Infos-CERPA

Magazine Overview

Title: Infos-CERPA
Issue: 1
Volume: 1
Date: June 1996

This issue of Infos-CERPA is a newsletter from the French UFO research organization CERPA, aiming to keep its members informed about upcoming activities and publications. The tone is informative and aims to foster engagement with its readership.

Univers OVNI: First Results

The lead article discusses the current efforts to promote and distribute the new magazine 'Univers OVNI'. The primary goal is to make the magazine profitable so that a second issue can be published. While initial results in the Marseille region are positive, there is a lack of volunteers for distribution in other cities, and sales through consignment shops ('dépôt-vente') are proving difficult in places like Paris and Lyon. Due to these modest results, the publication of the second issue has been postponed to September, after the summer period which is less conducive to sales. CERPA is reconsidering distribution methods, potentially moving to a more conventional press distribution system for the second issue. To achieve national distribution, a significantly larger print run, estimated at 10,000 copies (compared to 2,000 for the first issue), is needed, which will incur higher costs. The association appeals to its members to help promote and distribute the magazine during the summer months. They also encourage members to find businesses or societies willing to advertise in the magazine, providing reasonable advertising rates. Advertisements will be limited to a few pages, as the magazine's primary focus remains information. The article assures readers that the upcoming second issue will be improved, featuring enhanced presentation, more illustrations, updated news, investigations, and articles on space-related topics, aiming to be the most significant ufology magazine in France.

Convention X-Files in Marseille

This section announces a mini-convention dedicated to the TV series 'The X-Files' (Aux frontières du réel) for fans of mystery and science fiction. The event is scheduled for Sunday, June 16th, starting at 10 AM at the Novotel-Pharo hotel in Marseille. The convention will feature Charles Adlard, the English artist behind the original 'X-Files' comic book, who will be present for a signing session and to discuss the series with French fans. Several exhibitors will be present, offering merchandise related to 'X-Files', including t-shirts, posters, magazines, trading cards, models, mugs, caps, photos, postcards, pins, and video cassettes. The CERPA will also have a presence to showcase its activities and distribute UFO-related magazines, books, and videos. A notable guest will be Richard Nolane, author of several books on mysteries, including 'Extraterrestres: la vérité sur Roswell'. Entry is 20 French Francs, or free if a reservation voucher obtained beforehand from the 'Magic Planet' bookstore (26 bd Garibaldi, Marseille) is presented (limited number available). Details are available in an advertisement on the back of the sheet.

CERPA Meetings

Details are provided for upcoming CERPA meetings. The next meeting is scheduled for Saturday, June 15th, at the Maison des associations in Marseille (93 la Canebière, 1st floor), starting at 3 PM. The objective of this meeting is investigator training. A second meeting will take place on Saturday, June 29th, starting at 3 PM, exceptionally in Toulon. This meeting will be held at the snack bar 'Le Titia', owned by the new Toulon correspondent Jean-Michel Fucheau (10 place Pasteur, 83000 Toulon, near Stade Mayol). Due to the annual closure of the Maison des associations in Marseille, subsequent meetings during the summer months will be held as usual at the 'Librairie l'Étoile du mage' (14 allées Léon Gambetta, Marseille 1st). These meetings will occur approximately every three weeks, with dates yet to be determined.

Upcoming Activities

Several activities are planned for the summer. Numerous sky observation vigils and astronomy initiation sessions will be held in the Marseille region. In July, a conference is scheduled to take place in Valensole (Alpes de Haute-Provence), focusing on the landing cases of Valensole (Maurice Masse) and Rians (Vincent Viana). The exact date for this conference is still uncertain.

The newsletter concludes with a general summer greeting to all members and an expression of anticipation for future encounters.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the promotion of CERPA's own publications, particularly the 'Univers OVNI' magazine, and the organization of events and meetings for its members and the wider public interested in ufology and related mysteries. The editorial stance appears to be one of active engagement, encouraging member participation in distribution, advertising, and attendance at events. There is a clear focus on practical aspects like magazine profitability, distribution logistics, and investigator training, alongside the promotion of UFO research and related popular culture phenomena like 'The X-Files'. The use of multiple communication channels, including a phone answering service and Minitel, highlights a commitment to accessibility.