News
On Wednesday the 7th of December 2011 the C4 Foundation donated more than 100.000 DKK to 35 “good, charitable causes”.
The donations took place in Duus’ Vinkælder (in Jens Bangs Stonehouse), where the recipients of the donations and their companions were served the traditional Danish Christmas treat: “gløgg og æbleskiver” which is mulled wine and apple doughnuts.
For now fourteen consecutive years the Guild´s Foundation on the first Wednesday of December has distributed its donations to “social, humanitarian and cultural purposes” in the Aalborg municipality, which now also includes the former Hals and Nibe municipalities.
It has always been the policy of the Board of the Foundation to support as many “beneficent causes” as possible, which on the other hand means that the donated portions each are rather modest.
The Foundation was established in 1997 by the C4 Guild, the capital was then 500.000 DKK, which – with further transfers from the Guild and savings in accordance with the articles – now has grown to 2.000.000 DKK. The foundation is in economical respect completely independent of the Guild, though the Guild pays for all the office expenses etc.
The Board of the Foundation consists today of former Mayor Kaj Kjær (chairman), author, former Minister of Ecclesiastical Affairs Mette Madsen, Managing Director (AKKC) Ernst Trillingsgaard, Chief Bencher Niels Voss Hansen and Guild member Per Svensson, who is also administrator of the Foundation.
On Tuesday the 4th of November the Board of the Guild travelled to Oslo, where 19 new members were to be initiated.
The initiation took place in the impressive building of the Oslo Military Society. This building is situated near the ramparts of Akershus Castle, and its high-ceilinged stylish rooms provided a fine background for the initiation.
Oslo has since 1991 had a very active branch of the Guild, headed by Vice Chief Bencher Trygve Sødring.
Solvang was founded 100 years ago by Danes who had emigrated to California in USA. This is the reason why a group of some 50 citizens from Solvang - headed by their Lord Mayor Jim Richardson - has been visiting Aalborg from October 4th to October 6th. From Aalborg the group continued their Denmark tour.
46 of the guests from the group had - through Aalborg City´s Event Department - applied for initiation into Christian The Fourth´s Guild.
During the visit to Aalborg Lord Mayor Henning G. Jensen invited the guests from USA to a reception in the City´s Old Town Hall. Earlier this year Hening G. Jensen participated in the anniversary celebrations in Solvang.
The Guild has close relations to Solvang. In 1998 a group of board members from the Guild made a memorable visit to Solvang.
Photo: Jens Morten
In connection with the international Youth Games – which were held in Aalborg during the first week of August – the City Council of Aalborg asked the Christian The Fourth´s Guild to initiate into the Guild 40 young team-leaders, chosen among the 1.100 teen-agers, who took part in the Games.
After the initiation the new members of the Guild were taken on a sight-seeing tour in Aalborg’s old town.
Former Lord Mayor of Aalborg, Marius Andersen, founded in 1975 the Youth Games for 13 -15 years old girls and boys from Aalborg’s twin towns, and the Games were held for the first time the same year - of course in Aalborg – and with help from the City Council and from SIFA (the union of sports-clubs in Aalborg).
Since then there have been Youth Games every fourth year, by turn in four different cities of which one has always been Aalborg. Today Aalborg has 33 twin towns, and the 1.100 participants in the Games were this year from 23 of these cities. Most of the cities represented were European, but China and Israel had too sent delegates.
The sport activities take place in Aalborg’s different sport facilities, while other arrangements for the participants and their followers take place in the new cultural center “Nordkraft” or on Aalborg´s newly developed waterfront.
Photo:: Jens Morten
Among the many traditions in connection with the celebration of the 4th of July in Rebild and Aalborg is the initiation of new members into the Christian The Fourth´s Guild.
16 Danish-Americans, Americans and Danes were initiated this year. Among them were the American main speaker Steny Hoyer, congressman and House Democratic Majority Leader - who has Danish ancestors – the American attaché of defense Chris McDonald and his wife, the Danish youth speaker and TV-hostess Ida Wohlert and her husband.
After the initiation ceremony the whole party proceeded to the traditional tent-luncheon in Rebild Bakker, where members of the Guild’s Board contributed to the entertainment.