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The budding economic recovery combined with good investment advisers is why Christian The Fourth´s Guild´s Foundation in 2014 has had a yield of approximately 100,000 DKK for social, humanitarian and cultural activities in Aalborg municipality and the immediate neighbourhood.
“ We want to spread our donations as wide as possible and help as many as possible. That is why we also this year donate many – but more modest portions” said the Foundation´s chairman, former mayor Kaj Kjær, when he according to tradition in December distributed a lot of checks during a gathering with mulled wine and apple dumplings in Duus´ Wine-cellar in Jens Bangs Stenhus. This is also the meeting place for Christian The Fourth´s Guild and the Foundations capital comes from the Guild´s work and from the many members of the Guild from all over the world.
28 organizations, societies and a few single persons each got a check during the meeting in Duus´ Winecellar. Earlier in the year six specific projects were supported with money which was necessary here and now.
“ And we have as usual in particular considered “ the voluntary, unpaid work which is being of benefit to the less privileged groups in our society” as it is stated in the statutes of the Guild” said Kaj Kjær.
Those who received the donations are a very mixed crowd and among them are: Foreningen HjerneSagen i Aalborg, Støtteforeningen Kamillus på KamilianerGaardens Hospice, De frivillige på Aalborg Universitetshospital, Foreningen Familier med kræftramte børn and Dansk Røde Kors´ Besøgstjeneste. But also for example Aalborg Miniby, foreningen Obel-pigerne, Aalborg Studenterrevy, Aalborg Mandskor and Center for Dansk Jazzhistorie. In this instance the money will support the second volume of the History of Jazz in Aalborg.
Aalborg Mandskor has 95 years anniversary in 2015. The choir sings free of charge in rest homes and activity centers in the whole region – that’s why the choir received a check to cover some of the choir´s expenses.
Aalborg Jægerklubs Blæsere also received a grant, and three of the hunting horn players thanked for the donation by blowing a couple of hunting signals. The hunting horn players bring medals – mostly gold - and trophies back from hunting horn competitions in for instance Switzerland and Germany. The Foundation humbly asks if it would not be a good idea to arrange an European competition in Aalborg in the near future?
The board of the Foundation consists of – besides Kaj Kjær – of former minister for ecclesiastical matters Mette Madsen, managing director (AKKC) Ernst Trillingsgaard, the Guild´s chief bencher Niels Voss Hansen and the administrator of the Foundation, Per Svensson.
Photo: Fini Ryming
A little before Christmas time in the middle of December two young students got a surprise when they received the Guilds Prize of Good Spirit. A modest check followed the prize.
“Aalborg is a merry city and we all have to look at the bright side of life – and in that respect the check may help” said the Guild´s chief bencher Niels Voss Hansen when he presented the diplomas and the checks – first to Mikkel Siesgaard Hansen, Aalborg Studenterkursus, and later to Lisa Helene Skov, Agri College Aalborg.
Mikkel Siesgaard Hansen got the diploma and the check in a pause in the assembly hall at Aalborg Studenterkursus, and Lisa Helene Skov received her diploma and check in the canteen in Aalborg Zoo where she is a trainee, and where she hopes to become a keeper.
The annual Prizes of Good Spirit from the Guild are given to students who “with their good humor, cheerfulness and a positive disposition has added to the good spirit at their places and thereby been an inspiration for comrades and teachers to function in a positive and cheerful way.
. “ It is not necessarily because of diligence or efficiency – but of course these qualities are no obstacles” said the Niels Voss Hansen at the two presentations. It is the 25th time the Guild presents the prizes which are given to a student on each of Aalborg´s high schools and similar educational places. Every year some of the benchers show up at one or two of the institutions with the guild troubadour and all the trimmings. At the other places the prizes are presented by the head of the institution, usually during the Christmas celebration.
The prizes cannot be applied for but are given to a student selected by the institution´s management. “And it is because the prizes cannot be applied for, that they are special” said the chief bencher, and advised the students to use the check as it was meant – maybe something more funny than text books.
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Photo: Fini Ryming
They didn´t know each other until in the early morning on Saturday the first of November, but since then they have been in contact by phone or text message at least once every day.
