About Nord Hedmark og Hedemarken Lag

	History of NHOH
	Constitution and Bylaws
	Ties to the Homeland
	Annual Stevne
	Assistance Throughout the Year
	NHOH News (our newsletter)
	Special Projects

	Board and Committees / Volunteers
	NHOH Lag Brochure (Can be printed front & back on 8 1/2 x 11 paper and then tri-folded to use as a handout to potential members)
	501(c)(3) Organization

Nord-Hedmark og Hedemarken Lag History

By Roland Krogstad

After a year of planning and promotion, the Nord Hedmark og Hedemarken Lag was formed with the approval of Bygdelagenes Fellesraad at an organizational stevne at Madison, Wisconsin on August 18-19, 1995. This bygdelag covers the northern two thirds of Hedmark fylke and encompasses the three districts of Nord Østerdal, Sør Østerdal, and Hedemarken/Hamar. These three districts currently include the following 15 kommuner: Alvdal, Elverum, Engerdal, Folldal, Hamar, Løten, Os, Rendalen, Ringsaker, Stange, Stor-Elvdal, Tolga, Trysil, Tynset, and Åmot. Some former kommuner have become merged with others. However, their old records have maintained their identity. The Lag is an expanded revival of the former Østerdalslaget which was formed during their first stevne at Fergus Falls, Minnesota on June 18, 1910 and dissolved in 1962. Membership of our Lag hovers around 220 descendants and friends of immigrants from the three districts, with about 35% residing in Wisconsin and 23% in Minnesota. About 40% have roots in Ringsaker followed by Stange (15%) and Hamar (11%). Back to top

Ties to the Homeland

Our Lag seeks to learn more about the history and culture of our home districts, kommuner, parishes, and kinfolk. Bridges are built and liaison is maintained with the Norwegian Emigrant museum, the archives at Hamar, and the 18 Kommuner Historielag. Three issues per year of our newsletter (NHOH News) are sent to the above in exchange for yearbooks, genealogical, and other information. Some of our members live or have lived in Hedmark. The Royal University Library (Norwegian American Collection) of Oslo is a member. Lag members communicate by e-mail with relatives and research genealogical web sites. Members travel to Hedmark to do genealogical research and to visit relatives and ancestral farms. Back to top

Annual Stevne

Annual stevner (gatherings of descendants and friends) are held. In the early years, the bygdelag were largely social organizations of immigrants. Today, one of the primary functions is to provide genealogical resources and assistance to descendants. A typical stevne includes genealogical training and assistance, Norwegian entertainment, fellowship, local field trips to pioneer homesteads, churches, museums, and other historical places. Past genealogy sessions have included: Getting Started in Genealogy, Understanding Norwegian Genealogical Terms, Writing Family Histories, and Preserving Genealogical Materials. The Genealogy Lab is set up with microfilmed parish records and government census, about 10 readers, 2-3 computers, 70 bygdeboker (about ancestral families and farm), 45 topographical maps showing churches and farms, and other places in Norway. For information the upcoming Stevne as well as past stevner click on the "Stevner" button in the left border. Back to top

Assistance Throughout the Year

Stevne attendees often make contact with others doing research in the same kommuner or find cousins with whom they continue to exchange research information. Limited genealogical assistance is also available throughout the year(remember, we are all volunteers), as time permits, to aid members in their own research. For this assistance, map service and cousin-finding service members can contact the NHOH Lag Genealogist, John Reindl, at genealogy@nhohlag.org. Back to top

Three Newsletters (NHOH News)

Three newsletters are published, providing articles on Norwegian genealogy, culture, and heritage. Stories of immigration and early pioneer life have been provided by members and other sources. A "Seek and You May Find" section offers members an opportunity to request information about "lost" relatives. The News of Norway newsletter published by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Washington, D.C., other lag newsletters, and other publications are sources for articles. Upcoming events and e-mail addresses of genealogical resources in Norway and in the United States are published. Genealogical resources acquired by our Lag are also published. Members are encouraged to submit articles. Go to the "NHOH News" page in the "Member Area" for guidelines. Back to top

Special Projects

Special projects accomplished and pursued since our inception in 1995 include the following:

	A cousin-finding tradition was started when the Lag was formed. Members are encouraged to fill out a Cousin-Finding worksheet with two columns, listing ancestral farms on the left and corresponding ancestral family names on the right, and submit it to the Lag Genealogist. These are compared and possible cousins notified.
	A colorful Lag Banner depicting a white map of our Lag on a blue background with red fringes has been made.
	An attractive triangular Lag Pin showing flags of Norway and the United States and our Lag name is available as a fund-raiser, for only $5.00
	Microfilm and microfiche readers for use in our Genealogy Lab at annual stevner were purchased in 1996.
	The lag organized a tour to Norway in September 2000. Many participants visited ancestral farms.
	Highlights of the First Ten Years; 1995 - 2005 - Newly published 144 page book. Click link for order form.

501(c)(3) Organization

In early 2008 NHOH was approved by the IRS as a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) if the Internal Revenue Code.

You are invited to become a part of Nord-Hedmark og Hedemarken Lag. Membership Application

last update: 03/18/2008