Northern California Spelmanslag Annual Report 2001-2002

The Northern California Spelmanslag

    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: the Mid-Peninsula Scandinavian Dance Group, Nordahl Grieg Leikarring (and Nordahl Grieg Spelemannslag), Nordic Footnotes, 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 Northern California Spelmanslag organizes and presents festivals which include extensive instruction in both folk dance and folk music, dance parties, and concerts, often including dance demonstrations. We also play host to visiting musicians, and organize musicians' workshops, concerts, and/or dances in conjunction with their visits.
    The Spelmanslag has worked with other Scandinavian organizations in promoting Scandinavian culture. We have maintained contacts with various 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.
    The Spelmanslag publishes the Northern California Spelmanslag News quarterly. The first volume was issued in September of 1990 and this year completes our thirteenth 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/jg little/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.
    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 11 directors. Current members are:

    * Jeanne Sawyer, President, (408) 929-5602, jsawyer@SawyerPartnership.com
    * Betsy McKone, Vice President, (650) 368-8006, RECBetsy@aol.com
    * Jim Little, Treasurer, (650) 323-2256, james.little@sri.com
    * Frank Tripi, Secretary, (510) 654-3636, fjtripi@juno.com
    * Fred Bialy,Director , (510) 215-5974, bialy10@attbi.com
    * Zena Corcoran,   (650)355-3752, zmcorcoran@aol.com
    * Sarah Kirton, Director, (650) 968-3126, sekirton@ix.netcom.com
    * Ginny Lee, Director, (707) 428-4366, ginnylee7@hotmail.com
    * Linda Persson, Director, (650) 323-2256, PerssonLK@aol.com
    * Henry Sawyer, Director, (408) 929-5602, henry_sawyer@wvmccd.cc.ca.us
    * Jane Tripi, Director, (510) 654-3636, fjtripi@juno.com

    This year we lost one of our most energetic members to emigration. Mikkel Thompson, a longtime board member and the industrious leader of the Nordahl Grieg Leikarring has decided to seek a new life in Sweden. We wish him well. He will be sorely missed.

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

The Year in Review: 2001 -2002

    During the 2001/2002 fiscal year, NCS has held regular meetings for musicians in three Northern California locations where Scandinavian folk music has been taught and shared. The Spelmanslag also sponsors regular Scandinavian dance classes via the Mid Peninsula Scandinavian 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.
    The Nordahl Grieg Leikarring and Spelemannslag hosted weekend workshops at the Sons of Norway Camp near Alta, California in November 2001 and April 2002. The Barneleikarring associated with the Nordahl Grieg Leikarring hosted a Family Dance weekend at Camp Norge, Alta, California, in January 2002.
    NCS 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 20 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 and maintain 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, Jim Little, 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 and Spelemannslag. Please note that only the income and expenses which fall in the fiscal year of 10/1/2001 - 9/30/2002 are reported.

NCS Annual Financial Statement
October 1, 2001 to September 30, 2002

Income

Income from Activities				Subtotals
	NCS
		Insurance Reimbursement	$422.45	$422.45
	Nordahl Grieg Leikkarring og Spelemanslag
		NGL Dues	$920.00
		Barnleikkarring Fundraiser	$1966.10
		NG Spelemanslag Music Books & CDs	$425.00
		Performances	$6575.00
		Camp Norge Registration Fees	$6110.00
		Miscellaneous Income	$363.84	$16359.94
	Mid-Peninsula Scandinavian Dance
		Bi-Weekly Dances	$735.00	$735.00
	Scandiadans
		Weekly Dances	$2747.00	$2747.00
	Nordic Footnotes
		Monthly Dances	$1217.00	$1217.00
Total Income from Activities					$21481.39

Income from Contributions and Grants
	NCS			$1598.00
	Nordahl Grieg Leikkarring og Spelemanslag			$2045.00
	Mid-Peninsula Scandinavian Dance			$0.00
	Scandiadans			$0.00
	Nordic Footnotes			$0.00
Total Income from Contributions and Grants					$3643.00

Interest Income
	NCS			$341.49
	Nordahl Grieg Leikkarring og Spelemanslag			$0.00
	Mid-Peninsula Scandinavian Dance			$0.11
	Scandiadans			5.37
	Nordic Footnotes			$0.00
Total Interest Income					$346.97

