MUFON Massachusetts PIPEline - 1986 10

Magazine Overview

Title: P.I.P.E. LINE
Issue: #23
Date: October 1986
Publisher: MUFON

This issue of the P.I.P.E. LINE newsletter from MUFON focuses heavily on the upcoming 1987 MUFON Symposium in Washington, D.C., detailing planning stages and member responsibilities. It also includes a section congratulating members for their contributions to UFOlogy and a personal account of the UFO climate in Arizona.

P.I.P.E. HYPE: Planning for the 1987 MUFON Symposium

The editorial section outlines the initial steps for publicizing the 1987 MUFON Symposium. A videotaped message is being prepared for distribution to MUFON State organizations to encourage attendance. Several members are assigned specific tasks:

• Dan Wright is to draft a letter to be sent to Senators and Congressmen, inviting them to attend the symposium. This letter will then be distributed to State Directors to send to their respective representatives.
• Mildred Biesele will draft a letter to former U.S. Astronauts who have reported sightings, inviting them to the symposium.
• Barry Greenwood is tasked with preparing a press release for UPI and AP, updating the public on UFOs in response to a Denver Post article. The release should mention the 1987 symposium.
• John Schuessler is investigating the possibility of publishing a commemorative volume for the symposium.
• All P.I.P.E. Members are urged to speak to serious organizations about UFOs to promote the symposium.
• Marge will manage the circulation of videotapes, launch a library project, and encourage MUFON members to attend the symposium in large numbers.

The author, Marge, mentions she has started a new job teaching at a Tucson high school and is pursuing teacher certification, but assures readers she will not neglect her MUFON work.

Congratulations!

This section highlights recent achievements by MUFON members:

• Dan Wright is congratulated for publishing an informative and inspiring regional newsletter for the Central States Directors.
• Jim Melesciuc and Mass. MUFON are recognized for a significant newspaper article in the Middlesex News about UFO investigations, which is expected to boost credibility.
• Mildred Biesele's UFO display in Salt Lake City was highly successful, being extended from one week to a full month due to its popularity.
• Paul Cerny's organization's UFO exhibit has been viewed by over a quarter of a million people within the year.

With Regard to a Hynek Successor

Following a suggestion in the September P.I.P.E. Line to designate a national spokesperson for UFOlogy, only three members responded. Paul Cerny could not identify a suitable candidate. Mildred Biesele believes the field's specialization makes it difficult for one person to represent it adequately. John Schuessler suggests that a UFOlogist with a three-to-five-person expert staff might be more appropriate than a single spokesperson, as he sees no single, qualified, logical, or unbiased individual.

TELUFONET Update Needed

With new State Directors joining, the regional TELUFONET systems require updating to improve the telephone network's functionality. Dan Wright has updated the Central States system. Paul Cerny needs to update the Western States, and Joe Santangelo needs to update the Eastern States. Once completed, efforts will be made to use the network again.

Something to Think About

This section presents ideas for consideration and potential action:

• Fundraising: Ideas include raising funds for a large advertisement in the Washington Post to publicize the symposium before June.
• Smithsonian Air & Space Museum: The possibility of publicizing the UFO subject at the Smithsonian is explored, suggesting an offer for a display or guest speaker, acknowledging it might be a long shot.
• UFO Exhibit: Assistance is proposed for compiling a special UFO exhibit for the symposium, to include items like Marcia Smith's "UFO Enigma," government documents released under F.O.I.A., letters from officials, photographs, and news clippings. The possibility of inviting Marcia Smith to attend is also mentioned.

Plan Ahead

This section emphasizes the importance of planning for future symposia, even far in advance. If the 1987 symposium in Washington, D.C., achieves high attendance, it's crucial to use that captive audience to generate interest for the 1988 symposium. The author asks if there are plans for the '88 symposium and solicits location suggestions.

Write, On, P.I.P.E. Members!

This call to action encourages members to continue submitting quality articles to the MUFON Journal. The recent arrangement allowing the Journal to use articles from "Just Cause" after a delay is expected to enhance the publication with new information.

The Grass May Be Greener in the Desert, As Far As UFology Is Concerned

This personal account details the author's move from Massachusetts to Arizona and initial concerns about the local UFOlogy climate, expecting skepticism. However, the author has found the opposite to be true:

• Encounters: The author met a former chaplain who served at Wright-Patterson during Blue Book days. This individual mentioned that no one, not even AF generals, was allowed near the Blue Book building, and rumors of crashed discs were common.
• Serious Interest: Several individuals in positions of responsibility have shared their UFO sightings and take the subject seriously.
• Educational Integration: The author's daughter's high school includes UFOs as a topic in its astronomy course. A friend of the author's son at the University of Arizona is a dedicated UFO student who read "Clear Intent" and plans to use F.O.I.A. to obtain documents.
• Local Landmarks: The author attended a show at the Flandrau Planetarium, written by Allan Hendry, author of the "UFO Handbook." Upon returning home, they discovered their house faces Kitt Peak, home to the National Optical Astronomical Observatories, a significant landmark for UFOlogy.

Please Respond to P.I.P.E. Line

This section urges members to provide feedback on the P.I.P.E. Line. It notes that typically only three or four members respond, which is insufficient for a committee of 13 members to gauge collective opinion effectively. More responses are requested to understand members' views on important issues.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the proactive planning and promotion of MUFON events, particularly the 1987 Symposium, and the celebration of member contributions to the field of UFOlogy. The editorial stance is one of encouragement, urging active participation from members in various capacities, from writing articles to engaging in public outreach and providing feedback. There is a clear emphasis on building credibility for UFOlogy and fostering a collaborative approach among members. The personal account from Arizona suggests a positive and increasingly receptive environment for UFO research in unexpected places.