Summary for SoCal
By Southern California State Section Director Mike Riso
Using my own words and observations, the MUFON Symposium, 2025, began with the Prologue on Friday afternoon when Dustin Eskelsen, the State Director for Utah hosted an ERT Event called “The Experiencers”. On the panel were MUFON’s own “Doc”, George Medich, Barbara Lamb and Debbie Jordan Kauble. Dustin brought nearly everyone in the room to tears right from the start with his tribute and memory of So Cal MUFON’s own Earl Grey Anderson. Our friend, colleague, mentor and so much more to people all over the world. (The first book-end).
It was a very insightful and thought-provoking workshop that kicked off an amazing weekend packed with information from morning till night.
The main event was a delicious buffet banquet where Hollywood Actor, Thomas Jane, presented an utterly amazing synopsis of (again, in my own words), a brief look at Planet Earth from the ETs perspective. Although Mr. Jane titled our planet with a different name to provide some distance, a nice touch I might add, because he called out how silly and destructive humanity is to each other and this irreplaceable planet. Jane’s cadence was perfect and unrelenting, such that the storyline moved along at a good clip whilst holding your attention each and every second, all the while covering so, so much information it cannot be summed up in this article. I am sure you will be able to see this via MUFON TV at some point, if you did not catch the live-stream. Myself and much of the room stood up at the end because Mr. Jane was deserving of a standing ovation for that mind-blowing presentation.
Before all that happened, I was a bit taken by surprise when our Executive Director called out my name to received the Field Investigator of the Year Award. I am truly honored and grateful for such a wonderful acknowledgement, but honestly, I still have no idea what I did for this to happen. A few people who asked me that same question were surprised to learn I had no advanced knowledge of this, nor an answer to the question.
The food! Mangiare Bene… OMG, MUFON Symposiums have fantastic food. I can’t say the same for other conferences that might be equally as interesting in all other aspects. So, if you have any part in planning an event like this, make sure you have good food. (I’m Italian, what can I say).
All of the speakers and presenters, many of them MUFON investigators, had tons of Alpha to share. I was also very impressed with the ‘spread’, if you will. From Jason Quitt talking about the Astral Realm, Michael Schratt presenting images of crash retrievals with the help of AI and human artists, an audience cameo of Ryan Wood who also specializes in crash retrievals (and MJ-12), to teleporting across the pond, as Edoardo Russo, MUFON National Director, Italy, presented the similarities and differences of UFO, (sorry AHEM… “UAP”) field investigators in America and Europe. – And I gotta say, America… No offense, but put your egos in your pockets and check out what all is going on in the EU. They are into some seriously impressive stuff, and we should all be taking note. Hats off to the “old Country”, great job Italy!
The Best of the ERT (Experiencer Resource Team) was a combination of fascinating, wild and unbelievable, and yes… They can get uncomfortable from time to time… But we must not ignore these details. MUFON was not afraid to ‘go there’.
The other “book-end” was near the ending on Sunday afternoon when Greg Bishop presented his very important message all researchers and investigators should be incorporating.
Quick sidebar: I ask everyone I interview “how did you feel when you saw this thing”. That’s because when I personally witnessed 3 Firey red-orange plasma balls fly horizontally over Dodger freaking Stadium and then ascend into the sky beyond the atmosphere and into outer-space, I had a sense of calm and peace on a cellular level throughout my entire body that lasted a full week, and all was right with the world. Oh yeah, I had just gone back inside but was compelled to immediately go back outside when this all happened. I almost missed it, if not for that ‘gut feeling’ / inexplicable pull to go back out. So, I ask the question Greg wants us all to ask.
And I’ll tell you from experience, if you ask that question that is an absolute hallmark, that will either take your interview in a direction you and the witness were not expecting, or indicate that you will likely be able to identify what is presented. I digress…
That was one of the primary focal points that we need to also consider that which cannot be measured scientifically. If we don’t, we are tossing out ½ the “data”. Yes, I used quotes for that to be politically correct, but the perceptions humans have or feel during these events are just as important as the wind direction and lack of visible means of propulsion, or any of the 5 to 7 observables.
Greg also posed a question I don’t have an answer to: WHO is studying all this?
That’s an opportunity for an up-coming researcher to take on… studying the physiological effects and those things that cannot be measured or “proven”, of legitimate sightings and encounters with a “craft” or “being”. Maybe that will be you?
Greg Bishop also mentioned the importance of art and asking experiencers to first draw out what they saw, before even the interview. I think he might be on to something here. When you make art, you convey details that cannot be put into words and could also lead to the most important question you may never have thought to ask. It’s incredible what happens when you ask the right question. And the right question is not always obvious and may seem off-topic or absurd.
Then, there was another cameo, this time of that Certain well-known pro surfer from the Southland, when Greg showed a photo of James Pike, in addition to some of James’ art that he made to help work through his own experiences.
Greg Bishop announced at the beginning and end of this presentation that it was dedicated to our friend Earl Grey Anderson, and thus the other “book-end”. Thank you, Greg, that was wonderful!
There is so much more to say but to sum all this up in a short paragraph; I am first and foremost damn proud to be part of this world-wide team and also excited to see MUFON taking that important first step (although I am sure to the dismay of a few), to start to explore publicly, the more ‘wild and wonderful’ of this phenomenon. MUFON always was and always will be a scientific organization with the mission of: “The scientific investigation of UFOs for the benefit of Humanity”, but it is time we all realize the stuff that goes beyond science is just as important (if not more so) than the stuff we can measure and “prove”. And MUFON is evolving into that space, albeit cautiously (and rightfully so), but it’s happening! And that takes GUTS!
