Advice from the Skandia Midsommarfest Guru

Submit Guru questions using the Contact Form on the Skandia Midsommarfest planning website

 

Dear Glad Midsommar Guru,
How about having guest performers from Sweden/Finland/Norway/Denmark?

Loves Nordic talent

I heard we might have a special guest from Sweden this year; is it true?

Hoping it’s true

Dear Loves talent and Hoping,
Certainly, special guest performers bring added delights to Skandia’s Midsommarfest! Yet, making arrangements can be challenging because there is no money in the budget to pay any performers. (Remember the goal of attracting more folks interested in Nordic culture with free admission by covering minimized expenses through donations?) Typically, the best support we can offer is Skandia volunteers who are willing to provide accommodations and local transportation.

That said, we have the amazing good fortune to welcome a talented folk singer from Sweden this year, Josefina Östling. She is coming to do some workshops and performances in Minnesota and learned about our festival from Skandia member Irene Myers. She will be performing in the Music Corner at 12:30 and delivering the greeting at the opening of the pole-raising ceremony. Hope you enjoy!


Hey!
The Midsommar Guru is great at answering FAQs. But, “Guru”? Sounds a little like a restaurant I saw in Canada, “Chinese Smorgasbord.” Isn’t there a neat-o Scandi word, maybe old Norse, for a wise man (or wise guy) who finds the answers?

Requesting a name change

Dear Requesting,
Congratulations!! You win the “Stump the Guru” award! Now, on to finding that “word”. Dear Readers,  What is a better name--a neat-o Scandi word, maybe old Norse, for a wise man (or wise guy) who finds the answers? Please submit your response on the Skandia Midsommarfest Planning website Contact Form (https://sites.google.com/site/skandiamsfplanning/contact). Responses will be published in the next newsletter (or two, depending on the number of responses) and readers will have an opportunity to vote.


Dear Guru,
I know ivy is always needed for the flower crowns and I’ve got some in my yard I’d be willing to bring. How can I tell if it’s the right stuff?

Ready with the ivy

Dear Ready,
Thanks for asking, because having a good supply of the right kind of ivy means that more flower crowns are available. It’s also best to cut the longest lengths possible. The pictures tell the story of what’s good and what isn’t.

"little leaf" ivy is good

Prolific, invasive English ivy is not


Dearest Guru,
Once upon a time, there was talk of donating the stage to the park so Skandia volunteers could get out of the “stage moving” business. Is that ever going to happen?

Mister Guru

Dear Mister Guru,
Thanks for asking! It’s been awhile—okay, a long while—since there appeared to be hope of that happening. Now, there are definite signs of hope. It’s still in the early stages, yet, things are moving slowly forward. Some preliminary efforts within the past six months include: very basic research as to viability and potential costs of purchasing a modular stage (akin to the temporary stages used at Folklife); conversations with park management about their interest and willingness to accept responsibility for storage, construction/deconstruction, and maintenance; and
conversations with City of Kenmore staff as well as Brewfest representatives about potential interest. While these are signs of hope, there is significant work yet to be done to make it a reality—getting more detailed specifications as to the needs of each of the interested parties, research on quality suppliers of stages and realistic cost estimates, identifying funding sources in addition to how much each of the interested parties might be willing to contribute.... and then pulling it altogether. The old saying, “the devil is in the details,” absolutely applies. If you’re willing to work on this project, please contact Elaine Everitt directly at (425) 482-1121 or offer your services/comments on the
Midsommarfest Planning Contact form
(https://sites.google.com/site/skandiamsfplanning/contact).

Dear Guru,
It looks like we will have to be out of town at the end of June. Are we going to be cast out of Skandia for missing Midsommarfest this year?

—Worried Member


Dear Worried,
Heavens no! Last year, there were some significant conflicting events, resulting in several people being unavailable. In spite of that, a good time was had by those in attendance and those who were unavailable are most welcome to rejoin the festivities this year.


Hey Guru,
I’ve got some places to put up posters and hand out fliers. When will they be ready? How do I get them?

—Willing Promoter


Dear Willing,
Posters and fliers are ready and available. Hopefully, by the time you read this, electronic versions will also be posted on the Web site. However, to reduce download time, those won’t have the same quality resolution as the printed posters. To get yours, go to the Midsommarfest Planning Web site at https://sites.google.com/site/skandiamsfplanning/. You can also get there via a link from Skandia’s Home page. Then, send your request using the “Contact” form on the left. Alternately, you can also watch for Elaine Everitt at a Skandia dance, email her via Volunteer@skandia-folkdance.org, or call her at (425) 482-1121 and leave a message.


