Thursday, August 13, 2009

The End of MUFON?

My wife and I jumped off the plane from NY to Denver and were greeted by my waiting dear friend and his wonderful wife at the airport. I had come to Denver once again to have a great time at the MUFON (MUTUAL UFO Network) symposium. We came to Denver a couple of days early and did some sightseeing with these truly gracious people. They have this lovely home in the foothills of the mountains, elevation 7000 ft,. with a fantastic view. We stayed with them and regularly they were visited by red fox and deer. We watched them every day and it felt great to be that close and have them trust you. So it is with my spirits up my and excitement mounting about what new adventure in UFO land I was about to experience that I arrived at the Marriott hotel where the MUFON’s 40th Anniversary Symposium was held. There is always the possibility of new information that hadn’t yet hit the media, follow-ups, recent cases, UFO photos and video. My friend was with me and a member MUFON for 8 years. He is also a MUFON investigator.

It was at the entrance of the conference where I registered that I received my first shock. Usually MUFON has many tables with various books and DVDS. For many of those out there who don’t go to conferences but love the UFO topic, there is a great wealth of history in those DVDs and especially those books. Some are collectors’ items and have already doubled in price. Some of those grand investigators will disappear into the ether’ their DVDs and published books along with them. I do some collecting of old UFO pioneers books and DVDs. What do you would think would happen to their value if ETs made contact?

Everything was smaller. When I walked into our first presentation I was saddened. MUFON had booked a smaller room with only one viewing screen. Normally there are two. Many of the seats were empty, even in that small room. But what struck me again is when John Greenewald asked for a show of hands for first timers, there were only a few, Most of the audience were old members. Those who follow MUON know Robert Bigelow has donated money for MUFON to set up 24 hour UFO strike teams. But that money, remember, is exclusive to that project. That doesn’t mean that MUFON is in great shape.

Not many young People.

The problem with young people at the UFO conferences and MUFON is their lack of vision and probably money I think. It is almost as if they want the modern young to conform to their lackluster method of presenting the evidence. Does it have to be soooo dry.

There have been many UFO investigative bodies. All except two have folded. MUFON, and NARCAP which investigates sightings related to UFO, UAPs and Planes.

Now, on to James Carrion, the international director of UFOs. He gave his first MUFON presentation at the conference on “New Research Avenues for Ufology”. He pointed out the infighting among the various UFO groups and how it actually hurts the progress of the Ufology. Now that sounded all well and good: a man who wants to change things, maybe bring some people together. But that is not what he did. He really went after Roswell with this vague contrived conspiracy that Roswell was a disinformation campaign. He went on and on. It seems any “secret weapons” front page news around 1947 is fodder for dumping on Roswell.

Now, here is the funny part. There was a panel discussion, and, God love him, Stanton Friedman(76) was there, of course. He was doing that little nodding thing we all do when we burn the candle at both ends, when a questionnaire ask James Carrion about his new “Pet” Roswell theory. As Mr. Carrion starting replying to the man about his new investigation and how it could be applied to Roswell, Stanton came wide awake. After Carrion was done speaking Stanton started to counter on some Carrion’s points.They debated back an forth a few times and Stanton, always the gentleman, let it slide. However, I would look for a rebuttal piece in MUFONs journal, or on his web site on Carrion’s theories.

The presenter I enjoyed the most was John Greenewald’s(The Black Vault) “Project Preserve History. This was project was spearheaded by Carrion. It will be a great service to the UFO community when it is done. The idea is to protect for all time the written history of UFO sightings and related subject matter. This information will be available to everyone in a searchable, data mining form .I give him a lot of credit for what he is trying to do . Greenewald, brings a vibrancy to the whole place that is somehow lost among some of the other older presenters.

I came away from that symposium wondering if MUFON will make it to it’s 50th anniversary. Without offspring, a species will die out. Unless MUFON finds some way to attract a new breed of researchers and supporters it may wind up going itself going Extinct.

Joseph Capp

UFO Media Matters

Non-Commercial Blog


89 comments:

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  2. Great blog post. I was among the few newcomers who raised their hands, and would like to see MUFON move into a new era of research and investigation. Here's hoping we can move forward instead of slipping into obscurity.

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  3. Thanks for the commentary, valuable for myself and others who were not at the conference.
    it all sounds a bit like church, doesn't it? The choir shows up so that someone can preach to it. The "old folks" take the front pews and the "young folks" are out doing something else that they find pertinent or interesting.

    My view of "Ufology" as practiced is that it appears to be as much a belief system as a scientific endeavor. For example: I'm an agnostic on the ETH. In other words I respect yours and other views but have my own serious doubts. We all know that in some circles, failure to accept this theory is tantamount to heresy. Again, sounds like church.

    I let my MUFON membership lapse because it seems to produce little more than discussion and speculation. On the other hand, many of their investigators seems to do an outstanding job. So I hope the organization stays healthy but find myself suffering the same malaise mentioned in the post.

    I secretly harbor a hunch that the UFO phenomenon may be by nature paradoxical: at once readily observable (i.e. people will continue to report 'good" sitings) and innately unknowable.

    Hmmm, it DOES sound like theology!

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  4. One obvious factor is the economy. Speaking for myself, I can't afford plane fare, hotel accommodations, etc right now no matter how much I might want to go.

    Second, the real ufologists work for DOD. The ufology you speak of is a mess despite the intentions and hard work of a few. What's attractive about it in its' current form?

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  5. Sadly, you are correct. Unfortunately, there is a large generation gap, although some of us who have done serious academic research, for years, in secret, have tried unsuccessfully to bring these matters into academia, with only limited success. The proliferation of "bad" and "useless" information on the WEB concerning the UFO phenomenon is so mixed as to be basically damaging to any attempt to make it a serious subject once again. OK. We need new research models, more data collection, newer approaches. OTOH, there seems to be until recently a dwindling of sightings and new material on the abduction aspect. No new data of significance means that the field starts to lose interest. As it turns out, the major evolutionary paradigm (vehicle sightings, humanoid sightings, contact and abduction) has not evolved past the early 1990's in terms of theoretical understandings of the whole UFO phenomenon. The field needs new ideas to get the genXers in...

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  6. I've come to understand that the MUFON acronym now stands for Many Useless Fools Organizing Nothing. In a recent phone call to the Director of New England Mufon, Stephen Firmani, I found him to be caustic, brash, arrogant and uninformed as to the entire state of Ufology. He was long on talking about himself, boasting on how many great things he has done with New England MUFON and even asked me if I knew of any television or radio shows that I could get him to appear on. I feel that he is a poor representative of MUFON, given the detrimental characteristics listed above, but also because he is a very poor public speaker, peppering his language with stammered "ums" and "ahs" every other word. MUFON has fallen to a cult status, with the directors being queen bees strong-arming their personal agenda and philosophies to the mindless drones. The wake is over, time to bury this dinosaur.

