MUFON Arizona - 1997 09 24 - Vol 06 No 09

Magazine Overview

This document is the September 1997 issue of the MUFON Arizona Chapter Newsletter, Volume 6, Issue 9. It is published by the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) and focuses on UFO-related news, events, and research within Arizona and beyond. The issue includes a meeting announcement, director's message, media watch, a list of weekly TV and radio programs, classified ads, and articles on various UFO topics.

Meeting Announcement

The Arizona Chapter's meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, September 24, 1997, at 7:30 p.m. at the National Guard Armory. The program featured a "UFOS - Just the Facts" CD-ROM presentation. The location was 5636 E. McDowell Road in Phoenix.

Key Personnel

The newsletter lists several key personnel for the Arizona Chapter, including Tom Taylor (State Director), June Scherrer (Pima County Sect. Dir.), Jim Ossipov (Asst. State Director), Doris Barley (Temp. Yuma Cty. Sect. Dir.), Dr. Ruth Hover (Abduction Support Group), Herb Funston (Cochise Co. Sect. Dir.), Ken Kerber (Pinal Co. Sect. Dir.), and Mike Hayes (Mojave Co. Sect. Dir.).

Director's Message

Tom Taylor's message highlights the success of the previous meeting featuring Richard Boyland. He also reports on a phone call detailing a possible abduction and UFO landing in the Table Top Mountain area, south of I-8 west of Stanfield. Taylor mentions an interesting comment from Preston Bennett's book about 11:10 p.m. being the most common time for UFO sightings. He also references an article from the Arizona Republic dated June 30, 1950, about an unusual sighting in Phoenix, the photocopy of which is not in good condition but will be included in the next issue. Taylor congratulates Francis Barwood for winning the City Counsel election, noting her public inquiry into the March 13th UFO event in Phoenix. He also connects an article and photo from the Arizona Republic in July 1947, depicting an object over Phoenix, to the Roswell crash, claiming that Richard Hoagland and Art Bell have recently discovered this connection.

Media Watch

This section, also by Tom Taylor, discusses "Unsolved Mysteries" potentially doing a story on the "Phoenix Lights." It mentions an article in the September issue of Fate magazine by Antonio Huneeus titled "UFO Chronicles," which covers ufology in communist China. The "Flying Trains" cases from 1994 and 1995 are described, involving spotlights changing color and cutting trees over a wide area. The China UFO Research Organization, founded in 1981, is noted as having grown significantly, now boasting 4,000 active members and 40,000 members, making it the world's largest UFO organization. The same Fate issue features an article by Thomas Carroll.

Weekly TV and Radio Programs

The newsletter provides a comprehensive list of UFO-related television and radio programs airing in Arizona and surrounding areas. TV programs include "UFO AZ/UFO TALKS," "Unsolved Mysteries," "X Files," and "Strange Universe." Radio programs listed are "DREAMLAND" hosted by Art Bell on KFYI, "Erskin Overnight" on KXAM, the "UFO-AZ Radio Show" on KTUC, and "Mysteries Around Us" hosted by Frank Baranowski on KTAR. The list aims to keep the public informed about ongoing UFO-related media.

Classified Ads and Services

Several advertisements are included: a class on "Learn Safe Photo Preservation" for $10.00, "AD SPECIALTIES AND MORE!" offering personalized items with a discount for MUFON members, and Faye Dargan, a Psychic Consultant. The newsletter also encourages readers to advertise in the MUFON-AZ Newsletter, with rates for small ads and business card-sized ads.

Article Submission and Newsletter Subscription

An invitation is extended to readers to submit articles and book reviews, with a preference for computer diskettes in WordPerfect 5.1 or ASCII format. Contact information for Tom Taylor and Mary Hart is provided for submissions. The newsletter also includes a subscription form, with dues set at $15 for a full year (one issue per month). Payments should be made via check payable to Tom Taylor.

Calendar of Events

The calendar section lists upcoming meetings for various MUFON chapters: Cochise County Chapter (September 27th), Pima County Chapter (contact June), Yuma County Chapter (December 10th), and Maricopa County Chapter (September 23rd). It also promotes "The Prophets" event from October 10-12, featuring speakers like Zecharia Sitchin and Dr. Edgar Mitchell.

Special Articles

"Mysterious thunder echoes through time" by Thomas Ropp: This article recounts Shirley Wallace's experience of a tremendous explosion and house shaking in Maryvale 17 years prior, which felt like an artillery shell but had no visible cause. She later experienced a similar sound like a gunshot at Metrocenter. Wallace considers possibilities like the collision of parallel universes.

"OFF RAMP": This section seems to be a placeholder or a brief mention of an article, possibly related to the Wallace story, referencing a "stealth bomber" and a "Twilight Zone"-like scene.

"Government lied to public about UFO reports, CIA says" by William J. Broad (New York Times): This significant article reveals a CIA study admitting that the US military deliberately misled the public about UFO sightings during the Cold War (1950s-60s) to conceal the existence of top-secret spy planes like the U-2 and SR-71. These planes flew at extremely high altitudes, and their sightings were often attributed to atmospheric phenomena. The study, "CIA's Role in the Study of UFOs, 1947-90," is mentioned as being available online. Experts like Richard Hall and John Pike comment on the significance of this admission, with Pike suggesting it raises questions about other federal cover-ups.

"Extraterrestrial search group organizing chapter here" by Sandra Valdez-Gerdes: This article introduces CSETI (Center for the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) and its local organizer, Trudy Schuett, in Yuma. CSETI focuses on CE-5, or human-initiated contact with extraterrestrials, distinguishing itself from SETI. The group aims to create a relationship with extraterrestrials and trains members in methods like using strobe lights and lasers. CSETI reports successful contacts in various countries. The article also mentions a statewide poll indicating that one in 10 Arizonans have seen UFOs, and 7 percent know someone abducted by aliens. CSETI's Project Starlight aims to encourage government disclosure of information on ETs. Schuett shares her own sighting of a triangular object.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently promotes MUFON's mission of investigating UFO phenomena and educating the public. There is a strong emphasis on local Arizona events and members. The revelation of government deception regarding UFOs, as detailed in the CIA study, is presented as a major development. The newsletter also highlights efforts towards direct contact with extraterrestrials through organizations like CSETI, suggesting an open-minded and investigative stance towards the UFO phenomenon. The inclusion of media listings and classified ads indicates an effort to engage members through various channels.