Volume I, Number 9  •  December 2008 
CONTENTS
UPCOMING EVENTS
•  Sat., Dec. 6, 2008:  Georgia Public Broadcasting Pledge Drive
•  Friday, Dec. 19:  Star Trek Night with the Atlanta OutWorlders
•  Sunday, Dec. 21, 2008:  Christmas Party & Awards Ceremony

NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
•  Region Two Update now available online
•  USS Republic administrative assistance needed
•  USS Republic to be represented at USS Continuum event
•  Captain Watts advances to karaoke competition finals
•  Commanding Officer election is this month
•  Preregister now for the 2009 Region 2 Summit
•  Member Benefits Program seeks additional partners
•  Contributions needed for The Sovereign Star
•  One XXL USS Republic sport shirt still available
•  20th Year Celebration t-shirts still available
•  Recent Chapter Event Photos
•  Classifieds

SIDEBAR
•  December Birthdays
• 
December Membership Renewals
•  Welcome Aboard!
•  Wish List
•  About the Republic
•  For More Information
•  Our Member Benefit Program Partners
•  17 Years Ago Aboard the USS Republic
UPCOMING EVENTS
Georgia Public Broadcasting Television Pledge Drive

6:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Saturday, December 6, 2008
Georgia Public Broadcasting
260 14th Street NW, Atlanta GA  30318

Put on your USS Republic chapter sport shirt or t-shirt and join us in the Georgia Public Broadcasting television studios to answer phones for their pledge drive, and be seen on TV!  

The mission of Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) is to create, produce and distribute high quality programs and services that educate, inform and entertain audiences and enrich the quality of their lives.  GPB's nine public television stations deliver quality PBS and locally produced programming to every county in Georgia, and to significant portions of surrounding states.  Since 1984, GPB’s listener-supported, 15-station public radio network has been Georgia's source for great music and National Public Radio (NPR) news.  During GPB’s television pledge drive, we will answer phones and take pledges when viewers call to give their support.  This is an excellent opportunity for the Republic to be seen in the community and promote our chapter while helping a very worthy cause!

IMPORTANT!
•  Participants must wear either a USS Republic chapter sport shirt, chapter t-shirt or Star Trek costume (Federation, Klingon, etc.).  It's too late to order any new sport shirts, but some of our 20th Year Celebration t-shirts are still available for sale.  See the item below for ordering information.
•  There is a maximum participation of 25 people for this event.  If you would like to participate, please contact the Captain as soon as possible.
•  You should arrive at the studio no later than 6:30 p.m. for a brief training.  Our shift begins at 7:00 p.m.
•  Dinner will be catered by Carole Parks Catering Company.

Please make plans to join us for this event and RSVP as soon as possible!  If you can't make it, be sure to watch us in the metro Atlanta area on WGTV Channel 8!

INFORMATION FOR VOLUNTEERS ABOUT VOLUNTEERING
MAP AND DIRECTIONS

Star Trek Night with the Atlanta OutWorlders

8:00 p.m. Friday, December 19, 2008
Hosted by and in the home of Alan Siler
2582 Addison Drive, Doraville GA  30340
Let's join our friends, the Atlanta OutWorlders, for a night that celebrates the quintessential American science fiction television franchise: Star Trek. Each month, we'll explore a different theme by seeing episodes taken from all of the show's TV incarnations: Star Trek, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager and yes... even Enterprise.  Few television shows, particularly sci-fi, have had the impact on American culture that Star Trek has had.  For the month of December, the theme is "Those Wacky Vulcans!"

MAP AND DIRECTIONS
USS Republic Christmas Party, Awards Ceremony and Commanding Officer Election

6:00 p.m. Sunday, December 21, 2008
Hosted by and in the home of ENS3 Mark A. Ozanick
1690 Hudson Road, Decatur GA  30033
(678) 350-5366
The USS Republic's 2007 Christmas Party & Awards Ceremony at Ens Ozanick's home in Decatur
Make plans now to attend the USS Republic's fabulous annual Christmas Party & Awards Ceremony, where we'll eat, drink, be merry!   We'll also announce this year's distinguished Member of the Year... and who your Commanding Officer for the 2009-2010 will be!  This potluck dinner event will once again be hosted by ENS3 Mark A. Ozanick in his beautiful home in Decatur.  All members and friends of the Republic are cordially invited to attend.  An Evite will be sent out soon so that everyone who plans to attend can RSVP with the number of guests and type of dish they plan to bring.