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  7. Joseph,

    Thank you for your comments. I was there but did not see any presentations. I am sorry we had to 'skinny down' the room but economics of the times was the major cause. That huge room cost a lot of money. As for book vendors, if you check, most are out of business or, did not have the funds to attend even when we offered free, yes free, tables we still had none. Had you taken the time to check in the Atrium, behind registration, you would have found a silent auction table where hundreds of books from old classics signed by now gone authors to the latest were on display at very reduced prices. I know because I was reducing prices to a reasonable offer to move the books out of the garages of our volunteers. We really did not sell many books for some reason. As for no young crowd, I don't know the reason. It is not like there was not plenty of advertising on not only local but national sources. I cannot comment on the speakers as I have not seen the DVD's of the presentations as of this date.

    Yes the funding from BASSS is going to a specific project and cannot be used for day-to-day operations of MUFON, the Symposium makes the funding for a fair amount of that operation so needs to be run as a profit to pay expenses.

    The information is available from any research on the STAR/SIP BASSS funded program. Right now the few cases are still under investigation but, information is available on the MUFON site under sighting reports, all you need to do is look.

    Thank you for attending and I hope you come back next year and say hello.

    Leslie Varnicle, State Director, MUFON Colorado.

    And yes, the views up higher are GREAT!

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  8. Let not your heart be troubled. There could be many reasons for the low turn out.

    The economy being what it is. A lot of people just don't have the money for travel (myself included).

    Short notice or poor advertising.

    Perhaps their budget is not what it was in the past.

    Lets just hope this was a fluke and the rest of the conferences will be up to par.

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  9. I don't think that you can alter format just to bring in a younger crowd. One of the biggest problems this field of study suffers from is the circus atmosphere that comes with some of the more cult-like belief groups.

    In a nutshell, you can't try and mix Klingons, Star Wars and Sanni Ceto zetas with science and still get anything usable in return. And it shouldn't be a popularity contest anyway... not if getting to a fine understanding of the UFO phenomena is the ultimate goal.

    MUFON is one of the only sane voices out there that isn't wayyyy out there.

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  10. It's truely a shame. But most likely a victim of recent economic times. Hopefully we are starting to see some recovery, which will undoubtibly help us all. See my UFO story at http://www.theblacktriangle.blogspot.com/

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  11. perhaps those individuals born after 1970 have become desensitized to ufology through the television and motion picture industry.

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  12. perhaps those individuals born after 1970 have become desensitized to ufology through the television and motion picture industry.

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  13. The youth is out there. Look at similar "interesting" conventions like Comic-Con and CES. MUFON could take a lesson and jazz up their 1980s style presentation. Those conventions have people that love ufos and space, not guys in suits and coffee in a conference room.

    Most UFO "info" is almost instantaneous through the internet, the youth is on the web (Above Top Secret and such), so why go to a convention? Also it didn't sound like a lot was "revealed"...people were debating "theories". All this can be done and better discussed on the web anymore and a lot cheaper.

    As a kid I grew up on this stuff but as I get older not much seems to change. I recently stumbled on Wilson's 1970s Cosmic Trigger and realized while reading that nearly NOTHING has advanced past the theories in that book. The same UFO/faerie/dimensional guesses from then are still here today and not going anywhere.

    The only hope I have is that some of the more serious ufologists are now challenging the fringe charlatan ufologists. Those serious youth you want are out there, but they see the flakey authors in ufology and know that there are better and more tangible things to do with their time. Get Dolan's books, Hasting book, and more of the serious books promoted and on TV or made into movies, and you'll get people to show up. Other goofy ufo conventions are tainting MUFON, they are going to dilute the subject into a farce.

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  14. Thank you for your blog.I too attended the meeting as a member of over ten years and a trained MUFON investigator and a California State Section Director for Humboldt County. Your concerns about the absence of young people certainly resonates with me. MUFON does an excellent job within an extremely limited scope of the so called "nuts and bolts" UFOlogy. That being focusing on the physical characteristics of the sightings as if it were an engineering problem, while giving scant attention to the interactive component of the phenomenon on human consciousness. They appear to not understand the most basic sociological feature of this issue and that is an extraterrestrial presence threatens all traditional power structures, economic, political, military and (with the possible exception of the Catholic Church that has started to discuss this issue) organized religious power.

    MUFON has permitted leading alien "abduction" theorists such as Budd Hopkins and Dr. John Mack to address the national meetings but has not discussed the claims of the many contactee groups who are staging regular peaceful encounters with an intelligence responsible for some aspects of the UFO phenomena. As an UFO investigator who became a contactee in the course of doing fieldwork with Dr. Greer of CSET 17 years ago, I hope to dialogue with MUFON leadership about the ongoing contact movement that has a much higher percentage of young people in it. This may be the result of their linking the UFO problem to the so-called "free energy" and the call to integrate advanced energy systems propelling UFOs (likely being developed in Black projects back engineering crashed saucers) into our technological culture for peaceful purposes. Such a source of energy if it were real, could solve many everyday problems that humanity faces. This is a very hopeful uplifting perspective likely to excite young people who are looking for positive solutions to the frightening problems that humanity must face in the years to come.

    Joe Burkes MD
    www.contactunderground.com

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  15. I agree completely. I have been a member of MUFON for 6+ years and I am also a field investigator. My state director has no interest in expansion, saying he likes the size of the group as it is. The mean age of this group is over 60. My guess is that this group has about 5 to 7 years left before most its members are going to have to throw in the towel. I have made attempts to make the organization more relevant to young people, only time will tell. I do know a number of the younger people in our MUFON group stopped coming when they found out that Carrion was not allowing Star Team members to discuss even non-confidential aspects of cases they were analyzing. People pay to be involved in MUFON because they want answers to questions that they feel others may be hiding. Why join MUFON if they are going to do the same thing?

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  16. Mr. Capp,and all; This story about the MUFON symp,does not surprise me. I have seen three MUFON directors. I stayed in Mufon for 15 yrs,and resigned as ASD. The reason I got out is that no one including Carrion wanted to hear about the problems on a state level,thereby creating another communication problem on the HQ level. There were also problems within the state. The reson no young people want to get involved with MUFON is its very lack of communication. The younger generation is very electronic media savy, and as one person commented. Its not that were not interested, its just that MUFON seems to be stuck in a 1950s mindset. Once an organization starts to have a communication breakdown, it does not take long for the entire org. to follow. I also have seen a great deal of gov. types within MUFON. These types of people will resist change and , like Carrion,on Roswell, almost mirror the debunkers. If I had attended the symp., and heard Carrion rattling on about Roswell, I would have walked out. MUFON is far more interested in getting the reports on the CMS, than solving the mystery of UFOs. This syposium should be a wake up call to them. Perhaps James Carrion should get out while he is behind. RESIGN NOW JIMMY!! I hear the debunkers need a few good negs..

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  17. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  18. thanx for the on site report! We need some real UFO artifacts to stimulate things. Most all of the new UFO info is on the Internet, so why go to a meeting? Also, so much that is presented at these various meetings is old hat by now.

