AFU Annual Report - 2015

Magazine Overview

This document is the Annual Report for 2015 from the Archives for UFO Research, which is also known as Archives for the Unexplained (AFU). The report covers the organization's activities, finances, acquisitions, and challenges throughout the year 2015.

AFU's New Name and Legal Status

The report begins by addressing the ongoing issue of the organization's name change to Archives for the Unexplained. The County Administration Board had approved the name change in 2014 but required a legal permutation, a transformation of the AFU foundation, for the proposed new statutes (which included more board members) to be admitted. At a board meeting on December 11, 2015, it was decided that AFU would apply for this permutation, with the associated fee of 8,500 SEK (over USD 1,000) to be covered by long-term savings. This issue remained to be resolved in 2016.

Economy and Funding

The AFU foundation is primarily sponsor-driven but heavily relies on monthly subsidies from Arbetsförmedlingen (AF), the Swedish government's Employment Office. Through a contract with AF, the foundation hosts twelve people on work training under the "phase three" scheme, for which AFU receives 210 SEK per work day per person. This system has been instrumental in financing facilities, purchasing equipment, and arranging workplaces, particularly for organizations that struggle with regular funding. This program enabled AFU to employ a few fully salaried individuals, leading to a period with 23 work trainees, salaried staff, and volunteers. However, this level of activity proved too much, and it has been slightly reduced. The report notes that generous government subsidy programs have been misused by some "private entrepreneurs," leading to a political debate in Swedish media. The left-wing government, elected in September 2014, planned to end the "phase three" subsidies before the 2018 election, which would leave many idea-based volunteer organizations and "social companies" dependent on personal funding. This creates significant political uncertainty for 2016-2018.

Sponsorships

AFU depends on approximately 25 sponsors to cover costs like rent and electricity for its basement facilities. In 2015, direct monetary donations were received from numerous individuals and organizations, including Arkivverksamma i Väst, Jennie Backman, Bernd Bartosch, Håkan Blomqvist, Tage Bång, Krister Grafström, and others. Notably, board member Carl-Anton Mattsson made a special donation of 50,000 SEK (USD 6,200) and another of 5,000 SEK (USD 625). Clas Svahn also ran a collection that raised 21,000 SEK (USD 2,625). These substantial donations were designated for future investment in share and interest funds to establish a financial backbone for AFU's survival. A significant new sponsorship from businessman Larry Frascella of Pennsylvania is also highlighted.

Guests at the Archives

Approximately 40 people signed the guestbook in 2015. Visitors included members of Sällskapet för Parapsykologisk Forskning (SPF), students from Linköping-Norrköping university, journalists from specialized media and Danish Radio, sponsors, and researchers. Notable interviews were conducted by Lars-Göran Nilsson for Allt om Vetenskap magazine and by journalists from Danish Radio who listened to recordings of George Adamski. Greg Eghigian from Penn State University conducted another research visit for his sociological thesis on the reception of the UFO theme. Visitors also included former members of the Swedish GICOFF UFO group and investigators of the "Swedish submarine monster" in Lake Storsjön. Journalists from Aftonbladet also visited.

Second Visit from the US and Larry Frascella Sponsorship

Jim Semivan and his wife Deborah Stokes visited from the United States on September 10-11. Jim Semivan offered to help create an "AFU master plan" and find benefactors. His visit was instrumental in securing a significant donation from his friend, Larry Frascella, who supports serious research into UFOs and unexplained phenomena. Shortly after Semivan's visit, Frascella donated over 30,000 USD (243,997 SEK). These funds are earmarked for special projects, as regular expenditures like rent and salaries cannot be covered by them. AFU is seeking complementary funding for ongoing costs, potentially from European Union culture funds or Swedish government sources, while acknowledging the challenge of the "unscientific" label often applied to these subjects.

Cataloguing System and Facilities

AFU is focusing on using scanners for its paranormal collection and providing digital copies. The organization is seeking a good, international web-based software system for effective cataloguing of various media, aiming to produce searchable "result lists." The current system, spread across multiple databases, is considered unsafe for regular backup. AFU handles about one to two internet queries weekly. The report also mentions the need for better physical facilities, as the current ones are strained, and the possibility of having to decline interesting donations due to lack of space. An additional storage room was rented in 2015 to alleviate space issues, though it is not considered optimal.

New AFU Book Catalogue and Acquisitions

A new book catalogue was produced in early 2016, reflecting the collections as of the end of 2015. This catalogue includes 25,182 different books, booklets, and editions from around the world. Acquisitions from Scandinavia and Europe continued, with 56,569 SEK spent on acquiring new archives and media collections, including shipping costs. AFU attempts to preserve private collections in paranormal and "scientifically disputed" research areas, often rescuing them from poor conditions or potential scattering. In 2015, large and small donations of books, magazines, and other materials were received from numerous individuals and organizations, including Anders Berglund, Håkan Blomqvist, Mike Dash, Hilary Evans, and many others. Items were also received from Ernst Linder, Carl-Anton Mattsson, Gilles Munsch, and others.

