UPDATE: October Meeting Cancelled & Bob’s OK!

Written by Laura Victor on October 3, 2010. Posted in Challenger News

Hi folks, sorry for the abrupt change of plan for our meeting today. Emily and I went to meet up with the members of the USS Avenger for the JDRF Walk this morning and while there, I had experienced a an unusual incident. I had a pain in the right side of my chest and then felt the need to sit down. As we attempted to do so (we were surrounded by the large turnout preparing for the 10 am stepoff of the walk) This was around 9:30, and I felt a bit light headed.

I got to one of the tables and put my head down on the table. A paramedic looked me over and took my BP which turned out to be okay. It did not appear to be heart related and it went away, that is until my BP was checked again and I felt light headed.

Emily and I went back to the bungalow with some good well wishes from the Avenger crew which was most appreciated.

Emily and Jeff felt that since the meeting was scheduled for the bungalow that the meeting should not be held today and I went off to my bedroom to Z out for most of the day.

I’m doing better now. Some have said i should have gone to the emergency room but I figured I would end up in a bed somewhere and I wanted the warmth of familiar surroundings.

I am sorry that the incident led to the cancellation of the meeting, that Emily and I could not take part in the walk and that the after meeting get together with Avenger for lunch therefore did not occur.

In the days to come we can discuss rescheduling the meeting. We had some  things to discuss and we would have had a good day even with some pretty lousy weather. All day its been windy, rainy, cold and raw out. The only solace I had was seeing the Morris the cat like feline and the blue mask Siamese cat outside on our cushions looking up at us. I wish we could find them a real home, it is getting cold out and Emily and I hate the idea of them living outside.

I want to thank everyone who expressed their concerns and helped out. I hope it was just an odd occurrence and certainly not the way I wanted today to go but as was pointed out to me by a few of you today, somethings are just wayyyyy out of your control.

Adm. Bob Vosseller
CO USS Challenger

Captain’s Blog Goodbye Summer 2010, hello Autumn!

Written by Laura Victor on September 3, 2010. Posted in Challenger News

We are finishing up the summer season with Atomicon XXI on Aug. 29 and holding our end of summer picnic on our patch of sand dunes next to our adopted dune on 8th Avenue Ortley Beach following our September meeting on Labor Day weekend.
Where did the summer go? No big mystery there, it was busy.
We we were honored to learn “officially” during Shore Leave in July, that the USS Challenger was named Starfleet-Region 7 Chapter of the Year” which was a great honor for us. An honor we greatly appreciate.
This fall will hold many of the usual autumn festivals we frequent such as the Greek Festival in Toms River, the Lakewood Ren Faire and some of us will be walking for a good cause Juvenile Diabetes, along with our friends from the USS Avenger during the first weekend of October on the boardwalk of Seaside Heights.
Our annual Halloween party will return to the Seaside Heights Community Center, our home base on Saturday Oct. 30 which will allow us to branch out a bit from the confines of the bungalow. We will hold some contests and award some prizes this year bringing back those times of years gone by when the Challenger hosted the Region 7 Halloween party.  The event will be open to chapters of the 7th Fleet.
Other plans include a possibly trip to Wild West City in North Jersey and that postponed trip to the Willingboro Flea Market. I know Zoolo World will bring back its big Toy and Collectible Show to Willingboro on Sat. Oct. 2 and I hope to make that.
Yes, the USS Challenger has been busy this year and part of that also includes the updating of our ship manual which is available to members through our website. Our Communications Chief Laura Victor has also updated the entire website and we are sporting a nifty new logo which reflects our spirit of fun and the Jersey Shore. Great work.
We love hearing from those checking out website and fans of ST and Sci Fi. Please let us know what you think of our site and your thoughts about our club.
Meanwhile, work continues on the Challenger’s biggest project ever, the Starfleet International Conference of 2011 which now has 70 people registered but we certainly want more. Check out  http://www.ic2011.com and see what we have planned and other details.
First Officer Jeff Victor and I will be among those attending and coordinating the first ever Starfleet-Region 7 Command Summit. This special program which will be held on Sept. 25 at the Double Tree Hotel in Mt. Laurel, is designed to bring together those leaders of chapters around the region. We will be brain storming, learning from each other and making plans for future multi-chapter events. You don’t have to be a chapter chairman or vice chapter chairman to attend. The event is free and everyone is welcome.
That event will also have special significance for the USS Challenger as it will also be the occasion to note the commissioning of the USS Storm, the region’s newest chapter. The Challenger served as its support chapter and it is based nearby in Atlantic County.
That’s all for now. I hope you had a fantastic summer and will have a great autumn as well.
Admiral Bob Vosseller
CO USS Challenger
Vice Region Coordinator Region 7

ATOMICON XXI Adventures!

Written by Laura Victor on September 3, 2010. Posted in Challenger News

Another dollar got me the pilot of the original Bionic Woman that I started to watch last night and brought back fond memories, except for Lee Majors singing the love song from that first episode. I also bought more She Hulk comics. Yeah both Savage and Sensational and just plain She Hulk) along with …Kazar, Capt. Atom, Dr. Doom, Bat Man, Dracula. We also visited Ken Dohn, Challenger’s security chief who sadly, is back in the hospital at CMC.

Where did the summer go? Well it was a busy one but now my thoughts are moving ahead to a lot of fall events some of which I’ll be covering for work others I’ll be attending as a Challenger trip and some in both roles.

Hope you all had a great summer. Jen is suggesting a trip to visit the Three Stooges Museum.

Adm. Bob Vosseller
CO USS Challenger