UFO Allehenda - 1998 No 1

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO Allehanda
Issue: Nr 1 1998
Publisher: Enköping-Sala UFO-förening
Country: Sweden
Language: Swedish
Cover Headline: "20 ÅR MED ENKÖPINGS UFO-FÖRENING" - Arnold Idebring

Articles and Content

"20 år med Enköpings UFO-förening" by Arnold Idebring

This extensive article by Arnold Idebring chronicles the 20-year history of the Enköping UFO Association. Idebring's personal interest in UFOs began in 1978 after reading books brought home by his wife. Initially skeptical, his interest grew, leading him to attend the UFO-Sverige national conference in Köping in 1979 with friends. This experience sparked the idea of hosting a national conference in Enköping, which was subsequently organized for 1980. The article details the organizational efforts, including securing speakers like Gösta Carlsson (the 'pollen king') and Eugen Semitjov, a well-known scientific illustrator. The 1980 conference was significant as it also marked the formation of a new UFO-Sverige organization.

In 1981, Idebring became chairman of the Enköping UFO-förening. The association actively sought a dedicated club location, eventually finding a small cottage in Ulunda. The article describes the initial state of the cottage and the subsequent renovation efforts, with assistance from the municipality for furniture. The association also participated in a local carnival with a 'Mintaka' spaceship float, using the proceeds to purchase supplies for the club.

The 1980s were a period of high activity. Study circles were initiated in 1982/1983, covering topics such as UFO detection (building UFO detectors sensitive to magnetic disturbances), astronomy, ufology, and parapsychology. The association also engaged in extensive outreach to schools and youth centers, giving presentations about UFOs. Idebring recounts a challenging experience at Sandbroskolan where a presentation was disrupted by noisy students, leading to the evacuation of the hall. In contrast, a presentation at Västerledsskolan was successful, resulting in two groups of students visiting the club's premises.

UFO-Sverige began utilizing the Enköping association's premises in 1986 for their newspaper archive and distribution. The association also launched its own member magazine, 'UFO-Allehanda,' initially produced using a spirit duplicator and later a copying machine. Idebring also contributed to UFO-Sverige by producing a newsletter called 'Lokal Information' for local groups. He served on the UFO-Sverige board, including as vice chairman.

The 1990s saw less activity, primarily consisting of occasional lectures. Economic constraints due to high advertising and speaker fees limited larger events. However, the association benefited from the continued support of speaker Anders Palm, an honorary member. The association also organized exhibitions, some specifically about their local activities, which were displayed at the library and the club premises. They also participated in events like 'Rymdfrimärkets dag' (Space Stamp Day).

Despite challenges, the association has endured. Idebring notes that the members who remain are dedicated. He expresses a sense of nostalgia upon leaving the board and chairmanship at the end of 1997, but is optimistic about the association's future, especially after merging with the Sala UFO-förening in 1997.

"UFO förföljde bilar" (UFO Chased Cars)

This section reports on UFO sightings in Australia where vehicles were reportedly chased by unidentified objects. Residents of a town in Australia had been experiencing these phenomena for over 12 years. Redaktör Max Pringle of the local newspaper noted hundreds of observations since 1967 by credible witnesses. Pringle himself saw an orange, football-shaped UFO in 1967 hovering about 150 meters above the ground, with green lights on top and red underneath. Jack Dyball recounted an incident in 1975 where a silver-grey craft chased his truck, describing it as having no wings and emitting a strong blue flame from its rear burners. Murray Beardmore reported shooting at an orange UFO with red and green lights that was flying in front of his truck in 1978. His family also witnessed a similar object and followed it in their car before it disappeared. The article is a translation from "The Worlds greatest UFO Mysteries" by Nigel Blundell and Roger Boar.

"Vårfest !!!" (Spring Festival !!!)

This is an announcement for a spring festival hosted by the Enköping-Sala UFO-förening on Saturday, May 16th, at 7:00 PM in Ulunda. The event includes a welcome drink, a nature walk with a quiz, and a collective meal. Coffee and soft drinks will be available. There will be a door prize lottery, and attendees are encouraged to bring a package for a package auction. The event is open to neighboring UFO associations and friends.

"Ivars spalt!" (Ivar's Column!)

Ivar expresses gratitude for continuing to have his column in UFO-Allehanda. He touches upon 'spring feelings' and various activities he is involved in. He mentions playing the violin with Rolf Solblad for a folk dance group, playing mini-golf and table tennis, attending a film screening, and babysitting. He also participates in a men's choir and will be exhibiting musical instruments and gramophones at a local heritage event. He notes upcoming events such as a fiddle festival and a church service. The column concludes with well wishes for a pleasant summer.

