MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

Transcription

1 MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING THIS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ( MOU ) is made and entered into this day of, between and among the Center for Inquiry, Inc. ( CFI ), a 501(c)(3) non-partisan, non-profit educational organization headquartered in Amherst, New York; the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry ( CSI ), Inc. an affiliate of CFI, sharing headquarters with CFI in Amherst, New York; and the Independent Investigations Group ( IIG ), an organization dedicated to investigating claims of the paranormal from a scientific, skeptical viewpoint, currently located at CFI s branch office in Los Angeles, California. I. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE The purpose of this MOU is to clarify the parties understanding regarding the establishment and maintenance of IIG Affiliates at the various branches of CFI and other locations. This MOU and any attachments provide an outline of the roles and responsibilities of CFI, CSI, IIG and the IIG Affiliates, and to set forth the organizational structure of governing bodies to oversee the activities of the IIG Affiliates. II. GOVERNANCE OF IIG AFFILIATES a. Governing Council The parties shall establish a Governing Council with the authority to take the actions further specified herein. The Governing Council shall consist of the individuals holding the following offices or positions: the chair of the Los Angeles IIG Affiliate; the Executive Director of CSI; the Chief Executive Officer of CFI; and the General Counsel of CFI. The Governing Council may take action by majority vote of its members, but only after consulting with the Steering Committee of the Los Angeles IIG Affiliate. b. Organizational Structure of IIG Affiliates The parties agree that each IIG Affiliate shall establish an organizational structure to oversee the activities of the IIG Affiliate, organized as follows: i. IIG Affiliate Steering Committee Each IIG Affiliate shall establish a Steering Committee to create the agenda for regular meetings of the IIG Affiliate; to suggest or assign Lead Investigators to pending cases; and to participate in creating and/or vetting testing protocols with challenge applicants. The Governing Council shall establish a single set of Bylaws for the governance of the various IIG Affiliate Steering Committees, and may amend the Bylaws as needed. The Steering Committee may unilaterally approve expenditures of up to a Ceiling of one hundred dollars ($100.00) from the IIG Affiliate s treasury; the Steering Committee may approve expenditures in amounts above the Ceiling of one hundred dollars ($100.00) only after informing the IIG Affiliate s membership. The Governing Council may adjust the dollar amount of said Ceiling from time to time. Any proposed expenditure that constitutes 30% or more of the total account balance of the IIG Affiliate s treasury must be pre-approved by a simple majority of the general members. 1

2 A Treasury Report disclosing the current status of account balances and expenses must be distributed to general members at every monthly meeting. ii. First Responder IIG Affiliates shall appoint a First Responder or First Responders to respond to inquiries in a timely and efficient manner, whether received by , by telephone, by mail, or by other means of communication. iii. Lead Investigator A Lead Investigator must be appointed for every Investigation and/or Paranormal Challenge application. IIG general members may serve as lead investigators for more than one claimant or investigation. Lead Investigators serve as the primary contact between the IIG Affiliate and a Paranormal Challenge applicant, and as team leader for a particular IIG investigation. Lead Investigators shall report to the IIG Affiliate s Steering Committee and to the general membership on the status of pending investigations and Paranormal Challenge applications on at least a monthly basis. iv. Membership Chair Each IIG Affiliate Steering Committee shall appoint a Membership Chair to gather and record pertinent information for each of the IIG Affiliate s members, including contact information, skills, and areas of interest. The Membership Chair shall notify the IIG Affiliate s membership by about upcoming meetings and events. The Membership Chair may also serve as a member of the IIG Affiliate s Steering Committee. v. Treasurer Each IIG Affiliate Steering Committee shall appoint a Treasurer to manage the IIG Affiliate s accounts. The Treasurer shall submit monthly reports to the Steering Committee and membership. c. Meetings Each IIG Affiliate shall hold a General Membership meeting at least once each month. By default, these meetings shall fall on the third Saturday of each month at 11:00 a.m. The time and date of a regular meeting may be changed by the consensus of the participants. The Steering Committee of each IIG Affiliate shall also meet monthly, in person or by teleconference, prior to the IIG Affiliate s monthly General Membership meeting, for the purpose of setting an agenda for the general membership meeting, and discussing pending applications, ongoing and potential investigations. The default date and time of the Steering Committee meetings shall fall on the first Wednesday of each month. The time and date of a Steering Committee meeting may be changed by the consensus of the participants. General members in good standing may attend Steering Meetings. 2