Their first meeting was under rather unusual circumstances. 19-year old Anders Neve Enggaard rescued 39-year old Henrik Thomsen from drowning in Aalborg Harbor.
Henrik Thomsen was accidentally driving his car into the harbor basin close to the harbor stairs and the “Honnørkaj”, where there are no traffic signs and no barriers. At the same time Anders Neve Enggaard was driving along on the near-by coast road. He heard the splash and saw a glimpse of Henrik Thomsens car as it went into the harbor basin. Anders Neve Enggaard resolutely jumped into the water and got Henrik Thomsen out of his sinking car.
Since then they have been close and it seemed only natural to Anders Neve Enggaard to bring Henrik Thomsen when he was summoned to the Guild to receive its prize for his heroic deed.
- We are not in a position to donate a substantial sum but when we are able to give a pat on the shoulder and a little money for maybe a good dinner then life will be a little funnier and more cozy, said chief bencher Niels Voss Hansen.
Anders Neve Enggaard and Henrik Thomsen will both be invited to participate in the next Guild meeting where they will be initiated into the Guild.
Photo:
Chief bencher Niels Voss Hansen presents a modest check to Anders Neve Enggaard while Henrik Thomsen and some of the benchers look on.
Photo: Jens Morten
The American ambassador to Denmark, Rufus Gifford, just had time for a cup of coffee in a café before the initiation into Christian the Fourth´s Guild started in Duus´ Vinkjælder in Aalborg. And he was happy for that cup of coffee because he – like the other Guild members-to-be – had to sit with an empty glass until the end of the ceremony, while the benchers often raised their glasses and called out: “Our Thirst First”.
The ambassador was initiated along with other prominent persons at the Rebild festivities: the two head-speakers, Maersk CEO Nils Smedegaard Andersen and photo-model Malene Belafonte together with their spouses. The American military attaché to Denmark, Michael Wise, and the host of the Rebild festivities, Mayor of Rebild, Leon Sebbelin, also became members of the Guild.
One of the persons to be initiated was not present in the Vinkjælder, but this was according to plan: 97 years old Esben Christensen, who is living in Portland, Maine USA, was initiated “in absentia” represented by his son, Thomas Christensen. Esben Christensens parents emigrated to USA in 1914 – a couple of years before Esben was born. Esben is as a former soldier in the 82nd Airborne Division and is a veteran from D-day in 1944, and he served the rest of the war in Europe.
His nephew is Egon Hygum Thomsen who from 1995 to 1997 was technical chief at Airstation Aalborg. He was at that time made a member of the Guild, and he has now facilitated the initiation of the old veteran – even if he could not be there in person. His son, Thomas Christensen, who now is also initiated into the Guild, considers himself a genuine Danish-American. He proudly says: “My grandparents were Danish, all four of them”.
Photo: Jens Morten og Fini Ryming
“Good Danish company, sunshine, beer & “snaps” in sufficient quantities – and at fantastic prices!” That was the comments from around 80 contented Norwegians, all members of C4’s Norwegian branch, who were in town to attend the initiation into the C4 of the 15 of them who were not already members of the Guild here.
The Norwegian board of benchers accompanied them, led by the vice-chief-bencher Helge Qvigstad. It is a tradition that the very active Norwegian branch every summer visits us here in Aalborg, where also new members are initiated into the Guild in the traditional way in Duus’s Winecellar.
Until the initiation starts, and the members to-be have had their little walk around the tree, they will have only their empty glasses to stare at, while the benchers several times will cry out the toast: “Our Thirst First”.
Such is the tradition, which the Guild still follows, as the Guild still observes, what was written down in big letters when it was founded in 1942: “The Guild should always create a friendly meeting-place for optimistic citizens”. It all seems to agree with the Norwegians, since 80 to 100 of them every year come to visit the Guild in Aalborg.
Later in the year our benchers will travel to Oslo, where there also will be an initiation of Norwegians into the Guild.
P.t. the Guild has about 7700 members worldwide from 124 different nations.
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Photo: Fini Ryming