Our club's history
A look back 40 years of Bengt Nordblom
During the winter and spring of 1981/82, the district governor – Lars Stenbäck, a resident of Bankeryd and a member of LC Habo/Bankeryd – carried out a project that he thought was urgent. He believed that it should be possible to create a Lions Club in Bankeryd.
As the man of action Lars is, he gathered interested men in Bankeryd on a couple of occasions to get information about Lions activities in general as well as what it meant to be a member of a Lions club. They gathered at the Lillgården restaurant here in Bankeryd. He naturally hoped that there would be an interest among those invited to form a new Lions club.
In his enthusiastic and informative manner, Lars also managed to obtain the necessary documentation – 21 interested people – to register a new Lions club at the international office in Oak Brook, USA.
Lars was certainly happy that his initiative had created so much interest and that a new club could thus be formed. However, the idea was not to divide the old Bankeryd/Habo club but to create a new one from scratch. The concept could also have been that the two clubs could have a lot in common and also meet in noble competition in different contexts.
Lions Club Bankeryd was born on March 22, 1982.
Jan Öhnell was appointed as the club's first president – charter president. It was an excellent choice and under his eminent leadership our club was able to get off to a “flying start”. Jan was a very creative and enterprising person and he managed to get everyone on board from the very beginning. It is certainly not easy to get the business started in a brand new club and to get the business on the “right” track. Of course, we had good help during the first year from our “guiding lion” Lars Stenbäck as well as from Bernth Jirvén, who had been a member of LC Vetlanda for a number of years and was thus able to bring ideas etc. from that club's activities. We also received great support from the Habo club.
The cohesion was fantastic from the start and we were all motivated to do well. We quickly felt that we were part of a big Lion family and that we were a good fit for its ideas and ideals.
First club meeting
Our first club meeting was held at Sjöåkra Kursgård on May 14, 1982. There were 15 (of the 21 members) who had the opportunity to participate. At that time of year, spring – or perhaps you could say early summer – was in “full swing”. It felt wonderful to gather on the terrace with all the new friends and raise a glass and feel that what Lars had talked about was true, namely the three Ts – meet, enjoy and serve. Now we at least fulfilled the first two in abundance!
Before we began our first club meeting, as the minutes state, we were treated to “a piece of delicious steak with the accompanying attributes, all under pleasant glam.” Yes, those of us who were there can certainly still feel the anticipation in the air about what would happen in the future as a member of a Lions Club.
We had a lot to discuss. It involved planning our charter party. Where would it be, who would be invited, what program would we have, etc. When we decided, the tasks were divided and we all got involved in something in different ways.
A first board of directors also had to be elected and it was given the following composition for the fiscal year 1982/83.
Jan Öhnell, LP
Bengt Nordblom, VLP
Bernth Jirvén, Secretary
Owe Hedin, Cashier
Christer Rickman, Club Champion
Lennart Wennblom, Tail Twister
Lars Nilsson, Director
It was a wonderful group, who under the gentle leadership of our “guiding Lion” Lars, would get the newly launched ship moving in the coming year. Both the new board and other members really wanted to show that the Lions Club in Bankeryd was a worthy member of the new family.
Charter ceremony and charter party were held on June 12, 1982
We started the evening with a Charter Ceremony in Bankeryd Church in the presence of many guests from near and far. It's not every day that a new Lions club is started.
The celebration was framed by beautiful music. The ceremonial speech was given by the district governor Lars Stenbäck, who in his capacity as our “guiding Lion” was better suited than anyone for this task. This was followed by an induction into the Lion community for the 21 charter members, who took the Lion Pledge and listened to the Lions’ ethics and purposes. The following were the first members of the club.
Ander, Björn Hjort, Orvar Martinsson, Gunder
Centerhed, Christer Holfelt, Jörgen Nilsson, Lars
Dunberg, Torbjörn Isaksson, Lars Nordblom, Bengt
Frennert, Hans Jirvén, Bernth Rickman, Christer
Hallin, Curt Johansson, Christer Suneson, Hans
Hedenborn, Berndt Carlsson, Jan Wennblom, Lennart
Hedin, Owe Lindh, Hans Öhnell, Jan
The charter party was held at Sjöåkra kursgård in Bankeryd. There were a total of about 80 of us, who had a festive dinner, listened to many speeches, witnessed the presentation of gifts from neighboring clubs, zones, etc. (including the Lion flag, the Lion bell and TT's lion) and drank various toasts to Lions Club Bankeryd, Lions' ideas, to pay tribute to the speakers and each other. There were certainly many other reasons to raise your glass.
The evening and parts of the night passed in a very convivial atmosphere and with dancing to a lovely orchestra – all while the rain poured down outside the windows. Club master Christer Rickman made sure that everyone had a good time and that the glasses never really ran out. He has probably felt strongly about the club mastership more or less ever since and has always been keen that everyone has a good time. He has told many stories – usually not entirely true!