Dear Glad Midsommar Guru,
Will there be a Saturday evening dance for volunteers this year? Where is it?

—Planning Ahead


Dear Planning Ahead,
The dance for volunteers will be on the stage at Saint Edward State Park from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. As part of your planning, you may want to bring mosquito repellant, because those hungry critters seem to think we hang around the park at dusk just for their enjoyment. Please keep in mind also, that everyone has to exit the park immediately following the last dance to honor our agreements with park staff.


Dear Guru,
Earlier you said we needed to raise $5,400 through a combination of donations from individuals, organizations, businesses, and festival attendees. How’s it going?

—Wondering About the Money


Dear Wondering,
Thanks for asking. At this point, it still looks doable, with $1,500 in hand and another $500 pledged. That leaves $3,400 left to raise. If you (and/or someone you know) are considering making a donation, keep in mind that Skandia Folkdance Society is a qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The cashier at any Skandia event would be delighted to accept your check, or you can mail it to Skandia Folkdance Society, PO Box 17123, Seattle, WA 98127-0823. If you have suggestions for other potential sources of funding, please contact Elaine Everitt at (206) 915-9606 or email her at skandiamidsommar@gmail.com. 

Hey Guru,
Are you making up these questions? Or, did real people actually ask them?


—Questioning the Questions


Dear Questioning,
Believe it or not, real people asked them. However, only a few came in by email to the guru@skandia-folkdance.org. Typically, the questions are expressed by members at various Skandia events—classes, dances, committee meetings—and they get reported to the Guru so they can be answered for everyone in the newsletter. Soon (if not already) it will be even easier for anyone to ask a question right on the Skandia Web site. Few questions were reported this past month, so the Guru is providing excerpts from previous columns where the questions and answers still apply.


Dear Guru,
I think I’m going to be in town this year so I’ll be available to help out. Where do you need volunteers?


—Willing Volunteer


Dear Willing Volunteer,
Thanks for asking! Midsommarfest happens thanks to the efforts of many volunteers. This year, the list of volunteer tasks is online (or should be by the time this gets published). All you have to do is go to the Skandia Web site and click on the Midsommarfest Volunteer link. If you don’t have Internet access, call Elaine Everitt at (425) 482-1121 or (206) 915-9606. She’ll be delighted to hear from you!


Excerpts of previous questions:


Dear Glad Midsommar Guru,
It’s great to know that admission will be free this year—and that you’ll be accepting donations to cover the expenses. One thing I’m not clear about is the parking. Will we still have to pay for parking? How much? Is the park going to require us to park in the lots? What’s the story?


—Concerned About Parking


Dear Concerned,
Yes, parking is free. It will be on the grass again this year, so it’s close to the festival grounds. Plus, the ball field will be available for overflow parking. In the interest of making best use of the available parking (and reducing the impact on the grass), the Guru encourages carpooling where possible.


Dear Glad Midsommar Guru,
Do you have to belong to a dance group to be part of the parade for the pole-raising ceremony? I have a Nordic-looking costume that I’ve thought about wearing to Midsommarfest if it meant I could be in the parade.


—Wants to Be in the Parade


Dear Wants to Parade,
Part of the fun of Midsommarfest is wearing and seeing all the colorful costumes. By all means, wear your ethnic costume! While many of the performers wear costumes that represent specific countries or regions, others wear Nordic-looking costumes that are sometimes referred to as “Ballard Bunads.” Just stop by the Skandia booth and ask where to go to line up for the parade. This year, costumed folks who aren’t in a specific group will have a space near the front, because we believe the more costumes, the better!


Hey Guru,
I’m planning to wear my costume to perform and keep it on most of the day—especially for the costume presentation. I also plan to stay and help with clean up afterwards. If there’s no hospitality tent this year, where can I change clothes?


—Hates to Change in the Car


Dear Hates to Change in the Car,
You aren’t the only one asking about this. While we won’t have the same hospitality set up in the past, there will be a couple of family-sized tents for changing clothes. However, you should plan to take things back to your car for safe storage rather than leaving anything in the tent. And, thanks so much for planning to help with clean up!


Dear Guru,
I’m concerned about leaving my instrument in the car
because it could get damaged from the heat—especially if it’s anywhere near last year’s high temperatures. If it gets at all hot, I’m afraid I’ll have to haul it around with me all afternoon.