3 III. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PARTIES a. Paranormal Challenge The parties agree that the IIG shall offer, and the parties shall publicize, a Paranormal Challenge, by which an applicant may win a prize of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) by demonstrating paranormal abilities under strict, scientific testing conditions, subject to the IIG $50,000 Paranormal Challenge ( Paranormal Challenge ) Terms and Conditions set forth in the attached Exhibit A. A $5,000 Finder s Fee will also be offered to any person who brings forth a successful applicant to the IIG. An applicant must succeed in winning the Paranormal Challenge before the $5,000 Finder s Fee will be paid. CSI shall allocate a portion of CSI s Endowment in the amount of $55,000 to serve as the Finder s Fee and prize amount. In accordance with the IIG $50,000 Paranormal Challenge Terms and Conditions, testing of a Paranormal Challenge applicant s claimed paranormal abilities shall occur in two successive stages: first, through a Preliminary Demonstration of the claimed ability; then, if and only if an applicant succeeds in demonstrating the claimed ability during the Preliminary Demonstration, through a Formal Test. Applicants for the Paranormal Challenge shall be required to fill out and sign a Challenge Application Form (attached hereto as Exhibit B ) for submission by physical or electronic mail. No testing or negotiation of a Testing Protocol shall occur prior to the Applicant s submission of a Challenge Application Form. Prior to an applicant s submission of a Challenge Application Form, an IIG Affiliate s First Responder and/or Lead Investigator shall be responsible for handling initial correspondence with potential applicants. Prior to the time that any applicant engages in the Preliminary Demonstration for an IIG Affiliate, the Los Angeles IIG Affiliate and CSI shall evaluate and provide the final approval of the Test Protocol. In addition to evaluating and approving the Test Protocol, CSI shall have the right to appoint one or more individuals to observe and monitor the Preliminary Demonstration and/or Formal Test on CSI s behalf. Final approval of a Test Protocol shall require review of the protocols for efficacy and statistical accuracy. When statistical probability of achieving a positive test result by chance alone can be established, the parties agree that the statistical odds for a successful Preliminary Demonstration shall be set to at least 5,000:1 that the positive result did not occur by chance alone, and that the odds for a successful Formal Test shall be set to at least 1,000,000:1 that the positive result did not occur by chance alone. IIG Affiliates are strongly encouraged to establish subgroups to design Test Protocols and to consult with other affiliates regarding Test Protocol designs. Notwithstanding CSI s contribution of the funds for the Paranormal Challenge prize and the Finder s Fee, and notwithstanding CSI s participation in the testing of a Paranormal Challenge applicant s claimed paranormal abilities as set forth herein, the parties agree that any Paranormal Challenge test results shall not be attributed to CFI or CSI, and that CFI and CSI each retain the unfettered discretion to disavow the results of any Paranormal Challenge tests. 3

