2024 marks fifty years since the creation of Starfleet Command as a whole. In it’s early years SFC was a fully immersive fan organisation and still carries a lot of those elements in the 21st century. Even with the split between Quadrant’s 1 & 2 decades ago, we still retain some of the legacy ideologies and policies baked into our “Starfleet Handbook” for new and existing members.
Times however do bring in change. And one thing that changed as we live in hope that onje day we’ll see a society as wholesome as the idealistic Federation is how we see money. You see, money doesn’t exist in the 24th century…
These days nearly everything has a subscription fee. From the common issue of multiple streaming platforms to the ability to keep the heated car seat you paid extra for turned on there’s barely anything left that doesn’t come without some hidden cost or fee.
In a world of squeezing out every penny from loyalty, Q2 has committed to never charge a penny for membership.
Historically, that’s not always been true. Even after separating our structure from what’s now Quadrant One, Q2 did have membership fee’s for several years to help level out the cost of operations and offer certain perks to members from newsletters from the Director of Communications to printed certificates and membership cards.
As the internet took hold and we moved into a digital age, a lot of that seemed more unessential. Comms moved to PDF format and email. The Q2 forums – which phased out naturally with the rise of social media platforms and social devices and soon enough cost of operations dwindled massively and there was no material cost to pass on per head.
Plus, lets be honest, hobbies and activities cost a lot and much of it doesn’t need someone to pay a needless membership fee. Who wants to be charged for meeting fellow sci fi fans and talking about warp core regulators or what shade Worf’s uniform is this episode? No. Things cost far too much and being a fan of something, as well as being a part of a group, shouldn’t come at a cost.
Running costs do exist, of course. The most consistent being our servers and domains. We also have a surplus of materials for fleet use that can be sent to CO’s and their members and will on occasion – by special circumstance or request – offer printed versions of our documents. We also pay for business services and software to help maintain a healthy and secure fleet database and other random services with the latest being a new mobile contract to offer direct communication to the DoFC office via phone, text or Whatsapp Business. But all those costs are, and always wil be, absorbed by the board.
Event costs also do exist and are handled by the unit CO or selected representative, which is fair. One unit in particular has a cost-sharing method where if they receive five free passes and six people share the table, that single entry cost will be split between all parties to ensure fairness and flexibility; it’s generous enough for organisers to make the offer!
We’ve said for years that fandom doesn’t come at a premium and we mean it. For as long as we remain Q2 will never have a membership fee to join, charge a penny through donation to our club and nor will we create shelves of merchandise just to line a pocket. Having no money involved, aside from being less complex and giving us less things to deal with, means that there’s no barriers to be involved for anyone.
Even in occasional special runs, such as the fleet and pride patches, we kept the costs that low that when we worked it all out we donated what we thought was excess only to realise we’d miscalculated and lost money!
Of course, that does mean that sometimes things run a bit slow and fall behind as requests can take a back bench to real world responsibilities. Also it results in the occasional rant on Facebook about the cost of stamps…
…but the most important thing to all of us is bringing fans together. And unlike many other clubs, we believe fandom doesn’t come at a premium and welcome all new members to join our collective without ever asking for money in return.
The July Edition of SQ2&A will look at one of the most vital pieces of Quadrant 2’s policy: Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations and how it’s core to our values as an organisation.
