DaVinci Pilot
Newsletter of the USS DaVinci, NCC-74671, Columbus, GA
Volume 20 Number 10 June 2015
A Local Chapter of Starfleet, the
International Star Trek Fan Association
USS DAVINCI STAFF ROSTER
Commanding Officer VADM Russell Ruhland (334) 298-3998
Executive Officer VACANT
Operations Officer RADM Joe Perry (706) 457-9725 Community Service Officer VACANT Finance Officer RADM Connie Heller (706) 392-5100 Publications Officer ADM Freddy Heller (706) 325-TREK (8735) Records Officer ADM Freddy Heller (706) 325-TREK (8735)
Science Officer ENS Lech Mazur (706) 596-9542 Archeology Officer ADM Barbara Paul (478) 929-3210 Computer Science Officer LTJG Leiko Koone (706) 663-2763 Counselor LT Diane Ruhland (334) 298-3998 Medical Officer RADM Jeff Kirkland (770) 253-6474 Morale Officer ENS Dutch Cummings (706) 407-9945
Engineering Officer COMM Bill Paul (478) 929-3210 Communications Officer ENS Todd Kes (706) 593-3598 Quartermaster LT Randy Dunn (334) 291-0150 Security Chief ENS Scott Roop (706) 326-6081
Cadet Corps Commander VACANT
Starfleet Marines Commander VACANT
UPCOMING DAVINCI EVENTS
**15 June, Night Out at Stevi B’s Pizza, 7:00 PM
**
PASSAGES
StarTrek.com is deeply saddened to report the passing of Grace Lee Whitney, who played Yeoman Janice Rand on Star Trek: The Original Series, in several of the TOS features and also on Star Trek: Voyager. According to her family, the actress and singer died on May 1 at the age of 85, passing away peacefully in her home in Coarsegold, California.
Whitney, a blue-eyed blond beauty, represented one of Star Trek’s greatest cautionary tales and also one of the franchise's most satisfying renaissance stories. She played the deeply professional Rand in eight first-season TOS episodes before being dropped from the series and slipping into an abyss of drugs and alcohol that left her, quite literally, on Hollywood’s Skid Row. She finally got help, found God, and reclaimed her life and career, with an assist from Leonard Nimoy. Star Trek even came full circle for Whitney, as she was invited back into the fold and appeared in The Motion Picture, The Search for Spock, The Voyage Home, and The Undiscovered Country, as well as in the “Flashback” episode of Voyager and the fan films “World Enough and Time” and “Of Gods and Men.”
Whitney in Star Trek: The Motion Picture and Voyager episode “Flashback”
Her revealing autobiography, The Longest Trek: My Tour of the Galaxy, was published in 1998 and, to her death, she remained a beloved figure at Star Trek conventions around the world. Beyond the realm of Star Trek, Whitney's credits included the Broadway show Top Banana, such films as Some Like It Hot and Irma la Douce and also many TV guest spots on shows including, The Outer Limits, Death Valley Days, Bonanza, The Rifleman, Bewitched and the pilot for Police Story, which also featured the talents of Gene Roddenberry and DeForest Kelley. StarTrek.com interviewed the vivacious Whitney in 2011, and she had this to say about the early days of playing Rand. "I was supposed to be innocent, dedicated, excellent in my motives for wanting to be on the Enterprise, but very green, with no experience. Rand was willing to learn to be a secretary to the captain, whom, of course, I immediately had a crush on. But, it was unrequited love, like Kitty and Matt on Gunsmoke. It could not be consummated. It had to be love from afar, an unrequited love between the captain and me." Back in 2011, when StarTrek.com interviewed Whitney, she spoke excitedly of living on a 30- acre property near Yosemite National Park, with a running creek, and helping to care for her grandchildren. "(My son) Jonathan built a home down at the end of my property, where he lives with his family, including my grandchildren," she enthused. "They’re going to take care of me as I move through life to my home in heaven. But right now I take my grandchildren to school and cart them around, and I’m of maximum service to them... I also line dance one night a week and I go to the gym three days a week. So, my life is happy, joyous, free, sober and saved, and a lot of fun, too. I have a lot of fun." Thanks to Star Trek.com for the article.