MAP AND DIRECTIONS
NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Region Two Update now available online
Yes, Virginia, there are other STARFLEET chapters out there!  The November 2008 issue of the STARFLEET Region Two Update is now online.  Please take a few moments to check out this newly overhauled and redesigned publication for the most up-to-date news about our fellow Region 2 chapters and the Region as a whole.  Click here to subscribe to this bimonthly newsletter and have it sent directly to your emailbox.
USS Republic administrative assistance needed
Commanding Officer, USS Republic, has two projects to offer to members who wish to assist with the administrative operations of the chapter.  One project requires good computer and web-browsing skills and the ability to burn a DVD; the other project requires the ability to make phone calls.  Both projects require the ability to follow detailed instructions.  Persons interested in either of these assignments should contact the Captain.
USS Republic to be represented at USS Continuum event
The USS Continuum—the STARFLEET chapter in Pensacola, Florida—will celebrate its 15th anniversary with a dinner banquet on Saturday, December 6.  The USS Republic will be represented at this gala event by Ensigns Mike and Connor Sollie, a father and son pair who joined our chapter at this year's Dragon*Con in September.

Commanding Officer, Republic, congratulates the Continuum on their anniversary and wishes to thank the Ensigns Sollie for attending the event on behalf of the Republic.
Captain Watts advances to karaoke competition finals
Captain Watts belts it out "his way" at Keela & Katkith's Klingon Karaoke at the 2007 Dragon*Con
Captain Eric L. Watts took first place in the third of three "Tucker USA Karaoke Idol" preliminary competitions at Shorty's Pizza in Tucker, Georgia, in November.  He'll now advance to the final round along with five other semifinalists to compete for a $500 grand prize.  Captain Watts cordially invites the crew of the Republic to join him at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 20 at Shorty's Pizza to cheer him on to victory!  Visit Shorty's web site for menu information and directions to their Tucker location.  Make it so!
Commanding Officer election is this month
Captain Eric L. Watts' first full two-year term as Commanding Officer of the USS Republic will soon be coming to a close, and all members in good standing will soon be asked to cast their vote for the candidate they want to lead and administrate this chapter for the next two years.

According to Section 04:05 of the STARFLEET Membership Handbook, "Chapter Chairperson" (page 18, January 2005 edition), "The Chapter Chairperson, also known as the chapter Commanding Officer (CO), plays an extremely important role in the day-to-day operations of STARFLEET.  The CO represents STARFLEET to the members of their chapter, and likewise, through regular reports, represents the opinions and needs of their members to STARFLEET.  A CO of a shuttle is required to be a graduate of the Officer Training School (OTS), while the CO of a chapter must be a graduate of both OTS and the Officer Command College (OCC)."  Also, per Section 04:09, "Both the Commanding Officer and Executive Officer must be at least 18 years of age."

As of December 1, 2008, there are five members of the Republic who hold the necessary credentials to hold the office of Commanding Officer.  They are:

•  Lt JG David Churvis
•  Captain Michael Cowart
•  Captain Matt Ebeling
•  Commander Brian Holloway
•  Captain Eric L. Watts

Of the five officers above, only one has announced his candidacy for the position.  A vote of confidence will be held during December to affirm Captain Watts' reelection as Commanding Officer.
Preregister now for the 2009 Region 2 Summit in Jackson, Mississippi
Hosted by the USS Haise NCC-74664, the 2009 STARFLEET Region 2 Summit will be held March 6-8 in Jackson, Mississippi.  The annual Summit can be one of the most rewarding experiences in STARFLEET.  Unlike typical conventions with Star Trek stars, a Summit is a learning experience.  Not only is it a great chance to learn valuable skills in the various informative panels and workshops, but it's also a great chance to make valuable friendships with people you've only heard about through The STARFLEET Communiqué, Region 2 Update, online and other sources.  Over 100 people from chapters throughout the Region attend the Summit, along with some of the STARFLEET Executive Committee, like the Commander, STARFLEET.  It's a great opportunity to learn in a very fun environment.  You will also have a chance to find out what is going on in your Region and in STARFLEET.

