Meet the Board Members

Michael has proudly served as Club President for over three years, playing an integral role in organizing and hosting many cherished community events. He is the creative force behind Midsommar celebrations, personally assembling the midsommar pole and leading traditional dances. During Julfest, Michael organizes the enchanting children's Lucia procession and takes on a variety of responsibilities to ensure the success of these special occasions and many more.

Ruth has served as Co-President for over three years, contributing her leadership to the planning of Julfest and other important events. She is actively involved in the Swedish Language group, sharing her passion for Swedish culture and language. With her experience studying abroad in Sweden, Ruth brings a unique perspective and dedication to all her endeavors within the community.

"I grew up attending Scandi Club meetings with my parents, Carl and Linda Eriksson, and I was Lucia in 1984 or 1985. I moved away from Columbus in 1993 and just returned with my husband Gary and our two sons Garrison and Ethan in 2018. We were just starting to get out and meet people in the Club and then the pandemic hit!

Megan Ginter has been a member of the Club since February 2022. Since then, she has served as the Executive Assistant. Her main role is to write the monthly newsletters. Megan’s grandmother, Gail Anderson, was a part of the Club decades ago. Megan feels that she’s carrying on the Scandinavian pride and legacy!


Åke has been a Club member since the late 1990's, while sitting on our Board for many years. Still no splinters or nails in his rear, he says... Some of his most enjoyable Club memories are from doing graphic design and construction of our booths at the annual Columbus International Festivals.

Dale Svendsen joined the Club in 1978 along with his wife, Gail, and their family. He has continued active membership and has served as Club President at least 4 times. Dale’s parents were Danish and he was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. His wife, Gail, is from primarily Norwegian and Swedish heritage. She has also been very active in the Club for example serving several term as a Board Member.

Matt joined the club in 2021 after moving back to Columbus. Prior to that, Matt was Cabin Crew for Norwegian Airlines, where he frequently travelled to Scandinavia, and beyond. He fell in love with Copenhagen, and the Danish culture. After being made redundant due to the pandemic, he decided to move back to Columbus, where he now has a career in Healthcare Information Technology

Hello everyone, this is Arne Jacobsen. This is my second year as a board member. I have enjoyed helping out with the activities that the Club has organized this past year. I hope that I can meet and work with more members in years to come to make the Scandinavian Club the best experience for all. Tusen takk til alle!

Harry is a three-year member of the club now starting his second year on the board. He served 31 years as a refractory sales specialist for Emhart Glass, builders of glass container making machines with two plants located in Sundsvall, Sweden. His grandparents immigrated from Sweden 1895 influenced his interest in Swedish and Scandinavian culture. Currently he serves on the membership and nominating committees and is a caller for Club events. In addition to the warm fellowship the club provides, he also enjoys the movies and baking for our great buffet meals.

Dane Kirk joined the club in 2024, continuing his pride in Danish heritage and love for Scandinavian culture. His grandparents emigrated from Jutland after WWII, and he has visited Denmark multiple times, including a summer studying architecture in Copenhagen. Dane works as a city planner for Columbus and holds degrees in architecture, public administration, and Slavic studies from Ohio State. In addition to his involvement with the club, Dane enjoys bonsai, archery, historical reenactment, and gardening.

Erik Nielsen has been actively involved in the Scandinavian Club for over a year and is honored to join the Board. Originally from Cleveland Heights, Ohio, he studied Chemistry at the College of Wooster and later pursued Nuclear Engineering at Penn State. Erik worked for various nuclear utility companies and became a certified Professional Engineer in Ohio. He joined the Sons of Norway in 1999 and moved to Columbus in 2013 to work for American Electric Power. Erik's heritage is a mix of Finnish, Swedish, German, Irish, and English. He joined the Scandinavian Club in 2023.