NEXT DAVINCI NIGHT OUT AND MEMBERSHIP MEETING WILL BE AT
STEVI B’S PIZZA
ON MONDAY 15 JUNE AT 7:00 PM COME FOR THE FOOD AND FRIENDSHIP!!
IT’S THE CAPTAIN CALLING
Hey, hey, hey, can’t think of any better way of starting out this month’s article by welcoming seven new members to the Starfleet USS DaVinci roster. ADM Barbara Paul and COMM Bill Paul have transferred to the DaVinci from the USS Warner Robins. Barbara will be occupying a new position on our roster as Chief Archeology Officer within the Science Deportment and Bill has volunteered to be our new Engineering Officer. Chaplain Joshua Hickman joined Starfleet on 1 May and is a real world active duty US Navy Chaplain who will be transferring to Japan soon. Acting ENS’ Chris Johnson, Lisa Monhead, and Adam Vought all joined Starfleet on 19 May. Finally, another member of the Robbins, LTJG Paul DeHart has transferred his membership to the DaVinci. That brings our total Starfleet membership number to 52! We wholeheartedly welcome all these members to the crew of the USS DaVinci and hope to see them at many events in the future. Our first event for May was the membership drive table at the Free Comic Book Show on Saturday, 2 May at the Coca Cola Space Science Center in Columbus. The event was well attended by the public and several individuals stopped by to speak with us but no takers this time. We shut down around 2:30 PM. I thank Diane, Joe, Jeff, and Martha for helping out. We found out later that Martha had to be rushed to the ER after she and Jeff got home and she had to have emergency hernia surgery but is back home now and recovering fine. We wish Martha the best for a speedy healing.
Joe, Diane, and Martha Manning the DaVinci table and former (and hopefully future) member, Josh Ainsworth drops by the table to chat with Joe.
Next up was Fan Fest that was held on Saturday, 16 May at the Columbus Public Library. Joe, Diane, Tish, Scott, and myself attended to assist with a membership drive table and Chris, Lisa, and Adam stopped by to speak with us. As noted above all three joined Starfleet 3 days later, which made our endeavor at this event a total success. There was a lot of cosplay going on and I managed to get a picture taken with Cathy Bowden and some of the guest cosplay adventurers. I also managed to acquire some free tickets to a local wrestling event in Columbus that night from another guest and Diane and I attended that activity later that evening.
Russell poses with some cosplayers and so too does Diane.
Gloria and Richard drop by our table and Whitney in costume mans the FanFest prize table.
NEXT DAVINCI NIGHT OUT AND MEMBERSHIP MEETING WILL BE AT
STEVI B’S PIZZA
ON MONDAY 15 JUNE AT 7:00 PM
COME FOR THE FOOD AND FRIENDSHIP!!
Diane gets a big hug from a blue bear and the DaVinci crew (Diane, Joe, Scott, and Tish) at our membership drive table!
WOW! What a wonderful showing at the Olive Garden for our May Night Out on 18 May. A total of 15 crewmembers and three guests were there with the majority of us being in uniform and DaVinci T-Shirts. The staff was very gracious and several other persons that were dining there wanted to get some pictures with us in our uniforms. My name was chosen and I won the free meal, with the Captain’s Perks going to Joe, who won a Star Trek Magazine collectable edition and Gregory, won a sci-fi DVD 4 movie set.
Looking sharp at the Olive Garden! Scott, Lech, and Joe and Connie, Diane, and Russell.
NEXT DAVINCI NIGHT OUT AND MEMBERSHIP MEETING WILL BE AT
STEVI B’S PIZZA
ON MONDAY 15 JUNE AT 7:00 PM
COME FOR THE FOOD AND FRIENDSHIP!!
