Dear Comics Fans: The Jersey Shore’s Spring Fever Comics Event takes place this upcoming SATURDAY, 4/28/12, when Atomicon XXVI Comics Expo comes to the Holiday Inn in Manahawkin N.J. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (junction of Rt.72 and Rt. 9 in Stafford Township), Exit 63 off of the Garden State Parkway!

• Just SIX DAYS AWAY from THOUSANDS of Comics (Golden Age to Present), DVDs, Toys, Action Figures, and MORE exciting Comics Collectibles you CAN’T live without!
• LOW Admission Price of Just $2. for Teens and Adults means YOU have MORE to SPEND on all of your favorite Goodies in the Dealers Room!  KIDS 12-and-Under are ALWAYS admitted FREE!  Don’t forget: FREE Parking and FREE Comics for the First 100 patrons!
• Come and join our Creator GUESTS: Doug BARON (Sugar Ray Finhead), Bob PETRECCA (Green Lantern, Batman) and Chris NOTARILE (The Protector and Escape From New Jersey) as they meet and greet fans, sign autographs, and sell special items and limited-edition publications!
• SUPER Door Prizes to spice up your day: our infamous (!) Mystery Box ‘O’ Stuff (over $125 value inside!), Super-Hero Movie Tickets Give-Away (thrill to The Avengers on us!!), Bat-Bux $howca$h (Gotham City banknotes, used like REAL currency anywhere in the Dealers Room!) and the FREE GAS Card Give-Away (one LUCKY winner will get FREE GAS for the return trip home)!
• Easy ACCESS: from North-South, take Rt. 9 or the Garden State Parkway (Exit 63); from East-West, use Rt. 72. No car? No problem!  Use the Rt. 9 Bus (Lakewood/Atlantic City line). We’re 10 minutes from Long Beach Island and 30 minutes from Atlantic City..!
• Our host hotel, the Holiday Inn of Manahawkin offers FIRST-RATE accomodations: full-service restaurant, bar-and-lounge, indoor-pool and hot-tub all on the premises!
• For a Dozen Years and Over TWO Dozen Shows, Atomicon has ALWAYS stood for Always-Affordable Family Entertainment. It’s Sand, Sun….and a MegaTON of Comic FUN!  ROLL on down and see why the Jersey Shore ROCKS! It’s Fandom’s Favorite “Mom-and-Pop” Comic-Book Show: Atomicon! 
• And HEED yon words of the Mighty THOR: “Be Thou THERE…or Be Thou SQUARE!!” – S.P.P. Promotion Team

MSR REPORTING
We’re doing better with MSR reporting though a few chapters are under strength and the USS Thor is MIA. Should anyone spot a starship carrying a big hammer and a metal helmet, please direct them to Starbase 7 so that RC Wayne can talk to their new CO. Their heading toward Valhalla and we’d prefer they take a right turn to Starbase 7.

The USS Top Gun is addressing its lack of MSR reporting. I spoke to their chapter XO and was assured that he will step up to respond to meet the reporting requirements.

Likewise a NY chapter that is currently understrength is working to correct that problem.

GOOD START TO 2012
Activities for the new year have included post holiday gatherings as well as reorganization meetings of chapters that are setting goals, amending policies and making staff changes and promotions. The year is getting off to a good start.

Meanwhile R7 Command is looking at organizing this year’s R7 Conference which we are running and we’re looking forward to receiving some bids for the 2013 conference and we hear a few groups are considering or working on such bids. That is great news.

POLAR BEAR PLUNGE FEB 25 SEASIDE HEIGHTS NJ
As posted on the R7 list, the 10th and final Polar Bear Plunge involving R7 members will take place in Seaside Heights NJ on Feb. 25 during the NJ Polar Bear Plunge. The region supported the cause of the Special Olympics with the Maryland Plunge back in 2002 and it was supported for several years. Challenger and Avenger members took on the mantle in later years and Challenger has been plunging solo for two years now albeit with support from others who have come down to hold towels, donate money and support the effort.

I’ve posted the specifics of what we will be doing this year on the R7 list and feel free to check out the SF R7 FB page and the USS Challenger FB page for all current details. You can also e-mail me at co@usschallenger.org

I hope to speak to you during our R7 meeting at Farpoint in a few weeks so don’t be surprised if I don’t hit up those of you at the meeting for a few bucks to help me gather up my $100 minimum amount required to plunge. Pllleasssssseeee!

FARPOINT 2012 COMING SOON
Speaking of FARPOINT which is coming up next month. The good folks of Farpoint based in Maryland have once again agreed to allowing us a 9 am meeting and a recruiting table. Our meeting will follow our annual brunch at the hotel restaurant which our RC Wayne Augustson first organized about 4 years ago.

We look forward to breaking bread, spilling coffee and having a great breakfast before our R7 meeting that Saturday morning. At this point, I am planning on attending and seeing those in attendance there, pending weather conditions or if I catch a bad case of space flu as was the case last year (though Emily and I did drag ourselves there missing the meeting but having a great time with our fellow 7th Fleeters).

As always feel free to contact R7 Command via an e-mail or phone call should you have a project idea, complaint, compliment, question or suggestion. We always look forward to hearing from you!

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Thanks go out to all those who attended the USS Challenger’s 9th annual Cookie Swap/Holiday Party last Sunday at our club headquarters of the Seaside Heights Community Center. We had a nice turnout, a wonderful variety of delicious cookies, some great hot beverages and plenty of laughs.

A dollar store holiday gift exchanged in particular provided some holiday cheer and some snickers when the presents were opened.

Thanks also goes out to USS Avenger Chief Engineer Matt Reilly who surprised the USS Challenger with a gift of a Galaxy Class model detailed to a great degree with our name and hull number. Thanks again Matt. Great job and very generous of you.

Donations of toys and food will also help those in need and we appreciate those who provided them for our collection during the party.

I hope everyone out there is enjoying the holiday season. Whatever you are celebrating, enjoy this special time of the year to the fullest.