Writing a chronicle of the club's now 40-year history requires a certain amount of courage (so that you don't forget anything important) in addition to good reading skills, good nerves, time to collect older documents and other documents (thanks Sören!) and preferably your own "remember". It can be noted that some things are missing. We who have been secretaries, among others, have probably not spent too much time saving the documents and above all have not thought about placing them in the club's archives - which, to be honest, have not existed for more than barely half the club's lifetime. Well, the reader of this document may well supplement it by scooping from his own rich stash, and those who cannot do so may well - after all - be satisfied with what the author has managed to achieve. It should still give the reader a certain idea of the Lions Club in Bankeryd and its 40 years so far. So enjoy! However, I must admit that I have had great help from Sören Lindgren, who has his papers in order and also has them well organized by year! Such help is hard to do without. Thank you, Sören!
Club meetings
The backbone of the operation is of course the club meetings. If these work well and the members enjoy themselves, there will be many participants at these. This also creates the best conditions for the club's overall operations to be good. A great commitment from the members provides the best foundation for us to succeed with our operations and with the various activities we carry out. These also create a basis for us to be able to reach the goals for our relief activities that we continuously set.
The club has not had access to its own premises. During the first few years we mostly held our meetings at Sjöåkra kursgård. It worked out great and we mostly had the “whole house” to ourselves. Eventually the kursgård also had several other activities on Friday evenings and we were therefore referred to a smaller meeting room. This meant that we tried to solve the premises issue in another way.
At first we had ambitious plans for our own premises. Through Christer Rickman's mediation, we received an offer to prepare such premises at Elajo (now CM-el). It would cost the club 50,000 kronor from the AD fund – that is, our own club funds. Many long discussions were held at a number of club meetings before we decided that the issue of our own premises was not yet fully mature. In the late 1980s, the issue of our own premises came up again. Now it was Domsand's boat club that would build new premises. We appointed a committee that studied this alternative as well as others – including an expansion of the ski lodge at Nyarpsbacken. However, due to lack of funds, these various proposals had to be rejected and today we are "houseless" – which is better than headless!
Over the years we have had our club meetings in many different places. Something that has been appreciated has been the workplace visits we have made. It has given an insight into the everyday work of many club members and has also enriched us in terms of knowledge. So it is not only a shame not to have our own club premises. Among other things, we have made much appreciated "visits" to the eye clinic at Ryhov Hospital, Stohne Elteknik, Ahlins in Habo, the Swedish Board of Agriculture (today the Swedish Board of Agriculture) A6, ALMI, PdB, Kinnarps Arena, Scandinavian Photo, KAFA Guldindustri, the heating plant in Torsvik, Arla Dairy in Jönköping, Rudenstam's fruit growing in Gisebo, Jönköping University, the Swedish Road Administration on the A6, the National Audit Office, Almnäs Bruk in Hjo, Profiduct AB in Bankeryd, Granbäcks Gård in Bankeryd, Östrand and Hansen in Bankeryd, Labbarps Gård, etc. Unfortunately, this type of visit has been a bit less frequent in recent years. Perhaps something for the program committee to think about now that we have increased the number of members and thus also "gained access to" more workplaces.
A review of the meeting minutes for the past 40 years shows that of the approximately 450 club meetings we have had, we have been to over 50 different places. Among the more unusual places are the Sheraton Hotel in Malmö, Falbygdens Ost in Falköping and on board the boat Monsun of Singapore (which at the time had Domsand as its home port (!) and was owned by club member Måns Suneson), on a bus on the way to Vetlanda, Toppstugan in Taberg, the Riksbank in Jönköping, Vadstena, Almnäs Bruk in Hjo, Galleri Smedbyn in Huskvarna, in the thousand-year-old judges' rings at Röde Påle in Taberg on the way to Ladies Night in Angerdshestra, on Öland, on Orust, on Visingsö, on the island of Ven in Öresund and on Granbäcks Gård in Bankeryd.
In order to make even better decisions, our member Göran Pedersen presented us with a self-made chairman's gavel made of Masurian birch in 2014. It has since been used to confirm many valuable positions!
During the first 10-year period, we primarily had Sjöåkra course yard as a regular home port, and over the past three decades, Nyarpsstugan has been given a similar task. We have used this for most of the year's club meetings. Another well-frequented place has been Hembygdsstugan here in Bankeryd. Here, we already had a very appreciated and successful crayfish meeting in the autumn of 1983. In fact, it was so successful that we have returned for the same purpose in September every year since then. It is always a memorable evening (although not everyone may remember everything exactly - but other participants are happy to be reminded later!!) and a good start to a new working year. LP has been able to develop their thoughts and ideas for "their period" here. These crayfish meetings are also very special for the reason that it is the time of year when the club's members are largely on bicycles. Some have also come home with a "new" bicycle, probably to the dismay of some family member who has kindly lent them their vehicle.
At the crayfish platter, the “presidential palm” is also presented, which has been cared for for a year and is now being passed on to the newly elected president. In all honesty, it must be said that the tree has had different lengths and shapes over the years – probably not only due to more or less careful care, and it has also often been difficult to document its authenticity. But the florist trade must also live! One year it was noted that the palm was the height of 4.5 champagne glasses, another that it was suffering from a lack of water. The tradition has given many reasons for funny comments about how well the responsibility for the plant has been managed. It is easy to see that many different variations of a palm have been presented over the years. The presidency does not mean that the holder has been chosen because of special knowledge in plant cultivation!
