It was a sea of green today during the 28th Annual Ocean County St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Seaside Heights.
Chief Engineer Ken Diehl, Medical Officer David Singleton and I did enjoy the sights and sounds and the many shades of emerald we observed during the event.

The two hour parade kicked off at noon and ended a little after 2 pm. Great weather, if a bit brisk at times and I personally enjoyed one of the best corned beef sandwiches I ever had and it was not from one of themany delis in the borough that was selling them but a local Cub Scouts group.

It helped make the day more enjoyable and that green iced brownie that I should have avoided was just too tempting. I found solace in the fact that while the ship was not in the parade this year, I still managed to walk the parade route and also enjoyed spending some time with fellow Challengers in watching most of the parade.

Ken wore some green beads and I had a green shamrock cap and the chill in the air led me to purchase a pair of “I’m Irish” green gloves that came in handy as I started the day off in Seaside Heights at 9:30 a.m. and spent most of that time outside.

It was great seeing Dave, Ken and their family members present at the event which has some real history with many of us on Challenger.

Adm. Bob O’ Vosseller
CO USS Challenger

I* Con is this weekend and the members of the USS Britannic, USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Challenger will be there among others within the region. The Long Island based convention is a multi media con and quite an event especially for costumers, gamers, anime lovers and those who just love to have a good time at an event with a big draw.
 
IT’S AWARDS TIME AGAIN
 
A reminder from R7 Awards Coordinator Adm. Beryl Washington all submissions for this year’s award program can be submitted by going to www.Region7.com (http://www.region7.com/) on the right side of the home page you will find the awards section. Click on it and the award page will come up.
Please click on the award you wish to nominate someone in and the page will come up. Fill in the blanks and then write an informative essay on your nominee. While the box looks small it will hold all you write. “I’m urging you to use the award page. I will no longer cut and paste your information as it stills leave to many blanks,’’ Beryl said last month.
”Please nominate and honor those on your crew who have taken their dedication to another level. There are also Regional commendations, use them and nominate those who have gone the distance,’’ she added.
All awards must be filed by midnight on  April 1.
 
 
REGION 7 CONFERENCE 2012
 
Another reminder that R7 Command will host this year’s R7 conference in the fall  at the Cherry Hill NJ Crowne Plaza hotel. Our R7 Chief of Staff made the announcement a few months back and we are still looking for programming ideas. Please contact me at co@usschallenger.org if you have any ideas. Given that the event is taking place in the fall perhaps a “Zombie” or Costume event might be appropriate. Thoughts?
 
 
KEEPING UP ON STARFLEET MEMBERSHIP STRENGTH
 
The Region is in good shape with around 580 members. MSR reporting has been steady and sucessful and we appreciate that. Lets keep this trend up!
 
RECENT EVENTS IN THE REGION
 
The USS Challenger’s annual Intergalactic Food Festival took place earlier this month and drew members of the USS Avenger, USS Adamant and USS Sovereign. The USS Britannic celebrated its 5th anniversary with a dinner that drew members of the USS Avenger,. USS Challenger, USS Abraham Lincoln and some members from beyond R7. The USS Storm enjoyed a celebration of the first year’s commissioning with events in Vineland during the weekend.
 
 The USS Storm is also coordinating  walk team for an AIDS walk benefit in Atlantic City in May. See their website and Facebook page for further details.
 
 Also coming up is the USS Richtofen CO and SF Communications staffer Karen Carothers recently announced that their  fourth annual Trek Olympics will be held on Saturday, May 19, at the Hollofield area of Patapsco Valley State Park in Catonsville, MD. Last year, the event had representatives from the Richthofen, Pride of Baltimore, and Matrix.
” I’m hoping we can maybe double the number of ships represented this year. Don’t worry if you don’t have enough available crew to field a team, we can mix and match,’’ Karen said recently.

Karen stressed that “I really need folks to RSVP to me if they plan to attend. The shelter I have is for 20 people. I will happily reserve another nearby if we need it, and there are also a few free picnic tables in the area of our shelter that are first-come, first-serve.’’ For more information contact Karen.

THAT’S ALL FOLKS
 
Well that concludes this bulletin. I look forward to seeing many of you at some of the upcoming events. As always should you have any ideas, compliments, complaints, project proposals or questions for the staff of SF Region 7, reach out to us. Our contact information can be found on the R7 website or simply post us an e-mail to this list.
 
If  you observe Easter or Passover have a wonderful holiday!

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