FUFOR - 1984 Q2 - Quarterly Report Apr-Jun

Magazine Overview

This document is the Quarterly Report from the Fund for UFO Research Inc., covering the period of April to June 1984. It details the organization's activities, financial status, and ongoing projects.

Activities and Projects

Advertising Campaign for 'Clear Intent'

During this quarter, the Fund launched a large-scale advertising campaign for 'Clear Intent'. This involved mailing a letter and an offer to purchase the book to 5,000 readers of 'Fate' magazine and 5,000 readers of 'Omni' magazine. The recipients were randomly selected from the magazines' mailing lists. The results of this initial mailing have been disappointing, and the Fund hopes that a forthcoming publicity campaign will increase the number of orders.

Psychological Study of Abduction Cases

The Clamar-Hopkins-Bloecher psychological study of abduction cases, completed in the previous quarter, is currently under review. It is expected to be available for purchase from the Fund in late Fall of the current year. A considerably shortened version will be published by the Center for UFO Studies in a forthcoming issue. The Fund plans to sell 'Clear Intent' once it becomes available, with an estimated date of early July. Those who have already paid are asked for patience. Preparations are being made for a press conference at the Pentagon when Larry Fawcett, co-author of 'Clear Intent', visits the Washington area in late July.

Dr. Winkler's Report

The Fund is currently selling copies of Dr. Winkler's report, which covers collected pre-1947 sightings and includes his astronomical analysis.

MUFON Sponsorship and Dedication

The Fund will sponsor Richard Hall at the July MUFON meeting. The 1984 MUFON Conference Proceedings are being dedicated to Mr. Hall in recognition of his significant contributions to scientific ufology. He previously served as the editor of the MUFON Journal for many years.

Canadian Government UFO Documents

The Executive Committee has voted to purchase copies of Canadian government UFO documents as they become available. Stanton Friedman will be receiving heretofore unavailable documents in response to a series of Canadian FOIA requests. The Fund will make these documents available for purchase.

UFONET Computer Project

The UFONET Computer Project has been operating continuously. However, it has proven to be considerably more expensive than initially estimated by INFOMEDIA Corp. The Fund is charged $60 per hour ($1 per minute) for connect time to the central computer. While the initial estimate suggested investigators would connect for about ten minutes per month, leading to a charge of about $10/month, the actual costs are higher. Telephone connect charges are additional but currently run at about 1/10 of the connect time charge. The cost could increase significantly if a UFO flap occurs and a large number of reports are transferred. With only one investigator per state, the cost per month could be fifty times greater, or $500/month, even without a flap.

Financial Concerns and Alternatives

The Fund cannot sustain this continuous expenditure without an increase in donations. Several alternatives are being considered: (1) soliciting special donations for the computer network; (2) charging participants a flat rate of approximately $10/month, with the Fund covering additional costs caused by a flap; (3) negotiating a charge reduction with INFOMEDIA; (4) locating another central computer service with lower charges; and (5) setting up the Fund's own computer with a 24-hour phone service for receiving calls. The last option is considered the most expensive initially but the most cost-effective in the long run. The Fund is also seeking donations or a low-cost megabyte system capable of handling UFONET.

Participants in UFONET are asked to inform the Fund if they are willing to pay for their own connect time, and at what level (all or part of the charges, or a flat rate).

Treasurer's Report

As of the end of the 2nd Quarter, total assets were $7,167.32. Expenses totaled $3,142.77, and income was $2,369.33, resulting in a net loss of $773.44.

The Fund appeals for modest contributions of $5 or $10 from each contributor to overcome its present financial difficulty and continue providing quality scientific research.

In Memoriam: Isabel Davis

Isabel Davis, a member of the Executive Committee, passed away on June 19. The Fund honored her membership. She was active in ufology from the early 1950s, was a member of Civilian Saucer Intelligence in New York City, and served as Executive Assistant to Donald Keyhoe at NICAP in the late 1960s. She was also a member of MUFON and is known for her investigation of the Kelly-Hopkinsville creature sighting. A publication detailing this investigation is available from the Center for UFO Studies. The Executive Committee is considering establishing a special 'Lifetime Achievement' award to be awarded periodically in her name and requests contributions from those who knew her.

Order Information

An order form is included with the flyer for requesting copies of 'Clear Intent', the Dr. Lewis Winkler study on pre-1947 sightings, and for advanced orders of the Clamar-Hopkins-Bloecher psychological study on individuals claiming abduction by UFO occupants.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This report highlights the Fund's commitment to scientific ufology through research, publication, and documentation. There is a clear emphasis on the financial challenges faced by the organization, particularly concerning the UFONET computer project, and a strong appeal for donations. The Fund also actively engages with the ufology community by sponsoring events and dedicating publications to prominent figures. The report reflects a dedication to investigating UFO phenomena, including abduction cases and historical sightings, and disseminating findings to the public.