Ron Collins
Curiously Confused
On May 29, 2010 I received the following email, as did everyone on the mailing list, from the MUFON state director for Texas. Ken Cherry is a very respected guy. He is not prone to B.S. and from my limited contact does seem to be a well grounded individual. The things he states below about MUFON make me wonder if that organization will survive. Most of this stems from the previously mentioned revelations following the MUFON Stephenville case status meeting. Read and judge for yourself.
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CENSORSHIP
After almost a month of attacks by Angelia Joiner of Open Minds Forum about my comments at the MUFON DFW May 2nd lecture, FOIA Ain't Free: Stephenville Flap II, the International Director supported by the MUFON Board of Directors requested my resignation, which I declined. My comments were surreptitiously recorded and used in a well-funded and orchestrated YouTube campaign to distort my comments and views. Although I have dedicated 15 years to rebuilding a moribund Texas MUFON organization, I was not given an opportunity to speak to the Board or face my accusers. In my conversation with Cliff, I was accused of (1) disrespecting the International Director, James Carrion, who left MUFON under a cloud due to accounting "irregularities," among other things; (2) Disrespecting MUFON members, Robert Powell, MUFON Research Director (Carrion's chief henchman), who made every attempt to undermine the efforts of more than a dozen investigators and consultants on the Stephenville investigation; & (3) Jeopardizing the renewal of the SIP program, a joint effort with Bigelow Aerospace/MUFON. I have spoken with the direct representative involved in the BAASS/MUFON negotiations, who categorically denied this allegation on his and Robert Bigelow's behalf.
My comparison of the circus atmosphere and intrigue involved in the January 2008 Stephenhville case and the less known, perhaps more important, Oct. '08 flap in the Stephenville area, sought to contrast the two cases and the obstacles we faced, not just from wannabe investigative reporters, fly-by ufologists, but also internal forces. My remarks were candid and less than kind to our former International Director and his chief co-conspirators. However, they were generous compared to remarks I could have made.
In January of 2009 I was elected by the majority of my peers as chairman of the MUFON Advocacy Group that toiled long and hard to hammer out recommendations, which were suggested from State Directors and MUFON members, for the International Director and the MUFON Board. Among those recommendations were:
1. The Advocacy Group be made a permanent body.
2. The AG Chair should serve on the BOD as advocate for volunteers and strategic planning.
3. All states should have MUFON 501(c)(3) coverage. ALL STATE LEADERS ARE AT CURRENT LIABILITY RISK OF LAWSUITS. In addition, states should receive a subsidy from membership dues to help support their chapters. There should be greater access on a low-cost basis for FI training materials.
These cover the main points which were to protect and support volunteers at the grassroots level. The ID's response (James Carrion) was to disband the Advocacy Group. MUFON's leadership at the national level continues to be out of touch, as the sharply declining membership reflects. All suggestions and criticism are rejected and the messengers are accused, as I was by James Carrion, as being "despicable and insubordinate" (always save your emails). MUFON mis-management has resulted in a financial crisis for the organization, as witnessed by the constant pleas for donations by its International Director, Clifford Clift. If not for the generosity of its members in recent months, overhead expenses would not have been met. Mis-management and poor communication have resulted in a symposium scheduled in Colorado for the 2nd year in a row. MUFON management has rejected time and time again suggestions to update the MUFON UFO Journal and to pursue a less expensive alternative, for both MUFON and attendees, for its symposium. As a result, this year's projected poor attendance could have devastating effects on the finances of MUFON as an organization. We are at about 1/3 of expected reservations, as of now. How many times will benefactors be willing to save MUFON with its steadily declining membership base and which rejects all suggestions to modernize to more efficient, cost-effective methods?
There is a great deal more I could say. Most of what you may hear or read on the internet is nonsense. One: I firmly believe a significant unknown phenomenon is taking place in the Stephenville, Texas area. I am not a dis-informer. Two: There are many UFO sighting witnesses that only want public attention and money that we found not to be credible. Three: Dedicated chapter leaders, field investigators, Steve Hudgeons and his wife Linda, my wife Pat and I have sacrificed greatly in our pursuit of the truth and MUFON principles. Four: MUFON as an organization is in jeopardy because it is not responsive or responsible to it members. Another of the Advocacy Group recommendations was that any state director facing a "firing situation" should be able to appeal to a panel of three of their peers. After all, this is still America, isn't it?
