| CONTENTS |
|
UPCOMING
EVENTS
• Saturday, August 28:
"Four Days at Dragon*Con" Viewing
•
Fri.-Mon., Sept. 3-6:
Republic
/ TXA Fan Table at Dragon*Con
•
Saturday, September 4: Dragon*Con
Parade
• Sunday, September
5: Republic / Nemesis Room Party
• Saturday, September 25:
STARFLEET Bowling Challenge
NEWS
& ANNOUNCEMENTS
•
The Republiqué
named Region 2's Best Electronic Newsletter
• Captain
Watts interviewed by Fanboys Radio
•
TrekTrax
Atlanta announces five new guests for 2011
• Commanding Officer elections
coming in December
•
Personnel Records
• Recent Chapter Event
Photos
SIDEBAR
• August Birthdays
• Member Reenlistments
• August
Membership Renewals
• About the Republic
• For More Information
• USS Republic Online
• Related Sites
• Our Member Benefits Program
Partners
• News from TrekMovie.com
—
Star
Trek Movie Wins DVD Critics
Award
— John
Billingsley Talks Playing Phlox Again
—
Star
Trek Sequel Will Go "One
Step Beyond"
—
Marina
Sirtis on Being TNG
Sex Symbol & Plastic Surgery
—
Brannon
Braga: Seven of Nine Should Have Died in Finale
—
Star
Trek Movie Wins DVD Critics
Award
|
UPCOMING
EVENTS
"Four
Days at Dragon*Con" Viewing
7:00 p.m., Saturday, August 28, 2010
Hosted by Lt JG Dave Churvis & Ens Matt Duncan
412 Ivey Park Lane, Norcross GA 30092
(404)769-4255
|| (678) 485-1426 || Lt
Dave Churvis |
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PBA
producers Gordon Ray (left) and Jack Walsh (center)
prepare to interview CO Capt Eric L. Watts in September
2009 for a documentary about Dragon*Con, to be aired
on WPBA 30 on August 28.
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USS Republic
Commanding Officer Capt Eric L. Watts
was interviewed by Public Broadcasting Atlanta in September
2009 for a documentary about Dragon*Con
to be broadcast on WPBA 30 on Saturday, August 28, at 9:00
p.m. and again at midnight; Sunday, August 29, at 8:00 p.m.;
and Tuesday, August 31, at 11:00 p.m. Titled "Four
Days at Dragon*Con," the one-hour documentary is "about
the 2009 Dragon*Con, not a comprehensive survey of Dragon*Con
in general (although there are some diversions into generalities
and history, this is intended to be a portrait of one particular
con)." It will include coverage of many of Capt
Watts' TrekTrak
events, including the Miss Klingon Empire Beauty Pageant.
Lt JG Dave Churvis and Ens Matt Duncan have
graciously agreed to host a viewing of this documentary in
their home in Norcross. The evening will be a potluck
dinner event... the Republic will provide paper goods,
plasticware and soft drinks; you bring the hot or cold dish
of your choice. Please arrive between 7:00 and
8:00 p.m. We'll enjoy what will sure to be an awesome
dinner and then we'll watch the long-awaited documentary at
9:00 in glorious 1080i
high def
with 5.1 surround sound... heckle
the Captain at your own risk!
Dave & Matt's apartment complex, Ivey Brook, is located
at the southeast corner of Holcomb Bridge Road and Peachtree
Corners Circle in Norcross. The
complex is gated. Proceed through the gate directly
in front of the entrance to the complex. You may use
#9111 for access, or if for some reason the code isn't working,
dial 192 and Dave or Matt will buzz you in. Apartment
412 is located in the last 400 building of the complex, which
is at the back and to the right. Just ring the doorbell
or knock loudly on the door.
