
Linda Cain
Tom Colby
David & Claire Elliker-Vagsbe
Debbie & Abe Evenich
Ned & Marian Gault
Cassia Kight
Mary Lou Koth
Arvid Lundin
Linda Mattson
James Oakden
Ruth Schelander
Paul Severtson
Valerie Stewart
John & Sally White §

Activities and Performances

Weekly Open Sessions for Fiddlers, Monday evenings in El Cerrito, organized by Fred Bialy.
Weekly Nordahl Grieg Leikarring. Beginning Norwegian dance class and performing group meeting Wednesdays and fourth Sunday, organized by Mikkel Thompson.
Weekly Scandiadans, Scandinavian Dance Class at the Nature Friends' Lodge, 3115 Butters Drive, Oakland, organized by Jane and Frank Tripi.
Weekly Scandinavian Fiddle Class, Friday evenings in the Peninsula, organized by Jeanne Sawyer and Sarah Kirton.
Bi-wkly Mid-Peninsula Scandinavian Dance, on 2nd & 4th Friday evenings in Atherton, organized by Jim Little and Linda Persson.
Monthly Third Saturday Party with live music by Nordic Footnotes and other Bay Area musicians. Organized by Jeanne Sawyer.
10/24/97 United Nations Day Celebration, Santa Clara Office of Education, San Jose, Performance by Nordahl Grieg Leikarring (NGL).
10/29/97 Ambassador's Ball, Consul of Norway, Hyatt Regency Hotel., Scottsdale, AZ, Performance by NGL.
11/1/97 Vikingfest, Nordmanns Forbundet, Pheonix AZ, Performance by NGL.
11/8/97 Night of Olympic Stars,US Olympic Committee, San Francisco, Performance by NGL.
11/14/97 Premier of Norwegian Playwrite,CSU-Hayward Theater Dept., Hayward, Performance by NGL.
11/15/97 Viking Fest, Roald Amundsen Lodge, Sacramento, Performance by NGL.
11/14+/97 Camp Norge Folkedans Stevne near Alta, CA. Featuring Mikkel Thompson & Bill Boyd. Organized by the NGL and Nordahl Grieg Spelemannslag (NGS).
12/6/97 Lutefisk Dinner, Sons of Norway Lodge #52 (Nordahl Grieg), 580 Parr Ave., Los Gatos, Performance by NGL.
12/12/97 Mill Valley Christmas Dance, Mill Valley, Performance by NCS.
12/19/97 Nordic Footnotes Christmas Dance, Sunnyvale, Performance by NCS.
12/19/97 Nordic Footnotes Christmas Dance, Sunnyvale, Performance by Nordic Footnotes.
12/20/97 Daughters of Norway, Sigrid Undset Lodge #32 Sons of Norway Lodge,Palo Alto, Performance by NGL.
12/20/97 Family Christmas Party,Nordahl Grieg Leikarring,Nordahl Hall, Los Gatos, Performance by NGL.
1/17/98 50th Anniversary Party, Garborg Lodge Sons of Norway (Modesto), Denair Community Center, Modesto, Performance by NGL.
1/31/98 S.F.Ethnic Dance Festival Audition, S.F. State University, Performance by NGL.
2/21/98 Hardingfele workshop with Alf Tveit, Mt. View, CA, Arranged by NCS.
2/21/98 Dance party with Alf Tveit, Sunnyvale CA, Arranged by Nordic Footnotes and NCS.
2/22/98 Hardingfele workshop with Alf Tveit, El Cerrito, CA, Arranged by NCS.
3/11/98 Sunny View Social,Sunny View Retirement Community, Cupertino, Performance by NGL.
3/17/98 Senior Center Social, Garden House Senior Center,Los Altos, Performance by NGL.
3/20/98 Ethnic Awareness Day, Harker School, San Jose, Performance by NGL.
3/27+/98 Camp Norge Folkedans Stevne near Alta, CA. Featuring Gunnar Sletta from Norway. Organized by NGL and NGS.
4/3/98 Diversity Week, Monte Vista ASB,Monte Vista High School, Cupertino, Performance by NGL.
4/3/98 Celebrating Diversity Week, Willow Glen Middle School, San Jose, 2 performances by NGL.
4/18/98 Scandinavian Festival, Sacramento, Performance by NGL.
4/18/98 Multicultural Performers Showcase, San Jose Library Multicultural Services, Mt View Center for the Performing Arts, Performance by NGL.
4/18/98 International Spring Festival, International House, UC Berkeley, Performance by NGL.
5/2/97 Norway Day Festival, Herbst Pavilion, Fort Mason, San Francisco, Performance by NGL and NGS.
5/4/97 Norway Day Festival, Herbst Pavilion, Fort Mason, San Francisco, Performances by NGL and NGS.
5/4/98 Norway Day Festival, Herbst Pavilion, Fort Mason, San Francisco, Performances by Barneleikkarring (NGL).
5/8/98 Norwegian Heritage Day,Sherman Oaks School, San Jose, Performance by NGL.
5/9/98 Masonic Home Entertainment Event, Union City, Performance by NGL.
5/15/98 Syttende Mai Celebration, Viegland Lodge, 1665 Fernside, Redwood City, Performance by NGL.
5/15/98 Syttende Mai Celebration, Vasa Svea Lodge, San Jose, Performance by NGL.
5/16/98 International Day , Rainbow Bridge School, 1500 Yosemite Dr., Milpitas, Performance by NGL.
5/16/98 17th of May Flag Raising ,San Jose City Hall, Performance by NGL.
5/16/98 Syttende Mai Lutefisk and Meatball Dinner, Nordahl Grieg Lodge, Los Gatos, Performance by NGL.
5/17/98 Syttende Mai Celebration, Norwegian Seamans Church, 2454 Hyde St. San Francisco, Performance by NGL.
5/24/98 Syttende Mai Celebration, Norwegian Natiuonal League of Northern California,Golden Gate Park Band Shell, S.F., Performance by NGL.
6/20/98 FINA Summer Fest/Eastern Europe & Scandinavian Night, Albuquerque Cultural Recreational Services, Albuquerque, N.M., Two performances by NGL.
6/27/98 Scandinavian Midsummer Festival, Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Assoc., Firemen's Park, Ferndale, CA, Two performances by NGL.
6/28/98 Scandinavian Midsummer Festival, Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Assoc., Firemen's Park, Ferndale, CA, Two performances by NGL.
7/10/98 Stanford International Folkdance Party, Mt . View, CA, Performance by NGS.
7/11/98 Daughters of Norway Convention, Villa Hotel, San Mateo, CA, Performance by NGL.
7/31/98 Potluck and Dance with Norwegian dance group "Springar'n," Oakland, CA, Hosted by Scandiadans.
8/1/98 Dance Workshop, Potluck, Performance and Dance with Norwegian dance group "Springar'n," Palo Alto, CA, Hosted by NGL.
8/21/98 Tordis Bornholdt's 90th Birthday, Strawberry Creek Lodge., Berkeley, Performance by NGL.
9/25/98 Skandi Fest, Stanislaus County Fair Grounds, Turlock, CA, Performance by NGL and NGS.
9/26/98 Skandi Fest, Stanislaus County Fair Grounds, Turlock, CA, Two Performances by NGL, Two Performances by NGS.
9/27/97 Skandi Fest, Stanislaus County Fair Grounds, Turlock, CA, Performance by NGL's Barneleikarring.