SUFOI Intern - 1998 10

Magazine Overview

This issue of SUFOI Intern, dated October 1998, marks a significant transition with Toke Haunstrup taking over as the new editor from Per. The magazine's appearance has changed, and Haunstrup welcomes feedback for future improvements. He apologizes for a slight delay, attributing it to the issue being more extensive than anticipated and a lack of contributions from representative members, urging them to submit articles.

News and Notes

SUFOI Acquires UFO.DK

SUFOI has purchased the internet domain name UFO.DK from the multimedia company FlickerFree in Aalborg for 10,000 DKK. This asset will be amortized over five years, costing SUFOI 2,000 DKK annually. The acquisition is timely, coinciding with the announcement of a government proposal to allow Dankort payments on the internet. The article speculates on the potential impact of the SET standard versus the SSL standard in browsers on internet commerce.

UFO-Nyt Expands

Following a proposal from KMH, the next issue of UFO-Nyt will be expanded to 8 pages to commemorate its 40th anniversary. The editor, Kim, will write the lead article, and a press release will be issued to generate media attention for this unique milestone.

New Editors Appointed

Several SUFOI publications have new editors. Toke Haunstrup is the new editor of 'Intern'. Flemming O. Rasmussen (Lystrup) takes over 'SUFOI Nyhedsbrev' from Per, having previously been a member of SUFOI's representative body. Michael Linden-Vørnle, the new Vice Chairman, becomes the editor of 'InfoBrevet', a publication started in 1993 to inform local report-takers about SUFOI's activities.

Egon Takes Over Newspaper Clipping Archive

Egon has agreed to manage SUFOI's newspaper clipping archive. The first batch of clippings has been handed over, and this archive is considered central for finding historical UFO-related newspaper mentions.

Agreement with Nimbus Film

SUFOI has entered into an agreement with Nimbus Film for a fictional TV series about a UFO landing in a Danish village. SUFOI will receive 10,000 DKK if the series is produced and aired. Nimbus Film is also seeking witnesses for their script, looking for Danish, recent, unexplained observations that made a significant impression.

Activities

SUFOI on TV2-Fyn

SUFOI participated in a TV2-Fyens news program on October 15th. The segment focused on an observation report of a strange phenomenon and a car stalling on the motorway near Ejby. After interviewing a contactee, the journalist also interviewed Peter Egemose Larsen from Odense, a new SUFOI report-taker, about SUFOI's work. The interview, which aired on TV2-Fyn, mentioned SUFOI's phone number, leading to several calls to the Alarm Central.

Radio Registration of Meteors

The article explains how meteors can be registered using radio equipment by detecting reflections from the ionized air they create upon entering the atmosphere. This technique was used by Gotfred Møbjerg Kristensen of the Danish Fireball Central. His equipment has now been transferred to Michael, who plans to use a computer to automate the registration process, continuing Gotfred's work.

Journal Circulation

SUFOI receives numerous foreign and Danish journals through an exchange program. These journals are circulated among representative members before being archived or sent to AFU in Sweden. The magazine is seeking feedback from members interested in being added to or removed from the circulation list, providing a comprehensive list of received journals.

Advertising in Other Journals

SUFOI plans to advertise UFO-Nyt in 'Nyt Aspekt' and 'Nyt Aspekt Guiden' to reach potential buyers. The board is also considering advertising in 'Aktuel Astronomi', published by Tycho Brahe Planetarium, depending on the cost.

Debate Evening in Copenhagen

The Copenhagen UFO Group held a meeting on October 6th, featuring Kirsten Borum discussing UFO dreams. The meeting evolved into a lively discussion with a skeptical audience.

Persons

Verner Turns 70

Verner celebrated his 70th birthday on September 29th.

New Phone Numbers

New area codes have been assigned to Kim Møller Hansen (57 61 94 57) and Ole Henningsen (54 94 11 69).