The club master naturally has a tough job of feeding the whole gang at each location and making sure that no one gets a dry mouth and has difficulty speaking. A silent Lion club does not accomplish great deeds! To make things easier for the club master, Lasse Isaksson manufactured portable equipment early in the club's history that, in addition to the all-important bar (sometimes called the field pharmacy), also handles all the other props needed for a successful club meeting. It was put into use at the September meeting in 1983 when we had our first crayfish platter in Hembygdsgården. The equipment thus received a real baptism of fire. It has been used at every meeting since then and works just as well today!
For many years we have had food-loving and skilled chefs in the club championship – an important prerequisite for the food to be “produced on site”. On some of the industrial visits the menu has mostly been of the “catering” type, while on many other occasions it has offered real highlights. One such was when we visited Dagab on Österängen and Lars Isaksson was given free rein to compose and cook a festive meal. His “sea bass Walarska (Sic!)” is still fondly remembered by those who participated then.
Others have been the fantastic Christmas tables that have been served at Vidablick for more than 15 years after the club meeting "upstairs" and the Lucia procession from school, often led by music teacher Maria Erlandsson. Imagine that a number of gentlemen can create such a professional table with all the (!) Christmas delicacies. I think it also impresses all our lady Lions. This party is certainly a good basis for all the food experiences that Christmas offers later! In recent years, a wonderful Christmas table has been laid out by a suitable catering company - and that's not so bad!
Another much-appreciated dining experience has been the barbecue evenings at Skeppargården in Jönköping. A lovely evening like that in the smell of the barbecue and among happy friends is unforgettable! In recent years, the dining experiences have been further refined and now both French and Italian menus are often enjoyed accompanied by suitable wines. It is certainly not so easy to be a club master today. The demands have increased!
We have also had many good pea soup and goulash soup cooks, pancake bakers, bread bakers, etc. in the club.
For the past 10+ years, at every club meeting we have enjoyed a delicious three-course menu designed and prepared by a close-knit club team. Superlatives usually rain down after the meals. Kudos to you!
For a long series of years, the fiscal year has ended in June with a lovely barbecue evening in B-O Hulting's garden in Trollebo - with a lovely view of Lake Vättern - at the entrance to Jönköping from the Bankerydshållet. Here we have also been able to enjoy lovely music performed on saxophone etc. by the young people in the "Rickman Brothers".
For a time, various participants were sometimes allowed to help prepare the meal at the club meeting. The following can be read in the minutes of the April 1998 meeting about the meal, which consisted of old man's mess, chicken fillet, orange rice and coffee. Often there is also some competitive element included in the task. "The judge was in a very good mood and allowed himself to be tasted and bribed/fed. Everyone was deeply involved and succeeded really well. However, the orange pieces were somewhat voluminous but beautifully processed. The chicken took time and the old men who stirred were hotter than the mess. Only the judge could manage the score calculation, control was completely pointless, everyone was happy, however, and after everything was eaten, those present were forced to switch to liquid nutrition, whereby the club championship felt increasing concern about the risk of being allowed to stay open late, as no one seemed to be in a hurry to get home. So everything was once again very successful!".
As all Lady Lions realize, we are not suffering from a shortage – or for that matter a drought – at our club meetings. We have tried to demonstrate this at our Ladies Nights, but not only there. In recent years, we have had the goal of having our Lady Lions at about half of the club meetings. A good goal, not least in light of the fact that we have our meetings on Friday nights. In the early years, we discussed a lot about which night we should hold our meetings. There are of course both advantages and disadvantages to having them on a Friday night. In some cases, someone has taken this as a consequence and left the club. However, during the last 20 years, the question of changing the day has not been an issue. After 400 meetings, the “second Friday of the month” can be considered well established as a Lions night. In recent years, however, the question of meeting day and time has become relevant in connection with our once again raising the issue of the “need for” new members. We will see what happens in the future when and where we should hold our meetings.
During 2021-22, we have purposefully discussed the club's operations and its future. This is not least in light of the high average age among members. The situation is similar in many clubs throughout Lions Sweden. We realize the importance of delving into the subject if the club is to have the opportunity to survive – and also have the opportunity to celebrate several even birthdays in the coming years!
If you look at the participation rate across all meetings since May 1982, it has been around 75%. That is a good figure that certainly holds up in an “international” comparison. There are of course also some low points with participation as low as only 26% at a January meeting in 1997 and one of 30% in June 2008 – otherwise the maximum is just over 90%.
We don't have many people who have the opportunity to have 100% attendance every year. This is probably due to the fact that many people travel a lot for work and when Friday night comes, they choose to prioritize their family. I think that's a good priority! There are exceptions, however. The most important one is – as I was saying so many times before – Lars Stenbäck. During his time at the club, we have celebrated many milestones with his 100% attendance. Most people probably remember him – although there are exceptions! At the time of his passing in 2022, Lasse had been a Lion member for over 60 years and had held most – if not all? – of the functions a Lion member can have in Sweden – everything from regular club member to chairman of the council of governors, GRO! Guess if the club is proud of such a member!
