USS Kelly

All posts tagged USS Kelly

As a reminder, we are MUCH more active on our Facebook page than on this website. So why not visit us there?

That said, I felt it was about time to report on what’s been happening with the ship since our last post. We needed to change the date of our April activity (Cooking with the Kelly), so that’s now going to be on April 22nd. So far, the rest of the activity dates haven’t changed.

Speaking of activities, be sure to join us this coming Saturday for our First Aid Kit/CPR training night. (Details on our Facebook “Logistics Chat”.)

The other big thing this year has been our participation in the Seventh Fleet 25th Anniversary BINGO challenges. Before I get into those details, think about that a minute. It’s rare for a club to last two years, and yet the Seventh Fleet (and the Kelly) have both lasted over a quarter of a century. That must mean we’re doing something right. In fact, friend of the Fleet, Larry “Dr. Trek” Nemecek sent in a special video to the members of the Seventh Fleet. You can view it here. In the video he mentions how we get along. Well we as a club and as a Fleet truly believe in the Seventh Fleet motto: We Do Not Stand Alone. The other thing to remember is that the only real “ships” in this club (and the Fleet) are the friendships we make along the way. That said, let’s get back to the Seventh Fleet 25th Anniversary BINGO.

Many of these BINGO challenges can be done on your own, but we are also creating opportunities to complete them at our activities. There are twelve of them which can be done throughout the year. When you do them, take a photo and show it to your Senior Officer or a member of the Command Staff. You can also email the photo to: bingo@seventhfleet.org or post it on your social media with the hashtags: #7thFleet25 and #WeDoNotStandAlone. There are two levels – regular BINGO (five activities) and Blackout (all twelve activities).

I’ve detailed the activities below. (You can also see this list in our most recent issue of the Communique.) I’m also including photos where I can of those who have completed some of these challenges:

Seventh Fleet 25th anniversary BINGO challenges:

  • 45th Rule of Acquisition

The 45th Ferengi Rule of Acquisition is “Expand or Die”. This challenge is to recruit a new member into the Seventh Fleet (any chapter, not just the Kelly – though we’d LOVE it if you recruit for the Kelly). Get a photo with the recruit receiving their orders, meeting the officers, etc.

  • Allamaraine

Play any officially licensed Star Trek game. This can be a tabletop game, card game, even an electronic or online game such as Star Trek Online or Timelines. Admiral Stark has also said that Artemis will count IF it is done at an event such as SaltCon or FanX. Take a photo of you playing the game. Here are some photos of Kelly members completing this challenge.

  • Best Served Cold

Participate in a “Haagen-Dazs Challenge”. This is a long-standing tradition in the Fleet, and while traditionally it’s built around a trivia challenge, it can be anything. Take a photo of the ice cream being passed from one person to another. (Also, it’s “participate in”, not “win” the challenge, so the same photo can be used for both people!)

  • Directive 927

“Always help those in need”. This challenge is to participate in a Fleet- or Chapter-sanctioned charity event. Take a photo at the charity event.

  • Do You Trust Me?

In Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, Gillian Taylor asked Captain Kirk this question just before she ordered her pizza. This challenge is to eat a slice of Gillian’s favorite pizza: mushroom and pepperoni with extra onions. Take a photo of you eating the pizza.

This is one we did during our February “Game Night” activity. Others have completed this challenge separately. Check out the photo below of four Fleet members doing this challenge at our Kelly RPG last night (for some of us, this is our second time)…

  • Ex Astris Scientia

“Ex Astris Scientia” is the motto of Starfleet Academy. This challenge is to either take or teach a Seventh Fleet Academy course.You can come up with one of your own or choose one that’s already been made. Either way, you’ll need to contact Commodore Marla Trowbridge since she’ll either give you the materials or approve it. Take a photo giving or taking the course.

  • GCEP

GCEP stands for the Galactic Cultural Exchange Project. For this challenge, attend the activity of another club. That club can be a different Seventh Fleet ship or something else entirely. Joint ship activities with another ship count. Fleet activities such as Fleet Day and conventions do not count. Take a photo at that activity.

We have invited other Fleet members to join us at the 2023 Las Vegas Star Trek convention so they can complete this challenge.

  • Quark 2000

“Hear all, trust nothing”. The Quark 2000 is supposed to be the best replicator ever. For this challenge make a dish from the Kelly Kookbook or any Star Trek recipe book. Take a photo. Since our April activity is all about doing a recipe from the Kelly Kookbook, you can complete this challenge with us then.

