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ALSO IN THIS ISSUE…

AVENGER AT A CROSSROADS...

EWSLETTER

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE: FFICIAL

O Executive Thoughts ...... 3 Ship’s BBS ...... 18 Image Gallery ...... 6, 20 Star Trek Book News ...... 17 Membership Alley ...... 3 STARFLEET and Region 7 News ...... 14 HE Mission Docket ...... 21 Starstuff ...... 5 T The Orville ...... 8 Summer Heat ...... 7

http://www.ussavenger.org http://www.ussavenger.org Roster Update ...... 6 Trekkin’ the Web ...... 20

Second Star to the Left ...... 2 U.S.S. Avenger Sit-Rep ...... 9

1 Second Star to the Left BY SARAH ROSENZWEIG

Hello, crew! You can’t a candle from both ends and expect it to burn First, let me apologize for how long it’s taken to get this eternally...unless it’s a magic candle. While I may be many newsletter to you. Getting back on schedule has been harder things, that’s not something I possess the ability to do. So what than we hoped, but we are still trying, and we feel bad that we follows from here on out is all you. Either we make the haven’t been better at it. commitment to real, active participation, or we accept the As we begin 2018, we face both opportunities and big consequences, that there may soon not be an organization in questions. Let me explain. which to participate. If you’re not sure how, or what you can When I first took this seat, I wrote you (the crew) a letter, do, come talk to me or Alex. I would rather that you come to telling you where things were, as gently as I could, but also me with a flurry of questions than to continue the deafening honestly. I don’t know how many of you read that letter (some silence we’ve heard over the past months. To offer a quote, in of you, obviously, weren’t yet members). That was your alarm the wise words of the King of Siam, “When a woman who has clock, on which you hit snooze. There are no more snoozes. much to say, says nothing, her silence can be deafening.” This is the time when you have to respond. There are too many conclusions, false or otherwise, that can be I’m tired of the chapter seemingly being held together by just drawn from silence. The only way I can be 100% accurate in two-to-three members. Either this bird endures or changes into my conclusions is if you come talk to Alex or myself. I promise something else, but what we are, as we are, cannot continue. to listen and to not guilt-trip you about why you haven’t I understand that some of you live farther away and cannot participated. I’ll only guilt you if you promise to do something participate as directly as those who live locally, and that you and don’t follow through. I ask only for accountability. My word have your lives, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t is my bond. participate in some way. Maybe that means making a flyer or a I will be waiting, watching, and listening. Where we go from PowerPoint presentation that we’ll use at a recruiting op. Or here depends on you. What you tell me, or just as importantly, maybe it’s as simple as posting a topic on our e-mail list (the what you don’t, will lead to the decisions that must come soon. Yahoo! group) or our Facebook group, or responding to a topic Remember, even the act of not making a choice is itself a posted by someone else, and keeping conversations going. choice. I have three division chiefs that are serving double-duty. This Your turn... is not normal. It’d be great if someone would be willing to step up and take on some of those responsibilities. I understand that we all have real-life responsibilities. I don’t Captain Sarah Rosenzweig begrudge you that for a single instant. Our first priorities always have been, and always should be, our families. As a newly-married woman, that’s not even unreasonable in my life, so how can I fairly begrudge it in yours? Add in work responsibilities and health issues, and that takes up a lot of time. Again, I understand. But...and you know something troublesome often follows that word...

Avenger News is the official newsletter of the science fiction based fan Submissions for Avenger News should be emailed to club, USS Avenger, and is published bi-monthly. The USS Avenger is a [email protected] or streetmailed to: Avenger News Home Office, chapter of Starfleet, the International Star Trek Fan Association, Inc. c/o Michelle Lampson, 716 West 3rd Street, Washburn, WI 54891 The opinions contained within do not necessarily reflect those of the Permission is granted to STARFLEET members to copy any part of staff, Avenger, or STARFLEET. this newsletter as long as proper credit is given to the author and Subscription to Avenger News is free to all members and $10 Avenger News. annually to non-members. To subscribe, send check or money order, Legal Stuff payable to USS Avenger, to: All published submissions become the property of USS Avenger and Avenger News 7 Keats Road, North Brunswick, NJ 08902-3426 may be edited. DISCLAIMER: Star Trek and Starfleet are trademarks Advertisement inquiries, letters, and address corrections of CBS Studios, Inc., all rights reserved. should be sent to the above address or emailed to: [email protected]

ISSUE 154 BROUGHT TO YOU BY: Layout Editor— Alex Rosenzweig

Editor-In-Chief—Michelle Lampson Distribution Officer— Alex Rosenzweig Contributors—Susan Bolick, Matthew Rielly, Alex Rosenzweig, Sarah Copy Editor—Susan Bolick Rosenzweig,

VENGER EWS — ANUARY 2 A N #155 J 2018 Executive Thoughts BY ALEX ROSENZWEIG

Greetings, all! worse. Between the loss of formerly-active members from the group (for a variety of reasons, in all fairness) and the It’s been quite some time since I last wrote the XO’s column transformation of formerly active members to just names on for the U.S.S. Avenger. We’ve had a lot of ups and downs since the roster, the group has lost its vibrancy. Attendance at then. 2016 was a difficult year for the chapter, and in many meetings, once numbering in the 20s, has dropped so much ways 2017 has been, as well. As I write this, we have reached that often, from among the local members, only CAPT Sarah the waning months of 2017, and we face next year, a year that and myself, plus maybe one or two others, and rarely the could hold great promise for Avenger, or perhaps the same others, are seen each month. (To be fair, we do see conclusion of our journeys. several of our more distant members attending on Skype Why do I say this? Well, sit back and relax. This might not be regularly, and I don’t want to minimize the importance of that, an easy column to read, and I can assure you that it’s not been but it’s still not the same as a room full of smiling faces. The an easy column to write. But what you need to know is that the groups of people who, together, went to dinner and filled Avenger is coming to a crossroad, and the choices we make as whichever venue ended up hosting us that month with fun and members in the coming weeks will determine whether this frivolity have evaporated. Most months, the meeting will end chapter survives, or ends its mission after more than 32 years. with Sarah and me by ourselves, wondering what happened to I am sorry, by the way, to our newest members, who are just the social aspects of our social organization. joining us and encountering this situation. On the other hand, Outside of meetings, the situation has gotten even worse. you new crewmembers may find yourselves in the enviable Except for me, no one has suggested an activity for the club to position of being able to make a profound difference right from do in many months. And most of my suggestions have been the beginning. greeted with silence. Okay, maybe I don’t have a good handle Before I dive into the meat of this column, let me take a anymore on what people want to do. But we’ve asked you, the moment to welcome our newest members to the Avenger. members, what you would like, and what we heard has Please give a warm welcome to: been...silence. No one seems to want to do anything anymore. Ensign Patrick Cavanaugh And when it has come to pitching in to help boost the group, Ensign John-Austen Francisco again...crickets. We had a one-day recruiting operation in Ensign Michael O’Neal conjunction with the rerelease of “The Wrath of Khan” last fall. Ensign Nanette O’Neal Who was there? Sarah, myself, and ENS David Sastre. We Ensign Ilyse Odesky couldn’t even get to see the movie because there weren’t We hope you enjoy your time with us! And as this column enough of us to switch off between moviegoing and manning unfolds, you may see just how important you could be. the table...at least not without leaving someone alone at the Okay, back to the topic at hand... table or going to see the movie alone. Not really very social! For a very long time, I have spoken about the importance of We have asked for someone to help with the chapter’s Access the membership being involved. It is, after, not just my chapter database. No answer. We have asked for help with our press/ or Sarah’s chapter, but your chapter as well. And it only media operations. No answer. As Sarah notes in her column, succeeds if we are all involved with it. we have an unprecedented three empty Command Staff The problem is, that has not been happening. In fact, as the months have passed, the apathy problem has only gotten (Continued on page 4)

MEMBERSHIP ALLEY

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AVENGER NEWS #155— JANUARY 2018 3 Executive Thoughts