And so too does Jeff and Martha and Gregory, Hal, and Todd.
Freddy and Connie and Barbara and Bill pose for a photo while waiting to order.
Our two wonderful servers, Megan and Taylor taking orders from Barbara and Jeff and Martha!
Never let these two “gossip girls” Connie and Diane sit together and one of our servers, Taylor, is hard at work cleaning up Gregory’s dishes.
Future members Adam, Lisa, and, Chris joined us while Russell talks politics with Jeff and Martha.
Look what we won! Russell (free meal), Joe (Star Trek magazine), and Gregory (sci-fi DVD).
Russell and Jeff pose with our two servers, Megan and Taylor and Mark, the Olive Garden manager!
Undoubtedly this was the best Night Out so far this year and we were a big hit with both the manager and staff of the Olive Garden. The Admiral’s Birthday Celebration Dinner Extravaganza (ABCDE) this year for myself, Freddy, and Jeff at Red Robin in Columbus was a tremendous success! Eleven of the gallant DaVinci crew attended this event and as always Red Robin did a wonderful job with the food selections. I got my usual Whiskey River BBQ Burger, which was delicious, and the bottomless fries kept coming and stayed hot and tasty all the way. The Onion tower appetizer wasn’t so bad either, especially with the campfire sauce. Freddy and Lech (the Guinness boys) took up their glasses with pride as they sipped the brew in hand. Hal got some rather excellent looking mac and cheese with his meal and Jeff’s dinner burger didn’t look so bad either.
Our server, Debbie, taking Russell and Diane’s order and the “Guinness Boys” raise a toast with their favorite brew!
Russell chowing down on an onion ring and the Red Robin manger bringing Russell his order.
Connie and Ariana and Joe and Hal wait for their meals.
Todd and Gregory pose for a photo while Russell and Freddy talk shop.
The DaVinci crew at Red Robin and our trio of beauties, who sang birthday greetings to Jeff,
I gave Freddy and Jeff each a musical birthday card with Freddy’s to the theme of Star Wars and Jeff’s singing the Hampster song. The Red Robin staff and management were very nice to us and everyone had a great time. Wahoo to another birthday come and gone! No additional events are scheduled for the month of June except for the Night Out, which will be held at Stevi B’s pizza. Our annual 4th of July get together is currently scheduled for Saturday, 11 July at my home in Phenix City so stay tuned for further information Frequencies closed for this issue. Warp speed ahead in 2015!
VADM Russell Ruhland
RECORDS ROOM REPORTING
Quick! What is the best way to get folks interested in joining the DaVinci? The answer is quite simple, go to a garage sale! Connie and I go out every Saturday to see what goodies we can pick up. Well, a few weeks ago we went out as usual. It was a little chilly that morning so I wore my Starfleet denim shirt as a light jacket. We stopped by this one sale and one of the folks manning the tables commented on my shirt. Of course that was the opening I needed and one thing led to another and I told them all about the DaVinci. As I always do, I asked for their email address and said I would send them a copy of our newsletter for their enjoyment. A few days later I heard back from them. Anyway, the next Saturday they showed up at library during Fan Fest and talked extensively to Russell and the rest of the crew at our table. The next Monday they came to the Night Out and that evening joined Starfleet. As you probably already guessed the folks I first met at a garage sale on a chilly Saturday morning were Chris Johnson, Lisa Monhead, and Adam Vought. Hey guys! Welcome to the USS DaVinci.
ADM Freddy Heller
UNDER YOUR FEET
What is a ship’s archaeologist and exactly what do we do aboard? To be honest it’s a very intriguing job and one I’ve found personally rewarding in a real way. You see in real life I’ve actually done such work both on land and underwater. As a Park Ranger stationed at the Ocmulgee Indian Mounds located in Macon Georgia, I joined a team of students from the University of Ga. at Athens to survey the Lamar Mounds located on the Park grounds. I helped with the survey by using their transit and actually mapping out the area and help with the photography records.
