Our group started August 4, 1986 with the following named people having dinner on the first Monday at Heritage Cafeteria. Namely, Ulla and Keith Hood, Opal and Marvin Kruse. Viola and Hank Hageman, Per Ola Brinck, Iva and Gus Skoglund and Anne and Art Lindeman. The idea was to establish an organization to preserve and maintain the cultural heritage of our ancestors. At first it was to be for Swedes and Swedish Americans but by September 1986, Christopher Olsson, The Director of the Swedish Counsel of America in Minneapolis, Minnesota attended our second meeting and suggested we include all Scandinavian countries, namely Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland. At that meeting several more interested people came and we became Ozark Scandinavian Society of Springfield, Missouri. That is when lva Skoglund said that OSSSM all Scandinavians are "AWESOME". We also decided to join Swedish Council of America and became the 12th organization to join SCA, which now has over 200 organizations.
The October 1986 meeting was entertained with it's first program, slides of Sweden and Norway presented by JoAnn and Charles Rich. Our CREED was established by the original group that first night as the purpose. "To enrich the lives of our members with the charm and beauty of the Scandinavian culture and to increase interest in and knowledge of our Scandinavian heritage, including Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland."
The first annual Julfest med Sm�rg�sbord was December 1986 held in Luther Hall and June 1987 found OSSSM holding Midsommar at Lake Springfield.
A Board of Directors was established in 1987 as the group continued to grow in numbers. In 1988 the group was represented on Public Television by Per Ola Brinck, Gus Skoglund, Ula Hood and Art Lindeman. It was titled "Springfield Scene" for 30 minutes outlining the purpose of OSSSM and telling about "New Sweden 88 " and what OSSSM was doing to celebrate the 350th year of Swedish immigration to America. Also, interviewing the three Swedes that had come from Sweden to America at different times of their life. In 1988 we had a 40 voice choir come from Stockholm, Sweden and gave a one and half hour program of Swedish singing. This was held at SMSU with 550 people attending. This was the largest attendance the choir had as they toured USA including Seattle, Minneapolis, Lindsborg, San Francisco and many other locations. OSSSM did itself proud with this accomplishment as they have many times since. At this program. Our Mayor at the time Tom Carlson of Swedish background presented the leader with a Key to the City of Springfield.
We have had several meeting places outgrowing each one and have participated in programs at our Library and Schools as well as visiting groups from Sweden, Kansas City and Lindsborg. One group from Sweden "Hamrange Dragspelsklubb " a male group of According players is well remembered for as an added delight to Gus Skoglund when we introduced Gus to his cousin a member of the group as a surprise to Gus because he didn't know he was coming and the cousin didn't know that Gus lived in Springfield. Traditions we started with have continued", a program at each meeting", meeting on the first Monday of each month, annual Julfest med Sm�rg�sbord and Annual Midsommarfest med maj st�ng from the forest.
We have published a cook book titled "Scandinavian Memories" and it sold over 600 copies. Also a booklet titled 'OSSSM, where to find Scandinavian crafts, clubs, food, clothing etc. in the USA and Canada'. Many fine programs have been presented by members and some invited quests have made OSSSM great as we prepare to start our 16th year. A detailed outline is in our files for each year.
The following persons have served as President of OSSSM since it's beginning. Art Lindeman, Iva Skoglund, Karl Berglund, Maynard Hansen, Ken Wicken, Mary Hansen, Anne Lindeman, Carolyn Deeds, Sven Carlson, Len Bjella, Kerry Randolph, Walt Peterson, Richard Lundh, and Marilyn Cederwall.