(Click on any of the bold words to see a picture of the activity.) - Click here to see the 2007 Schedule!

On a sunny Friday afternoon, 60 attendees gathered at the quaint Menucha Retreat and Conference Center in Corbett, Oregon, in the Columbia River Gorge. Old friendships were rekindled and new ones were formed.  Conversations in English, and Danish, could be heard all around you.

After a fine lunch, we gathered outside of Wright Hall, the main building decorated with mini-Danish flags, to watch Otto Brask raise the Danish flag.  We all sang the Danish national anthem. This signaled the start of the 29th Annual Danish Cultural Conference.

We moved back inside and Nora Martinez led us in singing several Danish songs. Then Jette Bunch, NWDF President, gave a warm welcome to all conference participants.

Our first key note speaker was Jesper Sørenson from the Royal Danish Embassy in Washington DC. He spoke of Danish foreign affairs. It was fascinating to learn that Denmark’s influence in the politics of Europe, and the world, has steadily increased, since the collapse of the Soviet Empire. Denmark wants to see a simultaneous effort of military-societal-economic development in the developing world and war-torn regions. 

The next speaker was Anni Holm, an emerging artist from Chicago, via Randers, Denmark. She noticed that her Danish identity strengthened after living in Chicago and seeing the contrast between American and Danish societal values. Her first projects were themed after immigration and the clever use of a passport to tell a story.

By mid-afternoon, attendees had three choices: watch a Danish film (“The Element of Crime” provided by Janus Films), go on a nature walk with Victor Nielsen (who has generously offered to lead these walks for years), or take a Danish language class from legendary instructor Lili Gregerson.  I, along with 12 others, decided on the latter, since I have taken two of Lili’s Danish classes from the NWDF and have been most pleased with her teachings.

A wine and cheese reception preceded dinner. We enjoyed cold Carlsberg Beer, Oregon Helvetia Winery Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Izze Sparkling Juice and Liquid Vodka. A dinner of grilled Salmon plus local vegetables was excellent. We were treated that evening with a “Cabaret Night” with Louis and Louise Christensen Zak performing 1940’s Danish songs.

On Saturday, following a filling breakfast and more singing, Kyle Dittmer, a Hydrologist-Meteorologist with the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, talked about climate change in Denmark and Greenland.  Denmark will see benefits in agriculture and fisheries with increased global warming. However, our climate may snap and Denmark and Scandinavia could plunge into a mini-ice age if the warming does not slow down.

Anni Holm returned to show 2 of her most innovative art projects. “Getting My Name Out there” which is her attempt to literally “get her name out there”. First, her friends would hold up “Anni Holm” signs and be photographed in various places. Now, that idea has spread to other friends, and strangers, with photos pouring in from around the world, which can be found on her website, www.anniholm.com. She also presented “Networking” which is her knitting project meant to demonstrate how a network is created.  Most everyone joined in by adding their own knitting to the main project.

After lunch, Aaron Pedersen of the US Forest Service, whose parents came from Denmark, talked about the Columbia River Gorge – its geologic and human history. His colleague, Greg, from the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, told how the land sustained the local tribes for over 10,000 years. The Gorge is the result of volcanism millions of years ago, followed by scour from glacial flood waters that left 77 waterfalls, the highest concentration of waterfalls in the world.

Joy Ibsen presented songs of Denmark. She compiled a book of 48 songs, both Danish and English translations. Many songs were inspired by Grundtvig, the “skjald” – seer and poet.  Her work is available in CD format, as well.

It was mid-afternoon. Folks scattered to watch the conclusion of “The Element of Crime”, go on a nature walk, or take a Danish lesson.

The attendees regrouped to hear the highly anticipated talk by Jens Søby, President, Vestas-Americas. Wind energy now competes favorably with traditional power sources. Denmark now produces 20-25% of its energy from wind power and is now an energy exporter. Vestas owns 27% of the market share of wind energy. The United States has the highest potential for wind energy development, especially in the Pacific Northwest.

Another fabulous wine and cheese reception was followed by a tasty pork loin dinner. Afterwards, we watched a dark 1943 B&W Danish film, “Day of Wrath” provided by Janus Films, about the witch trials in Denmark in the early 1600s (that was not a nice time to be in Denmark).

The highlight of the evening was an energized performance by Leikarringen, a Portland Scandinavian folk dance youth group. They had already given a full performance at the Scandinavian Heritage Foundation’s Mid-Summer Festival earlier in the day.  These youth invited conference attendees to join in for some of the Danish dances that they performed for 90 minutes. A good time was had by all. Late in the evening, some folks built a fire outside and burned a small witch, as it was June 23rd, to celebrate Skt Hans.

On a rainy Sunday, the attendees and 55 Himmelbjerget campers gathered for breakfast. Our event was winding down and their adventure was beginning. A Danish inspirational song service was led by Joy Ibsen.  Afterwards, folks could listen to Ellen Rees, an Associates Professor of Scandinavian Studies at the University of Oregon, talk about the history of Danish films, go on a nature walk, or take another Danish lesson.

Our last major speaker, Jan Nielsen, talked about the art of H.C. Andersen, especially the paper-cuts.  Jan covered the translations, and the “Disneyfication”, of HCA’s work.

After a great “cold table” lunch, we all gathered and watched as Otto lowered the Danish flag.  In three days, we learned the politics, art, film, science, technology, and language of Denmark, from centuries past to future trends, and had fun along the way!