Lakeland Skeptics Society

That's right! We're preparing for a new school year.  Goals for this year include:

~ Obtaining TAPS Family status.

~Investigating the Cavalier Hotel during Epiccon in March. (Overnighter)

~Purchasing a new 4 camera night vision DVR security system.

~Equipment fundraiser.

~New equipment and hunting locations!

UPDATES FROM LAST YEAR:

~One case manager position will be removed.

~First year with Lead Investigators.

~Forming a 4 member data analysis committee.

~Some meetings will be held in the computer lab this year to get evidence transferred to flash drives.

Look for blinking lights on the mailbox :)

See you there.  The home owner is ordering pizza for us! Be sure to thank her.

There will be no meeting February 17th because I have an all staff meeting at Nansemond River High School.  If there are still spots available for the investigation on the 21st, please come see me for a permission slip to go.  As of today, 2/10, there is still 1 10:30/all night spot and 3 all night spots left open.  I will keep you posted and I will start filling the extra spots starting on Tuesday morning 2/17 first come first serve. Since the 2 officer spots are already filled, remaining officers can still go but they will be going as members. Officers in charge will be Erika and Becca.

There will not be meetings this month on January 6th or 13th.

I have talked to a home owner that is willing to let us investigate and apparently this place is always bouncing with activity.  Shadow men, apparitions, cold spots, and even sheets being pulled off of people and leg touching has been reported.  I'm going to visit the home soon and we are looking at an investigation date some time very soon after  mid terms.  I'll keep you updated.

I've been able to track down the scientist that invented that Dark Light and am currently in talks with him.  Apparently, the one the Ghost Adventures Crew uses is a prototype model invented by said scientist.  I'm holding his name for now until I hear back from him about him wanting to remain anonymous or not.  I found out that the LED's in the light are coated with a special pigment developed by him containing a beryllium oxide mixture.  Even better news is that he has agreed to send us his pigments so that we can create our own reproduction of the device for testing.  How Cool!!

In other news, as I have said during our last meeting, the Monday, December 15th meeting has been canceled due to my requirement to fill out paperwork to obtain grant money at Kings Fork High School.  Tuesday is still a go.

 

We are slated to be in the Hampton Roads section of the Virginian Pilot on Monday, December 1st.  We are not going to be in the Suffolk Sun as previously thought.  Please make sure you grab you a copy.

Here is the famed image you've all been waiting for... Unfortunately, if you really look at it, you can tell it's not paranormal.  This resulted from a long exposure.  You can tell because Rachel's head is somewhat transparent.

 

If you have any photographic evidence please send it to my email... mardaniels@spsk12.net

Thanks

It's going to be COLD... REALLY COLD!!! They are forecasting 25 degrees for a low Saturday night.  I do not feel comfortable allowing you all to walk around in the cemetery in those conditions for 3 hours so I have asked the Prentis House if we could investigate there again and we have been approved.  So we will NOT be investigating the cemetery but we WILL be investigating the Prentis House.  Please meet there at 6:30pm.

P.S. I will try to get us into the cemetery when it is warmer in March.

 Mr. D

They are available for pick up in my room.  You can get them as early as Friday 11/14/08 during parent teacher conferences 10am - 1pm and 2:30 - 6pm.  I will be in the room but please don't disturb me if I'm talking to a parent.  Or you can wait until Monday to pick them up.

I've added the video and the audio recordings from our recorders and my camera.  It is posted as a link in the Paranormal Investigations section.  I'm still waiting on photos and stuff from you guys.  I'll post those as soon as I get them.

The Cedar Hill Cemetery Investigation Permission Slips are now available in my room 223.  Come pick one up if you haven't already :)

There will be no Tuesday meetings the month of November.  Next Tuesday I have a department meeting and the Tuesday after I have a  meeting I must attend.  We will still be having regular meetings on Monday as scheduled.  Sorry folks :(

We will continue Tuesday meetings on December 2nd.

I'm in the process of collecting evidence to put on the page.  If any members have images/audio they would like me to put on the page then please send me the links or pictures to mardaniels@spsk12.net

We will take the vote on the Prentis House next week (confirmed, plausible, busted).

If you have any evidence please burn it to a cd or put it on a flash drive and bring it to the next meeting for review.  I want to start us an archive of evidence that we will keep in the back room.

 

The Virginian Pilot wants to do a story on us and bring along a photographer for our November 22nd hunt of the cemetery.  They will also be attending our regular meeting on Monday, November 17th.  Please make sure that you pick up a permission slip from me to be signed. We will be hunting rain or shine.  In case of rain or we don't have access to the cemetery gate key, we will be investigating the Prentis House again that night.  The investigation will be from 6:30 - 10:30 just like the previous investigation.  We can park at the Prentis House.