Organization Handbook Update

Representative members are asked to check and update their contact information in the Organization Handbook. Jørgen Bengtvig is handling the updates.

Meeting Minutes

SUFOI Representative Meeting - September 27, 1998

The meeting was attended by TB, OH, PA, TH, MLV, EO, VM, AN, MS. Key discussions included:

• Ad. 1: Welcome to new members AN and MLV. PA reflected on the past half-year, highlighting TH's success in securing funds for a booklet on celestial phenomena.
• Ad. 2, 3, 4: TB was elected as chairman, MLV as recorder.
• Ad. 5: Minutes from the previous meeting were approved.
• Ad. 6: PA presented the financial report. Key points included a decline in UFO-Nyt subscribers, necessitating efforts to recruit new members. Material sales, including newsletters and the 'Ufoernes Verden' book, showed good growth. Export sales to Norway had returned to previous levels. Usage of the Picture Library had fallen, requiring efforts to boost this activity. Departmental expenses had increased significantly.
• Ad. 7: Discussion on the decline in Picture Library interest. PA was unsure of the reasons, while TB suggested KMH investigate further. The issue of increased departmental expenses was also raised, with speculation about new routines. PR activities were noted as not having spent any money, with costs categorized under office supplies. Video sales were discussed, with 100 copies of 'UFO'er - tæt på et mysterium' produced and about 50% sold. Imported videos are from England, while SUFOI produces its own.
• Ad. 8: PA reported on SUFOI's assets as of July 1, 1998, noting good liquidity, largely due to 76,000 DKK from grants. A separate accounting for the use of these funds is required. A large depot of old UFO-Nyt issues was processed, with 50 copies of each kept and the rest liquidated.
• Ad. 9: The 1998/99 budget was discussed, with increases in material sales and departmental expenses. The cost of producing UFO-Nyt was noted as cheaper than the previous year due to inventory changes. Problems with the weight of loose PR sheets and special prints for mailings were discussed, with plans to optimize the amount of PR material. Savings on phone bills were also mentioned.
• Ad. 10: The election of auditors took place, with PN chosen as the internal auditor. The possibility of an external auditor was discussed.
• Ad. 11: No new members were proposed for the representative body. IHS's request to resign was accepted.
• Ad. 12: Elections for the board were held. TH and PN were re-elected, while PA did not seek re-election. MLV was elected as a new board member.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue highlights SUFOI's active engagement with media, including acquiring a domain name, participating in TV programs, and dealing with media inquiries. There's a focus on internal organization, with updates on editorship, archives, and financial management. The magazine also continues to document UFO observations, including a notable incident involving a projector light that generated a high volume of calls. The editorial stance appears to be one of proactive management, seeking to expand SUFOI's reach and improve its operations, while also encouraging member participation and addressing practical challenges like mailing costs and financial reporting.

This issue of UFO-Nyt, identified as issue 4/98, primarily consists of meeting minutes and reports from late 1998, alongside newspaper clippings detailing UFO sightings. The content is predominantly in Danish.

Meeting Minutes and Discussions

The document details discussions from a meeting, covering several agenda points:

