AFU Annual Report 2015

Magazine Overview

This document is the Annual Report 2015 for the Archives for UFO Research (AFU), also known as Archives for the Unexplained. It details the organization's activities, financial situation, and future plans throughout the year 2015.

AFU's New Name

The report notes that the organization's name change to 'Archives for the Unexplained' faced a standstill throughout 2015 due to a lack of time to actively work on the legal requirements. In 2014, the County Administration Board had approved the name change but not the proposed new statutes, which required a legal permutation or transformation of the AFU foundation. At a board meeting on December 11, 2015, it was decided to apply for this permutation, with the 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

The AFU foundation is primarily sponsor-driven, with its economy heavily reliant on monthly subsidies from Arbetsförmedlingen (AF), the Swedish government's Employment Office. Through a contract with AF, AFU hosts twelve people on work training via the 'phase three' scheme, receiving 210 SEK per work day per person. This system has been crucial for financing facilities, purchasing equipment, and arranging workplaces, especially for organizations operating without established funding. This program allowed AFU to employ a team of 23 work trainees, salaried personnel, and volunteers at one point, though this level was later reduced. The report expresses concern that the left-wing government, elected in September 2014, plans to stop these 'phase three' subsidies before the 2018 election, which would leave many idea-based volunteer organizations and 'social companies' dependent on personal funding. This creates political uncertainty regarding the future of such subsidies during 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. Notable contributions include a special donation of 50,000 SEK from board member Carl-Anton Mattsson, and a collection by Clas Svahn totaling 21,000 SEK. These funds were invested in share and interest funds to establish a financial backbone for AFU's future. A significant sponsorship from businessman Larry Frascella is also highlighted.

Guests at the Archives

Approximately 40 people signed the guestbook in 2015. Visitors included members of the Swedish society for psychic research (SPF), students from Linköping-Norrköping university, journalists from specialized media and Danish Radio, sponsors, and researchers. Notable visits include Lars-Göran Nilsson, who interviewed Clas Svahn for an article in 'Allt om Vetenskap', and 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, investigators of the 'Swedish submarine monster', and students preparing essays on UFO research. Aftonbladet journalist Lasse Allard described the archives as having 'the world's coolest jobs and library'.

Second Visit from the US

Jim Semivan and his wife Deborah Stokes visited AFU in September, having previously visited in 2014. They are UFO phenomena experiencers and supporters of AFU's goals. Jim Semivan offered to help develop an 'AFU master plan' and find benefactors. His recommendation led to a substantial donation of 30,000 USD from his friend, Larry Frascella, which was a significant boost to AFU's finances.

Larry Frascella Sponsorship

This sponsorship, initiated by Jim Semivan's visit, is from businessman Larry Frascella of Pennsylvania. The funds are intended for special projects rather than regular operational costs like rent or salaries, as these could be quickly depleted. AFU plans to seek complementary funding for ongoing costs, potentially from European Union culture funds or Swedish government sources, acknowledging the challenge of the 'unscientific' label often attached to UFO and paranormal subjects.

Cataloguing System?

AFU is focusing on acquiring computer hardware and software, particularly for scanning and digitizing its paranormal collection. The organization seeks an international web-based software system for efficient cataloguing of various media types, aiming to provide direct links to digital downloads for researchers. The current system, spread across multiple databases, is considered inefficient.

Other Investments 2015

Besides new shelves, AFU invested in a new HP Laserjet 400 colour printer, a Lenovo desktop computer, two book trolleys, 100 acid-free archival boxes, and 250 cardboard boxes for magazines. Some of these were funded by Mr. Frascella's donation, while the majority of his contribution was saved for future investments.

New AFU Book Catalogue

A new book catalogue was produced in early 2016, reflecting the collections as of the end of 2015. This cataloguing effort involved months of work and data recovery after a hard disc crash. The catalogue includes 25,182 different books, booklets, and editions from around the world.

