Massachusetts MUFON Journal

Magazine Overview

The Massachusetts MUFON Journal, issue No. 2001-2, released in August 2001, is an e-newsletter from the Massachusetts Mutual UFO Network. It serves as a platform for disseminating UFO reports, discussing investigations, and sharing information among members and the public.

Assistant State Director's Remarks

Joseph P. Cambria, Assistant State Director and Director of Public Relations, congratulates the team behind the MASS MUFON Journal, praising its accuracy and historical content. He reflects on his 15 years of MUFON membership, noting the evolution of ufology and field investigations. Cambria emphasizes a shift towards greater caution regarding internet information and a stronger focus on physical evidence over mere testimony. He stresses the importance of dedication, hard work, maintaining balance between personal lives and UFO research, and avoiding information overload. He highlights the positive energy within MASS MUFON, including the new journal, increased membership, and new cases, expressing gratitude to members for their contributions to solving the UFO mystery.

Meeting Schedules and Notes

Officers' Business Meeting

The Officers' Business Meeting was held on July 25, 2001, at Framingham Town Hall. Key members discussed organizational matters, case investigation progress, new case assignments, and enhancing the organization's web presence. This included plans to integrate Massachusetts MUFON websites and activate new domain names (.com and .org) under a new server to improve public access. Web master Mark Petty and a committee are working on transferring web pages to the new server.

Technical Meeting

The second quarter technical meeting was held on May 30, 2001, at Framingham Town Hall, with approximately 20 members and visitors attending. Presentations were informative and interesting. Mark Petty was thanked for putting the new journal online and preparing color copies. Greg Berhorn presented on his alien detection equipment. Joe Nyman, Chief Field Investigator, presented his investigation into the 1952 Salem Coast Guard Photo. The next technical meeting was scheduled for August 29, 2001, at Framingham Town Hall, featuring presentations on historical Massachusetts UFO hot spots and other interesting topics.

Upcoming Meetings and Presentations

Attend the Next Technical Meeting

The next technical meeting for the general membership was scheduled for Wednesday, August 29, 2001, at 7:00 PM at Framingham Town Hall. Topics included "Cases from ARUFON" by Rich Vitello, "Mistakes Aliens Make" by Jules Vaillancourt, and "The Bridgewater Triangle" by Chris Pittman, focusing on a Massachusetts hot spot of UFO and paranormal activity.

Meeting Location and Directions

Details and maps are provided for the new meeting location at Framingham Town Hall, 150 Concord, Framingham, MA, for the August 29, 2001 meeting. Directions from various shores (North, South, East, West) are given, along with specific route instructions and parking information.

Recent Sighting Reports

This section details several recent UFO sightings:

• Bristol County, MA (2000): Two women saw a triangular object that changed to a circular shape and vanished.
• Hampden County, MA (May 5, 2001): Three witnesses observed a tan cigar-shaped craft for 6-10 minutes, which later appeared saucer-shaped.
• Middlesex County, MA (July 13, 2001): An anonymous caller reported bright orbs in a V formation that blinked off and disappeared near Boston.
• Plymouth County, MA (July 11, 2001): A witness in Hanover saw a white flash followed by a silver object with black on it, resembling a trashcan or disc, with an aura/trail.
• Berkshire County, MA (February 27, 2001): Four witnesses in Becket reported three dish-shaped crafts with lights hovering and chasing each other over a pond.
• Worcester County, MA (July 23, 2001): Two individuals in Rutland saw an H-shaped craft with two sets of wings, described as a cigar-shaped fuselage, gliding silently.

Cases from the Archives

Two Historical Massachusetts UFO Cases--STATUS: UNRESOLVED

Submitted by Chris Pittman:

• Case No: 1946-1 UFOs Photographed Over Bernardston in 1946: One of the earliest documented sightings, Fred Stange took a photo with a box camera of five unidentified objects, appearing as blurry white blobs. The photo was later studied by NICAP, though copies are difficult to locate.
• Case No: 1969-1 High Strangeness UFO and Entity Case in 1969: Described by John Keel, a motorist in Massachusetts encountered a saucer blocking the road with a red-faced man who asked for a ride. The man's explanation for his origin was cryptic, and he appeared to have difficulty breathing.

