As summer draws to a close, I’m reminded how grateful I am to be a part of the Danish community. Danish Day was a wonderful success. Excellent attendance, and perfect June weather. It was a joy to celebrate our Danish heritage and enjoy food, drinks, and laughter with our friends and families. Congratulations to Svea Ernst on her Dane of the Year award! Svea has been active at the DAC for many years, and it was a pleasure to recognize her for the myriad contributions she has made to our organization. Tak! In July, my family attended the annual Danebod Family Camp in Tyler MN. I’ve attended Family Camp regularly since the 1970s and every trip to Camp Tyler brings back fond memories for me. As I was driving down Highway 23 this year, I reflected back to the anticipation that I felt as a kid on the way to camp. I was always so excited to reunite with my friends—many of whom I only saw during this one week per year. The feeling of stepping out of our comfortably air-conditioned car and into the blast furnace of late-summer Tyler heat was like getting a warm embrace. The days that followed went by so quickly, as kids and parents alike were immersed in singing, dancing, and fellowship. Of course, at the end of the week, we were all a little sad to say goodbye, but there was always another camp to look forward to next year and another chance to reunite with the Danebod community.

I think about our upcoming DAC Annual Meeting as a reunion of sorts, too. While not exactly a weeklong retreat hosted in a sweltering dormitory, it is a chance for us all to get together and socialize and review the current state of our DAC. We will review the past year’s events, discuss the financials, and share plans for more 100th year celebrations. We will also elect a slate of new board members. I am proud of this community and look forward to seeing you there.

Peter Gantriis