Vasa Order of America

The Vasa Order of America, a Scandinavian-American fraternal, cultural and educational organization, was founded in 1896 at the height of Swedish immigration to the United States as a Swedish-American fraternal order [ [http://www.nordicway.com/search/Vasa%20Order%20of%20America%20Zoo%20Years.htm Vasa Order of America 100 Years] , nordicway.com website, retrieved February 5, 2008] . Named for the House of Vasa, the historic kings of Sweden, it has been noted as one of the largest Swedish-American ethnic or cultural organizations [ [http://books.google.com/books?id=WeobqCeJNosC&pg=PA138&lpg=PA138&dq=%22vasa+order+of+america%22&source=web&ots=3PP6EaK9IL&sig=hc_GfrmlYefiaECS_GzHJSNYxGs The Ethnic Enigma: The Salience of Ethnicity for European-Origin Groups] , By Peter Kivisto, originally published in book form 1989 by the Balch Institute Press, available on Google books webpage, retrieved February 5, 2008, p. 138, ISBN 0944190030] [ [http://books.google.com/books?id=lZ52idtKRXEC&pg=PA128&lpg=PA128&dq=%22vasa+order+of+america%22&source=web&ots=uHnAquPgLB&sig=u1xKySfiG2YLJ_InHz-_J19hoxA Swedes in the Twin Cities:Immigrant Life and Minnesota’s Urban Frontier] , By Philip J. Anderson, Dag Blanck, originally published in book form 2001 by the Minnesota Historical Society Press, available on Google books webpage, retrieved February 5, 2008, p. 128, ISBN 0873513991] . Today, the Vasa Order comprises the Grand Lodge, 19 District Lodges, and nearly 300 local lodges. Local lodges in the United States, Canada, and Sweden offer cultural, language, and scholarship programs. The organization owns numerous lodge buildings and several parks, operates the Vasa National Archives at Bishop Hill, Illinois, and administers an Old Age and Sick Benefit Fund for members. Grand Conventions are held every four years. The organization is led by a Grand Master, Vice Grand Master, Grand Secretary, Grand Treasurer, and other board members and officers. The official publication of the Vasa Order of America is the "Vasa Star".

References

External links

* [http://www.vasaorder.org Official Website]
* [http://www.nordicway.com/search/Vasa%20Order%20of%20America%20Zoo%20Years.htm History]