One of the most important events at the Summit is the annual Awards Banquet.  The Republic has won five Regional awards in the last two years and looks forward to another triumphant year in 2009!  Adult registration for next year's Summit is $25 until February 15 and goes to $35 after that.  Additional information about the Summit in general can be found here and additional information about the 2009 Summit, including hotel and restaurant info and PayPal links for preregistration, Awards Banquet tickets and commemorative t-shirts, can be found here.

Commanding Officer, Republic, would like for our chapter to be well-represented at next year's Summit.  Please plan to join this "away mission" and attend this very important event!
Member Benefits Program seeks additional partners
The USS Republic's Member Benefits Program has been a very successful recruitment incentive and has helped our members save money on goods and services provided by our partners.  Unfortunately, due to the recent downturn in the economy and other factors, a couple of our original partners have gone out of business in the last few months, reducing the overall value of the program.  The Republic would now like to strengthen this program by adding several new partners to it.  Partners receive free advertising on our web site, in our chapter flyers and brochures, and links to their web sites in The Republiqué in exchange for an exclusive money-saving offer to Republic members.  If you or someone you know is a business owner or manager authorized to make such agreements and would like to become involved in this program, please contact the Captain for additional details.
Contributions needed for The Sovereign Star
Member contributions for the next two issues of the Republic's award-winning chapter magazine, The Sovereign Star, are now being accepted.  Winner of the STARFLEET Region 2 "Best Printed Newsletter" Award for 2007, contributions can be articles, essays, reviews, reports, fiction, poetry, artwork or word games (crossword puzzles, etc.).  The only requirement is that the contribution must be related in some way to Star Trek, STARFLEET, Region 2 or the Republic.  Text documents should be submitted as MS Word or PageMaker 7.0 files; image files should be submitted as 300 dpi JPG, TIFF or BMP files.  Send all submissions to USSRepublic@aol.com.
One XXL USS Republic sport shirt still available
One of the Republic's gorgeous royal blue-and-black sport shirts, size XXL, with the Republic's full-color logo embroidered on the left breast, is still available for sale.  Never worn and still in brand new condition, this shirt is available for only $40.  Email the Captain if you are interested in purchasing this shirt!
20th Year Celebration t-shirts still available
Making their debut at Sci-Fi Summer Con, our 20th Year Celebration commemorative t-shirts are still available!  These high-quality, 100% preshrunk cotton tees are available in sizes Medium, Large, XL, 3XL and 4XL and feature the two-color USS Republic 20th Year Celebration logo screenprinted on the full chest.  Each limited edition, collector's item shirt is only $15.00 postpaid!  Sizes Small and XL are already sold out, so order yours now before they're gone forever!

Click here
to buy with PayPal or send check payable to "USS Republic" to Captain Eric L. Watts, 2902 Aspen Woods Entry, Atlanta GA  30360-2759.
Recent Chapter Event Photos
Fall Sci-Fi Charity Putt-Putt Challenge  ||  November 8, 2008
USS Republic members who attended this event hosted by KAG Atlanta include (second and third from left, standing) Ens Todd Dissinger and Ens Andrea Benton and (third from right, standing) Ens Chris Jones.
Ensigns Julianne, Jeff and Joanne Trew on the putt-putt course. Also in attendance: Ens Jenilee Trew and ENS2 Zannetta Law.
CLICK HERE TO SEE 201 PHOTOS FROM THIS EVENT.
Classifieds
Star Trek toys wanted to buy: New in box not necessary.  Ships preferred, but will consider figures and playsets as well.  Wanted for play use by Crewman Connor Sollie.  Please contact Ens Mike Sollie with details and price.

