Author: Mary Pucel

Would you like to take a lesson in Shakespearean acting from Sir Patrick Stewart (see, there really is a Star Trek tie-in here)? Record a song with Sting? Have coffee with Hillary Clinton or a call with a real astronaut? All of these things, and more, will be available for auction from May 1st to the 8th.

According to Sotheby's websites, the "online auction of incredible, exclusive and most importantly – virtual – experiences will offer bidders the opportunity to converse with some of the most fascinating names in music, politics, science, culture and sport." Sotheby's has partnered with Google to offer this online auction to benefit the International Rescue Committee. Check it out HERE.

From Daily Star Trek News:

Players of the massively multiplayer online role-playing game, Star Trek Online, spent part of the weekend honoring medical professionals on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

Last week, Star Trek Online announced that a gathering was to be held in-game on Saturday, and on the day, hundreds of players turned up, dressed in their finest medical gear. Star Trek Online had asked players to “please show up in your best Medical Uniform, of whatever faction you choose, and show your support for the doctors, nurses, and other medical workers out there right now.” The event took place on the upper promenade of Deep Space Nine, outside Quark’s Bar. Approximately 1,500 people attended to honor our medical professionals.

Here's an article from StarTrek.com about the Delta Quadrant's version of a renegade virus. According to the author, "Fans may remember it as the episode featuring giant viruses that had Janeway walking around in her tank top being a commando badass." Enjoy.

https://www.startrek.com/news/voyagers-macrocosm-is-a-covid-19-cautionary-tale

As COVID-19 social distancing and self quarantining continue, some of us may be going stir crazy not able to go and do the things we’re used to. Here are some ideas, gathered from online sources :

• Howl at the moon: People are really going outside to break the monotony of being stuck at home and howling at 8 p.m. local time. Some are doing it to thank health care workers and first responders for their dedication while fighting on the front lines of the coronavirus. Some people are yipping just to reduce  their frustration from being tied down and stuck at home. There’s even a Facebook group dedicated to the nightly howl, called appropriately enough, Go Outside and Howl, at 8 p.m. It has members from every state in the U.S. and has gone international with people joining from 99 countries in the night song. You can even howl like a Klingon if you want!

• Get organized, deep clean: It’s time for Spring Cleaning and why not do it when you have the time to purge. Good Housekeeping has 33 easy tips to help you get the job done. https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/g3345/spring-cleaning-tips/

• Read a rare book: What is a bibliophile to do when their sanctuary, known as a library to most non-book aficionados, is closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic? It’s the Internet Archive to the rescue. The group has created what it calls a National Emergency Library, removing any waitlist on more than 1.4 million books until June 30, or the end of the national pandemic. https://archive.org/details/nationalemergencylibrary

• Learn to draw: Mo Willems, the author of the Pigeon and Elephant and Piggy children’s books hosts a daily lunch doodle. While you may not be able to take the time at 1 p.m. every weekday, catch up on the weekends. The classes are all on YouTube. Disney animator Michael Woodside is also hosting a daily drawing class where he teaches kids and grownups how to draw Disney characters. Find out early in the day who he plans to draw by visiting his Twitter site, then log into YouTube for the live class.

Remember this wonderful breakfast treat? It seems like so long ago, when we still hadn't met two new Captains Pike and seen a certain Short Trek that introduced the newest Tribble cereal. Enjoy!

What to do instead of going out to eat or cleaning? Walking is great, and playing Yard Yahtzee. Here are a few more choices:

• Find a fun word search here:  Trek Word
• Google adult around-town scavenger hunts and do them in your car.
• From 11am to 5pm CT, watch cool stuff and get away from it all on NASA Live
• Get out your Lego sets and build them
• Read those classic books you've never tried, like Les Miserables, Ulysses, or The Last of the Mohicans.

Share ideas with the group at the next meeting or in the comments.

Social distancing has its ups and downs. Here are some links for each.

Here are some ways to have fun:

1. Since it's con season and so many events have been cancelled, some fun-loving people created Concellation 2020 on Facebook. This group has gained over 22,000 members - from all over the world - in just 10 days. It's most amazing to see what people are dreaming up to post, including costume contests, panels, book reviews, pictures with celebrities and so much more. The USS Nokomis hosted a Virtual Blood Drive on March 17th and got lots of comments and support. Interestingly, several people that weren't members from the beginning have asked for the location of the bloodmobile, so we'll be hosting more drives in the coming weeks. We'll be offering the Virtual Blood Donor Badge Ribbon - the most coveted ribbon at con - to all donors. If you're on Facebook and not yet a member, you may want to check it out!
2. Virtual exercise: No, it's not what it sounds like - you actually have to DO the exercise. However, there are many ways to bring the exercise to you! Virtual Zumba, workouts and dance programs are available on social media and on YouTube. For example, a good workout - STRONG by Zumba 30-Minute Class - can be found at youtu.be/cLJfmPaKb1M . You can find something for every level to get your steps in. Several online exercise programs are also offering free or discounted membership at this time.
3. Another thing that's greatly discounted right now is language classes. Have you always wanted to learn German, Spanish, Italian? You can download a free app, like Duolingo, to learn basics. You can also take advantage of the big discounts from Babbel until the end of March. Ciao!

Now, here are some interesting links about the effects of this social distancing we're living:

1. Keeping Your Distance to Stay Safe from the American Psychological Association:    www.apa.org/practice/programs/dmhi/research-information/social-distancing
2. Talking about how we feel: hbr.org/2020/03/that-discomfort-youre-feeling-is-grief

Greetings, crew!

I hope you're doing well and absorbing some energy from our recent increased sunshine. I like that I can walk around without fear of slipping on ice!

It was fun to see many of you at MarsCon. Not having a party room was a mixed blessing - it's so fun to be in the room to visit all evening with people and share our talents, but we got some sleep this year! The blood drive went well and the report is in this newsletter.

Speaking of conventions, please please please put the CONvergence dates on your calendar. For the first time in years, the convention is not on the 4th of July week, so we hope that this will allow more of you to come. Of course, if you happen to be celebrating your family 4th of July on the weekend of August 22nd, this may not be true. We're crossing our fingers against that possibility! Those dates, again? The evening of Wednesday, August 19th is loading and moving the sets, the take-down and moving home is the morning of Sunday, August 23rd, and the fun evenings of party room fun are August 20th to 22nd. We really, really, REALLY need the hands on Wednesday and Sunday. We'd love you to be there. Well, we just love you, but we'd love you to be there, too.

Another note: if you are interested in joining us for TC Trek Trivia, which is just about as much fun as a Trekkie can have in this town, let me know. It's on the second Wednesday of each month. Come and play with us!

Hey, see you around the Galaxy!

Mary