MAP
AND DIRECTIONS |
USS Republic/TrekTrax Atlanta Fan Table at Dragon*Con
10:00
a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Fri. to Sun., Sept. 3-5, 2010
10:00
a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Mon., Sept. 6, 2010
The Hyatt Regency Atlanta
265 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta GA 30303 |
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Commander
Dave "Grizzly" Slaughter and Friend of the
Republic Mari Banks take a duty shift at the
Republic's recruitment table at the 2009 Dragon*Con
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The
USS Republic and TrekTrax Atlanta will share a recruitment
/ fan table at the Hyatt Regency
Atlanta,
outside the Grand Hall (NOT in
the Atlanta Sheraton, as previously announced)
all four days of Dragon*Con. The table must be
staffed from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and
Sunday and from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Monday.
Year after year, Dragon*Con is consistently our single most
important member recruitment opportunity. This
year, we're also using this opportunity to promote, market
and sell memberships to our brand new convention, TrekTrax
Atlanta. As a start-up convention, it is vitally important
that we make as big an impact as possible on the Dragon*Con
membership and sell as many memberships as possible.
Staffing the table is not difficult. All it takes
is a smiling face and the ability to speak confidently about
both our chapter and our convention. The table
will be well-stocked with flyers, applications, gift incentives
and other printed materials... all you have to do is smile,
have fun and gratefully accept their membership payments.
A minimum of two people are needed at the table during the
times listed below. Shifts are only 90 minutes
each; the start time of each shift is shown below. Please
click the Shift Number you'd like to volunteer for and send
an email to the
Captain indicating which Shift Number you've
chosen. |
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USS
Republic / TrekTrax Atlanta Fan Table at Dragon*Con
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TIME
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FRI
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SATURDAY
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SUNDAY
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MONDAY
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10:00
am
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11:30
am
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1:00
pm
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2:30
pm
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4:00
pm
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5:30
pm
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7:00
pm
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Note:
Last shift of each day includes table breakdown.
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Here
are the rules and guidelines for all fan tables, as provided
by Dragon*Con management:
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Tables
must be staffed by Dragon*Con members. In other
words: yes, you WILL need to purchase badges and wear
them at all times!
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Table staffing hours: Fan-tables must be continuously
staffed during the day, from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m.
at a minimum. On Monday, plan on staffing your
table until 2 or 3 p.m.
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In
deference to our dealers and exhibitors, who pay for
the privilege, no general merchandise sales are permitted
at fan tables or band tables. You can sell logo
merchandise from your organization and other items
made exclusively for and by your club, band or organization.
Dragon*Con does not charge a percentage of merchandise
sales.
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No
raffles or other games of chance are allowed. Sorry,
but they contravene the laws of the State of Georgia.
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Electrical
power: Be sure to bring your own extension cords and
splitters. Any cords must be taped down. Power
in the Hyatt for tables has historically been available
at most locations but there may be a charge. Plug-ins
may be limited.
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If you need Internet access at your table, you'll
have to arrange this with the individual hotel. Although
our host hotels offer wireless access in guest rooms,
this service is usually restricted or blocked in the
lobby and function-space areas.
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Table placement will be at the sole discretion of
the respective Concourse directors or their assistants.
We'll work with you as much as possible, but
we can make no promises.
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Dragon*Con
Parade
10:00 a.m. Saturday, September 4, 2010
Peachtree Street at Auburn Avenue
Downtown Atlanta
Email
ENS2 Joanne Trew |
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Members
and friends marched behind the Republic's banner
in the 2009 Dragon*Con parade. ENS2 Joanne
Trew (right of center, holding tribbles) will once
again coordinate the Republic's participation
in the D*C parade.
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For
the second year in a row, ENS2 Joanne Trew is coordinating
the Republic's participation in the annual Dragon*Con
parade. We heartily encourage everyone to come
out on Saturday morning and march with us behind our banner!
Members and friends who plan to march with us must meet at
the staging area at Woodruff Park (4½ blocks south
of the Hyatt Regency on Peachtree Street) in costume
at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday morning. The parade
goes forward on Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta, rain
or shine. Start time is 10:00 a.m. The parade
starts at Peachtree Street and Auburn Avenue, follows Peachtree
Street north to Baker Street (at the Hyatt Regency), continues
east on Baker Street to Courtland Avenue and ends at the Marriott
Marquis' back entrance.
