EVALUATION TABULATION ʻButcher, Baker, Candlestick Maker They were not all farmersʼ TRE LAG STEVNE - AUGUST 5-8, 2009 SOUTH ST.

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1 EVALUATION TABULATION ʻButcher, Baker, Candlestick Maker They were not all farmersʼ TRE LAG STEVNE - AUGUST 5-8, 2009 SOUTH ST. PAUL, MN Of the 209 people who registered for this yearʼs stevne, 99 people (47.4%) returned evaluation forms Genealogy Lab: Of the 99 returned evaluations, 68 people (68.7%) of the evaluators used the genealogy lab 1. If attended genealogy lab, when did you use the lab? Wed PM - 42 people Thurs. AM - 43 people Thurs. Between Wed Eve - 30 people Thurs. PM - 32 people Seminars - 3 people Fri. AM - 35 people The results show the number of time slots they used the lab 1 time - 16 people 3 times - 13 people 6 times - 1 person including time 2 times - 13 people 4 times - 10 people in-between seminars 5 times - 12 people 3 people didn t indicate time slots 2. How affected are you by competing tours and N = 67 A = 5.1 R = 1-10 seminars in finding time to work in the lab? COMPETING HOURS FOR LAB - 14 people commenting I am so glad we had time on Wed it was really the only time I had enough time to accomplish anything, I liked Wed afternoon and evening just devoted to genealogy, Wed genealogy day and even. Good need more, You do a great job of having the lab open at various times, I liked the schedule this year, Could have come on Wed, We skipped some events to use the lab, Need more genealogy hours (checked being in lab Wed PM & Thurs. PM), More time needed in lab ( checked being in lab Thurs. AM & PM), Tough choice (didn t attend lab), Always a challenge want to go to seminars, The seminars look so great. I choose them over working in lab. Wish there was more time for just lab, I liked the block of time for genealogy on Wednesday without any classes. It need not be on Wednesday. See suggestions for genealogy labs on page How helpful were the volunteers in the genealogy N = 63 A = 7.8 R = 1-10 lab in assisting you with your research? 4. How sufficient were the materials in the genealogy N = 67 A = 7.9 R = 3-10 lab in meeting your needs? 5. What did you find most helpful in the genealogy lab? 77 people commenting VOLUNTEER HELP: 17 people commenting Fantastic resources available, eager helpers, well organized, Those that were working on their own family info, always stopped to offer help and assistance and share their experience., Jean (Humeniuk) was great, Marilyn Sorensen was very helpful in answering my questions-2, Barry (Dahl) helped, Advice from John (Reindl) from Hedmark, We made some good progress, thanks to Oddgeir Fossli, Volunteers that point out resources and are very willing to help, The volunteers, Just browsed this time as time was limited (checked being in lab only Fri. AM), Didn t ask, and Didn t consult them, Thank you to everyone involved with the labs. The material and help was excellent, As a First Timer it was overwhelming and very difficult to find someone to introduce us to resources, More people who could read Norwegian and Gothic writing, Other people to ask questions. RESOURCE MATERIALS - 47 people commenting BYGDEBØKER - 12 people commenting Bygdebøker (9), Bygdebøker from Elverum, Having good access to bygdebøks and copiers. Made good use of both!, Need to order more bygdeboks of missing areas 1

2 OTHER BOOKS & RESOURCES - 29 people commenting Farm books (Gardboks) (4), Tronderlags book collection including new books (2), A brand new book just brought to the Tronderlag by Oddgeir Fossli, Newest books (2), Ringebu Ministerial books (this year) Yearbooks, Book sellers, Fåberg/Lillehammer Books, The amount of info in the books, Church books, Coon Valley and Coon Prairie Gudbrandsdalen, The exhibits the free handouts (Gudbrandsdal genealogy notes), the material available for purchase, the presentation and organization and quality of sources is outstanding, Published family histories, The wide variety of materials!, Wish we could also have maps of MN, WI, IA, etc., Lists, indexes, Films, census, Film, Not enough time to look at all the books (note: only checked Thurs. AM, Binders with birth records and indexes (2) Church microfilm records, Census records from Norway (2). INTERNET CONNECTIONS - 5 people commenting Good internet access would have been very helpful, however, it was unavailable most of the time!! Computer hook up, Difficulty connecting to internet, Wireless internet hookup - hardly worked - lots of complaints, Internet Connectivity GENERAL - 14 people commenting Very well organized, Book organization by area and knowledgeable helpers, The designations and signing so materials are easy to find, Arrangement, Everything sounds interesting!, Good resources!, So much valuable into (in Genealogy Lab), I think that the materials are just fine the problem is mine as I am not as familiar with the materials, That the answers are there you just have to look, Should have spent more time No problems here, Of course always looking for more! (note, rated materials at 6), Rating of 4 Hedmark, We really enjoy the trip to Minneapolis. Minnehaha Park Photo and Tour of Mill City Museum and Dinner