    Love to see something from the Blue Room at Wright Patterson. For that I'd pay!!!

    Crop circles is white hot and even that area is dogged by terrified, confused, cranky shotgun wielding farmers.

    The last UFO thing I went to was in the 90s. Lots of fun then but not too much new now.

    Crop Circles is where it's at now.

    Doug.....los angeles

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  19. Joseph, Did you stop to think that new directions may be just so much smoke to detract from a straight forward path to the truth?? Have faith in what you are doing.

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  20. Once a friend and I were riding around in my truck in the mountains of North Carolina. We saw these gold sparks going across the sky from west to east. Well at first, I was driving, I thought they were fireworks of some kind, but no. The gold sparks stopped, and this black disc shot up into space at a one oclock angle from where the sparks stopped, at an astronomical rate of speed. We thought later that something compelled us to look at it, that something had called our attention to it or forced our attention to it. Well, if the USAF has anything that can move that fast, my hat is off to it, but my friend and I believed it was a craft piloted by extraterrestrials. We need Mufon. We need to know the truth!

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  21. Mr Capp,
    I liked your blog. I live in Denver, have never attended any UFO related conference, and would have loved to attend the MUFON conference. I probably would not have attended most of the sessions, but think I would have enjoyed a sampling. I looked into it and honestly the cost of attending is what drove me away. I would have been happy to spend $10-$15 per session, but the blanket fee for me to test out a conference was just too much.
    Dan

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  22. Take heart as I think that it is just that most people believe in UFO's and see the time and expense of attending events, in general, as redundant. I get my info off the web since I don't have the money but would love to attend if I could. Maybe there should be local chapters of MUFON in smaller cities like Knoxville(where I live). One could teleconference special guests several times a year. Lots of other ideas abound for keeping MUFON alive. Obamanomics won't keep us down forever.

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  23. I was at a MUFON meeting today and am 32. I am condidering joining the organization, but I did notice that at 32 years old, I was the youngest person in the room by at least 30 years. I am trying to get some more people interested and speaking out about UFOs to more people my age. I think there is a future for MUFON.

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  24. Don't write them off yet. Other (non-UFO) symposiums are having lackluster attendance this year. Many people have lost jobs and those who haven't may have fears about the economy. Hopefully events of this type will rebound in future years.

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  25. Thanks for the update on Mufon =)

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  26. Hi Joe,



    Thanks for attending the MUFON Symposium this year.



    I read your article on the Symposium at http://ufomedia.blogspot.com/2009/08/end-of-mufon.html “The End of MUFON?” and would like to make a couple of comments that I hope you can add to your blog:



    - Have you given any consideration that the reason the MUFON Symposium was smaller this year was simply a reflection of the economy?

    - Have you also considered that the reason so few young people were in attendance was due to not having the disposable income to attend such an event?

    - Making apocalyptic predictions on the viability of an organization based on the above two points is irresponsible in my opinion.

    - As to my research and how it may apply to Roswell, your readers are being misled into thinking that was the extent of my talk. If you don’t mind, please post a link to my Symposium paper which is freely available online at http://repositories.cdlib.org/sio/arch/carrion/ and let them make up their own minds on whether this research has substance to it or not. To portray it as Friedman vs. Carrion is doing a disservice to Ufology.

    - I noticed that your blog comment section is moderated. I have already received emails from MUFON members, who were appalled at your article, that their positive comments on the Symposium have not been posted.



    Sincerely,

    James Carrion

    MUFON International Director

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  27. Dear Mr. Carrion,
    First place I modulate to stop raciest or sexist language. I post all comments other wise. I am sure you have a hundred bloggers extolling the great conference you had. I, and others, I might add, felt differently. It is the road of a coward that hides from criticism. As an avid fan of MUFON and a blogger who has come to bat for MUFON in the past and also a member. I felt an obligation to state what I saw. There are really hardly any young people at your conference. You did have some good speakers but it lack enthusiasm. Nothing new was shown. Charts were presented you couldn't see. The lights were left on during presentation so that it drowned out detail on the screen. I and others felt your presentation did an abrupt tern around and the end of it caused more controversy. Than anything my blog could say. You extolled the infighting around UFO groups and than created your own. In fact the first question to you was about your Roswell ideas. Your right about Stanton I might of left that out. But I love a funny stories and that sure was one. I love Stanton and I think deep down he wouldn't mind.
    I agree with you on the economics but I feel it is more than that. I have no problem giving you and MUFON credit where it is due. Evidence my past blogs.

    But like a friend, you feel is going down the wrong road, sometimes, you need to say things you don't really won't to say. Many UFO organizations have died and unless MUFON attracts more young people your future will not be there.

    Something was said by you and others about the visual generation,and sadly it is true. But sometime you can maneuver around this. My wife a retired teacher who taught in Flatbush, told me you do anything to bring them (the students) to the table of education. In this case that would simply be more photos and videos of UFOs. Maybe even a MUFON video symposium where the best MUFON photos and videos are presented. Without the awe of UFOs you have a very dry subject. Once the kids get there than they see the books. Maybe you have a donation of books for the young people who attend hell I'll contribute. And since I have you attention. I had promised to donate 50 dollars to you Abduction Monitoring project but can never get an answer. Could you please tell me where to go to donate to specific projects?

    Thank You
    Joseph Capp
    UFO Media Matters
    Non-Commercial Blog

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  28. Just an update: I have to apologies to James Carrion. I did find that I had an old email address in the comment modulation box. So I apologies. for any inconvenience and hope that those who want a say will now be heard.

    Joe Capp
    UFOMM

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  29. I have been a MUFON member for a couple of years now. I gave serious thought to attending the symposium. It would have been my first one.

    I work as a engineering sub-contractor and was layed off at the beginning of the year. I was out of work for about one month. I found another short term contract which had been extended for 2 weeks at a time and was just extended for 2-3 months. While I had wanted to attend the symposium, I did not feel it would be in my financial best interest to spend the funds needed to attend. With this economy, I am not sure when this contract ends how long it would be until I found another contract.

    I live in the Phoenix metro area. We have an active local group here. We do see people of various age groups at the monthly meetings. We have some folks who attend almost every meeting and some that attend only a few imes a year. The group has grown over the 1.5 years that I have been attending such that the organizers have needed to find larger places to hold the meetings.

    I can not speak for the rest of the universe, but for our little corner of the world, it appears that there is still interest in MUFON by all age groups.

    When I attend an event, I am there for the information, not the retail stuff that may be available. I can surf web stores, find what I might want, research it, and then decided if I want to purchase it. Perhaps the reason why there was not a lot of retail also has to do with the economy. As with individuals, most companies are watching how they spend their funds. Spending funds to attended an event and maybe sell something to cover the cost may not be economically sound for those retail folks.

    If you are looking for glamour, bells, and whistles, try Vegas.

