July 21st.- Soren Sondergaard: Viking History
Start @ 9:59 am in the Trinity United Church Sanctuary
33 Members in attendance
Two Guests: Charlie McGee and Brent Andersen
President John Sneyd opened the meeting by welcoming all and thanking them for coming out to support our guest speaker, our own Soren Sondergaard.
President John then told the members about his recent experience flying Air Canada. For him it was an easy and pleasant one because as a senior he was whisked right through in about twenty minutes with no difficulty.
He then reminded everyone that we will continue to be meeting in the church sanctuary until September 21st. He next thanked the House Committee for their effort in setting up the pre-meeting coffee given the work involved in doing so outside of the sanctuary.
Today’s guests were welcomed: Charlie McGee and Brent Andersen.
President John announced the recent passing of one of our members, Lloyd Taylor. Lloyd was a quiet but regular member to all of our meetings even during COVID Zoom meetings. John thanked Del Campbell for sending a memorial card to Lloyd’s family and David Moller for sending a memorial donation to the Guelph General Hospital and Ritchie Zelk for adding Lloyd Taylor’s name to the Members in Memoriam page on our club website.
Announcements
Coffee Meeting at the Boathouse next Thursday, July 28th at the Boathouse at 10:00 am.
Activities – Ken Marchant
The night at the races has been revised to be held at the Elora Raceway on Friday, September 2nd where we have reserved a room with a fixed menu at $25 + GST. A sign-up sheet is now available.
President John Sneyd introduced today’s guest speaker, Soren Sondergaard.
Bio:
Soren was born in Denmark and grew up on his family's farm.
Served in the Danish Air Force from 1957-1958
Graduated from Hammerum Agricultural School in 1959
Immigrated to Canada in 1959
Married to Lis Hansen in 1963 and has three children
Became a Canadian Citizen in 2003
Work Accomplishments:
V.P. KSI LTD. Rexdale, Ontario
V.P. KSI Controls Rexdale, Ontario
Technical Manager CAB AB Management Guelph, Ontario
Retired in 2003
Since retirement Soren has been involved in many activities and projects.
He was President of his own company, Nutrican Trading Inc. And
Canada Consult serving the food industry.
Soren is also involved with the Danish Lutheran Church Toronto (Past President of the Board) Kortright Presbyterian Church Guelph (Past Chair Finance and Maintenance)
Soren is also involved with Sunset Villas in Crieff Ontario and has held many positions in the management of the organization.
Soren is a Past-President of the Royal City Men's Club
Presentation:
We all think of the Vikings as wild bunch sailing and rowing across the North Sea.
But there is quite a bit more to the story when one looks at the ones that went east and also to Iceland, Greenland and even Canada. Rough Warriors but also traders.
Soren Sondergaard
Soren began his presentation by explaining about the construction of Viking ships and he then showed maps of the Viking world where they travelled and traded.
He informed us and explained the following:
- the geography and geology of the Viking world in Scandinavia and Europe following the previous ice-age;
- Viking knowledge of boatbuilding and how they built their boats;
- The word “Viking” comes from the Norway word “Vik” meaning and inlet or creek;
- history of the Viking agriculture and husbandry:
- The reason for travel was to expand their need for land as their families increased and in-fighting arose and for trade;
- Vikings were not likely any more cruel than other cultures of the same time period but the Vikings were attracted to the silver that existed in English monasteries and so this resulted in raids on the north-east of England at Lindisfarne which began the period of raiding on England;
- Vikings from Denmark and Norway sought land and they raided and occupied the land north of London in an area called Wessex and introduced Dane Law to England;
- Vikings traded as far south as Paris and trade was developed with cultures in current day Russia and also as far south as the Byzantines;
- Vikings travelled and established a settlement in Greenland;
- Further travel brought them to North America where they started but abandoned a settlement at L’Anse aux Meadows in current-day Newfoundland;
- Due to the presence of iron-ore in Finland and Norway, they were very good at producing iron tools;
At this point in the presentation, Soren’s neighbour, Brent Andersen, joined him to show and provide information on some of the weaponry used by the Vikings. He showed some real weapons that were replications of Vikings weapons.
Soren's Presentation can be viewed in Speaker's Notes CLICK HERE
John Sneyd thanked Soren for his presentation.
Next meeting: Thurs., August 4th, 2022 with Andy Curtis on 331/3 RPM Vinyl Records
Notice: All summer membership meetings will take place in the Church Sanctuary.
