Congratulations to the USS Animus on the beginning of a new phase with the introduction of their new newsletter.
As the region RC, it gives me great satisfaction to see Chapters in our region grow and thrive, proof that no matter how far we may feel from the SFI Starbase at times, we are a strong region with dedi-cated and enthusiastic members and am content in the knowledge that we represent this region with passion and dedication to a franchise we hold dear to our hearts.
As the RC or Regional Coordinator, many members don’t know who I am or what I do, and that’s ok. You have everything you need within your Chapter. Your CO and XO run the Chapter within the STARFLEET INTERNATIONAL guidelines, they are there to guide and nurture and grow their Chap-ter and I sit quietly in the background, being there if they need me for support.
I represent our Region in the Admiralty Board, being the voice of our region. The Admiralty Board is SFI’s board of directors. We discuss issues within all regions, vote on changes to rules and regulations as required and make policy updates if we feel they’re required. I have to report monthly, as do all CO’s in our region and I commit myself to being the champion of our region when we need to be heard.
In addition, I am on the Disciplinary Committee for SFI and at times, this is the worst part of my job.
The chain of command is clear within all SFI manuals and regulations, whereby all members will con-tact their CO with any concerns or issues within their chapter. This is then escalated to me if required. In my 3rd year as RC of this region, I can happily report this has never happened and I continue to be impressed with all our COs in the manner they handle and grow their chapters.
I am, however, always happy to speak to any members if you wish to reach out and say hello!
Good Luck USS Animus with your newsletter and Chapter growth and I can’t wait to see what you have planned next.
Live Long and Prosper. Commodore Helen Stooke Regional Coordinator| The Eleventh Fleet.
FROM THE DESK OF THE REGIONAL COMMANDER
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On a rather chilly July 22, 2023, Captain Ross Manuel and Commander Peter Hough attended Gamma Expo at the Wagga Wagga Showgrounds, we had attended this event before in the past, but this was the first time we attended with our soft display. It was an exciting event in Wagga and hopefully the first of many more as a lot of interest in the group was generated so much so that we were invited to attend the upcoming Wagga Wagga Mardi Gras, more details will be revealed when we learn more.
At Oz Comic-Con Canberra, Captain Ross Manuel had the supreme honour of investing Voice Actor Matt Ryan with an Honorary Member-ship of the Crew of the USS Animus, along with an honorary Captaincy. The reason for his investment dates back to the original founding of the Animus. Matt Ryan supplied the voice of Edward Kenway in Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag, and it was the captain’s introduction to the franchise. Had he not played this iteration, it is unlikely that he would have met founding Animus Member Alex Sullivan and formed what would become the Shuttle Animus, our predecessor. Matt was incredibly honoured to be invested with an Honorary Membership, and went on to autograph our dedication plaque. The first of potentially many more illustrious members to the crew.
A huge thank you to the staff of Oz Comic Con for facilitating the investiture and to Matt Ryan’s Manager for taking the photos.
About Matt Ryan
MATT RYAN
Matthew Darren Evans (born 11 April 1981), known professionally as Matt Ryan, is a Welsh actor. He is known for portraying Edward Kenway in the Ubisoft video game Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, and John Constantine in NBC's Constantine and The CW's Arrowverse, as well as voicing the character in the DC Animated Movie Universe and its CW spin-off web series Constantine: City of Demons. He was born in Swansea, Wales. He has appeared in 15 movies since 2002, 19 Television shows, since 2001, been on stage 7 times since 2008 and his singular video game appearance was as Edward Kenway in Assassins Creed IV: Black Flag
It was an unseasonably warm weekend in August for the second ever Oz Comic-Con Canberra, especially considering how chilly events at Exhibition Park in Canberra have been in the past. OZ Comic-Con Canberra occupied the Coorong Pavilion, the site of most of our displays in Canberra. Due to the success of the first Oz Comic-Con Homegrown, it came to no surprise that the event would return. Captain Ross Manuel, Lieutenant JG David Slaney, Midshipman Owen Kirk, Chief Petty Officer Ian Windolf, Crewman Terry Scott, and Cadet Ian Windolf set up our display in more or less the same location that it had occupied 12 months before alongside the 501st Legion Southern Cross Garrison’s Black Tower Squad, a group that has more or less grown alongside us since both groups’ inceptions. As always, the captain’s chair was a massive draw and many a photo was taken, and it was great to meet so many potential new members and general lovers of Star Trek, it truly is a great second age for the franchise. As always, the tradition of the post-convention meal was undertaken, though in a much more dressed down version. All crew that attended the event enjoyed the event from the seasoned officers to those on their first away mission. It is finally great to be returning to a degree of normality, something the Animus hasn’t experienced since our commissioning.
REGION 11 STEP CHALLENGE
The Region 11 Step Team is comprised of crew from 5 ships in the Region: USS Animus; USS Par-allax, USS Southern Cross; USS Tydirium and USS Pacifica.
From May to August the Region 11 Step Challenge Team joined the Region 4 Step Challenge hik-ing through the Appalachian Trail and on the European E8 Long Distance Path (Ireland).
Recently we have started trekking around various planets of the Federation. July was the planet Trill and in August we are currently exploring Bajor.
Captain Ross Manuel has consistently maintained 10,000 steps or more a day and has personally taken 2,520,987 steps so far. Kudos Ross!
To date, the Team have taken 12,236,529 steps. Well done everyone!
If you would like to join us in the challenge, please send me a DM in Facebook or email me at yeed.ussparallax@gmail.com.
Yours in Service
LCDR David Yee SFMD
Chief of Operations & R11 Assistant Surgeon General - STARFLEET Medical
Chief Medical Officer – USS PARALLAX NCC-72399
As we all know, ranks aboard the USS Animus are more or less a gimmick that holds the group together, but did you know they also serve an administrative purpose. While they have no actual authority attached to them, they reflect a member’s contribution to the Ship, the local Fleet and affiliated Organisations, and each has actual criteria and responsibilities attached to them.
Previously we held the distinction that paying members of the group would hold Commissions, and those who were non-paying would hold NCO ranks. It has been decided that this didn’t properly recognise the level of contribution that all our members have to the group, and so, going forward, all members administratively will follow the same rank progression should they wish to. Commissions will only be applied to those who pass their Officer Training School training from Starfleet International’s Starfleet Academy, for those who wish to partake in the administrative side of the group as a way of indicating a level of familiarity with our parent organisation. For those who are non-paying members or those who are here for the social aspect of the group, nothing will really change. As always no one is expecting you to address another member by rank unless that’s something you both want to do.
The current promotion criteria list is being reworked to reflect this change, but rest assured, those who already have Commissions, will still have them, this will just make progression easier for all members.
| EVENT | WHEN | NOTES |
|---|---|---|
| Gamma Expo Wagga | 24 Jul 2023 | Wagga Wagga Showgrounds |
| Gamma Expo Canberra | 06 Aug 2023 | Thoroughbred Park |
| Gamma.Con 2023 | 10 Sep 2023 | Thoroughbred Park |
Thank you once again for being an amazing member of the crew of the USS Animus. Its be-cause of your amazing contributions on the server, at events, online and in person that keeps this group functioning for the past four years. This is the first physical newsletter we’ve put out, the first of many going forward.
I always say that you get out of this group what you put into it, the Animus is very much your group as it is the founding members, we are always up for a meet up, or a chat about the amazing franchise that serves as the core focus of this group.