If you are planning to march with us, please let Ensign
Joanne know! She has registered the USS
Republic to march as a group in the parade but everyone
who plans to join us is also encouraged to join the Dragon*Con
Parade YahooGroup for parade rules and policies, a
route map and additional information. |
USS
Republic/IKAV Nemesis Dragon*Con Room Party
7:00 p.m. Sunday, September 5, 2010
The
Atlanta Sheraton
165 Courtland Street, Atlanta GA 30303
Room number to be announced |
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The
USS Republic was the sole host of TrekTrak's
"Happy Hour at Ten Forward" event from 2007
to 2009. The "Klingon Disco"
theme was a convention favorite.
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The USS
Republic and the IKAV Nemesis are joining forces
to bring you a Star Trek room party at Dragon*Con! Come
and join us for a relaxing evening of fun and music, in casual
Trek attire if at all possible.
We need donations for this event: finger foods, snacks, sweets,
drinks, etc.—are all welcome. The Nemesis
has been planning this party and it promises to be a good
one, so let's make sure that we help them out as much as we
can. Please
let Ensign
Joanne Trew know
what you can bring, so that we don't end up all bringing the
same thing.
If you would rather donate funds to help pay for our room
party, please visit the House
Koloth web site and scroll down to the PayPal link.
They're not asking for much, just $5.00 or so from everyone,
which means more drinks and food for everyone!
The room number won't be known until Kevin & Theresa
Parker check into the Sheraton on Friday. As
soon as we know what the room number is, it will be announced
at the USS Republic / TrekTrax Atlanta fan table at
the Hyatt Regency. |
Fifth
Annual STARFLEET Bowling Challenge
6:30 p.m. Saturday, September 25, 2010
Midtown Bowl
1936 Piedmont Circle, Atlanta GA 30324
(404) 874-5703 || www.midtownbowl.com |
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The
Republic's Fourth Annual STARFLEET
Bowling Challenge, September 2009
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Join the
USS Republic for our Fifth Annual STARFLEET Bowling
Challenge! We've challenged the Klingon Assault
Group to meet us in the alley... we'll see who shows up!
The game fee is $20.00 per person for two hours of
bowling and includes shoe rental. CASH ONLY,
PLEASE, and please pay the Republic, who has already
paid for the lane rental. We have rented two lanes
which accommodate up to six players each. Please
RSVP if you plan to attend so we can add lanes if necessary. Please
arrive no later than 6:30 p.m. to pay for play, get your shoes
and choose your ball. First ball rolls promptly at 7:00
p.m., so please arrive early and be ready to roll (literally)
at 7:00 p.m. Midtown
Bowl's food grill offers a broad range of menu items
and adult beverages are available at the full-service bar.
The
2007 Bowling Challenge turned out to be a huge media
event with lots of TV cameras and the 2008 and 2009 Challenges
were just as much fun. Plan to wear your best Star
Trek costume or your USS Republic sport shirt or
chapter t-shirt for this fun-filled family-friendly event!
MAP AND DIRECTIONS |
NEWS
& ANNOUNCEMENTS
The
Republiqué named Region 2's Best Electronic Newsletter |
 More
than four months after the 2010 Region 2 Awards Banquet in
March and with no fanfare, the "Richard Daystrom Cyberspace
Awards" (i.e., web site and newsletter awards) were finally—and
quietly—announced in the July 2010 Region 2 Update...
the first issue of the bimonthly report published in a year
and a half. The USS Republic's monthly eZine,
The Republiqué, was named Region 2's Best Electronic
Newsletter. Best Printed Newsletter went to The
Anvil, published by Birmingham, Alabama's USS Hephaestus,
and the "New Letter [sic] of the Year" award went
to The DaVinci Pilot, published by Columbus, Georgia's
USS DaVinci.
In the web site awards, Tallahassee, Florida's USS Khai
Tam won the Most Informative award, while the Best Chapter
Site and Superior Achievement & Performance awards both
went to the USS San Juan in San Juan, Puerto Rico—a
brand new chapter launched just this past March.