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS

Thursday, December 4
Ensign Michael A. Knight

Friday, December 5
Ensign Marilyn Teague

Wednesday, December 10
Ensign Tammy Pakulski

Friday, December 12
Ensign 3rd Class Sheryl Parsons

Wednesday, December 24
Ensign John Godwin
Ensign Joseph M. Harner

Monday, December 29
Ensign Joanne Trew

Wednesday, December 31
Ensign Naomi Hemingway
Ensign Leslie Mele

DECEMBER MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS

Ensign Reginald Franklin
Lieutenant JG David Churvis
Ensign Terry Lee West
Ensign Naomi Hemingway
Ensign Page E. Lewis

CLICK HERE TO RENEW!

WELCOME ABOARD!
2 New Members in November!


Ensign John Randall Stump, Jr.
Ensign Daniel Wolfgang

WISH LIST
The Republic needs certain items on a continuing basis to operate.  To help keep our expenses and membership dues as low as possible, donations of the following items would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you for your support!

•  HP 10 black, cyan, magenta and yellow ink cartridges
•  13 x 19 70-lb. smooth white opaque text stock
•  Avery 8160 or compatible address labels
•  9 x 12 manila clasp envelopes
•  8½ x 11 90-lb. white index card stock (Springhill 15101)
•  standard staples
•  clear packing tape

ABOUT THE REPUBLIC
Commissioned on May 14, 1988 at Dixie-Trek, the USS Republic NCC-1371 is a chapter of STARFLEET International (SFI) and a member of STARFLEET Region 2.  The Republic currently has 63 active members (as of December 1) and is one of the largest chapters of STARFLEET in the world.  The Republic plans and coordinates an active schedule of events for its members, frequently partnering with other local science fiction groups in the Atlanta area for joint activities, but does not hold meetings on a consistently fixed date each month.

Membership in the Republic includes membership in STARFLEET International.  Annual dues are $25 per person for both groups (family discounts are available with certain conditions and restrictions).  Membership in the Republic includes a subscription to our award-winning quarterly magazine, The Sovereign Star, access to our YahooGroups message board, voting privileges in chapter elections and a personalized laminated membership card which entitles the member to discounts and rebates on products and services offered by our Member Benefits Program partners.  Additional information on Republic membership and how to join is on our award-winning web site.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
XBox Live Gamertag:
"USS Republic"

OUR MEMBER BENEFIT PROGRAM PARTNERS

* 17 *
YEARS AGO ABOARD THE USS REPUBLIC

From the Center Seat
by Cmdr David W. Vosper

Attention all hands:

We have just completed another busy month of fun activities.  At our November 9th meeting at Fernbank we once again made tribbles and practiced singing the "Star Trekkin" song (we are getting better).  After the meeting we visited the Egleston Children's Hospital at Emory University, where we amused/baffled the sick children with our uniforms and presented them with the tribbles that we had made.  The kids were confused but their parents loved it.

A hardy WELL DONE To Lt. (jg) Karen Estes for planning the entire Egleston Away Team.  This is exactly the sort of thing that STARFLEET Command wants its chapters to do be doing -- community service.  A very rewarding and worthy project indeed Karen.

At our November 16th meeting, former REPUBLIC member Tony Cade visited us, and showed us his first Sci-Fi Atlanta cable TV show from September.  Tony has invited select members of the REPUBLIC (as well as IFT and KAG) to participate in his "Salute to Star Trek" episode on December 7th, on Dekalb cable TV public access channel 12.  Non-participents are also invited to attend, and to watch the broadcast from the "green room."

Our recruiting table at the TrekFest Con on November 23-24th was also a success.  It was good to see Jimmy Doohan and Michael Dorn again.  We all got some great autographs and pictures.  I have on my desk membership applications from not five, not ten but FIFTEEN new members, all from TrekFest.  Another WELL done to the TrekFest Away Team: James Corley, Karen and Jon-paul Estes, Bill (Tony) Knopes, Dan Carson, Neil and Gail Fuller and Stephen Stevers, all of which paid $22 to attend TrekFest and help out the club.  Also kudos to Neil Fuller for the nifty new, portable blue backdrop for our display.

Unfortunately, our Away Team to VULKON is St. Petersburg, Fl, was canceled due to mechanical problems with the shuttle.  Thanks to Neil, Gail and Tony for trying.

Other cancellations include: Georgia Public Telethon (applied too late) and the Star Trek VI sneak preview (vetoed by Paramount).  See the newsletter Schedule section for our revised plans to see ST VI.