—Concerned Musician


Dear Concerned Musician,
Thanks for raising this issue before the last Midsommarfest meeting. As a result, there’s a new plan for instrument
storage in a covered controlled space near the stage. There will be a check-in system for security, so you can relax and not worry about hauling your instrument around.

 

Dear Glad Midsommar Guru,
We’re still relatively new to Skandia, having been to some classes. We have heard a little about Midsommarfest, but for a variety of reasons haven’t been able to attend. It’s hard for us to imagine what all is involved. What’s it like?

Multiple Skandia Freshmen


Dear MSF (Gotta love that acronym!),
Wow! I can only begin to describe Skandia’s Midsommarfest in the short space available here. The publicized event is from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. on the last Sunday in June—this year, it’s 27 June. Skandia presents a traditional Swedish Midsommar celebration, complete with raising a 45-foot majstång (greened Midsommar pole) at Saint Edward State Park in Kenmore on the north end of Lake Washington.


Because this will be your first time, my suggestion is to arrive early and stay all day so you can take it all in: watching Nordic dance group performances, listening to talented musicians bring Nordic tunes to life, shopping for traditional items and crafts, seeing a wide variety of authentic costumes and learning more about them at a special costume presentation, eating tasty Nordic treats, dancing to live music, and, of course, taking in the whole pole-raising ceremony—maybe even helping to raise the pole. Plus, if you have kids, grand-kids or perhaps other important children in your life, bring them! There are special activities just for them, including dance lessons, a story teller, crafts, making their own Midsommarfest buttons, and best of all, they get to participate in raising a kid-sized Midsommar pole and learn more about the traditions and song dances.


Note that I referred to the “publicized event” earlier, implying that there’s more. To get the full Midsommarfest experience, you’ll want to volunteer on Saturday (or before) to help with set-up activities, or perhaps with the take-down and clean-up on Sunday evening. In addition to getting the work done, it’s a time of visiting and getting to know other Skandia members—conversations that time doesn’t often permit when the focus is on dancing or playing music. The bonus for volunteers is a special dance Saturday evening as a reward for their contribution to the event.


To volunteer, email Elaine Everitt at volunteer@skandia-folkdance.org and let her know when you’re available and what kinds of things you like to do; for example, work with greens, set up canopies, help move supplies, make phone calls, put up signs, distribute posters and fliers, etc.


Dear Guru,
A few years ago, Skandia stopped charging admission for Midsommarfest and made it free. How’s that working? Will it be free again this year?

Wondering

Dear Wondering,
Yes, it will be free—with donations graciously accepted—again this year. Attendance increased significantly because people with only a fraction of Nordic ancestry or perhaps just a curiosity as to what Midsommarfest was all about decided to come. From a workload standpoint, we eliminated the labor and materials hauling required to put up a fence around the festival perimeter as well as the whole admission process.
Thanks to members offering a $5, $10, or $20 for a Midsommarfest button—rather than the $2 minimum donation; generous larger donations from some individual members; vendors; and other Nordic organizations; plus careful attention to keeping costs down, Midsommarfest has been in the black for two of the three years.


Projected expenses for this year are $7,500, with the biggest costs being related to essential facilities (for example, use of the park, Sanikans, garbage, permits, sound, electricity) followed by publicity and printing costs. This is only slightly higher than the actual expenses for 2009. Conservative revenue estimates from a combination of button sales, flower crowns, and vendor fees/donations, are expected to bring in about $2,100. That leaves about $5,400 to be raised through a combination of donations from individuals, organizations, businesses, and festival attendees—a do-able number because Skandia Folkdance Society is a qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit.


If you would like to make a contribution, cashiers at any Skandia event would be delighted to accept your check, or you can mail it to Skandia Folkdance Society, PO Box 17123, Seattle, WA 98127-0823. If you have suggestions for other potential sources of funding, please contact Elaine Everitt at skandiamidsommar@gmail.com.


Dear Guru,
I’m relatively new to Skandia and know that it takes lots of volunteers to run Midsommarfest. However, I don’t know what kinds of jobs need to be done. Could I get some kind of a list?


—Wants to Help


Dear Wants to Help,
Here’s a list of jobs that can always use more volunteers:


Do keep in mind that this is only a partial list, there are lots more small miscellaneous tasks that contribute to a memorable Midsommarfest.


Got a question for the Guru? Send it by 8 May to guru@skandia-folkdance.org and watch for a response in the next newsletter.