Criteria for judging, eligible candidates, runners-up (if
any) and the judges' specific citations for selecting the
winners were not included in the article, which can be found
here.
The Republic congratulates the Hephaestus, DaVinci,
Khai Tam and San Juan on their awards.
The Republic has not yet received any printed certificate
that normally accompanies such awards. Our Recruiter
of the Year award certificate arrived earlier this year, following
the Summit. |
| Captain
Watts interviewed by Fanboys Radio |
Following
the June 9 screening of the Star Trek: Phoenix episode
"Cloak & Dagger, Part 1" at The Shelter nightclub in Atlanta,
hosted by Fanboys
Radio, Captain Eric L. Watts was interviewed
by "Kitti Ninja" from Fanboys Radio. The
interview has been broken into two parts and published on
YouTube by Fanboys Radio, the first part about Captain Watts'
reaction to the Star Trek: Phoenix screening and the
second part about the upcoming TrekTrax
Atlanta convention.
The USS Republic would like to thank Fanboys Radio
for inviting Captain Watts to do this interview and for helping
to promote TrekTrax Atlanta! |
| TrekTrax
Atlanta announces five new guests for TXA 2011 |
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The TXA executive committee is pleased to announce three celebrity
guests and two distinguished guests for TrekTrax Atlanta:
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 Tim
Russ
Actor, director, writer and musician Tim Russ is best
known for his portrayal of Lieutenant Commander Tuvok
in all seven seasons of Star Trek: Voyager
from 1995 to 2001. Prior to Voyager,
Russ played Devor in the Star Trek: The Next Generation
episode "Starship Mine," T'Kar in the Star Trek:
Deep Space Nine episode "Invasive Procedures,"
and a USS Enterprise-B bridge officer in the
feature film Star Trek: Generations.
During Voyager, Russ directed the fourth-season
episode "Living Witness." In 2003, he directed
the short film Roddenberry on Patrol, a comedic
look at Gene Roddenberry's search to create Star
Trek, and in 2007, he both directed and reprised
the starring role of Tuvok in the 2007 fan film, Star
Trek: Of Gods and Men.
The multitalented Russ has also released four CDs:
Only a Dream in Rio (1998), Tim Russ
(2000), Kushangaza (2001) and Brave New
World (2003).
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 Barbara
March
March played the recurring role of the Klingon Lursa,
sister of B'Etor from the House of Duras, in the Star
Trek: The Next Generation episodes "Redemption,"
"Redemption II" and "Firstborn," the Star Trek:
Deep Space Nine episode "Past Prologue," and the
feature film Star Trek: Generations.
March is married to Alan Scarfe, who played Admiral
Mendak in the Star Trek: The Next Generation
episode "Data's Day", Tokath in the Star Trek:
The Next Generation episode "Birthright, Part
II," and Augris in the Star Trek: Voyager episode
"Resistance."
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 Gwynyth
Walsh
Walsh played the recurring role of the Klingon B'Etor,
sister of Lursa from the House of Duras, in the Star
Trek: The Next Generation episodes "Redemption,"
"Redemption II" and "Firstborn," the Star Trek:
Deep Space Nine episode "Past Prologue," and the
feature film Star Trek: Generations. She
also played Nimira in the Star Trek: Voyager
episode "Random Thoughts."
Other credits include Total Security, L.
A. Law, The Portrait, The Gambler Returns:
The Luck of the Draw, Blood Ties, Kingsgate,
Nightheat and Deserters, for which she
earned a Genie Award nomination for Best Actress.
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 Larry
Nemecek
For Larry Nemecek, theatre and journalism degrees added
up to a life in newspapers and two state AP newswriting
awards—until the 1992 publication of The Star Trek:
The Next Generation Companion from Pocket Books,
twice revised, that began when his fanzine TNG guide
found its way to the show's grateful staff writers.
That book kicked off a move to Los Angeles and
a life ever since spent living and working in Trekland—a
past, present and future all now chronicled at his larrynemecek.com
web site and TREKLAND
blog, chock-full of deep thoughts and even deeper video
interviews with folks from all across Trekland.
