Here is some more information about the upcoming annual Federation of Danish Associations in Canada - The Annual General Meeting and Conference. The Danish Canadian Club in Winnipeg is hosting the conference this year because it is the 400th anniversary since Jens Munk, the Danish explorer, was sent by the king of Denmark to find the Northwest Passage. Munk overwintered in what is now Churchill, Manitoba. Please note that next year, in May of 2020, the Vancouver Island Danish Canadian Club will be hosting this event in Nanaimo. We are currently forming a Host Committee for this event so please give me a call or drop me a note if you have any ideas or would like to help out in any way.

Cheers, Tom Hedekar
Treasurer​

If you are unfamiliar with the Danish explorer Jens Munk, you have a great opportunity in 2019. It is 400 years since he came to Canada - before it was known as Canada. He called the land Nova Dania (Latin for New Denmark) - the name didn't stick. Today, Jens Munk's name is almost forgotten. However, he is arguably one of the great personalities of history, who never received the recognition he deserved. Munk was Danish, an Emissary of King Christian IV, soldier, merchant, naval hero, linguist, storyteller, navigator, nurse, friend, father-figure, wise and well-liked, inspiring and idealistic. His story has so many aspects it's hard to know which angle to use. As Canadians with Danish roots, it is our story as well; and we can tell it with pride and humility. It's the story of a man who was more noble than any nobleman of the time. He showed compassion and goodwill, but never got any himself. He was an amazing navigator, he was a person with perseverance and loyalty like few. Yet he never received official recognition as one of Denmark's famous sea captains/admirals. In Denmark, there is only a cairn erected by Dansk Canadisk Selskab in Strandgaard Dyrehave, near Faxe.

The Federation of Danish Associations in Canada has established a Jens Munk Steering Committee to share his story, in Danish-Canadian circles, and with all Canadians & anyone who cares about history and the human spirit. It is a story that really goes to the core of what it means to be human. 

- Otto Christensen, Gimli, Member, Jens Munk Steering Committee

Ways to get involved:

• follow his story on Facebook - Jens Munk 400th Anniversary
• Follow a 36-week biography of Jens Munk. From May 2019 read Jens Munk's epic journey - day by day
• Attend the Winnipeg Conference of the Danish Federation, May 23-26, 2019
• Read 'Navigatio Septentrionalis' Munk's Report to King Christian IV
• Travel to Churchill, Manitoba where Jens Munk wintered in 1619-1620
• Be adventurous and compassionate like Jens Munk!

Tom and Lynn Hedekar would love to have the company of some of our Club Members at the Winnipeg Conference!

This year's Danish Heritage Seminar promises to be an educational, inspiring and fun-filled course which explores various aspects of life in Copenhagen and abroad in the 19th century, and the phenomenon of trolls, as well as Jens Munk's expedition to find the Northwest Passage, north of Canada to China.

The Seminar is modeled on the Folk Schools in Denmark. It is being held right after the Danish Canadian Conference in Winnipeg. An important aspect of the Seminar is in English. 

​For more information, contact Tom Hedekar, he has brochures about the Seminar.

We had a very good year in 2018 and our accounts are in great shape going into 2019. Most of our events made a small profit with a couple of exceptions, mainly the Harvest Party. We lost a few dollars there as it was a "Member Appreciation" event with a discount for members in good standing.

As Treasurer, I'm delighted with our current financial situation and as members, I think you should also be quite pleased that our club is doing so well. The Board would like to thank all of our members for supporting the Danish Club Events by bringing your friends and relatives, which has made them so successful.

As you probably know, our club is one of about 40 clubs across Canada that belong to the Federation of Danish Associations. Each year, the Federation holds an Annual General Meeting and Conference in a different location, and this year it will be in Winnipeg, hosted by the Danish Canadian Club of Manitoba. This year marks the 400th Anniversary of the Jens Munk Expedition from Denmark to find the Northwest Passage.

As he overwintered in what is now Churchill in Manitoba, it was a "natural" for the Manitoba Danish Club to be hosts this year.

Next year, we, the Nanaimo Danish Canadian Club, will host  the Conference here in Nanaimo. We are currently forming a Host Committee to manage the Conference. We have some great people on board, but we still need a few more, so please give some thought to joining us.

