MUFON Arizona Newsletter

Magazine Overview

This is the March 1997 issue of the MUFON Arizona Newsletter, a publication from the Mutual UFO Network's Arizona chapter. The issue focuses on recent UFO activity in Arizona, media coverage of the phenomenon, and upcoming MUFON events. It also includes a guide to identifying satellites, a book review, and reports from UFO conferences.

Meeting Announcement and Director's Message

The newsletter announces a MUFON meeting on Wednesday, March 26, 1997, at 7:30 p.m. at the National Guard Armory in Phoenix. The program features Richard Motzer discussing "Mysteries of the Apollo Mission to the Moon" and an update on "Current Rash of UFO Sightings Over Arizona." The Director's Message, written by Tom Taylor, State Director, highlights a busy week for MUFON Field Investigators, with numerous sightings of daylight discs over west Phoenix. He also reports on a significant number of UFO sightings on Thursday, March 13th, with 18 reports received from various locations in Arizona, including Paulden, Prescott, Glendale, Phoenix, Tempe, and Apache Junction. Taylor debunks a rumor about F-15s being scrambled from Luke Air Force Base to pursue a UFO over Phoenix and clarifies that the sightings were not related to the Blue Angels. He also expresses gratitude for kind words following the recent passing of his mother.

Hale-Bopp Comet Watch

MUFON Arizona organized an outing to view the Hale-Bopp comet on Saturday, March 29. Members were to gather at McDonald's at 51st Ave. north of Interstate 10 before 6:30 p.m. to travel to a viewing site west of the White Tank mountains, chosen for minimal city light pollution. Bill Goodman was the contact for questions.

Media Watch

Tom Taylor's "Media Watch" column notes that local Phoenix TV stations have done a good job reporting on the current wave of UFO sightings, increasing MUFON's visibility. He also mentions an interesting article in the March issue of Fate magazine by Cynthia Hind, titled "Aliens at Ariel School," concerning a spacecraft landing in South Africa and involving sixty-two children who were interviewed and asked to draw pictures of what they saw. Dr. John Mack investigated this case.

Program Listings

The newsletter provides extensive listings of weekly TV and radio programs related to UFOs and the paranormal. These include "Mysteries Around Us" on KTAR Radio, "UFO AZ/UFO TALKS" on Scottsdale TCI Cable, "Unsolved Mysteries," "X Files," "Sightings," and "Strange Universe" on TV, and "DREAMLAND" with Art Bell on KFYI Radio, "Erskin Overnight" on KXAM Radio, and the "UFO-AZ Radio Show" in Tucson.

Classified Ads and Subscriptions

Classified ads are offered for personalized items and graphic design services, with discounts for MUFON members. Roy Schott is the contact for advertising. The newsletter also promotes "50 Years of Arizona Sightings 1947-1997," an updated version of sightings compiled by Jim Ossipov, available for purchase. An invitation is extended to members to submit articles and book reviews for the newsletter, with a preference for computer diskettes.

Calendar of Events

The calendar lists upcoming MUFON chapter meetings and UFO-related conferences:

• Cochise County Chapter: Meeting Saturday, March 22, at Sierra Vista Public Library.
• Pima County Chapter: Next meeting May 10, 1997, with Tom Kelly speaking on Nikola Tesla.
• Yuma County Chapter: Meeting Sunday, April 13, at Desert Lakes Clubhouse.
• Maricopa County Chapter: Meeting Wednesday, March 26 (same as the main meeting).
• 5th Annual Gulf Breeze UFO Conference: March 21-23 in Gulf Breeze, FL.
• UFO & Alien Abduction Research Conference: Tentatively scheduled for Reno, NV, but apparently canceled.
• "The UFO Event of the Year": June 21-22 in North Haven, CT, featuring Stanton Friedman and Dr. John E. Mack.
• 18th Rocky Mountain UFO Conference: June 26-28, 1997, at the University of Wyoming, Laramie.
• 28th Annual MUFON International UFO Symposium: July 11-13, 1997, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, themed "The 50th Anniversary of UFOlogy."
• UFO Awareness Week: August 15-17, with a display at Christown mall.

