MICHAEL D. SMITH – COMMANDER, STARFLEET 1997-2000 With Fleet Admiral Michael Smith due to complete his second term in ofÞ ce at the end of 2000, the Gumby: Q: Some of those people are going on to Communiqué commissioned Vice Admiral Johnathan serve in the next administration... How do you “Gumby” Simmons to conduct an interview with our feel about that? outgoing Commander, STARFLEET. Mike: I think it’s a great thing. We have proven, capable leaders who will continue to do honest work Gumby: Mike, Welcome and thanks! for the members of STARFLEET. The voters set forth Mike: Anytime :-) a mandate during the past election, and I’m glad to see that many of the people I’ve brought on board Gumby: Q: Four years Mike… You took over will continue to serve our members. Starß eet at what some would say was its worst time and help bring about very positive change. Looking Gumby: Q: Over 40% voter turnout this election, back, how has Starß eet changed in that time? which is a record turnout. What do you think Mike: Well, we’ve definitely grown as an attributed to the high number of returns? organization. When we started 4 years ago, I don’t Mike: During my trips across STARFLEET this year think anyone really understood that STARFLEET and in all my CQ articles, I always made it a point had evolved past “just a fan club.” Now more people to remind the members to vote in the election. I’d understand that, and this is deÞ nitely a good thing. like to think that my words had some effect in that We’ve also become more electronic-friendly. I’m sad regard. to say that my predecessor really gave the electronic side of things a seriously bad reputation. Gumby: Q: Mike, what was your most memorable Gumby: I remember that period. experience as Fleet Admiral? Mike: Fortunately, we’ve been able to overcome it Mike: Getting the word that we had cleared the and integrate our electronic presence as part of how issues with the IRS. we operate the organization on a daily basis. Gumby: Now that was a pack-a-lunch project! Gumby: Bringing Starß eet into the 21st century! Mike: Yes, it was. Chuck Freas was a Godsend for the organization. If it weren’t for him, I’m not sure Gumby: Q: How much has the electronic presence STARFLEET would have been around to see its 25th helped our organization? birthday. Mike: With our award-winning home page for news Gumby: Indeed! Chuck was a big part of that and information, to the ability for members to look project... we should say “Thanks, Chuck!” up their information online, to join and renew online, Mike: We did earlier this year by awarding Chuck and more, it’s been a deÞ nite help to the organization a three-year Honorary Membership. It’s not much as a whole. It’s really gotten our name out there. Add for all his work and effort, but it’s the least we could that to the IRC channel that allows folks to help stay do for him. in contact, the electronic side of things has deÞ nitely Photo by Mark Vinson Gumby: Only three? He almost single-handedly helped STARFLEET. saved us... from the IRS! Gumby: I know that I am not the only person to have Mike: It always has been a team effort. I don’t count met new friends on the IRC channel. myself any higher than anyone else, and to be honest, Gumby: Q: Will you continue to actively serve * Mike nods in agreement. Quite true. It’s always nice to there are people in the organization who’ve had a Starß eet, or is this a full retirement? go to events and put faces to the names on IRC. much greater impact that I personally had. I’m just Mike: I currently serve the STARFLEET Marine glad that the team I was able to put together worked Corps as Commanding OfÞ cer, Forces Command, Gumby: Q: You have been a big influence on so well. I guess it really comes down to that... the and I’ll be taking on some role or another with the San Starß eet in the past four years. What do you feel is fact that I was able to put together a great team your greatest contribution to the Fleet? of people. Continued on Page 26 USPS 017-671 2000 STARFLEET ELECTION RESULTS INSIDE! PLACE MAILING LABEL HERE See Page 7 THE STARFLEET COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUE 102 DEC/JAN 2001 PAGE 1 STARFLEET Communiqué Volume I, No. 102 Table of Contents..........................2 The Editor’s PADD.......................3 Publisher: New CQ Staff Info..................................3 STARFLEET, The International From the Top.................................4 Star Trek Fan Association, Inc. Second Thoughts..........................5 200 Hiawatha Blvd. STARFLEET Ops..........................6 Oakland, NJ 07436-3643 Hailing Frequencies.....................7 Executive Editor STARFLEET Election Results..............7 Allyson M. W. Dyar Momma Dennis Says...................8 Computer Operations................10 Editor Ex Astris Scientia........................11 Chris “Tigger” Wallace College of Federation Studies............11 Online Vouchers Q&A........................11 Layout Editor Graduate List...............................12 Kurt F. Roithinger B.U.R. P.S. comes