contact us
Note from the
Chair:
Behind the scenes can be an exciting and exhausting place to be. This is the second year the NIA has officially sponsored the Miss Norway Contest. It is the first year we have had a float in the 17th of May Parade.
It is inspiring to work with the 17th of May Committee and Nansen Lodge, Sons of Norway, who provided the float for us. In fact, a new dimension was added to the Miss Norway Contest, an intergenerational flavor. Sarah Lindland, Miss Norway of Greater New York 2009 wowed the Little Miss Norways with stories of how great it is to have Norwegian heritage and how much she enjoyed the trip to Norway she won. One mother wrote:
Thank you so very much for the lovely pictures of the children from the Parade. We had a wonderful time and would love to attend next year since Brianna will only be age 9 then. The day reminded me of when I would march with my church Saint John's Lutheran Church with my Grandmother Ambjorg Aase and mother Laila. I'm glad that my daughter had the opportunity to experience the pride of being Norwegian and get a chance to wear my Bunad. Thanks for everything.
In addition, the Oral History program made possible by StoryCorp, a national organization, has continued through the spring. May 9, the NIA, together with the South Street Seaport, hosted a wine reception our member, Odd Andersen, to introduce our members and friends to his exhibit of Maritime Oil Paintings.
A new movie evening is in the planning stages.
Those are the exciting parts. What are the exhausting parts? All of us volunteers are wearing too many hats. If you would like to volunteer, send an email niahistory.org or call 973-933-2331. We need help in the following areas:
• The Events Committee
• The Hospitality Committee
• Publicity—newspaper, radio, etc.
• Administrative duties—keeping records in shape
• Computer—uploading historical material to website
If you cannot volunteer time, be sure to follow our website and come to our programs.
Enjoy Summer 2009
Rigmor
The NIA is always looking for new members! If you are a Norwegian-American, or just want to be one, please join us. There is an application on the Membership page.
CONTACT US
(NIA) Norwegian
Immigration Association
317 East 52nd Street
New York, New York 10022
E-mail: niahistoryonline@yahoo.com
The NIA is an independent non-profit organization, staffed entirely by volunteers. The Executive Council members and their areas of responsibility are listed below.
| Rigmor Swensen | Chairperson |
| Barbara Berntsen | Vice-Chair Membership |
| Greta Lafayette | Vice-Chair Heritage Hall – Exhibit Committee |
| Lars Nilsen | Vice-Chair Research Committee |
| Vibeke Steineger | Vice-Chair Events |
| Walter Barthold | Secretary and Counsel |
| Beverly Skaar | Treasurer |
| Sandy Ginsberg | 17th of May Parade |
| Barbara Govertsen | Hospitality Committee |
| George Jensen | NCHHC - Heritage Hall coordinator |
| Marie Larsen | Public Relations |
| Robert Solberg | Finances |
| Rolf Stang | Publicity |
| Roy Swensen | Development |
| Abel Abrahamsen | Advisor |
| Gerd Bjorgan | Advisor |
| Anna Nilsen | Advisor |
| Bjarne Pedersen | Advisor |
| Victor Samuelsen | Advisor |
A special thank you to Everett Halvorsen whose photographs capture the spirit of the NIA and appear throughout this website.
Where to find us:
The NIA Research Center is located in midtown Manhattan on East 52nd Street just below Second Avenue.
NIA Research Center
Norwegian Seamen’s
Church
317 East 52nd Street
New York, New York 10022
The NIA Exhibit is located at the Norwegian Christian Home and Health Center in Brooklyn.
NIA Exhibit
Heritage Hall
1265-67th Street
Brooklyn, New York 11232
317 East 52nd Street - New York, NY 10022
niahistoryonline@yahoo.com
