Author: Phill Goldman

Polar Plunge – Help our Members Help Special Olympics

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The Polar Plunge is a series of events where people go to the extreme to support Special Olympics Minnesota. It's is the biggest fundraiser for Special Olympics Minnesota. All funds raised by Plungers help Special Olympics Minnesota provide year-round training and services to thousands of athletes with intellectual disabilities across the state.

The Polar Plunge is presented by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, a movement of volunteers dedicated to increasing awareness and funds for Special Olympics Minnesota athletes across the state.

At least two of our members led by Scott Hill under the team name USS Nokomis Away Team will be testing their mettle in St Peter, MN on February 7th.  They'll jump through a hole in the ice to help Special Olympics.  You can add your support in a couple of ways

  1. Plunge yourself.  Go to reg.plungemn.org/team/ussnokomisawayteam to join the team
  2. Donate to the team at reg.plungemn.org/team/ussnokomisawayteam.
  3. Either way, Show up in St Peter that day to support the Away Team!

Let's all help our team help the Special Oympics Kids.

Starfleet Academy Watch Party, at Lynne and Phill’s

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Starfleet Academy makes an even dozen versions of Star Trek.  We always think these premieres are a good occasion to get together, and this one is no different.  We're making a couple of simplifications this time. First, we're viewing on Friday evening January 16th to avoid the work-night choices.  Second, we're meeting at Phill and Lynne's home to skip the conflicts with football and other sport this time of year.  I know, a lot of folks will have watched it at the night before premiere, but who is going to watch it just once anyway? Phill will set up the big screen, and we'll watch BOTH episodes that night.

Lynne and Phill will take care of getting the pizzas, that's why we need to know if you're coming by the 14th. We'll have a mix of Papa Murphy's, some Heggie's as extra and make them as needed (Sorry, it's January - no pizza oven this time).  If you plan on coming, please sign up on USS Nokomis site, at the January meeting, or let Phill or Lynne know by Wednesday, January 14, so we can plan quantities. You can call or email us, or just use the sign-up sheet directly.  We'll supply the plates, napkins, and utensils as well.  If you feel joyful, we'd accept a $5 contribution to help out with costs.

Basic drinks (lemonade, iced tea) available. You're welcome and encouraged to bring your favorite preferred beverage, and we'll supply the cups and ice for you.

  • Feel free to arrive at our home anytime 6:00 p.m. or after on Friday, January 16.
  • We will watch the PREMIERE show at 7:00 p.m, and take a break before launching right into the second episode.

Now, it is January and weather is changeable.  Use your best judgement rather than calling for 'status'.  Lynne and I will be present no matter what, and we'll welcome folks that make it but Star Trek isn't worth risking life, limb, and health (and car).

We look forward to seeing you!

Feed My Starving Children in Coon Rapids on January 28th

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For more than 15 years we've been packing food for needy people at Feed My Starving Children's Coon Rapids location.   This January we'll be at the Coon Rapids packing location, serving from 5:00PM to 6:30 PM, earlier than we've typically done.  Their address is 401 93rd Ave NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55433 .

We've promised 10 people and, along with extended friends, would love to have even more. Please go right ahead and sign up, you don't need to call Mary separately.   To go directly to our group, click this link to the Nokomis group. If that fails, go to FMSC.ORG's volunteer page and type NOKOMIS in the "Looking for a Specific Group?" box.  We're committed to 10 spots but more will certainly be welcome - they are still more than 60 slots available as of the beginning of December.

You don't have to be a member to join us - bring family and friends too, it's fun!

After the session, we'll linger in the area for a Happy Hour meal at The Muddy Cow, less than 1 mile from the packing site.

Dec 13th – Club Holiday Gathering at Jax

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We're planning a holiday dinner outing to Jax Cafe on December 13th.  We we lucky to get the reservations - just a few days later Jax Cafe, a Northeast Minneapolis institution, wins "Restaurant Legends" bracket contest. Not bad for a place with a 90+ year track record, and recently reopened after some major repairs.  I'm looking forward to seeing the space. Dinner is set earlier that most times - see Mary for all the details.

Reservations are now closed. See the 25 folks who signed up on Saturday!

CPCK (Canadian Pacific) Holiday Train 2025

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The 2025 CPKC Holiday Train will tour Canada and the U.S. Nov. 19 through Dec. 21, raising money, food and awareness to support food banks across our network. Professional musicians play free concerts from the brightly decorated train's stage. CPKC donates to the local food bank at each stop and encourages all attendees to make a monetary or heart-healthy food donation.

Locally, we usually like to see it at Union Depot, but we're all busy that night at Jax Cafe. If you're not joining us at Jax that night, I'd recommend the Union Depot location.  For the folks like me that want to do it all,  I'm gonna do some old-fashioned train chasing.  On Sunday, we'll check out the last location,  It's early enough (and maybe warm enough), but still dark and magical.  We'll meet at the  Stinson / Minneapolis location later on a school night.

I'll see you at there- let me know you'll be there and I'll keep an eye out for ya!

Day Event Time City/Town Address
Dec 14 20:15 - 20:45  (That's 8PM) Minneapolis, Minnesota 37 Avenue & Stinson Boulevard,   Minneapolis, Minnesota

Merry Christmas!

A Few Good Events Awaiting Scheduling

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There are a few events without definite plans in the next few months, here's the latest we know.