to SFA.....................13 College of Trade and Commerce.......13 Graphic Artist / Consultant SFA Bits and Pieces.....................14 David Pipgras SFA Electronic Services Division......14 Copy Editor STARFLEET Promotions..........15 J.C. Cohen Vessel Readiness Cert. Program........15 We Remember Julien Fleming...........16 Dinky, beloved mascot of STARFLEET Region 4, recently invited STARFLEET Communiqué Transition 2001.....................................17 everyone for a little get together down Las Vegas way... 1209 SE 89th Ave. The STARFLEET Interview................18 Artwork by Mike Wilkerson Portland, OR 97216-1715 Western Conf. and WGW Pix............24 Read more about the Western Conference on pages 28-30. cq@sÞ .org A Look Back..........................................26 1st Annual Wilderness Challenge.....27 The STARFLEET Communiqué is a publication of the Communications Marines at the 2000 Western Conf....28 Department of STARFLEET: The Dinkycon and Beyond........................29 International Star Trek Fan Association. Dinkycon Memories............................30 It is intended for the use of our members. STARFLEET holds no claims to any Watkins Glen Weekend......................31 trademarks, copyrights, or properties A Day of New Beginnings..................32 held by Paramount, or their parent RMHC Report......................................33 company, Viacom. USS Thagard Aniversary Party.........33 The contents of this publication are USS Rubicon Aniversary Party..........34 Copyright © 2000 by STARFLEET: The A Member in Sickbay.........................34 International Fan Association and/or by the original authors. All Artwork unless USS Sovereign Aniversary Party.......35 otherwise noted © 2000 David Pipgras Operation Heavystun.........................35 and Team Nexus. All rights reserved. Gimmie a Gagh Burger in Paradise...36 No portion of this document may be copied or republished in any way or We Support Service Members...........37 form without the written consent of the A Worldcon for STARFLEET?..........38 Important STARFLEET Transition Information detailing the names OfÞ ce of the Chief of Communications, On the Humanoid Condition.............39 and addresses of the incoming STARFLEET Executive Committee and STARFLEET. Upcoming Events................................40 some of their key staff. Included is a series of Interviews with the (USPS 017-671) Entered as periodical STARFLEET Announcements...........41 members of the newly elected STARFLEET Executive Committee, as matter at the Post OfÞ ce of Tecumseh, RC Changes in Regions 5 and 15........42 conducted by Vice Admiral Johnathan “Gumby” Simmons. Oklahoma, under the act of March 8, Artwork by David Pipgras 1879. The Communiqué is published Upcoming Conventions .....................43 bi-monthly by STARFLEET: The Talaxian Trade Show..................45 The Transition section starts on page 17 International Star Trek Fan Association, Staff Directory..............................46 The Interviews start on page 18 101 North Broadway, Tecumseh, Oklahoma 74873. A Farewell.............................................48 POSTMASTER: Send address changes The deadline for the next issue of the Communiqué is the end of the last month of the cover date. to STARFLEET Membership Processing, Post Office Box 52663, Bellevue, WA Submission Deadline for Issue 103: January 25th, 2001. 98015-2663 PAGE 2 THE STARFLEET COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUE 102 DEC/JAN 2001 NEW COMMUNIQUÉ STAFF INFORMATION (As of 01 January 2001) Executive Editor Mike Malotte Chief of Communications Welcome to the “Transition Edition” Though this issue goes to press after Commander, STARFLEET General Comm@sÞ .org of the STARFLEET Communiqué. the STARFLEET 2000 Elections, we Les Rickard, and his administration. have decided to set the theme as a Les brings with him three senior Editor Twelve months and seven issues since tribute to Fleet Admiral Smith and members of the Smith-Goldberg Kurt Roithinger I assumed the role of Communiqué his Administration. He now joins Administration to continue the cq@sÞ .org Editor, the Smith-Goldberg Fleet Admiral Jeannette Maddox as momentum they have built. He also Administration is brings three new Assistant Editor in its waning faces to provide Dave Pipgras days and this is a balance, and cq@sÞ .org my last month all seven have a as Editor of the host of new and Copy Editor STARFLEET exciting ideas J.C. Cohen Communiqué. I that will think over the continue to Pre-Publication Editor past seven issues ensure that Allyson M. W. Dyar my team and I STARFLEET have produced remains the best Mailing Address: the best-looking Star Trek Fan STARFLEET Communiqué Communiqué Club around. 1209 SE 89th Avenue issues ever. Yeah, Portland OR 97216-1715 the paper sucks, Remember that cq@sÞ .org but the content, no matter who graphics, and is in the Editor’s All submissions are due the 25th day of the odd-numbered months. layout speak for Chair, the CQ #103, submissions are due to themselves.