My wife Lynn and I will be attending the Winnipeg Conference and we'd love to have some other members join us this May. We have the registration package now, so think about showing Winnipeg how great the Nanaimo Danish Canadian Club is!

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the Board,
- Tommy Anders Hedekar, Treasurer

If you are interested in attending the 39th Danish Canadian Conference in Winnipeg this May 23rd to 26th, please contact Tom Hedekar for the Registration forms and hotel information. You could also get in touch with Barb Nault, the Registrar for this Conference. See below.

• The meeting was called to order by Treasurer Tom Hedekar at 1:35 pm.
• There were 25 Members of the Club and 4 Board Members present.
• A minute of silence was observed for the 10 members who had passed away in the year since our last AGM.
• It was moved by Tom Hedekar that the members present constitute a quorum.
• Tom Hedekar assumed the Chair for this meeting.
• It was moved by Shelagh Boggs that the Agenda be approved as presented.     CARRIED
• It was moved by Henning Pedersen that the AGM Minutes of March 4, 2018 be approved as presented.                                                                                                                    CARRIED
• It was noted that the Club has 179 Members as of February 28, 2019.

The President John Jensen reported that all events were pretty good last year, especially the Birthday Party.

The Treasurer Tom Hedekar reported that the financial report showed an overall profit of $2,294.42. Tom also presented the financial report for 2018 for the Newsletter Account which showed an overall profit of $130.37. The complete financial report is attached. Tom added that our Club was not going broke any time soon. It was moved by Per Aagaard that the financial reports be accepted as presented, seconded by Jim Gahr.                                                                                                                                   CARRIED

Election of Board Members

• John Jensen, Darlene O’Neill and Lena Tsuji all agreed to continue as Board Members.
• Hakon Philipsen put his name forward to be on the Board.                                            ACCEPTED
• There were no other nominations from the floor.
• John Jensen, Darlene O’Neill, Lena Tsuji and Hakon Philipsen were elected to the Board of Directors.

Discussion of 2018 Activities

• Borge Pedersen praised the band (Dan & The Seniors) that we have at our dinner/dances. He said many members are happy with the mix of music they present. Tom mentioned that this band has already been booked for the three 2019 functions.
• The Club thanked Henny Andersen and Brad Walker for their great service all year.
• It was agreed that the amalgamation of either pandekager or æbleskiver with Andespil has worked very well.  It was mentioned that the pandekager event will not be on Mother’s Day this year, as some members were not happy with that.
• Last June, our Sankt Hans Celebration was combined with the Sons of Norway Club. It was suggested that the group became too big to enjoy the bonfire, and the members felt  it was better to keep this only for our Club in 2019.
• Henning Pedersen praised Sophia Sorensen for doing a great job emceeing the Christmas Party.
• Tom thanked some people for their work all year and hopes he did not leave any out:

Vibeke Sandberg for keeping Membership payments in hand.
Grethe Andersen for looking after the Membership List and Advertiser relations.
Henny Andersen for being our Federation Representative.
Lynn Hedekar for looking after our Facebook page.
Lena Rasmussen for being our Webmaster.
Lena Tsuji for doing the Newsletter.

Discussion of the Proposal to host the 2020 Federation Conference

Tom Hedekar has agreed to be Chair, Inge Yost has agreed to be Treasurer, Lena Tsuji has agreed to be Registrar and Henny Andersen has agreed to be our Catering Contact. Vibeke Sandberg, Lynn Hedekar and Joan Sorensen have agreed to be on the Welcoming Group.
Tom asked the members to please come forward to help out with ideas for Speakers, Programs, Outings, gift bag contents, etc.

A question was raised about the Seminar that follows the Conference. These are two separate entities and Tom will check with Rolf Christensen with regard to what we need to do for the Seminar, if anything.

New Business
The Danish Museum in Dickson, Alberta has asked if we wish to become a member at $100 per year.  The will be discussed at the next Board meeting.
 
It was moved by Joan Sorensen that the meeting be adjourned at 2:33 pm. Seconded by Ingeborg Kristiansen.                                                                                                                                                 CARRIED
 
Respectfully submitted by Lena Tsuji