  • The Scorch

In Strange New Worlds, the lower decks personnel participated in Enterprise Bingo (on which these challenges are based). One of those was to sign the oldest piece of non-replicated hull on the Enterprise. The Seventh Fleet version of that is to sign a special banner. Get a photo of you signing the banner. The banner will be at Fleet events like Fleet Day as well as public events, such as FanX.

Check out photos below of those who have completed THE SCORCH at the 2023 Admiral’s Banquet…

  • The Sky’s the Limit

The very last line in Star Trek: The Next Generation was when Picard joined the Senior Officers’ poker game. This challenge is to play a poker game with members of your Star Trek family. Take a photo of the poker game.

This is another one we completed at our Game Night activity. Check out some more photos!

  • Universal Translator

For this challenge, watch a Star Trek episode or movie in a foreign language (i.e. not English). Take a photo.

  • You Never Brought Me Tea

In the episode where Janeway visited Tuvok’s memories of him bringing Captain Sulu tea, she said this line. For this challenge, create a new Merit Sheet and turn it in. It does NOT have to be a knowledge-based or trivia-based merit sheet (heck, we have several service and leadership merit sheets you can repeat!), but if you do make a knowledge-based one, there will need to be a minimum of 10 questions. Include an answer sheet. Take a photo of you holding your submission.

What’s Next?

One last thing that Admiral Stark said as he was introducing these challenges is to always remember rule #1 – Have Fun! I mean, isn’t that what we’ve all joined a Star Trek club for… to meet people with similar interests and have fun with each other. That’s what I hope the Kelly does for you.

I look forward to seeing you at our next activity.

Fun will now commence

Seven of Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, “Ashes to Ashes”

I realize that we haven’t updated this Website very often. The truth is, we are much more active on Facebook. So, before I get into what the USS Kelly has in store for 2023, you might want to check us out over there. (Link to Facebook)

Upcoming Events

This year, we’ve been able to plan out our activities a little better than we have in the past. To that end, let’s list them…

  • January 18 – Admiral’s Banquet (Seventh Fleet annual winter event)… more on this later
  • February 18 – Game Night at Fiiz
  • March 18 – First Aid Kits
  • April 15 – Kelly Kookbook night
  • May 20 – Share your Favorite Trek Scene
  • June 24 – Fleet Day (Seventh Fleet annual summer event)
  • July 14-16 – Kelly Kampout
  • August 3-6 – Star Trek Las Vegas convention
  • September 16 – Star Party at U of U
  • October 21 – Mad Hatter (hats only costume contest)
  • November 18 – Clarke Planetarium

It’s been a long time since the Kelly has gone to a convention in force, and we’ve made it our goal this year to do so. The plan is to go to the STLV:57 convention this August. Since that is a large expense, we plan to do things that are much cheaper for our monthly activities. More details on the individual events will follow, and of course will also be on our Facebook page.

So, whatever money you would have spent on a larger event, set it aside for the convention.

Report on the Admiral’s Banquet 2023

As you may have noticed, we’ve already had our first event of the year. Per tradition, we joined with other ships of the fleet for some food, fun, and a report on what each ship has done last year (or is planning this year). See the photos below.

Additionally, this year marks the 25th anniversary of Starfleet Command’s Seventh Fleet. Think about that a moment. 25 years of this larger organization of clubs. Some of those clubs are newer, and some (like the Kelly) were there when the Fleet was formed.

How many clubs do you know that last even 5 years?

There is a reason we have stayed together so long, and it is simply this: Star Trek is a common interest, one that we use as an excuse to get together. If you look at the members of the Fleet, you will find other people who share interests of yours that aren’t Star Trek (for example, Admiral Stark and I actually met in a Doctor Who fanclub… that no longer exists). We all know that the Galaxy-class Enterprise is made up – but we love it nonetheless. The only true “ships” in these clubs is our friendships. That is the reason the Seventh Fleet’s motto is “We Do Not Stand Alone”… because we don’t. We stand together, with our friends.

As part of the Fleet’s 25th anniversary celebration, the Admiralty board have created a 25th Anniversary Bingo – a list of 12 items we can do. Those events, and how to mark that you’ve done them, will be posted on our Facebook page. One of those things, titled THE SCORCH, is to sign a special banner the Admiralty created for the event with your name, ship, and rank. Here’s mine:

Of course the other point of this is to simply have fun. Below are some photos of us at the Banquet, and I don’t know about the rest of my crew but I, for one, definitely had fun.