You can imagine that a club meeting can look very different in different clubs. We have designed ours with both enjoyment and the opportunity to increase knowledge in mind. In addition to what we learned on the workplace visits, we have sometimes gone above and beyond by inviting a guest. Examples include Ingemar Boman who talked about the project with the newly planned A6 shopping center, Curt Lundmark (then coach in HV 71, later in Tre Kronor and as an expert commentator on TV) who talked about how to get an ice hockey team to accomplish great deeds, Maria Sargren about the UN and a Lion trip to Peru, Göran Åberg about street names in Bankeryd and not least all the visits we have had from our scholarship holders, who talked about their camp experiences in, among other places, Italy. Another appreciated visit was when a butcher from Scan taught us – and our ladies – how to butcher a pig. In more recent history, mention can be made of Britt-Marie Weidby's information about childhood diabetes, Björn Söderberg about a newly started project on paper manufacturing in Nepal, Lions' water and maternity care project in Tanzania, Urban Planning Director Helena Agerman's interesting information about "The Railway in Jönköping today and tomorrow", not to mention a few years ago when Lion member Leif Njord from Nossebro informed about the Lions project in Turkey to help refugees from Syria, where he and his wife are involved, and other interesting program items.
Before the club meeting in January 2004, Christer Rickman invited us to his summer residence at Granarpssjön near Taberg. He offered us an outdoor bath in his large wooden barrel. This was difficult for the club championship to refuse. To be on the safe side, we went to a “test meeting” a few weeks in advance to try out the bath. It turned out to be a complete success and the opportunity to also take a dip in the lake was taken advantage of by Bengt Nordblom and Hans Suneson, who heroically dipped by passing through the thin ice cover on the lake! The minutes from the monthly meeting recorded “bathing in a barrel under the open sky while a magical moonlight plays on snow-covered fir trees and pine trees”. For many years we had the privilege of having the first club meeting of the year at Christer’s and enjoying the bath in the barrel, where the drink floated around on cork trays. Truly an experience beyond the ordinary! Thank you Christer – and Monica!
Another club meeting that sticks in my memory is when we had the opportunity to try air rifle shooting under the guidance of Olympic gold medalist Jonas Edman, who lives in Bankeryd. Hans Suneson was the one who best controlled his competition nerves and shot 89 points out of a possible 100. Did he have special training?
We have also competed in bowling and another time we had a Go-kart competition out in Torsvik. Curt Hallin was the fastest there.
Ever since the club was founded, Ladies Night has been a big and important event. We have tried to hold these in slightly different locations. We have been to the Match Company staff canteen several times as long as it was still there, at Torps farm in Bankeryd, Domsands boat club, Sjöåkragården, etc. One year we ate a whole roast pig and had fighting games outside in Angerdshestra and another a much-appreciated afternoon and evening at Åsens culture farm in Haurida. According to the staff, they had never held an event with such happy – and nice – participants. Could it be because the field pharmacy was reinforced for the day?!
At the initiative of Curt Hallin, among others, a new tradition was started in 2008 by moving Ladies Night (from 2009 we will instead talk about Party Nights, as we now also have a female member) to a foreign location – and then the islands were chosen. We started with an “asparagus weekend” on Öland, where an asparagus school was offered in how this delicacy is grown, but also in the evening a wonderful dinner where this lovely vegetable was the center of attention. The beautiful weather also invited other activities such as golfing, flower walks, etc.
The tradition of Party Nights has since continued at Tofta Sjögård on Orust, on Visingsö and on Ven. In May 2012 we went to Falkängen at Hällekis. What does this latter place have to do with islands? Well, we visited Kållandsö in Vänern with Läckö Castle etc. So no departure from the fine tradition! The tradition of Party Nights has continued and we have been to Västervik, Daftö outside Strömstad, Varberg and Gothenburg.
In recent years, these events have been replaced by trips. We have visited Ulricehamn and "Gårdarna runt sjön", Växjö with the emigrant and glass museums, among other places. In the anniversary year 2022, the trip will go to Tranås, Stjärneberg and Gränna. At the same time, the club's 40th anniversary will be celebrated!
Enough about club meetings and the first two Ts – meet and have fun. Now we move on to the third – namely serve.
For the first two Ts to have real meaning, a club master with a sense for making club meetings also culinary attractive is required. This has now been really successful for many years! It requires both good organization and good cooking skills to offer a homemade three-course menu at every club meeting in Nyarpsstugan.
At the beginning of 2020, the country was hit by a Corona virus infection that spread and became a pandemic. This resulted in various restrictions on contact between people. For the Lions Club, this resulted in both board and club meetings having to take place digitally for long periods. Many activities, such as Easter parties and Christmas and spring markets, had to be cancelled. It was not until the spring of 2022 that there were more lasting relief and activities and the rest of society could return to more traditional activities. Great! Of course, our fundraising activities were also negatively affected by the society's lockdown.
Activities
A Lions club's outward appearance is its activities. We have also tried to implement these to the best of our ability. It is always a balance of requests for different activities, the ambitions of the Lions, etc., and the personal and time opportunities we have to complete an activity. Many times, in our zeal to complete set fundraising goals, we may have had a little too many activities. There have also been some disagreements in the ranks. But for the most part, we have been in complete agreement about the efforts.
There were many worthy causes for which we could use our funds. We heard a lot about eye care in India, the Lions Research Fund against common diseases, drug control and prevention in our own country, and in recent years also a lot about Lions Quest, as well as many other important projects. So there was every reason to find good sources of income early on.
At one of the club's first meetings, we had a brainstorming session to come up with ideas. There was no shortage of ideas and the newly formed activities committee had a lot to think about. They decided to try to implement a Christmas and a spring activity the first year.
