Ufologie Contact - Series 1 - No 15 - Special CECRU - 20 mai 1978

Magazine Overview

Title: UFOLOGIE CONTACT
Issue: 15
Date: May 20, 1978
Type: Bulletin/Magazine
Publisher: Not specified
Country: France
Language: French

Introduction and Purpose

UFOLOGIE CONTACT is presented as a liaison bulletin for ufologists in the Paris-Ile de France region. Its primary goal is to combat the isolation experienced by individual researchers by providing a platform to share reflections, information, questions, messages, and announcements. The "UFOLOGIE CONTACT SPECIAL" specifically highlights significant events in ufology, showcases the progress of research by dedicated individuals, and aims to provide essential information for serious technical research.

The bulletins are produced voluntarily and are available at cost price, requiring five issues to be requested with ten 1.20 F stamps. The administration and editorial office are managed by Raymond BONNAVENTURE at Domaine de Montval, 6, allée Alfred Sisley, 78160 MARLY.LE.ROI.

The publication invites regional ufological associations to send their publications for exchange.

The CECRU Initiative

A significant portion of this issue is dedicated to the C.E.C.R.U. (Comité Européen de Coordination de la Recherche Ufologique), presented as a project by the Société Lémanique d'Etude des Phénomènes Spatiaux. The CECRU's principle is described as perfectly democratic, aiming to create a new entity for close and fruitful collaboration among ufological societies while allowing each to retain full autonomy.

The core idea is to enable any serious association studying the OVNI (Unidentified Flying Object) phenomenon to send delegates representing their society to quarterly meetings. These meetings are intended to discuss common problems encountered in their activities and to find optimal solutions.

CECRU Meetings and Participants

The report details two key preparatory meetings for the CECRU. The first took place in Geneva from November 11-13, 1977, where numerous groups expressed their agreement in principle. This was followed by a meeting in Chambéry on March 4-5, 1978, the report of which is included. The Chambéry meeting was attended by 17 French-speaking groups, totaling 55 people, with CSERU (Chambery) responsible for the organization.

The document lists the participating groups and their representatives:

• AAMT (Valence): Mr David Duquesnoy (president) and Mrs Michel FIGUET and VINCENT.
• AESV (Aix en provence): Mr Robert COSTE (president) and PERKY (secretary).
• CIJU (region parisienne): Mr James PETIT (president).
• CSERU (Chambery): M. Nicolas GRESLOU (president), M. Jacques ROULET (vice-president), and MM BEC, CHAZOTTES, DETRE, PETIT, BARTOLO, DERIVE.
• GAU (Aube): Mr Remi RENAUX.
• GERO (Besançon): MM Pierre TUPIN and Roland FROIDEVEAUX.
• GLRU (Langeac): M. Gilbert PEYRET and Mrs (president), M and Mrs JOUSSOUYS (secretary), M and Mrs GOUTRATEL (vice presid.) and M. ACHARD.
• GPUN (Nancy): Mr Raoul ROBE (secrétaire) and M. PELLERIN.
• GREPO (vaucluse): Mr René FAUDRIN (president), Mr and Mrs J.Pierre TROADEC.
• KRUPTOS (Lyon): M Hervé LARONDE (president), J.Jacques and J.Pierre CHALENCON, M. Georges POTY.
• LDLN Isère: Mr (and Mrs) Michel PICARD, Mr BATTISTON.
• OLHANOS Marseille: M. LANGARD (president) and Mlle DEMITRI.
• PALMOS (Montpellier): M. Bernard DUPI (president) and J.Pierre CHARTON (vice pres.).
• SLEPS Genève: M. Marc MARINELLO (and Mrs) president; Mr and Mrs Christian PAILLARD, two members.
• SLEPS Vaud: Mme IUND and Mr ORLANDO.
• SPEPSE (Paris): Mr Pascal MONTREUIL, treasurer.
• SVEPS (Toulon): Mr Frantz CRERELY (vice-president), Mlle Denise GERIN, Mr Albert BOISNARD and Pierre SALOMON.
• VERONICA (Nimes): Mr Charles GOUIRAN, president.

In total, 55 people were present. 44 French-speaking groups were invited, with 17 attending, representing nearly half of the French groups.

