SUB SPACE CHATTER: THE SPRING IS HERE AT LAST EDITION
By Vice Regional Coordinator Adm. Bob Vosseller
Spring has sprung at long last after a winter that never seemed to want to end. It has been a busy several weeks as chapters are looking ahead to celebrating the 45th anniversary of Star Trek later this year, the USS Britannic and USS Challenger are among those heading off to I*Con based in Long Island this weekend and the USS Storm celebrated its postponed commissioning party late last month.
GOOD REPORTING
RC Wayne Augustson has been coordinating issues of a few chapters with under strength or vacant XO positions. Most of those issues are being ressolved and we’ve noted an improvement in on time reporting of MSRs in recent months. Keep up the good work COs and XOs.
FARPOINT FUN
As reported on this list before, Farpoint was fairly well attended and the region’s annual brunch was held just prior to the Starfleet meeting.
During that meeting Chief of Staff, R7 and USS Challenger XO Commodore Jeff Victor who serves as IC2011 Chairman, discussed the progress of IC2011 at the Poconos Manor in August.
GO TO IC2011 IN AUGUST
For those who have not signed up yet, you will wish to do that soon. For information check out the IC2011 website, the link is present at usschallenger.org and at the R7 website. Jeff can answer any questions you have about the IC. I have been getting a lot of suggestions for panel ideas and I appreciate the input. We have our schedule now filled but we are confirming speakers so there could be changes. We’re hoping that will not be the case as we really have a nice array of activities and topics for SF members to enjoy at the IC.
SPRING ACTIVITIES
A number of spring related plans are in the works including a Star Trek Day baseball game in Maryland which former RC and USS Matrix CO Adm. Joe Hoolihan is coordinating.
Many chapters are also looking ahead to events like the Trek Olympics, trips to the USS New Jersey, science exhibits and those Ren Faires held in the spring.
Follow the lists and post your event activities to the R7 website.
YUP WE READ YOUR MSRS
Based on the MSR reports we receive, most chapters are planning for the future and having fun. We’ve noticed a few that provide very little information outside of basically changing the date of the MSR.
Wayne and I are asking that those chapters provide a bit more data and let us know what might be going on. Hey, not every month has a full calendar and we know real life can be a drag sometimes. This is after all a club, but it is okay to provide a notation to just let us know how you are doing and if you are having a slump month or if something is happening to cause the repeat in the vacant activity section of the report. We’re here to listen and to communicate but it is a two way street.
SUPER HEROES ON THE BIG SCREEN
Okay, enough on that topic, many chapters are also taking advantage of the myriad of films coming out that have a common interest. Many super hero movies are coming out in the next few months including Marvel’s Thor next month, DC’s Green Lantern, Marvel’s X-Men: First Class and the one I can’t wait for coming out in July, Captain America. A new Sherlock Holmes film is also coming out later this year as well as a new Transformers movie sans Megan Fox.
These movies are great for crew lunch/dinner and a movie gatherings and many ships are doing just that. The last film I saw was “Battle:LA” which was excellent. I know many of you saw it.
It looks like I will probably miss seeing “Red Riding Hood” which is probably heading out of the theaters soon. I am hoping to see either the medieval action spoof “Your Highness” or the horror flick “Insidious” later today since I am off today. “Limitless and “Source Code” also look interesting.
TV TALK: WHAT’S GOING, WHAT’S GONE, WHAT MAY GO AND WHAT IS COMING
During Challenger’s Intergalactic Food Festival in March there was plenty of conversation about recent TV series including the pending conclusion of Smallville on the CW and the ratings of Supernatural and Fringe.
ABC’s V had its finale (way to soon) and it is uncertain if the visitors will be back next fall. NBC’s The Cape has been hung out to dry while The Event is back but its not much of an event to watch each Monday night based on the ratings. NBC is prepping a new pilot for a spanking new magic lasso filled Wonder Woman series with WW sporting a modified costume with pants and the familiar boots. In this version Diana Prince is a corporate executive…(say what? She has had many jobs in the comics versions but she’s never been a corporate officer what gives here) You Tube coverage on the new show looks interesting and we’ll see if NBC’s treatment of this new Wonder Woman is better then its treatment of Bionic Woman a few seasons back. Oh and yeah, the new WW film is still in the works and is a separate project not connected to this.
Sy Fy’s new show Being Human has been renewed for another season and The Adventures of Merlin had its season finale (which I thought was pretty good) on Friday night. Stargate: Universe is playing out their last episodes for this incredibly depressing whiney show. Oh, did I type that out loud? <G>
Returning TV shows on Sy Fy include Sancturary returning this Friday night and in the months to come Haven and my personal favorite Warehouse 13. The reality based shows like Destination Truth (also known in the Vosseller household as Destination Monkey Poop) and Quantum cooking or whatever the frak its called along with Ghost Hunters, Ghost Hunters International, Ghost Hunters Academy and the forthcoming Ghost Hunters: Jersey Shore Edition (okay I just made that last one up) is still out there but I wish it was not. Of all the reality shows I think they only one I can take is Scare Tactics and even that is questionable.
Just as the Oscars and multiple other award shows have now ended (with the exception of the always interesting and nostalgic to watch TV Land awards later this month) the Region 7 Awards season has concluded and it will be interesting to note if the amount of nominations for our varied categories has increased from last year. R7 Command hopes so.
KEEP COLLECTING YOUR COPPER COINS (and silver and …paper)
Don’t forget to keep collecting those pennies at meetings and for you correspondence chapters please discuss donations to the Region 7 Kilometer of Pennies program which will end at Shore Leave this July. Chapters should contact me by the last weekend in June to let me know what they collected and should be prepared to either mail a check made out to Region 7 (I’ll make sure you get the exact wording soon) or to present said check during the R7 meeting if you are going to be at SL this year.
Obviously this is a voluntary program and the proceeds go toward financing regional expenditures such as the award trophies for the year. This will be a great help to us at R7 Command.
The R7 Calendar project is also going on and many of you have seen the posts about it on the COs list for more information post an inquiry to the R7 or COs list.
HEY CONTACT US WITH YOUR THOUGHTS AND IDEAS
Should you wish to contact Starbase 7 with a question, project idea, complaint, compliment or what have you, you know how to reach, Wayne, Jeff and I. If you don’t check out www.region7.com
Also feel free to post your thoughts on the R7 list which has not seen a lot of activity as of late. Post your thoughts and get a conversation going and don’t forget Starfleet Region 7 also has its own spot on Facebook.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
For those who observe Passover or Easter have a great holiday in the weeks to come.
