Vasa Order Of America The Grand Lodge

THE MISSION OF THE GRAND LODGE VASA ORDER OF AMERICA IS TO TO RENDER AID AND ASSISTANCE TO SICK MEMBERS OF THE CORPORATION, WHETHER SUCH SICKNESS BE TEMPORARY OR INCURABLE, AND TO RENDER PECUNIARY AID TOWARD DEFRAYING THE FUNERAL EXPENSES OF MEMBERS, AND TO PROMOTE SOCIAL AND INTELLECTUAL INTERCOURSE AMONG ITS MEMBERS. THE OBJECTIVES OF THE GRAND LODGE VASA ORDER OF AMERICA COMPRISE THE FOLLOWING: 1. TO PERPETUATE THE NOBLE HERITAGE OF OUR FOREFATHERS AND TO FOSTER NORDIC CULTURAL ACTIVITIES BY ENCOURAGEMENT AND EXAMPLE TO ITS MEMBERS. 2. WITH OUR MOTTO GENEROSITY, TRUTH AND UNITY AS A FOUNDATION, ENDEAVOR TO PERPETUATE THE MORAL AND SOCIAL STANDARDS OF ITS MEMBERS IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN THE HIGH IDEALS AND REPUTATION OF ITS PEOPLE. 3. TO INTEREST AND ASSIST THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS IN THE AIMS AND PURPOSES OF THE ORDER BY SUPPORTING THE INSTITUTION AND PROGRESS OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH CLUBS WITHIN THE ORDER. 4. TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN FUNDS FOR FINANCIAL RELIEF TO ITS MEMBERS IN NEED OF S

OLD AGE AND NEEDY BENEFIT FUND PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO MEMBERS IN NEED. BENEFITS WERE PAID TO 20 SICK AND NEEDY MEMBERS OF THE VASA ORDER OF AMERICA IN THE PAST FISCAL YEAR. IN JULY 2022, VASA MEMBERS FROM SWEDEN, CANADA,AND THE UNITED STATES GATHERED IN PHILADELPHIA TO ATTEND THE 40TH QUADRENNIAL CONVENTION OF THE GRAND LODGE - VASA ORDER OF AMERICA. THE GRAND LODGE DELEGATES SPENT MANY HOURS IN COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND THEN, GATHERING WITH ALL THE VOTING MEMBERS - MAKING DECISIONS THAT WILL AFFECT THE FUTURE OF THE VASA ORDER OF AMERICA.

THE EDUCATIONAL FUND PROVIDES COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS TO WORTHY STUDENTS ENROLLED OR ACCEPTED FOR ENROLLMENT, IN ACCREDITED INSTITUTIONS FOR HIGHER LEARNING - 19 SCHOLARSHIPS OF APPROX. 1,500 EACH WERE AWARDED IN 2022. THE FUND ALSO PROVIDES SWEDISH LANGUAGE IMMERSION SCHOLARSHIPS AT CONCORDIA LANGUAGE VILLAGES (A PROGRAM OF CONCORDIA COLLEGE) IN MINNESOTA. THE FUND ALSO PAYS FOR REASONABLE STUDENT TRAVEL EXPENSES TO MINNESOTA.

SUPPORTS THE VASA NATIONAL ARCHIVES INC. THE VASA NATIONAL ARCHIVES IS THE REPOSITORY FOR THE FOLLOWING: -VASA HISTORICAL RECORDS FOR ALL LODGE LEVELS -SCANDINAVIAN IMMIGRANT HISTORICAL RECORDS AND ARTIFACTS -MEMBER FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGICAL RECORDS -A LIBRARY OF OLD SWEDISH BOOKS AND SWEDISH-AMERICAN BOOKS PUBLISHED IN SWEDISH -A COLLECTION OF NOTABLE SWEDISH-AMERICAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND CANADA.

PUBLISHING AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE MEMBER MAGAZINE, VASA STAR. THE VASA STAR FOCUSES UPON SHARING CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND NEWS FROM DISTRICT AND LOCAL LODGES AND GRAND LODGE REPORTS AND NEWS. THE VASA STAR REACHES OVER 7,500 MEMBERS.