Of the 92 people who participated in the tour, 47 people (51%) evaluated the event 6. The Minneapolis area tour was designed to visit sites N = 44 A = 7.9 R = that were important in the lives of early Norwegian immigrants. How successful was the tour in achieving this goal? 7. How important was it to you to stop at Minnehaha Park, N = 44 A = 6.3 R = 1-10 where Gudbrandsdalslaget was born and mark this time in history with a photo op? 8. How valuable was your guide to the success of the N = 47 A = 7.9 R = 2-10 Minnesota Historical Society s Mill City Museum tour? 9. How enjoyable was the dinner at the Mill City Museum? N = 47 A = 6.7 R = Comments on the Minnehaha Park Photo Stop and Mill City Museum and Dinner: 46 people responded MINNEHAHA PARK PHOTO OP - 6 people commenting Would liked to spend more time there, Too brief at Minnehaha, Minnehaha Park - way to short, It would have been nice to spend a little more time at Minnehaha Falls, Needed some time and info on the park and falls to be able to enjoy park as much (or even more) as the photo stop, Very nice - lucky the weather cooperated and that there was water in the falls. Nice option. THE MILL CITY MUSEUM EXHIBITS - 22 people commenting Mill experience was outstanding, Mill City Museum fantastic, Really enjoyed the tour of Mill City Museum very impressive, Museum was nice and interesting, Wonderful, informative, delightful experience!, Interesting place to visit. Appears to be a profitable respectful area renovated, Was a pleasant surprise, Enjoyed the history, Great tour and food really enjoyed it, The movie was great Minneapolis is a great city, Outstanding movie about Minneapolis., Outstanding photo-op at top of museum, Flour tower extremely interesting, Excellent, Also could have used more time to look around the museum, Too brief, Could use more time to spend there, There was not enough time or space to see the Minneapolis in 19 min movie, Missed the movie and missed the fire demo because the scheduling was too tight at the Mill City Museum, The organization could have been better. Example: We didn t get to see the explosion demonstration due to lack of time, Dinner was so slow until two of us moved the serving tables to form two lines, No time for our group in the store, Wristbands took a long time, but no one looked at them, Mill City Museum stop was not well organized, I could have spent more time at museum looking at the different stations. Overall it was good. 2

3 EATING AT THE MILL CITY MUSEUM - 18 people commenting Tasty meal!, Food was great. Explanation of food too long, Great food, not enough time to eat it, Food was excellent. Not enough time allotted for serving and eating meal, The food was wonderful! However the time frame to eat was too shed. A box lunch would speed up the line, Not enough time to eat, tour was too rushed, food was good, The food was good at the dinner but we were not allowed enough time to eat, Dinner very good, Rushed little time, Needed more time to eat, Not enough time to eat, Not enough time to eat, Old people don t like to eat late, The Mill City piece was a little rushed. We could have used another 10 minutes for dinner. By the time our host explained the food and everyone got through the line, we only had 15 minutes to eat and get seconds, Did not have time to see film. Took too long to go thru food line, Bread was hard to eat, Very poorly organized at museum. They took 20 minutes to create 3 groups. Meals served late. May only had minutes to eat, Not enough time for serving dinner and getting to movie so couldn t get in to movie, The Mill City time frame for eating was very tight--maybe a boxed lunch would have worked better. It took a long time to go through the line. The food was wonderful! GUIDE AND TOUR IN GENERAL - 8 people commenting Museum was excellent plus bus ride, Did not have a guide, We had no guide on the bus to point out places, Could have narrated sites such a Fort Snelling, I had a good time!, Super! (Tour) takes away from genealogy, Did not attend, but I think it was a shame the lab wasn t open during the time everyone else went to the museum There we re those who would of stayed if the lab was open, Didn t attend been there, done that! (we live in the cities) Opening Ceremony, Keynote Speaker, Seminars, and Craft Displays 11. Opening Ceremony: The opening ceremony is designed to welcome lag members N =56 A = 8.1 R = 1-10 and guests in a dignified, Norwegian-American manner. How successful was it in maintaining this goal? 12. Keynoter: How successful was Tom Hanson s keynote address, N = 67 A = 8.8 R = 1-10 Norway: Common Tradition and Present Realities in understanding the role of Norway, our ancestral home, in bringing about peace in the world? OPENING CEREMONY COMMENTS: 8 people commenting Standing for singing National anthems should always be requested of those who are able!, Not standing for National Anthems was a mistake What does the pledge of Allegiance have to do with Norwegian heritage? See Page I. Just sing the US National Anthem, Very well planned good range of topics to meet various interests. For non Americans why is the US pledge of Allegiance included? It has nothing to do