(Continued from page 3) you can contribute ideas, conversations, etc. Or propose an on- positions, and no apparent interest from anyone in stepping up line chat, maybe using Skype or Discord, and invite people to to get involved. come together that way. Or you can contribute to the We have a Facebook group, and a Yahoo group. Only a few newsletter. You can write articles, or submit pictures, or people use them. Maybe people can’t get to someplace in volunteer to help put the publication together. Or you can get person, but we could be talking and socializing on-line. But involved in the big, vibrant fictional universe that we’ve built for almost no one does. the Avenger and help tell some stories. More than 30 years ago, at the beginning Would you like to help behind-the-scenes? of the Avenger’s existence, I said that if it We need active members in several areas, ever came to me doing everything, it wouldn’t including helping us manage the promotion get done. But now it often feels that if I, or points database or write press releases. Sarah, aren’t doing something, nothing As a note to our newest members, here’s happens. where you can make a giant difference. This isn’t fun anymore. You’ve just joined a group that has a rich I used to love going to meetings, because history for being a dynamic social they were a chance to catch up and hang out organization, and it did so because members with friends, have some, fun, and plan more got involved. As our newest members, fun. Now it’s doing a lot of work to have, if embracing that tradition can mean you make we’re lucky, one person show up who doesn’t want to do the difference for Avenger’s future. You might find that you anything with the social part of the day afterward. Planning have questions about the above suggestions I’ve made. Please activities isn’t fun if no one attends. do not hesitate to reach out to CAPT Sarah, myself, and/or Now, as Sarah noted in her column, we understand that your division chiefs with your questions. We will be more than people have other responsibilities and other aspects of their happy to help you get active and involved. lives. We GET IT. And we don’t begrudge anyone that. But the same is true of us, and I’d be lying if I haven’t thought, more The bottom line, really, is that if you expect Sarah and me to and more often, about the other things I could be doing keep the chapter running on our own, while everyone else just instead of all this work for people who just don’t seem to care sits back and waits for us to provide everything, that anymore. expectation needs to be set aside. As I said, we’re happy to Now that’s the situation we face. And I am going to tell you lead, and we think leading an active, involved group of people all, as clearly and directly as possible, that if no one else cares is wonderful fun. But being the only people really involved, at about keeping this chapter alive, Sarah and I are willing to the head of a roster that’s mostly just names, or people who consider the alternative. We are tired of doing all this stuff and put pretty much everything else ahead of the chapter, even hearing nothing back. Don’t get me wrong, we still love the when work or family issues aren’t pending, isn’t fun. And we Avenger and want it to succeed, but we cannot do it alone, and are serving notice that the time may come, sooner rather than increasingly, if we don’t have your feedback and, more later, when we will also say, “Enough.” importantly, your active support, we are willing to consider no So here is where I stop talking, and all of you pause, think longer trying. about things, and hopefully step up to get involved (on As Sarah said, we--all of us--have a choice. We can get active whatever level; like I said, you don’t have to be neck-deep, but again and build the chapter back up, or we keep putting the just communicating and having fun can go a long way). Or, Avenger on the back burner, or saying, “I’m too busy, let alternatively, you decide that it’s just no longer important someone else do it”, and accept the consequence that there enough that this chapter continue that you are willing to give it might no longer be an organization to participate in. your time. I hope you’ll choose to get back involved, but I can respect if That’s the depressing part. And, yes, we are serious about it. you no longer feel the desire to do so, and we’ll make our There have been many conversations on the topic. decisions accordingly. Sarah and I will look forward to learning how you feel. The next part is the corollary question, what can be done? I mean, don’t get me wrong; we haven’t yet given up on you! And that’s it from me for now! Enjoy the rest of this issue of But that’s the thing. Like CAPT Sarah said, what follows from Avenger News! Have fun, and don’t forget “Mission Docket” for here on out is all you. She and I will be happy to continue neat upcoming events. (And if you don’t see something you’d leading this chapter, but we will only lead if the rest of you like, feel free to make suggestions, and/or to lead an event want to follow. And “following” doesn’t mean “do as we say”. yourself!) Take care, and ‘til next time… In this case, it means that you participate. Join in at meetings and events, if you are able. If you think our ideas aren’t so Ad Astra! good, propose your own. Volunteer to coordinate a trip or event, even! We’ll support you in turn. Alex Let’s say your work schedules won’t allow you to do that, or you live too far way. Hey, that’s understandable. We also have ADM Alex Rosenzweig multiple on-line venues, both on Yahoo and Facebook, where Executive Officer

VENGER EWS — ANUARY 4 A N #155 J 2018 Starstuff BY ALEX ROSENZWEIG

[Please note that this column was originally written in August evidence. Paradigm refinement is a typical component of 2017, before the changes in leadership of the division and at scientific endeavor, so it’s quite natural to take that approach. the shipwide level.] Other researchers will aggressively argue that the evidence suggests that the whole existing paradigm is insufficient. They Greetings, all! will quickly begin trying to synthesize a new paradigm to replace the old one. And for a time, the two viewpoints will be And, we’re back. Another new issue of Avenger News! It’s in competition, as researchers and theoreticians try to figure been taking a bit of time to get back into the rhythm, after a out whether the original paradigm can still accommodate the breakdown of nearly a year, but we’re working hard to get that new evidence, or if a whole new way of thinking has become back in order, so we’ll see how things go. necessary. Now, last issue, I talked a bit about the scientific method. In This can go on for quite some time, and the more evidence general, that method works really well in a steady development that’s found that contradicts the old paradigm—and it’s worth of scientific thought. Sometimes, though, things happen that noting that, often, this “new evidence” comes about because turn the world of science on its ear, that change everything observational equipment, like microscopes and telescopes, keep about how we think about some field of science. Now, those improving—the more conceptual momentum seems to shift sorts of things don’t happen every day, of course, and a lot of toward a different paradigm entirely. Of course, it’s not always scientific development is steady and linear, growing true that the evidence forces us to abandon the old paradigms incrementally over time. And that’s when we hear about such entirely. For example, Einsteinian physics greatly expanded things as a wide scientific consensus about something. There’s upon Newtonian, but it’s also entirely possible to look at lots of evidence for it, and pretty much everybody, more or Newtonian physics as a “special case” at low enough speeds less, seems pretty comfortable that they know at least the and in locations without space-bending levels of gravity! basics of what’s going on. In short, the overall paradigm is in Eventually, though, if enough evidence piles up to force new place for that particular discipline. Oh, there are details to thinking, and with enough smart minds at work, the true figure out, and sometimes there are questions about processes revolution can occur. A new paradigm is proposed, one which (sometimes referred to as “mopping up”), but the core takes into account all the new observations and still makes understanding is in place, and the field seems poised to start sense in the context of the old. And then the next round of extrapolating to take matters to the next level. debate begins, between adherents of the new idea and From there, one of two things occurs. On the one hand, the adherents of the old. Eventually, one side will win out, as it avenues of research can expand outward from the core were, and the remaining adherents to the other view, old or understanding, applying what is known to examine and come to new, gradually drift away, retire, or die off. Assuming it’s the understand new phenomena as aspects of the basic known newer paradigm that has gained wide acceptance, it becomes principles of whatever field of endeavor is in question. On the the new status quo, the recognized idea of “how things are”. other hand, new evidence can come to light that stars to call ... the core understanding into question. At least, until the next round of anomalous evidence starts This is where things get interesting, and what happens in this the process anew. situation was the topic of a book called The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, by Thomas Kuhn. When new evidence Now, mind you, in the course of describing this in just a few begins calling a core paradigm into paragraphs, I have no doubt horribly question, the scientific community can oversimplified it. If you’d like to read begin to divide. Initially, the new more about this, here’s one useful link: evidence might be dismissed as anomalous, or otherwise insignificant. https://www.uky.edu/~eushe2/ And, to be sure, sometimes it’s just Pajares/Kuhn.html that, an anomaly, whether due to a poorly set up experiment or something Or you could just go to the source and influenced by some unaccounted-for read The Structure of Scientific external influence. But, if the new Revolutions, by Thomas Kuhn. evidence starts to build up, it can suggest some limitation, or even flaw, So, why have I gone on about this? in the existing scientific paradigm. Well, not only do I hope you’ll start At that point, the scientific thinking—if you haven’t already—about community can begin, in some senses, how science isn’t always just linear and to take sides. Some will try everything orderly in how it develops, but also, if they can figure out to hold to the you look around you in the world current paradigm. If the contradictory today, we can actually see processes evidence remains minor, they will try to like the ones Kuhn talks about dismiss it. Or they will try minor tweaks to the existing happening. It’s not always about esoteric science. It can be theoretical paradigm, in an attempt to account for the new (Continued on page 6)

AVENGER NEWS #155— JANUARY 2018 5 Starstuff

(Continued from page 5) limited, of course, just to SciDiv! It goes for any other member seen in our daily lives, too, as we change our ideas about the reading this, too. best way to do things, whether it’s about commuting to work or Also, please also let me mention again that various mid-level changing our diet to eat healthier or lose weight. We always positions in the division are open, so members can “advance”. start with one set of ideas about how to do something, and For example, I’m looking for an Assistant Chief Science Officer then change them, either incrementally or massively, as we and a Chief Scientist for each of the four subdivisions within gain more information. Sciences. But I will not just hand out positions/titles randomly. Let me know what you think of this! Did you find it The trick is to get active and involved, and then there’ll be interesting? some opportunities to “move up”. If you think you’ve got what it takes, show me! Meanwhile, on the ship, our division faces the same, ongoing challenge: how to get folks motivated. I would like to take a And that’s enough from me! ‘Til next time... moment and thank both LT Dan Adler and LCDR Tim Drude for their contributions to the Sciences Division and the Avenger. Ad Astra! They’re appreciated! I’d love for a few more folks to join them, and I would especially love to have more folks participate at Alex meetings and/or activities. I’m just trying to figure out what we can do that will get more members interested! That’s not ADM Alex Rosenzweig

IMAGE GALLERY

Untitled, by Anarion “Three”, by Dennis Bailey [Submitted by Alex Rosenzweig] [Submitted by Alex Rosenzweig]

Roster Update

Additions--Welcome Aboard! 4) Ensign Nanette O’Neal 1) Ensign Ilyse Odesky Helm Specialist Division/Position TBD 581 Airport Road 24 Allenby Lane Bethel, PA 19507-9650 Scotch Plains, NJ 07076-2422 [email protected] [email protected] 5) Ensign Michael O’Neal 2) Ensign John-Austen Francisco Navigation Specialist Division/Position TBD 581 Airport Road 14 Canadian Woods Road Bethel, PA 19507-9650 Marlboro, NJ 07746-1672 c/o [email protected] [email protected] Welcome Back--Thanks for Renewing 3) Ensign Patrick Cavanaugh 1) CMDR Mark Bolick Mission Support Specialist 2) LT Daniel Adler 972 Wilbur Avenue Phillipsburg, NJ 08865-3441 Changes and Revisions—Where Are They Now? (484) 548-0202 1) LT Daniel Adler’s address should now be listed as: [email protected] 4735 Wine Ridge Lane Birmingham, AL 35244

VENGER EWS — ANUARY 6 A N #155 J 2018 Summer Heat—How Not to Become a Statistic BY SUSAN BOLICK