The report also lists groups that could not attend but responded (FRANCE: CDRU, CRUN, CFRU, GEOS, GEPO, 03100, GNEOVNI, GREU, GRIPHOM, GTRovni, groupe 5255, Cufos France; Belgium: GESAG, CERPI, GIU; Luxembourg: la CLEU) and groups that did not respond.

CECRU Protocol of Cooperation

The document outlines the protocol of cooperation for the CECRU. It emphasizes that the CECRU is not a federation or union, having no common statutes, bureau, president, finances, or publication. It operates on a cooperation protocol that grants significant independence to participants.

The primary goal is to coordinate the work and actions of participants to make them easier and more constructive. This includes standardization, information sharing, and exchanges, both on a punctual (group-to-group) and global (all-group) basis. Each member commits to respecting the spirit and actions of the CECRU within their means.

Key points of the protocol include:

• Scope: Initially limited to French-speaking groups, with potential for geographical expansion. Regional groups are free to join national or international movements without committing the entire CECRU.
• Representation: No individual can speak or act in the name of the CECRU without the agreement of the participants.
• Internal Affairs: Internal matters of a group are their own concern, unless they challenge the cooperation protocol or commit the committee without authorization.
• Harmonization: Groups within the same department are encouraged to harmonize their local actions.
• Information Sharing: When an observation occurs near the border of two groups' territories, the investigating group should communicate the file to the neighboring group. Participants agree to send any investigation documents related to their activities to other groups (e.g., humanoid catalogs, archive research, landing case catalogs).
• Publications: Groups agree to exchange reviews/bulletins or sell them at cost price. All reproductions of articles, photos, drawings, or investigations must be authorized by the originating group, which retains ownership.

CECRU Functioning

The CECRU is scheduled to meet three times a year (February/March, May/June, October/November). The location and organizing group for the next meeting are decided at the current meeting. A minimum of one meeting per year will be held in a city north of the Loire.

Each member group commits to attending at least one meeting per year. The organizing group assumes the role of session president from the meeting date until the next one, managing CECRU correspondence during that period. The organizing group receives a flat fee of 10 F (subject to revision) to cover postage and stationery costs. Participants are responsible for their own accommodation, travel, and meal expenses.

No subsidies, money, or purchases can be demanded in the name of the CECRU, except for reimbursement of organization costs. After each meeting, a report will be sent to all members, prepared by the organizing society or another present society. The agenda for the next meeting will be set collectively and communicated with the meeting report. A "CECRU dossier" is being compiled and will be passed to the next organizing group for archiving.

Actions and Works Undertaken by Groups

The bulletin details various ongoing projects and activities of the member groups:

• AAMT: Compiling a catalog of French landings, with a forthcoming two-volume publication by Gallimard.
• CRUN (Nice): Working on a catalog of humanoid cases.
• GREPO: Researching cases of exchanges between humanoids and witnesses, and developing a regional catalog and topology for OVNI phenomena.
• PALMOS: Studying OVNI links with cult sites, faults, legends, and periodicity.
• AESV: Creating a file and collecting press clippings from the region.
• CIJU: Offering investigator training stages and studying observation catalogs from the September 1973 wave.
• GLRL: Developing detectors and exploring space and astronomy.
• GPUN: Seeking detection equipment and studying the normalization of investigation reports.
• SVEPS: Focusing on OVNI methodology, human impact, and material aspects of the phenomenon, and contributing to investigator training.
• VERONICA: Compiling an observation catalog and developing an investigation kit, including aerial photography and landing site marking.
• GERO: Compiling a regional observation catalog and addressing the issue of color charts.
• GAU: Compiling observation catalogs and planning a detector workshop.
• SLEFS: Focusing on technical approaches to the phenomenon and operating through five independent commissions. They also raise the issue of an alert telephone network.
• CSERL: Compiling a regional observation catalog and undertaking a large-scale project on the history of ufology.