I also decided to go back to school and brush up on my underwater skills by taking a course with the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology where I participated on the excavation of a double-masted Confederate blockade-runner that had been deliberately sunk in the Cooper River to keep the union from coming up the river into Charleston. Between my scuba and hardhat training I’ve excavated several wrecks, gone into submerged caves recovering artifacts and even helped raise a few historic wrecks.
NEXT DAVINCI NIGHT OUT AND MEMBERSHIP MEETING WILL BE AT
STEVI B’S PIZZA
ON MONDAY 15 JUNE AT 7:00 PM COME FOR THE FOOD AND FRIENDSHIP!!
So as you can see I’m bringing a lot of real world experience to the position and hope to merge it into a training session where I can give you guys some real hands on experience in what it’s like to dig up a piece of history in the future. I’m working with Russell to arrange field trips to some places of interest where we can all practice some basic techniques. In future articles I’ll be discussing the archaeological impact this field has in the Star Trek Universe. Till then pause every so often and look down. You’ll be surprised what you’ll find “under your feet.”
ADM Barbara M. Paul
NEWS YOU CAN USE!
The new rates for membership in Starfleet are in place and are a pretty good deal, especially if you take the electronic membership option. If you were thinking of joining Fleet but the expense was too high now you can get your membership for up to half off (A $10 Savings!) by taking the electronic option. Not only that but your membership in the DaVinci is half off as well (up to a $7.50 savings!).
For Electronic Memberships: For Paper Memberships: Individual - $10 Individual - $20 Family of 2 - $15 Family of 2 - $25 Family of 3 - $17 Family of 3 - $27 Family of 4 - $19 Family of 4 - $29 Family of 5 - $21 Family of 5 - $31 Family of 6 - $23 Family of 6 - $33
TABULATIONS
Well, the tab collection effort for 2015 is progressing quite nicely! We are well over 20,000 tabs and still have 6 months to go! Another huge donation (8,000) of tabs at the ABCDE put Jeff further ahead of Freddy who has jumped ahead of Russell for second place; Hal has jumped both Connie and Maria; and Connie is now in front of Maria (but not by very much). We are slightly ahead of where we were at this time last year so keep collecting tabs and we may yet hit 100,000 tabs this year!
Starting Balance 0753
Jeff Kirkland 16000 Freddy Heller 5564 Russell Ruhland 4371 Randy Dunn 2213 Gregory Newer 1473 Hal Stewart 1096 Thelma Shumpert 604 Connie Heller 240 Maria Morgan 103 Joe Perry 26
TOTAL 32443
DAVINCI NIGHT OUT
The Night Out/Membership Meeting locations for 2015 were selected at our Thanksgiving get together at Golden Corral. We have some great locations in store with four new locations and so I hope you mark your calendars. Here are the 2015 locations:
January Mark’s City Grill February Blue Iguana (Harmony Place) **NEW** March Mongo’s **NEW** April Cook’s Place (Moon Road Location) May Olive Garden June Stevi B’s July Hibachi Buffet **NEW** August El Vaquero (North Columbus Location) September New China October PhillyOsophy November Bonefish Grill **NEW** December Red Lobster (Columbus Park Crossing Location)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Here are just a few of the following DaVinci personnel, Star Trek celebrities, and historical events that are celebrating birthdays or anniversaries in June.
