UFO Lokal Information - 1986 1

Magazine Overview

This document is the first issue of 'Lokal Information' for 1986, published by UFO-Sweden and compiled by the Enköpings-UFO-förening. It serves as an internal bulletin for local UFO groups across Sweden.

Editorial Content and Articles

Introduction and Editorial Stance

The editorial, likely written by Arnold Idebring, acknowledges the first issue of 'Lokal Information' for 1986, noting that while the concept of a member magazine was conceived in Stockholm in 1984, its implementation has been challenging. The editor expresses a desire to improve the publication and encourages submissions. They also address inquiries about the cost of producing more copies for local groups, stating that a response from UFO-Sweden is pending.

UFO-Sweden Initiatives

The issue mentions a 'Budkavle' (relay race) organized by Malmö UFO-Jour to raise funds for UFO-Sweden's public outreach activities, including film packages and exhibitions. The relay started on January 20th, and results will be reported. Readers are urged to keep the 'Budkavle' moving.

Upcoming Events

The annual meeting ('Riksstämma') is announced to be held in Östersund. Preparations are reportedly going well, with the Swedish Railways (SJ) offering a 30% discount on travel for participants.

UFO-Z Östersund's Appeal

UFO-Z Östersund is seeking information on how many local UFO groups utilize shortwave radio for communication, with the aim of exchanging programs via cassettes. They provide a contact number for this purpose.

Membership and Data Collection

There is a broader appeal for information regarding the number of local UFO groups (estimated at 20) and their total membership. The publication requests local groups to fill out a coupon with details about their board members, total members, and the number of female members. A lottery will be held among the respondents, with the drawing at the Riksstämma in Östersund.

Planning Conference in Enköping

Enköpings UFO-förening is hosting its first planning conference on Saturday, March 15th, at 10 AM. Attendees are welcome to arrive on Friday for overnight stays. Those unable to attend but with ideas are encouraged to submit them in writing. Directions to the club's meeting hall are provided, along with contact information.

UFO Expo in Köping

Köpings UFO-förening is organizing a UFO exhibition in conjunction with the 'Schele jubileet' festival, running from May 21st to August 17th. The exhibition will be held at Sporthallen and costs 10 SEK to enter.

Stockholm UFO-förening Report (1985)

A section details the activities of Stockholms UFO-förening in 1985. The organization experienced financial difficulties, with results being 'equal to zero' and the economy being strained. Despite applying for funds for investigation equipment, their applications were not granted without clear justification. They are seeking to improve their follow-up on funding applications.

Reported UFO Cases (Stockholm 1985)

Two significant UFO cases from Stockholm in 1985 are highlighted:

1. August 30th: A man near Bromma airport observed three unusual clouds from which approximately 30 small, wing- or boomerang-shaped objects emerged and moved erratically for about 40 minutes. The case remains unexplained.
2. December 7th: A member, Louise Schager, and her family observed a yellow-orange light near Åkersberga for about 2 minutes. Her husband, a pilot, confirmed it was not a regular aircraft light. This case is classified as a 'night light' and is also unexplained.

Other reported phenomena were attributed to inversion effects and Soviet rocket launches.

Activities and Future Focus

Stockholms UFO-förening considers its activities in 1985 to be acceptable given its limited resources. The board has decided to focus more on investigations and less on public information events like lectures, due to a lack of active members. They suggest that local radio might be a more effective means of information dissemination in the future.

'Jag Skäller I Dag På' (I Bark Today On) - A Critical Commentary

This section, written by Ulf Ekstedt, expresses frustration with the lack of engagement and follow-through from many local UFO groups and active members. Ekstedt criticizes the passive approach, questioning the purpose of the organization if basic tasks are not completed. He highlights the recent change in reporting procedures, where IFO (Identified Flying Object) reports were to be submitted on a simple form. Despite clear instructions, only 28 out of 134 field researchers and local groups submitted the form. Ekstedt notes that some 'old' field researchers, not typically active, did submit the form, while many 'active' members did not. He expresses the significant extra effort required to contact the remaining 106 individuals to ensure the new system functions. He also points out that a previous request for contact persons in each local group received responses from only half of the groups, including some known to be active.

Ekstedt emphasizes that his critique is not an attack but a plea for more active participation and commitment from everyone involved, stating that if the organization is to progress, all members must contribute.

Financial Situation

Ekstedt further elaborates on the financial strain on UFO-Sweden, noting that phone bills for contacting groups are becoming expensive. He reiterates that the organization's finances are dire ('körd i botten') and questions the allocation of resources.

