Jaycee Congratulations for Nordic Fest Founders

Pictured left to right at the 40th Nordic Fest in 2006 are: Harry Olson, DiAnn Svenson, representing her late husband, Gary Svenson, Phyllis Leseth, Darrell Pierce, and Jerry Aulwes. Not pictured are Mike Dahly and the late Dr. Marion Nelson, all Nordic Fest founders.  Harry Olson, Gary Svenson, Darrell Pierce, Jerry Aulwes and Mike Dahly were active Decorah Junior Chamber members (Jaycees) who got the ball rolling in 1966 for the first Nordic Fest, which took place in 1967. The first Nordic Fest was named State and National Jaycee Project of the Year. These Jaycee founders recently received a special communication, reprinted here with permission:

Hello Jerry Aulwes, Mike Dahly, Harry Olson, Darrell Pierce and DiAnn Svenson,

I understand that Nordic Fest, one of our past national projects of the year, is about to turn 50 years old.  Please accept my congratulations as Nordic Fest nears its 50^th anniversary!  We have honored a number of national projects throughout the years, as you well know.  I am not aware of any of them that have continued for 50 years. 

This is a remarkable achievement and all of you are to be commended.  I hope your town, its citizens and elected officials appreciate the hard work you have put into Nordic Fest for five decades. Your Mayor should proclaim a Nordic Fest day or something.

Thanks again for being wonderful ambassadors of the Jaycee movement and for being outstanding examples of what we are all about.

Joel Harper

Executive Director
United States Junior Chamber