Acquired & Donated Collections

AFU continued to acquire new archives and media collections from Scandinavia and Europe, spending 56,569 SEK on acquisitions and shipping. The organization actively seeks to preserve private collections in paranormal and 'scientifically disputed' research areas, often rescuing materials that might otherwise be lost or scattered. Notable donations and acquisitions in 2015 came from individuals and groups such as Anders Berglund, Håkan Blomqvist, Ole Brænne, Gordon Creighton, Mike Dash, Karl-Erik Edris, Hilary Evans, Marc Hallet, Ole Henningsen, Sune Hjorth, Karl-Erik Johansson, Ernst Linder, Carl-Anton Mattsson, Gilles Munsch, Peter Mörtsell, Egon Pettersson, Bob Rickard, Peter Rogerson, Susan Salaman, Ingvar Selin, Clas Svahn, Henry Svensson, Göran Söderqvist, Busty Taylor, Brinsley le Poer Trench, Ulf & Tatjana Westman, Maureen Plunkett, Valentine Ward, John Hanson & Dawn Holloway, Omar Fowler, Staffan Skott, Timothy Good, John Rimmer, Peter Rogerson, Edwin Joyce, Judith Jafaar, Lionel Beer, and Mike Hutchinson. The report also mentions the acquisition of Marc Hallet's extensive collection on the BVM (Blessed Virgin Mary) phenomenon.

UK Collection Tour

The annual tour to the UK, organized by AFU board member Clas Svahn, took place between September 11 and 20, with companions Carl-Anton Mattsson and Håkan Ekstrand. The route included Denmark and Germany, with a stop in Copenhagen where veteran Danish ufologist Per Andersen donated a significant portion of his collection to AFU. The tour also visited the UK, with Bob Rickard's home serving as a base and visits to Frances and Alan Copeland and Geoff Ambler. The report notes the integration of the Charles Fort Institute's collections with AFU's.

UFO-Sweden

UFO-Sweden held regular board meetings at AFU premises. Field investigators conducted a 'deep dug' for new UFO cases in the Kolmården area, generating press coverage. A press conference on August 4 introduced the Kolmården project, 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.

Employees

AFU was able to retain a few employees through government subsidies. Leif Åstrand was employed until May 31, and a court case against AF (Arbetsförmedlingen) regarding his contract termination was won by AFU. Irene Remberger worked in the scanning department, and Katarina Hampusson in the AFU Shop. Kerstin Eklund was employed part-time in the library, and Johan Gustavsson worked for UFO-Sweden, managing their national reporting center. The year's work was hampered by a complete breakdown of AFU's two broadband internet connections for several weeks, causing significant delays and loss of pace.

Other Work Training Projects

AFU collaborates with the Aktema group to keep incapacitated people activated on part-time archives and computer-related jobs. Trainees included Robert, Patrick, Magnus, and Fredrik. In 2015, AFU also accepted a young college student, Zirak, for a two-week work training period.

Media & Public Appearances

Clas Svahn was interviewed for articles in Stockholm area newspapers and participated in a press conference on April 23 introducing a new ghost rocket documentary, leading to articles and interviews on local media. Johan Gustavsson's work on the Kolmården field investigation also generated press coverage for AFU. Anders Liljegren was interviewed about AFU archives on local radio. Clas Svahn made numerous public appearances promoting AFU. The report mentions an International Advisory Board (IAB) including Fortean Times founder Bob Rickard, who published a supportive article on AFU.

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. The website was funded by film producers Michael Cavanagh and Kerstin Übelacker.

Archival Co-operation

AFU's files from Swedish UFO societies are catalogued online at the National Archives 'NAD' database. AFU is a member of Folkrörelsernas Arkivförbund (FA) and Östergötlands Arkivförbund (ÖLFA), participating in their meetings to exchange information.

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. The event served as a reunion for many who had helped AFU in the past. Other events included an annual miniature golf tournament and a visit to the 'NASA – A Human Adventure' exhibition.

The AFU Shop

The AFU Shop continued its success, serving 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 collector's items.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The report emphasizes AFU's role as a vital repository for UFO and paranormal research, highlighting its efforts to preserve historical documents and collections. A recurring theme is the reliance on donations and sponsorships, with a clear concern about the future sustainability of funding, particularly in light of potential cuts to government subsidies. The organization's commitment to cataloguing, digitization, and making its collections accessible to researchers is evident. The editorial stance is one of dedication to its mission, acknowledging challenges while expressing optimism for future growth and stability, particularly through securing substantial private donations and developing better infrastructure.