Adjournment @11:07am
Recording Secretary: Kerry Gennings
33 Members in attendance
Two Guests: Charlie McGee and Brent Andersen
President John Sneyd opened the meeting by welcoming all and thanking them for coming out to support our guest speaker, our own Soren Sondergaard.
President John then told the members about his recent experience flying Air Canada. For him it was an easy and pleasant one because as a senior he was whisked right through in about twenty minutes with no difficulty.
He then reminded everyone that we will continue to be meeting in the church sanctuary until September 21st. He next thanked the House Committee for their effort in setting up the pre-meeting coffee given the work involved in doing so outside of the sanctuary.
Today’s guests were welcomed: Charlie McGee and Brent Andersen.
President John announced the recent passing of one of our members, Lloyd Taylor. Lloyd was a quiet but regular member to all of our meetings even during COVID Zoom meetings. John thanked Del Campbell for sending a memorial card to Lloyd’s family and David Moller for sending a memorial donation to the Guelph General Hospital and Ritchie Zelk for adding Lloyd Taylor’s name to the Members in Memoriam page on our club website.
Announcements
Coffee Meeting at the Boathouse next Thursday, July 28th at the Boathouse at 10:00 am.
Activities – Ken Marchant
The night at the races has been revised to be held at the Elora Raceway on Friday, September 2nd where we have reserved a room with a fixed menu at $25 + GST. A sign-up sheet is now available.
President John Sneyd introduced today’s guest speaker, Soren Sondergaard.
Bio:
Soren was born in Denmark and grew up on his family's farm.
Served in the Danish Air Force from 1957-1958
Graduated from Hammerum Agricultural School in 1959
Immigrated to Canada in 1959
Married to Lis Hansen in 1963 and has three children
Became a Canadian Citizen in 2003
Work Accomplishments:
V.P. KSI LTD. Rexdale, Ontario
V.P. KSI Controls Rexdale, Ontario
Technical Manager CAB AB Management Guelph, Ontario
Retired in 2003
Since retirement Soren has been involved in many activities and projects.
He was President of his own company, Nutrican Trading Inc. And
Canada Consult serving the food industry.
Soren is also involved with the Danish Lutheran Church Toronto (Past President of the Board) Kortright Presbyterian Church Guelph (Past Chair Finance and Maintenance)
Soren is also involved with Sunset Villas in Crieff Ontario and has held many positions in the management of the organization.
Soren is a Past-President of the Royal City Men's Club
Presentation:
We all think of the Vikings as wild bunch sailing and rowing across the North Sea.
But there is quite a bit more to the story when one looks at the ones that went east and also to Iceland, Greenland and even Canada. Rough Warriors but also traders.
Soren Sondergaard
Soren began his presentation by explaining about the construction of Viking ships and he then showed maps of the Viking world where they travelled and traded.
He informed us and explained the following:
- the geography and geology of the Viking world in Scandinavia and Europe following the previous ice-age;
- Viking knowledge of boatbuilding and how they built their boats;
- The word “Viking” comes from the Norway word “Vik” meaning and inlet or creek;
- history of the Viking agriculture and husbandry:
- The reason for travel was to expand their need for land as their families increased and in-fighting arose and for trade;
- Vikings were not likely any more cruel than other cultures of the same time period but the Vikings were attracted to the silver that existed in English monasteries and so this resulted in raids on the north-east of England at Lindisfarne which began the period of raiding on England;
- Vikings from Denmark and Norway sought land and they raided and occupied the land north of London in an area called Wessex and introduced Dane Law to England;
- Vikings traded as far south as Paris and trade was developed with cultures in current day Russia and also as far south as the Byzantines;
- Vikings travelled and established a settlement in Greenland;
- Further travel brought them to North America where they started but abandoned a settlement at L’Anse aux Meadows in current-day Newfoundland;
- Due to the presence of iron-ore in Finland and Norway, they were very good at producing iron tools;
At this point in the presentation, Soren’s neighbour, Brent Andersen, joined him to show and provide information on some of the weaponry used by the Vikings. He showed some real weapons that were replications of Vikings weapons.
Soren's Presentation can be viewed in Speaker's Notes CLICK HERE
John Sneyd thanked Soren for his presentation.
Next meeting: Thurs., August 4th, 2022 with Andy Curtis on 331/3 RPM Vinyl Records
Notice: All summer membership meetings will take place in the Church Sanctuary.
Adjournment @11:07am
Recording Secretary: Kerry Gennings