Aside from his books, Larry is best known as managing
editor of the glossy, licensed Communicator magazine
from 1998 until its 2005 hiatus, content producer to
the old startrek.com
at CBS Interactive, and photo editor/consultant for
the entire six years of the Star Trek Fact Files.
He and wife Janet also sold a story that became
the Star Trek: Voyager episode "Prophecy," and
he's even appeared in two Star Trek: New Voyages/Phase
II episodes, "Come What May" and "To Serve All My
Days."
Currently, he brings you the Q&A and archive photo columns
in Titan/U.K.'s current Star Trek magazine, is
a recurring guest blogger at the relaunched startrek.com,
and writes episode notes for the Japanese Fact Files
DVD edition. Consultant projects include DVD sets
and commentary, events like the former Star Trek:
The Experience complex in Las Vegas and the World Tour,
and on-camera comments for specials on Canadian TV and
the Biography Channel, among others.
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 Emmett
Plant, Fan Guest of Honor
Plant is a writer, composer and producer who has produced
over twenty Star Trek audiobooks for CBS/Paramount,
in addition to composing and producing soundtracks for
countless interactive entertainment products. He
has also written features and produced video segments
for Gawker Media's io9.com,
and worked as an editor and author on Slashdot,
Geeknet's popular "News for Nerds" web site.
Blurring the boundaries between technology and entertainment,
Plant has also served as the CEO of the Xiph.Org
Foundation, which is responsible for a vast
number of freely licensed multimedia codecs, from Theora
to Vorbis to FLAC.
Plant is also the commanding officer of the USS Blackheart,
the chapter of STARFLEET International chartered in
Philadelphia, with a focus on production for media nerds,
both professional and amateur. |
For more information about TrekTrax Atlanta and these guests,
please visit the TXA
web site. |
| Commanding
Officer elections coming in December |
 Captain
Eric L. Watts' second 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.
 Candidates
for the position must be a member in good standing of STARFLEET
International, must have taken and passed Officers Training
School (OTS) and Officers Command College (OCC), and must
be at least 18 years of age. Members interested
in taking OTS and OCC should visit the STARFLEET Academy web
site. In accordance with the Republic's
Rank
Assignment & Promotions Policy, members who take and
pass both courses receive an automatic promotion to Lieutenant,
Junior Grade (Lt. JG).
As of August 14, there are four members of the Republic
who hold the necessary credentials to hold the office of Commanding
Officer. They are:
| • Lt
JG David Churvis |
• Commander
Brian Holloway |
| • Captain
Matt Ebeling |
• Captain
Eric L. Watts |
Captain Watts is willing to serve a third term as the Republic's
CO. If any other eligible person announces his
or her candidacy, paper ballots will be mailed to each member
in good standing in November. Cast ballots can
then be mailed to the chapter's mailing address or delivered
by hand at the Republic's Christmas Party in December. Ballots
will be counted by three noncandidate members and the results
announced during the evening. The new Commanding
Officer, if any, will officially assume office on January
1, 2011. |
| Personnel
Records |
| • |
Congratulations
to ENS1 Lea Hepler for winning Fourth Place in
the 2010 STARFLEET Annual Short Story Contest with her
story, "What Price Salvation?" The judge
for this competition was none other than the legendary
Dorothy (D. C.) Fontana. |
|
Recent
Chapter Event Photos
CLICK ANY PHOTO TO ENLARGE |
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Mid-Summer
Urgent Business Meeting || July
31, 2010
Members and friends of the USS Republic
gather at the China One Restaurant in Sandy Springs,
Georgia, to discuss and resolve several important
issues and items of urgent chapter business.
Seated: Ens Robert Teague, ENS3 John Stump, Dana
Tyler, ENS3 Marilyn Teague, Capt Michael Cowart,
ENS3 Todd Dissinger, Ens Ken Cribbs, ENS3 Chris
Seckinger, ENS1 Zannetta Law, Theresa Parker, CO
Capt Eric L. Watts, Kevin Parker.
