It was an evening full of experiences. When the Benchers entered a fully occupied Duus Vinkjælder. As tradition dictates, this is the annual Guild Assembly, where many members take the opportunity to visit the Guild.
After the benchers had taken their seats, there was time to quench “our thirst first.” Subsequently, the chief bencher Niels Voss Hansen welcomed everyone to this year's Guild Assembly, as well as the induction of new members. Former chief of emergency services Jørgen Petersen was proposed as the chairman for the Guild Assembly, and then he took over and conducted the meeting, addressing the eight items on the agenda. As usual, the chief bencher had to get used to someone else taking control. The chairman conducted the Guild Assembly, and all presents were informed about the Guild's activities, finances, and there were also re-elections for the chief bencher, treasurer, cellar master, scrivener, and auditor.
During the event, awards were also presented to two young people from 4th May College in Aalborg, who received a token of appreciation to brighten their lives. The chief bencher concluded the Guild Assembly and urged the assembly to give the chairman a big round of applause for successfully conducting the meeting.
After that, we proceeded with the induction of eight new members into the Guild. They were initiated into the Guild's rules, including becoming members under the current king, His Majesty King Frederick the Tenth. The new members also learned about the history and activities of the Guild and took the obligatory walk through the old and new Aalborg, where they were shown the secret entrance and tested that the key provided to the door worked. Back in the cellar, the new members were introduced to the traditional drink, mead, and everyone managed to keep it down.
Next, it was time to celebrate with the new members, so the Guild's splendid dinner was served. However, the chief bencher made it clear to the guests that the delightful "potato juice" awaiting them should not be touched until given the green light from the head table. The Guild's two troubadours made sure the guests learned the songs in the Guild's songbook. This was accompanied by stories about the good relations between the Scandinavian countries, examples of the "harmful effects of alcohol," and notably the story about the Norwegian bishop.
As it is customary during inductions, the benchers paradoxically leave the company at its peak, and so it was on this day as well.
On this evening, the chief bencher also took the opportunity to award the Guild's gold medal to fund administrator Jens-Christian Schmidt. He has been a longstanding member of the board and has held various positions of trust in the Guild over the years, including fund administrator, scrivener, vice chief bencher, and more. In awarding the gold medal, the chief bencher highlighted Jens-Christian Schmidt's always meticulous work with the tasks entrusted to him. His problem-solving approach to tasks, and especially his meticulous care for them. All these qualities have benefited the Guild of Christian IV, and this is clearly the reason for awarding the Guild's Gold Medal to Jens-Christian Schmidt. The awarding of the gold medal was met with great applause, especially from the bencher, who clearly expressed that the award was well-deserved.
See the pictures here
Photo: Private