• Ad. 13) Agenda Item 13: This item was not on the agenda.
• Ad. 14) Election of Chairman: TH was elected as the new chairman, following a proposal by PA. KMH had proposed PN, but PN had indicated he did not wish to take the post.
• Ad. 15) Incoming Proposals: Several proposals were discussed: 1. Expansion of UFO-Nyt's Page Count: The outgoing board presented a discussion paper. VM suggested trying a 32-page UFO-Nyt for one year to assess its effect before potentially reverting to 24 pages. PA argued that reducing pages after an increase would have a greater negative impact than maintaining 24 pages. MLV questioned the feasibility of sourcing enough content for eight extra pages. TB, relaying KMH's views, stated that an expansion was a bad idea due to cost, lack of subscriber increase to cover costs, draining resources from other club activities, the fact that only eight extra pages wouldn't make a significant difference, and no indication of more content being available. KMH proposed expanding UFO-Nyt nr. 4/98, the 40th-anniversary issue, to 32 pages. AN inquired about dissatisfaction with the 24-page format, to which PA responded he didn't know. PA noted that subscription price is less critical as about 50% of subscribers are libraries, and that there's a skewed distribution of other subscribers, with a core group of long-term members and others who subscribe only briefly. MS asked about the subscriber count, and PA stated it was 600-650. TH commented on the changing media landscape, suggesting a focus on advertising to attract new subscribers who might only stay for a couple of years. PA pointed out that advertising funds are limited and unlikely to provide the necessary subscriber turnover. He also suggested an annual issue with an expanded page count, like nr. 4, costing approximately 4,000 DKK per year. TB added that page expansion could be done for extra content or special occasions. It was decided to expand only the anniversary issue (UN 4/98) to 32 pages, with no obligation for annual expansion. 2. Discontinuation of Diskette Service: PA proposed ending the diskette service, despite it being profitable, due to the lack of someone to take over the practical work by January 1, 1999. MLV suggested focusing on the Internet. AN suggested keeping the diskette service until everyone has internet access. PA and MLV countered that most people would soon have internet access. The conclusion was to discontinue the service if no one volunteers by January 1, 1999. 3. Production of a 20-page A5 info booklet on sales materials: Proposed by KMH. PA considered it a bad idea due to the estimated cost of 5,000 DKK for production and distribution. MLV suggested using one or two pages in the anniversary issue (UFO-Nyt 4/98) to mention sales materials. TH agreed that information on sales materials was lacking and MLV's suggestion could be used, or a similar overview could be included in the upcoming issue on atmospheric phenomena. TB noted that long-term subscribers rarely buy sales materials but thought MLV's suggestion was viable. PA added that new materials advertised in UFO-Nyt often sell only a few copies. The conclusion was not to produce a separate booklet but to include a one-page mention in UFO-Nyt 4/98. 4. Advertisements for UFO-Nyt in Nyt Aspekt Nyhedsbrevet and Nyt Aspekt Guiden: Proposed by KMH. TH considered it a good proposal. AN asked about the circulation of these publications, and PA estimated around 2000. PA also believed it was a good idea to advertise in media targeting an audience with related interests. VM inquired about promoting UFO-Nyt at every opportunity, to which TH emphasized the importance of leveraging media coverage, especially TV. The consensus was to proceed with at least one of the proposed advertisements and to ask KMH for their reasoning behind advertising in these two publications. The layout preference was for "the little man in the middle."
• Ad. 16) Review of Half-Year Reports: Various reports were discussed, including the newsletter (PA to FR), periodicals (TH), clippings (TH), UFO-Nyt Abstracts and SUFOI Newsletter (MLV, PA stated it's not functioning due to lack of translators), Project PORT (TH, PA, TB, MLV), PR (TH, MLV/TH), press contact (TH, PN/MLV/TH), and the newspaper clipping archive (MLV to EO, with a note that the workflow needs discussion). The new chairman was tasked with thanking IHS for their efforts. MLV mentioned PA's plan to register projector renters and users, and PA spoke about a local station, Radio Traume in Fredericia, where the owner claimed to identify observations from SUFOI's web pages using his mobile disco and projector.
• Ad. 17) Next Meeting: Scheduled for March 13-14, 1999, in Copenhagen.

