Intern Avis For NUFOC - 1978 no 08

Magazine Overview

Title: INTERN AVIS FOR NUFOC
Issue: 8
Volume: 2
Date: September 30, 1978
Publisher: NORSK UFO CENTER
Country: Norway
Language: Norwegian

This issue of the internal newsletter for Norsk UFO Center (NUFOC) provides updates on the organization's activities, discussions from its 1978 National Meeting, and insights into public opinion on UFOs.

National Meeting 1978 (Landsmøtet 1978)

The issue begins with a report from the National Meeting held in Lillestrøm in 1978, noting it was the third such meeting. The presence of SEMIC and new participants, including some who traveled from Narvik, is highlighted. The meeting's proceedings were described as 'rather difficult' for several reasons.

A major point of discussion was the perceived failure of 'reporters' (Rapportørene) to fulfill their task of collecting and submitting UFO-related press clippings. Despite the role being voluntary, the organization had received only one clipping from a registered reporter over several years. This lack of contribution was contrasted with hundreds of clippings received from other sources. The editorial stance was that this failure was so significant that a definitive reckoning was needed.

During the discussion on reporters, a participant from the audience launched a broad critique, mixing various factors and expressing dissatisfaction with NUFOC's structure and operation. This led to a loss of control among the moderators.

The leadership acknowledged that the situation with reporters was problematic, and the function might need to be discontinued. The proposal was to have field researchers and others responsible for press clippings take over this task, potentially saving costs on a press clipping subscription. New interested members would automatically become aspirants, with a focus on becoming field researchers.

Organizational Structure and Proposals

County Leaders and Administrative Sections

Department leaders Elbjørg Fjeldberg and Morten Harry Olsen proposed creating county leaders to manage NUFOC's interests within each county, due to the heavy workload on existing department leaders. They also suggested establishing administrative sections in addition to the existing operational ones. The preference leaned towards Fjeldberg's proposal, as it would retain the 'section' concept for operational purposes, with county leaders handling administration. The ideal scenario would be for a section leader to also be a county leader. Specific individuals were mentioned for potential roles in Eastern Norway.

Hovedkassen (Main Cash Office)

Erik Fjeldberg has agreed to continue as treasurer and accountant for the main cash office, provided that the task of sending out payment notices and reminders is handled by someone else. The financial situation was reported as good, but approximately 50% of registered NUFOC members had not paid their 1978 affiliation fee.

Rapportsentralen (Report Center)

Concerns about the performance of certain functions within the Report Center were raised. It was stated that measures would be taken to ensure this vital apparatus functions correctly again.

SEMIC Collaboration

Representatives from SEMIC, including product manager Bjørn Mikalsen, attended the meeting. The collaboration was deemed positive. Mikalsen presented SEMIC's perspective, and practical questions regarding cooperation were discussed. An agreement was reached for Bjørn Mikalsen to meet with the editor in Trondheim to finalize a cooperation agreement.

A key takeaway was the urgent need for NUFOC to form an editorial committee and secure content, including global material, and competent translators. This highlighted the importance of the 'Global Section,' with hopes that its current members could handle the task with support from SEMIC.

Avdeling Nord (Northern Department)

Morten Harry Olsen has resigned from his position as department leader for Avdeling Nord due to his inability to manage the workload alongside his studies. A new candidate for this position was being sought.

Application of Organizational Forms

Some voices suggested that more members should be involved in important decisions, proposing that the National Meeting, rather than the National Board, should be the ultimate authority in NUFOC. The issue acknowledged the validity of these concerns and proposed to gauge the sentiment for this change and present it to the National Board if there was a broad consensus.

Currently, the National Board holds the final decision-making power. However, since department leaders poll their members for votes, the proposed change might not significantly alter the influence on decisions. Nevertheless, it raises practical questions about the efficiency of their work. For instance, a crucial matter might not be decided until after the National Meeting, unless 'voting slips' were circulated, which presents its own logistical challenge.

The article suggests that individual members and organizational units should consider these matters and submit their thoughts to the internal newsletter to ensure they are noted and acted upon. It encourages members to propose positive initiatives within NUFOC, provided they do not contradict the organization's constitution.

Nordic UFO Groups (NUG)

A brief orientation on NUG was planned but not detailed in the program. The situation was described as being similar to the state after the meeting in Tønsberg. It was noted that SUFOI had withdrawn from a planned collaboration on June 1st, with Willy Wegner reportedly unable to take on the task. This project was described as quite extensive, and it was anticipated that collaboration with SEMIV might influence the outcome.

Summary of the 1978 National Meeting

The overall summary of the 1978 National Meeting indicated that not as many concrete results were achieved as intended, primarily due to the aforementioned 'calamities' (likely referring to the disruptions during discussions). However, since most issues were relatively simple and practical, they were expected to be resolved through correspondence over the autumn. Thanks were extended to all who contributed constructively, especially to the leadership in Øst for their work on the meeting venue and arrangements.

For those who were 'shaken' by the less constructive aspects of the meeting, the assurance was given that future national meetings would be managed to prevent similar occurrences.

Flying Saucers (Flyvende Tallerkner)

This section addresses the persistent question of flying saucers. It notes that public interest varies, touching on topics like milk products and winter activities. A key question is how the Norwegian public views flying saucers or UFOs.

A survey revealed that four out of ten Norwegians believe in flying saucers, and 30% believe in extraterrestrial beings. Three percent of the Norwegian population claims to have seen a UFO. The situation is described as being much the same as before.

Survey Findings on UFO Belief

The article presents findings from a survey, possibly from Aftenposten on September 9, 1978. It highlights that men tend to believe more in UFOs and Mars-people than women. Women reportedly do not believe in human-like beings in space, which is speculated to be due to their greater exposure to recent space exploration news. Russian cosmonauts are cited as stating that there are no angels or other beings in space.

Belief in flying saucers and similar phenomena increases with income. The less affluent in terms of money are not necessarily less affluent in spirit. Approximately 30% of those who vote for the Labour Party, Conservative Party, Socialist People's Party, or the Socialist Left Party believe in 'space people'.

The most skepticism was found in the Christian People's Party, where only 17% believed in beings in space. The article suggests this might be due to an error or defection.

Interestingly, every tenth Venstre (Liberal Party) member reported observing a flying saucer, compared to only 5% of Christian People's Party members. The article humorously notes that Venstre's 'green alternative' might seem a bit 'airy,' but this doesn't mean their members are looking to space for support; their place is on Norwegian soil, as stated by Hammond Rossbach.

The claim that flying saucers consciously reveal themselves to the most affluent is questioned, as it would imply the Conservative Party should rank higher in the survey. However, the survey does include an important supplementary finding: both aliens and flying saucers prefer the Eastern Norway region. This suggests that residents of this area have the best chance of encountering these phenomena, especially if they join the Venstre party.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the internal organization and operations of NUFOC, including membership, reporting, and leadership. There is a clear focus on addressing perceived inefficiencies and improving the organization's structure and effectiveness. The editorial stance is critical of underperforming members (reporters) and proactive in seeking solutions and organizational improvements. The issue also engages with broader societal attitudes towards UFOs through survey data, reflecting a continued interest in the subject matter.