  • CPCK Holiday Train - We've used this as the holiday event in years past with mixed results. We'll keep this as an additional outing.  As of this writing the date hasn't been scheduled by CPCK (the railroad).  It's usually close to the 14th of Decemeber.
  • Artemis II - See the article above.  Odds are not good that the launch happens on schedule, or on a weekend at all.   We'll find a way to watch together if at all possible.
  • Series Premieres -
    • We expect Star Fleet Academy sometime in early Spring, so we have it penciled in March.  We'll solidify like an Excalbian when Paramount does.
    • Star Trek Strange New Worlds Season 4 is likewise pending, but using the same week as Season 3 seems reasonable.  Likely the show will start feeding into the TOS timeline, and wrap up in the 1/2 length Season 5 when Kirks reign begins.

Of course we have other fun things to plan - let a Board member know if you want to head up Axe Throwing, Curling, MN Loons Outing - or if you have another idea.

And keep in mind that about a year from now Star Trek turns 60.  It's eligible for Social Security on the 60th anniversary of its original cancellation.  Let that sink in....

Artemis-2 Update

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The first group of American astronauts to travel within the vicinity of the moon in more than half a century could be embarking on their historic journey much earlier than expected.

NASA officials have said that the Artemis II mission will launch no later than April 2026, taking the four astronauts on a 10-day trip circumnavigating – but not landing on – the moon.

In an update at a press conference Sept. 23, officials confirmed that not only is the mission on track for launch by April, but could potentially be moved up to February.

The Nokomis' calendar has a date in April picked out, clearly that may go earlier.  Phill had estimated the likely lunar window and put April on the calendar, but NASA is more optimistic by a solid two lunar months.  Stay Tuned for changes, and some quick decisions on how we observe the mission immediately following the New Year's Holiday.

For a summary description, see USA Today's article: NASA unveils date range for 1st crewed Artemis moon mission. Here's when it could happen

JobCorp Opportunity for Dan Davis, October 4th

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At the last meeting, Dan Davis asked for help moving on October 4th (Next Saturday), moving just a couple of miles. Dan’ moving house and needs some help with some of the larger stuff that just one person would find awkward.  Dan’s generously offered to support the Nokomis financially for our help.   Please consider joining us in Elk River at 10AM that morning and help Dan get what he needs.

I'd ask two things of each of you

  1. Let Dan know you're coming.  You can email him at
  2. Meet at his at his address at 10AM.  His address is 18609 Zane Street NW, Elk River MN 55336

Dan’s actual address is Zane Street, but Zane Street and Zane Court are the same road at his home.  It appears that Zane Street bends around - be sure to "turn" on Zane Court.

Many hands make light work, please help out.

Reminder:  JobCorp has been a part of the Nokomis for a few decades now.  A member or friend of the Club asks for help from the multitude of skills we have, and agrees to make a cash contribution to the Club directly.  Like Dan, if you have a need for a few hours of many people, please contact a Governing Board member to kick it off.

Online Calendar Dates Are Up-to-Date

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All of the dates we discussed at the meeting are now in the Online Calendar at the Website.  Press the EVENTS button to see all of the dates and scan through the year.

Most of the dates are solid; a few are flagged differently.  Here's how to interpret the flags:

[Proposed]          Inserted for calendar only, date to be set when planned
[Penciled In]       Follows regular club practices (e.g. Board Meetings)
[Date Pending]      Date of event depends on other orgs to schedule

If you have ideas of fun things to do, let any Board member know - and even better, go ahead and make arrangements once the dates are set for the calendar!   A few ideas we're still bouncing around are

  • Curling (On Ice)
  • Science Museum After Dark
  • Bell Museum
  • Axe Throwing
  • CandlePin Bowling

Here comes a fun 2025-2026 Year!

Announcing: COUNTRY HOLIDAY ROUNDUP FUNDRAISER

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Hello Everyone,

We’re back again and we’re excited to say it’s that time again for our annual Fundraiser Dinner. We are renaming our Chuckwagon event to the “Country Holiday Roundup Fundraiser and Christmas Boutique Sale”. As you can see, we are changing the event with a new meal menu and Holiday Boutique sale. No Auction this year. I can’t begin to tell you how much your support means to us.

Come enjoy a fun meal as well as purchase some wonderful handmade items for your holiday decorations.  The dinner tickets are $14.00 a person as well as we are raffling off 50/50 tickets (one for $5.00 or three for $10.00).  That means if your name is drawn you will win half of the proceeds that we have collected.  Last time’s winner took home over $380.00 dollars!!!  So, if you can’t make the dinner, please buy raffle tickets.

Please pass along the invitation to friends and family.  All are welcome.  This is our 13 th year for our fundraiser. So please don’t miss out on coming to join in our event. We need you to purchase your tickets by October 19 th so that we can make sure to have plenty of food for you to enjoy.  If you have already bought your tickets, please mark your calendars so you don’t forget and miss the event!

Once again, thank you for your support!!
Pam
Cell: 612-250-7764
Email:

COUNTRY HOLIDAY ROUNDUP FUNDRAISER

(formerly the Chuckwagon Dinner)

Sunday, October 26, 2025

Spaghetti Dinner
and
      Holiday Boutique Sale

Sponsored by

U.S.S. NOKOMIS STAR TREK CLUB

SUNDAY
October 26, 2025
at the

Dan Patch American Legion – Savage
12375 Princeton Ave
Savage, MN 55378

Cost is $14.00 per person


Please reserve your spots by October 19th so we can make sure there is plenty of Spaghetti and fixins for everyone.