Text Box:    QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER                ISSUE #1                        JANUARY 2009

  

 

MGW WORKSHOPS

MGW now offers workshops during the cold months of each year. These are held on Saturday evenings at a local restaurant in a large private room. The cost for non-MGW members is only $20 per person. Each workshop covers a different topic. They are held in Nov., Dec., Jan., Feb., & March. Anyone interested in attending these workshops can go to the link on our main page: http://ghostwatchers.org

MGW HEADS BACK TO GETTYSBURG!

In April of this year we are heading back to Gettysburg, PA for more investigating on the haunted battlefield. In the past, we have recorded lots of EVP’s and even captured some apparitions in photographs. I have no doubt that we will add to our collection of evidence on this trip as well. Gettysburg is a wonderful, and very haunted, place! I recommend it to all ghost hunters!

MICHIGAN PARANORMAL CONFERENCE DATE IS ANNOUNCED!

This year’s Michigan Paranormal Conference Michigan Paranormal Conference will be held on Saturday, October 17th at the Bailey Recreation Center in Westland, Michigan. Tickets are on sale now. This year’s speakers will include Keith Age, Bill Konkolesky, Chris Bailey, Bishop James Long, and Scott & Doug of Ghostly Talk radio. There will also be raffles, refreshments, vendors, and much more! This event is still in the planning stage, and we expect it will be even better than last year's event!

ETHICS IN GHOST HUNTING

Having ethics as a ghost hunter is important for a number of reasons. If a client is involved, that person is allowing us into their private space amongst valued possessions. Those ghost hunters who are simply thrill-seekers (and not interested in actually helping people or gaining real evidence) should not be investigating at all. Their actions, which can sometimes lead to arrests, and seldom involve any real help to clients, are deplorable and hurt all of us who are serious about what we do. My recommendations to the public are:

  1. Do not have any ghost hunting group come to your home or business if they only have a MySpace page, and not a real website.
  2. Read the information on the website of the group you are considering before contacting them. Does their supposed evidence look credible? Have they gone to locations where you know they must have trespassed?
  3. How many investigations has the group done? Do they have experience, or are they brand new at this?
  4. Never pay for a paranormal investigation! If someone is trying to charge you money, their reasons are selfish and they probably don’t have your needs as a priority.

Ghostly-themed television shows have created a bittersweet environment in the paranormal community. They have sparked interest in our field, while giving the public a look at what actually takes place when we do it in a serious manner. They have also shown the public that all ghost hunters aren’t just a bunch of crazy folks; we are just normal everyday citizens with an interest in the paranormal. That’s the sweet part. The bitter part is that they have also helped to generate 1000’s of new ghost groups who are seeking the thrill of the hunt and not much more. I have hope that many of those who are new at ghost hunting are serious about learning the scientific and ethical protocols necessary to do good work and help those people who need it done.

MGW MOVIE REVIEW

Children of the Grave is a documentary done by the Booth brothers through Spooked Productions. It stars Keith Age, Troy Taylor, John Zaffis, among others. Shown on the Sci-Fi channel, it is also worth owning on DVD, as extra content is included that wasn’t aired on TV. Though a low budget film with no movie stars in the cast, it is a high-quality movie that contains much information about ghosts and investigation techniques. It tells the sad story of many ghost children, some from orphanages. It’s the second film I’ve watched by the Booth brothers, along with Spooked: The Ghosts of Waverly Hills Sanatorium, which tells about the history and hauntings of that infamous place in Louisville, Kentucky. Another film by these same folks is soon to be released; Children of the Grave: The Possessed. I anxiously look forward to having this one in my collection as well. Click the title above to see their website.