    Bill

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  30. Dear Bill,
    I am sorry you couldn't make it. The average age of the people in the MUFON symposium was at least 55. They asked for new people to a show of hands there were about 12 90% were over 50. You can debate it all you want but some people who have been to MUFON a great deal longer than me see this problem. The King has no clothes or children to carry on.
    I do go to Vegas but I don't gamble with my future maybe MUFON should practice that.

    Joe Capp
    UFO Media Matters
    Non-Commercial Blog

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  31. While I have never been to a MUFON conference or meeting locally, I do represent the younger audience that seems to be missing from your membership. While I am no ufologist, I am a amateur UFO researcher with a more then passing interest in the subject's history and its many famous case studies. The problem I believe my generation (18-35 yr olds) has with groups like yours and the conferences you organize in today's digital age is credability. It takes more then paper charts and speakers coming up with their own far fetched theories and opinions to convince people of UFOs and what their existence means to Earth.

    Even your ideas at solutions to new membership are far fetched and I feel would only expose more problems with our generation which I feel are full of hoaxers and jokesters. That is what a video symposium would yield at your conference. Some of the best video and photo evidence in the last 5 years alone has been shown to be hoaxed: photo-shopped or CGI video manipulated. I think by holding a video contest of sorts would just bring on hoaxers trying to outdo each other and embarass the name of MUFON.

    I mean look at the crap they put out at the UFO congress these fake videos of aliens and still pitures of mutant hybrid aliens drowned in a bucket of water? Come on. If that is where ufology is headed then no wonder you are a dying breed.

    If a dedication to research and more scientific evidence would come forth to actually make a case for UFOs and aliens then perhaps interest would be on the rise instead of where its at. Our generation and yours however, continues to keep the population informed virally as the number of informative websites and blog sites keeps the science and newswires up and running and that too in part is another reason why interest has wained in person at these worldwide conferences and group meetings...you have to become state of the art, you have to appeal to the digital age..

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  32. For any science minded person to exclude non-local perception as unviable, even in a field of supposed “excuses” is to show some antiquated awareness. I am a 55 year old lifetime member and do see such fall off from my somewhat inside view of the MUFON bubble. Young are falling away due to orthodox standards that do not respond well to the new forms of markets, communications technologies and mediums. Even the Whitehouse and congress utilize such now, finally understanding the power of viral and social network technologies to galvanize and grow support for policy.
    MUFON in my opinion is not moving effectively in an intelligent current. The drop-off is due to many reasons, and we cannot dismiss the writer’s observations due to a cursory topographic view. Many sense the same, even before the conference took place. That the earmarks spoken of were obscured by an economic effect does not exclude this reality. Many of us “sense” the entropy.
    The youth segment of our human population is the future of MUFON and in fact every area of our civilization. To avoid this opportunity , new energetic resource, expertise and insight, either by orthodox institutional ignorance, or otherwise is a plottable path to either a dramatic change or dispersal of potentials. Read that potentially as “an end to MUFON.” Or a fundamental change at least.
    As someone with “marketing chops” I have experienced firsthand the dropping of the ball with opportunities available to MUFON to apply to the coming generations. Bigelo ‘s offer might have taken some of the draft dogs power off the front line for the red meat it offered up for it’s more subjective needs. We’ll see. Many new UFO/ALIEN investigative organizations are sprouting for the desperate demand our society has for better understanding. MUFON might simply be left behind and forgotten. Its viability is so far still intact. Let’s hope it is not lost, but rises to the occasion.

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  33. I apologize to everyone for being so late at posting comments. What happened I still don't believe somehow my email was change back to the old email. Sorry to all

    Joe Capp
    UFO Media Matters

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  34. Dear J.
    I probably watched your hand raise.
    Yes the conference needs a shot in the arm. I hope MUFON will do a MUFON Videos and Photos symposium they must have a great deal stashed away.
    Thanks
    Joe
    UFOMM

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  35. Dear MinDoc,

    The most exciting news at MUFON are forming of UFO tactical Investigative teams funded by Bigelow. This teams can be anywhere in the US in 24 hours.I tried to get James Carrion to open up on what was happening but he just said what he had said before.
    Thanks
    Joe
    UFOMM

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  36. Dear Anonymous,
    There are the MUFON egos no doubt. I have met some great people who want to solve the UFO enigma in MUFON. I don't believe the person you write about represents the larger MUFON volunteers who are the boots on the ground and get no money for it.

    Joe Capp
    UFOMM

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  37. Dear Leslie,
    I know you work your butt off. Others that have been there a long time told how good you are.
    I looked over the auction and it was nothing like other auctions. I don't want to rain on the parade of those behind the lines. My attentions were directed toward the future of MUFON and it's board. They do not seem to want to get serious about solving these problem. The training tapes were $300.00 I know the economy is bad do they? Hey, in end, what do I know, I'm only the 800 lb gorilla in the room.

    Joe Capp
    UFO Media Matters
    Nonn-Commercial Blog

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  38. Dear Mike,
    If you want MUFON to survive and your young get involved with it. They need a future and it's future is in young peoples hands that take over. I think if you think it out you can have both. Well documented UFO video and Photos can be very entertaining. Oops sorry said that dirty word again.

    No young sooner than you think; no MUFON.

    Joe Capp
    UFOMM

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  39. Dear Keven,
    There are many young out there who still feel the wonder of real UFOs. Another idea I had was online symposiums with speakers live. It would be much cheaper for the attendees and I bet the young would love it. You could also have the regular symposium. Just ideas.

    Joe
    UFO Media Matters

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  40. Dear Anonymous,

    Here Here...MUFON can't make the world conform to its formats in old style conferences. It takes real innovation.
    I believe MUFON may be getting close to some definitive answers what with the funding and new research. Getting it is one part of it presenting it so it will be heard is another.

    JC
    UFOMM

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  41. Dear Joseph,

    Thank you. James has talked about the meta-physical aspects of UFOs and how it should be examined closer. Themes like that were largely absent from the lineup at the symposium.

    Joe
    UFOMM

    ReplyDelete
  42. Dear John,
    This not only comes from you but others members in MUFON feel the same thing. I found this great video of a UFO craft I examined it myself and felt it was not faked. I met the person who filed the daylight sighting and he seemed fine. I went to a MUFON investigator training and showed it to the optics expert. That was a year ago. Of course I emailed him he was never finished examining it. I gave up.
    He probably worked for years on two many projects and he had to priorities. But like you say it doesn't help the image of the future of MUFON.
    Thanks
    Joe
    UFOMM

    ReplyDelete
  43. Dear Anonymous,

    You don't even have a place to write to for grievances. I don't think I read a real critical letter about MUFON in the journals.This lack of an out let for ideas and even critisim is sad.
    I believe honest, critical evaluation is a good thing. It shouldn't be done only by some board tuck away were no one can see, but also from the people the members who have probably many good ideas. God I am old I get set in my ways. I constantly ask myself is it age or what I really believe.
    Some members told me that inside there were some who were disillusioned by where MUFON was going. Many do not want to rock the boat.
    Than there is me a boat rocker from the fifties.
    Thanks
    Joe
    UFOMM

    ReplyDelete
  44. Dear Deborah Hart,
    My apologies to all.

