Starfleet International Conference
The STARFLEET International Conference is the annual business conference where members of STARFLEET: The International Star Trek Fan Association, Inc. meet the organization's leadership. The conference includes leadership meetings, information sessions, a formal banquet, an awards ceremony, and other events and entertainment.
History
STARFLEET is a nonprofit corporation based in North Carolina, and the conference also serves as the required annual meeting of the corporation where members of the Board of Directors, referred to as the Admiralty Board, and the officers of the corporation, known as the Executive Committee, meet in session. Initially called the "National Conference,"[1] the International Conference has been hosted in the United States because the majority of STARFLEET's membership resides in that country. Most conferences are stand-alone events, but some have been associated with nearby conventions; for example, in 1995, the conference was part of DragonCon in Atlanta, Georgia. Conference guests have included Vaughn Armstrong,[2] Casey Biggs,[2] Robin Curtis,[3][4] Richard Herd,[2] J. G. Hertzler,[3] Chase Masterson,[5] Colm Meaney,[6] Tim Russ,[3] Roger Stern[3] and Fred W. Haise.
Locations
- 1988 - Cleveland, Ohio - Held at the Cleveland Convention Center, this National Conference was combined with International Superman Convention and the 7th annual Neovention gaming convention.[7]
- 1990 - Kansas City, Missouri
- 1991 - Hunt Valley, Maryland
- 1992 - Kansas City, Missouri - Special charity events at the 1992 IC raised money to benefit the Children's Miracle Network.[1]
- 1993 - Arlington, Texas - Held at the Arlington Convention Center, the IC was branded as "Tex-Trek '93" and some events were opened to the public.[6] Guests included actor Colm Meaney.[6]
- 1994 - Orlando, Florida
- 1995 - Atlanta, Georgia
- 1996 - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- 1997 - Cherry Hill, New Jersey
- 1998 - Lubbock, Texas
- 1999 - Charlotte, North Carolina
- 2000 - Burlington, Vermont
- 2001 - Kansas City, Missouri
- 2002 - San Jose, California
- 2003 - Greensboro, North Carolina
- 2004 - Birmingham, Alabama
- 2005 - San Antonio, Texas - Guests included Richard Herd, Vaughn Armstrong, and Casey Biggs.[2]
- 2006 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- 2007 - Denver, Colorado - Included guest Tim Russ
- 2008 - Ithaca, New York - This IC's theme was "Back to School" and special guests included actors J. G. Hertzler and Robin Curtis, and Superman author Roger Stern.[3]
- 2009 - Greensboro, North Carolina - With the theme "One Small Step, One Giant Leap", this IC celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing[8] as well as the 35th Anniversary of STARFLEET International. The special guest was Apollo 13 astronaut Fred W. Haise.
- 2010 - Sequoyah State Park, Wagoner, Oklahoma - The "Wagon Train to the Stars" theme reflects the Oklahoma setting and echoes a phrase Gene Roddenberry used to describe Star Trek to television network executives.[9][10][11]
- 2011 - The Inn at Pocono Manor, Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania
- 2012 - Whispering Woods Resort, Memphis, Tennessee - "Trekkin' on the Mississippi" - Included Guest: Rod Roddenberry
- 2013 - MCM Elegante Hotel, Dallas, Texas - "Year of the Phoenix" - Included Guest: Vaughn Armstrong
- 2014 - The Clock Tower Resort and Convention Center, Rockford, Illinois - "Time is Fleeting", Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of STARFLEET: The International Star Trek Fan Association, Inc.
- 2015 - The Conference & Event Center, Niagara Falls, New York - "Honeymoon in STARFLEET"
- 2016 - Crown Plaza Louisville Airport, Louisville, Kentucky - "Trekkin' II: Horsing around on the Ohio!"
- 2017 - New Orleans, Louisiana
- 2018 - Minneapolis, Minnesota
References
- 1 2 Wickman, G. Fred (June 23, 1992). "Beam yourself right in there". Kansas City Star. p. E6.
This science fiction and fantasy convention also is the Starfleet national conference. Proceeds go for a down-to-earth cause, the Children's Miracle Network.
- 1 2 3 4 "International Conference 2005: Fiesta in San Antonio, Texas" (PDF). Communique. 130. SFI. August–September 2005.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "STARFLEET International Conference 2008". Retrieved March 10, 2009.
- ↑ "'Star Trek' fan group to hold '08 conference in Ithaca". The Ithaca Journal. August 1, 2007.
"Star Trek" fandom will beam into Ithaca when STARFLEET, a "Star Trek" fan association, holds its annual conference here in June 2008. [...] STARFLEET, a not-for-profit organization, uses the conference to take care of yearly business and have some fun, Adinolfi said. The Ithaca chapter beat out chapters in Greensboro, N.C. and Oklahoma City, Okla. to host the 2008 conference. The conference is being held in Denver this year and will feature actor Tim Russ, who played Tuvok on "Star Trek: Voyager." [...] [T]he conference will feature panels about STARFLEET, discussions on science fiction, a TV room for showing science fiction movies and a presentation from a Cornell staff member.
- ↑ "Trekkies jump to warp speed, with Charlotte as destination". Charlotte Observer. July 30, 1999. p. 7E.
- 1 2 3 "Universal appeal Star Trek convention prepares to beam into town for the weekend". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. July 1, 1993. p. 23.
- ↑ "Convention Calendar". Dragon. June 1988. p. 97. Archived from the original on March 5, 2009.
- ↑ "STARFLEET International Conference 2009". Retrieved March 10, 2009.
- ↑ "Wil Wheaton Offers Reaction To 'Spoilers' 'Star Trek' Footage: 'Relax People'". MTV.com. February 20, 2009.
[...] the original “Star Trek,” which was pitched by Gene Roddenberry as a Western in Space, or “Wagon Train to the Stars.”
- ↑ "STARFLEET International Conference 2010". Retrieved March 10, 2009.
- ↑ "Remembering Gene Roddenberry". StarTrek.com. October 24, 2003.
Originally pitched as "Wagon Train to the stars," Star Trek was really a vehicle for Roddenberry to comment on contemporary issues under the guise of science fiction