Einar Chr. Erlingsen, chairman of the board, was recently appointed a Paul Harris Fellow, the highest distinction from Rotary International.
Erlingsen received the award for his huge and unstinting efforts for the new Oseberg ship. The award was presented at a Rotary members' meeting on June 12.
"His creativity, ease of communication, large network, financial sense and leadership qualities have carried the project forward to become much bigger than we first assumed,” said Rotary Tønsberg President Jan Tønnesen at the presentation.
Erlingsen was very grateful for the award and said: "There are so many people in the project who also deserve an award. Building the Oseberg ship is a team effort where very many people have made fantastic efforts.”
Erlingsen was also the evening's speaker and took the opportunity to tell all present about the plans for the future of the Viking ship. The Foundation has several projects under way and will start building a new ship this very summer. This will be a 30-foot long Færing, which is a copy of one of the three small boats found in the Gokstad ship. The project has been made possible by a generous grant of NOK 300.000 from Sparebankstiftelsen DNB NOR.
A Paul Harris Fellow: Einar Chr. Erlingsen, chairman of the Board. (Photo: Espen Jørgensen/Byavisa Tønsberg)