I think we’re having more hot days here in WNC (Western pregnant people, pregnancy is a good approximation for fluid North Carolina) than you folks up in New Jersey at the time of requirements in hot conditions. So there. this writing, but if I remember my hot summers in Tokyo and Coconut water is also good, but costs more. Break up the vacation trips to US cities, that won’t be for long. Urban water rut with a little fruit juice, cooled broth, and herb teas, summers were miserable! and don’t forget to count fruits and vegetables with a high The National Weather Service offers these heat safety tips: water content. Watermelon! Cucumber! Peaches! http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/heat/index.shtml Mmmmmmmm. For drinks, anything without caffeine is OK, but consider all the artificial colors, flavors, and sweeteners – and Heat-Related Illness cost - in a lot of junk out there. Believe me, most of the reason people reach for Gatorade and other sports drinks is more It’s a good idea to be able to spot the signs of heat stroke because of excellent marketing by the company than a serious (an emergent problem) and know how it differs from heat scientific benefit. You don’t need Gatorade! Drink water (8 oz exhaustion (an urgent problem). Heat stroke is hot dry skin and every 15 minutes during heavy sweating, or almost a liter an the failure of the body’s cooling/sweating mechanism. Call 911, hour), and eat real food to get the salt you need. And by the remove the person from the hot conditions, and cool them way, potatoes and sweet potatoes are loaded with potassium – quickly while you wait for EMS. The progression is usually: heat more than bananas. So are avocado, beets, brussels sprouts, cramps → heat exhaustion → heat stroke if steps are not taken and potato chips. Just in case you don’t like bananas. to stop it. A plug for the environment: Use the faucet, and refill a bottle. Being proactive means that during a heat wave in your Why is it necessary to buy a case of little bottles to use once community, you plan on checking on your neighbors who are and throw away? Or if not the faucet, buy bigger bottles of elderly or disabled, or don’t have fans or AC. See if you can water. We have the three-gallon kind at our house, and a half- help them out with a fan or AC, and make sure they are staying liter or liter bottle which I refill and carry around with me. hydrated. Senior citizens are notorious for not drinking enough Works fine. water and becoming dehydrated. This is often so they don’t Also, be careful with “energy” drinks. These are different need to use the bathroom as often, especially when it hurts to from so-called sports drinks like Gatorade. Psst – you don’t get up and walk there, and/or because of bladder control need either one. An unfortunate recent trend is for young problems. A dehydrated person gets sick faster in a heat wave. people, weekend warriors, middle school football teams, and The body needs water to cool itself. band members to reach for energy drinks in the belief that they You’ll probably hear “heat advisory” or “heat watch/warning” help the body recover from sweating out on the field in August. instead of “heat wave” on TV. Just like with hurricanes, a The electrolytes like sodium and potassium are probably good, warning means it’s happening, while a watch means conditions though there’s not enough of ‘em in these products for the are favorable. Advisory is more of an umbrella term for any of price. But remember the sugar and caffeine content! More the above. harm than good. Especially some of those with insane caffeine levels, in a growing adolescent’s body. Water For more information on electrolytes and fluids after exertion in Speaking of hydration: I recall an incident years ago when a the heat, read up here: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/ distant young friend, in the STARFLEET IRC chatroom, told me UserFiles/works/pdfs/2017-126.pdf he had spent a day in the heat exerting himself and went home feeling weak and a little dizzy. He also had a headache, a little Hot Cars, or Vehicular HypERthermia shortness of breath, and muscle cramps. These are symptoms of heat exhaustion, which can progress into heat stroke if I’m trying to get in the habit of looking in car windows as I conditions don’t change. Fortunately, by that time he was home pass them when I park and head into a store these days. How in the air conditioning. When I started to lecture him on many people STILL think it’s okay to leave their dog or kid or hydration, he assured me he’d stopped on the way home to get forgetful grandma in the car for “just a few minutes”? (We something to drink. It turns out he was drinking iced coffee! I know how 4 or 5 minutes unintentionally turns into 10 or 15 had to tell him that caffeine makes you eliminate more fluid before we realize it.) People, a window rolled down a few than you take in, since it’s a mild diuretic. I also told him to go inches to circulate air makes essentially NO difference in how to the ED (Emergency Department) if his symptoms did not hot the car can get. This is because the dashboard and other improve quickly, but that it might take a couple days before he surfaces heat up directly, which then heats the air. This was really better. happens faster than you can cool it by opening windows. Dogs So. Hydrate with WATER. Stay hydrated before you ever exert can’t sweat. Kids and dogs heat up faster than adults due to yourself. Seriously, if you’re not in the habit, get into the habit. their surface area. And senior citizens suffer heat illness more I used to tell my prenatal clients that if their pee was not a very than younger adults due to aging organs and dehydration. If pale yellow, they needed to drink more. And for y’all non- you see a pet or someone in need of help in the heat, act fast

AVENGER NEWS #155— JANUARY 2018 7 Summer Heat—How Not to Be-

come a Statistic and call 911. Many states are enacting laws protecting good If you’re still with me, I congratulate you for reading this Samaritans in these cases. Get them out! Check for lethargy whole thing! Now why don’t you check out and collapse, and in humans, excessive sweating or worse, hot www.classes.redcross.org and look into a First Aid or a CPR/ dry skin. AED class in your neck of the woods? Learn how to spot heat If you have kids, grandkids, or friends with kids, Look Before cramps → heat exhaustion → heat stroke as well as all the rest. You Lock. Park the car, and look in the back seat. Better still, You have the choice of an all-classroom course, or take the keep your bag, your phone, or your left shoe in the back so you classwork online before you go in for the skills practice and HAVE to open the back door before you walk away. More checkoff. information, stories, fact sheets, and tips are here: http:// And, finally, if you can’t take a class and get certified, look www.kidsandcars.org/how-kids-get-hurt/heat-stroke/ into asking someone from the Red Cross come to a meeting to teach a less formal Hands-Only CPR class. It can be done in “Be especially careful during busy times, schedule changes and less than an hour. periods of crisis or holidays. This is when many tragedies http://www.redcross.org/local/new-jersey/locations/princeton occur.” I’d have done it already but it’s a little far for me. This is a good skill that takes only a few minutes to learn, doesn’t cost If you DON’T have kids, always lock your car. Keep keys and anything, and can be used in the most likely cardiac arrest remotes out of reach, out of sight. Neighbors’ kids can and do scenario – an adult who collapses in front of you. Full CPR is climb into cars to play, and then can’t get out. If a child is still a good thing to learn for other situations like an missing in your neighborhood, check cars and trunks first! This unwitnessed collapse, drowning, or a child choking, but Hands- has happened. Trunks have glow-in-the-dark release levers Only CPR is something more people can learn in less time if inside these days, but preschool and young school-age kids they don’t have to have a CPR certificate, and is more likely to might not figure it out. Show it to them while you’re thinking be the most important skill a victim needs. about it. I’ll see y’all around the ship, as long as you stay outta my sickbay!

“The Orville”—Some Old- Fashioned, Down-to-Goodness Heroes BY MATTHEW J. RIELLY

We've seen science fiction TV shows and motion pictures take That was until a little gem called “The Orville” came along. a dark, dystopian turn since the beginning of the millennium and the 21st century. This is not to say that it's necessarily bad. Leave it to “Family Guy” and “American Dad” creator Seth You have the Hunger Games film franchise, “Blade Runner MacFarlane, whose fanboy tendencies have unabashedly and 2049”, select films in the DC and Marvel cinematic delightfully shone through, even in film comedies universes, and TV shows like “Defiance”, “Dark like “Ted” and “Ted 2”. He even had a hand in the Matter”, “The Expanse”, and even “Star Trek: recent reboot of “Cosmos” with Neil deGrasse Discovery” and the recent “Battlestar Galactica” Tyson. His latest work debuted on the Fox network reboot. Again, these aren't bad works. Only...dark. in late September, and it is taking viewers by I've seen discussions, both on-line and in person storm. MacFarlane plays Captain Ed Mercer, newly- (one a few years ago during a panel at the Shore minted commanding officer of the Orville, a Leave convention in Maryland), about the somber medium exploratory cruiser in the fleet of the tone toward which sci-fi has been trending recently. Planetary Union in the 25th century. To up the Specifically, one thing that many longtime fans awkward value, his first officer also happens to be seem to miss are good old-fashioned space his ex-wife, Commander Kelly Grayson, played by operas...like, yes, “Star Trek”. Even though vintage TV shows Adrienne Palicki. Over time, though, their chemistry as like “UFO” and “Space: 1999” have dealt with some somber colleagues has begun to evolve. content, they pale in comparison to some of today's offerings. (Continued on page 16)