Total Income					$25471.36

Expenses				Subtotals
	NCS
		Newsletter Printing	$1302.87
		Postage	$505.70
		Insurance	$422.45
		Filing Fees & Memberships	$20.00	$2251.02
	Nordahl Grieg Leikkarring og Spelemanslag
		Travel Advances & Reimbursements	$1569.50
		Administrative Service & Supplies	$831.94
		Candy for Barneleikaring Fundraiser	$360.00
		Rent	$2805.00
		Insurance	$204.80
		Camp Norge Rent	$2701.00
		Camp Norge Supplies	$720.60
		Camp Norge Refunds	$160.00
		Camp Norge Printing & Fliers	$181.85
		Camp Norge Postage	$190.40
		Camp Norge Music & Dance Teacher Airfare	$1000.00
		Camp Norge Music & Dance Teacher Fees	$400.00
		Ethnic Dance Fest. Audition	$249.60	$11374.69
	Mid-Peninsula Scandinavian Dance
		Rent	$750.00
		Insurance	$53.00
		Printing	$2.70	$805.70
	Scandiadans
		Rent	$2000.00
		Insurance	$122.00
		Folk Dance Federation Dues	$25.00
		Subscriptions	$15.00
		Refreshments	$91.90
		Recorded Music	$25.00
		Musician Fees	$40.00
		Miscellaneous Expenses	$125.00	$2443.90
	Nordic Footnotes
		Rent	$850.00
		Insurance	$59.90
		Supplies	$2.70	$912.60
Total Expenses					$17787.91

Net Income					$7683.45

Beginning Balance					$30609.71

Beginning Balance + Net Income					$38293.16

Ending Balance
	NCS				$17738.17
	Nordahl Grieg Leikkarring og Spelemanslag				$14208.67
	Mid-Peninsula Scandinavian Dance				$1377.23
	Scandiadans				$2045.87
	Nordic Footnotes				$2923.22
Total Ending Balance					$38293.16

Donors

Sponsors ($100 and up)

Fred Bialy
Zena Corcoran
Liberty Elyash
Carolyn Hunt
James Little & Linda Persson
Ann Tennis

Patrons ($25 to $99)

Karin Arneson
David Brown
Ned Dairiki
Margaret & Walker Fillius
Keith Grant
Chris Gruber
Marie Kay Hansen
Dale & Debra Hutchings
Ted Martin
Betsy McKone
Hazel Olsen
Carol & Bob Olson
Peter Ostapenko
Kathi Ploeger & Don Meyers
Bill & Karen Robotka
Jeanne & Henry Sawyer
Kenneth Seeman
Tom Smithberger
Donna Tripp

Supporters ($10 to $24)

Art & Grace Andrews
Matt Fichtenbaum
Janet Gage
Mary Ellen Hasbrouck
John Hennings
Deborah Jones
Chris Kalke
David Lau
Nancy Linscott
Diane Schoenfeld
Brian West

NCS Member Group Activities 2001 - 2002

Abbreviations:
BL:        Nordahl Grieg Barneleikarring
MPSD:    Mid-Peninsula Scandinavian Dancers
NCS:        Northern California Spelmanslag
NGL:        Nordahl Grieg Leikarring
NGS:        Nordahl Grieg Spelemannslag
NF:        Nordic Footnotes
SCD:        Scandiadans

Regular Events:
frequency ;                Event;                Sponsoring Group;       Location;
Weekly;    Fiddling with Fred;    NCS;    El Cerrito;
Weekly;    performing group meetings/rehearsals;    Nordahl Grieg Leikarring;     Mountain View;
Weekly (with a summer break);    Dance class & open dancing;    SCD;    Oakland;
Biweekly (with a summer break);    Dance class & open dancing;    MPSD;    Atherton;
Weekly;    Fiddle class and jamming;    Nordic Footnotes, (with MPSD on alternate Fridays);    Atherton/Mountain View and environs;
Monthly;    Traveling dance class (for beginning dancers); NGL;   Oakland;
Monthly;    Barneleikarring (children’s dance group);   NGL/BL;   Los Gatos;
3rd Saturday of each month;        Dance party;    Nordic Footnotes;    Palo Alto and environs;

Performances and 1-time events:
Date;                Event;                Requesting Group;       Location;    Performing Group(s);