About the author
Site & Service Updates July 2026
It's been a strange year as we adapt to then changing landscape of the Star Trek franchise with recent corporate shenanigans in the media industry, as well as adjusting to and anticipating new regulation sin our home base of the UK which has taken up more brain power than we'd expected!Still, despite distractions, we've been working away in the background with a revised Admin schedule to ensure at the very least every Sunday we can check off some items on the to do list and keep everyone updated on the changes whether minor, major or a bit pointless! On Screen Additions After being placed on the low priority list for a while, the On Screen Mission Log section has begun taking shape. Previously the On Screen section had it's own section per show since the launch of Discovery, however with […]
New Unit Application Guide
Account Academy Database Fleet Updates Calendar Latest Entries Explore Database Index Starfleet Academy Help & Support ⯇ DATABASE INDEX ACCOUNT HUB NEw Unit Application Guide Clarification This section is both for information and for making formal applications for creating or importing a new unit into SFCQ2. Applications can also be made directly to Fleet Administration. All applications are considered for review. × JOIN THE CAPTAINS TABLE Every Star Trek fans dreams of being the captain of their own Starship. Although running an SFC Quadrant 2 Unit is (probably) easier than commanding a starship, both roles require commitment and dedication.Unit’s are, and always will be, the core of SFC. It is within them that members can indulge in their shared interests for Star Trek and science fiction while enjoying the company of fellow fans and like minded people. At their best, […]
[Q2&A] Membership Handbook: Revised & Updated for 2026
With over fifty years (and counting) of history, joining SFC can sometimes be a whirlwind and while we're always focused on a more casual experience, tit can sometimes be overwhelming knowing where to start. While we offer our Academy as an induction tour of Quadrant 2's organisation and structure, and are always open to expanding more information in the Fleet Database, our Officers Pack gives you a one stop resource to highlight our core policies, membership information and more; The Membership Handbook/ Membership within Q2 is fairly laid back. But since it's inception - both overall as Starfleet Command as well as the administrative split for Quadrant 2 - out handbook has outlined who we are, how we operate and as a resource for members to be able to understand what membership entails from our core mission statement, to our […]
[Retro Review] The Galileo Seven
Pulled in two directions, the Enterprise has to deliver critical medical supplies to avert a plague and conduct vital research at the same time. Unable to turn down the order, Kirk thinks on his feet by carrying forward to save the planet, while sending Spock to lead a research team on the Galileo shuttle to carry out their mission until the Enterprise has finished it's mission of mercy. It's a good idea. Until it isn't. Isolated form the Enterprise, the Galileo runs into a bit of bother. Thrown off course by plot, the shuttle crash lands on a primitive planet. Alone with a broken ship and a people who are as barbaric as they are terrified by the shuttles sudden arrival, Spock has to lead his own team through fear and frustration with cool and calming logic. On the first […]
A Fistful of O’Brien
Entering the Star Trek world as an unnamed extra with a few bits of dialogue, O'Brien soon became a fixture on the Enterprise D as it's transporter chief before moving to Deep Space Nine to head up engineering and operations on what was thought to be a backwater outpost before it became one of the most strategically important stations in the quadrant!As the only enlisted or non commissioned officer to feature in the main cast of any Star Trek show to date, O'Brien stands as the only working class hero in the Star Trek universe with a vast and varied career taking from the front lines of the Cardassian war as a soldier, to the front lines of the Dominion War as an engineer, retrofitting DS9, keeping the Defiant from blowing itself apart, and even sniping Dominion troops. All in […]
[Q2&A] Career Track
SFC has always structured it's internal reward and recognition system on the command structure of Starfleet on screen. Newbies are cadets. When they become full members, they become Ensigns. And those eager to take on a leadership role can rank up to Commander or Captain. Even the board of directors are mirrored within the theme as Commodores and Admirals! It's always been the way, but the path of an officer isn't for everyone... Despite the original idea of all star ship personnel being highly trained astronauts, therefore nullifying the need for enlisted crew, the enlisted ranks have existed in some form since the original series. More defined in the film era, particularly under the revision of style and structure in The Wrath of Khan, they have been slightly more prominent since. Most notable of the enlisted members of Starfleet was […]
Related
[Q2&A] Membership Handbook: Revised & Updated for 2026