Standing: ENS2 Daniel Wolfgang, ENS1 Sue Lin Lange,
ENS2 Joanne Trew, ENS2 Julianne Trew, Ens Eddie
Hines, ENS2 Jeff Trew, Richard Tucker, Chris Jones,
Ens Barry Bynum, ENS1 Mark A. Ozanick, ENS2 Will
Dover, Lt. JG Dave Churvis, Ens Matt Duncan.
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AUGUST
BIRTHDAYS
Sunday, August 1
Ens Bill Lahaise
ENS3 Russell J. Broomfield
Tuesday, August 3
Ens Kevin Harris
Thursday, August 5
ENS2 Jeff Trew
Friday, August 6
ENS3 Chris White
Tuesday, August 10
CRMN2 Jenilee Trew
Capt Eric L. Watts
Wednesday, August 11
Ens Raye Anne Hurst
Monday, August 16
Ens Eric Hendrix
Tuesday, August 17
Ens Drew Schlosser
Friday, August 20
Ens Amanda Whitcomb
Monday, August 23
Ens Kelli M. Orr
Wednesday, August 25
ENS2 William H. Dover
Thursday, August 26
Ens Scott Ash
Monday, August 30
Lt JG Christian M. Shepherd
Tuesday, August 31
Ens Eric Solomon
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MEMBER
REENLISTMENTS
These members renewed their SFI and chapter
dues in July
ENS3 Glenn Albertini
ENS3 K'La Albertini
ENS1 Eric Lange
ENS1 Sue Lin Lange
ENS1 Daniel Wolfgang
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AUGUST
MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS
These members' SFI and chapter dues expire in August
Ens Elizabeth Miller
CRMN Jessica Anne Curtiss
Ens Eric Curtiss
ENS2 Chadd Franklin
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ABOUT
THE REPUBLIC
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Commissioned
on May 14, 1988 at Dixie-Trek in Atlanta, Georgia, the
USS Republic NCC-1371 is a chapter of STARFLEET
International (SFI) and a member of STARFLEET Region 2. The
Republic currently has 62 active members
(as of August 25), is the largest chapter of STARFLEET
in Region 2 and may or may not still be the largest chapter
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 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.
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FOR
MORE INFORMATION
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USS
REPUBLIC ONLINE
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RELATED
SITES
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OUR
MEMBER BENEFITS PROGRAM PARTNERS
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NEWS
from
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| Star
Trek Movie Wins DVD Critics Award |
|
by
TrekMovie.com Staff
August 9, 2010
|
| The
theatrical release of J. J. Abrams' 2009 Star Trek
movie did well with the critics and now the home video release
has followed suit, winning the top title at the DVD Critics
Awards. There is also news that Star Trek may
be available soon for Netflix HD streaming. |
Star Trek a winner at home
The Star Trek movie home video release won Best
Theatrical Title of 2009 at the DVD Critics Awards. This
is actually the second big award won for the home video
release of Star Trek. Back in January, the
DEG: Digital Entertainment Group Awards awarded Star
Trek as the best theatrical title of the year. |
Star Trek coming to Netflix streaming
Currently, the Star Trek 2009 movie is in its
"pay TV window" and is available exclusively on
EPIX. However, EPIX (co-owned by Paramount) is only
available in limited areas. However, Variety
reports that EPIX is close to signing a deal with Netflix
to bring their movies to Netflix subscribers for HD streaming,
including the Star Trek movie. |
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John
Billingsley Talks Playing Phlox Again |
|
by
TrekMovie.com Staff
August 19, 2010
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| John
Billingsley spent four years aboard the NX-01 as Dr. Phlox
in Star Trek: Enterprise. And in a new fan
Q&A, the actor says he is ready to play Phlox again, as
well as weighs in on the controversial finale for the series. |
Billingsley on returning to Trek & Enterprise
Finale
The actor is open to it, but doesn’t expect he will
ever play the Enterprise doctor again, saying: |
I’d be delighted. But is there any chance that one
could make a wager on the odds of it happening? I’d
bet my house it won’t happen, but if it did, sure, I’d want
to be involved. I enjoyed playing Phlox. |
Billingsley also weighed in on the controversial final episode
for Star Trek: Enterprise, "These are the Voyages,"
noting that he understood why Rick Berman and Brannon Braga
wanted to write something that wrapped up the era from Next
Gen to Enterprise, but he felt it didn’t work
with the work being done by Manny Coto (showrunner for the
4th season): |
It was as if suddenly somebody from another cosmos dropped
in and wrote the script, above and beyond the fact that
the Enterprise’s story was swallowed up by the framing
device. I think people had just gotten used to Manny’s
voice. I missed it in the final episode. Frankly,
it should have been a two-parter. Our storyline needed
to wind up…. |
I’m all over the map on this one because I have a lot of
different feelings about it. My problem with the final
episode, ultimately, was that by jumping ahead however many