10/6/2001;    Two hour concert/dance performance;    Daughters of Norway;    Reno;    NGL, BL, NGS;
10/7/2001;    Leif Erikson Festival;    Henrik Ibsen Park;    Henrik Ibsen Park, Woodside;    NGL, BL;
10/28/2001;    Heritage Night;    Bjornson Lodge, Oakland;    Bjornson Lodge, Oakland;    NGL, NGS;
11/2-4/2001;             Camp Norge Folkedans Stevne; Dance /music workshop;   NGL, NGS;   Alta, CA
11/10/2001;    Sons of Norway Smorgasbord;    Sons of Norway;    Sons of Norway Lodge, Lafayette;    NGL;
11/17/2001;    Freya Lodge Anniversary Party;    Freya Lodge;    Norway Hall in Santa Rosa;    NGL;
11/20/2001;    Henrik Ibsen Sons of Norway Initiation;    Sons of Norway;    Slavonic Cultural Center in San Francisco;    NGL;
12/1/2001;    Dance Performance;    SWEA Julmarknad;    SWEA;    San Francisco;    MPSD
12/8/2002;    Lutefisk Dinner;    Sons of Norway;    Nordahl Hall, Los Gatos;    BL;
12/15/2001;    Christmas Luncheon;    Daughters of Norway;    Grace Lutheran Church, Palo Alto;    BL;
12/16/2001;    Northern Lights Festivals;    Grace Lutheran Church;    Grace Lutheran Church, Palo Alto;    NGL;
1/11/2002;    Installation of officers;    Sons of Norway;    Nordahl Hall, Los Gatos;    NGS;
1/14-16/2002    Dance Stevne;    Barneleikarring;    Camp Norge, Alta;    BL;
1/18-21/2002    Family Weekend;   Dance workshop, family & ethnic activities; BL, NGL, NGS;   Alta, CA
1/26/2002;              Ethnic Dance Festival Audition;    Leikarring;    McKenna theater, UCSF, San Francisco;    NGL;
2/23/2002;    Anniversary Dinner;    Nordahl Grieg Lodge;    Nordahl Hall, Los Gatos;    BL;
3/13/2002;    Annual Group Meeting;    Los Altos Senior Garden House Assn.;    Shoup Park, Los Altos;    NGL;
4/5-7/2002;    Camp Norge Folkedans Stevne; Dance /music workshop;   NGL, NGS;   Alta, CA.
4/10/2002;    International Festival;    Gunn High School;    Gunn High School, Palo Alto;    NGL;
4/20/2002;    International House Festival;    UC Berkeley, International House;    International House, UC Berkeley Campus;    NGL;
4/20/2002;    Multicultural Festival Benefit;    The Athenian College Preparatory School;    The Athenian School, Danville;    NGL;
4/26/2002;    Heritage Night;    Sons of Norway, Nordahl Grieg Lodge;    Nordahl Hall, Los Gatos;    NGL;
4/27/2002;    Special Kids Day;    Lions Club;    Castle Rock Park, Walnut Creek;    BL;
5/4/2002;    Norway Day Festival;    Norway Day Festival;    San Mateo Expo Center, San Mateo;    NGL, BL, NGS;
5/5/2002;    Norway Day Festival;    Norway Day Festival;    San Mateo Expo Center, San Mateo;    NGL, NGS;
5/17/2002;    Syttende Mai Celebration;    Salem Lutheran Home;    Salem Lutheran Home, Oakland;    NGL;
5/17/2002;    Syttende Mai Celebration;    Sons of Norway, Vigeland Lodge;    Vigeland Lodge, Redwood City;    NGL;
5/19/2002;    May 17th Celebration;    Delta Community Presbyterian Church;    Delta Community Presby. Church, Discovery Bay;    BL;
6/1/2002;    Ibsen Park Opening;    Henrik Ibsen Park;    Henrik Ibsen Park, Woodside;    NGL;
6/15/2002;    ScandiMidsummer Fair;    Scandinavian Midsummer Fair;    Firemans Park, Ferndale;    BL;
6/30/2002;    Scandinavian Midsummer Festival;    Estes Park Midsummer Festival;    Estes Park , CO;    NGL;
8/11/2002;    Haug-Hosohama Wedding;    Lars-Erik Haug;    Saratoga Country Club;    NGL;
8/23-25/2002;    Dance Stevne;    Barneleikarring;    Henrik Ibsen Park, Woodside;    BL;
9/17/2002;    Birthday Celebration;    Garfield Park Village;    Garfield Park Village, Santa Cruz;    NGL;
9/27/2002;    Turlock Skandi-fest;    Skandi-fest;    Turlock;    NGL;
9/28/2002;    Turlock Skandi-fest;    Skandi-fest;    Turlock;    NGL, BL, NGS;
9/28/2002;    Turlock Skandi-fest;    Skandi-fest;    Turlock;    NGL;
9/29/2002;    Turlock Skandi-fest;    Skandi-fest;    Turlock;    NGL, BL;