VENGER EWS — ANUARY 8 A N #155 J 2018 U.S.S. Avenger Sit-Rep BY MICHELLE LAMPSON AND ALEX ROSENZWEIG

This column, in accordance with the Avenger Officer’s And, of course, STARFLEET membership in good standing is Manual, is “a regular report of crew activities, in the form of a necessary. column in Avenger News or as a separate mailing”. It started out with the idea of being a roundup of divisional activities, but Sciences: was eventually retooled into a more general summary of chapter events and highlights. As such, if there’s something Sciences got less attention than it deserved in the you’d like to share with the group—an idea, a suggestion, a summer months, partly due to the Chief Science personal milestone, etc.—feel free to let me know and it can Officer’s wedding, but also due to the poor rates of get included. “SitRep” is a term used typically by the military or response from the division’s members, which have led other government groups. It’s an abbreviation for “Situation to less motivation to keep up the rate of communication. Report”, a report given to both senior officers and subordinate However, SciDiv’s chief is nothing if not stubborn, so another staff to make sure that, put simply, they know what’s going on. SciDiv Chatter e-mailing was sent out in late July. So far, only And that’s what we do here. one member, LT Dan Adler, has been consistently responding, and his support has been appreciated! An attempt was made to Onward...and upward. :D help focus members’ ideas by discussing areas where the chapter needs help, but this has not translated into much DIVISIONS: response, either, alas. We’ll see how things go in the future. There’s always time to start getting involved, and of course, the Command: more folks who get involved, the more fun we tend to have. Meanwhile, ADM Alex also continues to serve as Press Officer Over the past few months, CAPT Rosenzweig has been and Fiction Coordinator. struggling with the apathy problem aboard the Avenger. More recently, ADM Rosenzweig and CMDR Lampson Almost everything we’ve tried has resulted in no, or at switched roles aboard the Avenger, and Michelle has now best minimal, participation, and as the group leader, she become Chief Science Officer. She would love to hear from is becoming deeply concerned that there may be no recovering members in her division, and see activity levels improve. from this. As discussed in her column for this issue, decisions will soon have to be made, and she is hoping that crew Medical: response will improve and stave off what might be a very somber choice. VADM Bolick reports that Sickbay has just about been There have been glimmers of hope. For a period in the late cleared out of all the turkey coma patients. We have summer and early fall, ENS David Sastre was very involved, just a couple left and actually have some empty bio and in more recent weeks, ENS John-Austen Francisco has beds now. New crew physicals have been completed, been getting involved, as well. That kind of involvement might routine vaccination review and follow-up is done for the week, seem small to some, but it’s exactly the kind of socializing and her able staff is handling the two recovering inpatients, and friendship-making that the Avenger is about, and we salute she's going to go hide in her office and relax with a couple new them both for contributing. medical journals! CMDR Michelle Lampson struggled for a number of months to She's been continuing to enjoy taking some Starfleet perform the duties of Executive Officer, hampered both by her Academy courses, and has checked in with the Medical and commitments to the Rosenzweig wedding and other time- Security staff. consuming aspects of her life. In September, in discussions with CAPT and ADM Rosenzweig, it was decided that Michelle Operations: and Alex would swap positions. Thus, ADM Alex Rosenzweig re- assumed the post of Exec. Since then, he has worked to up the CAPT Norm Van Houten reported, for OpsDiv and level of communication from Avenger Command, and reach out EngDiv, that all is quiet in both divisions. to the crew. Different strategies for outreach have been attempted, but the response rates have been low, and ADM Engineering: Rosenzweig is as frustrated as CAPT Rosenzweig. His column in this issue, as well, discusses the choices facing the Avenger as A Chief Engineer is currently being sought. See “Help an organization, and how members can get involved (or re- Wanted!” in the Ship’s BBS. involved), as well as the likely result of a failure to do so. We continue to search for a Second Officer. This is the Communications: person in charge of the Avenger’s Promotion System, and the database we use to maintain it. The Second Officer is also third A Chief of Communications is currently being sought. in command of the chapter. The person to fill this position See “Help Wanted!” in the Ship’s BBS. should be really interested in being involved, and in making a difference for fellow members. Knowing how to handle an Access database, or being willing to figure it out, is a big plus.

AVENGER NEWS #155— JANUARY 2018 9 U.S.S. Avenger Sit-Rep Security: Mission Reports:

A Chief of Security is currently being sought. See This section of the column features short “Help Wanted!” in the Ship’s BBS. recaps of various Avenger and STARFLEET events. To make it the best it can be, though, I GENERAL: need your help. If you’ve been to an event, you don’t need to write a whole long article. Just a Activities have still been sporadic and not well-attended. We paragraph or two would be great. Send them to are still looking for the solution to this problem. We’d like to be me and I’ll include them here. And if you’ve got able to ramp up events again, but that will depend on what pictures you want to supply, that, too, would be pretty you, the members, would like to do. The Command Staff would awesome. (By the way, if a lot of folks contribute for a single very much like to hear from you with your suggestions. Some activity, it could always be broken out into a separate article, recent events, along with ideas for others, include (in addition and if you want to write a stand-alone piece, don’t let this to regular meetings): feature stop you from doing so! It’s not an either-or proposition, just another way to share.)

 Attendance at the Region 7 Conference and STARFLEET 24-25 June 2017 – Star Trek The Original Series Set International Conference Tour – Ultimate Insiders Weekend  Video/Movie Days Again, this wasn’t technically a  Group Trips to Film Releases chapter event. However, five members  Skype Chats of the Avenger were in attendance,  Avenger Fiction Workshops (either in-person or on-line via including myself, CAPT Sarah now- Skype) Rosenzweig, CMDR Michelle Lampson,  Game Days Ensign Anakin Lampson, and Marinna  Renaissance Faire Trips Lampson. I’ve written previously about  Trip to Peddler’s Village the sets at Retro Film Studios, an  Trips to Museums and Educational Activities (e.g., The amazing, almost flawless reproduction Franklin institute; Independence Mall; the American Museum of the sets from the original Star Trek of Natural History, the Metropolitan Museum of Art; Liberty television series. Stepping onto these Science Center; etc.) sets is like stepping back 50 years into  Hikes and/or Visiting Parks the past, and 250 years into the future!  Pot Luck Dinners In my opinion, it is almost impossible to  Book Club visit here and not be blown away by  Knitting Group the design genius of Matt Jefferies, who  Group Attendance at Star Trek/Sci-Fi Conventions took the technology and budgets available to him in the 1960s and created designs which still hold up today. I cannot possibly If any of the items on this list look particularly interesting to recommend this highly enough, and think a visit would make an you, please let us know, and we’ll do our best to accommodate awesome Avenger or general STARFLEET/Region 7 trip. your preferences. This particular weekend was a special In terms of a few more specifics, we’re always looking for one. Three “celebrity guests: were suggestions from folks for films you’d like to see as a group. attending: Doug Drexler and Michael Feel free to share your suggestions on the Avenger’s mailing and Denise Okuda. There are few list, in our Facebook group, or even by contacting any member people who know Star Trek better than of the Command Staff. We’ll be heavily relying on your input to this trio, who worked on “The Next determine what films we should see together as a group. Generation”, “Deep Space Nine”, We’re looking forward to scheduling more video days, and “Voyager”, and “Enterprise” for almost we’re definitely interested in knowing what films/TV shows 18 years. Sarah and I had met Doug you’d like to watch together, and also if you’d be willing to last fall (see “Sit-Rep” in Avenger News host such an event. (We’ve had some wonderfully generous #153), but we had not met the Okudas, folks host these events in the past, but hopefully we won’t have and we didn’t want to miss this chance. to keep going back to the same people over and over again. If So we quickly secured tour we can move things around a bit, that’d be welcome.) reservations. When, later, we had If there’s something you’d like to suggest for an event, don’t determined that Michelle, Marinna, and Anakin would be hesitate to speak up. We want to hold events that our members staying with us during that time, arrangements were made to want to attend, but we can only do what members tell us ensure that they could join us on this trip as well. they’d like. Your input and support are crucial. The senior staff Because of time limitations, this was to be a whirlwind trip. can’t do it alone. We traveled up on Saturday, leaving in the morning and arriving in time for dinner, where we met up with Doug again and met the Okudas for the first time. I’ve known all three on line for a long time, but meeting them in person has been

VENGER EWS — ANUARY 10 A N #155 J 2018 U.S.S. Avenger Sit-Rep awesome. They are such nice people! Doug, as I’ve described fan at the beginning. But she had a good time anyway. For her before, is electric. He’s a kid in a candy store on those sets, and part, Michelle got a chance to shine a little when a volunteer he’s having so much fun. As we walked through, at one point I asked me about the StarFleet vest I was wearing (a leaned over to him and commented, “Every time I come here, I reproduction of Androvar Drake’s uniform from the graphic fall in love with these sets all over again,” and he smiled and novel adaptation of William Shatner’s novel, The Ashes of replied, “Me, too.” At another point during the tour, Marinna Eden), and I pointed out Michelle as the designer. The was invited to press a red button on a wall intercom panel. She volunteer was duly impressed. Michelle had hoped to spend a recognized it because Sarah and I have the ThinkGeek panel bit of time talking costuming with James Cawley, but this was a near our front door, and we’d very busy weekend for him, so that will have to wait. been playing with it a few days James, himself, was a wonderful host. It’s easy to see that he earlier. When Marinna pressed loves seeing how much the fans enjoy what he has created, the button, the alert klaxon went and the pride and joy just shine out from him during events like off throughout the studio this. He’s always very warm and friendly to Sarah and me, and (several of the panels are wired while he didn’t get to spend as much time with the Lampsons, to do that), and Doug bolted hopefully we’ll have more time on some future occasion. down the central corridor at full Alas, we couldn’t stay to let everything calm down, as we had run. Sarah promptly bolted off in the past, because we had to make the journey home on after him, and a few minutes Sunday afternoon. (With wedding coming up, I had to save my later they both ran back to the time off; elsewise we would have made a longer trip of it.) We group, laughing. It was asides had once again visited a wonderful place, and could only look like that, with “celebrities” who are every bit as much fans as forward to our next journey to Ticonderoga. we are, that made this a fantastic experience. (ADM Alex Rosenzweig) Mike and Denise Okuda are a little more reserved, but they are warm, sweet people who also just love Star Trek. They, 8-10 July 2017 – Shore Leave 39 (and a Wedding!) especially Denise, were especially solicitous of Sarah. Denise, Shore Leave 39 was a special weekend for CAPT Sarah and prior to working in the TV/film industry, was an RN, and she myself. Not only was it my 30th Shore Leave (and 29th in a recognized from Sarah’s movements that she had some medical row!), but it was the site of Sarah’s and my wedding. We like to condition. The two somewhat bonded as Sarah described her tease him about it, but in a real sense, it was Bob rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and fibromyalgia, and they both were Greenberger’s fault; while Sarah and I were talking to the ladies extra-solicitous of her. On more at the Shore Leave table at Farpoint 2016, explaining why we than one occasion, either Denise or were trying to find out what the dates were for Shore Leave in Mike paused to help her stand up 2017. (At that point, we were just hoping not to from her chair as the tour moved counterprogram the con!), Bob had walked by, stopped, from place to place, an extra step listened to us for a moment, and then turned around, walked that they didn’t have to take, but up to us, and said those now fateful words... “Do it at the con! they did. It was little things like that Make it part of the programming!” Sarah and I looked at each that endeared them to us, over and other, looked back at the ladies at the table (who didn’t even above the kinship we all shared in blanch), and, were, like, “This could work!!” That moment our love for Star Trek. started a 17-month odyssey that culminated with Sarah and I Oh! Chair! This is a great example standing on stage in the Hunt and Valley Ballroom, declaring of top-notch customer service. The our commitment to one another, surrounded by friends and team at Retro Film remembered loved ones. from our previous visit that Sarah I didn’t actually get to see much of the convention, really. had RA, and they made sure that a Wedding prep and our associated ceremonies were the order of folding chair was available to her, the day. I did make a whirlwind cycle through Meet the Pros on and also for one other member of our tour group, throughout Friday evening, before I was whisked off for bachelor-type the tour, folding it up and carrying it as we moved along. One festivities. Sarah and I also attended the STARFLEET Region 7 of the volunteers, Sandy, even stopped me when I went to meeting on Saturday morning, and I sat in on part of the scoop up the chair (I was trying to be helpful, after all), saying, Farragut Films talk (which “I’ve got this. You enjoy your tour.” That’s a high-water mark, included the disappointing ladies and gents. news that they were Meanwhile, Michelle and the kids were also having a blast. abandoning all their Trek plans Marinna got to press the companel button, and Anakin got to for after the finale of “Starship ask a bunch of questions, which Doug, Denise, and Mike all Farragut”, but the intriguing took time to answer. The wonderful thing about how small news that they were these tours are, in terms of number of people per group, is that embarking on plans for original there’s a tremendous amount of interaction with the “guides”. programming that they could Of course, everyone got pictures taken on the bridge. I was use to earn a profit). By mid- happy to see how much the kids enjoyed themselves, even afternoon Saturday, it was Marinna, who took pains to note that she was NOT a Star Trek time to get ready for the