with genealogy, Missed the Mayor s welcome, Didn t Attend Late couldn t find St. Paul Motel, Didn t attend late to arrive, Could not attend. KEYNOTER COMMENTS: 23 people commenting Top notch speaker, Very interesting, Outstanding!, Excellent, Great, Superb!, Very informative, Really interesting!!, Rated as an 11!, Tom Hanson was an excellent choice, Very scholarly presentation gave us much food for thought!, Somewhat slanted in favor of the socialist action taken by Norway, This was on excellent session and such a good one to follow Hanna Zmijewska-Emerson s presentation on the Face of Modern Norway, Didn t attend but said I heard comments that people did not agree with his point of view, Last 10 minutes only too political, Could have used more time a very important or timely subject and knowledgeable speaker., The keynote speaker and seminars that I attended were excellent and very appropriate and helpful, Tom Hanson was very interesting, The keynote speaker was very informative, Keynote speaker superb!, Superb thanks to him and the planning committee for having him., Keynote topic and speaker was very good. Would have liked more time with Keynote speaker, Wish we could have had copies of the keynote speaker. He was very impressive. 3

4 Seminars: (Genealogy and Program): Of the 99 returned evaluations, 93 people attended 1-22 seminars offered in 10 time slots, 5 seminar average per person. 13. Please check the genealogy and program seminar(s) you attended and rank how helpful they were. Wednesday Evening, Aug 5 Elaine Hasleton & Marilyn Sorensen, Record - Wed eve N = 28 A = 8.3 R = 6-10 Availability for Norwegian Research -Thurs. a.m. N = 15 A = 8.6 R = 6-10 Comments: Excellent Handout, Good introduction for newbies, Very practical liked this, Helpful handouts, Hard to hear without a mike, Hard to hear Johanna Shager Hocker, Janteloven N = 27 A = 6.3 R = 1 10 Comments: Shrill voice, Too full of herself Thursday Morning, Aug 6 Roland Krogstad Researching and Writing a Community History N = 9 A = 7.6 R = 5-10 Alison Day Purgiel, From Immigrant to Citizen- - 9:30 a.m. N = 25 A = 8.7 R = 6-10 Genealogy Research In Naturalization Records - 10:45 a.m. N = 12 A = 8.9 R = 7-10 Comments: Very knowledgeable, She must use the mike! In fact it should be a general requirement for all to use a mike. I know I m not the only attendee with a hearing aid. Thursday Afternoon, Aug 6 Polly Johnson, Folk Dance: Learn simple song and couple N = 11 A = 8.6 R = 6-10 dance from Norway Dan Karvonen, Genetic Genealogy How and Why 1:15 p.m. N = 27 A = 8.9 R = 7-10 to Get Your DNA Tested 2:45 p.m. N = 16 A = 9.3 R = 6-10 Comments: 10+, superb & so interesting, Very excited about topic fun to listen to made me excited about it, Didn t explain Why to DNA, Ready like this, Best DNA presentation I ve heard, Good but too long with too much background info Would have liked more time with speaker on DNA. Dallan Quass, WeRelate.org The World s 1:15 p.m. N = 25 A = 7.9 R = 3-10 Largest Genealogy Wiki 2:45 p.m. N = 24 A = 8.3 R = 5-10 Comments: Excellent presentation good information Friday Morning, Aug 7 Odell M. Bjerkness, The Prince and the Nanny N = 13 A = 7.6 R = 4-10 Comments: I couldn t hear. A mic was needed. So I had to purchase the book to find out what I missed. Presenter was well prepared, just needed a mic. Four people indicated they couldn t hear him. Dennis Rusinko, The Viking Life and Encampment N = 21 A = 7.5 R = 4 10 Comments: Rain! Some briefly stopped by Debbie Miller, Norwegian Cooking N = 11 A = 5.9 R = 1 10 Comments: She read her entire presentation shouldn t she Have known her material well enough to merely refer to notes? Disappointed as she just read a report:, Poor presentation read from script poor visuals could have been good because she has expertise 4

5 Opening Ceremony, Keynote Speaker, Seminars, and Craft Displays (continued): Friday Morning, Aug 7 (continued) Matt Anderson, 3-Dimensional Norwegian Objects in the N = 17 A = 8.0 R = 6 10 Minnesota Historical Society Collection Hanna Zmijewska-Emerson, The Face of Modern Norway N = 30 A = 7.8 R = 2 10 Comment: Very interesting Borghild Dahl, A DVD Presentation N = 4 A = 8.5 R = 6 10 Friday Afternoon, Aug 7 Judge Paul Anderson, Norwegians in the Minnesota Legal System N = 9 A = 9.1 R = 8 10 Comment: Excellent, Supreme court justice was outstanding Virginia Wegenast, What do I do with all this Stuff now? N = 49 A = 8.2 R = 2 10 Comments: Expected it to be more on organizing genealogy The podium was set in the way so you could not see the complete screen. And find someone that can operate the video and audio system (staff what to do with it), Ran out of handouts Bill Halverson, Heimferd: The Best Oratorio You ve Never Heard N = 12 A = 8.1 R = 6 10 Saturday Morning, Aug 8 Gary Romsaas, Tracking Your Ancestors with Google Maps N = 40 A = 8.8 R = 5 10 Comment: Capable, interesting and responded to audience Good to know-difficult to show in depth John Christianson, A Mixed Bag: Norwegian Immigrant Who N = 29 A = 8.9 R = 5 10 Were Not Farmers Comment: This should have been the KEYNOTE talk! And perhaps can be in the future. PROGRAM SEMINARS - 16 people commenting Alleson Day