In a new club, there is no tradition to fall back on – well, perhaps one in our case. LC Habo/Bankeryd had been selling Christmas trees for many years and we decided in the first year that we would try to do the same.
At first, for example, we had difficulty finding a way to get hold of Christmas trees. There were suggestions about clearing power line streets and planting for later harvest, begging forest owners, etc. However, we soon got in touch with the Swedish Land Administration's Christmas tree department and were then able to buy what we needed for many years. The trees were not always completely "room-clean", but they were generally acceptable.
For many club members, the sales day in December became a festive day when they had to convince all the critical tree buyers – and there were plenty of them – that “this particular tree” was the best. Some also experienced the Christmas tree sales during an extra day when we went around and sold directly to the companies in Bankeryd.
The Christmas tree sales the first year gave a net profit of 1837 kronor after we counted out the unsold trees. There were also some. This result stood until some time later Orvar Hjort turned the shoulder bag he had been using as a wallet inside out. Here was another 1900 kronor!! In a single stroke, the profit doubled to 3 737 kronor.
For many years now, we have handed over the spruce contract to the Bankeryd scouts and in exchange we were given the responsibility of selling Christmas sheaves. This was a valued tradition for several years. We also made very well-fed and fine sheaves ourselves. A special “sheaf making machine” was made for this purpose. For some reason, the birds now have to look for their food elsewhere. We no longer have this activity.
A Christmas activity naturally also includes a Christmas market. This had been arranged by the merchants for many years in connection with the Sign Sunday. The first year we participated with a couple of lotteries, which we sold from stalls we borrowed from the Habo club. The net proceeds were 1 548 kronor.
In total, after the club's first six months, we now had just over 5 000 kronor in AK funds. It was a wonderful feeling! We were very proud and now we could also discuss how we could best participate in the relief work that is the main goal of Lions.
In the spring of the first year, we then held a Pentecost market together with the merchants, where we had both a lottery stand and a chocolate wheel. The net proceeds were 7,611 kronor.
It was around the Christmas and spring markets that we concentrated our major fundraising activities over the years. These have naturally become bigger and better over time and the net has also increased. For a number of years, however, we have concentrated on the Christmas activities as our main recurring source of income.
For many years – 1986 – we have had our own nice stalls (together with LC Jönköping), designed by our own architect Bernth Jirvén. We have had several lotteries alongside the ever popular chocolate wheel. The latter usually spins non-stop all afternoon to the delight of both old and young. Early on, a very special tradition was also introduced, namely the production and sale of crackling apples. For many, it has become an absolute necessity to eat such an apple to know/feel that Christmas is approaching. The production was led by a special “general” (always Lars Stenbäck) with a whole brigade of apple polishers, crackling cooks, stick setters, etc., etc. We have sold upwards of 8-900 crackling apples every year. There is then a noble competition between the apples and the chocolate wheel to see which activity gives the greatest dividends. Usually the apples are slightly ahead. However, it has happened that the chocolate wheel has won. Then a recalculation of the income is always demanded!
In connection with the Christmas market, we have for many years collected used glasses, which after being reviewed at the optician's school in Borensberg, were sent to those in need in various developing countries. In a report on the activity, it was stated that the glasses collection was very successful – 4,000 glasses, which have increased significantly in recent years, as well as two stray cats!!
In the run-up to Christmas and our Christmas market, an advertising pillar was introduced in 1997 at the entrance from Kortebovägen to the “center”. It has since also been supplemented with an illuminated Santa Claus sitting at the top of the pillar. It has become a nice Christmas symbol and also brings in many valuable thousands of kronor to our AK-kassa. Over the years, the Santa Claus has had to be replaced by a younger version. It is not easy to be on duty 24/7 for a month or so – that takes its toll! It was also on an “excursion” to Habo for a year, where it was found in relatively undamaged form! Since the start, this activity has brought in around 1 million kronor.
At the suggestion of Bengt Nordblom, we introduced a Christmas card lottery from Christmas 1983, where we sell these primarily to the companies in Bankeryd. It has become a good activity in terms of income and I believe also for the companies, who use the Christmas cards/lotteries in connection with Christmas greetings to employees or customers. Since B-O Hulting became a member of the club a few years after the start, the entire arrangement has been well computerized and with relatively small contributions from a few club members it is launched every year. This activity has continued every year and now you can win increasingly sophisticated electronic devices. At Christmas 2016/17 we broke a record in the number of Christmas cards sold - about 2000! In recent years we have exceeded this level. There may be an opportunity to reach even higher numbers in the future.
The club has also participated in the spring market in May every year. At first, the Lions were responsible for this and it was called the Lions Spring Market and was organized in collaboration with the merchant association. At one time, a funfair was hired to set up where the parish hall parking lot is today, but unfortunately it rained that day. At another spring market, we had entertainment from the Brothers Djup, who were popular at the time.
In recent years, the merchants have had a leading role in organizing the market and we have had our chocolate wheel and some lottery booths. It is important – not least from a PR point of view – that we are present at these events, where in addition to the merchants, many associations participate.
For many years, we have participated "for compensation" in the implementation of "Logpoint Torsvik's" activity for employees of the various companies in the area in early autumn.
