Sons of Norway Gyda Varden Lodge receives Gold Merit Award

GRAND FORKS — The local Sons of Norway Gyda Varden Lodge has received the District 4 Gold Merit Award for 2025, Laura Munski, lodge secretary, has announced. The award represents the highest level of recognition for lodge achievement. District 4, which includes 39 local lodges in North Dakota and Montana with a combined membership of about 3,800, is one of eight districts in the Sons of Norway organization nationwide, Munski said. The Sons of Norway District 4 emphasizes cultural preservation, education and community engagement for people of all ages, she said. The Gold Merit Award is presented to lodges that demonstrate exceptional organizational strength, community involvement, cultural programming and volunteer service, Munski said. To qualify for the award, lodges must achieve at least 90 percent of the points available through the Sons of Norway s annual reporting and incentive program. For the Gyda Varden Lodge, the award reflects a continuity of progr