CUFORN Bulletin - Vol 12 No 03 - 1991 - May-Jun

Magazine Overview

Title: CUFORN BULLETIN
Issue: Vol. 12, No. 3, May-June, 1991
Publisher: Canadian UFO Research Network, Inc.
Country: Canada
Price: $5.00

This issue of the CUFORN Bulletin is entirely devoted to the First World UFO Congress, which was held from May 3 to 7, 1991, at the Hilton Hotel in Tucson, Arizona. The cover features a photograph of the hotel and the headline "Small Crowd Attended UFO Congress."

The First World UFO Congress in Tucson

The congress, co-hosted by Wendelle C. Stevens and Pasquale Marcattilio, was expected to draw significant media attention and attendance. However, Wendelle Stevens, a retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, later reported that local media largely ignored the event, contributing to a financial deficit of $11,000. The author of the main article, Lawrence J. Fenwick (Editor of the Bulletin), was invited as one of the 30 speakers.

Speaker Presentations and Content

The congress featured a variety of speakers, though the author notes that it leaned more towards a "contactee/abductee event" rather than a purely research-oriented gathering. Many attendees were described as "New Age people," and the items for sale reflected this demographic.

Several speakers delivered presentations that were critiqued by the author. Antonio Ribera, a ufology pioneer from Europe, spoke about UMMO contacts with what the author perceived as political rhetoric and grand gestures. The author also noted issues with speaker changes and some speakers not being proficient in English, requiring translators.

Notable speakers and their topics included:

• Wendelle C. Stevens: Discussed his prediction of media attention and the subsequent lack thereof. He also tended to accept reports with minimal skepticism.
• Antonio Ribera: Spoke about UMMO contacts.
• Jorge Martin (Puerto Rico): Presented a series of abductions, genetic experimentation, and a military jet captured by a UFO, supported by videotape and photographs of a hybrid snake-bird.
• Vladimir Terziski (representing Bulgaria): Discussed experimental saucers from World War Two, referencing the book "Intercept, But Don't Shoot" and suggesting saucers were based at the South Pole and flown by the U.S.
• Colonel Robert O. Dean (U.S.A.F. retired): Spoke about his high clearance level at SHAPE headquarters in 1947 and a NATO document stating UFOs were extraterrestrial in origin, also revealing security levels above Top Secret (Cosmic and Darma Blue).
• Shirlé Klein-Carsh (Vancouver): Presented two square gold plates with unusual writing, claiming they were given to her as part of a "mission" by extraterrestrial beings.
• Christa Tilton: Described her abduction to an alien-U.S.A.F. joint underground base near Dulce, New Mexico, including a room with gray creatures and switchboards.
• Robin Quail (clinical hypnotherapist): Reported on the abduction of about 150 people from an office building in Georgia, noting 18 burned circles on the adjacent grass.
• Judy Doraty: Spoke about her abduction with her son and witnessing a cow being mutilated aboard a UFO.
• Linda Howe (television journalist): Introduced Judy Doraty.
• Anthony Dodd (former police officer, England): Spoke about a UFO crash-retrieval in South Africa, mentioning a con artist named Von Gruenen involved in the case.
• Pat Weissleader: Shared her experience of being abducted and producing a hybrid alien/human child, and encountering a being with dog-like features.
• Cory Wade: Presented on "The UFO ET/UT Timeline Enigma," copyrighted material that had been previously published.
• Omnec Onec from Venus: Presented a book about her supposed Venusian origin, which the author suspected was a hoax.

Organizational and Logistical Issues

The congress faced several logistical challenges. Wendelle Stevens' attempt at organizing the convention was marked by mistakes. For instance, the pin-on cards for attendees and speakers had silver lettering on a black background, making them difficult to read. While Stevens had arranged for speeches to be videotaped, speakers were not informed when their allotted time was up, leading many to go significantly overtime. This resulted in some speeches not being fully taped due to tape limitations. The author's own audio-visual presentation ran slightly over time, and he had to operate the slide projector himself.

The venue also changed from the Hilton Hotel to the Holiday Inn Palo Verde Plaza due to a prior commitment at the Hilton. This move, about five miles apart, caused inconvenience, and some materials were misplaced. A shuttle van service was provided between the hotels.