    I need to know if I am wrong on this one NUFORC is a reporting center largely maned by Peter Davenport. It is not an investigative body. I may be wrong please correct me if I am.
    However I believe what he has done is fantastic and for so long. But here is a question. Who will take over for Peter once he leaves?

    Joe
    UFOMM

    ReplyDelete
  45. Well thanks Doug,

    Well there has been a great deal of new UFO sightings around the world.
    There is the containing sightings for ten years at trout lake. MUFON did not go to the ranch to camp out and investigate. This ranch was the center of UFO sigtings. Above Top Secret went there to debunk it and found it was for real. A TV crew filmed a UFO there. Where was MUFON? Because Gilliard was the spiritual geru type I guess that turned them off But why wouldn't ETs play the spiritual card with contacts. UFO and history seems to indicated ETs have done this before. So why not at Gilliard ranch. It would have been a easy not very expensive investigation with the possibility of some documented visual results.
    Thanks
    Joe
    UFOMM

    ReplyDelete
  46. Thanks Earls,

    Thank you,
    I do have faith in our creator, myself and in others also.

    Joe
    UFOMM

    ReplyDelete
  47. Dear Anoynmous,
    Thanks for that interesting sighting.

    I agree we need MUFON and this doesn't mean I don't love what it stands for but. But as one old timer put it. "There is something wrong in MUFON and it is not all financial.

    Joe
    UFOMM

    ReplyDelete
  48. Dear Dan.

    I agree, innovatio... reaching the people somehow. They know better than me how it could be done but it takes a visionary. Which MUFON doesn't seem to have.
    Thanks
    Joe
    UFOMM

    ReplyDelete
  49. There are local chapters and they do hold meetings and even mini conferences. So go to MUFON look up your local state director and asked them the particulars.

    Thanks
    Joe
    UFP<<

    ReplyDelete
  50. Hi Ted ,

    I don't write them off I just hope they don't

    Joe
    UFOMM

    ReplyDelete
  51. Thanks Brian,

    I will continue to call them how I see them.

    Thanks
    Joe
    UFOMM

    ReplyDelete
  52. Dear TC.

    My video and Photo symposium would only include MUFON investigated videos and Photos from their archives. It would not include outside sources.

    Joe Capp
    UFOMM

    ReplyDelete
  53. I agree with the claims the MUFON is dying. I am a MUFON member and field investigator and can not help but notice that the membership in my state is of advanced age. The average age is between 55 and 60. Without new blood, MUFON will die in my state in about 5 to 7 years.

    I have started a study group at the local university in an attempt to attract a younger crowd. I have been operating this study group for about a year and it has achieved results. A number of other members of my state's MUFON organization are taking part, and the university has provided amazing resources for our use.

    If any MUFON groups are worried about their aging membership, they might try to set up a student affiliation with a local institute of higher learning. Most campus student organization departments will bend over backward to encourage students to participate in extracurricular activities. If you can find students interested in this topic, then you have all you need to start up.

    ReplyDelete
  54. Dearest Joe, it is I who owe You an apology! You are absolutely right I'm sure. NUFORC is a reporting center, and not not an investigative body, at least that I am aware of. I made my comment in haste, My bad! As for Your question about Mr. Davenport, I have no answer. But it has given me pause to think about it, and I will be doing a bit of research on the subject. A friend, Deborah

    ReplyDelete
  55. This was my first time to attend the Mufon Symposium and I throughly enjoyed it. I did notice, however, that the majority of the crowd was over twenty-five. Also all of the presenters were male. That is not bad, just an assessment as many of the established presenters are male.

    The panel discussion brought up some interesting points and I would have liked to contribute, but I did not so I will give some thoughts on how to attract a younger crowd, I am thirty-something, not really young and not really old.

    These are my suggestions:

    1. Have an interactive feed during the presentations where maybe someone could have an online chat as the presenter is giving his or her presentation. Many of the younger people on the internet are very technologically savy and this might appealto them. I don't know the cost of this and of course that is a factor. I believe, however, something similar with this was done at the X-Conference with one of the European countries, maybe Germany.

    2. Give wider exposure to Mufon in general and the Symposium on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter.

    3. Maybe broacast the symposium thorugh some medium as web-tv or web-radio. There could be a charge for this that would include the price of membership in Mufon. I know that at this time many people are financially strapped. Myself, I found that the price of the conference was very fair, but still for many they don't have the extra money. By doing this,those who don't have the complete budget to attend the conference, it would allow them to view it and yet be a part of the experience.

    As the theme of the conference "Dawn of a new Era in research and investigation" states, so must the marketing and reach of the Mufon community address the the new era to reach all of the potential interest and appeal of ufology in all age groups.

    ReplyDelete
  56. I too was at the MUFON Symposium and took and saw first hand all the hard work that is being done by State Directors, Asst. State Directors, State Section Directors and Field Investigators. Most all are working hard to make MUFON a success and are truly intersted in keeping it alive. The heart of the MUFON organization is the investigations themselves. While most people write up a good report, there are those out there that simply "plug" in a few answers and simply do not take the time to write a good report. As in all businesses a good report is essential.

    Also in answer to John's comment that James Carrion does not let SIP team members talk about their cases that is simply not true. My case has been made public and I am being interviewed on radio shows as well. While I cannot give personal information, I am free to talk about the details of the case as they pertain to the investigation. Mr. Carrion has been very supportive of me as well as Richard Lang. My case about the Nevada teenagers appeared in this month's MUFON Journal and was well written up by Mr. Lang. As far as paid members of MUFON being DOD that is pure speculation, although these members may have had prior jobs as such. I was also in the Army but that does not make me a DOD spy.
    I support MUFON fully and hope to for a very long time.

    Christine Dickey

    ReplyDelete
  57. To All
    Since I have no side in this and can look at it objectively, and get to back to the point of the story of why the conference was not attended as expected or desired.

    Look at the simple things that are making other conferences a success, Stream the event live so people can attend and ask questions form there own home PC, people will pay the admission price when travel costs are completely taken out of it. The services to do this are free only the only cost is what’s needed on the transmitting end.

    So now that you just saved your virtual attendees at least a thousand dollars on air, hotel and food, they will probably be interested in buying more of the things you sell there in a virtual table only available during the conference with special pricing.

    And if you can add an extra thousand virtual attendees with out adding to your room size or costs it would seem like an easy business decision to make. It also opens up your conference to a world wide market. And the added attendance would also help in the level of speakers you attract.

    Also I noticed very little social network marketing on the conference. So by just doing a few things that most of us consider standard in our businesses, you will be better off financially and attract more people with like interests to you group and events.

