Only one person may be awarded this honor per year and, according to STARFLEET, will have shown achievement well beyond their last promotion and in their work have made a lasting contribution to all of STARFLEET. Bob certainly fit this criteria, and Fleet Admiral Sal Lizard presented Bob this great honor during this evening’s IC Banquet.

As Bob was “exiled” from the room so we could talk about him behind his back, er, I mean discuss and vote on this issue, I had the unique honor of being able to motion for and vote for my friend of almost 20 years being given this great award. Having unanimously passed the AB, Bob joins many of STARFLEET’s most valuable officers in this auspicious group. Many congrats to him.

Congrats also go to Admiral Beryl Washington of the USS Sovereign for winning the Starfleet Flag Officer of the Year award for 2009. This award also was presented at the 2010 IC in Oklahoma. Congrats to her as well.

USS Challenger is sending out an away team to the International Conference on July 31-August 1 in Wagoner, OK. Our CO Bob Voseller, XO Jeff Victor, Comm Chief Laura Victor and Security Chief Kenny Dohn will be attending the conference and manning the Hospitality Suite at the Western Hills Guest Ranch.

Are you gonna be at IC too? Swing on by the Hospitality Suite and say howdy!

The USS Challenger sent an away team to not only support and enjoy the show but to man a recruiting table. The team included ship CO Adm. Bob Vosseller, XO Commodore Jeff Victor, Comm Chief/Webmaster R. Admiral Laura Victor, Science Chief Lt. Jennifer Thompson and Security Chief Ken Dohn . Chief Medical Officer Flt. Capt. David Singleton made a special cameo appearance during the day.

The show included thousands of comics from the Golden Age to current comics that were on sale along with DVDs. Jennifer picked up some rare Betty Boop DVDs and a copy of the old Pac Man cartoon show. She also got a vintage copy of Marvel Comics Two-Gun Kid from the 1960s.

As for me, well a few more copies of books ranging from RoboCop, The Shadow, Aliens, Iron Man and Namor: The Sub Mariner found their way to my purchase bag.

Sitting next to us was Chris Campanozzi of Bayville who manned a table during the day to sell copies of his recently released graphic novel, “Serpent Wars.’’

“It was published last fall by AAM Markossa a British Company. “So far we’ve sold 700 copies,’’ Campanozzi said. The book was was drawn by Mexican artist Antonio Rojo and has an introduction by well known comic book artist and writer Howard Chaykin.

Campanozzi said he was contacted by writer Christian Rodriguez two years ago to “flesh out the story and to write dialogue. I had done some theater writing work in the past.’’

The writer said he was proud of the final result of the project that involves a young scientist from the 1800s who explores the mysteries of mythology pertaining to sea serpents. Campanozzi said that another graphic novel called “Switched’’ is scheduled to come out by the same publishers in December.

Feduneweicz, who does coloring work for Archie Comics, said he remains mindful of the current economy and that he has tried to make his shows affordable and caters to a family audience.

During the day free raffles of prizes were drawn. Prizes included movie tickets and “Bat Bux’’ coupons that could be used to buy comic books from the vendors at the show.

 Feduneweicz will bring Atomic Con XXI back to the same location on Aug. 29and we plan to be there as well..

The day’s fun didn’t end there. Following the comic book show we joined more Challengers including Communications Officer Ann Marie McGinley and her mother and Ship’s Counselor Emily Vosseller, Finance Officer Julie Victor and her husband and fellow club member Kevin Victor and Asst. Security Chief Patrick Comune and his wife Kathleen for a kick off summer picnic on the 8^th Avenue Beach of Ortley Beach where our adopted dune is.

We all enjoyed a great picnic, and a few splashes of the Atlantic Ocean. Yup, summer is officially here and this was the first of many fun adventures for the next several months.