In closing, the MUFON Board wishes to silence me in order to avoid conflict with a competitor, Open Minds Forum, and to conceal problems from the membership. Their actions will have the opposite effect....I no longer fear to speak the truth.
Respectfully,
Ken Cherry, Former Texas State Director
More later.....
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CENSORSHIP
After almost a month of attacks by Angelia Joiner of Open Minds Forum about my comments at the MUFON DFW May 2nd lecture, FOIA Ain't Free: Stephenville Flap II, the International Director supported by the MUFON Board of Directors requested my resignation, which I declined. My comments were surreptitiously recorded and used in a well-funded and orchestrated YouTube campaign to distort my comments and views. Although I have dedicated 15 years to rebuilding a moribund Texas MUFON organization, I was not given an opportunity to speak to the Board or face my accusers. In my conversation with Cliff, I was accused of (1) disrespecting the International Director, James Carrion, who left MUFON under a cloud due to accounting "irregularities," among other things; (2) Disrespecting MUFON members, Robert Powell, MUFON Research Director (Carrion's chief henchman), who made every attempt to undermine the efforts of more than a dozen investigators and consultants on the Stephenville investigation; & (3) Jeopardizing the renewal of the SIP program, a joint effort with Bigelow Aerospace/MUFON. I have spoken with the direct representative involved in the BAASS/MUFON negotiations, who categorically denied this allegation on his and Robert Bigelow's behalf.
My comparison of the circus atmosphere and intrigue involved in the January 2008 Stephenhville case and the less known, perhaps more important, Oct. '08 flap in the Stephenville area, sought to contrast the two cases and the obstacles we faced, not just from wannabe investigative reporters, fly-by ufologists, but also internal forces. My remarks were candid and less than kind to our former International Director and his chief co-conspirators. However, they were generous compared to remarks I could have made.
In January of 2009 I was elected by the majority of my peers as chairman of the MUFON Advocacy Group that toiled long and hard to hammer out recommendations, which were suggested from State Directors and MUFON members, for the International Director and the MUFON Board. Among those recommendations were:
1. The Advocacy Group be made a permanent body.
2. The AG Chair should serve on the BOD as advocate for volunteers and strategic planning.
3. All states should have MUFON 501(c)(3) coverage. ALL STATE LEADERS ARE AT CURRENT LIABILITY RISK OF LAWSUITS. In addition, states should receive a subsidy from membership dues to help support their chapters. There should be greater access on a low-cost basis for FI training materials.
These cover the main points which were to protect and support volunteers at the grassroots level. The ID's response (James Carrion) was to disband the Advocacy Group. MUFON's leadership at the national level continues to be out of touch, as the sharply declining membership reflects. All suggestions and criticism are rejected and the messengers are accused, as I was by James Carrion, as being "despicable and insubordinate" (always save your emails). MUFON mis-management has resulted in a financial crisis for the organization, as witnessed by the constant pleas for donations by its International Director, Clifford Clift. If not for the generosity of its members in recent months, overhead expenses would not have been met. Mis-management and poor communication have resulted in a symposium scheduled in Colorado for the 2nd year in a row. MUFON management has rejected time and time again suggestions to update the MUFON UFO Journal and to pursue a less expensive alternative, for both MUFON and attendees, for its symposium. As a result, this year's projected poor attendance could have devastating effects on the finances of MUFON as an organization. We are at about 1/3 of expected reservations, as of now. How many times will benefactors be willing to save MUFON with its steadily declining membership base and which rejects all suggestions to modernize to more efficient, cost-effective methods?
There is a great deal more I could say. Most of what you may hear or read on the internet is nonsense. One: I firmly believe a significant unknown phenomenon is taking place in the Stephenville, Texas area. I am not a dis-informer. Two: There are many UFO sighting witnesses that only want public attention and money that we found not to be credible. Three: Dedicated chapter leaders, field investigators, Steve Hudgeons and his wife Linda, my wife Pat and I have sacrificed greatly in our pursuit of the truth and MUFON principles. Four: MUFON as an organization is in jeopardy because it is not responsive or responsible to it members. Another of the Advocacy Group recommendations was that any state director facing a "firing situation" should be able to appeal to a panel of three of their peers. After all, this is still America, isn't it?
In closing, the MUFON Board wishes to silence me in order to avoid conflict with a competitor, Open Minds Forum, and to conceal problems from the membership. Their actions will have the opposite effect....I no longer fear to speak the truth.
Respectfully,
Ken Cherry, Former Texas State Director
More later.....
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