Conclusion of Commentary

Ekstedt concludes by stating his willingness to dedicate his free time to meaningful work for UFO-Sweden but not to tasks that involve constant reminders to uninterested individuals. He hopes his comments will spur action and improvement.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the operational challenges and financial realities of UFO organizations in Sweden. There's a strong emphasis on the need for better reporting, increased member participation, and more efficient use of limited resources. The editorial stance, particularly from Ulf Ekstedt, is one of critical encouragement, urging members and local groups to take more responsibility and actively contribute to the organization's goals. The publication also serves as a platform for announcing events and sharing information relevant to the UFO community in Sweden.

This issue of 'UFO' magazine, dated May 1986, focuses on the upcoming UFO RIKSSTÄMMA (National Meeting) in Östersund and includes various reports from UFO organizations and investigations.

UFO RIKSSTÄMMA Östersund Program

The main event is the national meeting on Saturday, May 3, 1986, held at Parkskolan in Östersund. The day begins with internal proceedings for selected members and delegates at 10:00 AM. After a lunch break, the meeting resumes at 1:30 PM with a welcome from UFO-Z Östersund and the Östersund municipality. Christer Nordin, chairman of UFO-Sverige, will officially open the 1986 national meeting. The program includes:

• 14:00: Jüri Lina presents on 'UFO behind the Iron Curtain'.
• 15:00: Anders Palm discusses 'The future is already here - frozen people and ray guns'.
• 16:00: A video film about the Hessdalen Project is shown.
• 17:00: Leif Havik speaks on 'The Hessdalen phenomena and more'.

Each presentation is followed by a break. The day concludes with a panel debate at 6:00 PM, where attendees can ask questions, including written ones submitted during the breaks. The meeting is scheduled to end around 8:00 PM.

Pre-registration requires a payment of 20 SEK to UFO-Z Östersund's postgiro account by April 15th. Accommodation can be arranged upon request, with details to be provided on the payment slip. Participants are reminded to keep their receipt as a ticket. Additionally, participants can receive a 30% discount on train travel to and from Östersund from SJ (Swedish State Railways) for conferences in 1986, in honor of Östersund's 200th anniversary.

Enköpings UFO-förening Activity Report 1985

The report details the activities of the Enköpings UFO-förening for the calendar year 1985. The board consisted of Arnold Idebring (Chairman), Ivar Karlsson (Treasurer), Anita Andersson (Secretary), Lars Brundin (Vice Chairman), and Lennart Eriksson (Vice Secretary), with Bertil Medin and Joakim Eriksson as deputies. The association had 61 paying members, with 20 active. They held three general meetings and the board met five times. The association engaged in outreach activities, showing films and giving talks at three youth centers and once at Humelsta school for 60 students. They also provided activities for two groups from Västerledsskolan and another group of twenty students. They participated in a Rotary meeting and organized an end-of-year party with a flea market and lectures by Carl-Anton Mattson and Jüri Lina, a crayfish party, and a Christmas party with sketches. A themed evening with the Enköpings Spiritualists was also held. Net proceeds from the 1984 Christmas party were placed in a fund for UFO-Sverige to finance an informational film, managed by Enköpings UFO-för.

Educational activities included the completion of a study circle on 'Ancient Technology' and the start of a new circle on 'UFO-logy: UFO - A Fantastic Reality'. A field research course in Lersäter was completed by five people. The UFO-reporter section documented seven reported UFO cases, three of which were classified as IFO (Identified Flying Object), with all reports forwarded to the central reporting office. Two cases gained attention from local newspapers. The member magazine 'Ufo Allehanda' was published four times, and 'UFO-Sveriges Lokal Information' also had four issues. The association sent six representatives to the national meeting in Gävle and four to a planning conference in Björsjö. Five members attended an air show in Borlänge. The association also collaborated with three other organizations to create a new traveling exhibition for UFO-Sverige. They participated in flea markets for fundraising. The report concludes positively, noting increased activities and hoping for further growth in 1986, with a stable membership, especially among students who receive free membership for a year. The UFO question remains unresolved, but the goal for 1986 is to prove the existence of UFOs to the scientific community.

Future plans mentioned include the continuation of a study circle, work on the traveling exhibition, and an event on May 10th with Håkan Blomkvist discussing his research. On May 31st, they planned to participate in a carnival in town for fundraising.

