MUTUAL UFO NETWORK, INC. NEWSLETTER

Magazine Overview

This is Issue #26 of the Mutual UFO Network, Inc. (MUFON) Newsletter, dated May 1985. Published by MASS. MUFON, Inc. and distributed from Stoneham, MA, the newsletter covers organizational news, upcoming events, and UFO-related developments.

Key Contents

MUFON UFO Symposium Representatives The newsletter lists the official representatives from Mass. MUFON who will attend the 1985 MUFON UFO Symposium in St. Louis, MO, from June 28-30. These individuals include Marge Christensen (State Director), David Christensen (Member), James Melesciuc (Section Director), Joseph Santangelo (Eastern States Dir.), and Diana Santangelo (Member).

"UFOs: A SCIENTIFIC ENIGMA" Documentary A significant announcement is the production of Mass. MUFON's first-ever 60-minute UFO documentary on videotape, titled "UFOs: A SCIENTIFIC ENIGMA." The documentary is being offered for nationwide purchase and airing on cable TV channels, with potential broadcasts on a major San Francisco channel, PBS in Austin, TX, and independent stations in St. Louis. The program is hosted by Dr. David M. Jacobs and features interviews with prominent UFO researchers and experts such as Dr. J. Allen Hynek, Walt Andrus, Budd Hopkins, John Schuessler, Dan Wright, Barry Greenwood, and Ray Fowler. Tapes are available in VHS and Beta formats for $20, with 3/4" tapes costing $50. Interested parties should send checks payable to Mass. MUFON, Inc. to Marge Christensen at 2 Cherry Road, Beverly, MA 01915, specifying the desired format.

Jim Melesciuc served as the Technical Consultant, Barry Greenwood as Executive Producer, and Marge Christensen as Director for the documentary.

Mass. MUFON UFO Forum Announcement The Mass. MUFON UFO Forum is scheduled for August 17 & 18 at the Beverly Golf & Tennis Club in Beverly, MA. Early registration is encouraged to take advantage of lower rates before July 1. Dr. Michael Brein, State Director for Hawaii, is noted as traveling the farthest distance to attend. A sell-out crowd is anticipated.

A private, invitation-only dinner will be held on Saturday evening during the Forum. Mass. MUFON members will receive preference for remaining seats after speakers are confirmed. Information will be available at the May meeting, with a reservation deadline of June 8.

Membership Communication and Meetings The June meeting is scheduled for Saturday, June 8, after which monthly meetings will recess until September, with the UFO Forum in August. A committee working on the Forum and National UFO Information Week will meet in July. Members are reminded to call the MUFON Hotline (944-0686) one week prior to each meeting to notify of their attendance. The newsletter expresses frustration with the need for officers to call members to obtain this information and warns that monthly meetings may be canceled and replaced with board meetings if member participation in this notification process does not improve.

National UFO Information Week Africa, through Cynthia Hind, MUFON's Continental Coordinator for Africa, will join in observing the first National UFO Information Week from August 18-25. Cynthia plans a one-day UFO Forum and other activities. The British UFO Research Organization has also been invited to participate, potentially making it an International UFO Information Week.

NBC News UFO Segments Lee Spiegel of NBC News has informed Barry Greenwood that NBC News will air five brief, 2½-minute segments on UFOs during May. Further details were not provided.

Library Outreach Program Mass. MUFON has mailed 156 information cards and MUFON pages to libraries in areas with populations over 10,000. The Fall River Public Library has responded positively, requesting information for a file on the UFO phenomenon. Joanne Bruno is credited with this effort.

COMPUFON UFO Computer Network A new COMPUFON UFO computer network is being formed for individuals with computers and modems. Interested parties are directed to contact Michael D. Hart at 803 5th Place S.E., Duvall, WA 98019.

George Early to Cover Forum George Early, a reporter from WTIC Radio News in Hartford, CT, has been assigned to cover the MUFON UFO Forum. WTIC is described as a powerful radio station with a wide reach. Early had previously covered the MUFON Symposium at MIT.

Future UFO Investigators Group Ken Wisnefski has organized a group of young people (ages 10-14) in Asbury, NJ, called Future UFO Investigators. A similar group exists in Florida, organized by Shirley Fox. Walt Andrus has appointed George Gregg (age 15) in Texas to serve as a liaison between MUFON and these teen groups. Plans are underway to develop a formal program for these teen groups.

Declassified AF Documents CAUS (Citizens Against UFO Secrecy) has obtained the release of 1800 pages of declassified UFO-related documents from Air Force Intelligence. Barry Greenwood will provide more details at the May meeting. Subscribing to the CAUS Newsletter, "JUST CAUSE," can provide updates on government documents and assist in funding requests.

MUFON Field Investigator's Manuals MUFON Field Investigator's Manuals, edited by Raymond Fowler, are available for $7.00 each through Marge Christensen. Members are encouraged to obtain a copy.

Use of MUFON Letterhead An issue regarding the misuse of MUFON letterhead for filing FOIA requests and making threats has been addressed. Walt Andrus, MUFON's International Director, clarified that while MUFON supports the use of the Freedom of Information Act, the organization wishes to preserve its reputation. The policy on who is authorized to write letters on behalf of MUFON will be specified at the Annual Corporate Meeting in St. Louis. In the interim, members using letterhead should clearly state they are writing as private citizens, not as officers or spokesmen.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter reflects MUFON's active engagement in UFO research and public outreach. Key themes include the dissemination of UFO information through documentaries and media appearances (NBC News), organizing significant events (UFO Symposium, UFO Forum), and fostering community through membership communication and specialized groups (Future UFO Investigators, COMPUFON network). The editorial stance emphasizes the importance of proper conduct and organizational representation, as seen in the clarification regarding the use of MUFON letterhead. There is a clear effort to involve the public and libraries in UFO awareness and to provide resources for investigators.