In connection with the celebration of Bankeryd's 700th anniversary in 2015, the spring market was even more expanded. The Lions Club, in collaboration with the Business Association – Bankeryds Business Network, BBN and the artists' association Dymlingarna, started the Penselfestivalen project with exhibitions at around 15 companies as well as in the Parish Hall. This activity has also taken place in collaboration with Smålands Musik och Teater, who have participated in various ways. This activity has such "values" that it can become a recurring tradition, even if it now in 2022 unfortunately has to be cancelled due to insufficient interest from "exhibiting companies".
Over the years, we have also participated in a few music/concert events with varied financial results - in some cases even at a loss.
The club has of course participated in joint activities with other clubs in the zone. This has included lottery sales for several years at Västra Torget in the late 1990s to raise funds for a handicap trip each year. Lottery sales have also taken place on the A 6. On a couple of occasions we organised an anchor race in the canal in Jönköping between Vättern and Munksjön. The first time the wind and the ducks together turned out uncontrollably in Munksjön and a small armada of rowers then got to do some duck hunting! I think the Notarius Publicus was allowed to choose the winner of the car, which was the highest prize. However, the activity yielded a net prize of 250,000 kronor. A second attempt was made a year or so later, in 1999. A gross prize of 900,000 kronor was calculated and the prize was 230,000 kronor. Not a bad net prize, but optimism is high at the beginning and the work effort is also very significant for all participating clubs. For quite a few years now, both the disabled trip and the anchorage have ceased. We used to be seven different Lions clubs in the zone. Times have changed and today there are only three of these left – Huskvarna, Bankeryd and Habo. Unfortunately, no major zone activities are possible today.
However, within our own club we have carried out several different activities to increase the AK funds. Erik Nilsson is a creative man. Under his leadership, one year we manufactured a number of nice flower boxes ourselves, which we then raffled off. Another year we were able - with the help of sponsorship from three companies affiliated with the club - to manufacture very nice sets of aluminum candlesticks in a design developed by Erik himself (we were able to use existing aluminum profiles), which were then sold to companies etc. to be used as Christmas gifts. These two projects have been one-off in nature. A very successful, long-standing and still ongoing concept from Erik is collection boxes for deposit receipts when bottles and cans are returned. Such boxes are now set up in shops in Bankeryd, Habo and Jönköping. This has been going on for several years and has yielded close to 10,000 kronor annually in income for the activity fund. So far, this has brought in more than 150,000 kronor!
In connection with various major natural disasters, we have participated in various Lions activities. For example, during the tsunami at Christmas 2004/05, our club was able to provide 50,000 kronor to help those affected.
In the spring of 2011, a major project was carried out within the zone where we had engaged Cirkus Skratt. Through sponsorship funds from several companies, the project was able to be carried out with a profit of approximately SEK 60,000, which went to the Children's Diabetes Foundation. The "Clean Water" project in Tanzania received funds through Lions' involvement within the framework of the World's Children and in which our club also participated.
Since the beginning of 2011 and 2012, for 20 kronor – today increased to at least double – we have collected “used” Christmas trees here in Bankeryd and handed them over for destruction – an activity that initially brought in about 5,000 kronor annually. The activity has continued and in January 2017 more than 400 trees were collected and it gave just over 23,000 kronor in income, including after increasing to 40 kronor. We have noticed that many people really appreciate the initiative as in many cases we receive a 100-kronor note per tree and even once 500 kronor! Today the activity gives more than 30,000 kronor annually
For a few years – with interruptions during the Corona pandemic – we have had an “Easter Fair” on the square in Bankeryd on Maundy Thursday, mainly for children, with various playful activities such as decorating an Easter tree erected in the middle of the square, but also lotteries and on some occasions also a flea market in Handelsbanken’s former premises at the square. As a PR, we have also handed out feathered Easter baskets.
The Lions Club in Jönköping carried out the appreciated activity with “Jönköpings Lucia” for many years. The club has now ceased to exist and the club in Bankeryd has taken over the baton for a few years. The activity includes Lucia visits to various companies as well as a Lucia coronation and concert in Kristine Church in Jönköping – all very much appreciated!
It has not been possible to make an exact calculation of the funds collected in recent years – incomplete notes in the minutes, lack of certain accounts, etc. However, it can be estimated that we in our club have collected a low estimate of 4.5 - 5 million kronor, which has been used in various aid projects decided by the club. I think this is a brilliant result and I am sure that these funds have been put into good hands and to very important aid projects both locally, nationally and internationally. We should really be proud of what we have been able to achieve!
Our club, together with the zone's clubs, has also been responsible for an international youth camp "Wettern Camp" in 2003, held at Sjöåkra Kursgård in Bankeryd, with the participation of 26 young people from 16 countries - and with Marie and Rolf Lövkvist as camp parents 24 hours a day for two weeks! and the Lions National Convention 2007 at Elmia with approximately 1000 participants. In both cases, our club had the main responsibility for the arrangements.
At the 2018 youth camp in Skåne for two weeks, Inger Glader from our club, as a highly regarded chef, was responsible for the food.
What have we used the activity materials for?
Of course, it is not possible to list all the different aid projects we have supported during the club's 40-year history. However, I will touch on a few.