AVENGER NEWS #155— JANUARY 2018 11 U.S.S. Avenger Sit-Rep ceremony, set for 5:00 PM. And even as Sarah and I were terms of presentation, as well. We hugely appreciate their help spending time with our families and friends, CMDR Michelle, for this event, and all their efforts in making it special. wearing her seamstress hat, was feverishly racing against time After dinner, we returned to the hotel. Oh, I should note that to get our garb done, helped at various times by a team of folks we rode there and back in a limo provided by CMDR Steve who had been martialed by Joe Kreshock’s cousin, Brittany Dickinson. Thanks, Steve! It was a unique experience, to be Cole, and Cheri Rosen. Another huge help was Wrenn Simms, sure; a party limo with lots of colored lights, LEDs, and such. wife of author Keith DeCandido, who jumped in and did some Fun! Getting back to the hotel, we arrived during what we later fantastic work. They really did save the day! learned was a memorial for actor Richard Hatch (Apollo in BSG: There was a brief worry during the runup to the ceremony, TOS, Tom Zarek in nuBSG, as word circulated that the con’s main Trek guests, Marina Sirtis and Kharn in “Prelude to and Michael Dorn, had come on stage late, and we might have Axanar”), who passed away to delay the ceremony. A quick call to Shore Leave’s logistics recently. As we master, George, put us at ease. We later found out that Marina disembarked from the limo, and Mike were specifically told they had to wrap up on time, the crowd turned and broke and Marina then asked, “Why” Upon being told the answer, she into applause, which exclaimed, “A wedding! There’s startled us, since we had no going to be a wedding! How lovely!” idea what was happening. Or words to that effect. We’d hoped We appreciated the good they might be able to attend, but wishes, and quickly headed their main Saturday autograph into the hotel. We then session had been scheduled at the repaired to the Concierge same time as the ceremony, and we Lounge, which we had reserved for a smaller reception that weren’t about to disrupt that part of would be open to anyone who wanted to have some light con ops! (They were both snacks and say hello. We also had the groom’s cake there, wonderfully gracious and kind to us done in the shape of the Avenger. It was made from dolce de when we got our autographs the leche and tiramisu cake, with some rice krispie treat mix for the next day!) lower levels. Throughout the later evening, folks would come in Despite a few last-minute and enjoy some snacks and cake, and then move on. Finally, hangups, we finally got the the time came to close down, and we thanked the hotel staffer ceremony going at about 5:25 or so, assigned to us and headed off to Ten-Forward. Before that, and it was amazing. Michelle was a though, we had to deal with the remaining cake. The sheetcake fantastic cleric for us, and she delivered the ceremony with portions were given to ADM Bob Vosseller, to have at the power and aplomb, and that helped Sarah and I stay on track STARFLEET table on Sunday (by late morning, we heard, the for our parts. For me, as Sarah came down the aisle, I at first cake had been consumed; I hope we got some members out of couldn’t see her, because my vision beyond a couple of meters it!). As for the rest of the groom’s cake, that we donated to the from the stairs to the stage was washed out by the spotlights. hotel staff, and they were quite delighted. Then she was just a vague shape. And then she finally came On Sunday, we finally got to enjoy more of the convention, into clear view, a vision of loveliness, and the woman I was to though a significant part of the day was spent getting commit to forever. Neither of us quite made it through dry- autographs. In the morning, we were gifted a board by Wrenn eyed, but it went great, and we exited to the “Leaving Drydock” Simms and Keith DeCandido, which said, “Married life is pretty track from “Star Trek: The Motion Picture”. Sarah led, and I danged awesome!” After they were married in April, they got followed, scooping up her train right after having a quick asked that question so many times that having the board was a Alphonse-and-Gaston moment with convention guest Luciana way to easily answer. We promptly used the board for Carro (from nuBSG). autographs, and got signatures from many of the main media Following the ceremony, we guests. They were all very gracious, including both Marina Sirtis went off-site to our reception and Michael Dorn, once they realized that we were the couple venue, Liberatore’s Restaurant in who made them cut their talk short. Both gave us many Timonium. They’re just wonderful, congratulations. Kevin Sussman, who plays Stuart on “The Big and the reception was beautiful. Bang Theory”, wrote, “Great… Another happy couple.” I had to We cut our primary wedding cake, chuckle, because I could hear it in Stuart’s voice. He followed a Charm City Cakes creation in the up with, “Best wishes!” Michael Hogan (Colonel Tigh in nuBSG) shape of TerraMain Spacedock gave us a free autograph as a wedding present (he, by the (from “Star Trek III-VI”, and way, is nothing like the character of Tigh). Much of the rest of reused a number of times on TNG), the day was calmer, but there was one final unexpected and it was marvelous, a wonderful experience for us on Sunday night. Sarah and I were walking chocolate mint in flavor. The dinner back to our room in the late evening, and we saw actress was spot-on; there are reasons Jodelle Ferland, who had a guest role in Stargate SG-1 coming why we can’t recommend this the other way. We paused to say hello, and in the conversation restaurant highly enough! They noted that we had missed getting her autograph (every time were absolutely magnificent in we came by her table, she had been elsewhere). We asked if

VENGER EWS — ANUARY 12 A N #155 J 2018 U.S.S. Avenger Sit-Rep she’d mind signing our board, knowing that of course she didn’t other crewmembers from DD 556 Justice and CKE 71809 have to. She not only agreed, but joined us in our room for a Abraham Lincoln. little while, signing the board and chatting with us for a while Although there were a few difficulties here and there, we before she had to go pack. We really appreciated her both had a lot of fun that day, not only interacting with our generosity with her time, not to mention her interest in the friends, but meeting patrons who were visiting the Experience wedding and honeymoon! and doing our part to make it more fun. As has happened at Monday morning was wrap-up time. We had breakfast with other exhibitions in the past, we often found ourselves on the Michelle, Anakin, and Marinna, and got to chat a bit with bridge (in this case, the location of the famed Kobayashi Maru Marilyn Mann, the committee chair of Shore Leave. We learned test), and since the bridge is also a great place for photo ops, along the way that we’d made Shore Leave history in yet we could readily be found manning various stations while another way; ours was the first legally binding wedding (as patrons got photos of themselves in the command chair. opposed to a mock wedding, a vow renewal, etc.) to ever take Other parts of the Experience focus on other specialties, from place at the convention! Wow... After breakfast, we started the Sciences (where patrons helps a crashing vessel find a planet prodigious challenge of repacking the car. That wasn’t easy! that can support the crew until they can be rescued) to We’d been pretty tightly packed on the way down, with five Engineering (featuring a persons and associated luggage. Then there was all the stuff projection of patrons we’d gotten as part of the wedding! It turned out that my car beaming out from a large alone was not up to the task, but several friends, including transporter stage using a Cheri Rosen, the Dickinsons, and the Vossellers, took things chroma-key system) to home for us, and since then, we’ve gradually been retrieving Communications (including them. With the car finally packed, we headed out, a memorable learning some Klingon convention then history. phrases) to Tactical Our final stops included a trip to the Baltimore County Court (featuring a phaser game where you have to hit certain targets, to officially register our marriage, and to Liberatore’s to pick up and avoid others), and others. the cake toppers and components that we’d left there on We appreciated the hospitality of the staff of Liberty Science Saturday. Here’s how cool these folks are: since we didn’t have Center, and by all accounts they were happy with our time to stay for lunch, we were told, “Hold on, we’ll make performance as, to coin a phrase, Experience Enhancement something up for you quick.” About ten minutes later, Sarah Personnel. We look forward to opportunities to volunteer again and I were handed a sizable bag of food for us and the in the months to come. Lampsons. When I asked how much we owed for it, we were (ADM Alex Rosenzweig) told, “No, this is for you, no charge.” So, yeah, if you’re in the Timonium area, go there, and tell them that Alex and Sarah sent you. You will NOT regret it! We finally got home in the late afternoon on Monday, our Special thanks to those who have contributed to this column! hearts filled with joy from the preceding few days. Still ahead It’s really appreciated. We invite anyone who went to an event that night was packing for the honeymoon that would begin the and would like to share to also contribute a paragraph or two next day. We relaxed for a brief time, then said goodnight to to this column! It’s quick and easy, and it’s great to share Michelle and the kids, who would also be going home on different views of what the club and its members are doing! Tuesday and started the repacking. The next stage of our journey would take us overseas, to London. But that is another story. (ADM Alex Rosenzweig)

