30th IGLD Congress in Stavanger
The IGLD Congress took place in Norway from June 13 to June 16, 2024, hosted by Grand President Brother Kay Hagby. The venue was Stavanger, a city in the southwest of Norway. Brother Urban Engström from Sweden presented the latest figures on the IGLD. We were saddened to learn that New Zealand had left the IGLD due to a lack of members. The renewed constitution of the IGLD was presented and adopted. This list sets out the tasks, procedures and guidelines of this umbrella organization. The nominated officers were then presented, replacing their predecessors who have now been in office for eight years. These are:
- Grand President Maximilian Schreindorfer (Germany)
- Grand Past President Kay Hagby (Norway)
- Grand Secretary Edgar Winter (Germany)
- Grand Treasurer Ulf Högberg (Sweden)
- Grand Vice President Australia Graeme Foulds
- Grand Vice President Denmark Jan Moosmand
- Grand Vice President Germany Hans- Jürgen Langbehn
- Grand Vice President Iceland Johann Bogason
- Grand Vice President Norway Geir-Kåre Jordheim
- Grand Vice President Sweden Anders Eriksson
- Grand Vice President Switzerland Peter Müller
- Grand Vice President USA Byron Wilson
Following the election, all participants went to the Lodge Grove, to rehearse the course of the big lodge meeting for the first time, with a further rehearsal being held on Saturday morning. Such an extensive program must run smoothly and without disruptions – this is hardly possible without agreements, a detailed ritual booklet and instructed brothers, suitable musical accompaniment and prepared ritual objects. On Saturday afternoon, the time had come: the long-awaited ceremony could begin with the induction of 102 candidates into the IGLD. In two sections, 51 brothers each entered and filled the room in front of the Druid Stone. After this ceremonial admission, the Grand Lodge of Iceland was also integrated into the ranks of the IGLD. The elected Brethren were now installed in their offices – the absent Brethren Graeme Foulds (Australia) and Hans-Jürgen Langbehn, who was ill, will be installed at a national IGLD meeting. At the end of the ceremony, the previous Grand President Kay Hagby was elevated to the rank of Grand Past President. He and the previous officers were especially thanked for their outstanding work over the past eight years. Special mention should be made of Brother Michael Stenman, who, as Director of Ceremony, managed the almost three-hour meeting from the background with his calm manner. In the early evening, all the brothers met for the final dinner. A brother from Norway acted as toastmaster for the evening. A total of four officers were given the floor. Our Grand Past President reminded everyone that the IGLD, as an umbrella organization, maintains contact with the National Druids – and that the power we have will one day come to an end. At the end of the evening, the new Grand President Maximilian Schreindorfer thanked everyone for the perfectly planned IGLD World Meeting, thanked all the former officers and wished the newly elected office bearers good luck for the next four years. He announced the next meeting for November this year in Hamburg. The next steps were determined at a final meeting on Sunday morning, after which we set off on our journey home during the course of the day. Finally, I would like to say on my own behalf that, as a “newcomer”, I am full of praise for the fraternal exchange between the presidia of the participating countries. Not only were we able to exchange ideas on an equal footing during the working sessions, but we also had lively discussions about our Order during the breaks and after the official program items were completed. The will to act among brothers in the spirit of our directives was clearly evident.
Br. Edgar Winter Grand Secretary/IGLD