4 The parties understand and acknowledge that any payment of the Paranormal Challenge prize does not necessarily constitute an admission that the positive test results are attributable to the applicant s claimed paranormal ability and not to chance, flaws in the design or execution of the tests, or other sources of error. Although the prize money shall be awarded to a successful Paranormal Challenge applicant, the IIG, CFI and CSI reserve the right to examine and review the test for replicability, design flaws, and other possible sources of error. b. Activities of the IIG Affiliates The IIG Affiliates shall conduct the following activities: Handling General Inquiries: IIG Affiliates shall field general inquiries regarding paranormal and pseudoscience claims. Examples of such claims include, by way of example and not by way of limitation, ghost photos, UFO sightings, psychic predictions. Media and Publicity Guidelines: IIG Affiliates shall assist in coordinating and identifying appropriate contacts and spokespersons to handle media inquiries and opportunities. Spokespersons shall not represent themselves as speaking for CSI or CFI. Media opportunities include, by way of example and not by way of limitation, local and national news programs; podcasts; radio interviews; and webcasts. IIG Affiliates shall make their contact information available to the public. IIG Affiliates are expected to maintain a high level of integrity and ensure that all statements and activities are consistent with the following IIG Mission Statement: The IIG investigates fringe science, paranormal and extraordinary claims from a rational, scientific viewpoint, and disseminates factual information about such inquiries to the public. The goal of IIG s Mission is not to debunk paranormal extraordinary claims or to identify instances of fraud, but to investigate such claims in a scientific manner and use evidence to evaluate claims. Investigations: IIG Affiliates shall conduct investigations of pseudoscientific, extraordinary, and paranormal claims. Investigations may be conducted by one or more individuals performing Internet or telephone research, or by one or more IIG Affiliate members going into the field. Typically, an investigation involves no outlay of money, other than that required to attend a lecture or class or to purchase a product for investigation. Vetting and Testing Paranormal Challenge Applicants: IIG Affiliates shall assist in vetting and testing applicants to the Paranormal Challenge. Applicants for the Paranormal Challenge may be referred to IIG and/or an IIG Affiliate by any organization committed to skeptical inquiry, including, by way of example and not by way of limitation, CFI; CSI; and the James Randi Educational Foundation ( JREF ). Applicants shall be responsible for arranging and paying for their transportation, housing, and any other expenses associated with an Informal Demonstration or a Test. Applicants shall also bear the full financial costs of transporting, housing and other expenses for any additional persons required to attend or participate in an investigation, and for providing 4

5 any special materials, consultants or equipment needed. CFI, CSI and IIG shall not provide any funds toward these ends. If testing itself requires the expenditure of funds, IIG may require the applicant to pay for testing expenses up front. Any overpayment must be returned to the applicant. IIG may not charge for or profit from testing or investigating. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph, IIG may receive donations as long as they are not solicited or accepted in conjunction with a test or an investigation. c. IIG Websites IIG warrants and represents that it owns the Internet domains independentinvestigationsgroup.com, independentinvestigationsgroup.net and independentinvestigationsgroup.org. Currently, these domains mirror the content of IIG s main website, iigwest.org. The parties agree that the domain independentinvestigationsgroup.org shall serve as IIG s main website, and as a hub linking to the respective websites of the various IIG Affiliates; the website currently maintained at iigwest.org shall become the website of the IIG Affiliate sponsored at CFI s Los Angeles branch. The parties further agree that CFI shall assume responsibility for registering and maintaining the domain registration and website hosting of IIG s main website at the domain independentinvestigationsgroup.org. CFI shall endeavor to use a Content Management System similar or identical to that currently used to maintain CFI s website, centerforinquiry.net. Each IIG Affiliate shall appoint a person or team who shall be responsible for uploading and managing the content of the IIG Affiliate s website, which shall be linked to IIG s main website at independentinvestigationsgroup.org. Furthermore, if technically feasible, CFI shall arrange to include a search function to perform internet searches across the websites of all IIG Affiliates. d. Publications CFI and CSI shall have right of first refusal to publish reports, articles and other written materials generated by IIG investigations and activities that: (i) (ii) relate to the IIG $50,000 Paranormal Challenge; or pertain to specific tasks, investigations, or projects assigned to IIG or IIG Affiliates by CFI, CSI or IIG Los Angeles. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph, said reports, articles and written materials, and summaries thereof, may appear on the websites of IIG and IIG Affiliates; and said reports, articles and other written materials may appear in the newsletters and/or websites of other local organizations that made a material contribution to the investigation or activity responsible for generating the written materials. IV. FINANCING 5

