Minneapolis, May 14, 2010—Linda Pederson has been named the new Fraternal Director of Sons of Norway, succeeding Eivind Heiberg who stepped up to the position of Chief Executive Officer late last year.This is the second time Sons of Norway has welcomed Pederson, a native of Ålesund Norway, to the Home Office staff. She previously worked for the international fraternal benefit society from 1992-95, during which time she was Manager of Fraternal Lodge and Membership Services.
When asked about Sons of Norway membership and her goals for the 115-year-old organization she said, “A Sons of Norway membership offer something for everyone, but for me the highlight is the shared appreciation of Norwegian Heritage and Culture. In the future I want as many people as possible to know about us, which means increasing our visibility and meeting member needs while exceeding their expectations.”
In addition to Pederson’s previous contributions to Sons of Norway, she has a significant background in promoting Norwegian heritage and culture. She spent six years with the Royal Norwegian Consulate General in Minneapolis as Vice Consul and is the co-founder of a Norwegian/American Women’s Organization.
CEO Heiberg said, “Linda Pederson is dedicated to the promotion of Norwegian heritage and culture and will be a talented leader for Sons of Norway’s future. She has proven her leadership skills during her years of service with a number of Norwegian-based organizations, helping them reach their goals and live their mission.”
Sons of Norway was organized as a fraternal benefit society by 18 Norwegian immigrants in
Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 16, 1895. The purposes and goals of the Founding Fathers were to protect members of Sons of Norway and their families from the financial hardships experienced during times of sickness or death in the family. Over time, the mission of Sons of Norway was expanded to include the preservation of Norwegian heritage and culture in our Society.