It amazes me how fast time flies. Fleet Day 2021 was held Aug 7, 2021, and here it is the 28th. All I can say is I’m sorry for posting so late. BUT… we definitely had a great time.

The annual Seventh Fleet Day is one of those events that everyone should try to attend. It is an opportunity to see those members of other clubs that may be too far away for us to visit normally. Social media is fine and all, but there is nothing like meeting in person!
As you can see, the USS Kelly was well represented at the event. And we look awesome in our new Kelly t-shirts! (Thanks to everyone who ordered one. If you still need to pick yours up, please contact Captain Bogler a.s.a.p.)

This year, the annual Seventh Fleet Day was held by the USS Ticonderoga at Barlow Park in Clearfield, UT. They had all sorts of games available to play, but the highlighted event was a kickball tournament. Kickball teams were not designated by ship, but were random teams… sort of. You could sign up for one of four teams: Borg, Vulcan, Andorian, or Klingon. The Ticonderoga even made hats for each of the kickball teams! I was on the Andorian team (we lost… bad). We had crewmembers on every team, so congratulations to those of you who were on the Klingon kickball team.

Klingon Kickball team kicks butt

The Ticonderoga provided an awesome hot dog bar for lunch along with all the trimmings, and we were able to relax and have fun. It was great seeing all of your faces at the event, new friends and old friends alike.

Of course we had Fleet Day staples such as the “Saucer Separation”, “Design a Starship”, “Liar’s Dice” and “Shields”. I’m proud to say the Kelly swept the Shields and Liar’s Dice events. Liar’s Dice winners were Admiral Dennis Hollinger (1st place), Crewman Eric Moorer (2nd place) and Captain Jill Bogler-Patterson (3rd place). Shields winners were Crewman Bob Patterson (1st place – technically USS Ticonderoga, but he’s honorary USS Kelly), Captain Jill Bogler-Patterson (2nd place) and Lt. Commander Dawn Woods (3rd place).

As I mentioned at the beginning, time seems to just fly by lately. Case in point – next week we celebrate the USS Kelly’s 35th birthday. Can you believe it? 35 years!
That event will be held in Murray Park Pavillion 3 in Murray, UT. Check out our Facebook event for more details.

Today we held our monthly Senior Officer’s Meeting, or SOM. Because of our current small crew roster, we’re including all members in the planning stages for our upcoming activities. Those attending today’s Kelly Planning Meeting were:

Captain Jill Bogler
Lt. Cmdr. Dawn Woods (XO)
Lt. Scott Hollinger (Chief Tactical Officer)
Lt. Melissa Andrew (First Contact officer)
Crewman John Saffell
Adm. Dennis Hollinger
Lt. Cmdr. Kacie Stevens (USS White Buffalo)

For now, our Tactical department is the only functioning department we have. If you are in Tactical or Security, you will report to Lt. Hollinger and work on your rank advancements with him. If you are in another department, you will generally work with Lt. Cmdr. Woods. Eventually we will build back up to having fully functional departments with their own departmental meetings. Until then, we have a lot of work ahead of us. So… how do we do this?

Step One: Build Excitement
How do we build excitement? By making sure we have fun activities and keeping people informed. If we are having fun and show it, then excitement will build naturally. As part of this effort, I have made it my goal to keep the USS Kelly Website current and actively post on it.
We talked about our Facebook page, and the possibility of using other social media as well. I am going to postpone using other social media until we are in the habit of keeping our Facebook page and Website updated.
Additionally, please check out the Activities Calendar of this Website. It is a Google Calendar, which is easily able to transfer activities to your personal Google Calendar.

We planned our upcoming activities for the next few months. We are excited to be able to meet in person again now that a lot of the restrictions have been lifted…

  • Game Night, May 15, 2021, 4-7 pm – Bring a board and/or card game to play, a snack to share, and your own dinner to eat (a grill will be available). This will be held at Commander Wood’s home (see calendar and/or Facebook event for details). Note: There will be a Zoom Meeting in tandem with this event for those who are not comfortable meeting in person yet.
  • Simulator Mission, June 2021 – the Alpine School District in Utah County has opened up their space simulator again. These events are useful for those going for Command ranks and are a ton of fun. This will be in June – details TBD.
  • Kelly Kampout, July 9-10, 2021 – We are reviving the famous Kelly Kampout! Details TBD, but will most likely be held in the Ogden area. We are inviting other ships to join us.
  • Fleet Day, Aug 7, 2021 – Hosted by the USS Ticonderoga, this will be the annual Fleet Games in a park. Details TBD. Watch for updates on the Fleet Facebook page or the Ticonderoga’s Website.
  • USS Kelly 35th Anniversary, Sept 25, 2021 – Details TBA. Be on the lookout for updates.