Other Content

The bulletin also includes sections on "Special Offers," such as the "UFO PULSE ANALYZER" and a "COMPLETE INDEX FOR 'SITUATION RED-THE UFO SIEGE'." It also details the "UFO SERVICE," an enlarged listing of worldwide UFO information sources, and announces the upcoming opening of The National UFO Museum in Reno, Nevada, in 1991.

Information on CUFORN STAFF and CONSULTANTS is provided, along with subscription rates for the Bulletin.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the challenges and experiences of organizing and attending a UFO congress, the diversity of speakers and their claims (ranging from research-based to personal contactee experiences), and the critical yet fair reporting style of the editor, Lawrence J. Fenwick. The editorial stance appears to be one of documenting UFO-related events and claims, while also offering a degree of skepticism and critical analysis, particularly regarding hoaxes or unsubstantiated claims (e.g., the Carp, Ontario case, Omnec Onec).

The issue highlights the difficulties in separating credible research from sensationalism within the ufology community. The author's personal account of "Murphy's Law" ruining his stay in Tucson underscores the chaotic nature of the event from a participant's perspective. The bulletin also serves as a promotional tool for CUFORN's services, publications, and the National UFO Museum.

This issue of the CUFORN Bulletin, dated May-June 1991, details the author's experiences at a UFO Congress. The content focuses on personal anecdotes, interactions with other speakers and attendees, and observations about the organization of the event.

Speaker Meeting and Personal Experience

The author recounts an agreement to switch speaking days with another speaker, Pinotti, to allow Pinotti to travel to New Mexico. On the evening of May 6th, a meeting of speakers was called by Stevens, which lasted until 1:30 AM. The author notes that three video cameras were present during this meeting. The author had a minor injury to their nose prior to the meeting, which they felt made them appear to have been drinking, and was concerned about being on television. Due to the location in the "wilds of Arizona," there were no drugstores available to address this.

Only half of the speakers attended the meeting. The agenda required each participant to introduce themselves, state their beliefs about UFOs, and write a question of major importance. The meeting was held in a room without air conditioning and lasted 2 1/2 hours, which the author found unconducive to clear thinking. The author's own statement focused more on journalism and family business background than ufology due to the circumstances.

Each speaker was also required to submit a 1,000-word biography for publication, which, along with their speeches, were not published. The author expresses significant dissatisfaction with the scheduling of their own speech, which was preceded by Terziski's speech that ran two hours overtime. This resulted in the author speaking at noon, a time when most people were at lunch, and the audience dwindled from about 60 people to 20 by the end of the speech, in a room that could hold 500.

The author felt compelled to introduce themselves as the standard introduction was missing. They also state that they would not attend another Congress run by Stevens, nor any Congress he organized.

Interactions and Observations

The author spent time mingling with people in the UFO field and attendees at the speeches. They found the tables where goods were sold to be interesting. The author made friends with several people, including Gary Mann, a methods engineer involved in paraphysical research from Clifton, New Jersey. The author lent Mann a camera and is unsure what to send him back as many photos did not turn out.

Several people, including Gary Mann, Jack Malin, Colonel Robert O. Dean, and Karoly Hargitai (all speakers), bought the author dinner. Paul Davids, a Bulletin subscriber from Los Angeles, also bought the author two meals.

The food at the hotels was excellent. The author also dined out at a steak restaurant with Paul Davids and at a Mexican restaurant, Pancho's, with Gary Mann.

The author spent time examining the various displays, which included booksellers like Bob Girard of Arcturus Book Service and William Hamilton III, as well as Genesis III Publications. They also met women involved in the UFO and contactee field, such as Shirle Klein-Carsh, who brought a gold tablet with odd lettering. Other notable individuals met include Brit, the wife of Lee Elders; Linda Moulton Howe; an anonymous Israeli-American lady; Gail, an abductee with whom the author had instant rapport; and Jan Goldenberg, who owns a recording company.

A wide variety of souvenirs were on sale, including yo-yos, sculptures, paintings of aliens and UFOs, pins, buttons, T-shirts, caps, audiotapes, videotapes, miniature gold pyramids, and a vibrating message table.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around personal experiences at a UFO conference, the challenges of organizing such events, and the social dynamics within the ufology community. The author's narrative highlights a critical perspective on the organization and execution of the Congress, particularly regarding scheduling and communication. There is an underlying theme of the author's journalistic background influencing their observations and reporting on the events.