Author: Mary Pucel

Greetings!

Here we are - another summer. You know what that means. We'll have much fun at our various activities but fewer meetings. Today is my birthday, and I'm spending it writing to you - what dedication HA!

I hope you are all planning to join us this summer for some of the fun. It's been a while since we've had either a two-room convention set or a new movie, and both are exciting! We also have two great charitable events in July: the 16th annual CONvergence blood drive and packing food at Feed My Starving Children. Don't miss these fun events and others. Check back often for information on the website.

As the largest Star Trek club in town, we have a fun and unique position. People turn to us for events and input. I have been contacted by several theaters, multiple groups regarding the convention in July and other conventions, and several who just want to play. It's fun to be fun, isn't it?

Come to the June meeting for our 32nd anniversary picnic, induction of the new governing board, a wonderful auction, fun with friends, and a nice day. We'll see you there.

Mary

OK, everybody, it's almost here! Here's what you need to know.

We have two rooms at the convention this year: the Federation Enterprise rec room with food replicator and captain's chair and the Terran Empire bar room with bridge console, bar and transporter. This is the best way we know to really honor the 50th anniversary of Trek and put on a great show for convention-goers. Plus, they've been asking for years when we're going to do it again, so let's do it!

We need your help on several parts of the plan. First, be at the cargo bay at 6pm on Wednesday, June 29th to help load the truck. We'll go down to the hotel and unload when we're ready. Call 612-385-3750 to determine our status if you're joining up with us along the way. Feel free to bring friends and haulers, as we can use all the help we can get!

Next, we need all hands on deck at 9am on Thursday, June 30th to set up the rooms. This is a job for many people, so please come down. We'll work all day and we have committed to opening the doors at 8pm. We can do it if we have the hands - we've done it before!

If you are a guest of the convention, please plan to take some time in the room. We have shifts available the whole weekend to greet our guests. It's fun to chat with con-goers and see their reactions when they come in - don't miss it! Our friends from the IKV RakeHell are going to join us this year to play in the rooms. They will take some shifts and add to the fun. If you're planning to bring your tribbles, don't taunt the Klingons. Play nice.

We'll reverse the process on Sunday, July 3rd at 9am. Loading the truck and dismantling the rooms goes much more quickly than putting it up, but we still need lots of help. Again, friends are welcome and we hope to have help from our RakeHell cohorts. After we return the whole starship to the cargo bay, we'll find a nice restaurant in which to relax, eat and have something cool to smooth our brows. We'll share stories of the weekend and rejoice in our triumphant return to two rooms!

Please let me know ASAP when you can be here to help. We need to know who's available and how many to count on. Thanks for your help on this big 50th anniversary bash!

Mary

It's time for another movie premier, folks! We will go as a group to a showing on the weekend of July 22nd. We are working to identify the best option. Several theaters would like to work with us. We also may choose to go on our own. I would suggest saving the dates of July 22nd (evening) and July 24th (afternoon) if you are planning to join us. Get those costumes ready - here's a fun chance to wear them - or you can just come in civvie clothing!

Mary

Well, I'm glad you asked. For quite a few years we have had an outdoor movie evening, the Mermaid Star Drive-In Experience, in our back yard during August. This year, due to the extra events we have in the summer, we're moving the event. It will be an indoor event after our November monthly membership meeting. More information will follow in the fall.

Mary

As mentioned at the last meeting, we have been invited to join the Rakehell for a picnic this Monday. Here is the invitation:

• The IKV Rakehell cookout will be on Memorial Day, May 30, starting at 2:00 PM at Dave Kingsley and Mary Bertelson's house. The address is 3104 Jersey Ave. S., St. Louis Park, MN. If you need directions or have other questions, please call (952)928-9176 or (952)738-1946.
• Please bring something to grill and something to share. We will provide beer (including Dave's latest home brew), pop, wine and of course the Drink of the Day. We will also provide the dishes, ice, and condiments. We have some chairs, but bring one if you can. Feel free to invite friends and family. It is the 50th anniversary of ST this year so let's celebrate. Bring your batleths and other fun things. Please no pets.

Greetings, crew!

Thanks to everyone that supported us at the Chuckwagon. What a great event! It shows what we can do when we all work together.

It's time to move into summer now. Make plans to join us for the 32nd anniversary picnic on June 11th at the Evers' home to kick off the season. Then there's Convergence, the blood drive, the second Garden Party, Feed My Starving Children, a new Star Trek movie, the lake campout and the 50th anniversary Star Trek convention. That's a lot to choose from. As you move through the summer, make sure to tell every fan you know about the big Trek 50 party on September 10th. All are invited and we really want to spread the word.

Don't miss the May meeting and its Governing Board elections. Anyone is welcome to run for any office they like, and we will continue to take nominations right up until the election takes place at the end of that meeting. Also, if you have activities, fundraisers or chartable events you'd like to see on the next year's calendar, now's the time to bring them to any Board member.

See you around the Galaxy!

Mary

CHUCKWAGON 2016 was a great success!! We sold 68 tickets this year and changed our menu to three types of chili with all the fixings you could possibly imagine. We’ve received lots of compliments on how wonderful all the chilis tasted, and they also felt that we had wonderful items to pick from at the auction and altogether how much everyone enjoyed the event!! We are excited to announce that after expenses we made $1616.91. Of that amount we will be donating $165.00 to the American Lung Association in honor of Juana Mann. Please note the 2016 Chuckwagon was our sixth year for this fundraiser. In those six years we have made $10,180.23 in profits! THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND CONTINUED EFFORTS!!

Pam

Unfortunately, our construction day was soggy and rained out on April 24th. The bright side is the other day we have planned on May 15th. There is a lot of painting to do and the paint is all mixed and ready, so please plan to come. We'll have the same weather call that morning if it looks iffy. The gluing and almost all of the structural work has been completed, so if we have the hands the work will go quickly. Bring rollers and handles if you have'em. We'll start at 10am.

Here's the schedule. If you haven't put these dates on your calendars, please do so now. As we have learned, there is no way to be successful without adequate help. Please plan to be there.

• June 29th at 6pm - load the truck at the Cargo Bay and drive to the hotel, start unloading into the rooms.
• June 30th at 9am - setup of both rooms
• June 30th at 8pm - open
• July 3rd at 9am - tear down and load the truck, return to Cargo Bay and unload, have lunch and relax

Keep in mind that the price goes up on Convergence tickets after May 15th. Go online and get yours today. Also, if you don't have a costume, consult with me and/or Dawn soon. We'll run out of time soon.

This will be the best room ever and I hope everyone can enjoy it. It's very likely to be the last hurrah of the two rooms together, so let's do it right!

Mary