A message from Ash Ellis of UFO Identified appears in my inbox. Birmingham UFO Group is looking for a speaker. Dave Hodrien. After confirming some details and contact info, we connected.

“Brill! It’s a fun night”, “Dave’s a proper good guy, deserves more recognition for what he does”.

Ash Ellis

After sharing conversations and an evening in Dave’s company, his enthusiasm and passion is contagious. Knowledge across the breadth of topics associated with UFOlogy is very, very good. Well-read and informed. I admit, I play the topic closer to my chest than I outpour. Not often I share the accounts I’ve learned and have been told. In a home surrounded by memorabilia and unique items with Dave’s company, it felt quite natural to explore thoughts on extraordinary topics.

A crowd of dedicated regulars and a few more curious characters were my awaiting audience for the presentation of “The Thunderbolt Incident”.

One never really knows what tech to take, or what is available to make the presentation shine. So take everything! Ready and adaptable, USB stick with presentation converted to Powerpoint and audio/video files just in case. Local access point, to view the presentation in its natural environment on Google Slides. Took the micro PC, a powerful little beastie from Beelink. Rather than the struggling laptop with its 100% disk accessing issue that can slow matters to a crawl. All worked flawlessly!

Discovered quickly, I didn’t have enough hands for the clicker, the tablet with the notes mirroring the presentation, a reference book and PC.  

How the evening went

The presentation went without a hitch, everyone was locked in and focused. Moving through the astonishing accounts, first hand testimonies and sequence of events. Before a break, raffle and the second part. Where we entertained speculation, theories and potential explanations. The receptive audience at BUFOG full of suggestions and lines of inquiry.

At conferences and events, I always feel very comfortable going around and talking to the people. Establishing good vibes and reading the audience and bringing them “into” the event, making each person feel included. Those people who may come alone, who may sit off to the side or hide at the back – dipping their toes in, they always have something interesting to share.

It’s truly exciting to witness the monthly gathering of enthusiasts diving deep into the latest developments in the UFOlogy community. Disclosure in the U.S. is undeniably unfolding, though perhaps not in the anticipated manner. With testimonies, congressional hearings, and statements from high-ranking officials now on record, we’re living through an extraordinary era. Seeing an engaged audience participate in a news update, followed by an insightful presentation, discussions, and further social interaction, is inspiring and informative.

Beyond
Dave Hadrien began a Kickstarter for the development of a tactical card game. Taking on the roles of various alien races coming to Earth and doing all kinds of nefarious acts; cattle mutilation, abducting people and giving them a good probing! Anyone with even a passing knowledge of UFOlore will find all manner of references. With a sense of humour, well thought out easy to understand mechanics and a dash of munchkin as you attempt to thwart your rival players/races’ activities. A “Scan-line” of activities you can perform, Plan cards give you the tools and abilities, Cigar shaped craft, Black Triangles, powers and more. Watch out for Men in Black, and Skywatchers who block your progress.

Even if you are not into the topic, the game is a fun blast of decision-making and culminating points. Released in 2021 to high praise reviews, Dave gifted me a box-set and a brilliantly designed game mat.