Other dates of note:

  • June 3, Woman in Motion – this Nichelle Nichols documentary will stream on Paramount Plus June 3, 2021.
  • June 4-7, KAG Virtual Convention – the Klingon Assault Group virtual convention.
  • Aug 12, Lower Decks – Lower Decks season two will stream on Paramount Plus starting Aug 12, 2021.
  • Sept 16-19, FanX Convention – the annual FanX convention in Salt Lake City. No Star Trek people have been announced… yet.

We are also introducing something new to the Kelly: Show and Tell. This is pretty much what it sounds like.
Do you remember being in elementary school and showing something off to your classmates that you were really excited about? Well, we’re doing the same thing for the first few minutes of every activity. This could be something as simple as the new toy you found at the thrift store, proof of winning a game at a convention that you were excited about, or even your new camera drone. It doesn’t matter if it is Star Trek or even sci-fi at all, just as long as you are excited to share it with your fellow crewmembers. Just remember to keep it family friendly.

Step Two: Promotion/Advertisement
The Seventh Fleet wants all of the ships in the Fleet to have a promotional banner. Unlike the flag of the past, this is going to be printed. Some of the design elements are static – so as to be uniform with the other ships – but the rest is completely up to us.
Admiral Hollinger has been working with former Captain Nada and the senior officers to come up with a design. This is still in the works. We already have the base for the banner – we just need to finish the design so we can get it printed out.

Other things that were discussed for promotion is getting new club t-shirts, and uniforms. I, like a lot of us, have outgrown the uniforms I currently have. Getting a new one will take money and, honestly, that’s one thing I’ve placed on the back burner for me now. (This pesky thing called “real life” keeps wanting to interfere.)

Well, that’s about it for now.

Live Long and Prosper,
Captain Jill Bogler-Patterson

We are continuing the story LATINUM TOE, or The Spy Who Stunned Me, written by former USS Kelly member George Bogler. Our hero, James T Bondkirk, has checked in with his boss W, and is on his way to pick up the gadgets needed for his new mission from Q…

==^==

Bondkirk was not surprised to find Q still in his lab. The little scientist was impossible to dislodge when he was involved with a project. Q was an Expy, native to Expyselon VI. He stood about four feet high and wore no clothes. His species had a natural leathery skin that served as adequate protection. Natural pouches in the skin provided storage space. With their six long arms, Expys made excellent builders, mechanics, and so forth. Q was especially talented, allowing him to be transferred out of vehicle maintenance section into the support technologies section, and to quickly rise to the position of section Chief.

“Good morning, Kazitzilpic,” Bondkirk greeted the alien. Q’s real name, Qztxlbrxlyc as he claimed it was spelled in Federation Standard, was unpronounceable to humans – hence the nickname ‘Q’. James was one of the few who made an effort to pronounce the full version.

“Ah, nice try my friend James! Better than last time. Worse than three times ago.”Expys had eidetic memory. Q, for instance, could remember every tracing of every circuit board he had ever worked on. “Cricket match today?”

“No,” replied Bondkirk. “I need some of your inventions for a new mission.”

“Yes, yes. Just start gathering what you need. It’s all labeled. Be right with you.”

James knew that last statement had as much chance of coming true as a Vulcan doing stand up comedy.The Expy was wrapped up in his own little world, and there would be no disturbing him. In a couple of hours or a couple of days, Q would remember James had been there and he would go looking for the human. Then he would notice how much time had passed, shrug, and start another project. On the rare occasions when neither was working, they liked to get together for drinks or to see a cricket match. Q loved cricket. James selected several items from the shelves and left without bothering to say goodbye.

==^==

Bondkirk walked onto the casino floor. It was huge, the largest he had ever seen. There were tables and machines for every type of gambling game he could think of. There was even one corner of the room set aside for the Gamma Quadrant game known among humans as “Move Along Home”. There was a crowd gathered around this novelty as the required Wadi operator re-materialized three breathless, but healthy, live “game pieces” from the microdimension contained within the machine.

