MUFON Michigan Newsletter - 1995 06 - Vol 1 No 1

Magazine Overview

Title: MICHIGAN MUFON Newsletter
Issue: Volume 1 Issue 1
Date: June 15, 1995
Publisher: Michigan Mutual UFO Network
Country: USA
Language: English

This inaugural issue of the Michigan MUFON Newsletter serves as a communication hub for members, detailing organizational changes, upcoming events, and a significant number of UFO sighting reports. The newsletter aims to keep members informed about the state chapter's activities and the broader field of ufology.

State News and Organizational Updates

The newsletter opens with a "State News" section, announcing that Bill and Linda Murphy have taken over the Co-Directorship of Michigan MUFON at the request of International Director Walt Andrus. They express appreciation for the support received and acknowledge the challenge of managing a state as large as Michigan. Their immediate concerns have been to improve communication with the membership and State Section Directors, leading to the creation of this newsletter, as well as other communication efforts.

Plans are underway for September and November State Membership meetings, and proposals for State officer reorganization are being prepared. The Murphys intend to transition responsibilities to a new State Director and Board of Officers by early next year before they move to Oklahoma. They ask for patience and indulgence as they manage these transitions.

The newsletter also addresses the State Dues Structure, clarifying that dues are $10.00 per mailing address and not per person. Members who pay their dues will continue to receive newsletters. A "Call for Nominees for State Director" is issued, outlining a new selection process that involves member preferences while retaining the International Office's final decision. Nominees must submit a written resume by August 31, 1995. The voting process will award points based on first, second, and third preferences, with only National MUFON members eligible to vote.

The State-Director-elect will be contacted by October 15th and will play a role in selecting the state officer team. The new director will assume leadership at the November meeting. Work is also being done to determine the exact number and duties of other State officers, with positions like Assistant State Director, Chief Investigator, and Newsletter Editor/Media Chief anticipated.

A summary of the State Section Directors' meeting on June 4th highlights key interests such as improved communications, Field Investigator training, and Public Relations. The meeting also involved allocating counties to State Section Directors, with some directors stepping down due to retirement or other commitments. The current roster of State Section Directors and their respective counties is provided.

Other major business at the meeting included the presentation of the innovative State Director selection procedure, a financial report showing $812.66 in the treasury, and discussions on a Michigan MUFON dues structure and fundraising ideas. Meeting plans for the rest of the year were also discussed, with Lansing as the site for the September and November meetings.

State Sightings in Brief

This section, courtesy of David Reinhart, State Section Director for Saginaw, Shiawasee, Genesee, and Lapeer Counties, presents a compilation of UFO reports from the National UFO Reporting Center. The reports span from April 1994 to February 1995 and detail numerous sightings across Michigan, including:

• April 9, 1994 (Grosse Pointe): A brilliant "Kelly Green" light.
• August 18, 1994 (Detroit): A triangular ship over a hospital.
• August 28, 1994 (Southern Michigan): 40-50 strange lights and a reported landing.
• August 31, 1994 (Jackson): A bright object the size of the moon witnessed by public employees, with photographs taken.
• September 1, 1994 (Ann Arbor): A strange, triangular blue object.
• September 5, 1994 (Saginaw): A report of hearing voices and aliens invading an esophagus.
• September 20, 1994 (Caro): Four orange lights seen by a family.
• September 21, 1994 (Charlotte): A bizarre, moving sound reported by a retired police officer.
• September 24, 1994 (Greenwood): A strange craft witnessed.
• October 1, 1994 (Riverside): A strange object in the night sky.
• October 10, 1994 (Battle Creek): A very bright light.
• October 16, 1994 (Southern Michigan): Six adults watched 50 objects.
• October 26, 1994 (Northville): An immense bright green flash.
• November 4, 1994 (Fairgrove): Three young women saw two lighted objects over a field, with missing time reported.
• November 8, 1994 (Haslett): A very bright object below the clouds, which remained motionless.
• November 10, 1994 (Potaski/Petoskey): A caller recalled finding a cow's leg before a UFO sighting.
• November 16, 1994 (Meceola): Police reported multiple sightings, including a triangle and cluster of lights seen in daylight.
• November 17, 1994 (Detroit): Multiple objects seen.
• November 19, 1994 (South Haven): Numerous sightings, including three triangles that "flip".
• December 21, 1994 (Traverse City): A State Trooper and witnesses saw an object in the daylight sky, with video taken.
• December 23, 1994 (Petoskey): A red, green, and white object sighted.
• December 29, 1994 (Lakeview): Adults gawked at strange lights moving in the night sky.
• January 4, 1995 (Rodney): Approximately one dozen triangular ships seen, with columns of light beamed to the ground.
• January 5, 1995 (Big Rapids): Local police station reported multiple UFO calls.
• January 5, 1995 (Lake Myers, near Evart): A mother and son saw two lights that split and approached their car, revealing a silver fuselage.
• January 6, 1995 (Grosse Pointe): The local newspaper editor reported multiple local sightings.
• January 7, 1995 (Horton): A man and friend witnessed a strange red light.
• January 8, 1995 (Horton): A young boy and friend saw a red light.
• January 28, 1995 (Muskegon): A Michigan Trooper reported a red/blue/green light.
• January 31, 1995 (Mason): An airport manager reported multiple UFOs sighted.
• January 31, 1995 (Eaton Rapids): A mother, children, neighbors, and aunt saw a huge "X-shaped object".
• February 2, 1995 (Eastport): A retired NASA engineer saw a large, white, bright object descending very fast, emitting "vapors".
• February 2, 1995 (Traverse City): Four children reported seeing a disc that bathed them in white light, with "missing time" reported.
• February 3, 1995 (Romulus): Two young males reported seeing a "World War II style bomber fly overhead".
• March 8, 1995 (Byron Center): A couple witnessed a yellowish light descend into the woods.
• March 17, 1995 (Flint): Five FAA controllers saw four pulsing "clouds" of red light.
• March 23, 1995 (Petoskey): Multiple FAA controllers experienced a sighting where an object returned a light signal but did not give a radar return.
• March 30, 1995 (Warren): A woman saw a bright light that dimmed and split into six objects.
• April 3, 1995 (Haslett): A young boy saw two discs and snapped a Polaroid photo.

These numerous sightings underscore the need for establishing tight communications throughout the State for Michigan MUFON.

National UFO Awareness Week

August 12-20, 1995, has been designated UFO Awareness Week. Michigan's Ginny Tilly, MUFON International's Director of Public Education, initiated this week, which includes two weekends to allow for more activities. The observance begins with a Kick-Off Rally at Noon on Saturday, August 12, in Grand Rapids, at the Gerald R. Ford Federal Building. The newsletter encourages participation and support for UFO research.

"Can't Get There From Here? -- Wait a Hundred Years!"

This article addresses the common argument against extraterrestrial visitation: the vast distances between stars. It challenges the notion that aliens couldn't have crossed these distances, citing historical examples of humans overcoming seemingly insurmountable barriers, such as the speed of sound and the Atlantic Ocean. The author references Carl Sagan and Einstein's theories but argues that historians, philosophers, and engineers recognize that progress often comes from those who dare to think outside conventional constraints.

The article uses the example of the Xerox copy process inventor and the failure of Swiss watchmakers to adapt to quartz movements as illustrations of how perseverance and adaptation lead to progress, while resistance to change can lead to decline. It also discusses the evolution of Greek pottery, from geometric patterns to more elaborate "Orientalizing" styles, as an example of creative adaptation.

