FUFOR - 1986 Q1 - Quarterly Report Jan-Mar

Magazine Overview

This document is the QUARTERLY REPORT from January to March 1986 for the Fund for UFO Research Inc., based in Washington, D.C. It details the organization's activities, research support, financial status, and upcoming events.

Key Activities and Decisions

The most significant event of the quarter was the Executive Committee's decision to host the 1987 MUFON Symposium in Washington, D.C. The symposium is planned to coincide with the fortieth anniversary of "flying saucers" and is scheduled for the week of June 24, 1987. The aim is to hold it at a local university to reduce costs for sponsors and attendees, with hopes of attracting international representatives to discuss UFO situations in their respective countries.

The Executive Committee also considered a proposal from Frances Graham, a Ph.D. candidate in astronomy, to investigate "structures" found in lunar photographs taken from orbiting satellites. Graham requested $1,900 for the study. However, since the project did not directly concern UFOs and the organization's budget was limited, the committee decided to support only part of the work. They approached the Committee for Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP) to fund the remainder, believing Graham's work aligned with their public education and "debunking" efforts. Disappointingly, CSICOP, on the recommendation of James Oberg, declined to support the project.

Research Support and Submissions

The Fund voted to support Stanton Friedman in his search for information on historic figures who may have influenced early UFO history. Additionally, Bill Moore was funded for an on-the-spot investigation into details of stories concerning crash-retrievals and government UFO activities.

Two substantial submissions of work were received. The first, from Dr. Eddie Bullard and Michael Frizzell, is an abduction case catalogue and content study. The second, by Robert Neeley, is described as the most comprehensive study ever done on the 1890s airship sightings and associated phenomena. Due to the sheer volume of these papers, they will take time to process before being offered for sale, but they are expected to be major contributions to UFO literature.

Document Sales and Library Holdings

This quarter marked five years since the Fund began selling government documents. Initially offering one volume, the collection has expanded to three volumes, with approximately 400 copies of Volume I, 300 of Volume II, and 80 of Volume III sold. These volumes, totaling about 600 pages, represent the most complete set available outside of the U.S. government. Complete sets are now housed at the Library of Congress and other libraries in the Washington, D.C. area. The organization encourages readers to ask local libraries to order these sets, which include Volumes I-III, the Air Intelligence Report ("Ghost of the Estimate"), and the Document Companion.

Media Attention

Finally, the document set detailing a sighting by the late Senator Richard Russell and two others in Russia in 1955 gained media attention, being featured on the front page of the National Enquirer on February 11, 1986.

Treasurer's Report

The Treasurer's Report for the 1st Quarter of 1986 indicates total assets of $4,619.27, a decrease of $474.09 from the end of the 4th Quarter of 1985. Total expenditures for the quarter were $2,616.94, including $1,128.27 for research/investigation (partially for a British "phantom airships" study and "crashed saucer" investigations) and $674 for the Rapid Deployment Fund.

Total income for the quarter was $2,142.85, with sales contributing $1,158.04 and donations $941.00.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The report highlights the Fund's commitment to supporting research into UFO phenomena, documenting historical cases, and disseminating information through publications and symposiums. There is a clear emphasis on rigorous investigation and the potential for significant discoveries, as evidenced by the detailed submissions received. The organization also engages with the broader scientific community, as seen in their interaction with CSICOP, and seeks to make historical UFO-related documents accessible to the public and researchers.
The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry into UFOs, aiming to contribute to the literature and understanding of the subject, while also acknowledging the need for careful financial management and support for investigations.