6 a. IIG Affiliate Membership Dues The parties agree that CFI and CSI shall not be responsible for providing funds to IIG and/or IIG Affiliates, other than as provided in this MOU. IIG Affiliates shall establish an initial yearly membership dues of forty dollars ($40.00) to pay for the IIG Affiliates activities. An IIG Affiliate may change its dues levels from time to time. Thirty dollars ($30.00) is the recommended minimum dues. IIG Affiliates may allow an interested individual to attend two meetings of the IIG Affiliate without charge; thereafter, the IIG Affiliate shall request that the individual pay a membership fee, or pay a five-dollar fee ($5.00) per meeting to attend further meetings. The Governing Council may adjust said fee from time to time. With respect to locations where a CFI branch provides space and/or facilities to an IIG Affiliate, the IIG Affiliate shall pay CFI a fee of ten dollars ($10.00) per year per IIG/IIG Affiliate member. The Governing Council may adjust said fee from time to time. Where a CFI branch does not provide space and/or facilities to an IIG Affiliate, the IIG Affiliate shall not be required to pay a portion of its membership fee to CFI. Notwithstanding the foregoing paragraphs, IIG Affiliates may offer one year of membership at a reduced membership fee of twenty dollars ($20.00) to paid members of other skeptical organizations, including, by way of example and not by way of limitation, paid members of CFI, of CSI, of the National Capital Area Skeptics ( NCAS ) or of the James Randi Educational Foundation ( JREF ). With respect to locations where a CFI branch provides space and/or facilities to an IIG Affiliate, the IIG Affiliate shall pay five dollars ($5.00) of every reduced membership fee to CFI. The reduced membership fee shall apply for the duration of one year only, after which the member shall be required to pay the regular membership fee. The Governing Council may adjust the dollar amounts of the fees referenced in this paragraph from time to time. IIG Affiliates may also offer low-income or student rates to qualifying members. b. One-Time Contributions by CSI CSI shall contribute five hundred dollars ($500.00) to each IIG Affiliate newly established during the calendar year, up to a maximum of six (6) newly established IIG Affiliates per year. IIG Affiliates are expected to operate at least one year. By accepting the one-time contribution from CSI, the IIG Affiliate agrees to forfeit the use of the name Independent Investigations Group and the acronym IIG in the event that the relationship between the IIG Affiliate and CSI or IIG is severed. V. DISCLAIMER OF EITHER PARTY S ACTIONS AND STATEMENTS The parties understand that CFI and CSI retain the unfettered discretion to disclaim responsibility for the actions or statements of IIG, IIG Affiliates and their respective agents and representatives, and, if necessary, to disassociate CFI and/or CSI from IIG. 6

7 The parties further understand that IIG likewise retains the unfettered discretion to disclaim responsibility for the actions or statements of CFI and/or CSI, their affiliates, and their respective agents and representatives, and, if necessary, to disassociate IIG from CFI and/or CSI. VI. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PARTIES The parties do not intend this MOU to create a legal partnership, principal, agent, employeremployee, or joint venture relationship; nothing in this MOU shall be construed as creating such a relationship between the parties; IIG may not incur any obligation or liability on behalf of CFI or CSI; and CFI and/or CSI may not incur any obligation or liability on behalf of IIG. VII. DURATION AND TERMINATION This MOU shall remain in effect so long as the relationship between CFI, CSI and IIG endures. Any party may terminate the relationship at any time, without cause, upon ninety (90) days prior written notice. In the event that the relationship between CFI, CSI and IIG is terminated, IIG is prohibited from identifying IIG as affiliated in any way with CFI or CSI, and CFI and CSI are prohibited from identifying themselves as affiliated in any way with IIG. VIII. EXCLUSIVITY During the term of this Agreement, IIG shall be affiliated exclusively with CFI and CSI, and IIG shall not make any statements, oral or written, suggesting that it is affiliated with any organization other than CFI/CSI. However, this Agreement does not restrict IIG, CFI or CSI from working with other organizations, public or private initiatives, or individuals on investigations or related projects. 7