30 December 2017 – Starfleet Academy Exhibition at Liberty Science Center In mid-December, Region 7 Command received request. With apologies for the last-minute nature of the request, Liberty Science Center was asking for STARFLEET’s help to provide fans in uniform to interact with patrons of The Starfleet Academy Experience, a traveling Star Trek exhibition that allows attendees to “train” like Starfleet Academy cadets. The kicker was the help was needed in the week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Region 7 stepped up, and members were there throughout the week. CAPT Sarah Rosenzweig and I joined the fun on 30 December, along with RADM Todd Brugmans, CAPT Annie Brugmans, VADM Mike Stein, FCAPT Keith Shikowitz, and

AVENGER NEWS #155— JANUARY 2018 13 STARFLEET and Region 7 News

Member Packets have been sent out under the old process for all the memberships that came in from 1 January – 30 June 2017. Dan and Steve Parmley’s MP team worked hard to get all that taken care of, as did Richard Sams in R20. STARFLEET News: ** STARFLEET Communiqué issue 192 has been posted to ** Executive Committee News: the STARFLEET database/website: https://db.sfi.org/com/ - Due to health reasons, FADM Robert Westfall has docs/192.pdf resigned as Commander, STARFLEET. He has been succeeded by RADM Dan Toole. ** COMM Tony Knopes has announced the availability of a - COMM William “Tony” Knopes has been appointed as faster, more streamlined digital membership Chief of Computer Operations, succeeding VADM Mike certificate. When logged into the Member Database, under Dugas. the MEMBER menu item, you will see a new item for - COMM Ron Coleman resigned as Chief of Operations. MEMBER CERTIFICATE. If you click that link, you will be ADM Johnathan “Gumby” Simmons served as Interim Chief presented with a PDF of your current membership of Operations until MGN Joe Sare was appointed as the certificate. You can download this PDF and print it if you permanent successor. desire. - MGEN Joe Sare will stand in as Acting Vice Commander, STARFLEET, while a search for a permanent successor in ** The Office of Recruitment and Retention has been this role takes place. expanding its role within the Fleet to become the Marketing and Retention department of the fleet. ** Admiralty Board News: Members will begin to see the benefits of this change as the - FADM Dave Blaser has been elected as the Region 13 department shifts towards an equal share of inward and Regional Coordinator. outward facing; new positions will be created with the sole purpose of ensuring members have a direct line of contact ** As of 7 January 2018, the New Member Report is: Total to HQ via our Retentions team; and we aim to push the Fleet Strength is 5,250 persons, with 230 chapters. Fleet back to the forefront of the Trek community by recruiting marketing officers, artists, and content producers ** New STARFLEET membership rates/packets: to revitalize the Fleet's image into the 21st Century. The Admiralty Board has approved AB17-06 (New Membership Rates/Packets) by a vote of 14-02-00-00. The ** A STARFLEET Marketing handbook and newsletter are approved rates and packets went into effect 1 July 2017. being developed, per the Director of Marketing and - NEW MEMBERSHIP RATES: Retention. * Individual = $5.00 * Family (2) = $9.00 ** COMM Greg Mortensen is still offering STARFLEET name * Family (3) = $12.00 badges. Visit http://badges.sfi.org to get yours! * Family (4) = $14.00 * Family (5) = $16.00 ** STARFLEET Operations has announced * Family (6) = $17.00 the commissioning of the following chapters: These rates apply to ALL members of STARFLEET. No - U.S.S. Andromeda, NCC-75009, based in longer do we have US Member, Canadian Member, and Tampa, FL, Region 2, COMM Alvin Dozier, International Member classes; we will only have the class Commanding of Member. - U.S.S. Arrowhead, NCC-75015, based in - MEMBERSHIP “PACKETS” and OPTIONS: Highland, CA, Region 4, BGR Bill West, * Effective 1 July 2017, ALL membership packets are now Commanding electronic. Membership certificates and membership - Space Station Independent, SFR-2001, based in cards are e-mailed, so please ensure that the email Camelon, United Kingdom, Region 20, CAPT Martin Strang, address you provide when joining and/or renewing is Commanding correct. - U.S.S. Loki, NCC-5156, based in Gettysburg, PA, Region 7, * The Primary Member of each membership is required to CAPT Lewis Jones, Commanding have a valid email address where their membership - U.S.S. Marie Curie, NCC-74699, based in Roseburg, OR, materials can be sent. Region 5, CAPT Brady McNulty, Commanding * The “membership resource CD” has been eliminated. - U.S.S. Morrigan, NCC-75027, based in Spokane, WA, * Membership certificates are available as hard-copies at Region 5, COL Mike Heupel, Commanding the time of joining/renewing for an additional fee of - U.S.S. Phoebe, NCC-80115, based in Everett, WA, Region $3.00 (includes S&H) per certificate. 5, FCAPT Brian Pickett, Commanding * The MHB & By-Laws are available as hard-copies at the - U.S.S. Raven, NCC-61973, based in Hadleigh, Benfleet, time of joining/renewing for an additional fee of $8.00 Essex, United Kingdom, Region 20, COL Jamie Spracklen, (includes S&H) per set. Commanding

VENGER EWS — ANUARY 14 A N #155 J 2018 STARFLEET and Region 7 News

- U.S.S. White Eagle, NCC-2302, based in Jacksonville, NC, ** STARFLEET International Conference News Region 1, CAPT Aaron Himes, Commanding - IC 2018 will take place in Bloomington, MN (near Minneapolis/St. Paul) on 10-12 August ** STARFLEET Shakedown Operations has announced the 2018, at the Hilton Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport launching of the following chapters: Mall of America. For more information, check - U.S.S. Far Star, NX-7840, based in Kerrville, TX, Region 3, out the IC website at http:// CMDR Dawn Kesterson, Commanding www.ic2018.org - U.S.S. Yorktown, NX-1704, based in Colonial Heights, TN, - IC2018 registration currently costs $35.00. VADM Kimberly Donohoe, Commanding

** STARFLEET Operations has announced the launch of the following shuttlecraft: - Shuttle Roger Williams, based in Warwick, RI and supported by the U.S.S. Helen Pawlowski, LTJG Franklin Gonzolez, Commanding

** The Department of Technical Services Region 7 News: (DTS) is seeking talented artists to help execute engineering drawings of ** U.S.S. Loki has joined the 7th Fleet. starships and space stations. If you’re interested, contact ADM Alex Rosenzweig ** Region 7 is proposing to make our yearlong charity for at [email protected] or [email protected], or by US 2017/2018 helping those in Puerto Rico. The R7 Charity Post at 980 Linwood Place North Brunswick, NJ 08902- Officer proposes that each crew member donate $1 (dollar) 2267. a month from their respective ships and forward that collective money to our Region 7 treasurer, who will record ** Membership Perks have been established for it and then forward a check to the Charity Officer to provide STARFLEET members. Here is where to find discount to the contact for Puerto Rico. Items to send will be codes to all of our Membership Perk Partners: purchased, or the monies may be used as payment for - Surf to the STARFLEET Database at https://db.sfi.org/ transit of items already purchased. Pictures and receipts will - Log on using your database ID (provided to you as part of be received to substantiate the purchases or transport that your membership packet, but if you don't know what your she can forward back to show what is being done. User ID and password is, please contact the STARFLEET Help Desk) ** The 2018 Region 7 Conference will be held at the - Click on the "MEMBER" button on the left side to show the Crowne Plaza in Fairfield, NJ on 21-23 September 2018. The menu of available member tools theme for this conference will be the “Deep Space Nine” - Click on the "MEMBERSHIP PERK" button. 25th Anniversary. On this page, you'll see all of STARFLEET's Membership Perks and their discount codes for you to use! ** The Region 7 staff are working with personnel from Liberty For more information about STARFLEET's Membership Science Center to arrange for STARFLEET/Region 7 Perks, please visit: http://perks.sfi.org/ involvement at the StarFleet Academy Experience.

** STARFLEET Marines News ** The regional fundraiser continues; return used inkjet - LGN Barry Jackson has stepped down from the cartridges for cash (http://empties4cash.com) For further CO Finance Command position (STARFLEET info, contact Mike Stein at [email protected] or check out Marine Corps). DCOFINCOM BGN TJ Allen the Region 7 website at http://www.region7.com stepped up into the Commanding Officer slot to maintain financial continuity for the Corps. This opened the DCO position for staffing.