UK Collection Tour

The annual tour to the UK, organized by AFU board member Clas Svahn, took place from September 11 to 20, with companions Carl-Anton Mattsson and Håkan Ekstrand. The route included Denmark and Germany before reaching the UK. In Copenhagen, veteran Danish ufologist Per Andersen donated a significant portion of his private collection, including his SUFOI work files. The tour's base in Britain included visits to Bob Rickard's home and to Frances and Alan Copeland and Geoff Ambler. The tour also involved collecting materials from Maureen Plunkett, Valentine Ward, John Hanson, Dawn Holloway, Omar Fowler, and Staffan Skott. Further visits included Timothy Good, John Rimmer, Peter Rogerson, Edwin Joyce, Judith Jafaar, Lionel Beer, and Mike Hutchinson.

Marc Hallet Collection and BVM Phenomenon

AFU received portions of Belgian researcher Marc Hallet's collection over the years, paying for shipping. In 2015, AFU acquired Marc's extensive files on the BVM (Blessed Virgin Mary) phenomenon, funded by a collection among AFU friends in Sweden. A list of money contributions for the BVM archives is provided, totaling 14,350 SEK.

UFO-Sweden Activities

UFO-Sweden held regular board meetings at AFU premises. Field investigators visited AFU to use the Swedish report archives, notably for a "deep dug" for new UFO cases in the Kolmården area. A press conference on August 4 introduced the Kolmården project to local media, with AFU staff Johan Gustavsson and Katarina Hampusson participating in an investigation week that collected about 50 reports. Clas Svahn, chairman of UFO-Sweden, was active in media appearances and promoting AFU. The organization has a small International Advisory Board (IAB), including Fortean Times founder Bob Rickard.

Ghost Rockets Project

Anders Liljegren spent time uploading and structuring official military investigation documents on the 1946 Ghost Rocket wave to a new website (www.ghostrockets.se). The translation of these documents has been an ongoing project for years, funded by film producers Michael Cavanagh and Kerstin Übelacker, who have been following AFU's work.

Archival Co-operation

AFU's files from Swedish UFO societies are catalogued online at the National Archives "NAD" database. AFU is a member of the national FA (Folkrörelsernas Arkivförbund) and the regional ÖLFA (Östergötlands Arkivförbund). The ÖLFA group meets twice a year for information exchange.

Staff's Social Get-togethers

Over 100 former and present co-workers, board members, and local sponsors were invited to a special showing of the film "The Ghost Rockets" on April 24. This event served as a reunion for many who had helped AFU in the past. Other staff gatherings included an annual miniature golf tournament and a visit to the "NASA – A Human Adventure" exhibition. The traditional Christmas dinner was held on December 11, with 28 attendees.

Employees

AFU was able to keep a few employees through government subsidies. Leif Åstrand's contract was not prolonged due to a new rule, leading to a court case against AF (Arbetsförmedlingen) which AFU won. Irene Remberger was employed in the scanning department, and Katarina Hampusson worked in the AFU Shop. Kerstin Eklund was employed part-time in the library, and Johan Gustavsson worked for UFO-Sweden, managing the national UFO reporting center. The organization experienced significant disruption due to a breakdown of its two broadband internet connections for several weeks, impacting work pace and the AFU Shop's online operations.

Other Work Training Projects

AFU cooperates with the Aktema group to keep incapacitated people activated with part-time archives and computer-related jobs. In 2015, a young college student, Zirak, also participated in work training.

Media & Public Appearances

Clas Svahn was interviewed for articles in Stockholm area newspapers and local media. A press conference on April 23 introduced a new ghost rocket documentary and highlighted AFU's work on local planes, resulting in press coverage. Johan Gustavsson's involvement in the Kolmården field investigation also generated press coverage for AFU. Anders Liljegren was interviewed on local radio. Clas Svahn made numerous public appearances. Bob Rickard published a four-page article in support of AFU in Fortean Times.

The AFU Shop

The AFU Shop continued to be a success, with over one hundred customers worldwide. The shop was registered for value-added-tax (VAT). By the end of 2015, the shop had over 6,000 items online, ranging from paperbacks to valuable collector's items.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The report consistently emphasizes AFU's role as a vital repository for UFO and paranormal research, highlighting its international scope and the importance of preserving these collections. A recurring theme is the reliance on external funding, whether through government subsidies, private sponsorships, or donations, and the challenges associated with securing stable financial support. The organization's commitment to cataloguing, digitizing, and making its collections accessible is evident. There is a clear stance on the value of preserving materials related to unexplained phenomena, often rescuing them from obscurity or destruction. The report also touches upon the political climate affecting government subsidies for such organizations and the ongoing efforts to secure a sustainable future for AFU, positioning it as a significant cultural and historical archive.