FUFOR - 2001 Q3 - Quarterly Report Jul-Sept

Magazine Overview

This document is a quarterly report from the FUND FOR UFO RESEARCH, covering the Third Quarter of 2001 (July-September). It details the organization's activities, projects, and financial matters during this period.

Office Activity

The report states that office activity was negligible. A single sighting was reported from NW Washington, D.C. on September 5, 2001. The report notes booming sounds and flashes of light were heard and seen, but no object was actually observed in the sky. It is mentioned that this was also the night of a fireworks display for visiting dignitaries, which may have contributed to the confusion.

Fund Web Site

Development of a new web site format is underway. A "Hall of Fame" featuring individuals who have made significant contributions to ufology over five decades has been drafted, along with a brief introduction to the UFO subject. As of September, the new web site format was not yet in place.

Operational Matters

Several operational matters were discussed and planned:

• A proposal to pay Tom Tulien for his work on a Historical Group meeting will be submitted for board consideration. This multi-thousand dollar project requires a vote by the national board.
• The Fund executive committee, with board agreement, is planning a special invitational meeting to define a future course for scientific research and study of UFOs.
• The executive committee voted to contribute $500 to Ballester-Olmos's Anomaly Foundation for the year 2001.
• The Fund will have a table at the MUFON Symposium in Irvine, CA. New publications to be featured include 'The UFO Evidence II' by Richard Hall and a biography of Capt. Edward Ruppelt by Wendy Connors.
• Copies of Ed Gehrman's CD-ROMs on the alien autopsy were distributed to executive board members for their review and comments.
• Wilson Powell, a fund supporter, donated 15-17 boxes of UFO books and journals, some dating back to the 1960s.

Ramey Letter Interpretation

Brad Sparks and Robert Nathan will analyze the Ramey message photographs using a new processing technique. The cost for this analysis is $240, with Nathan's part of the work being done gratis.

On-going Proposals and Projects

• Dick Haines is preparing to submit his UFO photographic report.

New Projects

• Steve Kaeser proposed making the Mario Pazzaglini document on alien writings available on CD-ROM, and is in the process of obtaining permission.
• James Houran requested assistance with page costs for a paper he co-authored with Kevin Randle on the Ramey memo. This paper has been sent to the Journal of Scientific Exploration. The executive board agreed to a $750 payment for this.
• The Center for UFO Studies plans to organize John Timmerman interview transcripts, spanning several decades, into a coherent monograph. Mike Swords will collate the best reports from thousands of pages of documents. The estimated cost is $3000, with a completion time of 6 months after approval. The executive committee approved this proposal, and it is being sent to the national board for a vote.

Coalition (CUFOS, FUFOR, MUFON) Activities

• Delphos Report: Tom Deuley has agreed to help prepare this manuscript for publication. Mike Swords is writing a summary of the Budinger Report, a technical paper that will be incorporated into the Delphos manuscript.
• The Coalition publication 'The Best Available Evidence' ranked twentieth among UFO titles on Amazon.com in late August and sixtieth in overall sales. The Coalition has nearly recouped its advance through sales receipts covering the second half of 2000.
• The Coalition publication 'The UFO Evidence II' is also performing well, though sales data had not yet been submitted to the Coalition (this information is typically received in June of the following year).

Meetings

Due to scheduling difficulties, no Fund meetings were held in the last quarter of 2001.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The report reflects a focus on scientific research, publication, and the dissemination of UFO-related information. The Fund actively supports various projects, collaborates with other organizations, and engages in the production and promotion of UFO literature. There is an emphasis on historical documentation and analysis, as seen with the Ramey memo and the Timmerman interviews. The organization appears to be in a phase of planning for future research directions and developing its online presence.