 Thats all for now :)

OK... This is the best I could do.  YES! You still get your name on the back the only difference is there will be no small logo on the front.  Since I could not get enough orders to get the full design for $25, this is the best I could do.  I've ordered them today 11/5/08 and they will be here by 11/19/08... You can pick them up at the Cedar Hill Cemetery Investigation :)

Even without the logo on the front, they are still really cool!  You'll be happy.

 PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU BRING A FLASHLIGHT (Preferably Red Light) AND YOUR 5Mpxl DIGITAL CAMERA OR HIGHER!!!

The Prentis House is located at the following address:

321 North Main Street
Suffolk, Virginia 23434

There is parking available at the house.

Please be there at 6:30 sharp on Saturday.  Those that have not paid dues, do not have permission slips, does not go to Lakeland, or have not attended at least 2 meetings before October 31st will be turned away no questions asked.

Here is what needs to happen by Friday:

I need Dues - $5 (mandatory)

I need Shirt Money - $25 (optional)

Freshman and Sophomores need to have their grades in non-F order and a 2.0 GPA (mandatory)

I also need permission slips for the first investigation before or at the investigation if you're going (mandatory)

FAILURE TO MEET THE MANDATORY ITEMS WILL RESULT IN EJECTION FROM THE CLUB OR NOT BEING ABLE TO INVESTIGATE OR BOTH.

10/22/2008

First, our article in the Suffolk Starlight Journal has been published!  You can view the article HERE

and the article page HERE.

 

Second, Haunted Times Magazine will be visiting us NEXT TUESDAY!!!!  We've got to be ready with the Tarot Card experiment by then! You can view their web page HERE.

 

Third, I need to make sure I have Tarot Cards on Tuesday.  Someone said they have some already that they will let us test.  If anyone already has tarot cards then please let me know and bring them to the next meeting. Check the Tested Myths page for Tarot details.

 

Fourth, I forgot to mention in the last post that we are also confirmed for the Cedar Hill Cemetary on November 22nd.  I am going to talk to Kevin about possibly turning this into an all nighter (sunset to sunrise).  There will be two permission slips for this... One if you plan to stay until 10:30pm and another if you plan to stay all night in the cemetery.

 Last, I have been contacted by a teacher, Ms. Owens, at Robertson Elementary.  She says there are reports of paranormal activity including footsteps and the sounds of crying children when no one else is in the bulding.  I'm going to see what I can do about setting this up for us as our third investigation.

10/21/2008

We have been approved to investigate the Suffolk Prentis House on Saturday November 8th, 2008 from 6:30 - 10:30pm.  Please see Mr. Daniels to get a copy of the permission slip.  No permission slip = No Investigation.

As a reminder, all dues and t-shirt money must be given to me by Halloween. A t-shirt is optional but the dues are a must. Dues are just $5 and T-shirts are currently $25 but will most likely be cheaper than that. The more shirts I sell, the cheaper it is.  I need to sell at least 12 shirts to get shirts at all and I've currently sold 3.

10/13/2008

If you tried to come to the meeting today you may have noticed that the meeting was canceled.  This was totally out of my control as I found out at 2:15 that I had to be at a meeting at Kings Fork High School at 3.  I will make it up to you Monday people some how.  We will be having the regular Tuesday meeting tomorrow as scheduled and Ms. Lesa McNamara will be joining us from the Suffolk Public Schools Public Information Office to take pictures and interviews for our article in the Suffolk Public Schools Starlight Journal!

 You guys rock!

 Mr. D

The President can request a vote to remove a person from their office.  If it is his decision that a person should be removed from office then he would be asked by me to address the group, giving his reasons why the person should not remain in office. The person whose position is in jeopardy would then get the option to do one of two things.  Either resign from their office or have a rebuttal giving their reasons for why they should be able to keep the position. If he/she decides that they would rather rebut, then after his/her rebuttal is over, the club will be called to a vote in which at least 2/3 of the club members would need to vote for removal in order for him/her to be removed from office forcefully.  If he/she is removed from office, the president will nominate a willing club member to fill the position and they must win by a majority vote (at least 50%).  In the case of a tie, I Mr. Daniels, will make the deciding vote.