Another word about club leadership: all members are encouraged to become as active with the club as they wish.  Active members who take SFA courses, collect cans for our recycling program and volunteer at Cons will have a lot of fun and will earn promotion points (see the article on Promotions in this newsletter).  However club leaders will be selected from those people who serve as department and division heads, who keep other members informed via our phone net, and who are able to motivate others to attend SFA courses, collect cans, attend Cons, etc.  For the good of the many, club leaders must first prove their ability to be good followers.  Club members (and leaders) who do not use the chain-of-command to communicate will not be appointed or retained as leaders.

Staff meetings are reserved for department heads, and those other leaders who the Captain deems necessary to planning club activities.  All other members will please use the chain-of-command to communicate their needs and suggestions to this core staff, and to the Captain.  The formal chain-of-command is outlined in a seperate article in this newsletter.  As the club approaches its 1991 membership goal of 100 members, it is becoming critical that members follow these guidelines.

As you will read in the Chaplain's report, the position of Chaplain/Counselor is being discontinued.  There are several good reasons for this.

Firstly, the STARFLEET Counselor/Chaplain Corps has also been disbanded.  I know of no official reason for this, other than that in general these projects often lapse due to changes in the lives of their leaders.  Secondly, acting as ship's counselor has proved to be emotionally draining on Karen Estes, who is also a wife, graduate student and acting Science officer.

Thirdly, it is not the role of STARFLEET or of the USS REPUBLIC to counsel its members.  We are a fan club, and our primary role is "to provide a forum for persons with an interest in the Star Trek universe, to provide a social organization in which people of diverse backgrounds with simular interests can interact, to promote an optimistic future..."  Hopefully our social organization will include the emotional benefits of friendship and camaraderie for our members.  However, for our staff to act as counselors for emotionally and mentally disturbed individuals is clearly not within the purview of a fan club.  This type of counseling should be done by trained, licensed professionals (psychologists, family counselors, psychotherapists, ministers), as required by law.

It is the responsibility of the staff of any organization to protect that organization from the inappropriate or disruptive behavior of emotionally or mentally disturbed individuals.  The ST experience seems to attract more than its share of such individuals, and it requires experienced, mature leaders to identify such individuals and to diplomaticly deal with such conflicts.

I, your Captain, was mistaken in continuing the Chaplain/Counselor program that was presented to me as a part of the REPUBLIC when I took command.  However, I can assure you that I have the necessary experience to identify troubled crew members, and to advise our staff of the appropriate way to handle them.  The dissolution of the position of ship's Chaplin in no way reflects upon Lt. (jg) Karen Estes, who has performed superbly in that role.  Karen will continue to fill in acting Science officer, until such time as a permanent replacement can be found.

We are planning a new meeting schedule.  Starting the first of the year, we will start having one general meeting on a weekend, and the second general meeting on a weekday evening, in order to accommodate those members who cannot attend weekend meetings.  The weekend meeting will be held at Fernbank at noon on Saturday, January 4th, as usual.  The evening weekday meeting will be held on January 14th at a Shoney's near Fernbank.  We will eat at 7:00 PM and the meeting will begin at 8:00.  We will continue our regular meeting schedule throughout December.

Everyone is invited to the USS REPUBLIC Christmas party December 14th at Post Brookhaven apartments.  Happy holidays to you and all your families.

(Captain -- time dilation effects are becoming severe.  Full Impulse power is accelerating us towards the speed of light.  Warp engines are online and Warp power is available.)

Maintain Present Course

Increase speed to WARP 1

WARP SPEED!

Reprinted from
And to the REPUBLIC
Volume III, Issue Twelve
December 1991
Copyright © 1991 USS Republic.

USS Republic NCC-1371
A Chapter of STARFLEET International
2902 Aspen Woods Entry  |  Atlanta, Georgia  30360-2759
USSRepublic@aol.com  |  www.USSRepublic.com
Commanding Officer  
  Captain Eric L. Watts
Executive Officer  
  Commander Brian Holloway

The Republiqué Volume I, Number 9, December 2008.
Published monthly by and Copyright © 2008 USS Republic NCC-1371.
Captain Eric L. Watts, Editor.

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