Conference at the MacArthur Holiday Inn Long Island, New York

 UFOs Here and Now

Conference at the MacArthur Holiday Inn Long Island, New York

March 20, 1988

The conference was a good first start by Leanne Wilson of Long Island's,

"Moon Creations."  It was well organized and well executed.  If this is

Leanne's first conference then she deserves double the credit. The two guest

speakers, Phil Imbrogno and Ellen Crystal will be dealt with separately.

Phil Imbrogno speaking on the Hudson Valley Ufo Phenomenon.

Phil's presentation was broken into two segments.  The first segment dealt

with material that is, for the most part, in his book "Night Siege".  For

those who may not have read it "Night Siege" is a well written report on the

investigation of perhaps one of the most viewed series of incidents in

history.  Phil told a story complete with its litany of highly creditable

witnesses, traffic stopping freeway appearances, and it's overwhelming size.

(Two vessels 300' and 900' in  length have been sighted.)  The sheer size of

the craft, it's slow moving nature (15 minute viewing times) and its

relentless and unceasing appearances over a period of years add to the

mystery.

The second half was an update of happenings since the publication of "Night

Siege".  Before beginning the update, Phil made note that just prior to the

start of all the Hudson Valley episodes,  that area of New York and

neighboring Connecticut experienced a rash of Animal mutilations.  In this

case the subject of the "surgical dissections" were sheep.

"Night Siege" reports ended in 1986.  What has happened since borders on the

bizarre and Phil classified the happenings as "high strangeness."  First,  as

time progresses, there appears to be a growing number of abduction cases

creeping out of the woodwork.  Phil reported that Budd Hopkins is distressed

with the amount of "Missing Time" cases and is involved and has conducted

several hypnotic regressions. In addition there seem to be psychic occurrences

in the area. Mostly in the form of Poltergeists.

The abductions contain all the classic "Grey Guy" symptoms.  Large pear shaped

heads,  huge compelling eyes, telepathic communications, and medical exams on

board a craft.

Phil reported on a couple of abduction cases:

  * Three people (including a police office) were abducted and told by the

"visitors" that they (the visitors) were from a distant galaxy doing a kind of

survey.

  * A couple driving down the proverbial lonely road. Car dies.  Four small

figure seen in the road.  They approach the car.  He "knows" they want his

wife.  Tells wife to hide in back under a blanket.  Locks door. Face appears

in the window - large eyes, grey skin, pear shaped head.  Tells him to open

door - they won't hurt his wife.  First try to make him think that the doors

are unlocked and that he must pull up on the button to lock them.  He doesn't

fall for this.  Next he thinks the windows are melting.  Finally he "thinks"

to the creatures that his wife is of no use to them - there is a problem with

her ovaries.  They tell him they want to find out for themselves.  The next

thing he knows he is outside the car and the missing time begins.

In a discussion with Budd Hopkins, Budd asked Phil if Phil had any idea what

the ET's were doing or wanted.  Phil said, "I don't really know Budd."  To

which Budd replied, "They're taking people, that's what they're doing!  Just

wait, you'll see.  It will all come out sooner or later."  Chalk one up for

Hopkins.

At the end of Phil talk he related an experience that he personally had with

the Hudson Valley UFO.  While it was interesting in that Phil finally got a

chance to see one in person, the encounter was no different from the thousands

of reports of others.

One last and important note.  Apparently, according to Phil,  more and more

daylight sighting are now occurring.  Phil claims it's too early to report

on.

Finally Phil announced that he has no immediate plans to publish a sequel. In

response to this announcement there were many groans from the audience.

Ellen Crystal speaking on.... Whatever she happened to think of

Ellen was announced as well as her soon-to-be-released book, "Invasion: They

Come in Silence."

I had a problem right from the start.  In a sense it is unfair to Ellen.  Her

rather unpolished manner and at times poor use of the English language gives

her an unfair disadvantage when it comes to her credibility.

Most of her talk was anecdotal ramblings. Listening to her you would think she

was a veritable UFO magnet.  It seems she can encounter UFOs almost at will

and has over 600 photos to prove it.  In fact she mentioned that if anyone

would like to join her in "going up the mountain" they can get her business

card.  (I don't know if she charges for these excursions but there are no

guarantees).  Most if not all of her excursions are to Pine Bush, New York.

Ellen claims to have seen aliens on two occasions.  One in particular, she

claims, that the alien seemed to be running from something and was startled to

see her. (Now THAT I can understand!)

Ellen appears to be not so much of an UFO "investigator" as a UFO

"experiencer."

As a side comment Ellen claims that UFOs are releasing Lemurs into the New

York area.  She did not speculate as the the purpose of such an

Extraterrestrial project. Ellen also recounted that she is very much into

metaphysics and has three astral guides.

Unfortunately I was unable to stay for the showing of the actual slide (having

seen some before, I didn't think I was missing too much.)

As I walked from the conference room I chanced to think "Gee, this is one

time, and perhaps the only time, that I miss Phil Klass!"