Since I took over as "Commander" (CO) of our "ship" it's been busy!! I'm sure things will calm down a bit once I know wtf I'm doing!! Until then ... well, lots to do. Lots of questions, and thankfully lots of helpers to get me through it!
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My first week as Commander ...
My email inbox went from half a dozen emails a day to somewhere around 100 a day!!
To be the CO I had to be promoted to the rank of Captain. Don't worry, ya'll don't have to stand at attention and salute when you see me. I promise!!
Appointed my XO (Executive Officer ... think the Spock to my Kirk, LOL). I've just put through for a promotion for him to the rank of Commander.
I've already handed out another much needed promotion that our former CO ignored. More like on a power trip and withheld it from the member he didn't get along with.
Okayed the formation of TWO new departments; ROTC (for the kids in the group), and Ship's Counselor.
Revived plans for the newsletter that Gizmo used to print out a few years back. Gadget will take charge of that once she's officially a member of STARFLEET. Ha!! I love that she volunteered before her membership has even been processed!!
Gained two new members, and three who came back after the drama ended.
Filled all but one vacancy on our Senior Officer's List (last one filled after the member completes certain STARFLEET requirements). That's ten departments!! Twelve if you count the two new departments listed above. And I had more volunteers than I had positions to fill!
Determined that we need someone as "Ship Historian", a photographer who can be at all the functions and take pictures for us. May end up having a whole team of photogs, since not every member can make every function. Amy, too bad you're so far away ... I'd work on recruiting you and Bob. Your photog skills would definitely be a plus!! LOL! And of course, Bob's Trekkiness doesn't hurt either!!
Started looking for a new meeting place, and place to hold our annual Christmas Party. Thanks to my XO, I think we've found that place!!
Revived plans with my XO for a Poker fund-raiser event. Formed a committee of two to take charge of all details.
Requested and was approved for a demotion in rank for the former CO. I think I read somewhere that he's going to be leaving STARFLEET, so the demotion may be a moot point.
and more ... not gonna pull out my notebook to refresh my memory, just too lazy at the moment. But it's been a crazy week!! And it wouldn't have been so successful without all the help from a lot of people. Gawd, I love nerds!!
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I never knew that a fan based association could be so complicated!! Forms for "promotions", forms for demotions, forms to submit the chapter's monthly meeting minutes, forms! forms! forms!!
"STARFLEET Academy" (and a ton of emails every time a member completes an Academy course.
Forms for this ... forms for that... forms for every thing!!
STARFLEET Marine Corps has a totally different set of forms to get familiar with.
From what I've seen this week, this association could serve as an example for big business the world over - and probably government, too. From finances (non-profit status, every dollar spent is well thought out and well documented), to social programs (real life college tuition assistance, counseling for those in need, charity causes and more) and beyond. Not only does STARFLEET run smoothly, but the left hand seems to know what the right hand is doing! The more I get to know about STARFLEET, the prouder I am to be a member. And not just because we're a organization for SciFi nerds, but a group that really cares about the community.
And everyone, from the CS (Commander of STARFLEET) down to chapter COs all over the country have been so welcoming and helpful after all the drama of the last two weeks.
And of course, there's my awesome "crew". Stepping up to volunteer for positions the former CO couldn't twist their arms to do ... ideas and communications flowing freely. They really are awesome!
Just a bunch of helpful, caring, concerned nerds! I tell ya!!
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I deserve a day off. I'm even taking the day off from all things Star Trek.
Tonight, I'll chill while the kids are celebrating Father's Day at their dad's place by watching Star Wars!!
Uninterrupted.
(I really need to find some "spock hands" or other nerd icon ... this heart just ain't nerdy enough)
But, but ...I'm so good at the one finger salute! Sure you don't want saluted? ;)
ReplyDeleteCongrats...okay, this is getting ridiculous, "cong" was trying to suggest "comfy". My phone really has issues with giving people kudos!
I really had no clue Starfleet did that much; that's really awesome.
Speaking of nerds, I'm trying to organize game nights at my house. We are all nerds, and we all like games, so I have no clue why we haven't fine this earlier. Starting with "normal" games, like cards. Plan to move on to more involved ones, since I salivate when entering a game store and our cousin is a die hard gamer who goes to gencon every year....
LOL!!! No thanks ... save the one finger salute for those who really deserve it (like the next fool that cuts you off in traffic). But thanks for the thought. LOL
ReplyDeleteLOL ... gonna have to get creative with giving kudos, eh? This should be fun!
Yup, isn't it?? It's amazing what STARFLEET gets into. This year's International Convention is donating proceeds to St. Jude's Children's Hospital and the American Diabetes Association. Chapters who wish to do so may pick their favorite charities to donate finances and/or time to, but it's not mandatory that chapters do so. In the past our chapter has done clothing drives for a local organization, can and bottle drives, Disabled Vets, Habitat for Humanity, adopt-a-family for the Holidays, Toys for Tots ... and a few more. Sadly during the Former Co's very short term he had NO desire to get involved in any type of community work other than recruiting. The new Command Staff are now working overtime to organize a few more charity events (including the suicide prevention walk). Stay tuned!!
Game nights!! Fun!! Back a gazillion years ago I had found a book on parlor games at the local library ... some really cool stuff. Some off the wall. This was well before the popularity of home computers and scanners, but I did hand write down a few dozen sheets worth of games I liked. IF I can find that file (some things I just never throw out!!), I'll scan 'em and send 'em your way. Our game nights pretty much involve Apples to Apples, UNO or "pigmania" (a.k.a. pass the pigs) anymore.