years we jumped ahead, it was as if anything we did in the
third and fourth seasons had no real weight. It seemed
like the third and fourth seasons were being dismissed,
which I’m sure was not the intention, but that was one of
the things that bothered me. |
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Star
Trek Sequel Will Go "One Step Beyond" |
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by
Anthony Pascale
August 23, 2010
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E Online caught up with Star Trek producer and Star
Trek sequel producer / co-writer Damon Lindelof at the
Creative Arts Emmy Awards over the weekend. They asked
him what we can expect in the Star Trek sequel, where
Lindelof didn’t get specific, but did say they were going
to try to take it another step: |
The bar is very very high for the sequel. We are looking
at a movie like The Dark Knight which actually went
one step beyond Batman Begins. It was really
about something and at the same time was a superhero movie.
We don’t want to abandon all the things that made
the first movie work — have it be fun and emotional, but
we also want the movie to thematically resonate, so we are
putting on our highfalutin' hats. |
E’s reporter followed up, asking if that means they will
be trying to save the rainforest, and Lindelof quipped back,
"I think Avatar did a pretty good job of getting
the save the rainforest message across; maybe we will put
a bumper sticker on the Enterprise." |
Dark Knight comparison — deeper, not darker
Trek
Some Trek fans may be concerned that a comparison
to The Dark Knight indicates a much darker Trek
sequel, possibly abandoning the classic Roddenberry Trek
optimism aspirations of the 2009 Star Trek. However,
comparisons to the renwed Batman franchise are nothing new
for this team. In the run up to the 2009 Star Trek,
the film makers would often cite Christopher Nolan’s 2005
film Batman Begins as a benchmark. However,
the Star Trek movie was clearly a very different
kind of origin story than Batman Begins in terms
of tone and style. Over the summer, Star Trek
producer Bryan Burk talked to TrekMovie about the Trek/Batman
comparison: |
…our aspirations are for the [Star Trek sequel] to
be even bigger and better than the first one. I don’t
mean that just in scope, I mean content and characters and
emotionally. We had a lot of conversations about Batman
Begins and how that movie kind of re-invented that franchise,
and we looked at what The Dark Knight did and how
that really ramped it up and they went to a different place
with that film, and how those two films keep re-inventing
themselves and are not the same thing every time. |
So the team looks to the work Nolan has done as a benchmark
in terms of quality and in terms of success. It
is worth noting that both Star Trek and Batman
Begins had similar global grosses at the box office
($372M for Batman vs. $385M for Trek). Last
fall, when TrekMovie asked J. J. Abrams if they are thinking
of ways of improving performance overseas, again the director
pointed to The Dark Knight as a model of a sequel
that brought in more moviegoers overseas (as it did domestically). Abrams
did also note that he didn’t think Trek would be
able to match The Dark Knight’s $1 billion total,
but it is a nice goal to set. Even more important
than money, Abrams also told TrekMovie last November that
the plan for the Star Trek sequel (again like what
was done in The Dark Knight) was to "go a little
bit deeper," and that, too, is a good goal. |
The Star Trek sequel is due June 29, 2012, and in
a twist of fate, Christopher Nolan’s next Batman
film will hit theaters three weeks later. |
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Marina
Sirtis on Being TNG Sex Symbol & Plastic Surgery
Regrets |
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by
TrekMovie.com Staff
August 24, 2010
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Before Jeri Ryan and Jolene Blalock, Star Trek: The Next
Generation looked to Marina Sirtis to add sex appeal
to the sci-fi franchise in the '80s and '90s. In a
new and very frank interview, Sirtis talks about what that
was like for her and regrets she has as well. |
Marina Sirtis talks openly about being a "sex symbol"
and plastic surgery
Marina Sirtis, Star Trek: The Next Generation’s
half-Betazoid counselor Troi, was donning futurist body
suits long before Jeri Ryan on Star Trek: Voyager
and Jolene Blalock on Star Trek: Enterprise. The
actress has a very frank and open (and adult) conversation
with Kougar magazine, talking about her career, aging
and being a "cougar." Here is what the actress had
to say about being "the body" of Star Trek: The Next
Generation: |
That was way past, yeah. If they only knew. People
say to me — because I’m a bit of a feminist with a
small "f." People say, "How can you be a feminist
when people regard you as a sex symbol?" And I’m like,
okay, first of all, when you’ve been ugly, if you had said
to me when I was 12, you’re going to be a sex symbol when
you’re older, I would’ve laughed and said, "Are you high?"