Purgiel was top-notch: organized, informative, used handouts of her slides to make note taking easier. She opened doors for me in my research, Hanna Zmijewska-Everson Presented a very biased program designed to flame Xenophopic attitudes. Overall, the organization an quality of the program was excellent, Virgina Wegenast excellent presentation, covered many topics. Would have liked a handout to refer to Had some but ran out, Virginia Wegenast needed to use handouts. There was so much information on so many slides that I couldn t write fast enough. Handouts would have helped greatly. Also, I thought this seminar would be about organizing genealogical information, but it was about what to do with important items in your life disappointing, It irks me to listen to a well informed speaker who has to read the whole scrip. Boring as a bad time story. Topics this year were excellent, Seminar mix was not very interesting, compared to 2008, The speakers and classes are the best of all lags and stevnes, The seminars were very appropriate and interesting, Excellent in all programs I attended, Seminars and crafts very informative and entertaining everyone involved is very helpful and friendly, I felt the quality of speakers was especially outstanding, Particularly pleased with the mixture and balance of Norwegian traditions and Norway today. I like the how-to s, On Friday several good seminars overlapped. I appreciate it when there is a choice at times. (2 sessions of each), Probably could have had fewer more specific genealogy, research type classes what s new Craft Demonstrations: 14. Rolling and Frying Lefse and Making and Decorating Kransekake heritage crafts were demonstrated at this year s Stevne. Which of these crafts did you enjoy the most? BOTH LEFSE AND KRANSEKAKE - 15 people commenting Both excellent, great, wonderful, very good, equal, great tasting, enjoyed both, They both did a great job and the finished products were delicious, Loved being able to witness their processes, Picked up great tips from both, I learned some new techniques an other presenters, Yes yes I love them both., I had never seen a 5

6 BOTH LEFSE AND KRANSEKAKE (continuing comments) Kransekake made so that was great to see. Enjoyed the good flavors of both., Since I make lefse myself it wasn t new to me. However, it s been 20 years since I ve made a Kransekake, it was a good review. DECORATING KRANSEKAKE - only attended Kransekake demo - 9 Decorating Kransekake was very informative, I have the rings, but have never seen it made. Thank you for that demo., I attended the Kransekake demo only and I enjoyed it very much, The Kransekake was delicious Enjoyed Kranskake the most ROLLING AND FRYING LEFSE - only attended lefse demo - 6 Only attended lefse good demo, Only saw lefse very good presentation, Attended lefse session very good 10 rating I enjoyed the lefse demonstration many good tips to make better lefse, Enjoyed Lefse making the most. 15. What craft demonstrations would you like to see another year? 3 people commenting All of them, all of the time is there someway to make the demos of wood carving, rosemaling, Hardanger, baking and cooking run continuously they are our heritage that needs to be preserved, Need bigger room for demonstrations, Being here for the first time, I don t know what you have had in the past. CRAFT SUGGESTIONS NORWEGIAN FOODS: More food, baking and cooking, more kinds of Norwegian treats - 26 people commenting Kransekake - 6 couldn t attend this year, again Smor sandwiches for church and home entertaining - 1 Donuts - 1 Kringle - 1 Lutefisk - 1 Sandbakkels - 1 Fattigmann - 1 Krumkaker - 3 Rommegrøt - 1 Spritz cookies - 1 Heart waffles - 1 Lefse - 3 Rosettes - 2 WOOD FOLK ARTS - 9 people commenting Wood carving - 7 Wood crafts - 1 Chip carving - 1 ROSEMALING - 7 people FIBER ARTS - 6 people commenting Hardanger stranded knitting (Selbu Volter?) - 1 Embroidery - 1 Weaving - 1 FOLK DANCING - 1 people OTHER - 4 people commenting Basket-making - 1 Sword and knife making + tools 1 Straw decorations 1 Other Norwegian ideas -1 Overall Program: 16. The program of seminars, craft demonstrations and displays N = 83 A = 8.5 R = 1 10 were designed to expand our knowledge of Norwegians and Norwegian-Americans. How successful was the program in achieving these goals and/or visiting with fellow members? 17. Overall, how would you rate the quality of the program? N = 83 A = 8.4 R = Comments on Opening ceremony, keynote speaker, seminars, and craft displays: NOTE: Comments place in the appropriate categories in above sections. GENERAL - 8 people commenting Always well done!, Very good, Consistently well done, year after year!, OK. Done well, Great, Excellent, Presenters need to use mike some of us don t hear well no microphone in south room hard to hear Excellent! You always succeed in finding knowledgeable speakers, For the most part, the stevne went well. The only problem was the lefse. The hotel food choices were good--very delicious and large portions. 6