Despite his genteel upbringing, James preferred poker over any of the traditional “upper crust” games of chance such as Chermin d’ Fer or even alien diversions like Dabo or Tongo. Therefore he got a drink, found the poker tables, and picked one with several observers. His plan was to watch until he spotted someone cheating. It was bound to happen sooner or later. When it did, he would get into a game with that individual, expose the cheater, and make loud demands to see the manager. He could then drop some hints that assuming the manager were sufficiently bright, would filter their way up to Latinum Toe himself. the crime boss would have Bondkirk checked out, find the data on the persona created by the Agency, and that would be his foot in the door. Easy as glop on a stick.

It didn’t take him long to find his cheat. A human woman was dealing from the bottom of the deck. However, she she won and the game broke up before James could join it. He discretely followed the woman to the bar. “May I buy you a drink, Miss…”

“Why, certainly,” she replied without looking at him. Her accent was that of the southern United States region of Earth. James noticed that it was faked, but very well faked. “Champagne, and the name’s Delta. Delta Belle.” As she turned to face him, a hint of an expression crossed her face. “And your name, sir?”

“Bondkirk. James T Bondkirk”. The woman wooked somewhat familiar, but then he met so many women. “That was excellent poker playing. Woulod you care for another game?”

“Ah really don’t think so, Mr. Bondkirk. Ahm tired of this place and am plannin to leave tomorrah. I’d better pack mah things.”

“Then perhaps you would agree to have just one dance with me? Please?”

==^==

“Oh, very well. Perhaps just one.” She was getting nervous. Had he recognized her? She needed to know so she consented to go dancing. One dance led to several more. She was just being paranoid. Her disguise was good, and her accent nearly perfect. How could he have recognized her? She relaxed and let the conversation flow, waiting for a graceful chance to leave.

==^==

Bondkirk convinced the lady to keep dancing and managed to draw out the conversation. It was pure chance to find a card cheat so quickly. His plan would go so much smoother if he could use her instead of waiting to find another one. Also the sense of familiarity about her nagged at him. Finally he put it together. He leaned in close and whispered in her hear. “Come to my room, number 1026, in half an hour or I’ll make it known that you’re a professional card cheat known on Risa as Trivoy L. Pursuit.” Then he kissed her and walked away.

James went to his room and retrieved a PADD from his briefcase. He slaved that PADD into the room’s terminal and hacked effortlessly into the guest files. Trivoy, a.k.a. Delta Belle of Savannah, Georgia, was in room 9429. He downloaded her thumbprint scan into the PADD and dialed for a subspace frequency. The hotel computer verified his credit account and let him access an available frequency. Bondkirk sent the thumbprint scan off to HQ. It would be a few hours before they could tell him anything. Trivoy was obviously “in the business” and would have several layers of false identities. Nothing the experts at HQ couldn’t crack, though. Meanwhile, there was no reason why he couldn’t approach things in a civilized manner. He called room service and ordered a candleight dinner for two.

We are continuing the story LATINUM TOE, or The Spy Who Stunned Me, written by former USS Kelly member George Bogler. As you recall, our hero just exposed a Ferengi cheating at cards. He introduced himself as Bondkirk, James T Bondkirk…

==^==

James T Bondkirk sauntered into the offices of the shipping firm that served as a cover for the United Federation of Planets Covert Intelligence Agency. With a quick look to make sure he was unobserved, he slipped through a nondescript door and into the foyer of FCI headquarters. After clearing security he went directly to his office. It was not a place where he spent much time. The life of a field agent suited him well, and he made a conscious effort to spend as little time in the office as possible. Still, a private office was one of the perks of his “Double-O”, or elite agent, status. It was not large, but it had its advantages such as the well-stocked bar, and the equally well-stocked female yeoman who kept it that way. His terminal screen was flashing red when he entered. “Computer, play priority message,” he instructed.

After a brief pause, he heard the gravely voice of the Agency Director, code named ‘W’. “Double-O Forty-Seven, report to my office as soon as you get in,” it said.

There was already someone else in W’s office. James recognized him as the liaison to the Federation Council, Slai Meeyuuze. The man was liked by the agents only slightly less than a Klingon likes a Tribble. Anything said in the conversation to follow was likely to be twisted and analyzed to see how Slai could take advantage of it before it ever reached the Council.

