USS Challenger has made it into the Star-Ledger! Our Commanding Officer Bob Vossellor, Communications Chief Laura Victor, and other members of STARFLEET are featured in this article:

"What I love about 'Star Trek' is that it encourages you to explore new things," says Laura Victor, 33, a Middlesex graphic designer and the Challenger's chief communications officer. "It's about becoming something better."

http://www.nj.com/entertainment/tv/index.ssf/2009/05/trekkers_line_up_at_nj_theater.html

The excitment of the show of course building on the new movie's release. She wore one of my command gold classic uniforms which on her small frame was more of a dress. We introduced her and educated her on everything from tribbles, tricorders, the Vulcan salute and its origins, Klingon weapons, phasers old and new and our uniforms.

She and I spoke about the ramifications of certain elements of the new film and our views on JJ Abrams, the cast and a key plot point.

We were "beamed up" and down through the magic of the digital TV camera and the use of our own sound effects device. A funny moment came when she nearly sat on the ST light table (which we tried to explain was NOT a chair) and I grabbed her before she could fall although she's pretty light so for her it probably could have been a chair. She enjoyed sitting in the actual replica of the command chair and did much of the show from the chair.

It was fun and we appreciate the special effort of the Lincoln crew who came down to assist the effort which began at an ungodly hour. We tried to explain that most Trekkers (though she continued referring to us as Trekkies) don't do mornings, or at least, not well. But we were wide awake for this and I think we did well even if it did include our waving to the camera with Vulcan salutes saying "Live Long & Prosper'' and saying energize several times. I also held up a large photo of Emily and I in uniform and was asked how we met through Star Trek and Starfleet and had both a real wedding as well as a Star Trek wedding at Shore Leave back in 2000.

Not something we get to do every morning and one of my new recruits also showed up but was unable to stay as she had to go to work. Pics of the event will be forwarded onto the R7 web site, Lincoln web site and Challenger website.

The Justice and Challenger also got plenty of ink in the Star Ledger today with Justice members making front page and the jump page.

I hope you all have fun this weekend at your respective movie promotions and enjoy seeing the film itself. Reviews both professional and by fans and fellow Fleeters have given it a thumbs up!!!

Adm. Bob Vosseller

Cookies, cookies and more cookies! Some were shaped like classic Star Trek T-Shirts in red, blue and gold. Some had butterscotch icing, others resembled sushi. Some had nuts in them and then there were the soft scones. We also had our share of holiday themed cookies.

It was all part of the fun of the USS Challenger’s annual Cookie Swap/Holiday Party held on Dec. 7. The event drew 20 members of SFI Region 7. Along with members of the USS Challenger crew, we had guests from the USS Avenger, USS Odin chapter in training, USS Sovereign and the USS Top Gun.

Our headquarters of the Seaside Heights Community Hall in Seaside Heights N.J. was decorated with snowflakes hanging, a blinking Christmas tree and red table cloths for the occasion. Beside the tree was a green and red tote, filled with donations of toys for the Seaside Heights Police Department’s annual Toys 4 Tots drive.

It was bitter cold outside but there was plenty of warmth inside. We skipped the CD and tapes of holiday music this year, and focused on all the cookies that were being added to the tables as people arrived on an almost half-hourly basis.

The arrival of Top Gun member Joe Horton also brought a Star Trek flair to the event, with cookies sporting the arrow head emblem, the aforementioned classic T-Shirts and numerous other cookies. But it was the gingerbread Shuttlecraft Galileo that he and Janek made that was the most incredible of all.

Everyone brought something interesting and delicious. We didn’t really keep track of who brought as we too busy adding it our plate. The tables were arranged in a type of cube so we all had multiple conversations going ranging from the latest Starfleet news, to movies we just saw, to Sci-Fi Channel films were saw and regretted to Sci-Fi Channel films were to afraid to see. Not to mention the worst British accents ever attempted and Amanda Tapping now of Sanctuary fame was among the list.

Challenger’s own Communications Chief, Commodore Laura Victor, originated the cookie swap event several years ago. A traditional event, we took what we liked from it and adapted it to our own needs.

That meant adding a regular lunch element after the first year (when we all dipped into a sugar coma after the first hour). Pizza worked out fine for all of us, and while nine large pies seemed appropriate, we actually had some left over. Probably because we all ate way too many cookies.

After several hours, reluctantly we said our goodbyes after hours of fun and headed out into the dark cold world, commuting back to our respective homes. It was cold and blustery that Sunday afternoon. I know because for about 45 minutes I had to duck out from the party to cover a work assignment at a town Christmas parade. The cold air did take my breath away, and I was very happy to return to the party and that wonderful hot chocolate Laura made.

One of our last conversations concerned the upcoming Star Trek movie, and our still mixed feelings about just how good it will/won’t be. We concluded that 2008 will have its mark in history — both real and in STARFLEET — and that our hopes were high that 2009 will bring good times and more fun for us all!