UFO Sightings and Investigations

The issue includes several newspaper clippings reporting on UFO sightings:

• "UFO set over Karrebækvej" (Næstved Tidende): Reports on Agnethe Christiansen, a 57-year-old nurse, who saw a silent, disc-like UFO with lights over Karrebækvej on Friday evening. She was frightened and fled to her apartment. She also mentioned a similar sighting by a woman from Karrebæksminde. The article notes that the police in Næstved received no reports, but Skandinavisk UFO Information received calls from the Slagelse area.
• "UFO'en er også set i Karrebæksminde" (Næstved Tidende): This article follows up on the previous sighting, with a woman from Karrebæksminde wishing to remain anonymous, describing a large, inverted disc-shaped UFO with a luminous glow and an electric hum. The article suggests a possible explanation: a powerful light cannon used at the "Citynatten" event in Næstved, which can project beams visible for kilometers and create circular patterns on clouds.
• "UFO øst for Dejrø" (Fyens Amts Avis): This clipping mentions a report of an unidentified flying object seen east of Dejrø, but notes that police searches found nothing. It also mentions a report from Ærøskøbing harbor.
• "UFO'er set over Slagelse og Næstved" (Sjællands Tidende): This article reiterates the sighting by Agnethe Christiansen in Næstved and mentions that Skandinavisk UFO Information (SUFOI) received several calls from the Slagelse area over the weekend. Verner Møller from SUFOI explains their role in talking to witnesses and finding explanations, acknowledging that light cannons can sometimes be mistaken for UFOs.
• "Flere UFO-observationer" (Næstved Tidende): This article features more witness accounts, including Esther Knudsen from Karrebæksminde, who saw a UFO with her companions. The article also mentions the ongoing work of SUFOI in documenting and investigating UFO reports.

Responsibilities and Tasks (October 1998)

A table outlines the responsibilities and tasks of various individuals within the organization as of October 1998. Key areas include alarm central, board meetings, archives (book, tape, video, clippings, reports), expeditions, electronic data processing, lectures, research projects, photography, newsletters, website development and maintenance, contact with authorities, courses, membership, PR, press contact, and economy/accounting. Individuals like TH, MLV, PA, PN, KMH, AN, EO, VM, JB, FR, CKL, MS, and LHA are listed with their respective areas of responsibility.

UFO Report Log (August 1 - September 30, 1998)

A detailed log of UFO reports received during the period of August 1 to September 30, 1998, is provided. Each entry includes the date, approximate time, duration, location (with postal code and town), number of observers, object description (color, shape), any identification (e.g., projector, helicopter, meteor), status, and the person who received the report. Status codes are explained at the end of the document.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the operational and administrative aspects of a UFO research organization, including membership, publication management, and event planning. There is also a strong focus on documenting and investigating UFO sightings, with multiple newspaper articles dedicated to recent events. The editorial stance appears to be one of diligent record-keeping and investigation, while also considering practical explanations for sightings, such as the light cannon incident. The organization seems to be navigating the challenges of a changing media landscape and the increasing availability of information online.

Title: Næstved Tidende
Issue Date: September 3, 1998
Volume: 23.E
Document Type: Magazine Issue

This issue of Næstved Tidende focuses heavily on UFO (Unidentified Flying Object) sightings and the ongoing debate surrounding them, particularly in the local Næstved area. The main cover story, "UFO'en var genskin fra en lysstråle" (The UFO was a reflection from a light beam), suggests that recent sightings were likely caused by a powerful light cannon used during a City Night event.

UFO Sightings in Næstved

The article details numerous reports from Næstved residents who claim to have seen UFOs. Agnethe Christiansen, a 57-year-old woman, was one of the first to come forward, expressing fear of alien abduction after seeing a UFO over Karrebækvej. Her account, along with others, generated significant public interest, flooding the phones of both the newspaper and SUFOI (Skandinavisk UFO Information).

Ruth Møller from SUFOI explains that the light cannon, a 4-kilowatt gas lamp, can project beams 5 to 10 kilometers into the air. Atmospheric conditions like clouds and humidity can cause these beams to refract, creating "circle-like" shapes that appear and disappear, mimicking UFOs. She believes these reflections are the most probable explanation for the Næstved sightings, citing a similar report from Vemmelev near Korsør.

Some readers suggested alternative explanations, such as a weather satellite that was visible at the time, or even fireworks from a local festival attracting attention. Despite the explanations offered, many people continue to believe they witnessed genuine UFOs, with some reports coming from up to 30-40 kilometers away from Næstved.

