Admirals Blog: Gamma Quarter 2403

To say it’s been a sad few weeks for Q2 would be an understatement. There have been fewer constants than Mark Mitchell within the past, Gods knows how many years. The rulebooks? Thats him. Academy? Thats all Mark. Sure, things got updated and edited over the years, but he’s been the backbone of the fleet for as long as I remember. Mainly as I remember him making my Academy exam when I joined the fleet on a whim.

It’s because of people like Mark that I stayed. The fleet has always been the people. And he was one of the best people. I was honoured and humbled by the amount of people who went to say their goodbyes to him and while I felt a real sense of loss, it was also a day filled with joyful memories.

When it came to Q2 – beyond our joy of having a rant and jokes that can’t be repeated in public – Mark was someone who I’d give a batshit idea to, whether something that balanced tradition and new, or something that literally threw out the old rulebook to try and bring in a fresh experience, and he’d trust it. He was sometimes seen as the grumpy old man, cause he quite liked that persona, but in reality he was the most accepting of change and the next generation than anyone I’ve ever worked with in Q2. And one of the people who gave me the most trust in doing what I do.

For those on Europa, you’ll have seen my official appointment as Director of Fleet Operations. However officially and formally, I didn’t want to accept or adopt the role until we had a chance to give a final salute to Mark. On one hand, we all know he was a huge fan of building plans and making sure the show would go on. On the other, it was only right to let him serve his term, as it were, and say goodbye to the Legend before stepping into his very large shoes.

I’d like to thank everyone who’s given their thoughts and support through the transition and to Scott for bearing the formalities that Mark would have wanted to himself. There were some projects in motion and some things we were bouncing around that were understandably on pause until we all adjust and take a bit of time.

While this was all a bit of a sudden moment, I’d like to thank everyone who’d talked things out when it came to taking the next steps within the fleet. When we began tweaking the structure to include fleet support as a more definitive division, the idea was to both spread the load and give a wider range of people and thoughts to the clubs operations, as well as to strengthen and future proof the club to last long beyond it’s first fifty years.

The Admiralty Board

After a lot of thought and discussion, we have a new board in place, a bit of a fast track on the evolution of the modern fleets structure, and new opportunities to help secure a stronger next generation of Q2 to carry us through into the future. The first hurdle was looking to put together a new board, which has often been a challenging prospect. We haven’t had a full board in quite some time, and in looking to refill some empty seats, I thought it was a good idea to balance someone who has helped shape the modern era of Q2 and a member who brings years of experience and wisdom.

After a lot of consideration I’m pleased to welcome David Shires and Piers Drinkall to the Admiralty Board to help steer the fleet through a challenging time.

Piers has been an invaluable member of Q2 in recent years having re-shaped the Sovereign during his time as Captain, developing the Command Training Program and offering his experience in both club and real life as part of Fleet Support. Lending a long history within Q2, David has been a part of the club through several changes and era’s and served in multiple roles including as a board member before. With two unique, balanced voices bringing very different experience, I’m confident in the balance and insight they’ll bring moving forward!

And of course, our Chief of Staff isn’t entirely off the hook as we’ll all be looking to him for some sage advice and incomparable wisdom.

Looking ahead, membership services will continue as normal and the Admiralty Board will continue overall oversight. However, one of the big changes with the next phase of fleet support is ‘decentralising’ decision making and expanding the overall voice of the fleet.

Captains Table & General Board

For a long time now the general ‘day to day’ of Q2 has been tasked to an increasingly small amount of people which meant small needs became long to do lists of tasks that were always juggled by priority or delayed to do another new thing. It can also feel quite isolating and narrowing. Fleet Support was the first phase of changing that and bringing more voices into the fleet’s ‘upper decks’. 

The next phase of Fleet Support – The General Board – is a vital component in ensuring the club represents as many voices and opinions as possible. Working alongside the Captains Table, the General Board mirrors the views of the Captains with the views of seconded club members. While the Captains represent their ships and regions, the General Board – consisting of Support and Europa/Home Fleet – offer a wider pool of opinions, ideas and input from all levels of the fleet

The Admiralty Board continues to have oversight and final ruling, the extended ‘General Board’ and Captains Table will be involved in any and all major decisions in policy and direction to ensure we have as many opinions and ideas representing every aspect of the fleet and more people who can bring their skill, passion and focus on small tasks for the betterment to all. With Piers moving into a a role within the board, some tweaks will be made to the line up of Fleet Support and new roles will be available for those who want to add their voice to the choir which will be announced in due course.

In aiding the transition, Dave Crawford will continue to represent the Home Fleet as Starbase CO with plans to expand the division. John Bond will head up Fleet Support in his role of DEI officer as Flag Secretary to DOPS. And as the ‘head of the table’ for the unit leadership, our flagship captain (who we owe a lot to in terms of current policy) Fraser Stevenson will be brought in to support and advise the board as Fleet Captain.

Premium Service Without a Premium

One of the main things I learned from Mark – aside from the fact he was just as unsettled sitting still as I am! – was that even if the cost of joining the club was gone, we should still be striving for premium service. Just because we don’t charge to be a member like some other clubs our age, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have value within the club. 

In expanding the options to contribute, the voices and input that we can share together, we’re moving the fleet even further into to a more collaborative, fun environment. My current goal to help deliver that service. I want to ensure everyone feels welcome, valued and open to joining the fun in whatever way, shape or form they choose.

And I want to ensure that the next generation has a solid base to work from in what should always be a continuing mission towards a better future for it all.

Another thing I learned, perhaps too late, was the value of people. Starfleet Command are my chosen people and I want to ensure we do him, and each other proud.