In Sympathy

The newsletter extends sympathy to Tom Taylor on the recent passing of his mother.

Book Review: Secret Vows: Our Lives with Extraterrestrials

This section reviews "Secret Vows" by Denise Rieb Twiggs and Bert Twiggs. The book details the authors' claimed familial, physical, and intimate relationship with "Andromes" (ETs). It describes a large mother ship, periodic visits to an earthlike environment, and the concept of subconscious minds dreaming while the unconscious mind experiences reality. The review notes that the Andromes' principles of non-interference seem contradicted by their actions, which include manipulating memories. The authors reject the term "abductions," preferring "voluntary meetings." The review highlights the ETs' need for human genes and their belief that humans are entering a new evolutionary stage. The reviewer expresses skepticism about the claims, particularly regarding the voluntary nature of the encounters and the description of the ETs as "homely."

Report on Sixth Annual International UFO Congress - Convention and Film Festival

This report covers the five-day event in Laughlin, NV. Key speakers and topics included:

• Stan Deyo: Discussed earth changes, the Roswell crash, and the discovery of Atlantis and Eden.
• Col. Donald Ware (Ret.): Spoke on "Transformations: Spiritual, Physical and Political," and reported on Ed Walters' videotaped abduction.
• Whitley Strieber: Provided updates on the Hale-Bopp comet and mentioned his work on physical evidence and implant removal.
• James Hurtak, Ph.D.: Spoke on "Extraterrestrial and Ultraterrestrial Realities and the New Cosmology of Life," emphasizing humanity's entry into a new evolutionary stage.
• Dolores Cannon: Shared her experiences as a UFO investigator and hypnotist, and her work on crop circles and paranormal prophecies.
• Rolando Quiroga Valero: A Pleiadian contactee from Mexico, shared his perspective on ET contacts and their way of life.
• Graham Birdsall: Editor of UFO Magazine, updated on UFO activity in Great Britain in 1996.

The reviewer found the conference worthwhile despite the casino/hotel setting, noting the contrast between the gambling atmosphere and the spiritual nature of some messages. The organizer, Bob Brown, explained that casinos offer reasonable rates for attendees.

Investigator's Notebook: Spotting Satellites

This section provides a guide to distinguishing satellites from UFOs. It outlines six key characteristics:

1. Zigzagging: Apparent zigzagging is often an illusion caused by eye movements.
2. Sighting Frequency: Most frequent from May to August, with over 6,000 satellites orbiting Earth.
3. Speed: Satellites fall in a gravity curve; higher orbits mean slower speeds.
4. Direction: Satellites are launched east-to-west, so east-to-west travel is typical. Polar orbits are also common for military surveillance.
5. Light: Steady light from reflected sunlight; erratic flashes can indicate defunct satellites or space debris.
6. Visibility: Depends on changing sunlight. Satellites disappear when entering Earth's shadow (Twilight Wedge).

The article notes that most tracked objects are space debris, with only about 300 large enough to be easily visible.

NASA Warned to Watch Out for Hostile Martian Life Forms

This news report, from The Yuma Daily Sun, discusses a study by the National Research Council warning NASA about the risk of contaminating Earth with hostile Martian microbes when bringing back soil samples. The study recommends that any samples be physically and biologically isolated. It also touches on the controversy surrounding the possibility of life on Mars and the findings from a meteorite discovered in Antarctica that contained chemicals produced by bacteria. Precautions similar to those taken with moon missions in 1969-1971 are recommended for Mars sample returns.

Array Tour

MUFON is planning a weekend trip to the Very Large Array (VLA) in New Mexico on May 17-18, 1997. Details were to be announced at the March meeting. The tour is free but not open to the public.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently promotes MUFON's mission of investigating UFO phenomena and educating the public. Recurring themes include the reporting of local UFO sightings, the importance of media coverage, and the organization of events like conferences and comet viewings. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into UFOs and related topics, while also providing practical guidance to investigators and members. There is a clear effort to debunk common misconceptions and provide factual information, as seen in the satellite identification guide and the discussion of the Apollo mission. The newsletter also emphasizes community and shared interest among its subscribers, encouraging participation and submissions.