Since we are just a couple weeks old.  I'm giving the underclassmen a grace period for which to increase their grades.  I will be checking them on/by Halloween.  Any freshman or sophomore with an F or a GPA of lower than 2.0 will be asked to leave the club until they can prove their grades have improved to above those standards. They will be asked to leave even if they are an office holder. I'm changing it to 2.0 because I believe 2.5 is a bit high, especially when you're just starting school and you really have no GPA yet. But still, no F's.  If you think this is too low, then address it to the president to call it to a vote.  At least 50% will change it. 

Members that are there on Monday and Tuesday will be given the chance to vote twice as a privilege of their dedication to the club by being there both days.  I think that's only fair.  But again, you can ask the president to call a vote to change that too. 50% wins.

In the case the president should be wanted to be removed from office by the club then the same process applies except all the current office members would have to vote by at least 3 votes of the 5 positions to put him up for impeachment.  Then there must be the 2/3 of all club members votes.  If he's removed, the remaining 4 office position holders would have to agree on a new president and they must be approved by 50% vote by the club.

I will also be asking those that do not pay dues by Halloween to leave until they pay their dues.

This is how most clubs run, even the federal government is similar, and this will be kept a standard for the year.
With these standards set in place, I have basically given total control of the club to the club members as it should be.

Let me know if you have any questions,

Mr. D, mardaniels@spsk12.net

Currently this design will run $25.  I need to know how many people would be interested.  The more people that get one the cheaper it will be.  You can choose your last name or first name on the back.

 

10/3/2008

I have ordered/have the following items:

Cellsensor EMF Meters: 2 On Order. Estimated delivery: Oct. 6-10

Taylor Ambient Air Digital Thermometers: 3, I have them now.

K-II EMF Meter: 1, On order. Estimated Delivery: Oct. 20-24

Olympus VN4100 Digital Voice Recorder: 1, I have it now.

Geiger Counter: 1, Owned by the school.

Sony Handicam with Night Shot: 1, Owned by me.

Thermal Camera: Apparently Richard Germ has one he's willing to let us borrow.

 10/1/2008

This club is really taking off at an accelerated pace!  The school system wants to do a story on us for the official newsletter which reaches an audience of 1,300 mailboxes every month.  They have asked to come out and take pictures of us on our first investigation which I want to see happen by the end of the month.  I've got a K-2 EMF meter in the mail as far as equipment goes and I plan on getting a digital recorder, a few ambient air digital thermometers, and one or two Cellsensor EMF meters.  I'm going to start taking club dues next week ($5) so we can get this show on the road as far as equipment goes.  If I can get all 20 members to pay their dues, that will easily cover 2 emf meters and a Sony digital recorder.  Remember, paying club dues makes you a member for the entire year but you don't have to stop there! If you want to get some of your own equipment I'll be more than happy to help you find good deals.  EMF meters are around $35 and a digital recorder is around $40.  The K-2 EMF meter, used for paranormal communication, fully modified for hunting will cost about $50 and if you get one I can help you mod it, it's pretty easy.  You can get digital ambient air thermometers at Target for $10.

That's all for now :)

9/30/2008

Club meetings happened on Monday and Tuesday this week and our membership has really taken off!  On Monday we had 3 members in attendance and on Tuesday we had a total of 18 members bringing our membership count to 21 Lakeland students.  Issues we discussed during these meetings were the same on Monday and Tuesday and included the setup of the club, possible first investigation sites, and learning how to identify different types of paranormal activity including increasing our "debunking" skills.  I, Mr. Daniels, will be in contact soon with the City of Suffolk's Visitor Center, built in circa 1800, about doing our first investigation there.  I hope to see all members again next week on Monday or Tuesday or both :)

9/28/2008

A couple exciting things have surfaced to me over the weekend.  First, there is a grant for $2500 available through the school system that I'm going to try to apply for with Mr. Whitley's approval so we can get some scientific equipment for not only the club, but for the science and career and technical ed departments as well.  The deadline for the application is November 7th and it's unknown when the money would be handed out but it's worth a shot.

Secondly, we can apply to become an affiliate of The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) which is the paranormal investigation team that does the Sci-Fi series "Ghosthunters."  For this to happen though, we will need to be an official club for a period of at least one year.  Just 362 more days to go!  If we get this status, we will be the only paranormal club to have it of the three in Hampton Roads.

9/25/2008 - The First Meeting

The Lakeland Skeptics Society had their first meeting today and had 5 members in attendance.  If you were not able to attend the meeting today then don't sweat.  There will be meetings from 2:30 - 3:30 in room 223 on Monday and Tuesday of next week.  You are not required to attend both, but please attend at least one of those meetings.  We will be discussing similar topics each day.  See you there!