Telelaget of America Mini Stevne
April 24-26, 2025 Spicer/New London, MN
This Stevne for Telelag Members will take place at the Grand Stay Hotel in New London/Spicer, MN and the Revy will take place at Green Lake Bible Camp Chapel Stavkirken
What can you expect at the Mini-Stevne?
• Genealogy help available
• Time for meeting and getting to know each other
• Classes (see below for possible topics)
• Question & Answer session with a panel of Telelaget “Experts”
• Revy at Green Lake Bible Camp stave chapel. (Public will be invited)
• Bunad & Norwegian sweater parade
• Possible field trip depending on weather and availability of sites
• Breakfast at Grand Stay Hotel (included with the room)
• All Lunches and Dinners all meals catered by Max’s Restaurant
Suggested Classes and Activities
Farm equipment & tools • Farm buildings of immigrants • Settlers’ church experiences •
Bunads & Jewelry • Immigrants’ kitchen utensils • Telemark’s musical instruments • Quilting • Carving • Slide show of photos taken in Telemark on our tours et al. • Video of Tinn Folk Dancers • Video of the Rui Sisters’ farm in Dalen •Sharing by attendees of quilts, rosemaling, textiles, etc. • Vendors
Registration will begin in January
Member Participation Will Enhance This Event!
Do you have anything else you would like to share --
a speaking topic, a suggestion for speakers, vendors, craftspeople, etc.? Would you like to help with the planning or help at the Stevne?
Please contact one of the committee members listed below.
Naomi Nowland —nowland.naomi@gmail.com
Marne Olson —marne.olson@sonoma.edu
Sara Gordon — ssgordon@mac.com
Sandy Gilbert — sandyfgilbert@gmail.com
Elaine Nordlie — enordlie1946@gmail.com
Lila Burmeister — lilajsb@gmail.com
Recent Stevner
2023 Vikings: Empire of the North Fargo, North Dakota
Photo gallery, summary, and Telenews articles
Stevner Year By Year
The early stevner (conventions) of the Telelag were truly affairs to remember with many thousands of Telers attending. Specific regional organizations were established under the umbrella of the national Telelag. As the immigrants passed away, interest faded in the organization. In the 1960s and 1970s, only the Northwest Telelag continued to meet. In 1979 a meeting was held in Fargo to reorganize a national Telelag. The focus switched from largely social to educational - focusing on genealogical research - and its ever-growing membership has come together for a stevne every year since 1980.
Below is a year-by-year list of stevner. The list was compiled by Elaine Nordlie from issues of the Telesoga and from the book A Folk Epic: The Bygdelag in America by Dr. Odd Lovoll. Many early Teler gatherings were not reported in the national publication so this list is likely incomplete; however, it does reflect the broad participation of immigrants from Telemark in these community organizations. The first stevne (tour) in Telemark occurred in 1937. Since 1992 these have been scheduled regularly.