Related Efforts

ARUFON--The Amateur Radio UFO Net--Part 1

By Rich Vitello, this article introduces ARUFON, a net that meets twice weekly on short-wave frequencies for UFO discussions. It explains the basics of amateur radio operation, including FCC licensing and call signs. ARUFON meets Tuesdays and Saturdays at 8:00 PM Eastern Time on 3.9777 MHz or the 40-meter band (approx. 7.236.5 MHz). It has a website (www.arufon.org) and an email address ([email protected]) for subscriptions to its email list. The net control, Rich Vitello (W1RV), manages check-ins and facilitates discussions, often referencing materials from MUFON and CUFOS Journals. Part II will feature details from individuals with military backgrounds.

MUFON on the Internet---Using the New Technology

By Mark Petty, this section highlights online investigative tools available to field investigators. The "Investigative Information" page on the MUFON website provides links to resources such as Wunderground.com for weather data, the National UFO Reporting Center for reported cases, the U.S. Naval Observatory for astronomical information, and the Heaven's Above website. These tools help investigators find or eliminate mundane explanations for sightings.

Who's Who and Who's New

New Members in 2001

The journal welcomes new and returning Mass MUFON members, listing their names, roles (e.g., Field Investigator Trainee, Journal Subscriber), and counties. Notable new members include Robert Cansler, Judith Knickle, Bill Roache, Kris VanAlstine, James O'Leary, Bruce Westerback, Dr. Brian Pinette, Dr. G.E. Tucker, Robert Kokocinski, Beth Henry, Terri Browne, David Pearson, Iyawata Schneider, Daniel Boudillion, and Arlene Wheeler.

Contacting Your Officers

A directory is provided for contacting MUFON officers, including the International Director, State Director, Assistant State Director, Chief Field Investigator, and State Section Directors for various counties. Contact information includes email addresses and phone numbers.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The journal consistently emphasizes the importance of rigorous investigation, the search for physical evidence, and a cautious approach to information, particularly from the internet. There is a strong focus on community and mutual support among members, as seen in the ARUFON section and the emphasis on networking. The publication also highlights historical cases, suggesting a commitment to understanding the UFO phenomenon from its origins. The overall tone is informative, encouraging, and dedicated to the pursuit of UFO research.

This document is a page from a publication, likely a magazine or newsletter, titled 'Field Investigator Training'. The specific section featured is 'The Field Investigator's Exam'. The page is dated as page 11, but no specific issue date or volume is provided. The content is in English and appears to be published by MUFON (Mutual UFO Network) or a related entity.

The Field Investigator's Exam The primary focus of this page is to inform readers about the MUFON Field Investigator's Exam. It begins with congratulations to Noreen Bellio for passing the exam and being officially listed by the National MUFON Journal as a Field Investigator for Middlesex County.

The MUFON Board of Directors has adopted this examination as an ongoing tool. In conjunction with UFO case experience and organizational involvement, the exam serves as a key method for evaluating a trainee's readiness for advancement to field investigator status.

The exam is designed to assess general knowledge across a broad spectrum of disciplines relevant to UFO investigations. These include physical and social sciences, technologies, and investigative practices. The exam is structured into twelve specific areas: celestial objects, atmosphere and weather, optics and sound, measurement and shapes, radio and radar, conventional vehicles, electrical/magnetic effects, photography, landing cases, entity and abduction cases, witness recall, and MUFON form particulars.

In terms of question format, the exam contains a total of one hundred questions, broken down into fifty-three multiple-choice, forty true/false, and seven fill-in-the-blank questions. The creators emphasize that the questions are intended to be illustrative of the exam's scope rather than exhaustive.

The exam is administered as a "take home" correspondence course. This format allows candidates to take as long as necessary to complete it and to utilize any available resources. The majority of answers can be found in the Field Investigator's Manual, a dictionary, or an encyclopedia. Other answers may derive from major findings in basic texts on the subject or from direct observations.

To pass the exam, candidates must achieve a score of 80 percent or higher.

Obtaining Resources and Taking the Exam For those interested in obtaining the necessary study material, the MUFON Field Investigator's Manual (4th Edition) can be acquired by contacting MUFON Headquarters directly. Their mailing address is provided as PO Box 369, Morrison, CO 80465-0369.

When a candidate is ready to take the exam, they are instructed to contact their State Director via email. The email address provided for this purpose is [email protected].

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance The recurring theme is professionalization and standardization of UFO investigation within the MUFON organization. The editorial stance is one of encouraging rigorous training and assessment for its investigators, emphasizing the importance of a scientific and systematic approach to the study of UFO phenomena. The document highlights MUFON's commitment to developing qualified personnel through structured examination and educational resources.