The first Nordic Fest promotional brochure, 1967
In 1999, Jaycee Nordic Fest founders Jerry Aulwes, Mike Dahly. Harry Olson, Darrell Pierce and Gary Svenson decided to reflect on their original intentions in organizing Nordic Fest in communication to the Nordic Fest board, recounted here:
The Nordic Fest was founded as a cultural non-commercial event to promote goodwill and fellowship among the people in and around Decorah, Iowa...to act as hosts for and attract visitors from elsewhere: and, in general, promote the welfare and appeal of Decorah and the surrounding area to others.
We intended to focus attention to the culture, places, educational, arts and businesses that are historically rooted in Decorah and the area, and generally available to visitors any time of the year, not just during Nordic Fest.
The unique appeal of Decorah/Nordic Fest is that visitors are impressed that we respect our ancestry, their contributions and are proud enough to preserve and showcase these contributions, in a low key, non-commercial way.
Whether you've attended one Nordic Fest, all 48, or somewhere in between, how do you think Nordic Fest is doing on these original intentions as expressed 15 years ago by the Jaycee members who founded the event, and who were joined by Phyllis Leseth and Dr. Marion Nelson?
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