    The only reason I even noticed the event was form the mention on coast to coast, have been a streamlink member for a few years and that’s how I relax while working.

    To save any one interested the time in googling me I have been retired from real jobs for 3 years traveling the country full time in a motor home with my family making our living full time off the internet.

    PS its either a business or a quest, got to take the egos out of it and try some honest marketing and common sense.


    Greg Mulac

    ReplyDelete
  58. Thanks for the insight on these conferences. Apparently one does not miss much by not attending.

    After 62+ years of abject, unmitigated failure, you'd think the Ufology Movement would adopt more effective strategy and tactics, promising enough to inspire the jaded young believers to want to participate. Surveys show the next generation believes, perhaps to an even larger extent, but they are even more cyincal of the prospects of successfully obtaining disclosure through traditional means.

    WHAT IF MUFON organized hundreds of General Aviation pilots to simultaniously join a 'spontaneous' "fly in" to land at Area 51/S-4, on live global media, overwhealming any possible USAF interception efforts?

    WHAT IF MUFON organized dozens of existing FE/OU researchers working in Quantum Vacuum/Zero-Point energy, to collaborate in an "Active SETI" contact program, using scalar electromagnetic communications modalities?

    WHAT IF MUFON were to compel - or corrupt - a few current active insiders to publicly produce classified secured physical evidence for immediate, incontrovertible scientific analysis before live streaming global media?

    WHAT IF MUFON were to commit to build and launch an AMSAT-like amateur Microsatellite, expressly designed to spot anomalous flying objects FROM ORBIT, and to engage them in live communication, before a world audience?

    I'm sure there are other such 'new initiatives' that professional ufologists might imagine, which could likewise take the disclosure struggle out of the realm of utter hoplessness and futility and place it in the category of other dynamic civil rights movements with a better apperception of appropriate risk/reward ratios.

    UNLESS the aliens are here to observe The End of Our World due to some unalterable natural catastrophe (i.e. Gamma Ray Burst) and are assisting Earth governments with some grand survival preparation plan, otherwise, the Cover Up - and any participation in it - would be an unconscionable CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY, not to mention TREASON AGAINST THE UNITED STATES of AMERICA.

    In the event of the former, no effort to obtain disclosure, no matter how extreme, will ever pry loose an admission (that's how you'll know). If the latter, let the lying bureaucrats be the first against the wall when the Revolution comes...

    ReplyDelete
  59. Dear John,
    Sometimes when you're at the top of a hill you can't see what is in front of you. MUFON rank and file know what problems MUFON needs to address. James Carrion in his comment mention how I had not let comments be posted. He was right but it was anything sinister. The return email was not right. I found all these comments I had not even known about. Hid main point, however, was how I was afraid of all of the negative comments my irresponsible article would generate. Well he was wrong although I receive some I also received many that were concerned and felt similar. It's up to the people of power in MUFON to either dismiss this as disgruntled volunteers, or as a real problem that can't wait to be addressed.
    Thanks
    Joe
    UFOMM
    John

    ReplyDelete
  60. Deborah,

    Thank you,
    You have a humility very few possess.
    I wonder if Peter has a plan B about who could take over?
    Joe
    UFOMM

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  61. Dear Starbight,

    It is good to critique something but it is better to offer solutions. Your suggestions are excellent. This post touch a nerve and that is good. I've found out by writing this that there are grass roots members who know the problem and want to address it. I know MUFON is about science and UFOs, but when I was in school there were science teacher and than there were "Science Teachers". The latter made science come alive. They made it exciting. MUFON can do the same. It is not either or...it is how.
    Thanks
    Joe
    UFOMM

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  62. Dear Greig,

    It is nice to hear reality spoken here. There is an old saying I love. "Here lies the grave of old John Hill. Now John was right as the day was long...but he's just as dead as if he was wrong."
    It doesn't matter how noble the effort if you don't reach the people.
    Thanks
    Joe
    UFOMM

    ReplyDelete
  63. Dear Christian,
    I fully support MUFON too. This idea that you can't support something and say anything negative is frankly not part of our grown up society. We do it all the time.

    The hard work done by the volunteers at the conference is not the point of this post.
    The point is that those who create need to think outside the box themselves. I am glad you maid your point about J. Carrion.

    Thanks
    Joseph Capp
    UFO Media Matters
    Non-Commercial Blog

    ReplyDelete
  64. This reminds me of a speach made by former President J.F. Kennedy. In it he stated, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.?

    Perhaps people should replace country with MUFON. If having younger members is an issue, why not start a group in your area for the younger age group. Start off small. Have a meeting every 2 months in someone's home or apartment with only younger people. When the group gets larger, move to a local fire house or public library which has free meeting rooms. Have a social event afterwards, like a pot luck, or snacks in which everyone brings something to share. Ask the attendees what they are interesting in and try to obtain information on that and present it. If MUFON has video's of the symposium, purchase whatever tapes might be of interest to the group and ask everyone to put in a few dollars to help cover the cost. Then watch the presentation during the meeting. Need to advertise your meetings, try the local free weekly publications in which you could advertise a local event. List your meeting and given an email contact. If you do not have a local MUFON group website, create something like DenverMUFON@hotmail.com so that you do not give out your personal information but people have a method of contacting you. Put fliers on a University or College bulletin board. Have meetings on other phenomenon besides UFOs which may be related to UFOs. Perhaps, over time, start getting local and regional speakers to stop by and speak to the group.

    The point is that instead of conplaining because MUFON national is not doing things for you, step up to the plate and take control. If this really interest you, start a group and over time you may find a lot of like minded individuals in your area who were waiting for someone to organize the events. Don't expect this to happen quickly. It takes a while for word to get around and people to get involved. Stay the course.

    YOU can turn this around if you ask, "What can I do for MUFON".

    Bill (Phoenix)

    ReplyDelete
  65. Dear Press,

    There is one thing I can say about your suggestions they are different and unique.

    Thinking outside the box when it comes to these organizations is paramount for the next decade of MUFON. Or there may not be one.

    Joe
    UFOMM

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  66. JFK quote good point. It may be a good idea to take a younger person out on a high profile investigation. There is a show now called "Ghost Trackers" They take the young teens into real known haunted houses. They are completely monitored by automatic cameras and they are trained on equipment by people who been at ghost hunting for years.
    The startling thing about this show is how much these young people can sense on their own. Many times they sense what really happened and they do record unknown phenomenon. They use all the gadgets.
    They are than judge on three categories. It is a fun show and just shows how much even the very young are ready for exploration.
    I thought teenagers were growing selfish till I witnessed their involvement in the Obama campaign. For the right vison they would be there but it takes the communication of that vision to make it start happening.
    There are a lot of people, like yourself, that have good ideas. I hope someone is listening.
    Thank You
    Joe Capp

    ReplyDelete
  67. In Phoenix, our group will do sky watches after the meeting during the fall and spring when the weather is not too hot or too cold. We meditate for a while during the watch. If nothing else, its a nice enjoyable evening with friends. We have gone out with astronomy clubs to view the various planets and stars. Our organizers find other interesting things that the group might be interested in and help promote those.

