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Prizes of Honour from Christian The Fourth´s Guild.
When two young students a couple of years ago moved into the 4. of May College they didn’t know much about Christian The Fourth´s Guild, but that was quickly changed when they found themselves living in respectively the Churchill-room and the Toldstrup-room, as these two rooms are sponsored by the Guild, and every year at the annual Guild meeting the occupants of these rooms are given a cheque as a supplement to their SU.
That is why Kathrine Størup Thomsen and Søren Windfeld Nielsen attended this year’s annual Guild meeting in Duus’s winecellar in Aalborg. The Guild meeting is the Guild’s general assembly, where the previous year is reviewed, and where – in accordance with the spirit of the Guild – donations are presented.
Senior p.f.c. Dennis Bødker Johansen was chosen by the Guild as “Soldier of the Year”. Ahmad Vakili got the “Prize for Initiative” for his engagement in the yearly “Days of the Middle Ages” in the local park - Kildeparken. This year’s “Aalborg Prize” went to Anders Hjulmand for his many initiatives to support art and culture in Aalborg, and the “Prize of Honour” was presented to Orla Kops for his great work for Aalborg Forsvars- og Garnisonsmuseum.
Then there was – somewhat delayed – the presenting of the Guild’s “Triplet Grant” . Kjeld and Charlotte Sten Christensen got their triplets more than a year ago, but only recently it came to the knowledge of the Guild, that Line, Maria and Magnus were born. Originally it was the custom that each of the triplets got a savings bank book, but these don’t exist anymore. But a cheque will do the same thing for the children’s savings – as chief bencher Niel s Voss Hansen remarked, when he presented the parents with the cheques.
The chief bencher was very pleased to note that 584 persons were initiated into the Guild in 2012: 385 Danes, 67 Norwegians and 132 persons from 33 different nations. The Guild having a branch in Norway is one of the reasons why so many Norwegians every year are initiated into the Guild.
The many initiations contribute to making a favourable impression on people visiting Aalborg – and they contribute to making the Guild and the Guild´s foundation able to make their donations. In December 2012 the Guild´s foundation donated about 80.000 DKK to charities and cultural and social institutions.
Foto: Jens Morten
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Normally it is the Guild (or the foundation) who are giving out the cheques, but at this year’s annual meeting in the Aalborg Kongres og Kultur Center for the shareholders of Spar Nord Bank it was the other way around: the benchers of Christian The Fourth´s Guild were summoned to the stage to receive a cheque.
"Christian The Fourth´s Guild is an organization which is making a difference in everyday life here in Aalborg – and possibly in most of the world” said director Henrik Schou, when he handed over this extra help to the work of the Guild.
The anniversary was celebrated with a reception in Duus' Winecellar.
Many members, friends and connections participated in the celebration.
Foto: Jens Morten
For the 23rd time the Guild in December 2012 heightened the spirit of a group of students - one in each of Aalborg´s colleges. They got the Guild´s Prize of Good Spirit. The colleges select among their students one who “by his/her good mood, happy disposition and positive attitude is instrumental in spreading good spirit and good friendship and thus inspire teachers and fellow students to act in a positive and more enjoyable way”
It is not because of diligence and skill - but it is very desirable if they can be combined, said chief bencher Niels Voss Hansen, when he presented one of this year’s Prize of Good Spirit. It was to Mathias Schrøder who is a student at Nørresundby Gymnasium (= college).
At the other colleges the prize - which consists of a diploma and a modest cheque - was presented by the school in connection with the celebrations at the final school day of the year.
The chief bencher said at the presentation at Nørresundby Gymnasium, that the cheque ought to be used for not too serious a purpose. The applause from the audience seemed to indicate that the hint was taken.
Photo: Jens Morten