visitorsv1n10508

Magazine Overview

Title: Visitors
Issue: May 2008
Publisher: Illinois MUFON (Mutual UFO Network)
Document Type: Magazine Issue

This issue of Visitors, published by Illinois MUFON, focuses heavily on a successful UFO mini-symposium held in Tinley Park, Illinois, and outlines upcoming events and ongoing investigations.

Symposium Draws Overflow Crowd

The lead story details the first UFO mini-symposium of 2008, held on Saturday, March 29th, in Tinley Park, Illinois. Advertised with limited exposure, the event unexpectedly drew over 150 attendees. The symposium was co-sponsored by Illinois MUFON and the Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS). Dr. Mark Rodeghier, scientific director of CUFOS, was instrumental in securing Don Schmitt, a renowned expert on the Roswell UFO crash, as the key speaker. Schmitt's talk was titled “Witness to Roswell—New Evidence and Death Bed Confessions.”

Other presentations included Sam Maranto, State Director of Illinois MUFON, discussing the Tinley Lights and Rockford sightings, joined by Vic Connor, Assistant State Director, who presented “A Brief History of Ufology from the Beginning.” Mark Rodeghier spoke on “The State of Ufology Today” and provided an update on the O'Hare UFO sighting. Film producer Darryl Barker rounded out the presentations with a multimedia show, “Edge of Reality: Illinois UFO January 5th, 2000 and Case Updates,” documenting an investigation into a classic Illinois sighting.

The article notes that the symposium planners were surprised by the turnout, initially expecting around a hundred attendees. Media coverage included five newspapers and various UFO news websites. Due to the overflow crowd, an additional room was acquired at the Holiday Inn, and speaking schedules were rearranged. Some attendees who arrived late were turned away, but the majority were admitted.

Don Schmitt's inclusion was highlighted as a significant factor in the symposium's success, with his expertise on the Roswell case and his new book featuring new witnesses being particularly noted. Following the presentations, a question and answer session allowed attendees to engage with the speakers on their encounters, research, and opinions. A survey indicated that over half the audience were witnesses to UFO encounters. A news team from Fox News filmed the proceedings, and local newspapers reported on the event.

2nd Symposium Planned For Tinley Park in June

This section announces the second Truth...If You Dare UFO Symposium, scheduled for Sunday, June 22nd, from 1 P.M. to 5 P.M. at the Tinley Park Holiday Inn Convention Center. The event is sponsored by Illinois MUFON and CUFOS. Richard M. Dolan, author of the seminal book “UFOs and the National Security State,” is the keynote speaker. The article describes Dolan's book as a cornerstone for full disclosure, praised by Whitney Strieber as “the best history ever written about UFOs.” Dolan's research explores government involvement in covering up the UFO phenomenon. He is currently working on a follow-up volume and recently cohosted the Sci-Fi/Investigates series.

Other speakers are yet to be determined, but the event will include dramatic video evidence. Rooms are available at a group rate at the Holiday Inn. Early Bird registration fees are offered until May 20th, with prices increasing thereafter. Information is provided for registration and contact details.

Getting the Word Out

This section details the public outreach efforts of Sam Maranto, Julie Maranto, and Mike Ganster. Sam Maranto was interviewed by NBC's Dateline for a segment called “UFO Photographic Evidence,” which aired on May 18th and covered ten notable video and photographed cases, including an eyewitness to the Tinley Park Lights incident.

Sam and Julie Maranto also participated in a debate assignment at DePaul University, where students from various countries wrote papers on UFO topics. Sam donated MUFON books for the best papers. Additionally, Sam Maranto and Mike Ganster gave a talk on ufology at Roosevelt University to an adult education class.

The History Channel's “UFO Hunters” and Discovery Channel pilot producers have also interviewed Sam Maranto, focusing on the Tinley Park Lights witnesses and gathering information and videos. The footage is expected to air at a later date.

State Sightings Being REVIEWED

This section presents a case from San Jose, Illinois, that occurred on July 4th, 2007. A wife, husband, and their neighbor witnessed an unidentified object described as triangular, moving faster than normal aircraft at approximately 10,000 feet, with no sound or contrails. Dark lines along the sides resembled heat waves. The object disappeared quickly and was unlike any other observed aircraft. This case is being reopened, having been previously closed, with earlier incidents involving the same couple in February 2008 and November 1998 also mentioned. The article notes that the couple observed the object near Pekin, Illinois, in the more recent sighting, and the wife observed it from her home in Manito, Illinois, in the 1998 incident. The couple also reported suspicions of being watched and a sighting of a black-hooded entity with red eyes at their window.

An illustration of the triangular UFO over San Jose, Illinois, is included. The article discusses potential explanations, such as the stealth bomber, but notes that the object's lack of sound, lighting, body design, and quick disappearance are not characteristic of such aircraft. Investigators Debbie Lowery and Paul Russell are scheduled to visit the couple in San Jose.

The Field Investigator's NotePad

Written by Guy Richards, this section discusses the importance of eyewitness cases in ufology. Richards emphasizes that while most reports can be explained, a small percentage of unexplained cases, particularly those with credible witnesses, point towards the existence of extraterrestrials. He suggests that if a MUFON database contains a significant number of such cases, the probability of extraterrestrial technology being real approaches certainty.

May Meeting at Starved Rock

This announcement details a statewide Illinois MUFON meeting to be held on Saturday, May 31st, at 10:00 A.M. at Illinois Starved Rock State Park. The meeting will cover organization updates, investigations, planned events, and news, with various presentations and discussions. A barbecue will follow at 3:00 P.M. The meeting is open to the public, but space is limited, and advanced seat reservations are recommended via email. A fee of $8.00 per person will be collected.

7 Wonders of Illinois Link

This initiative, led by Sam Maranto, aims to promote ufology and increase membership by organizing regional meetings at notable Illinois tourist destinations. The goal is to combine MUFON's efforts with the Illinois Department of Tourism to reach a wider audience. A meeting is already scheduled for September 12th-14th at Rend Lake. Other potential locations include Wrigley Field in Chicago, the Ba'hai Temple in Wilmette, Allerton Park, Blackhawk State Park, and the Great Rivers Byway area near Alton. Starved Rock State Park, already a site for MUFON meetings, is considered the "home" of Illinois MUFON.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the promotion and organization of UFO-related events, particularly symposia and meetings, and the investigation of UFO sightings. Illinois MUFON actively engages in public outreach through media interviews, presentations at universities and libraries, and by organizing events at significant locations. The magazine emphasizes the importance of eyewitness testimony and the ongoing effort to gather and analyze data on UFO phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious investigation and disclosure, as evidenced by the focus on experts like Don Schmitt and Richard Dolan, and the belief in the statistical probability of extraterrestrial technology based on credible witness accounts.