With over fifty years (and counting) of history, joining SFC can sometimes be a whirlwind and while we're always focused on a more casual experience, tit can sometimes be overwhelming knowing where to start. While we offer our Academy as an induction tour of Quadrant 2's organisation and structure, and are always open to expanding more information in the Fleet Database, our Officers Pack gives you a one stop resource to highlight our core policies, membership information and more; The Membership Handbook/ Membership within Q2 is fairly laid back. But since it's inception - both overall as Starfleet Command as well as the administrative split for Quadrant 2 - out handbook has outlined who we are, how we operate and as a resource for members to be able to understand what membership entails from our core mission statement, to our […]
[Q2&A] Career Track
SFC has always structured it's internal reward and recognition system on the command structure of Starfleet on screen. Newbies are cadets. When they become full members, they become Ensigns. And those eager to take on a leadership role can rank up to Commander or Captain. Even the board of directors are mirrored within the theme as Commodores and Admirals! It's always been the way, but the path of an officer isn't for everyone... Despite the original idea of all star ship personnel being highly trained astronauts, therefore nullifying the need for enlisted crew, the enlisted ranks have existed in some form since the original series. More defined in the film era, particularly under the revision of style and structure in The Wrath of Khan, they have been slightly more prominent since. Most notable of the enlisted members of Starfleet was […]
[Q2&A] Fleet Recognition
While SFC's rank system is one of the most obvious form of rewards within Quadrant 2, with members informally given the rank and title for each grade, rank is just one level of recognition within the fleet for out Captains and Fleet Support to highlight a members contributions. While SFC's rank system is one of the most obvious form of rewards within Quadrant 2, with members informally given the rank and title for each grade, rank is just one level of recognition within the fleet for out Captains and Fleet Support to highlight a members contributions. A more common form of recognition are our Commendations and Citations. Having taken various forms over the years, our commendations are the more open of all with four categories – Service, Departmental, Leadership or Special Commendations. Commendations and Special Commendations are the most common […]
Academy Class of 2403: Beta Season Graduates
The Star Trek world may be celebrating the first year graduates of 3196, but in Q2 our Academy is pleased to roll out a new generation of officers completing their provisional terms for our 2403 Beta Quarter Graduates!As you may be aware, new members to SFC are inducted on a "Cadet Term" to find out more about us, establish their preferred level of involvement and get to know the fleet. Once that term is over, they are officially welcomed to the ranks and transitioned to full membership (more info). 2403 Alpha Class Graduates We're pleased to say that the following members have now completed their provisional field service cadet term and have now been send their official confirmation and welcome to the officer ranks. Andy Claridge SC-795834-CHL Operations Officer, USS Churchill Rachael Claridge SC-795835-CHL Operations Officer, USS Churchill Michelle Thorniley […]
[Q2&A] Orientation: The Officers Hub
In the past ten years we've tried to make a conscious effort to make things easier for members to manage and consult the admin side of Q2. Before the days of the internet, any guides, documents or forms were issued by request and a little harder to come by but now things tend to be found within our online membership portal that's constantly changing and growing based on feedback from across the fleet. Now we try to make things as easy add adaptable as possible, utilising our online home for as many member needs as we can with our key resource online being our Officers Hub. In it's current form the Officers Hub is a catch all place for fleet updates and membership administration, allowing you to make changes, updates or get information about Q2 and it's processes without having […]
Tesla Crew Beams Down To Glasgow This Weekend!
It's almost tradition now for Tesla to host away teams to start the year, and this year is no different! After starting their year at Capital Sci Fi in Edinburgh, the crew of the Tesla are beaming down once again to Power Con in Glasgow this weekend! Hosted by Fan Frontiers, Power Con has Power has been one of the core places to meet the crew of the Tesla since it's origins as Acme Comic Con and have become a firm part of the diverse and welcoming fan centric communities hosting everything from Rebel Legions to Ghostbusters! With the guest line up this year including Doctor Who's Peter Davidson, the gaming focused event is set to host Balders Gate stars Amelia Tyler and Tom Downie, as well as Kirsty Rider from the award winning Expedition 33 and more! Fan Frontier's Power […]