Actions Concerning the Total CECRU

Several actions are planned or underway for the entire CECRU:

• Observation Nights: Monthly European-level observation nights organized by SVEPS, which are successful and motivating. The possibility of intensifying these, especially in summer, is mentioned, along with a coordination issue with LDLN dates.
• Radio Amateur Network: SVEPS is centralizing call signs for a radio network linked to surveillance nights.
• Telephone Alert: An indispensable system, already proven effective (e.g., February 15, 1978). A separate sheet provides contact numbers.
• Photographs: Contacting Charles GOUIRAN (Veronica) for ground-based photographs taken at altitude.
• Press Clippings: Two solutions are proposed: SLEPS distributing lists for participants to select desired clippings, or AAMT creating an annual digest. This issue is postponed.
• Regional Observation Catalogs: The problem of choosing a classification system and symbols is raised, with GREPO and KRUPTOS working on catalogs for Africa.
• Type Investigation Reports: To be discussed at the June meeting.
• Detector Test Bench: Harmonization and a test bench are planned for the June meeting.
• Equipment Inventory: A list of available equipment and items sought is being compiled.
• Actions Towards Authorities: To be studied and defined later.

A note clarifies that the list of actions is not exhaustive. Members absent from the Chambéry meeting are asked to send information to CSERU and then AAMT to complete the report for the next issue.

Telephone Alert Table

A table provides telephone numbers for contact during OVNI waves or specific phenomena. It lists groups like AAMT, AESV, CIJU, CSERU, GAU, GERO, GLRU, GPUN, GREPO, KRUPTOS, LDLN Isère, OLRANOS Marseille, PALMOS, SLEPS Genève, SLEPS Vaud, SPEPSE, SVEPS, and VERONICA, along with contact names and available hours.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the organization, coordination, and professionalization of ufological research in France and French-speaking Europe. The establishment of the CECRU signifies a move towards structured collaboration, information sharing, and mutual support among diverse ufological groups. The editorial stance is one of promoting serious, methodical research, encouraging the exchange of data and findings, and fostering a sense of community among researchers. There is a clear emphasis on democratic principles, autonomy, and practical cooperation. The publication aims to be a vital resource for those engaged in ufological investigations, providing a platform for networking and advancing the field.

This document, issue 11 of "L'Aventure Extra-Terrestre" from March 1978, focuses on the operational aspects and future planning of ufological groups in France. It details correspondence protocols, membership requirements, and a schedule of upcoming meetings and their agendas.

Correspondence and Group Protocols

The document begins by outlining correspondence guidelines (item 11), stressing the importance of noting who receives important communications to streamline exchanges. Journalists are to be generally excluded from working weekends, though they may receive a published report drafted by participants (item 12). An annuary of ufological groups, compiled by AAMT, will be distributed, with updates to be reported promptly to AAMT (item 13). Membership in CECRU requires signing a participation request and approving a cooperation protocol (item 14). Member groups are obligated to feature CECRU news in their own bulletins or reviews (item 15). The cooperation protocol is not fixed and will be reviewed at each meeting for improvement, with any modifications subject to member approval (item 16).

This protocol was elaborated in Chambery on March 5, 1978, by CSERU, the society responsible for the meeting. Nicolas Greslou signed on behalf of CSERU.

Calendar of Upcoming Meetings

The document provides a schedule for future ufological group gatherings:

1. July 3-4, 1978: The next CECRU meeting will be held in Ardèche, near Montélimar, organized by AAMT, which will also assume leadership of CECRU until the subsequent meeting.
2. October or November (1978): The following meeting is planned for the Parisian region, organized by S.P.E.P.S.E.
3. May 1979: A proposal has been received from the VERONICA group in Nîmes for a meeting.

Agenda for the June Meeting

The agenda for the June meeting has been set as follows:

• Radio links
• Investigation reports
• Development of a common symbolism for regional observation catalogs
• Problem of testing and calibrating detectors

Work will be conducted in commissions. By June 1978, GPUN (Nancy) will centralize proposals for symbolism. SLEPS will centralize existing types of investigation reports. SVEPS will centralize radio call signs (for surveillance purposes).

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue emphasizes structured collaboration and standardization among ufological research groups. The focus on protocols, shared symbolism, and standardized reporting suggests an editorial stance favoring organized, systematic research and inter-group cooperation. The detailed planning for upcoming meetings and the specific tasks assigned to different organizations highlight a commitment to advancing the field through collective effort and data consolidation.