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Gary Campbell, President of The Official Loch Ness Monster Fan Club
by Lois June Wickstrom
Gary Campbell runs the The Official Loch Ness Monster Fan Club. His web address is
http://www.lochness.co.uk/fan_club/
He kindly consented to answer some questions for Nessie's Grotto.
1) Have you ever seen a lake monster? If so, please describe.
Yes, this is what started the fan club - I saw a black hump in Loch Ness in
March 1996. When I went to report the sighting I discovered that no one
place was keeping a record of all sightings - from this the fan club was born
2) Are you involved in any of the research projects to find Nessie?
Yes, we try to help anyone who requests assistance. This year we welped the
GUST team from Sweden get a boat and someone with experience to skipper it in
the loch. We have also run our own expeditions at other Scottish monster
lochs.
3) What kinds of high-tech research are being used to hunt for Nessie?
All kinds - the most recent have been sonar and this year hydrophones - in
all cases unknown contacts/ sounds have been picked up in the loch.
Unfortunately, the results just leave us with more questions.
4) Please describe at least one more research project you've helped with.
At Loch Lochy in 1997 we helped in a sonar search of the loch there, at Loch
Ness in 1997 we helped in the search organised by Nova TV, in 1998 we helped
Japanese TV to get on to the loch and obtain good quality footage and sonar
contacts and last year we helped the Discovery Channel.
5) What about Nessie fascinates you?
Everything but mainly the fact that something so far unidentified can live so
close to us without giving up its secrets
6) What is the purpose of your Loch Ness Monster Fan Club? (Why would
somebody send you $35?)
We register all sightings, have a twice yearly bulletin and generally try to
keep as much of the Nessie story publicly available as possible. As noted
above, we have run expeditions and in 1999 organised a symposium on
cryptozoology at Loch Ness. For the $35, the bank takes $9 and the rest
will get you the fan club pack which appears to have become quite popular -
we currently have 196 members worldwide. Having said that, although we
charge a subscription, the whole thing runs at a loss each year!
7) Please tell what's in the membership kit.
A membership certificate, badge, postcards, brochures on Nessie, introductory
issue of the NESSPAPER and a unique cuddly Nessie!
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You can read more about Gary's work, the Nessie sightings he's logged and other projects at
http://www.lochness.co.uk/fan_club/
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Jean and I have now finished our second Nessie children's book.
You can read a sample chapter of Nessie and the Living Stone at:
http://www.simegen.com/writers/nessie/sample.htm
And we've posted a sample chapter of Nessie and the Viking Gold at:
http://www.simegen.com/writers/nessie/sample2.htm
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And you can send a free Nessie book card at:
http://www.simegen.com/marketplace/ecards/cards/authors/jlorrah2.html
Best,
Lois
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