Category: Uncategorized

Because we didn't get enough volunteers to help set up and populate a party room this year, we won't be able to do our Assignment: Earth set-up. Accordingly, we're limiting activity to the blood drive and some fun on Saturday night. We'll be doing a Star Trek walkabout through the party floor, and other convention spaces, as a group. You are welcome to join us as we hit the rooms in costume and spread some Trek love. Exact timing will be shared closer to the convention.

Yes, it's been 40 years. We're going to do it up right to celebrate. No hauling sets, no work, just a great night with friends. Mark your calendars today for the 4th of May (did you notice that rhymed?). Yes, it's true - celebrating on May the Fourth and we'd like to Be With You. Just think of the possibilities. Seriously, though, we hope you'll save the date for this once-in-40-year event! Mary

Each Fall we ask you to pay your dues, and everyone in the Nokomis thanks you for staying up to date.  Dues ensure that the basics of the Club are covered.

Producing and sending the Newsletter – Forty years ago this was printing and postage and was our largest single expense. Now it covers the Website’s hosting and registration.  We’re keeping that expense as low as possible by using NO pay-for-use software, and a very inexpensive hosting service.

Banking and Finance – When the Nokomis was born and we were Searching for Spock, the main banking costs were physical checks and a monthly fee since we were a low-volume use organization.  Now those costs are gone, but we have new costs in electronic service fees like everyone else.  Did you notice we didn’t raise the dues to cover those charges?

Cards, Flowers, and Memorials – We occasionally receive requests to recognize life events. When this happens, the Nokomis may send flowers or a card as appropriate, or make a contribution to a charitable organization if the recipient prefers.  Like all costs, these have risen dramatically since 1984.  Many years the Dues covers this completely, but not always.  We’ve chosen to keep dues the same and supplement from fundraising or donations.

Meeting Locations – Though most of our locations are free, we will rent a site for regular meetings when needed, like the Anniversary Picnic.  At the founding we met in people’s homes and yards.  We outgrew that and started using public sites like libraries. Sometimes these library rooms charge nominal fees to groups like ours to raise revenue.

ZOOM – Clearly a new expense, Virtual Meetings became a necessity during the Pandemic and now form the basis of our hybrid meetings.  Every month we have up to a dozen people attend online.  The Nokomis pays for the subscription, and the added hardware and effort to set up are donated.

Individual Dues started at $10 per year in 1984 and has only been raised once, to $15 per year roughly 20 years ago.  Would you guess that $10 dues in 1984 would be the equivalent of $29.61 in 2023 according the US Bureau of Labor statistics?  Diligent effort on keeping costs low allows us to keep dues at the same level for decades at a time, and there’s no increase planned for the foreseeable future.

In a very real sense, YOU keep the club running with your dues.  Thank You!

If you need help with paying your Dues, the Nokomis may be able to help.  It’s never our intent to exclude anyone for financial reasons. 

Four of us hearty souls made it to the Union Depot for the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train.  Hearty, because December 10th was only day in December that was fuly below freezing during the warmest December in Minnesota history.

It was a great party atmosphere as the train arrived, albeit a bit late due to traffic on the line.  The Country Music conference was easily heard throughout the event.  The Christmas Marketplace was larger than past years and had several tasty vendors. Parking was easy right at the Depot.

Next year maybe we'll select a different point on the line, closer to a nice meal.  It's a good event to supplement our holidays, but maybe we should make an event that's less weather-sensitive for our main holiday gathering.  Let me know please if you have ideas, or if you'd just rather have an indoor party and are willing to help run it. - Phill

Greetings, Crew!

Welcome to 2024! I hope you're all well as we head in to cold season. I mean the chilly season, not the stuffiness and chills season!

We had a great Governing Board meeting on Sunday and there is much news to share. You'll want to come to the January meeting at the Wescott Library (or tune in on Zoom - link below) to get all of the updates. You will hear about several upcoming community service/volunteer opportunities in addition to an active social schedule. We hope you can plan to join us for some fun.

From the purely Star Trek perspective, we have a few things to share. Remember that our members play on teams at TC Trek Trivia every 2nd Wednesday and have a marvelous time. This week's theme is More Sci, More Fi (sounds intriguing). Check them out on Facebook HERE. We are still considering whether we'll have a room at MarsCon this year, so if you can help please make sure you communicate to Mary by the end of Saturday's meeting. And of course, there's always the annual Movie Night so we can Trek ourselves!

So come and join us to hear all the news! See you around the Galaxy. Mary

Would you like to dress your best and enjoy a 4-course meal with your friends? Relax and be waited on? Then you should come to the Valentine Dinner on February 17th. Emma, Shannon, Harrison and Ben will provide us with a lovely evening and excellent food. The cost is still just $35 per person and seating is limited. Please use the signup sheet on the website or let us know you are coming by end of day on January 13th. You can pay online or at the January meeting. Note: if we have more signups than spots we will draw names to be fair to all.

Here is the link to Saturday's meeting in case you are not able to join us in person. Please log in a few minutes early to check your tech.

Topic: USS Nokomis January General Membership Meeting
Time: Jan 13, 2024 12:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3141085993?pwd=S21TampnV01XUjNrc2QyK2kvSzMyQT09&omn=81337384279

Meeting ID: 314 108 5993
Passcode: 12345

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Dial by phone: 312 626 6799

Meeting ID: 314 108 5993
Passcode: 12345

This year is our 19th annual MarsCon blood drive and we need donors! Thanks to your efforts, the USS Nokomis has hosted blood drives at MarsCon that have touched over 2,000 lives. This year, we hope to touch almost 100 more.

The drive runs from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, March 9th at the MSP Airport Hilton. The link to the MarsCon Blood Drive page, where you can sign up for your appointment, is HERE. We ask that you kindly share this information with family and friends, especially those that plan to attend the convention. If you have any questions, please let Mary know.