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Once upon a time in 1950, I was working for a men’s store selling one dollar ties. In this store, the Coronet Men’s Shop on Market Street, I had the pleasure of meeting many Scandinavians. I became friendly with them. I got the names of thirteen various people I thought would be prospective future club members. So I wrote a letter to them asking if they were interested in the idea of starting a club for Scandinavians. A few of us set up a small party one evening to propose the idea, and it was decided that my idea of a Scandinavian club was a good one. In those days, to sell a tie for one dollar was quite a trick, so I managed to produce a line of ties by having them made in New York with my own fabric. I had a carload of neckwear coming in [to San Francisco?] To advertise, I ordered thirty thousand matchbooks by Pennsylvania Match-Books Corporation. I handed out matchbooks to cigar stores all over the financial district of downtown San Francisco. I also placed an ad in the San Francisco Examiner newspaper that said, “Tremendous Sale of One Dollar Ties, Coronet Men’s Shop, Market Street 674, San Francisco.” One day a man walked into my store and presented me with one of the Matchbooks saying, “I would like to see the one dollar tires.” Of course I could see the big mistake of spelling. Afterward I received thirty thousand corrected Match Books. Herb Caen even put a word about the whole affair in his column. After this big gaffe, we have often talked about the neckwear days. In those days men had to wear at tie to come to club dances at the Swedish American Hall on Thursday nights. But that rule was not to promote my tie business! The club grew year by year, and we had many good parties. When I was first thinking of the idea, I thought, “This is going to be the start of something big.” And, it was.
Arnold Rolkert, YSC President 1951 and 1956

Executive Committee

There are 11 members on the Executive Committee that are elected each year by the club. These dedicated members are committed to making each year a success! The committee consists of a President, Vice President, and Master of Ceremonies, Secretary, Treasurer, Activities, Clear Lake Cabin Master, Tahoe Cabin Master, Sergeant of Arms, Supplies Officer and an Editor. The EC meets once a month at the Swedish American Hall to discuss important events and activities, schedule the calendar for the year, discuss improvements that can be made, how to get new members, and anything else that applies to the club.

Here is your 2007 Executive Committee!

President Jennifer Arton

As president there is no defined role except to give advice to the committee and help out where I can. My goal this year was to push forward on two projects, the website with emphasis an online payment system and getting the renovations at Clearlake finished. I also plan on helping out at the Yosemite trip, at Clearlake and anywhere else it is needed. I am Danish and Norwegian American, and I have loved this club since the second I joined. You will always hear members saying that it feels like one big extended family, so joining the EC was an easy decision for me. I attend most of the events so don’t be afraid to come up and say hello!

Vice President Debra Minnegerode

Master of Ceremonies Liisa Laukkanen

Treasurer Roy Osterberg

Secretary Karin Schlosser

Clearlake Cabin Master Henrik Kragh

Clearlake Cabin Master is one of the biggest responsibilities on the executive committee. With that said it is also one of the most interesting and challenging positions, which give you the ability to work your ideas and wishes for the Clear Lake cabin. If you like to have a say in how the cabin is run and want to make sure people have a good experience on the weekends, YSC Clearlake Cabin master is the position to choose on the EC. Looking forward to seeing you all in Clear Lake 2007

Editor Charles SiedelM

Hej med dig. My name is Charles Seidel and I am the current editor of the YSC newsletter. The newsletter comes out once a month and gets mailed out to over 700 members of the club to help promote upcoming events. Please send me pictures from club events or suggestions to my email: editor@ysc.org Ses, Charles

Supplies Officer Rick Davey

This is my 3rd tour of duty as the supply officer along with my Wife Marit and my Co Supply Officer Bruce Johnson. He is a long time member and previous EC member that serve this year as our sage of wisdom and temperance. In the supply officer position we are responsible for the supplying of the Yosemite trip with a dinner and happy hour as well as making sure that the Halloween, Christmas, Lucia, Monthly EC meetings and Clear Lake Weekends are amply supplied with traditional items of the menus for each event. We will also take inventory of the Supply Closet at the Swedish American Hall and the Clear Lake Cabin on a regular basis. It is a great way to serve the greater good of the club and stay involved with the YSC event calendar.

Tahoe Cabin Master Brenden Bender

Sergeant of Arms Jonathan Grose

Activities Erica Olsen

YSC history time line:

• 1950: On August 19, 1950, Arnold Rolkert gathered a group of friends together—including Gunnar Engen, Carlo Hojsgaard, Peter Larsen Bernard, and Ulla Lindberg—to form what they called The Young Scandinavians Club of San Francisco. Thirty members attended the club’s first general meeting the following January, and Arnold became its first president. The name was later changed to simply The Young Scandinavians Club.
• 1960: YSC incorporated as a nonprofit organization; 10th anniversary banquet at Canterbury Hotel (anniversaries celebrated every 5 years since); first ski cabin rented at Lake Tahoe.
• 1961: Lisa Gille (now Wiborg) begins four-year reign as president…she later served another year. Started renting current Clear Lake cabin.
• 1963: Clear Lake property acquired for $28,000 – $10,000 down + $200/month for 10 years. 40 members take group flight to Scandinavia.
• 1964: Cabin Manager and Activities Director positions elevated to Executive Committee status.
• 1966: Members make major improvements to Clear Lake property, including septic tank, parking area, and leach field.
• 1967: New bathrooms constructed at Clear Lake cabin.
• 1974: Clear Lake loan paid off—the cabin and its ¾ acre lot is ours.
• 1976: New pier built at Clear Lake.
• 1980: New floating dock at Clear Lake.
• 1979-1981: Formed CL Task Force to rebuild cabin. Produced architectural plans and received bids from contractors for 2-story building – cost $135 to $160K. Plans were dropped due to an existing building moratorium and resulting permit problems. It was decided to renovate instead.
• 1981-82: Major renovations on Clear Lake cabin, with member Inge Sullivan as key contractor. Total cost $80,000. (Plumbing connections for two shower stalls and a toilet were installed in the men’s dressing room)
• 1986: New floating docks with new steel pilings and sea wall reconstruction at Clear Lake.
• 1993: Tahoe cabin purchased for $190,000.
• 1997: Andrew Vik, 24, becomes youngest president in YSC history; changes made to the bylaws to include Tahoe Cabin Manager on the Executive Committee and the Board of Trustees at six full members (formerly five plus an alternate)
• 1996-1999: A Bathroom Subcommittee was charged with expanding and remodeling the bathrooms at CL. After ten different design schemes construction drawings were submitted for bidding. The plans incorporated a separate new structure complete with handicapped access and resistant to periodic flooding. At a cost of $106,000 it was decided that we might as well build a whole new cabin. Preliminary drawings for a 2-story structure were made for a presentation at our 50th anniversary. The Bathroom Subcommittee was disbanded in 1999.
• 2000: YSC celebrates it’s 50th anniversary with a grand party at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel. Guest of honor: Arnold Rolkert – our first president, flies in from Sweden and delivers this speech.