    There is always facebook and twitter to promote your local group. Another group uses a website called "meetup" to promote their meetings.

    While some of this may not seem like true UFO research, it does help educate people with things like observing the night sky and understanding what they are looking at, etc.

    If you organize a local group, you can take it as far as you willing to take your adventure.

    Bill (Phoenix)

    ReplyDelete
  68. Yes I would encourage you and MUFON to look into night vision scopes(at least Generation 3). With these scopes people can see UFOs. Ed Grimsley took groups out for free at the INUFO congress in Nv. We had a group of 24 this time out and some scientist were there also.We all witnessed UFO craft with these scopes. I bought a version of the scope but not has good. By the way when I was a young man I had reflector. These were noting like anything I've ever witnessed. They would stop change directions. They would travel in sixes and one was a cylinder. The speed faster than any jet.
    I know many in MUFON thinks this is crazy but it true. No for anyone there were not satellites, planes, stars, meteors, or anything else I could think of.

    Joe Capp
    UFOMM

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  69. I just stumbled across your blog and thank the heavens for its objectivity and insight. I was very concerned with the 40th anniversary marketing picture at the Mufon site where a picture of the California Drone, established as a hoax by Mufon itself and subsequent experts Diebny of Paracast, Fxmodels etc. See Dronehoax.com
    Why would it post a picture of a known Hoax..Isn't this self defeating?
    As it keeps the imagery alive as if a real event and its all cgi.
    Surely in the their archives they could have chosen something else to stimulate interest.
    IMO it keeps the myth or meme alive, and at the same time that week Fox, believed to be associated somehow via the terminator series, put up an old news cast from last year, within a week or so of the conference.. without any updates by fox..news at its best...to tell fox, hey its BS.
    That's one problem I have, that we continually harp on the "Gubbamint" disinfo angle while we don't mention how the Hollywood powers that be continually are at the "waterhole" throwing bait in..Like Sony and its guerrilla marketers..
    Its ufology and the whole paranormal community under assault by many predators..and frankly, following malthusian dynamics, they are out of prey..
    We are left with just Star trek imagery and even jargon and blurs..
    what bothers me as well, is the affiliation of icons like Coasttocoast , LMH of Earthfiles..who work with these very same Hollywood people, like Warners and Fox..even Mufon with the television Networks owned in part by these same people..

    I thought it very disturbing when I saw that picture..
    What are people to do when they can't distinguish between news, a hoax, the hoaxers and the people who are supposed to be advocates for truth..not disclosure mind you ..but simple honesty..you won't get it from a room full of people paying two and three hundred dollars a pop with the same cast over and over..
    People get tapped out as well from being took, and as well as being had.

    To put a fly in the ointment..the same applies to the "crash Retrieval Conference in November..same cast as usual, but I thought it odd James, who I have the highest respect for, appears on the menu..and then at the end LMH and with two PIs involved in their investigation of the Drone..who all lived in the San Jose area, Los gatos and Campbell.
    All along with Opus, mufon affiliated with its board members Bill Byrnes and the Ca director of that area..I have not read anything where these people,and even a witness Tom Vance turned out to be buddies with one of the pIs heard of or talked about the drones, where the photos were shot as well yet it was right in their back yard..

    obvious hoax..and very odd connections..yet Mufon chooses that foto..at this time..and no one like how Paracast did with one long time fraud..call them out..kudos Paracast..

    Yes people are tapped out..some see the avalanche of exploitation of not just witnesses but us..for other self serving agendas..

    I am glad you are not asleep at the helm of this ship..
    Thank you and dam' the rudders full speed ahead..

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  70. I was remiss in not adding that the very websites Openmindsforum and the [cough cough} Drone Research team that were responsible for pushing the the mess to this day are now reactivating their wordfests aka buzz in marketing by hurling insults at Poor James Carrion..calling him a an army disinfo person after he had called them a disinfo and deflection group.some time agao...So the Ying Yang and Jaw boneing has already started..to accompany the re emergence of these images ..for who's purpose?
    Now do we wonder why interest has waned or anyone would ever take us seriously?
    The ET is in the making..and I can assure you..
    the revolution will not be televised..and true to James Carrions statement in that final report..beware the matrix..
    a warners production..ironically.
    I hope the next set of conference speakers bring a set of cards or dominoes to pass the time..I don't think many guests will be coming to that either.
    It feels more like the title says..
    The end of it all..not just Mufon..
    2012 is arriving a lot earlier than anyone can imagine..at least for some of these people..IMHO..of course.:)

    ReplyDelete
  71. Dear M,
    Your honesty is appreciated. The truth is as much as I detest it...commercialism is here to stay, of course that is if the world doesn't end. How the UFO community deals with that is very important. There is a great deal of criticism of these TV series but we want them on the air. Sometimes through these shows we get access to testing that would never be available to the average investagator.
    MUFON is living in a 19th century world as far as it's conferences go. Good investigation is one thing, communicated this well to a needed public quite another.
    Thanks
    Joe
    UFOMM

    ReplyDelete
  72. If you want younger people to start showing up at the various UFO conferences, including MUFON, my advice is to start paying attention to the eastern half of the country. I, for one, am a little fed up with seeing 9 out of every 10 conferences being held out west, usually in California. Denver seems to be the furthest east any speaker on the subject is willing to travel. Younger folks, usually saddled with new careers and young children, have a much harder time traveling 2,000 miles to a conference. Having some of these events in a centrally located eastern city, say DC or even Pittsburgh, puts the conference within a few hours driving time of half a dozen metropolitan areas. Young people would be much more willing to go if they can drive rather than fly. Yet for some mysterious reason, UFO researchers have sequestered themselves in the more sparsely populated west expecting the more densely populated east to always come to them. You're going to have to come to us more often or the eastern half of this nation is going to ignore you more and more.

    ReplyDelete
  73. I just looked through the major conferences to be held in 2009. There are no less than 23 events planned that take place in Colorado, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, or Washington. There is only one event planned in the south (Arkansas), and only 8 events planned for the eastern half of the country ... and that's if you count Missouri as being "eastern." (I'm also being liberal by counting 2 events in Illinois). I also noticed that many of the eastern events were much smaller, some with only 3 speakers. Head east, young man. Head east.