7 Hospitality Room - 77 people (77%) of the evaluators visited the hospitality room, 74 rated the experience 19. How successful is the Stevne Hospitality Room in meeting your N = 74 A = 8.2 R = 1 10 need for taking a break from activities to enjoy a cup of coffee, maybe a snack and/or visiting with fellow members? 20. Comments on Hospitality Room HIGH PRAISE FOR GOODIES - 10 people commenting Probaby best ever selection of Norwegian goodies, Terrific cookies, etc. - Too tempting for us weight watchers, Great assortment of foods!, Great Norwegian food good variety, Awesome amount of quality Norske goodies, Wonderful assortment of great treats!, Great variety of goodies, Wonderful treats, Very nice great variety, nicely displayed, was inviting, Enjoyed having the store with the variety of Norwegian goods, Great chow Yumm!, Nice touch with the Kransekake. HOW MANY WAYS CAN YOU SAY THE ROOM WAS TOO SMALL? = 26 people commenting Room was too small, Could have been more spacious, Too small - not enough room, Room was small though, Not enough room, It was too small to be comfortable, A small room, Kind of small, Too crowded, Too small a room (5), Certainly should have been a larger room - virtually no room for more than 3 or 4 people to visit with fellow members, Room was very small, Just too small a room to move about and sit, Crowded, No room to sit - way to small space, Could be larger - ore tables and chairs, small, Not enough room, Little small, Room there was too small to have a visit, Too small, but that couldn t be helped, To far away from everything and room was too small. To of had it in the hall where items were being sold, Årbok books, etc. Would have been better, No room to sit way to small space. Should have been open, cozy, welcoming like Norwegian coffee events. APPRECIATION OF OUR HOSTESSES - 14 people commenting Wonderful Ladies! Joan and Corrine, Great hostesses!, Enjoyed the food and friendly atmosphere, Small, but very well stacked and staffed!, Room too small, our hostess made it cozy, Well organized and food presentation attractive and delicious!, Wonderful snacks, well maintained, Lots of people pitched in with food, A very nice feature, Wonderful!, Excellent, Thank you!!, O.K., Very Nice! OTHER - 6 people commenting Needed to be larger but alternative place to serve also worked well, If in lobby most tasty treats, I could only pop in and out, Enjoyed coffee and cookies in the hotel lobby, The outdoor (Viking) space was nice too. Why was the $ basket out not necessary - all cookie places charge $1 more at registration, Hidden location is not good NEXT YEAR SUGGESTIONS - 6 people commenting More herring and cheese on list a balance of sweets and others, I don t need much to eat and I appreciate the decaf coffee, Could have something for celiac disease sufferers, such as loaf of gluten free bread or cookies Was closed on Saturday! I need coffee! Can it open on Weds and also open on Sat. Split the responsibility for it among the 3 lags: (1) Weds PM and Sat AM, (2) Thurs. AM & PM, (3) Fri..AM & PM. Each lag is responsible for scheduling the shifts for their particular day, The variety was fantastic! I didn t stay to talk but just quick trips for snacks. I hope you have volunteers for 2010 it would be a shame to loose it! Friday Evening Hospitality Hour, Banquet and Program Of the 142 people attending the banquet, 75 people (52.8%) evaluated the experience 21. The hospitality hour was intended to provide time for lag N = 69 A = 7.8 R = 3 10 members and guests to interact with one another. How successful was it in achieving this goal? 22. How successful was the banquet in meeting your culinary needs? N = 75 A = 8.3 R = How successful was the evening program, Kulokk: Norwegian N = 72 A = 7.8 R = 1 10 Herd Calls with Peggy Larson in meeting your entertainment needs? 7

8 24.Hospitality hour, banquet and program comments: HOSPITALITY - 9 people commenting Nothing is perfect! gave a 9 rating, It really depends upon ones own social skills, Came late, No room to mix most forced to sit at their table, Brief all were already seated, Hospitality should have been in separate place. Everyone went to a table and sat down so there wasn t much mixing, We arrived at 6:30. Most of the seats were taken with most people seated. Not much chance to interact except at your own table. Really need to be in different room than banquet most people just saw it as a time to come and sit early, Mixed with people at our table. FOOD - 24 people commenting Food Quality: Excellent, Food was great, Good food, Very good food, The food was outstanding!, Food was all very tasty., Food was great but cold The food was wonderful, Ice cream melted before it was served, Food Service: The food was excellent and served efficiently., The hotel did an excellent job in serving the food in a timely manner the food was very good., Too bad the hotel can t read the serving times dinner at our table was 1 hour late. As some said it s so late, I m not even hungry anymore. If the program had been less loud, there would have been more dozing at the table, Great Salmon but lets get the food by 6:30 or 7 PM not after 8 PM!. Ran out of food and we had to wait, Delivery of meal was slow., Late serving but good food, Caterer ran out of food! Had to cook more and had to wait, Was at one of the tables that had to wait for food