AVENGER NEWS #155— JANUARY 2018 15 “The Orville”—Some Old- Fashioned, Down-to-Goodness

Heroes

(Continued from page 8) The show has also dealt so far with some social commentary. No starship captain worth his salt can get along without a Two examples that stand out are the episodes “About a Girl” good crew. His chief medical officer is Dr. Claire Finn, played by and “Majority Rule”. The former deals with Bortus and his mate Star Trek alumna Penny Johnson Jerald. The Orville is piloted Klyden having a baby born as a female but being culturally by Lieutenant Gordon Malloy, brought to life by Scott Grimes. compelled to have her surgically reassigned to become a male. He has a reputation of being the finest helmsman in the Union The latter is a powerful commentary on the impact of how fleet, and is legendary for a maneuver he calls “hugging the social media and its potential to influence public opinion donkey.” At his side is navigation officer Lieutenant John without all the facts. Spoiler alert: watch out if you attend LaMarr, portrayed by J. Lee. They future conventions, and you become fast friends and may be might see some folks wearing on their way to becoming a team badges with green up-vote and rivaling Sulu and Chekov. red down-vote buttons (hopefully Next on the command staff non-functional). roster is Lieutenant Commander Even the design of the Orville is Bortus, a sturdy-looking Moclan in itself radical, probably the brought to life by Peter Macon. most unique shape since the His species is single-sex, NSEA Protector from “Galaxy although one episode shows that Quest”. It's a sleek, elongated, on rare occasions, females also flowing shape. Its faster-than- exist on his homeworld. Bortus is light engines are essentially three Mercer's second officer. loops instead of tubular nacelles. A secure ship is a good ship, There is also a delightful old- and that duty falls to Security Chief Lieutenant Alara Kitan, who school special effects element in that closeups of the ship are is Xelayan by origin. The high gravity gives her superhuman shot with an actual model, a rarity these days in this era of strength in most comparable Earth-normal gravity fields. CGI. Long shots involving the Orville in complex maneuvers are Halston Sage plays her with the bravery and determination to CGI, though. open any stubborn jar of pickles, as Mercer once put it. The set design is somewhat reminiscent of “Star Trek: The The Orville's Science and Engineering Officer is a native of Next Generation”, yet the Orville’s distinctive shape lends itself the planet Kaylon-1, which is home to a race of artificial life to its own practicality and aesthetics. The same can be said for forms. Isaac, played by Mark Jackson, is on a sort of cultural the Union fleet uniforms. They are already drawing the exchange mission, learning the ins and outs of interacting with attention of cosplayers. biological beings from worlds throughout the Union. He has The show has also seen a surprising run of guest stars. made some attempts at humor, although one awkward prank Jeffrey Tambor and Holland Taylor appeared in one episode as involved the removal of one of Malloy's legs (don't worry; Dr. Mercer’s parents. There have also been appearances by the Finn had the technology to help him generate a new one). likes of Kelly Hu, Michaela McManus (of “Law & Order: SVU”, as Some viewers seem to have issue with the show's humor, or a Krill woman, unrecognizable under all that alien makeup), and a lack thereof. But keep in mind that if this was an outright even Liam Neeson and Charlize Theron. Commander Riker comedy, that could take away from the sci-fi action and certain himself, Jonathan Frakes, was even tapped to direct one ethical and philosophical elements. MacFarlane's Mercer, for episode. example, may exhibit sarcastic tendencies and some human So far, “The Orville” is committed to 13 episodes for its first weaknesses at times, but he balances those with a take-charge season, with a second season renewal already secured. If early attitude and fierce dedication to his crew. Sage gives Alara a fan reaction can be read accurately, we may at least see the decent balance of feminine charm and vulnerability with the most rabid and fervent following since the birth of the tenacity of a classic warrior. The rest of the players have their Browncoats inspired by “Firefly”. What would we call these humorous moments, but they supplant those with their own fans? Orvillians? Let’s see how many up-votes or down-votes intrepid acts. Overall, the level of humor seems comparable to that gets. what we might see in shows like “NCIS”. That's what gives Say what you will about “The Orville”. One thing for sure, it’s “The Orville” its own special character: tales of derring-do with giving sci-fi TV a much overdue shot in the arm, at least by a willingness to poke fun at itself on occasion. Facebook is giving people something new and interesting to talk about. In blowing up with references to bananas, pickle jars, Avis (the the meantime, we no longer need to fear bananas. Happy god of the Krill people, the Union's primary enemy, who oddly Arbor Day and bless you all. shares the name with certain car rental company), and we might see a reference to Arbor Day (see the pilot episode “Old ###### Wounds”).

VENGER EWS — ANUARY 16 A N #155 J 2018 Star Trek Book News COMPILED BY ALEX ROSENZWEIG

Here are the highlights of the next few months in Star Trek confront her people's troubled past and her own future in ways books… she never imagined...

Available February 2018: ST:TNG: Star Trek The Next Generation Cats by Jenny Parks; Publisher – Chronicle Books ST:DSC: Drastic Measures The cats are back in their by Dayton Ward; Publisher – Gallery Books (Simon & Schuster) continuing mission: to boldly go It is 2246, ten years prior to the Battle where no one has gone before. at the Binary Stars, and an aggressive Jenny Parks brings the cast of contagion is ravaging the food supplies of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” the remote Federation colony Tarsus IV to life in feline form as a faithful and the eight thousand people who call it homage to the hit series. From home. Distress signals have been sent, but encounters with the Borg to any meaningful assistance is weeks away. adventures on the holodeck, Lieutenant Commander Gabriel Lorca and Captain Picard, Commander a small team assigned to a Starfleet Data, Counselor Troi, and the monitoring outpost are caught up in the rest of the cast are recreated in escalating crisis, and bear witness as the loving detail as cats. colony's governor, Adrian Kodos, employs an unimaginable solution in order to prevent mass starvation. While awaiting transfer to her next assignment, Commander Available May 2018: Philippa Georgiou is tasked with leading to Tarsus IV a small, hastily assembled group of first responders. It's hoped this ST: All: To Boldly Go: Marketing the Myth of Star Trek (Trade advance party can help stabilize the situation until more aid Hard Cover) arrives, but Georgiou and her team discover that they're too by Djoymi Baker; Publisher – I.B. Tauris late – Governor Kodos has already implemented his heinous Cultural manifestations of myth have come a long way since strategy for extending the colony's besieged food stores and the storytelling of ancient Greece, now materializing on our TV safeguarding the community’s long-term survival. and cinema screens and in advertisements. This book examines In the midst of their rescue mission, Georgiou and Lorca how contemporary media marketing has become the new myth must now hunt for the architect of this horrific tragedy and the -making and has reinforced the particular mythology of the man whom history will one day brand "Kodos the gargantuan Star Trek franchise, across its current lifespan of Executioner"... more than 50 years. The author argues that the tools of promotional material and transmedia merchandising shape Available April 2018: viewers' experiences of the hit television series, reinforcing its mythology that both recycles the narratives of classical heritage ST:VOY: Architects of Infinity and looks forward to the future. In this way, it reminds by Kirsten Beyer; Publisher – Pocket Books (Simon & consumers of the Star Trek story's ongoing centrality within Schuster) popular culture, whether in the form of the original 1960s As the Federation starship Voyager continues to lead the Full series, the later additions such as Voyager and Discovery or J. Circle Fleet in its exploration of the Delta Quadrant, Admiral J. Abrams’s “reboot” films. Chapters examine how oral and Kathryn Janeway remains concerned about the Krenim literary traditions have influenced the series structure and its Imperium and its ability to rewrite time to suit its whims. At commercial image, how the cosmological role of humanity and Captain Chakotay's suggestion, however, she orders the fleet to the Earth are explored in title sequences across various Star focus its attention on a unique planet in a binary system, where Trek media platforms, and the multi-faceted way in which a new element has been discovered. Several biospheres exist Internet, video game, and event spin-offs create rituals to on this otherwise uninhabitable world, each containing different consolidate the space opera’s fan base. Fusing key theory from atmospheres and features that argue other sentient beings film, TV, media, and folklore studies, as well as anthropology once resided on the surface. Janeway hopes that digging into and other specialisms, To Boldly Go is an authoritative guide to an old-fashioned scientific mystery will lift the crews' morale, the function of myth across the whole Star Trek enterprise. but she soon realizes that the secrets buried on this world may be part of a much larger puzzle – one that points to the ST:PRM: The Root of All Rage existence of a species whose power to reshape the galaxy by Bernd Perplies and Christian Humberg; Publisher – might dwarf that of the Krenim. Titan Books Meanwhile, Lieutenants Nancy Conlon and Harry Kim The Federation races to discover the culprits of several continue to struggle with the choices related to Conlon's terrorist attacks, sending their flagship, the U.S.S. Prometheus, degenerative condition. Full Circle's medical staff discovers a to stop war breaking out in the galaxy. potential solution, but complications will force a fellow officer to A dangerous evil is flourishing in the Alpha Quadrant. In the Lembatta Cluster, a curious region of space, fanatics who call

AVENGER NEWS #155— JANUARY 2018 17 Star Trek Book News themselves the Purifying Flame are trying to start a galactic war, and the warlike Klingons are baying for blood. The Federation have sent the U.S.S. Prometheus to settle the crisis, and the crew must contend with both the hostile Renao, the secretive inhabitants of the Cluster, and the Klingon captain of the IKS Bortas, who is desperate for war.