Bankeryd/local
A very important effort was for many years the tradition of informing the graduating classes of the high school in Attarpsskolan about drug issues. It has always felt very important to spread knowledge about these issues to our young people, so that they do not start using drugs. The Lion movement has also for many years carried out a project called Lions-Quest. It is aimed primarily at teachers and deals specifically with drug problems, etc. Our club has contributed to many teachers at our schools having the opportunity to participate in the training provided in the Lions-Quest program at our expense. It has also been important to support this activity.
Almost every year since the club's inception and for quite a few years now, we have been able to send a couple of young people from the graduating class at Attarpsskolan to an international youth camp for 2-3 weeks. The vast majority have been in Italy, but we have also had camp participants in Germany, Denmark and Norway, among others. Today, we instead award youth scholarships to two students in the graduating class at Attarpsskolan every year.
Another long -standing tradition has been to send one or some pensioners to a community week at Tallnäs Stiftsgård outside Skillingaryd. It has been easy to notice what it means to get home and during a few summer days get to "enjoy life" at the beautiful diocese together with peers from all over the county. For several years we have also been able to organize one -day excursions for pensioners at Ekåsen's elderly housing, but also contributed with funds to otherwise create activities for these people. This has felt very important and we have been able to feel that this has been a great pleasure for these old people. Such activities are important and we have been able to offer coffee with entertainment both at Hembygdsgården and in the garden at Ekåsen's elderly. This is an activity that is equally urgent today.
A few years ago, we also donated five “roller bags” to the Ekåsen nursing home to be used when taking someone out in a wheelchair during the non-summer season. It was a much appreciated gift.
In recent years, we have awarded a much-appreciated scholarship to various youth organizations operating in Bankeryd, as well as youth leadership scholarships. We have also, for several years, in collaboration with Bankeryds Sportklubb, BSK, implemented and sponsored a football activity for younger girls' and boys' teams.
National
Here we have made contributions to the Lions Research Fund, the Childhood Cancer Fund, the Childhood Diabetes Fund, national youth camps, disability aids, etc. Previously, the joint zone activity was mentioned when we organized an anchor race in Jönköping. Here, the funds have gone to the Childhood Diabetes Fund, among other things.
We have participated on several occasions in Red Feather activities as well as in the Children of the World as well as in the implementation of fundraising activities during major natural disasters such as the tsunami in Southeast Asia in the winter of 2004/05 and the earthquake in Haiti a few years ago. In this case, the multiple district was able to contribute a large number of disaster tents. This has become a very important and urgent task and our club contributes funds for a couple of such tents annually. In cooperation with the Swedish Emergency Management Agency (MSB), Swedish Lions can make a very valuable contribution in various disaster areas.
Internationally
An important Lion activity for many years has been called “Sight First” and concerned cataract surgeries. This effort has primarily affected India. Mobile eye camps have been set up here, where such surgeries have been carried out. Through our institutions within the Lion movement, hundreds of thousands of people have regained their sight and several million people have been prevented from becoming blind through various preventive efforts. Thus, an extremely humanitarian effort that has brought joy to many people. It therefore feels extra important to be able to participate in such an activity, which is now many years old but is still just as relevant.
.We have also been able to make contributions to, among other things, a hospital in the Amazon, where Sweden has made a major contribution. Other countries where we have been active are the Baltic states, Poland and Romania. In the latter country, Lion has had a school project, Casa Minunata, for many years. Incidentally, our club had its own aid shipment to Poland quite a few years ago.
We have also supported other international projects to some extent. An important contribution has been to make contributions to LCIF, which is the international Lions movement's disaster relief fund for rapid assistance to people in real need. It is an important part of the international community's rapid response when needed in various types of disasters around the world. In connection with the club awarding a so-called "Melwin Jones Fellowship", which is the finest award a Lion member can receive, to a deserving person, 1000 US dollars is also paid to LCIF.
Since the mid-2000s, a project of sorts has been underway in Nepal, at the initiative of LC Huskvarna, where funds go to a school for a three-year training of young girls to become seamstresses, so that they can then return to their home villages and earn a living through sewing. The training also includes several more general education subjects. Several of our club members are also sponsors of one of these girls, and in recent years the club has also allocated funds to the project as well as to the sponsorship activities. Our own club member Hans Suneson was in Nepal for a number of weeks in the fall of 2011 to volunteer to help with the overhaul and repair of the school building, among other things. We have supported this important and successful project every year.
Our club has also in recent years provided a significant amount of support to the Lions' Clean Water Project in Tanzania. Contributions have also been made to a refugee project in Turkey.
Recently, we have participated in the nationwide project Children of the World, where we have had a gun collection in the center of Bankeryd.
Members
When the club started in 1982, we had 21 members. In 40 years, natural changes occur. New members are added and some leave for various reasons, including moving from the town. A number of the club's members have passed away - Erling Carlsson in 1991, Bertil Nilsson in 2001, Anders Höglin and Göran Pedersen in 2020, Gunnar Hulting in 2021, as well as - our "guiding lion" and the initiator of the club's formation in 1982 - Lars Stenbäck and Bertil Widek in 2022. We remember them with great respect for their contributions to our club and to Lions activities in general. In the spring of 2022, the club's charter president Jan Öhnell, who had long ago moved from Bankeryd, then to Ekerum on Öland but had been a resident of Karlskrona for many years at the time of his passing, also passed away.
The club has slowly increased its membership in larger or usually smaller leaps. A couple of years ago we had 41 members, which is the largest number in the club's 40-year history.