The author then delves into W.M. Brazelton, Jr.'s article, "Space Power for an Expanded Vision," published in the IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Magazine. Brazelton proposes a three-"Epoch" program for space exploration, powered by an He-3 based nuclear reaction system. "Epoch I" involves building the Space Station and mining Helium-3 from the moon to power Earth. "Epoch II" focuses on manned tours and exploration of the solar system, potentially using Helium-3 fusion-powered electrical drive systems. "Epoch III" envisions a large interstellar vehicle exploring a neighboring star system, possibly using a fractional light speed spacecraft powered by a Helium-3 nuclear-fusion-powered matter/antimatter annihilation propulsion system.

Brazelton's vision includes a round-trip journey to a neighboring star system taking about 37 years, or potentially 20 years with advanced propulsion. The article acknowledges that some may find Brazelton's vision unsettling, particularly the idea of lunar "strip-mining," but emphasizes that even if the speed of light is a practical constraint, it does not preclude human interstellar exploration. The article concludes that if humans can conceive of traveling between stars, then non-terrestrial races could certainly do the reverse.

Who We Are

This section introduces Linda and Bill Murphy, the new Co-Section Directors. They have been involved with MUFON for three years and served as Co-Section Directors for Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton Counties. Bill is a MUFON Research Specialist in History and a Senior Project Engineer at General Motors, with adjunct faculty experience. Linda is a Senior at Michigan State University, majoring in Electrical Engineering. They express a strong interest in helping reorganize Michigan MUFON and look forward to working with members for the next eight months before moving to Oklahoma.

"Impossibility" Thinkers

This section features two quotes:

• "Everything that can be invented, has been invented." - Charles Duell, head of U.S. Patent Office, 1899.
• "Who the h-- wants to hear actors talk?" - Harry Warner, president of Warner Bros. in 1927.

These quotes serve as a prelude to the next article.

"Algebra and Aliens" -- How Useful are Statistical Studies in Ufology?

This article, the first part of a series, discusses the application of statistical studies to ufology. It begins by critiquing the unreliability of opinion polls and surveys, noting how they can fail to reflect true public sentiment or anticipate "surprises" in elections. The author argues that this unreliability also applies to ufology, where focusing solely on finding the "Case of the Century" might be less productive than examining the vast amount of existing UFO data for meaningful patterns.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently emphasizes the importance of communication and organization within Michigan MUFON. There is a clear focus on improving internal processes, such as the election of leadership and the training of investigators. The editorial stance supports the serious investigation of UFO phenomena, as evidenced by the extensive reporting of sightings and the discussion of advanced scientific concepts related to space exploration. The publication also highlights the need for members to stay informed and engaged, encouraging participation in meetings and awareness week activities. The underlying theme is one of proactive engagement with the subject of UFOs, both through rigorous investigation and open-minded consideration of scientific possibilities.

This issue of the MICHIGAN MUFON NEWSLETTER, identified as issue number 11 and dated 1995, focuses on the application of statistics to UFO research and includes reviews of prominent books in the field. The cover headline highlights 'Statistics' and the main article discusses 'Statistical inference' and its relevance to understanding UFO phenomena.

Statistical Inference and UFO Research

The lead article, "Statistics," begins by explaining the concept of statistical inference, which involves making educated guesses from limited information. It introduces the idea of a 'population' (the totality of what is to be studied, e.g., all UFO reports in the U.S. over a decade) and a 'sample' (a part of that population that can be measured). The article uses the example of measuring UFO sizes from witness reports, noting that data from a sample is summarized into a 'statistic' (e.g., an average UFO diameter of 30 feet). The core challenge is determining how well this sample statistic reflects the true population characteristic, which requires probability rules and assumptions.

The article cautions against common pitfalls in statistical efforts. It emphasizes the importance of a sample being large enough and representative of the population, drawing parallels to how one wouldn't judge a bowling average from a single game. The issue of 'random selection' is raised, questioning whether non-random samples might lead to false notions about UFO sizes. It also points out that researchers might discard reports of smaller UFOs, potentially skewing results. The accuracy of measurements is questioned, as witness statements can be imprecise (e.g., "about 15 feet," "bigger than a house"). The article warns against 'straining' data to fit preconceived conclusions and highlights the difficulty in proving theories about UFOs by using unrelated facts.