Ship’s BBS

The Ship’s BBS was first introduced in the novel Spock’s World, written by Diane Duane. Like BBSs of today, it was a place where items of interest could be posted for the crew to read and respond to. This column is much like that. Things do change from issue to issue, so keep checking back each issue, and if you’ve got an item you’d like to share, feel free to send it in.  * Help Wanted! way to maintain it. This skill will also be important for the Looking to contribute to the Avenger? If so, we need your help! Second Officer, when one is chosen. The following positions are open: - Storytellers: See “Avenger Fiction Update” later in this - Second Officer: Third in Command of the chapter! Serve on column. the senior staff. Responsible for keeping accurate service Contact CAPT Sarah or ADM Alex if you’d like to volunteer! records and maintaining the promotion system. The Second Officer also acts to assist the CO and XO in other capacities, * Do you have an idea for an event or activity? We love including (but not limited to) heading special projects or to do stuff, that’s for sure! Lots of stuff is based on ideas our doubling in a senior staff position if there are multiple members bring to the group, and can be as simple as vacancies and the Executive Officer is already filling one of something you enjoy and would like to share. How? It’s easy! them. (This position requires STARFLEET membership in Just ask an Avenger Command Staff member for an Event good standing.) Planner and begin your adventure today. Event Planners - Chief Engineer: Serve on the senior staff, and be a leader of contain descriptions of events/activities, and both the Planners the members in the Engineering Division. Have a direct voice and sign-up sheets are passed around at each month’s ship in the running of the chapter. Highlight engineering and meeting. This is a way for everyone to find out the details of technology interests, both in the Trek Universe and in real what’s going on, or to share your ideas for what you want to life. (This position requires STARFLEET membership in good do! We need your help, because if no one coordinates events, standing.) they don’t happen!! - Chief of Communications: Serve on the senior staff, and be a leader of the members in the Communications Division. * Internet Resources: Have a direct voice in the running of the chapter. Highlight The Avenger has a lot of opportunities to interact through the methods of communication, audio-visual media, languages, Internet! Check ‘em out... etc., both in the Trek Universe and in real life. (This position - The adventure begins with our spiffy website where you can requires STARFLEET membership in good standing.) find information about your fellow crewmates and read online - Chief Security Officer: Serve on the senior staff, and be a logs from your division chief: http://www.ussavenger.org/ leader of the members in the Security Division. Have a direct - The Avenger Yahoo Group is a great place to get updated voice in the running of the chapter. Highlight security, safety, news from the Avenger via email and special website portable weaponry, police function, and small-unit ground features. Check it out at: tactics interests, both in the Trek Universe and in real life. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/avenger-sfi (This position requires STARFLEET membership in good - Avenger is also well-represented on Facebook, with both a standing.) page and a group. The page is generally updated with - Press Officer: Write and distribute press releases to the information directed more to the general public, while the ship’s media list, interact with reporters and other media group includes more of the discussions, events personnel, and help craft our club image to the world at announcements, and cross-chatter among members and large! friends. The URLs are: - Microsoft Access-Knowledgeable Members: Members Avenger Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/ who know Access are needed to help revive the ship’s groups/27371220186/ database and educate the CO and XO (et al.) on the best Avenger Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/ USS-Avenger/159162957480482

VENGER EWS — ANUARY 18 A N #155 J 2018 Ship’s BBS

- Avenger News newsletters are archived online, in PDF For more information e-mail the author, Mike Rupprecht, at format, on the Avenger website. [email protected], or just visit the Federation Frontiers web site for this and other spectacular Star Trek * Our CaféPress Store has closed: Recently, when we tried technical documents: http://federationfrontiers.tripod.com/ to update our store, CafePress abruptly began denying the use fh1860/ of our logo imagery, even though it was the same material that had been used for years prior. For this reason, we no longer The Avenger-class Heavy Frigate General Plans cost a mere have a CafePress store. We are taking suggestions for $10.00 for Avenger crew members, and can be purchased alternative strategies for creating Avenger materials. directly from Alex Rosenzweig. You can also buy the plans via mail order for $12, which includes shipping charges. Money * A STARFLEET Community of Particular Note: Interested orders are preferred, and will speed delivery. However, members are invited to join a community called Project personal checks are acceptable and should be payable to SIMELE. “SIMELE” is short for “STARFLEET In the Movie and “Michael C. Rupprecht”. Custom rolled sets are available for Early Lost Eras”, and its focus is for members or chapters of $15.00 and deluxe poster-sized sets for $40.00. To order, STARFLEET who have an interest in, use the motif of, or are simply print out the handy order form at web site, or send your fictionally set in the timeframe of roughly 2270 to 2335 in the name, address, e-mail address, number and type of sets Star Trek Universe, to interact. (This, of course, includes the desired, along with your check or money order, to the following Avenger.) It’s designed to provide a venue for members to address: share resources, exchange ideas and thoughts about playing in Federation Frontiers this era of Star Trek, possibly develop cooperative fiction, and c/o Michael C. Rupprecht so forth. Come check the group out at 14 Miles Avenue http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SIMELE/ Bordentown, NJ 08505

* Avenger Blueprints! * Avenger Fiction Update Do you find yourself getting lost - The story of the ship’s latest change of command has been every time you’re on duty while outlined, and full-text writing is underway. serving aboard your ship? - Contributions of stories set in the Avenger’s fictional universe, Maybe you should get one of of any length, are welcome and sought! these spiffy blueprint maps! - Ideas and suggestions for future possible group collaborations are welcomed, too. Feel free to send them to ADM Alex, or From the Federation Frontiers even pitch them to the Avenger’s e-mail list. publishing office, we are - Suggestions for interesting characters to fill open spots in pleased to offer General Plans Avenger’s fictional crew are wanted! You can provide just for the Avenger-Class Heavy Frigate. No starship, save the some rough notes, or a full character file. If you’d like to get famous line of those named Enterprise, has received this much in on the fun, check in with ADM Alex. attention to detail. - And don’t forget to work on keeping your own main character’s file up-to-date, too! Or create one if you haven’t The twenty (20) sheet set includes: done so yet. Check with ADM Alex for assistance if you need - Construction history it. - Ship's directory - Six (6) external views * Quote for this Issue: - Full starship specifications “There is no wealth but life.” - John Ruskin - Equipment listing (with system contractors) - Four (4) cross-section views - Plan views of all eleven decks at 1:600 scale - Full-sheet details of the bridge, torpedo pod, main engineering, two-level recreation deck, Sickbay, transporter complex, and auxiliary control.

AVENGER NEWS #155— JANUARY 2018 19 IMAGE GALLERY

“Military Inspection”, by unusualsuspex (from DeviantArt) [Submitted by Alex Rosenzweig]

“Discovering New Worlds”, by euderion (from DeviantArt) [Submitted by Alex Rosenzweig]

Trekkin’ the Web

From Alex Rosenzweig: 1) to honor its creator, Wah Ming Chang, by assisting hobbyists and manufacturers in building ever-more accurate Lee Gartrell – The Romulan War replicas...(recognizing that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery), and... 2) to aid in locating, authenticating and preserving those actual communicator props he built. http://www.herocomm.com/Home.htm

Star Trek: Discovery – NCC-1031 The videos to be found here are a fan production following NCC-1031.com is an amalgamation of Star Trek fans, the war with the Romulans of the 2150s. Have a look! spanning across the continent and five decades of https://www.youtube.com/user/stromulanwars fandom. Each of their writers is dedicated to bringing the latest news and opinions about “Star Trek: Discovery” in an honest HeroComm and unbiased manner. http://ncc-1031.com/

Do you have a favorite website that’s sci-fi/fantasy/science/ HeroComm is a free and open library of all knowledge that technology/space related? Think other members might enjoy it? can be gathered on the Original Series Star Trek classic Don’t hesitate to share! Send in a description and a URL to communicator prop. They endeavor through scientific rigor to ADM Alex Rosenzweig, so we can include it here. sort fact from fiction, history from hearsay, and originals from fakes. They will tell you what they conclude from all available evidence, and then show you why - often in excruciating detail. Their only two objectives are:

VENGER EWS — ANUARY 20 A N #155 J 2018 Mission Docket Upcoming Events

14 January 2018 – Avenger Ship Meeting North Brunswick Public Library, 880 Hermann Road, North Brunswick, NJ, 2:00 PM Join us for the usual fun, chatter, and good times. Program: Computer Science, Both Today and its Potentials for the Future. We'll explore where the state of computer science/technology is in 2017, and where it might go in the years to come (moderated by ENS John-Austen Francisco). Dinner and socializing to follow. We hope you’ll join us for all the fun! Event Coordinator: CAPT Sarah Rosenzweig, [email protected]

18 February 2018 – Avenger Ship Meeting North Brunswick Public Library, 880 Hermann Road, North Brunswick, NJ, 2:00 PM Join us for the usual fun, chatter, and good times. Program: Felinoids in Star Trek: Caitians, Kzinti, Sivaoans/ Eiaouans, Oh, My! The Cat-Races of the Star Trek Universe (moderated by CAPT Sarah Rosenzweig). Dinner and socializing to follow. We hope you’ll join us for all the fun! Event Coordinator: CAPT Sarah Rosenzweig, [email protected]

11 March 2018 – Avenger Ship Meeting North Brunswick Public Library, 880 Hermann Road, North Brunswick, NJ, 2:00 PM Join us for the usual fun, chatter, and good times. Program: "The Orville" - Seth MacFarlane's Answer to Star Trek (moderated by CAPT Matt Rielly). Dinner and socializing to follow. We hope you’ll join us for all the fun! Event Coordinator: CAPT Sarah Rosenzweig, [email protected]

8 April 2018 – Avenger Ship Meeting North Brunswick Public Library, 880 Hermann Road, North Brunswick, NJ, 2:00 PM Join us for the usual fun, chatter, and good times. Program: "Star Trek: Discovery" - A Look at the Show after the First Season: What Worked, What Didn't, and Where It Might be Going in Season 2 (moderated by ADM Alex Rosenzweig). Dinner and socializing to follow. We hope you’ll join us for all the fun! Event Coordinator: CAPT Sarah Rosenzweig, [email protected]

20 May 2018 – Avenger Ship Meeting North Brunswick Public Library, 880 Hermann Road, North Brunswick, NJ, 2:00 PM Join us for the usual fun, chatter, and good times. Program: Emergency Management: What to Do When Bad Things Happen (moderated by CAPT Norman Van Houten). Dinner and socializing to follow. We hope you’ll join us for all the fun! Event Coordinator: CAPT Sarah Rosenzweig, [email protected]

NOTE: Please, if you are planning to attend an event, let the event/project coordinator know of your plans, so he/she can make the proper arrangements. Thanks!

AVENGER NEWS #155— JANUARY 2018 21

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VENGER EWS — ANUARY 22 A N #155 J 2018