The Madison Torske Klubben was established based on the desire to bring together men of Norwegian ancestry to share good fellowship and traditional Norwegian food and drink. On the initiative of Eugene J. Nordby, seven men met at his home on December 7, 1977 to discuss the formation of a luncheon club modeled after Torske Klubben, the Norwegian Luncheon Club in Minneapolis which was established in 1933. After a visit to the Minneapolis club, they decided that a sister organization should be established in Madison, WI.
Letters of invitation were extended to a group of men of Norwegian heritage to join in a Saturday noon luncheon of Torske, flatbread, boiled potatoes, and a little aquavit. On September 9, 1978 thirty-eight Charter Members convened at the Concourse Hotel with a delegation invited from the Minneapolis group. Boss Gene Nordby presided and Robert W. Oelke from the Minneapolis club served as Master of Ceremonies. Their longtime Boss Roy N. Thorshov was the speaker, appropriately talking about the history of their club.
The Madison Torske Klubben was established based on the desire to bring together men of Norwegian ancestry to share good fellowship and traditional Norwegian food and drink. On the initiative of Eugene J. Nordby, seven men met at his home on December 7, 1977 to discuss the formation of a luncheon club modeled after Torske Klubben, the Norwegian Luncheon Club in Minneapolis which was established in 1933. After a visit to the Minneapolis club, they decided that a sister organization should be established in Madison, WI.
Letters of invitation were extended to a group of men of Norwegian heritage to join in a Saturday noon luncheon of Torske, flatbread, boiled potatoes, and a little aquavit. On September 9, 1978 thirty-eight Charter Members convened at the Concourse Hotel with a delegation invited from the Minneapolis group. Boss Gene Nordby presided and Robert W. Oelke from the Minneapolis club served as Master of Ceremonies. Their longtime Boss Roy N. Thorshov was the speaker, appropriately talking about the history of their club.
"The Madison Torske Klubben (Cod Club) is a luncheon club composed of men of Norwegian heritage who have a deep interest in Norway and Norwegian-American history and relationships. Dr. E. J. Nordby took the initiative to visit the Minneapolis Torske Klubben on March 4, 1976. He expressed his interest in founding a Torske Klubben in Madison similar to the Torske Klubben of Minneapolis. Boss Thorskov of the Minneapolis Club responded enthusiastically to Nordby’s expression of interest by sharing his observations on the organizational structure and practices of the Minneapolis Torske Klubben."