To illustrate, the article references the Austin, Texas, MUFON Field Investigator's Training Guide, which uses data from the National Sightings Yearbook 1992 and the 1992 Canadian UFO Survey. These surveys aimed to evaluate common beliefs about UFOs, such as the percentage of misidentified reports, best times for sightings, duration, and 'wave cycles.' However, the analysis faces problems, including the unequal value of reports from different sources (e.g., UFO Center reports versus news clippings) and inconsistencies in data availability between the two surveys.

Book Reviews

The 'BOOK REVIEWS' section covers several significant books related to UFOs and alien contact.

Alien Contacts and Abductions: The Real Story From the Other Side by Jenny Randles

This review highlights Jenny Randles' book, which focuses on alien-human contact, particularly in Europe, offering a broader perspective than U.S.-centric studies. Randles attempts to classify alien types and explore the purpose of the abduction phenomenon. The review notes Randles' gradual, reluctant acceptance of the reality of UFO abductions. Intriguing points include cases where abductees were observed in a catatonic state during the experience, and instances of apparent 'teleportation.' The book also discusses 'implants' and a 'barrage of major cases' since 1987 involving alien contact.

Intruders: The Incredible Visitations at Copley Woods by Budd Hopkins

This review discusses Budd Hopkins' book, focusing on the case of Kathie Davis (Debbie Jordan), who experienced a frightening event in 1983. The review details how Davis worked with Hopkins and an artist-ufologist, leading to the emergence of abduction narratives. It touches upon the idea of a 'wise baby' and Hopkins' thesis of a vast genetic experiment for alien purposes. The review acknowledges potential mistakes by Hopkins, such as neglecting to analyze soil for microbiological anomalies and the use of regressive hypnosis. However, it praises Hopkins and Dr. Leo Sprinkle for their empathy towards abductees.

Abductions: A Dangerous Game by Philip J. Klass

The review of Philip J. Klass's book is highly critical. Klass, an aviation and technology writer, is portrayed as a skeptic who dismisses abduction accounts as 'foolish fantasies.' The review characterizes Klass's approach as creating an 'atmosphere of ridicule' and suggests he labels anyone reporting such events as a liar or mentally deranged. While acknowledging Klass makes some valid points, such as questioning the incentives behind the Travis Walton case and noting Whitley Streiber's shifting stance on his experiences, the review argues that Klass's work is an example of 'poor research.' It criticizes his selective use of information, such as downplaying the Vilas Boas story, and his 'ad hominem attacks.' The review also notes Klass's observation that psychologists and psychiatrists may not be adept at recognizing deception.

Other Sections

New Members

The newsletter welcomes new members: William M. Brown (Plymouth, Wayne County), Sarah Davis (Brown City, St. Clair County), and Dominic Sondy (Muskegon, Muskegon County).

Next Time

The upcoming issue promises coverage of the Seattle Symposium, meeting information, Section Director positions, updates on Field Investigator Training, more sighting reports, and a look at statistics in ufology, along with book reviews and cartoons.

Dues Form

A form is included for members to send their $10.00 dues for 1995 to Bill and Linda Murphy.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the critical examination of UFO research methodologies, particularly the use of statistics and the interpretation of witness data. There is a clear emphasis on the challenges and potential pitfalls in drawing conclusions from incomplete or subjective information. The editorial stance appears to be one of cautious inquiry, acknowledging the complexities of the UFO phenomenon while critically evaluating both skeptical and proponent viewpoints. The book reviews, in particular, showcase a willingness to engage with different perspectives, even those that are highly critical, while ultimately defending the reality of abduction experiences as a subject worthy of serious study.