Star Trek III Premiers (1984) 1st Rene Auberjonois (Odo on DS9) 1st Zachary Quinto (Spock in Star Trek) 2nd Anthony Montgomery (ENS Travis Mayweather on ENT) 2nd Sally Kellerman (Dr. Elizabeth Dehner on TOS) 2nd Surveyor I Lands on the Moon (1966) 2nd Suzie Plakson (K’Ehleyr on TNG) 3rd First American to Walk in Space (Ed White 1965) 3rd First Hot-Air Balloon Flight (Montgolfier Brothers 1783) 4th Star Trek II Premiers (1982) 4th Deep Space Nine Ends (1999) 6th Karl Urban (Dr. Leonard McCoy in Star Trek) 7th James Darren (Vic Fontaine on DS9) 8th Star Trek V Premiers (1989) 9th CRMN Thelma Shumpert 10th DeForest Kelley (Dr McCoy) Dies (1999) 11th Malcolm McDowell (Dr. Soran from Generations) 13th Probe Pioneer 10 Leaves the Solar System (1983) 13th Deke Slayton (Mercury 7 Astronaut) Dies (1993) 13th Mariner 5 Launched to Venus (1967) 14th Robin Curtis (Savik from Search for Spock) 15th John Cho (Sulu in Star Trek) 16th First Woman in Space (Valentina Tereshkova 1963) 16th First US Woman in Space (Sally Ride 1983) 18th First Woman to Fly Across Atlantic (Amelia Erhart 1928) 18th Zoe Saldana (Uhura in Star Trek) 19th Mariette Hartley (Zarabeth from TOS) 21st First Privately Funded Space Flight (SpaceShipOne 2004) 21st Tim Russ (LT Tuvok from VOY) 22nd ENS Dutch Cummings 23rd ENS Margaret McGillicuddy 24th Alice Krige (Borg Queen from First Contact) 28th Jeri Taylor (Executive Producer) 30th Three Soyuz Eleven Cosmonauts Die Upon Reentry (1971) 30th CADET Maggie Beauchamp 30th
MEMBERSHIPS Many of you do not know when your membership in the DaVinci or Starfleet is due for renewal. So to help you remember, the following lists your family expiration dates. Please note that if your name is highlighted in RED in the DaVinci column this will be your last newsletter. If in BLUE you membership is expired or nearing it expiration so please renew soon. Thanks!
Name DaVinci Starfleet Name DaVinci Starfleet Karen Baker Feb 16 Feb 16 Maria Morgan May 18 Expired Steve Brown Dec 15 Gregory Newer Nov 15 Nov 15 Phil “Rat” Campanaro Aug 15 Aug 15 Sandra Okamoto LTM James Carey Feb 16 Expired Barbara Paul Jul 16 Aug 15 Dutch Cummings Jul 15 Apr 16 Joe Perry Jul 15 Nov 15 Paul DeHart Jul 16 Jun 16 Kris Reeves Jul 15 Randy Dunn Jul 15 Jul 15 Scott Roop Jul 16 May 16 Whitney Gaines Aug 15 Mar-16 Russell Ruhland Aug 15 Aug 15 Freddy Heller Jul 15 Sep 15 Dennis Shaw Jul 16 Jul 16 Joshua Hickman Jul 16 May 16 Thelma Shumpert Oct 15 Nov 15 John Hood Aug 15 Aug 15 Gisela Stephens LTM Apr-16 Todd Kes Oct 15 Oct 15 Harold Stewart Feb 16 Apr 16 Jeff Kirkland Nov 15 Aug 15 Jessie Sutton Jan 16 Jan 16 Leiko Koone Nov 15 Jan 16 Becky Thane Jul 15 Dec 16 Everett Leonard Aug 15 Adam Vought Jul 16 May 16 Lech Mazur Jul 15 Nov 15 Mike Walker Jul 16 Jun 15 Margaret McGillicuddy Jul 15 Nov 15 Jaryn Wester Feb 17 Feb 16
NEXT DAVINCI NIGHT OUT AND MEMBERSHIP MEETING WILL BE AT
STEVI B’S PIZZA
ON MONDAY 15 JUNE AT 7:00 PM COME FOR THE FOOD AND FRIENDSHIP!!
WELCOME ABOARD!
Welcome aboard to the following crew personnel who have recently joined (*) or renewed their membership in the DaVinci (D) or Starfleet (S).
