MUFON Michigan Annual Report - 2007

Magazine Overview

This document is the Annual Report of the Michigan Mutual UFO Network, Inc. (MUFON) for the period June 1, 2006, through May 31, 2007. It details the organization's membership, financial status, activities, accomplishments, and future goals.

Membership and Structure

The report states that the International Mutual UFO Network, Inc. had 71 members in Michigan per the central office list, while Michigan MUFON, Inc. itself had 85 members. The organization was supported by 13 State Section Directors who covered 34 of Michigan's 83 counties. Reports from counties outside the State Section Director's jurisdiction were handled on a situational basis.

Treasury and Assets

The treasury section provides a snapshot of the organization's financial health. The bank balance was $3306.46. Assets included merchandise in stock for sale valued at $1471.00, estimated current value of office equipment and supplies at $685.17, and an estimated current value of the library at $2071.00. The grand total of assets was $7533.63.

Library and Resources

The Michigan MUFON lending library was well-stocked, containing 467 books, 37 audiocassettes, 25 CDs, 345 periodicals, and 273 videocassettes/DVDs. The video material included recordings of presenters hosted by the organization and MIMUFON field investigator training.

Income and Disbursements

Income sources for the organization included membership dues ($25.00 annually per mailing address), sale of merchandise (clothing, books, video tapes, newsletters), and speaker presentation and luncheon fees for membership meetings. Disbursements covered expenses such as membership meeting luncheons, speaker fees, newsletter printing, postage, state director expenses, equipment rentals, office supplies, and deposits for meeting venues.

Membership Benefits

The $25.00 annual dues entitled members to receive the newsletter six times a year (in paper or PDF format), borrow materials from the state MUFON library, attend all training sessions (open to all MUFON members), and hear quality speakers at a discounted rate.

Meetings and Training

State membership meetings were held monthly from September 2006 to May 2007, with Field Investigator training preceding each meeting, except for January. Quality speakers were featured at the afternoon sessions. The general meeting schedule was made available in advance. The cost for general meetings was $13 for MUFON/MIMUFON members, $15 for non-members, and $5 for first-time attendees. State Officer/Section Director meetings were also held in conjunction with these state membership meetings and in August 2006 for planning and business.

Accomplishments

Key accomplishments for the year included:

• Maintaining 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, largely due to the efforts of Assistant State Director Wendy Smith, which facilitated tax-deductible donations.
• Welcoming Sunny Young as the new Chief Investigator.
• State Director Bill Konkolesky delivered presentations on MUFON and UFOs at various libraries and a metaphysical shop, with the Waterford Library presentation attracting an audience of 126 and being taped for cable access. Konkolesky was also interviewed by The Oakland Press and WJR 760 AM radio.
• Michigan MUFON members Chuck Lietzau and Bill Konkolesky were credited in Linda Godfrey's book "Weird Michigan."
• The organization possessed a range of audio-visual equipment, including laptop computers, projectors, screens, microphones, and a webcam, enhancing meeting presentations.
• In May, Michigan MUFON hosted its first webcam meetings with guest speakers Chuck Reever (MUFON Director of Investigation) and Jon Nowinski (Smoking Gun Research Agency).
• The Michigan MUFON website (mimufon.org), managed by Jean Waskiewicz, was kept updated with officer information, meeting details, news, and online payment options via PayPal for dues and store purchases.
• The library's collection of books, tapes, and DVDs continued to grow through member donations and recordings of guest speakers, curated by librarians David and Darlene Bleicher.
• The MIMUFON store, managed by Becky Konkolesky and later Patty Donahue, successfully sold merchandise like t-shirts, caps, and stickers, as well as books and periodicals.

Continued Initiatives

• Michigan MUFON continued to issue laminated membership cards for internal verification and organizational credibility.
• Field Investigator training sessions, held at regular meetings, remained popular and were open to all MUFON members, regardless of Michigan MUFON membership.
• Meetings were held in the Flint area due to geographic membership concentration and budgetary considerations, offering a centralized location with an average attendance of 30-40 people. The facility committed to a regularly scheduled program and guaranteed meal costs.
• A management team, including state officers, was involved in decision-making processes.

Goals

The organization outlined several goals for the future:

• Collaborating with Henry Ford Community College radio station WHFR to host a public presentation with Stanton Friedman in September 2007 to attract youth membership and increase public visibility.
• Leveraging the 501(c)(3) status to help Michigan MUFON grow, including enjoying tax-free meals and soliciting tax-deductible donations.
• Increasing membership in both MUFON International and Michigan MUFON Inc.
• Identifying methods to attract members and promote MUFON in underrepresented areas of Michigan.
• Developing leadership in counties without a State Section Director.
• Expanding the utilization of the Computer Management System (CMS) online sighting database.
• Improving and comprehensively completing more sighting and abduction investigations.
• Promoting professional UFO investigation by maintaining open communication with local law enforcement and news media.
• Informing the public about UFOlogy and promoting MUFON through public relations, interviews, and speaking engagements, exemplified by Newsletter Editor David Twichell's cable access program "We Are Not Alone" and his UFO-related book collaborations.
• Supporting smaller, local MUFON gatherings for more personal discussions.
• Updating the MIMUFON store with new merchandise.
• Maintaining a positive administrative attitude to ensure full participation from members and officers.
• Maintaining open communication with the International Director, the International Board of Directors, and all MUFON members.

Conclusion

The report concludes with a statement from State Director William J. Konkolesky, indicating that Michigan MUFON is in strong shape, financially healthy, and optimistically geared towards growth with an active team of officers and members, looking forward to another good year.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this report revolve around organizational growth, member engagement, resource management (financial, library, and technological), public outreach, and the professional investigation of UFO phenomena. The editorial stance is one of optimism, highlighting achievements and outlining clear goals for future development and increased impact within the field of UFOlogy. The organization emphasizes its commitment to its members and the public's understanding of UFO-related topics.