8 IX. AMENDMENTS No amendment, change or modification of this MOU shall be valid unless in writing signed by the parties. The parties have executed this MOU as of the date first written above. FOR THE INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATIONS GROUP AFFILIATE: Signature Date Name, Title (Printed) FOR THE CENTER FOR INQUIRY: Signature Date Name, Title (Printed) FOR THE COMMITTEE FOR SKEPTICAL INQUIRY: Signature Date Name, Title (Printed) 8

9 IIG $50,000 Paranormal Challenge Terms and Conditions The Independent Investigations Group (IIG) is committed to providing reliable information about paranormal claims. It both supports and conducts original research into such claims. The IIG offers a fifty thousand dollar prize to anyone who can show, under proper scientific observing conditions, compelling evidence of any paranormal, supernatural, or occult power or event that is verifiable to an extent significantly exceeding chance. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURE All applicants must agree to the terms and conditions set forth herein before a formal test protocol agreement may be entered into. Completing an application form is mandatory before a case may be opened; there are no exceptions to this. Since claims concerning psychic, supernatural, or paranormal ability vary greatly in character and scope, specific test criteria must be formulated for each applicant. Applicants will be required to clearly state what they claim as their special ability on the application form. At the discretion of the IIG and depending on the specific ability claimed, the IIG may request an informal demonstration of the ability (either in person or by video recording), prior to accepting an application. The purpose of a demonstration is to better understand the nature of the ability claimed. However, any such Informal Demonstration, regardless of the outcome, will not constitute a test or a Preliminary Demonstration and does not qualify for the prize. An applicant performing an Informal Demonstration must sign an Informal Demonstration Waiver which states the parties acknowledgement that the Informal Demonstration does not constitute a Formal Test. By signing the application form and returning it to the IIG (c/o The Center for Inquiry-Los Angeles), the applicant agrees to be bound by the terms outlined in this document. It is only after an application is properly completed, signed by the applicant, and signed by an IIG officer, that the applicant becomes eligible to participate in the challenge. All communication must be in writing, by or postal mail. Due to the large amount of correspondence exchanged in this process, applicants using postal mail must send a selfaddressed stamped envelope (SASE), or in the case of foreign letters only a self-addressed envelope, to accompany each piece of correspondence requiring an answer. All correspondence will be answered in English only. Copies of the application form are available free of charge to any person requesting it who sends the required SASE, or it can be downloaded from the Internet at 9

10 STATEMENT OF CHALLENGE OFFER The IIG will pay US$50,000 to any person who can show any psychic, supernatural, or paranormal ability under satisfactory observing conditions. Such performance must take place under the following rules and conditions: 1. To be eligible for this offer, applicants must complete and submit an application form according to the application requirements (as stated above). The applicant must state in the application exactly what powers or abilities are claimed, and the limits of the proposed demonstration (so far as time, location and other variables are concerned). In order for an application to be accepted, the claimed ability must be testable (measurable). The description provided must specify what would constitute both a positive and a negative result. The IIG encourages the applicant to provide a brief account of how he or she discovered the alleged powers. This information may be helpful for the IIG to develop a complete understanding of the claim. 2. After an application has been accepted by the IIG, the IIG will design, with assistance from and the approval of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry ( CSI, an organization affiliated with the Center for Inquiry, Inc. ( CFI )), a test protocol will be designed appropriate to the claim being made. The test protocol shall include two successive testing stages: first, a Preliminary Demonstration of the applicant s claimed paranormal ability; and a Formal Test of the claimed ability. An applicant shall be eligible for a Formal Test if an only if the applicant succeeds in demonstrating the claimed ability during the Preliminary Demonstration; an applicant who fails to demonstrate a claimed paranormal ability during the Preliminary Demonstration shall be ineligible for the $50,000 prize. Both the applicant and the IIG must agree with the test protocol and sign a Testing Protocol Agreement. The agreement becomes valid only after both parties have signed it. Once signed, no part of the testing protocol may be changed in any way without the agreement of all parties concerned. No testing will take place prior to this document being signed. 3. All tests must be designed in such a way that the results are both replicable and self-evident, with no subjective interpretation required as part of the judging process. For claims that have a statistical possibility of having a positive result by chance alone, the Testing Protocol Agreement will require sufficient multiple trials to ensure the result cannot be accounted for by chance. In such a case, a single test will be considered to consist of as many repetitive trials as determined necessary. When statistical probability of achieving a positive result by chance alone can be established, the parties agree that the statistical odds for a successful Preliminary Demonstration shall be set to at least 5,000:1 that the positive result did not occur by chance alone, and that the odds for a successful Formal Test shall be set to at least 1,000,000:1 that the positive result did not occur by chance alone. 4. In some cases the Testing Protocol Agreement may have to be revised after the Formal Test has been scheduled, or even after the test has begun. For example, flaws may be discovered in the experimental design, or the random chance results weren t adequately considered. If any flaw is found in the agreement requiring its revision, the applicant shall be notified and the changes approved by all parties prior to commencing or continuing the test. 5. All expenses such as transportation, accommodation, materials, assistants, and all other costs for any persons or procedures incurred in pursuit of the IIG prize are the sole responsibility of 10

11 the applicant. The IIG, CFI and CSI will NOT be jointly or severally liable for these, or for any costs incurred in the pursuit of the IIG prize. 6. Testing is normally conducted by associates of the IIG at our location in Hollywood, CA; however arrangements may be made to test applicants by IIG Affiliates in other locations, at the discretion of the IIG and CSI. Upon arrival at the test site, applicants will be required to properly identify themselves before any discussion or testing may commence. 7. Only an actual performance of the stated nature and scope, within the agreed-upon limits, will be accepted as a successful outcome. Anecdotal accounts of previous events are not accepted or considered. The IIG has no interest in theories or explanations of how the claimed powers might work; if the applicant provides such material, it will be disregarded. 8. After the test is complete, the IIG will analyze the results to determine whether there was a conclusive result obtained, and if there was a result, whether it was positive or negative (a positive conclusion indicates the applicant s claim was verified). If the nature of the test protocol allows the results to be known immediately, they shall be communicated to the applicant in person at the conclusion of the test. If the nature of the test requires detailed analysis of the test data, the applicant shall be informed in writing as soon as the results are known. 9. If the results of the test are determined by the IIG to be negative, i.e., the claim was not verified, the applicant will be notified and the application will be denied. 10. If the results of the test are determined by the IIG to be positive, the applicant complied with all of the terms and conditions specified herein, and all aspects of the test were in accordance with the Testing Protocol Agreement, the applicant shall be informed and $50,000 shall be delivered to the applicant within ninety (90) days. Subsequent to awarding the prize money, the application will be closed. 11. If it is deemed that the results of the test are inconclusive (neither clearly positive nor negative), the applicant shall be required to repeat the test, or withdraw his/her application. 12. Any applicant who fails the Paranormal Challenge may reapply. There is no limit on the number of times an applicant may re-apply, but re-application will only be allowed after 12 months or more have elapsed since the previous attempt. 13. Every Testing Protocol Agreement will include a stipulation that no cheating, trickery or deceit is permitted in any demonstration or the Formal Test. Any evidence of deception by an applicant will result in the immediate termination of the test, and the application for the IIG prize will be denied. 14. The applicant agrees that all data and materials (photographic, recorded, written, etc.) submitted by the applicant or gathered during the testing remains the property of CFI and the IIG, and may be used freely by them for any purpose. Further, the applicant agrees that CFI, CSI and IIG may publish a report regarding the findings, whether in print, electronic, or other media in perpetuity. 15. When entering into this challenge, the applicant surrenders any and all rights to legal action against the Independent Investigations Group, CFI, CSI, their affiliates, employees and officers, and any persons peripherally involved to the greatest extent allowed by applicable law. This 11

12 applies to injury, accident, or any other damage of a physical or emotional nature, and/or financial or professional loss or damage of any kind. (This rule in no way affects the awarding of the prize money). 16. IIG will not entertain any demand that the prize money be deposited in escrow, displayed in cash, or otherwise produced in advance of a test being completed with a successful outcome. 17. This offer is open to any and all persons, in any part of the world, regardless of gender, race, educational background, etc., except where prohibited by law, and will continue in effect until the prize is awarded. 18. This offer is made by the IIG and not on behalf of any other person, agency, or organization. Though others may become involved in the examination of claims, or others may add their reward money to the total in certain circumstances, the implementation and management of the IIG Challenge will be carried out solely by the Independent Investigations Group, CFI and CSI. No special rules, exceptions, conditions, standards, or favors will be granted without mutual agreement of all parties. No changes to this offer will be permitted except by an officer of the IIG, CFI or CSI, made in writing, and approved by the IIG, CFI and CSI. No one else is authorized to negotiate or make any changes to this offer on behalf of the IIG, CFI and CSI. Verbal changes or promises of any kind are not permitted under any circumstances. 19. Notwithstanding CFI and CSI s assisting the IIG in carrying out the Paranormal Challenge, the parties agree that any Paranormal Challenge test results shall not be attributed to CFI or CSI, and that CFI and/or CSI may disavow the results of any Paranormal Challenge tests. 20. The parties acknowledge and agree that the IIG s payment of the Paranormal Challenge prize does not necessarily constitute an admission that the positive test results are attributable to the applicant s claimed paranormal ability and not to chance, flaws in the design or execution of the tests, or other sources of error. Although the IIG will award the prize money to a successful Paranormal Challenge applicant, the IIG, CFI and CSI reserve the right to examine and review the test for replicability, design flaws, and other possible sources of error. The applicant, by signing and returning the application form, signifies agreement with all of the terms and conditions contained in this document. Any applicant who does not meet the terms and conditions as outlined herein does not qualify for the award money. NOTE: The IIG strongly suggests that applicants conduct proper, scientific tests of their own to determine whether their abilities or claims are actually valid. Some persons who failed to do this have experienced public embarrassment and humiliation due to them not having the ability they thought they did, because they never made the attempt to test themselves under proper scientific conditions. This advice is offered so that applicants might be spared these problems. The IIG can assist potential applicants with an appropriate method to verify their ability prior to filing an application. 12

13 IIG $50,000 Paranormal Challenge Application I, the undersigned, have read, understand, and agree to all the above Terms and Conditions as a precondition to qualifying for the IIG $50,000 Paranormal Challenge. I understand and acknowledge that several claimants have suffered great personal embarrassment after failing the Paranormal Challenge, and that I may suffer similar personal embarrassment by failing the Paranormal Challenge. I acknowledge that I have been advised to conduct proper double-blind tests of any ability I believe I can demonstrate, before attempting to undergo testing for the Paranormal Challenge prize. I have attached a short description of my claimed ability or abilities, as well as a brief account of how I discovered that I had these claimed abilities, and I am prepared to participate in the development of any and all test protocols with the Independent Investigations Group. I acknowledge that no test shall take place without the mutual consent of the IIG and me. I understand that if any Preliminary Demonstration and/or Formal Test of my claimed ability or abilities is scheduled to take place in Los Angeles, CA, near an IIG Affiliate, or at a mutually agreed upon location. I will be responsible for all transportation costs associated with participating in such testing. (Signature of Claimant) Printed Name Date Street Address City State Zip Code Phone Number Address Please send this application, a brief description of your ability or abilities, and a self addressed stamped envelope to: Challenge Application c/o IIG Center for Inquiry-Los Angeles 4773 Hollywood Blvd Los Angeles, California USA 13

14 IIG $50,000 Paranormal Challenge Application Below is a short description of my ability or abilities: Below is a brief account of how I discovered that I had these abilities: 14