75+ Years
Established 1950
San Francisco, California
A Legacy of Friendship: The YSC Story
What started as five friends in a post-war city has blossomed into a multi-generational community. Today, we steward two historic properties and a legacy of Scandinavian culture in California.
Established in 1950 by five friends—Arnold Rolkert, Gunnar Engen, Carlo Hojsgaard, Peter Larsen Bernard, and Ulla Lindberg—the YSC has blossomed into a thriving community for Scandinavian and Scandinavian-American individuals and families.
Key Events
The Beginning: Five Friends, One Vision
"On August 19, 1950, Arnold Rolkert gathered a group of friends together including Gunnar Engen, Carlo Hojsgaard, Peter Larsen Bernard, and Ulla Lindberg to form what they called The Young Scandinavians Club of San Francisco."
Charter Members: 30 founding members
Thirty members attended the club's first general meeting the following January, and Arnold became its first president. This moment marked the birth of a community that would span generations and create countless memories.
Incorporated as Non-Profit
Nordic Highlight newsletter from 1960
YSC incorporated as a nonprofit organization; 10th anniversary banquet at Canterbury Hotel (anniversaries celebrated every 5 years since); first ski cabin rented at Lake Tahoe.
Lisa for President
Lisa Gille (now Wiborg) begins four-year reign as president. She later serves another year. Started renting current Clear Lake cabin.
The Clear Lake Acquisition
40 YSC members on their legendary group flight back to Scandinavia
Clear Lake cabin with the 100-foot private dock
Purchased the Clear Lake property for $28,000 with a $10,000 down payment, this move established our first permanent home. That same year, 40 members took a legendary group flight back to Scandinavia.
Cabin Manager and Activities Director on the Board
Cabin Manager and Activities Director positions elevated to Executive Committee status.
15th Anniversary Celebration
15th Anniversary banquet celebration
YSC celebrates its 15th Anniversary, continuing the tradition of commemorating club milestones every five years with members and friends.
Improvements to Clear Lake
Members make major improvements to Clear Lake property, including septic tank, parking area, and leach field.
Clear Lake Bathroom Construction
New bathrooms constructed at Clear Lake cabin.
Clear Lake Paid Off
Clear Lake loan paid off. The cabin and it's 3/4 acre lot is ours.
20th Anniversary
YSC 20th Anniversary celebration
On September 26, 1970, YSC celebrates its 20th Anniversary with a grand celebration at Del Webb's Townhouse in San Francisco. In a remarkable show of diplomatic support, all the Consul Generals of the Nordic countries attended—representing Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland—marking this as one of the most prestigious events in YSC history.
Yosemite Adventure
YSC members at Yosemite National Park
YSC members embark on memorable outdoor adventures to Yosemite National Park, strengthening bonds through shared experiences in nature.
New pier
New pier built at Clear Lake.
New dock
New floating dock at Clear Lake.
Clear Lake rebuild
Formed CL Task Force to rebuild cabin. Produced architectural plans and received bids from contractors for 2-story building, cost $135 to $160K. Plans were dropped due to an existing building moratorium and resulting permit problems. It was decided to renovate instead.
Major Clear Lake renovations
Major renovations on Clear Lake cabin, with member Inge Sullivan as key contractor. Total cost $80,000.
35th Anniversary Celebration
Anniversary program cover
Program details
On November 2, 1985, YSC celebrates its 35th Anniversary with an elegant celebration at the St. Francis Yacht Club, commemorating 35 years of Scandinavian fellowship and tradition.
Lucia Celebration
YSC Lucia celebration, 1985
YSC Lucia celebration captured in this memorable photo.
Executive Committee
Executive Committee at Clear Lake, 1986
The Executive Committee meeting at Clear Lake. New floating docks with steel pilings and sea wall reconstruction completed.
Tahoe Cabin Purchase
Tahoe cabin purchased for $190,000.00, marking a major milestone in the club's growth.
New Clear Lake ambitions
A Bathroom Subcommittee was charged with expanding and remodeling the bathrooms at CL. After ten different design schemes construction drawings were submitted for bidding. The plans incorporated a separate new structure complete with handicapped access and resistant to periodic flooding. At a cost of $106,000 it was decided that we might as well build a whole new cabin. Preliminary drawings for a 2-story structure were made for a presentation at our 50th anniversary. The Bathroom Subcommittee was disbanded in 1999.
Tahoe Cabin Master on the Board
Andrew Vik, 24, becomes youngest president in YSC history. Changes made to the bylaws to include Tahoe Cabin Manager on the Executive Committee and the Board of Trustees at six full members (formerly five plus an alternate).
YSC 50th Anniversary
YSC celebrates it's 50th anniversary with a grand party at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel. Guest of honor: Arnold Rolkert – the first president, flies in from Sweden and delivers this speech.
New ski boat
Clear Lake – Replaced 21 year old Ski Supreme with a brand new Moomba ski boat.
Clear Lake bathroom remodel
Bathrooms finally remodeled according to 1982 scheme – move wall to add a toilet and a shower from men's to women's room, and installing two showers in men's room using existing plumbing. Purchase new gas stove, an electric double oven and a refrigerator for the pantry.
Sauna in Tahoe
John Rollings Memorial Sauna at Tahoe
Tahoe Cabin – After a strong fundraising drive by the Tahoe committee, the John Rollings Memorial Sauna is inaugurated in November this year.
65th Anniversary
Seven YSC presidents at the 65th Anniversary celebration
In September, YSC celebrates its 65th Anniversary with a grand black-tie party at the Maritime Museum in San Francisco.
Clear Lake flooded
Clear Lake – After several dry years with many wildfires around the lake it is finally raining again. The Clear Lake cabin is again flooded with a foot of water on throughout the cabin.
Longest serving President
With six consecutive years, Peter Nordström becomes the longest serving president of the YSC to date.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the YSC, (together with most of the world), has to freeze all operations and close our cabins.
75 Year Anniversary
YSC 75th Anniversary celebration
The YSC celebrates its 75th Anniversary with a grand party at the Swedish American Hall in San Francisco.
Peter Nordström Returns as President
Peter Nordström returns as president of the club after coming back to the board in 2025 as an event coordinator, marking his return to leadership.
YSC Presidents
1950s
Uno Odman
Erik Stenstedt
Stefan Gjerstad
Sven Thomasen
Ole Trock Jansen
Arne(Rolf) Gille
1960s
Svend Svendsen
Al Wold
Svend Baekgaard, Carsten Mikkelsen
Lisa Wiborg
Arne Waslund
Soren Walther
1970s
Amund Barstad
Jorgen Larsen
Gertrud Markgren
Ben Bylander
Jens Bruun de Neergaard
Per Madsen
Wiveca Remon
Mogens Schow
1980s
Inge Sullivan
Einar Asbo
Birgitta Lotman
Signe Vik
David McGehee
Bent Kjolby
David Anderson
1990s
Stig Tisell
Rodney Hiram
Jeanette Sorensen
2000s
Craig Lieber
Morten Qwist
Joshua Aasved
Thomas Nielsen
Ben Blount
Jennifer Arton Tegnerud
Amanda Aasved Merritt
2010s
Thomas Nielsen
Niels Kvaavik
2020s
Ulrika Lidström
Jeanette Flodell
Write the Next Chapter.
Our history isn't just about the past—it's about the families and friends who will steward these cabins for the next 75 years. Will you be one of them?
From the City to the Mountains
Since 1950, YSC has connected Scandinavian families across Northern California—from our San Francisco roots to the shores of Clear Lake and the peaks of Tahoe.