Our Oct. 11 party went exceptionally well, and everyone I've spoke with both on the Challenger and our visiting guests from other Starfleet chapters, said they enjoyed the food, the conversations and looking over our old photo albums on our own memorabilia table. I want to once again thank everyone who turned out for that event, and also worked to make it happen.

I also enjoyed our more private luncheon gathering held on Oct. 26 in Eatontown. That too was highly enjoyable, included wonderful food and many of our favorite Challenger stories of the past. Funny stories, dramatic recollections and people and events that have stuck out in our mind for one reason or another. For me it has been a 20 year journey that has been nothing less then incredible and it is my pleasure to continue serving as the leader of our ragtag group as we head into our 21st year of fun, frolics and insanity.

Ironic that on the same day as our private anniversary party, we also said goodbye to the Rose family of Seaside Heights who are now off to Florida. You never know how long a time you'll have with your friends in this organization, many real life things pull us apart and many of us were sad to see the Rose family go. Victoria Rose, who turned 9 in September, has been our cadet for almost 10 years. We went and saw her in the hospital following during an Away Team event at the Lakewood Ren Faire and Toms River Greek Festival held on the same day. Where does the time go?

Well we've had a year of multiple celebrations and have faced new challenges which I think have made our little group stronger. In the new year however, our sights are going to be set on new adventures and ways to bring in new people to our club which like all organizations, must continue to grow in order to survive. We do have a good sized group but new blood will bring in new ideas and new ways of looking at things.

Many chapters in Starfleet are looking to do the same way, and with the excitement of a new Star Trek feature film coming out next spring, well, that should provide a great opportunity for us. Actually there may well be multiple opportunities on the forefront and Challenger will be looking to examine all of them. For now, though, I hope you will have a howling good Halloween and will enjoy a great Thanksgiving, which will be here before we know it.

We hope you all had a great time, and from all indication, I think everyone did. Twenty years as a goup and as a chapter of STARFLEET is a milestone event, and we were happy to observe it with so many of our friends. We know 2 years from now Avenger and Sovereign will be marking some special birthdays as well. Thanks again.

Please send any photos you took to Joe Dorfner and I for the R7 and Challenger websites and archives.

Adm. Bob Vosseller
CO USS Challenger
NCC 1676-D

Thanks go out to Matt Moyer for coming and providing your Computer Operations services to the SFI Recruitment table. I want to thank Maryland/Delaware Sector Recruiting Officer Mike Allen for coordinating all aspects of this year's SL recruitment table and the many volunteers we had staffing the table during the last two days of the con. Good job.

More than a dozen new/renewed members of SFI were logged in, which doesn't count others who decided to mail in their memberships. We're even looking at the potential of a Central PA chapter forming in an area where no chapter exists. We picked up two members from the Friday night recruiting panel, they both found homes on two R7 chapters one being the USS Inferno. Kind of funny that a resident of Pittsburgh came all the way to Maryland to hook up and meet members of a Pittsburgh chapter.

It was great seeing old friends in and out of SF and meeting some new friends this weekend. Regarding the election, I can only echo Wayne's sentiments that this was a clean, honest campaign by all involved that brought out many ideas which will be fleshed out within the region to make it a better, more enjoyable experience for all.

I could tell that many of us had a lot of fun this weekend. The Pride of Baltimore celebrated their training cruise launching and the USS DeBraak observed their 5th anniversary. I attended both groups' gatherings as did many other R7 members. it was also great seeing the members I saw from the Inferno, the Sovereign, the Avenger, the Blackheart, the Britannic, Richtofen, Dragonstar, Top Gun, Asimov, Accord, Justice, Flying Fox, Edinburgh, Odin, Matrix, Adamant, Ascension, Alpha Centauri and any other chapter I may have somehow forgotten to list.

Thanks again, Adm. Joe Hoolihan, for serving as RC for the last two years. It is a difficult job for anyone who takes it on and was stated during the standing ovation you got during Saturday's SFI meet, we wish you well in the future and a fantastic vacation this week. That along with a big thank you! That extends to Adm. Beryl Washington who served as VRC or in her own words…VCR.

It was a weekend of fantastic food, friendship, conversations, frosty beverages, many laughs and little sleep, but all the above is typical of Shore Leave which marked its own 30th anniversary. I've been going since SL 13 and as was seen on Friday, have the T-shirt to prove it. It has over the years, become a true reunion ground for fandom but most especially a large gathering place for STARFLEET & Region 7. May that never change.

Okay, I said this wasn't going to be my usual LONG review post so I'm cutting off here and plan to get to bed early to catch up on some lost (but well spent) hours of sleep.

Adm. Bob Vosseller
CO, USS Challenger
"Enjoying its 20th Year of Service In Starfleet"
VRC/TIVO Elect SFI Region 7