Mimer #33 Vikings

Gud Jul!

Winter Solstice as I write this, wishing all who read it a Very Merry
Christmas and the BEST in 2010.

There is much to be thankful for and room for so much improvement. How
can that be? Certainly, our little Lodge passed an historic milestone
this year; it's a rare organization that exists for 100 years. We are
older than so many influential aspects of our daily lives. Older than
television, older than football older than automobiles as we know
them. We have outlived great companies and so very many small ones.

Yet we hold on to our Charter precariously. We need new members more
desperately than television needs new viewers or GM needs new car
owners. Another hundred years? Let's worry about 2010 first! Let's see
if our little Lodge, Mimer #33, can't use this new year to bring new
members into the Lodge. Let's get more workers for the herring fries.
Let's add a date to our calendar in 2010. Perhaps partner with the
Geneva Fire Department and the Illinois Burn Camp. Perhaps we will
parlay our Chamber of Commerce membership into something that raises
our membership roles and our visibility in the community. Perhaps we
will tend the gardens at City Hall and make Saturday mornings special
downtown.

Bring a friend to our meetings. We'll rock their world as only a
Viking can. Those of you out in the ether, in the inter-web, come to
Geneva! Come and join us for herring and fellowship. You've seen our
pictures and the jolly fun we share. Come, join us.

I am excited about 2010. We have a core of extremely talented and
generous Vikings. We have a nascent Brewing Club within the Lodge. Our
Junior Vikings are approaching that age of maturity that we all
exhibit so clearly. Our future is bright and we want you to share that
with us.

Have a Tom & Jerry, a little glögg and a nice, cold Old Style until we
can share some together.

Be kind to each other,
Chief Hansen

Hei, hei, Viking friends!

December is here and that means glögg. And Tom and Jerries!

Last Saturday, Brother Williams, our Financial Secretary, again hosted our Glögg Fest, the 6th Annual and Brother Cary Zaras returned to dominance, winning his fourth crown in five years. Cary believes glögg should be, shall we say, "fortified" and his was all of that. Look for the pictures in our photo section. Thanks, Brother Scott, for another fine time in the inimitable Bubba Pubba

We are less than two weeks from our Christmas party at Old Towne Pub in downtown Geneva. I'm spreading the rumor that the Mighty Lump, the Maniac of Meat, might make the trek from River Forest. That would be a Christmas surprise! Our patron and benefactor, Brian Blair, would, no doubt, keep up with the Lumkes, if we could only get a commitment from that Dutchman.

Snow is falling, winter is here. Geneva's Christmas Walk last week signals Christmas Season and St. Lucia and Mimer #33's Annual Christmas Party. See you at Old Towne on the 19th. Need directions? Leave us a message and we'll guide you there.

Our new Brew Lodge is in the planning stages. Stay tuned as the home brewers in Mimer #33 formalize their committee. Brother Scott served three tasty home brews at the Glögg Fest, a pumpkin ale, a hefewiezen and a very tasty coffee stout. Meanwhile, Brother Rodenbostel's Tap Room has two ales available, both very refreshing. There's a Continental Pilsner lagering over here in the Chief's Corner and it ought to be ready for the (Bears free) Super Bowl. Brother Reed will be brewing soon, having settled Young Eli into their home routines. Stayed tuned.

Finally, there were these two mighty Swede hunters...

Having shot a moose two Swedes began dragging it by the tail to their pick-up.

On the way they were stopped by a game warden. "Let me see your hunting licenses boys," he said. When he saw that everything was in order he asked if he could give them some advice.

"Sure!" the hunters agreed.

"Well boys, I think that you would find it a lot easier to drag that moose by the horns and not the tail."

"Ya sure, O.K. and thanks," said the lads.

After about five minutes one said to the other, "Boy, dragging by the horns is sure a lot easier, eh?"

"Aye, you're right," said his friend, "but have you noticed that we are getting further away from the truck?"

Be kind to each other.

Chief