FUFOR - 1997 03 - March

Magazine Overview

This document is the March 1997 issue of the "FUND FOR UFO RESEARCH INC.", a publication detailing the organization's activities, accomplishments, and resources. It is based in Washington D.C. and aims to advance scientific knowledge and public understanding of the UFO phenomenon.

National Board of Directors

The issue lists the National Board of Directors, comprising individuals with diverse backgrounds in aviation, science, folklore, astronomy, theology, medicine, writing, sociology, psychology, astrophysics, physics, biology, and aerospace physics. Notable members include Don Berliner, Thomas E. Bullard, Ph.D., John B. Carlson, Ph.D., Richard Hall, Robert Hall, Ph.D., Richard F. Haines, Ph.D., Richard C. Henry, Ph.D., and Bruce Maccabee, Ph.D.

The Fund for UFO Research Inc.

Established in 1979 as a tax-exempt corporation in the District of Columbia, the Fund for UFO Research Inc. is dedicated to providing financial support for scientific research and public education concerning Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs). It is recognized by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service as a nonprofit educational organization. The Fund is described as the first and only organization exclusively dedicated to this mission, positioning it as a leader in the field.

Accomplishments

The organization highlights its accomplishments in three key areas:

• Scientific Research: The Fund has awarded over 30 grants to support scientific research, including case investigations, historical documentation, and photographic analysis.
• Public Education: It has sponsored conferences and symposia, conducted numerous media interviews, and engaged in a program to educate scientists and congressional leaders about the UFO question.
• Fundraising: The Fund has raised over $700,000 from individuals to support its research and education projects. It operates without an office or paid staff, dedicating all revenues to its mission and accepting no government funds.

Structure

The Fund is not in competition with other UFO organizations like MUFON or the J. Allen Hynek Center for UFO Studies. It is not a membership organization and does not investigate sightings directly but works closely with groups that do. The Fund comprises a 15-member Board of Directors, with an Executive Committee of five members in the Washington D.C. area handling administrative activities. The Board reviews research proposals based on their merits and potential to advance scientific knowledge or public understanding of UFOs. Proposal criteria include clear goals, a specified timeframe, scientific merit, grantee competence, and a commitment to producing a final report. Anyone can apply for a grant, but the Board considers the proposer's demonstrated knowledge and skills.

Founding members mentioned include Thomas P. Deuley (electrical engineer), Richard Hall (former director of NICAP), Bruce Maccabee, Ph.D. (U.S. Navy optical physicist), and the late Isabel Davis (co-founder of a scientifically-oriented UFO organization).

Activities

Significant activities include the Isabel L. Davis Award, given annually to recognize long-term accomplishments and excellence in promoting rational inquiry into UFO sightings and related phenomena. Nominations are made by the Board and selected by donors. The Fund also sponsors an annual journalism competition named after Donald E. Keyhoe, encouraging quality reporting on UFOs and rewarding investigative journalism.

Fundraising

Funding comes from direct donations and sales of printed materials. Contributors receive the "Quarterly Report" with news about projects and lists of available research reports. Proceeds from sales are reinvested into research and education projects. Contributions, orders, and grant proposal requests can be mailed to P.O. Box 277, Mt. Rainier, MD 20712.

Completed Projects

The Fund's scientific research support has led to over 50 major grants to researchers in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, including on-site investigations of UFO sightings. Completed projects include:

1. Publication of nearly 600 pages of previously-classified, UFO-related Government documents acquired under the Freedom of Information Act.
2. Support for litigation to release classified UFO documents under the FOI Act.
3. Analysis of the Gulf Breeze, Florida, photographs and videotape, which revealed no evidence of a hoax.
4. Sponsorship of the first scientific study of nine "abductees" by a Ph.D. psychologist, who found no psychological basis for their consistent stories.
5. Publication of a 600-plus page study of over 200 "abduction" reports by Thomas E. Bullard, Ph.D., which has become a standard reference.
6. Support for four professional conferences on the UFO "abduction" phenomenon.

Recent projects include investigations into "crop circles" in England, continued support for "abduction" studies, and research into U.S. Government activity concerning alleged UFO recoveries. Since 1990, the organization has spent nearly $100,000 on research into the Roswell UFO crash case.

Organizations

• The J. Allen Hynek Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS): A nonprofit organization promoting serious research and acting as a clearinghouse for UFO information. It publishes the "International UFO Reporter" and the annual "Journal of UFO Studies". Contact: 2457 West Peterson Avenue, Chicago, IL 60659.
• The Mutual UFO Network (MUFON): A nonprofit organization devoted to studying and researching the UFO phenomenon, sponsoring annual symposiums and publishing "MUFON UFO Journal" and other materials. Contact: 103 Oldtowne Road, Seguin, TX 78155-4099.

References and Resources

The issue provides extensive lists of books, reports, and other resources related to UFO research, categorized for easy access.

Recent Books

Includes titles like "Out There: The Government's Secret Quest for Extraterrestrials" by Howard Blum, "Close Encounters of the Fourth Kind" by C. D. B. Bryan, "The UFO Encyclopedia" series by Jerome Clark, "Project Delta" by Richard Haines, "UFO Abductions" studies by Raymond E. Fowler and David M. Jacobs, "Crash at Corona" by Stanton T. Friedman and Don Berliner, and "Abduction: Human Encounters With Aliens" by John E. Mack, M.D.

Selected Older Books

Features influential works such as "The Humanoids" by Charles Bowen, "The Interrupted Journey" and "Incident at Exeter" by John G. Fuller, the "Condon Report" (edited by Daniel S. Gillmor), "The UFO Experience" by J. Allen Hynek, "Flying Saucers From Outer Space" by Donald E. Keyhoe, and "The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects" by Edward J. Ruppelt.