    ReplyDelete
  74. Dear Christopher,
    Their Argument is they can't afford the prices to rent a conference hall in the east..but the x-conference did it near DC. It is more expensive but maybe you will get more people. People who have never gone to a conference. This may mean more sales at the tables and many more pluses.
    I know of a hotel right off JFK airport that I believe would be reasonable. I went to computer shows there. Although it wouldn't be in Manhattan I think a symposium could be held there. Plenty of parking the problem is you would need a car. But I think you would find more people interested in UFOs in the east than you ever imagined. There is a small conference in NJ that's been held every year for 3 decades. Some of the presentations are New Age but they also get the big ufologist.
    I feel, a symposium in the east would be good, but how to do that symposium is still open to debate. I know that unless MUFON arrives in the 21 century MUFON may end up just another good UFO organization lost in time.
    Thanks for you comment.
    Joe
    UFOMM

    ReplyDelete
  75. Yes your right but there are paranormal conferences and the MUFON mini conference in Philadelphia. The "UFO & Earth Congress" is held every year in Feb. in Bordentown, NJ. The hotel is half a star but the conference has top speakers including Stanton Friedman. it goes for two days and you can purchase by the day and by the speaker. Pat and his family and volunteers have held it for over three decades and every year for the last ten he says "this is my last year"...stay tuned for February to find out.
    Thanks
    Joe
    UFOMM

    ReplyDelete
  76. According to an AFL-CIO study I saw quite recently, 1/3 of US workers under 35 are living in their parents' homes.

    Of course you're right about the 'dry' stuff ... I read PBB when it didn't smell stale, and I'd never consider travelling to hear people drone. Are you sure Friedman was tired? ;->

    ReplyDelete
  77. Dear Tony,
    Wow that is some statistic. There is something very exciting about UFOs. There is nothing wrong with presenting it that way. To get people involved you need to inspire them. I think MUFON and the UFO community in general have failed miserably at this. There are creative ways to attrack young people and ways also to give them a financial brake. Would members put up two extra dollars more for the MUFON Journal if it was to pay for some student tickets to the symposium. There are many ways if your thinking about it. Who's is going to take over MUFON if the young don't? This has been happening for decades and is talk about at every conference I've attended.
    Thanks
    Joe
    UFOMM

    ReplyDelete
  78. I was wondering if it was just me that felt that the Symposium was small this year. The one I enjoyed the most was my first, 2003. What I liked best of all were the work shops which they do not have anymore. I remember talking to a group of ladies about some of my abduction experiances and passed around photos of burns and scoops. One woman declaired, "Now this is what I came here to listen to!" A lier and a nut is born every day, but when some one is telling the truth it is not hard to tell.

    ReplyDelete
  79. Dear Anonymous,
    It seems MUFON also has never revealed the data on the "Abduction Monitoring Project. It has been a year since all the data was collected in the abduction candidates home from sensors which were set up.I thought you may be interested in what they did.

    "MUFON VS The Aliens Who Won?"

    http://ufomedia.blogspot.com/2009/11/ufo-media-matters-mufon-vs-aliens-who.html

    Thank You
    Joe
    UFO

    ReplyDelete
  80. Lire le blog en entier, pretty good

    ReplyDelete
  81. Dear Anonymous,
    Thank you so much for you kind comments.

    Joe Capp
    UFOMM

    ReplyDelete
  82. I used to be a MUFON Field Investigator from 1989-1992 (or there about). My card was sigend by Walter Andrus. I let my membership go because despite my best efforts, I couldn't get any members in the state to contact me and there were no meetings that I could dig up.
    I've just renewed my membership and taken my Field Investigators test (waiting for my pass/fail at present). I am glad to hear your post, albeit a year after it was posted.
    I can only hope that we can "muster our troops" and stop with the in-fighting. For my own part, if I pass the exam, I plan on dedicating my MUFOn time to true scientific investigation. I'm saddened to hear that people are still on the Rosswell debate. Unfortunately, it's a situation that we'll never know the truth of and it's not worth creating a divide in the organization over. Honestly, let's get past it and keep working for some legitimate evidence.
    As for the symposium, I suspect that the attendance may have been a reflection of the economy. I'd expect a slow return to the normal symposium. Hopefully our ranks are not decreasing.
    Thanks for a great post!

    ReplyDelete
  83. I just read J. Carrion the international director has resigned. We will see what this means for MUFON. You might want to read two other post I have on MUFON.
    Goggle:
    "MUFON"s 600lb Gorilla: Common sense"
    And "Will success spoil MUFON"
    MUFON may be heading for a better future when this new director Clifford Clift takes the reins. Will it be the same or is this a man of vision who will bring MUFON up to the 21st century.
    Thank you for your comment and for your service to the truth.

    Joe
    UFOMM

    ReplyDelete
  84. Hello,

    I just want to point out some of the work Tennessee MUFON is doing to attract younger members in our state. I'm 28 years old and became involved in June 2009. We have tackled this problem by attempting to utilize social networking applications to reach a broader age range, and it is showing some success. Please visit our website at http://www.tnmufon.com for a look at everything we've been doing. We held our first statewide conference last December and I was happy to see that we had several college students and even a handful of teenagers show up. Don't give up hope -- the next generation of researchers will be ready when it's time to pass the torch. :)

    ReplyDelete
  85. Dear Tenn MUFON,

    I've never given up hope on MUFON but I went to the MUFON conference in Penn. and many young people attended. Without a vision and some more openness to suggestions MUFON's top management is doing more harm than good. I am glad you are attracting young people. P Lease read my recent post on some new suggestions. Goggle "UFOs: Sound of A Different Drummer"
    Thank you for responding and your service to finding out the truth to UFOs.
    Thank You
    Joe Capp
    UFOMM

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  86. I just went to a symposium. It has been 20 years since I went to a "UFO Convention." I could have heard the exact same information 20 years ago. No new information. I was disappointed. Tell me new stuff, make it interesting again. Boot the old farts, they are boring and they don't have any more evidence than anyone else.

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  87. Dear Anonymous,

    I agree with your assessment. As a person who likes to support UFO conferences it get's pretty hard seeing the same people do the same presentations over and over.
    MUFON has a wealth of investigators out there to choose from that should be the essence of the their conference. The best of the years cases by some of their investigators now that would truly be an international conference. Investigators from all over the world. If that is to prohibitive in coast than mostly from the states with a couple international cases. This to me would be exciting.
    Anyway I doubt anyone is listening at the top.
    Thanks
    Joe
    UFO Media Matters
    Non-Commercial Blog

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  88. Hi Joe,

    I agree and your idea sounds like fun. I would go to a conference like that. I am changing my name to Elizabeth in case the reason I did not get posted was my using an anonymous name. I don't know my URL and have no idea what openID means. Maybe I shouldn't have called the presenters old farts. It is what it is.

    Elizabeth

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  89. Dear Elizabeth,
    It was my fault your comment wasn't published. Sorry it's up now. I am going to post an article on this idea it will next week and it will be call: Changing MUFON"s Symposium"
    You know the more I think of it the more MUFON is in a unique position to do this. They have volunteers all over the world and they would not have to pay hefty presentation fees to the speaker.
    So the money they save on that they could use toward air fair when it is an international investigator. Take a look at my next post and let me know what you think they are usually out by wed night and thanks for commenting and giving me the idea.
    Joe Capp
    UFO Media Matters
    Non-Commercial Blog

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