Most of those involved with Ski for Light, Inc. know how instrumental the Sons of Norway has been in our history, but you may not be aware of the involvement by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Washington and some of its ambassadors.
Knut Vollebaek, ambassador from 2001 to 2007, and his wife, Ellen Sofie Aadland Vollebaek attended Ski for Light International in Green Bay, Wisconsin in 2004 and Granby, Colorado in 2005. Although they were not able to be there for the entire week, the Vollebaeks each served as a guide and participated in other aspects of the program. Ambassador Vollebaek was even spotted helping to load rental skis into a van for return to the shop. They truly embraced all that Ski for Light means.
In the years the Vollebaeks were not able to attend, they were sure to send a representative from the Embassy. And, true to their commitment to Ski for Light, last April the Vollebaeks hosted a fundraising reception at the Embassy to benefit the SFL Endowment Fund.
Ambassador Vollebaek was not the first Norwegian ambassador to attend the International event. Soren Sommerfelt, who served as ambassador from 1974 to 1979, guided at 8 events and was planning to be in Anchorage in 2003 He died at the end of that year.
Ambassadors Kjeld Vibe and Tom Vrallsen did not physically attend, but each became a life member of Ski for Light.
The commitment of Norwegian ambassadors to Ski for Light underscores the rich heritage and strong connections between SFL, Norway, and its Norwegian "parent," the Ridderrenn, after which SFL was modeled. SFL continues to send a team of two skiers and two guides to participate in the Ridderrenn (joined by a corps of other SFLers who want to experience that unique event).
We're sorry to lose Ambassador Vollebaek to his new post as High Commissioner on National Minorities of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and we wish him well in his new and important endeavor. Our heartfelt thanks to the Vollebaeks for continuing the relationship between our Norwegian roots and Ski for Light. And we hope to welcome his successor, Mr. Wegger Christian Strommen in Bend, Oregon, February 10-17, 2008.
Tusen Takk!