Ahhh the first sense of spring is in the air today as I type this delayed edition of Sub Space Chatter our regional news bulletin. It seems many of us are enduring the winter blahs and will soon hit the first major sci fi con of the season in Maryland.

Some of you are there already such as ship cos and R7 staffers Jim and Mary Ann Puglise of Adamant/Ascension fame who will be showcasing their models at The Collective Table. Asst. Recruitment Director Mike Allen will be minding the store and coordinating the volunteer schedule at the Starfleet recruitment table. Please offer a hand to help out during the weekend.

Our Starfleet meeting is at 9 am at the same location as last year. Please see the con schedule for the exact location.

An hour prior to that you can break bread and enjoy breakfast with the RC for the second annual Farpoint Brunch at 8 am in the main restaurant in the hotel.

Feb. 26 is the annual Polar Bear Plunge in Seaside Heights NJ and the Starfleet Plunge team, which has adopted the theme of Ice Borgs this year, would appreciate any financial support you can lend us. See me or R7 Chief of Staff Commodore Jeff Victor if you had a donation of a check or cash. Checks can be made out to Special Olympics, Polar Bear Plunge NJ.

Wayne will speak more about this at the meeting but our membership numbers are up in the region and most of our chapters have addressed their membership strength and reporting issues something that we are very happy about.

We still have a few ships who have been absent some MSRs or need their XO to get their needed OCC and OTS but we’ve noticed that issues like this have been lessening in recent months.

Jeff will be making a status update on the fun planned for Starfleet International Conference 2011 going on in the PA sector in August.

Other topics will include the region’s fundraising efforts and multi chapter activity plans.

I know I’m nursing a growing cold at the moment but I’m still hoping to see you all tomorrow.

For those who are not planning on going, I am sure we will have a complete report following the con on our regional lists.

As always should you have a project idea, compliment, complaint, question or problem that we can assist with. Let Wayne or I know.

The USS Abraham Lincold had its monthly meeting on the 22nd of January and set up its plans for the next 7 months, including  a bowling fundraiser, astromony activities, and their annual picnic.

The USS Accord held its monthly meeing as well as attended a viewing of the movie “The Green Hornet.” Also, their website has been updated.

The USS Adamant held their monthly meeting on the 23rd of January where they also set up plans for 2011. Most of the other activities they had planned for January had to be cancelled because of snow.

The USS Albany held a post-holiday party on the 15th of January. They also had 2 bowling outings during the month, and have 2 more set up for February.

The USS Ascension have also been making plans, including snow tubing, Farpoint, and going to the Baltimore Aquarium during the spring. They also went to see the movie “Tron Legacy.”

The USS Asimov is still looking for their CO Martin Lessem, as well as planning on being at Farpoint.

The USS Avenger held a meeting in January, as well as a Movie Day. They are planning on having a meeting in February as well as going to Farpoint and participating in the Polar Bear Plunge.

The USS Britannic, Flagship for Region 7, held their first meeting for 2011 in January and set up their plans for the upcoming year. They are planning on holding a “Battlestar Galactica” film festival in February, which they were not able to have during January due to the weather.

The USS Challenger held its annual reorganization meeting on Jan. 15 and mapped out its first 6-8 months of activities, reviewed chapter polices and reviewed the progress of IC2011. They will be going to the 3 Stooges “Stoogeium” in Philly during the spring.

The USS DeBraak continues their charity work, as well as thier work at the Academy.

The USS Edinburgh CO and XO continue with the Marine Reading Challenge., as well as preparing for Farpoint.

The USS Highlander attended thier annual trip to the Polar Bear Plunge for Special Olympics of Maryland.

The USS Inferno is gearing up for ship elections and revising their By-laws.

The USS Iwo Jima went to a screening of “The Green Hornet.”

The USS Matrix has been sharing winter horror stories.

The USS McAuliff has also been planning future activies.

USS Pride of Baltimore members are looking forward to Farpoint.

The USS Richthofen held a MST3K night, as well as planning their annual Gettysburgh trip and the 2011 Trek Olympics.

The USS Schweitzer have been working on a logo for their chapter, and have been planning their launch party.

The USS Serling have reviewed their bylaws, discussed newsletter, presented ideas for FUNdrasers and Away Missions.

The USS Sovereign started 2011 by attending their annual New Year’s dinner at Olive Garden and exchanged presents. They concluded their month by visiting their kids at Project Rainbow and making Valentine crafts with the kids to be hung on their doors.

The USS Storm held their monthly meeting.

The USS Susquehannock went to the Hazy Center Air & Space Museum in Chantilly VA, as well as holding a monthly meeting on the 23rd of January.

The USS Thor crew are preparing for the charity auction at Katsucon, an Anime convention near DC to sponsor American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. being held in February.