MUFON Arizona - 1997 11 19 - Vol 06 No 11

Magazine Overview

This is the November 1997 issue of the MUFON Arizona Chapter newsletter, titled 'ARIZONA CHAPTER Volume 6 / Issue 11'. The cover headline is 'The Truth is Out There'. The newsletter covers various UFO-related topics, including upcoming meetings, media coverage, book reviews, and scientific findings.

Meeting Information and Director's Message

The November meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, November 19, 1997, at 7:30 p.m. at the National Guard Armory. The program featured Peter Gersten, an attorney specializing in the Freedom of Information Act, who was set to speak on 'Beyond a Reasonable Doubt: Proof of ET Contact'.

State Director Tom Taylor addressed the membership, explaining that due to his health condition, he had appointed an ad hoc committee to help manage the chapter's operations. Taylor, who is recovering from an illness and using an oxygen machine, expressed his gratitude for the support and stated his intention to continue overseeing the chapter's activities remotely. He also apologized for the 'low key' October meeting and noted that November and December meetings would be on the third Wednesday of the month due to the holidays, before returning to the fourth Wednesday in January.

The newsletter also included an 'Open Letter to Tom Taylor' from the membership, expressing deep appreciation for his dedication and hard work as State Director. The letter highlighted the significant effort required to manage the organization and noted that fifteen people were needed to form the ad hoc committee to assist him.

MUFON Chapter Activities and Personnel

The newsletter detailed the ad hoc committee members assisting Tom Taylor: Jim Ossipov, Richard Motzer, Alan Morey, and Ruth and Harry Hover, along with other volunteers. Their contact information was provided.

New MUFON Investigators were announced, with Christopher Block, Cynthia Holt, Harry Hover, Audrey & Joel Rencsok, and Greg Presto completing the six-week training and passing their exams. Ray Ambrosini and Alan Morey were mentioned as certified investigators who would assist in assigning new cases.

Calendar listings for various MUFON chapters were included: Cochise County (November 22, with no December meeting), Pima County (contact June for information), Yuma County (December 7), and Maricopa County (November 19, meeting one week early).

An announcement was made about the 'Academy of Close Encounters Therapists' event in San Diego on November 15, featuring Dr. Ruth Hover and others.

Media Watch and UFO Programs

The 'Media Watch' section highlighted a Discovery Channel program on the 'Phoenix Lights' sighting, which included interviews with witnesses and officials. The program aired late on a Sunday night and early Monday morning, but Richard Motzer had taped it. 'Unsolved Mysteries' was also scheduled to cover the case. The section noted that singer John Denver, who died in a plane crash, was born in Roswell, New Mexico.

A list of weekly radio and TV programs related to UFOs was provided, including 'Dreamland' with Art Bell, 'UFO-AZ Radio Show', 'Mysteries Around Us', 'Unsolved Mysteries', 'X Files', 'Sightings', 'The Visitor', and 'Strange Universe'. Members were encouraged to call Mary Hart with information on any unlisted UFO-related TV programs.

Articles and Book Reviews

'U.S. LIED TO EXPLAIN AWAY UFO SIGHTINGS, SAYS CIA': This section summarized an article by Gerald K. Haines, a historian at the National Reconnaissance Office, published in 'Studies of Intelligence'. The article revealed that U.S. national security officials had concocted false explanations for sightings of the U-2 spy plane, which were often mistaken for UFOs due to their silver color and glinting in the sun. The CIA monitored UFO reports but concealed their interest to avoid national hysteria and exploitation by the Soviet Union. Haines stated that this deception fueled later conspiracy theories.

'TO BOLDLY GO WHERE NO DUMMY HAS GONE BEFORE': This article, by Dimitri 'Jim' Ossipov, discussed a press conference held by Col. John Haynes of the USAF regarding the Roswell incident. Haynes' research concluded that Air Force activities had been consolidated into a few days in July 1947, and that bodies reported were likely test dummies from high-altitude balloons used for scientific research, not aliens. The article noted that Haynes' research specifically addressed recovered bodies and did not replace the earlier Project Mogul report, which identified crash wreckage as debris from a top-secret project. The author raised questions about the discrepancy in dates (1947 vs. 1950s dummies) and the anthropomorphic description of dummies versus alien bodies, as well as the reported behavior of military personnel.

'BOOK REVIEW: Connections - Solving Our Alien Abduction Mystery': Reviewed by Herb Moran, this section discussed the book by Beth Collings and Anna Jamerson. The review highlighted the personal accounts of abduction experiences and the authors' explanations for alien motives, ranging from benevolent intervention to survival at the expense of humans. The quote, "Chanting passages from the Bible or praying for relief do not seem to have any affect on these creatures. They have an agenda, a job to do..." was cited. The review also mentioned the 'thought bomb' implanted in Anna's subconscious and the connection to 'Carol and Alice', co-authors of the book. The review concluded by referencing the 'Hynek Dilemma' and the challenge of discerning truth from the vast amount of UFO information.

'UFOCUS, Vol. 1, No. 4': This brief mention refers to a publication that discusses the CIA's admission of deception regarding U-2 spy plane sightings.

Scientific News

'LIFE MAY BE POSSIBLE ON JUPITER'S EUROPA': This article, based on a report by Paul Recer of The Associated Press, discusses findings from the Galileo spacecraft orbiting Jupiter. The discovery of organic compounds on two of Jupiter's moons, Callisto and Ganymede, suggests that Europa may possess all three essential ingredients for life: an energy source, liquid water, and organic molecules. Planetary scientist Thomas McCord stated that while this doesn't confirm life, it increases the plausibility. The research is part of a broader effort to find evidence of life within the solar system, including ongoing exploration of Mars.

Other Content

'50+ YEARS OF ARIZONA SIGHTINGS 1946-1997': A comprehensive listing of reported Arizona UFO sightings by Jim Ossipov was available for purchase.

'Classified Ads': Members were encouraged to place ads in the newsletter.

'ARTICLE SUBMISSION': An invitation was extended to members to submit articles and book reviews, with guidelines for submission formats (handwritten, typed, or diskette).

'THREE KINDS': This short piece categorized people in ufology into three types: true believers, debunkers, and open-minded skeptics.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently promotes the MUFON organization and its activities, encouraging member participation and support. A recurring theme is the investigation and analysis of UFO phenomena, with a focus on presenting research and witness accounts. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry, acknowledging the complexity of the subject matter and the challenges of discerning truth, as exemplified by the 'Hynek Dilemma' and the discussion of skepticism versus belief. There is a clear effort to maintain a mainstream yet serious approach to UFOlogy, avoiding the 'lunatic fringe' while still exploring the profound questions surrounding the phenomenon. The newsletter also emphasizes the importance of media coverage and scientific findings related to UFOs and potential extraterrestrial life.