A milestone was when in January 2009 we were able to welcome Christina Löfström Bark as a new member, but who has unfortunately now left the club. Today, however, we have another female member, Inger Glader – but we are happy to welcome many, many more!
Today the club has 33 members.
The average age of club members is now just over 75 years old. We are not unique in Lion-Sweden with this situation. In recent years, many clubs have been forced to close their operations due to the advanced age of their members.
An important task for our club is to further activate ourselves to bring in more younger members - otherwise there is a great risk - or even imminent - that we will meet the same fate as many other clubs that have ceased to exist today. THIS MUST NOT HAPPEN! Intensive work is underway to prevent this from happening to LC Bankeryd.
A heavy burden falls on the shoulders of the Lion president every year. He is the one who must ensure that the activities are carried out according to the plans made. Of course, you cannot do all the work yourself, but have "unrestricted power" to order the club members to carry out the work in the various working groups etc. that are appointed.
In September 1996, the first discussion was held about using new technology to disseminate information within the club. However, it took a few years before it became the standard way of disseminating information to club members. Today, e-mail is used for notices, minutes, etc., which has of course made it much easier for the secretary, treasurer, activity leader, club captain, etc. Now everyone is updated and can easily follow all the club's activities as well as receive both national and international updates on various Lions activities, etc.
After 25 years since the introduction of email broadcasts, this feels completely natural. New technology is also used today to disseminate information through Facebook and other digital channels. What could come next?
In the 40 years since the club was founded, the following have been presidents:
1982/83 Öhnell,Jan charterpresident 2002/03 Ejdeblad, Olof
1983/84 Nordblom, Bengt 2003/04 Nilsson, Lars-Göran
1984/85 Martinsson, Gunder 2004/05 Centerhed, Christer
1985/86 Nilsson, Lars 2005/06 Hulting, Bernt-Olle
1986/87 Isaksson, Lars 2006/07 Rickman, Christer
1987/88 Suneson, Hans 2007/08 Höglin, Anders
1988/89 Jirvén, Bernth 2008/09 Fälth, Jan-Erik
1989/90 Rickman,Christer 2009/10 Gustafsson, Bertil
1990/91 Centerhed, Christer 2010/11 Stenbäck, Lars
1991/92 Stenbäck,Lars 2011/12 Svensson, Bengt
1992/93 Dunberg, Torbjörn 2012/13 Ejdeblad, Olof
1993/94 Johansson, Christer 2013/14 Lövkvist, Rolf
1994/95 Lindgren, Sören 2014/15 Stenholm, Bo
1995/96 Nähl, Arne 2015/16 Ejdeblad, Olof
1996/97 Gustafsson, Bertil 2016/17 Wennefors, Per-Ola
1997/98 Lövkvist, Rolf 2017/18 Danielsson, Bertil
1998/99 Johansson. Torsten 2018/19 Stenholm,Bo
1999/00 Rosén, Håkan 2019/20 Svensson, Bengt
2000/01 Wallin, Bo 2020/21 Ejdeblad ,Olof
2001/02 Svensson, Bengt 2021/22 Svensson,Erik
Lions Clubs International Foundation's recognition for humanitarian service can be bestowed upon individuals. The Melwin Jones Fellowship (MJF) is held by the following club members:
Stenbäck, Lars 1991
Nilsson, Bertil 1994
Rickman, Christer 1994
Nähl, Arne 1997
Hagström, Torbjörn 2001
Nilsson, Eric 2001
Lövkvist, Rolf 2004
Nordblom, Bengt 2004
Ejdeblad, Olof 2006
Nilsson, Eilert 2008
Dunberg, Torbjörn 2010
Hans Suneson 2012
Hulting, Bernt-Olle 2013
Pedersen, Göran 2013
Lindgren, Sören 2015
Svensson, Bengt 2015
Bo Stenholm 2020
A person who is already an MJF can become a Progressive Melvin Jones Fellow. In our club, this award has been given to the following members
Nordblom, Bengt 2007
Olof Ejdeblad 2010
Nilsson, Eric 2012
Ejdeblad, Olof 2012
Stenbäck, Lars 2013
We at the club are proud of these club members' extensive efforts in accordance with the Lions ideals. They are well deserving of their awards!
There are also two of the club's members who have been district governors (DG), namely Lars Stenbäck in 1981/82, when he was the "guiding lion" for our newly started club, and Olof Ejdeblad, in 2009/10. Lars Stenbäck has also been the chairman of the council of governors, GRO, in 1992/93.
Rounding
It goes without saying that a review of such a long period as 40 years of the club's history does not allow for an account of everything that has happened. My own memory has also largely had to replace meager meeting minutes – and that can sometimes be difficult. If something does not match reality, it must be corrected and improved for the next time a historical review is to be made.
It is of course my hope that the club's archives will become more complete and that those club members who have important club documents in their stash will leave them to our archives. Perhaps the club should appoint someone to be responsible for the archives. Over time, the number of members who have the "full memory picture" clear since the club's formation also decreases.
Finally, I hope that reading these lines has provided a moment of relaxation and that the document has described the club's activities in a reasonably accurate way during the first 40 years.
I now wish you a GOOD CONTINUATION with many wonderful and active years for LC Bankeryd.
Bankeryd in March 2022
Bengt Nordblom