So, to me, it’s like a huge compliment. And
especially as I’m older. I was in my 30s when I became
a sex symbol; it wasn’t something that happened when I was
young. And I think it’s great. I mean, I really
think it’s great. However, the body, it was hard
to maintain! |
In the extensive interview, the actress talks about aging
and specifically about plastic surgery, noting some regrets:
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It doesn’t make sense for actresses to have plastic surgery
because there’s no point in looking 40 when you’re 60 because
you know what? They’re gonna hire somebody who’s 40.
They’re not gonna hire you — first of all, you
look like you’ve been caught in a wind tunnel! So
it doesn’t make sense for actresses. I’m going to
quote Eileen Atkins here, "If all the actresses look young,
who’s gonna play the old parts?" Right? One
of the reasons I’m so adamant against plastic surgery is
because I fell into that trap of being the Hollywood starlet.
And I had beautiful boobs. But as I got older,
of course they got softer and they didn’t stay where I wanted
them to stay so I went and had my boobs done. It is
the worst thing I ever did; I regretted it from day one,
which is maybe why I’m so adamant against everything else
now, because I hate ‘em. |
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Brannon Braga: Seven of Nine Should Have Died in Finale
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by
Anthony Pascale
August 24, 2010
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| Veteran
Star Trek writer / producer Brannon Braga, the same
writer who controversially wrote the deaths of both James
T. Kirk and Charles "Trip" Tucker," has revealed in a new
interview that he also wanted to kill off another of Trek’s
best known characters: Seven of Nine. |
Braga on Seven and Voyager finale
Braga’s latest comment comes from an interview in the
latest issue of SFX magazine (via SciFi Pulse), where
he reveals how he thinks the Voyager finale could
have benefited from one more element, namely the death of
Seven. Braga states: |
It was my feeling that Seven of Nine should have died. If
you watch the episode "Human Error" written by
Andre Bormanis, it was not only a heart-breaking episode
in that Seven of Nine learns, as she begins to explore her
human emotions, that she can’t experience them. There’s
a Borg chip inside her that will kill her if she tries to
do so. First of all, that’s kind of an interesting
"rape victim" analogy or whatever you want to
call it, about a damaged woman who can’t get past what happened
to her, but I also always saw it as a crucial episode that
would set up the finale. |
This was a woman who knew she was neither here nor there.
She couldn’t go back to the Borg, nor would she want
to, but she could never be fully human, so she was doomed.
And I wanted to have her sacrifice herself to get
her shipmates home. |
Kill Seven?
After taking so much flack for killing Kirk in Generations
and Trip in the Enterprise finale, it is surprising
that Braga would open up the floor to suggest even more
death. However, it is an interesting prospect. Of
course, the Voyager finale "Endgame" did kill off
Seven in an alternate timeline, which was then "fixed"
by the future Janeway going back in time to set things right.
However, that death was not tied into her Borg implants
reacting against emotions, but was just a mention of a death
on some away mission. |
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