The Director looked up from the PADDs spread across his desk. “ah, here at last 0047. We’ve been looking over that little incident of yours on Risa last month. Very clever figuring out how the Ferengi was cheating – but why in the name of the Great Bird did you go and get yourself involved?”

“Elementary, my dear W. I had seen this Quirm earlier in the day talking to a Vorta and getting some casual oo-mox from one of the hostesses. He seemed to entirely too happy for what he seemed to be getting. I suspected that he had extra sensitive lobes. Yet later, at the poker table when the waitress accidentally brushed against his ear he displayed no erogenous reaction.

“Hmmm,” grunted W admiringly. “And the woman had nothing to do with it? What was her name again?”

“Trivoy L. Pursuit,” Meeyuuze popped up. “Or at least that’s how she signed the guest register and her official statement. She’s nobody to bother ourselves with.”

“Yes, yes,” W interrupted, “but why involve yourself 0047? You were playing on an expense account.”

“And I would remind you to turn in your winnings and receipts,” interrupted Slai.

W shot the man a nasty glare. “0047?”

“Yes, sir. One of my informants told me that Latinum Toe was interested in Risa, and was sending a new operative to check the place out. When I caught on to Quirm’s cheating, I put two and two together. Now I have a clever plan to infiltrate Latinum Toe’s organization. As the man who exposed Quirm’s incompetence, I can pass myself off as a security expert looking for a more lucrative job opportunity.”

“Latinum Toe! The infamous Ferengi crime boss? We’ve tried at least a dozen times to infiltrate his organization.”

“I’m not familiar with this character,” said Meeyuuze.

“He’s a relatively new player,” replied W. “He’s come from nowhere in the last three years and is now considered, at least in some circles, to be a dark rival to Grand Nagus Zek. Some analysts think he is a former Zek associate who somehow fell out of favor. He operates a casino through several dummy corporations on Torman V.”

“So is ‘Latinum Toe’ some sort of code name?”

“Not exactly, Minister,” answered Bondkirk. “It’s a nickname or alias he created for himself. It seems he lost his left big toe and had it replaced with a prosthetic made of gold-pressed latinum. For a Ferengi, that would be the ultimate investment. He takes a chunk of his fortune with him wherever he goes.”

“”Yes, and I’ve no doubt that he would sell that toe in a minute if he had to,” added the Director. “What will you need from the agency to carry out your plan, 0047?”

“To start with, a suitable cover story along the lines I just described. Then first class passage to Torman V and an assortment of technological tools.”

W nodded his head. “You mean ‘toys’, 0047, or at least that’s how you seem to treat them. Very well.” He punched an extension into his comm unit. “Director to Q. Report to my office at once.”

There was a sudden flash of light as a voice responded, “whatever you say, Mon Capitain”.

“Damn,” cursed W. “I wish he wouldn’t do that.” He punched in the comm extension for his secretary. “Miss Smallcredit, get maintenance up here stat. My overhead light is on the fritz again. And have a programmer standing by to create a cover persona for Agent Bondkirk.”

“Right away sir,” responded a sultry voice.

“Dismissed, gentlemen,” W barked. “0047, you can intercept Q on his way here and go pick out whatever toys you fancy.

==^==

… to be continued in Part 3

Founded by the USS Kelly, the USS Rendezvous, the USS Ticonderoga, and the USS Retributor, Starfleet Command’s Seventh Fleet has been around since 1998. With club longevity like this, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that we’ve had crewmembers pass away while part of our ships. The Seventh Fleet Admiralty wanted a way to remember these friends. To that end, the USS Porthos was created.

The USS Porthos was founded January 29, 2011, with the idea that as crewmembers pass away they won’t be forgotten – instead they’ll be transferred to the USS Porthos. In game terms, the Porthos is a Constitution Class starship from the alternate Kelvin timeline (i.e. the J.J. Abrahms movie timeline). Her logo, design, and mission were all determined based on the preferences of her captain George Bogler, who passed away suddenly in 2010. George was always a fan of TOS, Starfleet Engineers (especially Scotty), and Captain Archer’s dog in ENTERPRISE.

In the past few years, we’ve lost several crewmembers who have now transferred to the Porthos – last year we lost Commodore Richard Henline, one of the founders of the USS Kelly. This is just one way in which we can remember those friends we have lost.

