The Corona pandemic has certainly restricted the
life and activities for everyone on this planet. The UFO-Sweden 50 years
anniversary has been postponed until Autumn and all meetings and social
gatherings have been cancelled. We are all more or less quarantined in our
homes. No big problem for an introverted, retired librarian like me, but a melancholy
blues for most people. To cheer up and give some consolation to, especially
Swedish, ufologists in these troubled times, join me in a memorable journey in time to
the UFO-Sweden annual meeting 2010.
This year we celebrated the UFO-Sweden 40 years anniversary
and my book on the history of UFO-Sweden was published. The annual meetings are
arranged in different cities and 2010 we had chosen the charming, old city
Kalmar, situated in the southern east coast of Sweden.
The date for the annual meeting 2010 was Saturday, May
22, but already on Friday everything had to be packed and transported to
Kalmar. Mats Nilsson and Håkan Estrand had a tough job cramming old and heavy
computers, models and exhibition screens into a cart. Clas Svahn picked me up
by car at Norrköping and we joined the UFO-Sweden board and members at the
Jenny Nyström School in Kalmar, to build the exhibition and check all
facilities. After a couple of hours heavy work the UFO-Sweden gang checked in
at First Hotel Witt for some rest and later dinner.
The UFO-Sweden gang at the Jenny Nyström School, Kalmar
Gunnar Karlsson building the exhibition
Joining UFO-Sweden can be quite an experience in
several ways. New active members Anders
Berglund and Amanda Fredriksson soon became a couple in the organization and
today they are married and have three children.
Amanda Fredriksson and Anders Berglund
By ten o´clock on Saturday 19 members from 9 local
units gathered for the annual meeting, where Clas Svahn was re-elected as
UFO-Sweden chairman. Saturday started with wonderful sunshine and 25 degrees
Celsius, making us all wonder whether there would be any visitors at the public
lectures and exhibition. We feared the worst when no one had showed up just
before Expo opening at one o´clock. But soon people started coming and some 80+
tickets were sold during the day.
Tage Bång and Amanda Fredriksson selling tickets
Clas Svahn and I lectured during the expo. My talk
was called Aliens on Earth, presenting results from many years of study of the
contactee enigma. Clas lectured on Secret Swedish UFO reports, giving insights
into his extensive research of the formerly classified Swedish reports in
military archives. Both lectures were well attended with many questions and
signing of books. It is always fascinating to mingle with Expo visitors to hear
comments and often also receiving new data on UFO observations. The ”close
encounter” at the annual expo is an excellent way to get new cases for
investigation.
Lecturing on the contactee enigma
Clas Svahn lecturing on declassified UFO reports
Clas Svahn and Tobias Lindgren
Carl-Anton Mattsson selling books
Around six o´clock it was time to dismantle the
exhibition and loading everything in the transport cart. After some rest at the
hotel it was time for the traditional UFO-Sweden dinner. This time at the
Italian Ernesto Ristorante. As usual the dinner was excellent and the
UFO-Sweden gang left happy and pleased for a stroll to the hotel in the warm
Spring evening.
Håkan Ekstrand, Amanda Fredriksson and Tora Greve at the restaurant
The UFO-Sweden gang strolling to the hotel after dinner
At the hotel we gathered in one of the rooms for
chatting and socializing. By a funny coincidence Mats Nilsson and Gunnar
Karlsson had been placed in a very large hotel room, actually the wedding
suite. This proved to be a perfect place for our late socializing and small
talk. Clas Svahn played famous songs and music on his lap top and everybody had
a real good time.
Håkan Ekstrand and Clas Svahn at the hotel room
Clas Svahn and Amanda Fredriksson
Mats Nilsson sometimes has a tendency to fall asleep
during these late night sessions. Same proceedure this year. When he woke up
the room was empty and Gunnar Karlsson was sleeping peacefully. It was time for
Mats to go to bed - for real this time.
Mats Nilsson sleeping. Tobias Lindgren trying a practical joke. To the right Amanda Fredriksson
Carl-Anton Mattson and Roger Ersson with donated UFO documents