due to a miscount. Food needs Food needs should be addressed better. Some people need special meals and an option for this should be mentioned on the registration form., Find some way to allow for special diets?, No lefse (2), Needed lefse, Lefse?, Didn t have lefse Food too expensive, too much food continue to always have water and coffee alternatives to sugary lemonade ENTERTAINMENT - 19 people commenting Music and Bunad parade: Would be nice if those musicians were acknowledged you did! Thanks! I would have liked 1 jazz song sung in English, Nice to have accordion music! I like the Norwegian musicians during the hospitality hour. Bunad parade interesting. Herd Calling: Peggy did an excellent job in demonstrating cow calls, explaining and audience participation Program surprisingly interesting. If she can make an interesting program on herd calls, she is a wonderful performer, entertainer!, Should have had 3 or 4 cows in costume come into the dining room for more fun., Didn t know what to expect from herding calls, but really enjoyed it, Very unique program interesting!, She was great, Good, interesting who knew!, Program too long high quality, Such a unique program, It was all great and the program was outstanding, Very unusual, Nice Time, Very interesting good Not appropriate for banquet better for demonstration for those who wish to attend, Did not fit with subject of stevne, Entertainer was talented but not crazy about the cow calls.- have heard similar program 2 or 3 time before. I did appreciate her commentary however. GENERAL = 9 people commenting Enjoyed the evening. All around an entertaining atmosphere, Outstanding overall, Fun, Great, Sure was a lot of fun, Very enjoyable!, Hospitality hour did not have to be so long. Banquet could then be earlier. Program at banquet was too long, Room was cold. Perhaps this would be a time to have another key note speaker instead of entertainment, Have a couple musicians (maybe polka waltz type) playing at Break Time to liven things up. Or a CD playing in a corner to provide Norwegian atmosphere. Else the quietness of the motels cause drowsiness Saturday Luncheon, Entertainment and Closing Ceremony Number at Saturday luncheon 98. Percent evaluating luncheon 61% 25. How successful was the luncheon in meeting your culinary needs? N = 59 A = 8.5 R = How successful was The TreLag Musician s entertainment N = 55 A = 8.4 R = 1 10 in creating an enjoyable atmosphere for the luncheon? 27. Did you find the preview of the 2010 Stevne in Stevens Point, WI useful? Yes 44 No 1 No Opinion 11 8

9 28. Comments on Luncheon, Entertainment and Closing Ceremony: people commenting FOOD - 11 people commenting Very good meal, Good, but too much food, Very good lunch!, Good food, Portions were very generous! Tasty, Food excellent, Excellent except for the lack of lefse, No lefse, Need glasses if you re serving iced tea but thank you for the iced tea, Very bad tea!, I don t eat red meat so I would have preferred a poultry alternative to the sandwich that was served. ENTERTAINMENT - 10 people commenting Love the singing and light atmosphere, I loved the sing along, Singing the best, Too loud for me - I don t like to sing, Entertainment corny and condescending, Jokes also good for the non-singers., Johanna Hocker They broke the mold when they made her!! Fun gal!!!, Good, Excellent! Very nice a wonderful way to close! 2010 STEVNE - 3 people commenting To know where to plan on. A quick flyer of date and highlights would be useful, Need more info available regarding this, so plans can be made to attend next year, Don t remember (the 2010 preview). Did not attend luncheon or closing ceremony GENERAL - 9 people commenting Due to some family commitments we were unable to commit to all the stevne activities. We look forward to future stevne and attending more events! We were always made to feel very welcome! Thanks, Had to leave after lunch, Bad sound system, Excellent, Very nice, Nice, Fine, OK, Thanks again. 29. The Stevne publicity committee attempted to reach as many people as possible. Where did you see information or learn about the Stevne? (Circle all that apply) A. Lag Newsletter - 73 B. Lag Website - 36 C. LDS Family History Center D. Mail List or Message Board - 8 E. Genealogical Societies - 2 F. Historical Society G. Library H. Local Churches I. Newspaper - 2 J. Sons of Norway Lodge Viking Magizine (2) K. Other: Friend, Friend who attended last year, wife, from Dixie, other members, sister-in-law was member, lag board meetings, mother, announced at 2008 stevne, last year s stevne, Rootsweb Bulletin Boards, dad shared newsletter registration form, genealogy magazine - I think, part of steering committee, Chance meetings with Jim Olson & Jean H, Thank goodness for the reminder this week!! 30. Other comments, including program ideas for next year: GENERAL - 10 people commenting I really enjoyed the stevne again! Even though I could only stay until Friday I felt that some is better than nothing. Thanks for all your effort, a job well done, It was a wonderful event and I commend the many volunteers for making ti happen. You are the best!, Excellent stevne well organized. Thank you! This sheet