“What’s the fun in exploring if you know how it all turns out?” –Commander Charles “Trip” Tucker

(Ship motto of the USS Porthos)

From Star Trek, the Original Series, we learn that Vulcans believe in a concept called Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations, or IDIC. The Vulcan symbol is actually the symbol for IDIC – a triangle intersecting a circle and creating a gem. Completely different, yet when combined together they make something beautiful.

This concept is something I think gets lost, especially in today’s politically charged climate.

Now, we all have different opinions, and sometimes those opinions are at odds, but we also have a love of Star Trek – otherwise we wouldn’t be in this fanclub, would we? The thing we need to remember is that 1. our clubs are a place to come together, not to tear each other apart, and 2. politics has no place in our clubs because of how divisive it can be.

That said, we need to remember Gene Roddenberry’s himself wrote about diversity in TOS:

“We’ve each learned to be delighted with what we are. The Vulcans learned that centuries before we did.”
“It is basic to the Vulcan philosophy, sir. The combination of a number of things to make existence worthwhile.”
– Kirk and Spock, “The Savage Curtain”

IDIC represents the belief that beauty, growth, progress, etc. result from the union of the unlike – even opposites. In other words, that we are better together than we are apart.
(See this article about IDIC from Women at Warp, a Roddenberry Podcast.)

So, whether we meet in person or on social media, please remember that we are all fans of Star Trek. The Great Bird of the Galaxy himself would agree that it’s better to build one another up than to tear each other down.

Since the USS Kelly’s new spirit guide is the elephant, we thought we’d go over some interesting fact about them. All of the following information below on the African elephants, including the photos, are courtesy of the National Geographic website.

  1. African elephants are the largest mammals on Earth.
  2. Elephants are fond of water, and enjoy showering themselves by sucking water into their trunks and spraying it all over themselves.
  3. An elephant’s trunk is actually a long nose which is used for lots of things other than breathing and smelling. They will trumpet, drink through their trunk, and grab things – especially food.
  4. The trunk alone contains about 10,000 different muscles.
  5. Elephants use their tusks to dig for food and water, and also to strip bark from trees. Males also use them in battle.
  6. Elephants eat roots, grasses, fruit, and bark – about 300 pounds of it per day.
  7. Elephants don’t sleep much, and they roam great distances while foraging.
  8. Elephant mothers are pregnant for about 22 months – that’s nearly two years!
  9. Baby elephants shed their first set of teeth and tusks, just like humans lose their baby teeth.
  10. Elephants make powerful low-frequency rumblings to communicate over long distances.
  11. An elephant’s brain has a very similar structure to humans.
  12. When an elephant dies, their family grieves. They may even revisit the bones of their deceased for years, touching them with their trunks. Not many animals do that.

Remember, our next activity will be going to the Hogle Zoo to view these majestic animals. We will be going on Saturday, September 21st. Time TBD.

The next USS Kelly activity is going to be the Seventh Fleet Games, held this coming Saturday, August 17, 2019 at Heyburn Central Park in Heyburn, Idaho. Directions to the park, the agenda, and additional information from the USS Valkyrie are listed below.

If you plan to attend and need a ride, please contact Mel Andrew so she can coordinate rides.

Directions to Heyburn Central Park
1. Coming from Utah take Exit 211
2. Turn left towards Burley/Heyburn
3. At the first stop light turn right onto 21st street
4. Turn left on K street and go to the end of the street
5. Park comes up on your right at the end of the street

Important information
1. We will be keeping to the time schedules listed above. If two events are going on at the same time you will need to choose which one you want to participate in, time frames can not be extended to keep us on time so travelers do not get a late start heading back.

2. There will be a silent auction that will go on throughout the Olympics. There are 30 Lots of different Sci-fi Memorabilia. Auction will close at the time the medals are awarded. We will be able to take cash, debit, and credit cards and PayPal for payments of auction items.

3. There will be a playground for small children who do not want to participate in the Cadet games. There will also be restrooms available to us for the duration of the Olympics.

4. Lunch will be Street Tacos, Salad, Chips and Dessert. We will also have bottled water available to drink. Anyone not wanting these options are more than welcome to bring their own lunch. We are not charging any Fleet member for the lunch provided. If you feel you would like to donate to cover cost a donation jar will be there for donations but is not required.

5. The event will run from 10 am to 6 pm. Instructions and sign up will happen until 10:15 am and then the games will start. Sign ups will be available up until each game starts. Time schedules will be strictly adhered to.