Barbara Paul (D) (S) Bill Paul (D) (S) Dennis Shaw (D) (S) Scott Roop (D) (S) Adam Vought (D*) (S*) Chris Johnson (D*) (S*) Lisa Monhead (D*) (S*) Paul DeHart (D*) (S) Joshua Hickman (D*) (S*)
LATINUM VAULT
Opening Balance $85.42 Nights Out (April, May) $29.00 Deposit $39.00 Postage $29.56
Closing Balance $65.86
RADM Connie Heller
DAVINCI T-SHIRTS The new DaVinci t-shirts are in!! They are quite nice and I am sure they will go fast so make sure you reserve yours today. The cost is very reasonable: YM to L ($10); XL ($11), 2X ($12), 3X ($13), and 4X ($14). I did order (I hope) enough of each size and this time around some youth medium in each color. Oh, we still have a few of the older ones left and they can be purchased at a slight discount. Here is what the new ones look like:
Science Blue
Operations Red
Engineering Gold (Yellow)
By the way, Science blue seems to be the most popular color because we have completely run out of size large. In fact, this is what we currently have in stock:
Operations (Red) Science (Blue) Engineering (Yellow) 1 – Youth Medium 1 – Youth Medium 1 – Youth Medium 1 – Small 1 – Small 1 - Small 2 – Medium 1 – 2X 2 - Medium 1 – XL 2 – 3X 1 - Large 1 – 2X 1 – 4X 2 - XL 1 – 3X 1 – 2X 1 – 3X 1 – 4X
If we do not have your size in stock I can order more you just have to let me know which color, your size, and, of course, how many of each! We also have several of the last version DaVinci shirts available for a discount – your choice $7.00 each. Here is what we have: Operations (1 - Medium); Science (1 - Medium); Engineering (1 - Medium); Generic Gray (1 - Medium and 2 – XL); and believe it or not we still have one of our first gray t-shirts (Medium) in stock. If you want any of the above t-shirts feel free to email or call me to reserve your size. I cannot hold it forever so if you reserve a shirt, please pay as soon as possible. Thanks.
ACCOLADES
A BIG Bajoran thanks or congratulations go to: Hal Stewart for his weekly donation of cans; Dennis Shaw for taking first place in the 100 walk and second place in the shot-put at the Newnan Special Olympics at Newnan High School.
TV SHOWS ON DVD
Here are some scheduled DVD releases for June that may interest you: “Falling Skies, Season 4” (2nd) “Pretty Little Liars, Season 5” (2nd) “Laverne and Shirley, Complete Series” (9th) “Odd Couple, Complete Series” (9th) “Teen Wolf, Season 4” (9th) “Two and a Half Men, Complete Series” (16th) “Young Hercules, Complete Series” (23rd)
LINKS
Here are a few important web sites relevant to the DaVinci: Starfleet Home Page: www.sfi.org Starfleet Region 2 Home Page: www.region2.org USS DaVinci Home Page www.ussdavinci.org Craig’s List: http://columbusga.craigslist.org/grp
USS DAVINCI IN PICTURES
The following is a trip down the USS DaVinci memory lane. Each month I will show a series of photographs from our very beginning, as the Shuttle DaVinci, up until the present time. Many of you will remember these faces. To others they will be complete strangers. But, they made the USS DaVinci what it is today. Reminisce. If you have any photographs that you would like to see published in the Pilot, feel free to send them to me with a brief explanation as to who is in the photo and when and where it was taken. If I get a name wrong, please let me know! Okay, here is Part III of our 2006 Help-the-Hooch River clean up.
The Chattahoochee River on a beautiful October morning and Tony hard at work on its banks.
The DaVinci crew after the clean up and Randy, Lech, and Rebecca at the volunteer get together.
Tony and Mariaelana chowing down on hot dogs and Ariana holds her first snake!
CARGO BAY
Receive $25 off Tax Preparation Fee! Receive Free Drink with Adult Buffet Purchase!
DaVinci Members Receive a 20 % Discount! DaVinci members receive a discount
Purchase $5.00 Worth of Food and Get a Free Drink! Members Receive a 10-15% Discount!
A LITTLE HUMOR AND DISMISSED!