is for two people (2), Thank you to everyone for their hard work and thank you for a acknowledging and recognizing by name those involved!, Very friendly atmosphere lag people and hotel People, Every time I attend, I learn more about Norway and genealogical resources. Keep up the good work., Thanks to all who worked so hard show us how to help the experienced experts, Great Job!, Thank you Committee. It s a super event! Anne Haugan, Thanks to the committee for all your hard work. It is much appreciated MEMORIAL SERVICE - 2 people commenting I don t see Memorial Service on evaluation. I d rate it done as #10. Rev. Mary Brown did a superb job as well as the musicians, Memorial service was excellent and an appropriate event THE HOTEL - 11 people commenting I liked having breakfast included with the room but theirs was all carbohydrates which is very bad for diabetics, This was not a good location; not a good hotel. Find locations in smaller towns, like Fergus Falls., Hotel? Not great! Smoky rooms, too hot halls, too cold rooms, very poor service in bar. They tried harder on Friday. Public bathroom smelled bad al the time, Hotel wasn t geared up to provide luncheons for our stevne. It was poor Wed. night and totally overwhelmed Thurs. noon. Maybe luncheons could have been ordered or catered from 9

10 another place. Rooms were nice and location OK, Need better directions to where it is held. Without the sign out front on curb. Would have missed it., Everything was nice restaurant slow service, Thank you for the ice tea but needed another glass. Ha Ha!, Hotel comments - room keys kept failing, Friday the rooms were too cold (2), The hotel needs work. Maids need training they didn t clean our room properly and we needed to contact the front desk each day. Front desk was very helpful and took care of problems. Hotel discontinued DSK and changed to WiFi during our stay, but didn t notify guests. We had to contact front desk to find out how to connect. FOOD SUGGESTIONS - 2 people commenting Consider having rommegrøt at the banquet, Free coffee available at all times CELL PHONE AND MICROPHONE FRUSTRATIONS 5 people commenting Suggestion Announce about turning off cell phones each time host introduces speaker. I only heard one announcement at the opening ceremony not everyone was there. Every session I attended including the banquet had a cell ring. In one session the same person s cell rang 2 different times. At the Mill City movie, one person got a call an actually talked during the movie, Excellent workers do so much to set up the microphones can t the speakers use them! 3 seminars were difficult to hear and I heard several complaints Very Important every speaker presentation meeting must have use a microphone. How unfair that everyone can t hear! Thanks was enjoyable event, Need to tell people to turn off cell phones, She (Alison Day Purgiel) must use the mike! In fact it should be a general requirement for all to use a mike. I know I m not the only attendee with a hearing aid VENDORS - 5 people commenting Open it up for more vendors, Venders rather than craft displays, Get a couple more vendors, Why couldn t the vendors be given the choice of staying thru Sat. or not? (Some did most didn t) For those attendees who couldn t come until Fri., they either had to miss seminars, or the vendors, Vendor loyalty is good but remember that if they have the same thing year to year we probably have it by now. New vendors with different items may spur better sales and would, at a minimum, increase interest. GENEALOGY LAB - 16 people commenting Wish that the research room was open more. It is so hard to keep packing up your papers and finding research materials and then do it all over again. ( Person checked attending all 5 lab times), Add genealogy time on Saturday and all day Fri. day made the stevne was available so people who work during the week. $32 was high fee to come for only 1 or 2 days, Need to increase genealogy hours make genealogy available all day Friday/ Saturday. Do Not tear down genealogy for banquet. If a tour do it early (i.e Wed). Have genealogists allow assistants to help so genealogy can be open more hours. Do not close genealogy room just so genealogists can be at a meeting or tour, I believe the Soknedal, Aalen and Roros books are there for research in the lab regularly. These would be important to me for research. A book concerning Var Frue church members in Trondheim would be interesting (or microfilm), I would like more internet talks how to use the various websites when you get there. Genealogy programs eg Ancestry.com, computer helps applications software, Some way to help us connect with people who might be related a bulletin board? What is an adequate source and what is a proper source, Encourage research with Bygdebok s all during stevne, esp. Sat as many work. Many complaints head by me, Note many of those attending still don t know what the digitized parish records are or how to use them maybe have a class on that subject only. Digitized parish records are the FREE church records that include birth, confirmation, marriage, immigration, death in Norway, Library or internet? What s in our lab? We