UFO-Sverige Board Meeting Minutes

Minutes from a UFO-Sverige board meeting on February 1, 1986, held at 2:00 PM. Attendees included Karl-olov Pettersson, Mats Nilsson, Christer Nordin, Håkan Ekstrand, and Roger Ersson. The agenda was set, and the previous meeting's minutes were approved. The minutes from a planning conference in Björsjö (October 26, 1985) were reviewed. The board commented on the profit from national meetings, suggesting profits should go to the organizing local group, with UFO-Sverige being reimbursed for any prior financial support. They viewed it positively if organizers could achieve financial gain from their initiatives. The proposal for a national lottery was to be further investigated at the next planning conference. Regarding press clippings, a comprehensive copying service was deemed too expensive and impractical. However, the board agreed that local chapters should receive the most important articles, which would be published in the 'Intern-tidningen'. The field research training, originally planned for spring, was difficult due to the dense event schedule and would be attempted earlier in the fall, possibly late August. The spring planning conference was scheduled for March 15th in Enköping. The board noted that the economy was slowly stabilizing but maintained a strict approach. A letter from AFU regarding membership was discussed; AFU did not intend to seek membership in the national organization due to differing views on how to handle UFO phenomena. Contact would be made with the traveling exhibition project group. UFO-Sverige had accepted an invitation to participate in the Moramässan from April 23-27, securing a booth. Odd Gunnar Røed was to attend a UFO conference in Leeds on March 22nd to speak about UFO-Sverige and Norway, and the Project Hessdalen. The board decided to contribute 1000 SEK towards his travel and accommodation expenses. The meeting concluded with thanks from the chairman.

Report from Norrbotten

This report addresses the need for a new issue of 'Lokal Information' and provides an update from the Norrbotten region. The year 1985 was generally quiet regarding UFO activity. However, on January 6th, near Kangosfors, a witness named Leif Gunnelbrand reported seeing a rectangular object descend slowly, emitting a bright light like the sun, and stopping just above the ground. A blue cloud formed, and blue light sources were visible between the trees. The event lasted about 20 minutes, and other witnesses observed the latter part. Despite investigations by UFO enthusiasts and inquiries with local authorities (F21 in Luleå, police in Pajala, Milostaben Ö.N. in Boden), no explanation was found, and the authorities' passivity was noted. A UFO report was compiled and sent to the central reporting office, with a copy sent to Milostaben for further inquiry. The report mentions that Kiruna municipality invited participation in the inauguration of a new cultural center in October, for which the local UFO group offered an exhibition, film, and information. They hoped a new UFO-Sverige film would be ready by then. An observation evening was held to witness the launch of Sweden's first satellite, the Ariadne rocket, via live TV broadcast from Africa. The launch was successful, and the report notes that Ulf Östergren, a member, is involved in the control of the Viking and Spot satellites at the ESRANGE space base.

Målilla Crater Investigation

This section details the investigation of a crater-like hole in Bodaskogarna, Målilla. Military experts from the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOA), along with geologists and researchers, examined the site. Laboratory technician Sture Wickerts from FOA confirmed the presence of a metallic object at the bottom of the approximately four-meter-deep hole, which was filled with water and mud. The hole, about three meters in diameter, was difficult to pump dry due to the thick liquid. Wickerts speculated it might be related to a meteor observed on July 5th. FOA planned further research, possibly using a grab loader or a vacuum truck to retrieve the object. The article also mentions a subsequent report stating that the hole had been filled in, and no meteor or other object was found after weeks of work by FOA, the geological survey, and researchers from Lund.

Information from the Central Group

This section provides information from the central group regarding the upcoming national meeting and membership fees. It reminds members that motions for the national meeting must be submitted at least one month prior to the event (April 3rd). The annual fee to UFO-Sverige, due in February, has seen only five local groups pay so far. The fee remains 160 SEK plus 1 SEK per member. A grace period is given, requiring payment before the end of March. A new local group, Siljansringens UFO-grupp, based in Rättvik, is welcomed.

Intern-Tidningen (Internal Magazine)

This section appears to be an excerpt from an internal newsletter, discussing the distribution of a new UFO-Sverige magazine. It mentions that the content is primarily from UFO-Sverige and that the cost of producing more copies is unknown. It also notes that the local UFO-förening in Enköping is interested in receiving the magazine. The section also mentions a planned debate on UFOs being an illusion or reality, scheduled for May 14th, involving ufologists, skeptics, scientists, and media representatives. An observation evening is also planned for May 31st in Akalla and Norsborg.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently covers UFO sightings, investigations, and the activities of various UFO organizations in Sweden. There's a focus on scientific and official investigations, such as those conducted by FOA, alongside reports from amateur researchers and enthusiasts. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry into the UFO phenomenon, aiming to gather evidence and foster discussion within the community and with the public. The publication also highlights the organizational aspects of the UFO movement in Sweden, including national meetings, local chapter activities, and fundraising efforts.