Broader UFO Debate and Government Secrecy

Beyond the local incidents, the magazine delves into the wider UFO phenomenon, referencing a significant development: a panel of ten prominent scientists, led by Professor Peter Sturrock from Stanford University, concluded that UFOs warrant serious scientific investigation. This marks a departure from decades of ridicule and dismissal.

The article discusses the historical context, including the Condon Report from 1969, which concluded that UFOs were misinterpretations of natural phenomena, illusions, or hoaxes. However, the magazine highlights that, over the past 20 years, thousands of documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) suggest a more sustained interest from various US government agencies, including the Air Force, Army, Navy intelligence, NASA, FBI, and NSA.

Specific examples are given, such as the NSA's UFO-related documents, many of which remain classified. The secrecy surrounding these documents fuels skepticism and distrust in official explanations.

An opinion poll cited indicates a significant shift in public attitudes, with 48% believing UFOs are real, 29% thinking contact has already been established, and 48% suspecting their government is hiding the truth.

Key Cases and Theories

The article touches upon famous UFO cases, such as the Roswell incident, where initial reports of a crashed UFO were later retracted and explained as a weather balloon. It mentions the alleged involvement of a secret group called Majestic 12 (MJ-12), supposedly composed of twelve top scientists and military officials, tasked with investigating UFOs. Documents related to MJ-12 and Project Aquarius are discussed, with claims of classification and potential falsification.

The 'Face on Mars' and Scientific Scrutiny

A significant portion of the article is dedicated to the 'Face on Mars,' a formation in the Cydonia region photographed by NASA's Viking 2 in 1976. While NASA later released images from the Mars Global Surveyor in 1998 that appeared to debunk the 'face' theory, critics argue that NASA manipulated the images by removing tonal data. The article presents the arguments of science journalist Richard Hoagland and his team, who suggest the formation and surrounding structures are artificial and may hold clues about ancient Martian civilizations or extraterrestrial activity.

UFO Traces and Witness Accounts

The magazine also features a report from Mors, Denmark, about mysterious marks found in the ground near Nykøbing. These marks, described as fan-shaped with deep rills, have baffled local residents and are being investigated by UFO researchers. The article notes that the marks do not appear to be the work of animals or natural phenomena, and a zoologist is being consulted.

Another section includes an interview with 'Jan,' who claims to have seen UFOs multiple times. His experiences include a sighting in Spain that profoundly affected his worldview and a possible abduction experience in Andorra after an accident. He later became a theology student, attributing his career change to his UFO encounters.

Editorial Stance and Recurring Themes

The magazine's editorial stance, particularly as reflected in the 'Hit med marsmændene' (Hit it with the Martians) section, appears to be one of skepticism towards the more sensational claims within the UFO community, while still acknowledging the public's fascination. The author expresses a preference for the entertainment value of UFO stories but criticizes the magazine 'UFO-Nyt' for becoming too dry and overly focused on debunking claims with prosaic explanations like 'sleep paralysis' or weather balloons, thus potentially losing the sense of mystery and wonder.

Recurring themes include:

• The nature of evidence: The debate over what constitutes valid evidence for UFOs, from eyewitness accounts and photographs to classified government documents.
• Government secrecy and distrust: The persistent belief that governments are hiding information about UFOs, leading to public skepticism.
• Scientific investigation: The growing, albeit cautious, acceptance of UFOs as a subject worthy of scientific study.
• The search for extraterrestrial life: The exploration of possibilities, from alleged alien encounters to anomalies on other planets like Mars.
• The power of suggestion and perception: How psychological factors and environmental conditions (like light cannons) can influence what people perceive.

The overall tone suggests a public grappling with unexplained phenomena, caught between the allure of the unknown and the desire for rational explanations, with a healthy dose of suspicion towards official narratives.