need to remember many of our members are living on fixed incomes. This should be something for everyone not just those with lots of extra funds. Lab was closed (Thurs. PM) it should have been open. because the lab is #1 for me. We all have too many great resources to only have then available only once a year, we should have another session for the lab other than the stevne. It seems like a lot of work to move material for the results gained suggest fixed location and year round access combined with selected materials brought by individual request and smaller individual help sessions would be a better combination and suit setting at stevne meetings where room is ( ) too large and lighting too poor for good concentration (my opinion) There were NO young people at the stevne need to have longer genealogy hours to get young people to attend on Fri. and Sat not mid week. I personally believe stevne s should have genealogy as the heart and soul of their existence and genealogy should outweigh tours which can be taken anytime, i.e, skip tours, Keep it open during tours, I would gladly stay there and watch and help those who came to do genealogy! It would be great to find more time on Saturday for genealogy to allow people who are working to work on genealogy. Not everyone can get off during the day because of work. it might attract a younger crowd. Maybe 10

11 the stevne (could) be extended through the afternoon and we have a lighter luncheon before we go home and have the noon meal on your own. SEMINARS - 12 people commenting Bring back session, Tracking Your Ancestors with Google Maps, Gary Romsass, More Janteloven, Another DNA Symposium maybe two, Presentations 1) Presentation slide show handouts 1 slide er page only or 2) ahead of time for users to print out at home or 3) make available on flash drive/usb drive, Bring back the accordion players need music, Contributions of women Norwegian Kristin Lavansdatter, Dr. Kathleen Lacks? Name? Decorah, IA, a Norwegian Humor in Norway during WWII. The Norwegian Resistance Movements The Green Smith British Resistance in Sel, Especially enjoyed the MN Hist. Society President - pursue similar for next year John Christianson, A Mixed Bag: Norwegian Immigrants Who Were Not Farmers - This should have been the KEYNOTE talk! and perhaps can be in the future!, I feel badly when the seminars and craft demos overlap had to leave one to go to the other. Would there be a way to have each one have its own special time?, All Board members should always be open to suggestions from all members, Are there any story-tellers?, Future speaker ideas: 1) Dr Kathy from Decorah, spoke on Norwegian Humor during the occupation. Marv Lang told me about her speech.. 2) Nazi occupation--just the battle near Sel and the British troops (Green ) or the Battles near Kvam. Apparently the school children take care of the British graves. 3) Educational system in Norway. 4) Life in the early church in America. Their struggles. TOUR - 1 person commenting At La Crosse and Fergus Falls it was so interesting to see the countryside and places of first settlers. I m looking forward to exploring and learning about Stevens Point for the first time. READING IDEA - 1 person commenting How about Must Read Immigrant Books such as Red River Valley Trilogy, Cotter s Son, Between Green Hills Among? FUTURE LODGING IDEA - 1 person commenting Have you considered using college facilities for future stevner. FUTURE COMMUNICATION IDEA AT STEVNE 1 person commenting I feel we need to have announcements in the genealogy room and the break room and the sales room. Stating in 10 minutes in room the following seminar and craft display will be starting (44) YOUNGER PEOPLE Need to get younger people involved, Need to encourage new younger members so in 10 years time there is still people to keep stevne going., Educate the younger generation about Lag s stevne s and the older generation also. PUBLICITY AND COMBINING FORCES - 7 people commenting Stevne is a well kept secret need to get the word out to young and not just retired people, Stevne failed to draw from the Mpls/STP population in getting new members need to do more than just advertise to existing members. Were the Sons of Norway 4(+) lodges in Mpls/St P encouraged to come? Could have been hundreds more since S of N is now encourage my genealogy! Mpls in S of N Headquarters and stevne failed to tap into their membership. Norwegian groups need to start working together if any are to survive! - poor or (no?) coverage, Perhaps you should put an ad in the Daughters of Norway newsletter. They are quite active in the Seattle area, Needs more advertising. At other Norway type programs held in local communities. Provide news statement to all members so they can try to get it in their locale papers, Need remind everyone to bring munchies instead of 3 days before the stevne is to short, Hand outs regarding next years stevne as we leave this year. Try local news release following this year s stevne with plans for next year, Actually did not get our/my newsletter. I had to track down when/where the lag was, Norwegian organizations in the USA need to get rid of the politics and work together 11