STARFLEET International

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Banner with STARFLEET logo
Banner with STARFLEET logo

STARFLEET: The International Star Trek Fan Association, Inc., which is also known as STARFLEET, is an association for the fans of the television and film series, Star Trek. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, STARFLEET is the world's largest fan-run science fiction fan club, and it currently has 3356 members in 223 separate chapters located around the globe as of June 3, 2008[1]. STARFLEET is incorporated as a not-for profit corporation under the laws of the State of North Carolina, the United States of America[2], and has been granted 501(c)(7) status by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. The organization derives its organizational structure from the fictional Starfleet organization depicted in Star Trek, and within the organization the name 'STARFLEET' is used exclusively to denote the fan movement, whilst 'Starfleet' refers to the fictional entity.

STARFLEET places emphasis on community service, and encourages its chapters to take part in charitable fundraising activities and other public services.

The organization has members worldwide, and splits the world into 20 regions, each with a coordinator who supervises activities in his or her region. If members, usually living in geographical proximity, choose to form a group among themselves, they become a chapter of STARFLEET, taking the fictional form of a starship, space station or other vessel along the lines of those in Star Trek. Each member is given a fictional rank to show time in membership and contribution to fan activities.

STARFLEET also operates a Academy, where members can take exams related to Star Trek trivia and general knowledge, amongst other themes. It also has a sub-group, named the STARFLEET Marine Corps, made up of members who prefer to role-play as military, rather than naval, personnel.

Among other publications, the group produces a bi-monthly publication called The Communiqué, which all members receive.

Contents

[edit] Beginnings

STARFLEET was founded in October 1974 as the "USS Enterprise Fan Club" out of Lufkin, Texas by a group of fans lead by John Bradbury. The group formed their club on the lines of a starship command structure, with ranks and positions based on what was then known of the Star Trek universe. On May 23, 1974, in response to several other fan clubs in the US, STARFLEET Central was created. Bradbury became the first president as Chief of Staff of Starfleet. By the end of 1976 there were 14 chapters nation-wide, including the "USS Eagle", which stands as the longest serving chapter within STARFLEET[3].

[edit] Commander, STARFLEET

Since 1975 there have been 14 elected presidents with one president serving two non-consecutive terms, one non-elected interim president who served less than one day (*) and three presidents who served partial terms. The position has been referred in the past as the Chief of Staff, Commander-in-Chief or simply Commander, STARFLEET (the legal title for the position). Since the seventh Commander, STARFLEET, that individual has been the corporate President of the association.


The Commander, STARFLEET or "CS" is granted the rank of honorary fictional rank of Fleet Admiral upon accession to the position and holds that rank after the term is concluded. One of these individuals, Daniel McGinnis, was demoted to the honorary rank of Captain. Michael D. Smith was stripped of his Lifetime Membership in July 2007.

The term of office was traditionally two years. Prior to the 1998 Constitution, the sitting CS could be elected to unlimited number of consecutive terms. This changed when the 2002 amendments were passed that increased the term of office to a single 3-year term with the CS who took office in 2005. No CS can serve more than five consecutive years according to the amendment changes with a total of six non-consecutive years.

[edit] The STARFLEET Communiqué

The official newsletter is the STARFLEET Communiqué. This publication is the main source of news for the association and has been in publication since 1981.

Early editions focused on news from the Star Trek franchise as well as reports from the different departments. Later news switched to more news of charitable events, chapter profiles, and articles related to the fictional side of Star Trek and the Trekdom of the association. Editions have been published in newsletter, magazine and newspaper format (currently used).

The Division of Communications, publishes the Communiqué six times a year, every other month. The membership dues to cover costs. An Internet issue is also available for downloading in PDF format to members of the STARFLEET Database website.


[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Starfleet Database, ComOps, Fleet Strength
  2. ^ "Starfleet Membership Handbook, June 2007 Edition", page 2., 2007
  3. ^ STARFLEET History Website, Bradbury Administration