MUFON Michigan Newsletter

History

Bill and Linda Murphy launched the Michigan MUFON Newsletter in June 1995 (Volume 1, Issue 1) after being asked by International Director Walt Andrus to take over the co-directorship from Shirley Tafoya. The newsletter initially operated from 3639 Stoneleigh Drive, Lansing, Michigan 48910, with state meetings held in the Lansing area. The Murphys planned to hand over to a new State Director by year's end, but the chapter continued under evolving leadership through the late 1990s. By 2007, Bill Konkolesky served as State Director from PO Box 8532, Kentwood, Michigan 49518, with David Twichell as newsletter editor and public relations director, Robert Wagel as Assistant State Director for administration, and Wendy Smith handling treasury.

The newsletter ran bimonthly through most of its life, publishing professionally designed issues of 15 to 18 pages with photographs, case reports, national news summaries, book reviews, and Bill Murphy's long-running column on media analysis and critical thinking. Michigan MUFON operated as an incorporated non-profit (Michigan MUFON Inc.) with annual family memberships at $25. Meetings at Walli's East Restaurant included a buffet dinner ($14 members, $16 non-members) followed by presentations. The chapter maintained a library and store, hosted visiting speakers, and gave public presentations at venues across the state including the Hazel Park Library.

The chapter's investigator network covered a geographically complex state split across two peninsulas. Sighting reports from the first issue alone included a triangular formation near Rodney in January 1995, strange lights over Lakeview that stopped highway traffic, and objects over Petoskey. Jean Waskiewicz served as Electronic Data Manager, maintaining the chapter's digital records and hosting UFO discussion groups at Mystiques West Psychic Reading and Metaphysical Center in Westland alongside its owner Kathy Doty.

In March 2009, the newsletter reported that MUFON International was beginning a trial collaboration with Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies (BAASS), Robert Bigelow's organisation previously known through the National Institute of Discovery Sciences and the "Hunt for the Skinwalker" investigations. BAASS would provide funding in exchange for quality sighting research delivered for scientific study. Michigan MUFON was among the state chapters that participated in this data-sharing arrangement, which would later be revealed as connected to the Pentagon's Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP).