As I reported in my last post, the aforementioned Kelli Faulkner: remote viewer and medium who was on ABC”s Indiana New Extra staff has now been left off the station’s news team. Hurray!This is one small step for skeptics and one great leap for rational thinking. It shows when a few phone calls (mine) and and some pressure is brought to bear on peddlers of nonsense who should know much better, we can make a difference. If you are unaware of Kelli’s story, read my past blog “ABC has a Medium on Staff” from May 22.

I want to thank Ramon Volz, a teacher who lives in Fort Wayne for stepping up to the plate and DOING SOMETHING.What Ramon did was brilliant and should be an inspiration to anybody, particularly those who prattled on about who was ultimately responsible and questioned my calling these “News people” onto the carpet in the first place. If the same people had spent half as much time as Ramon did actually doing something about the situation instead of bagging on me for taking a stand, we as a skeptical group would have moved ahead a few more valuable steps much quicker and might do a lot better in the future. I realize this is a skeptical blog and welcome every one’s comments, but when push comes to shove, it gets a bit daunting when the point gets lost amongst complaints about typos, legality and well, …just too much skepticism about the little stuff. In this case the big issue has now been dealt with by somebody who got it.

Ramon wrote a beautiful letter I’m going to include with his permission.

I’m sure this had a lot to do with Kelli’s disappearance:

Subject: Save FWCS!

I am currently a teacher at Lindley Elementary School. As you all know, our schools are in an economical crisis. I just had a thought that would make a great promotion for your station, developing news story, and give a Fort Wayne native a chance to be a hero!

I noticed Kelli Faulkner is associated with Indiana’s NewsCenter, and her gifts could help our community schools! The INC website says “as a medium Kelli is able to see those who have passed on…” I can not see any reason why she would refuse to use her talents to help out the children of Fort Wayne!

I have found an easy way for Kelli Faulkner to raise $1 million dollars to help save Fort Wayne Community Schools! I am very excited about this, because I can not foresee any reason why Kelli wouldn’t want to help the education of children! I teach in a classroom of 26 and 25 third -graders! When they hear about this, they are going to be excited! I know that she wouldn’t deny excellent educational opportunities for our children! She could save the jobs of many teachers, lower classroom sizes, and possibly save a school from closing!

The James Randi Educational Foundation offers a one-million dollar prize! Their site claims they “offer a one-million-dollar prize to anyone who can show, under proper observing conditions, evidence of any paranormal, supernatural, or occult power or event. The JREF does not involve itself in the testing procedure, other than helping to design the protocol and approving the conditions under which a test will take place. All tests are designed with the participation and approval of the applicant. In most cases, the applicant will be asked to perform a relatively simple preliminary test of the claim, which if successful, will be followed by the formal test. Preliminary tests are usually conducted by associates of the JREF at the site where the applicant lives. Upon success in the preliminary testing process, the “applicant” becomes a “claimant.”

Here is a link to the challenge: http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/1m-challenge.html

All Kelli would have to do is what she does best! I’m so glad that she’s so gifted and has the references to back her up, because it will make winning the prize seem that much easier! She’s helped out so many grieving families— now she can help save our schools! I’m pumped!

Then, the station could follow her up on her challenge and film it as she wins a million dollars for FWCS! Your station would have a once in a lifetime story on your hands!!! This could also raise medium awareness, and mediums everywhere could use their gifts to help!

We have absolutely nothing to lose from this, and EVERYTHING to gain! I’m sorry if this seems a tad long, but I’m just overwhelmed with excitement that we have such easy access to one million dollars!

I’d appreciate a quick reply… if we do this right and quickly, we might be able to save a few jobs in FWCS! I’d even be willing to help put this thing together: everything from filling out the application, meeting with Kelli personally, to contacting the educational foundation responsible for this challenge!

Thank you for your time!

Now that’s putting the ball in the right court.

In a follow up note to the Indiana News Extra Desk (and Corinne Rose in particular who refused to take my call on air a few weeks back), Ramon wrote:

To: gm@indianasnewscenter.com; newsroom

Subject: No response to my emails :(

I recently emailed the station in regards to your association with Kelli Faulkner, and expressed interest in having her win a $1 million prize (through the James Randi Educational Foundation) which she could then donate to FWCS. After two emails and no reply, I checked on your website to see if I could contact her directly. Her information was no longer available on your website. I have a few questions:

1. Is Kelli Faulkner still associated with INC?

2. Is it possible to for INC to do a story in which Kelli uses her talented gifts to win $1 million for FWCS?

I have attached a link to the prize and application as evidence that this would make a fantastic news story about a local hero. I have already agreed to do the paperwork if necessary to try to help our schools. If she wishes to keep the money to herself, I am still willing to offer my services.

http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/1m-challenge/challenge-application.html

I would appreciate a reply to my email, your website claims a reply within one or two days. Up to now I have received no reply. Here is an alternate email address in case you can’t get a reply to this email address. ramon_volz@yahoo.com

I am not in the school during the summertime, therefore do not contact me via phone to the school.

Thank you for your time and commitment to our community!

Tighten those screws Ramon! And notice how he worded everything with such kindness and elan. My hat’s off to him. Not many station execs couls argue with his approach.

And what was the Indiana News Desk’s Final word of the subjcet of Kelli Faulkner?

From: Corinne Rose [corinner@indianasnewscenter.com] Sent: Wed 6/16/2010 10:19 AM

To: Volz,Ramon

Cc:

Subject: RE: No response to my emails :(

Attachments:

View As Web Page

Ramon,



Kelli is no longer affiliated with INC. Contact her directly at her website. Do a Google search for her.



Good luck,

Corinne Rose

Thanks for the kiss off “Good Luck” Corrinne.

If we believed in luck like you apparently believed in Kelli Faulkner, we would be running a skeptical segment on your “News Extra” show every day and not any remote viewing/medium nonsense. I wonder how many bereaved parents of missing or murdered children wasted precious time and money while Kelli was touted as your medium? I hope you sleep better knowing you and your station are now one totally unsubstantiated con artist less than before. Now maybe you will take a closer look at Robbie Thomas too. You managed to sell a few tickets for his show in Fort Wayne with your segment on his racket despite the fact that he has absolutely no crimes solved under his fat belt and zero credibility with law enforcement. I guess in Fort Wayne they don’t let facts get in the way of a good juicy kidnapping or murder story. If any crimes were truly solved by Kelli (or Robbie) personally and you have facts and not anecdotes, we await your news worthy input here at skepticblog. Perhaps you could hook Kelli up with Robbie and they could go on the road with Indiana’s News Extra Desk as their sponsor?

I still don’t know if it was Kelli herself or the station who pulled the plug. I tried calling Kelli at her phone number 260-432-7986 without getting through. So Kelli, if you want to respond, please do. You have my number. We are waiting. I’m sure that overall this minor set-back won’t make much of a dent in your career as a remote viewer and medium. I’m sure you will make good use of your time spent under ABC’s wing as a good resume point and I’m also sure you saw this coming without any need for psychic powers of any sort. If it’s true that you did voluntarily back off on your own as I suggested last month, I applaud your effort and thanks for doing the right thing. If not, well, eh , …Good Luck?