Other Resources

• The International UFO Museum and Research Center at Roswell, New Mexico: A privately-owned facility with a library, videotape collection, and displays specific to the Roswell Incident. Admission is free.
• UFO Magazine: A bimonthly publication featuring articles and information on current UFO developments.
• The UFO Newsclipping Service: Publishes a monthly collection of current articles on UFOs and Fortean phenomena from newspapers worldwide.
• Arcturus Books Inc.: Maintains a comprehensive listing of UFO-related books.
• Citizens Against UFO Secrecy: Conducts Freedom of Information Act activities and lawsuits to obtain concealed government information on UFOs.

Materials for Sale

The "REFERENCE MATERIALS" section lists numerous books, videotapes, reports, and historical research documents available for purchase from the Fund. Prices and descriptions are provided for each item. Notable items include:

Books

• "Crash at Corona" ($19.95)
• "Uninvited Guests" ($14.00)
• "Project Delta" ($9.95)
• "Connections: Solving Our Alien Abduction Mystery" ($18.00)

Videotapes

• "Mysteries of the Sky" series (Volumes I, II, III) ($40.00, $14.00, $16.00 respectively)
• "Abduction Roundtable: New Insights into the UFO Abduction Phenomenon" ($30.00)
• "Recollections of Roswell" ($35.00)

Reports

A wide array of reports are available, including:

• UFO Crash/Retrievals series: "The Plains of San Agustin Controversy" ($20.00), "Search for Proof in a Hall of Mirrors" ($14.00), "The Inner Sanctum" ($16.00).
• Operation Majestic Twelve: "Final Report on Operation Majestic Twelve" ($10.00), "Conclusions on Operation Majestic Twelve" ($6.00).
• Roswell Incident: "Roswell in Perspective" ($25.00), "Report of Air Force Research Regarding the 'Roswell Incident'" ($5.50), "A Rebuttal of the Air Force Project Mogul Explanation For the 1947 Roswell, New Mexico, UFO Crash" ($5.00).
• Abduction Research: "Alien Discussions: Proceedings of the Abduction Study Conference" ($65.00), "The Sympathetic Ear" ($26.00), "The OMNI Abduction Questionnaires: Final Results" ($5.00), "Final Report on the Psychological Testing of UFO 'Abductees'" ($8.00), "UFO Abductions: The Measure of the Mystery" (Volume I: $60.00, Volume II: $40.00), "On Stolen Time" ($7.00), "Proceedings of the National Capital Area Abduction Research Conference" ($6.00), "Testing Reality: A Research Guide to the UFO Abduction Experience" ($5.00).
• Case Investigations: "America West Air Line Case" reports ($5.00, $10.00), "A Scientific Analysis of the Videotape Taken by Space Shuttle Discovery on Shuttle Flight STS-48" ($26.00), "Colorado Probe" ($8.00), "Characteristics of Close Encounters in Spain" ($5.00), "The Mundrabilla Incident" ($14.00).
• Crop Circles: "Report on the Results of Project Argus" ($12.00), "The Summer 1991 Crop Circles: The Data Emerges" ($10.00), and a special offer for both crop circle reports ($20.00).
• Other Reports: "Phantom Helicopters Over Britain" ($10.00), "The Fantastic Flight of JAL 1628" ($10.00), "An Analysis of an Anomalous Image Found in a DMSP Weather Satellite Photograph" ($6.00), "A History of the Gulf Breeze, Florida, Sightings" ($25.00).

Historical Research

• "UFOs and Science: The Collected Writings of Dr. James E. McDonald" ($28.00)
• "The U.S. Air Force's Project Blue Book UFO Investigation" ($5.00)
• "UFOs and the U.S. Government" ($8.50)
• "The Blue Book Unknowns" ($13.00)
• "Radar-Visual UFO Cases in 1952: The UFO Sightings that Shook the Government" ($8.50)
• "Government Policy on UFO Information: Its Origins and Status" ($18.00)
• "Still in Default" ($6.00)
• "Revised UFO History" ($6.00)
• "The Airship Chronicle" ($40.00)
• "UFOs of 1896-97: The Airship Wave" ($50.00)
• "The 1912-1913 British Phantom Airship Scare" ($6.00)
• "The 1912-1913 British Phantom Airship Scare Catalog" ($80.00)

Government Documents

• "Air Force Research on UFOs" ($35.00)
• "UFO/Government Documents" (Volumes I, II, III at $30.00 each, or Vol. I-III for a special price of $80.00)
• "Documents and Supporting Information Related to Crashed Flying Saucers and Operation Majestic Twelve" ($13.00)
• "The Scientific Investigation of Unidentified Flying Objects" ($10.20)
• "UFO Landing Near Kirtland AFB (Or Welcome to the Cosmic Watergate)" ($6.00)
• "Senator Richard Russell: Flying Saucer Witness" ($13.00)

Order Form

The issue includes a detailed order form for all listed materials, with pricing, quantity fields, and shipping/handling information for U.S., Canada, Mexico, and other international destinations. It also provides options for making a tax-deductible contribution to support UFO research.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the Fund's commitment to rigorous scientific research into UFO phenomena, its efforts in public education to inform scientists and the public, and its fundraising activities to support these goals. The editorial stance is one of promoting rational inquiry and providing credible information, as evidenced by the types of research and publications they support. The Fund emphasizes its independence from government funding and its role as a facilitator and supporter of independent research.