"VAD ÄR SANNING!" (WHAT IS TRUTH!)

This section discusses the challenges of UFOlogy, particularly the process of interviewing witnesses and accurately recording information. It highlights how multiple witnesses to the same event can provide different accounts. The author references an article by Håkan Ekstrand from the Sala UFO-förening magazine 'SAT-urnus' (1978) which uses a humorous anecdote about a military unit preparing for a solar eclipse. The story, passed down through several ranks (Colonel to Battalion Commander, to Platoon Leader, to Company Commander, to Sergeant, to Corporal), becomes increasingly distorted, illustrating how information can be misinterpreted or altered through transmission. The final 'rumor among the conscripts' twists the original order significantly, humorously suggesting they will 'eclipse the colonel' if it rains during the solar eclipse in the exercise house.

"RAPPORT FRÅN RIKSSTÄMMAN 1998" (REPORT FROM THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE 1998)

This report details the UFO-Sverige national conference held on April 25-26, 1998, in Björsjö and Luivika, organized by the Västerbergslagens UFO-förening. The event is described as a great success despite less-than-ideal weather. Attendees from Enköping-Sala UFO-förening included Arnold Idebring, Irene Åkersén, and Jörgen Granlie. The report mentions internal proceedings, a lunch, and surprising entertainment. A young woman presented six spheres, about a meter in diameter, and a music player was needed for her performance. The Ludvika Minicirkus performed, with young girls balancing and juggling on the spheres. Clas Svahn participated in a demonstration of balancing on a sphere. The report also notes Gudrun Andersson's traditional folk costume from Ludvika.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently emphasizes the local activities and history of the Enköping-Sala UFO-förening, highlighting member contributions and community engagement. There's a strong focus on the practical aspects of UFOlogy, including study circles, information dissemination, and the challenges of accurate reporting. The editorial stance appears to be one of dedicated amateur investigation and community building within the UFO phenomenon. The inclusion of humorous anecdotes, like the 'What is Truth?' story, suggests a lighthearted approach alongside serious reporting. The magazine also covers broader UFO topics, such as sightings in other countries and national UFO organization events.

This issue of UFO-Sveriges Rapport, dated 1999, is a Swedish-language magazine focused on UFO phenomena, ufology, and related topics. It features reports from a UFO conference, subscription information for its publication 'Rapport Nytt', and details on UFO sightings and investigations.

Conference Report: Ludvika

The magazine details a UFO-Sverige conference held in Ludvika, Sweden. The event, which took place at Kyrkskolan, attracted about a hundred people. The author, Mats Nilsson, expresses hope that this national meeting will foster a stronger and more cohesive community among UFO groups across Sweden. He also thanks VBU for organizing a successful event and Märtha from Björsjö for her work, particularly with the food.

During the conference, there were lectures and a Q&A panel where participants asked questions and engaged in debates. The author notes that UFO-Sverige appears to be a serious organization, with attendees being curious, inquisitive, and aware of the organization's commitment to serious ufology. The event included a folk dance performance by Gudrun and her dance group, followed by a brief folk dance lesson for attendees, which the author humorously describes as a chaotic but fun experience.

Rapport Nytt: Subscription and Content

The magazine promotes its publication, 'Rapport Nytt', describing it as the official magazine of Riksorganisationen UFO-Sverige. It is published six times a year and costs 120 SEK annually. 'Rapport Nytt' covers events organized by UFO-Sverige, such as lectures and exhibitions, and provides updates on media appearances related to UFOs. It also features UFO reports received by UFO-Sverige's report center, along with letters, research results, theories, and hypotheses.

UFO Sightings and Investigations

The issue mentions specific UFO sightings. One report refers to a flying object seen in Sollbrann. Another describes a UFO in Västerås as 'lysande' (shining) and observed descending slowly. The magazine encourages readers to submit their own UFO reports to the UFO-Sverige report center.

Contact Information

Contact details for UFO-Sverige are provided, including their report center phone number (011-180 200), email address ([email protected]), and website (http://www.ufo.se). The subscription details for 'Rapport Nytt' are also clearly listed, including the postgiro number.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine clearly positions itself as a platform for serious ufological research and discussion within Sweden. It emphasizes the importance of community building among UFO enthusiasts and aims to provide comprehensive coverage of UFO-related news, events, and investigations. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry and a commitment to presenting UFO phenomena in a structured and organized manner, as evidenced by the detailed reporting of the conference and the promotion of 'Rapport Nytt' as a key resource.