What’s going on at the Sons of Norway? It depends on who you talk to. There are certainly two sides to the story behind what exactly is causing the shake up there that has put many members into one of two opposing camps: cultural and social.

Essentially, the SoN is finding itself at odds with the mission statement of the international fraternal lodge, which states:

The mission of Sons of Norway is to promote, preserve, and cherish a lasting appreciation of the heritage and culture of Norway and other Nordic countries while growing soundly as a fraternal benefit society and offering maximum benefits to its members.

While some members are leaning toward the first half of the statement, others are squarely in the latter. The local lodge just turned 90 but some argue it won’t see 100 on its current course. Little Norway without the Sons of Norway? It sounds farfetched but if it did come to fruition, it would severely tarnish the city’s image as a “Viking City” for years to come.

Honestly, how could the city make such a claim when it is unable to sustain a Sons of Norway lodge? Even with the rich Norwegian history that brought the city into existence, it may be hard pressed to do so.

Back to the conflict at hand.

Comments and letters (some anonymous and some signed) indicate underlying feelings of distrust at Grieg Hall.

One unsigned letter writer went so far as to claim that outgoing SoN administrator Mariann Samuelsen, president Bob Moseng and the executive board were set on “destroying” the fraternal brotherhood of the lodge by pulling away from social activities and the Trolls Den. Chatting with some members of the SoN, this anonymous writer is not alone in his views.

Others feel the lodge was heading the right direction as far as promoting heritage was concerned.

Samuelsen certainly towed the Nordic line as far as she could in terms of helping educate and entertain people of the Scandinavian persuasion. That point is difficult to argue. She created a heritage camp for children, after all, and one could scarcely attend any cultural event at the SoN without running into her.

Even so, some folks might say, in a town that goes by the handle “Little Norway,” that’s akin to shooting lutefisk in a barrel.

She’ll be gone soon and will be missed by some. Others at the SoN will surely applaud her departure.

But where does this all leave the local lodge?

Split for now. Hopefully, the rift will be bridged by a compromise — and soon. Syttende Mai is roughly a month a half away after all. Hopefully, the celebration of Norwegian Constitution Day will serve as a reminder to all persons of Nordic descent that they’re all in this together.

Besides, the last thing Poulsbo needs is warring factions of fur clad Norwegians roaming the streets during Viking Fest. They’re scary enough as it is.