So far in 2021, we’ve been busy behind the scenes to set out some important changes for members of SFCQ2 that we’d like to highlight for all members going forward!
MAILING LIST CHANGES
In a minor change to our mailouts for Comms and special announcements, we’ll be making a minor change to our mailing list that may effect some members.
As noted in our privacy policies and in the SFC Officers Handbook, we use Mailchimp for our mailing list which is integrated into the SFCQ2 website. Your site account not only gives access to our internal hub and documents, but is also automatically integrated with Mailchimp so you can receive Comms. However this also applies to spam accounts, which we have had a significant increase of in recent months. As those spam accounts took us to the cap for Mailchimp, and removing them is a significant effort, we’re starting fresh with a new account to feed Comms and other matters.
There are other benefits, of course. Comms will no longer be listed as from the DoFC’s email, but a separate Comms-specific mail which we’ll also use for Submissions and other matters in the future.
Of course, some members had opted out of their subscription for Comms. Unfortunately we have no way of knowing who had unsubscribed so if you’d prefer not to hear from us via the mailing list, please follow the instructions in tomorrows delivery of Comms or use the contact form to let us know before the mailout occurs.
UPDATES TO DATA & PRIVACY POLICY
Throughout lockdown we’ve taken the time to review our Admin procedures, which includes how we use and handle data. Over the past few months we’ve been refining a few upcoming adjustments to our data handling process and accessibility. As outlined in our current data and privacy policy, any and all personal data is handled strictly by Admin; meaning only admin can access the fleet database,, make modification and send anything that needs sent.
In terms of SFC’s organisational structure over the decades, that policy ifs fairly new. Back in days gone by Captains would have access to their regions information to better coordinate and operate both their unit and membership rewards. In order to comply with legal obligations, we made that access a lot stricter and CO’s were offered “limited information” in order to operate.
Now that the fleet is growing once again, and we’ve seen a larger up-tick in activity in the real world over the past few years we considered the option of resuming Captains Access in a way that we could ensure GDPR compliance and – more importantly – protect members private information for everyone’s benefit. It’s not an idea that was taken lightly, and it took a significant amount of time and effort to make sure all the details were perfectly suited to our collective needs.
On May 1st, the new Data & Privacy policy will become active. On April 1st we will be releasing a full breakdown on whats changed and will be uploading our internal documents to CO’s that opt in to keep our instructions and dedication to ensuring the utmost respect for your data and privacy remains transparent and that all members have a chance to review and digest everything as well as ask questions before the change.
COMMS UPDATES
And finally, heading into the Summer, the Communications Department is going to be making a few changes to how we plan going ahead.
One of those changes will come by merging Comms the downloadable entity with Comms Relay online. One of the most requested things we’ve had over the past five years was to get Comms as a printed publication again. With no income to the club (fandom does not come at a premium!), and already high overheads the cost of doing so is just too massive; so we’ve been developing a “Plan B” that lets everyone have a wider access to Comms content, Trek news and loads more in a more instantaneous way.
Over the second quarter of 2021, we’ll be putting more emphasis on site content for members; both in reoffering shorter versions of news and reviews developed for Comms and in exclusive content to keep members up to date on Trek and sci fi developments without the misleading content seen on popular sites. We might actually have you covered!
Additions to our online Comms sections at SFCQ2.com will included an expanded section for each show running with news, previews and further info & media; An archival section for previous instalments; a crossover off Comms features and articles with trimmed down versions appearing on site and longer items locked to logged in members; unique articles and commentary for members only and more prominent reports from SFC including monthly Admiralty SitRep’s and unit logs.
Our overall aim is to ensure Comms works for everyone in SFC, and not just at certain times of the year. We’ll also be ensuring all our non-fleet content is sourced and backed up with no clickbait to keep everything reliable.
About the author
It’s Not Easy Being Green Blooded: ‘Level Five Transporter Accident’, Strange New Worlds S4E05
Spock's going through a bit of a personal crisis and Scotty's become madly competitive with an old Academy rival. These two separate threads collide in the weirdest way when Spock finds himself as the only person who can control the ship as Scotty's transporter antics turn everyone into puppets... Writers: Henry Alonso Myers & Dana HorganDirector: Jordan Canning Spock's not quite feeling himself and he hasn't quite been himself since the Griffin Incident. And things are getting worse. Leaning heavily towards logic over his exploration of his human side, and in the wake of La'an deciding their relationship had reached it's 'natural conclusion', he's spiraling. Well, as much as a Vulcan would allow themselves to. Desperately trying to balance himself, he's leaning into logic and reaching out to his scorned ex-fiancee for help in re-establishing his Vulcan side.While thats happening, Scotty's on a […]
1701 Shades of Grey: ‘A Case of Chiaroscuro’, Strange New Worlds S4E04
It's been a stressful few months for the Enterprise crew and they want, well, demand, shore leave. Choosing a tech-free planet with natural psychedelics in the atmosphere, the command crew take a shuttle down, take in all the wonders the world provides. And then it all goes a bit wonky... Writers: Skylar Ojeda & Dana Horgan Director: Meera Menon Aside from orbiting a star who's radiation gives an altered perspective of light, Mat'aar XII is a world occupied by Klingon overlords. Having taken control of the population, and implemented strict monitoring and restrictions on movement, the Klingon's rule with fear, torture and by creating division. Like any good occupiers, they've given cushy jobs to some locals including their top Lieutenant, Navatte, a local who proudly wears her silver Klingon armband and interrogates anyone who oppose the Empire. Or so […]
[Departmental] Introducing General Board
The General Board is a relatively new concept and the next evolution of Fleet Support. Mirroring the Captains Table, the General Board is constructed to help overall fleet operations and to contribute more voices and ideas to the clubs operation. Based very loosely on the political 'two house' structure, and named after the real-world General Board within the US Navy in the first half of the 20th century, the starting point was to appoint two sets of voices within the fleet. The Captains represent their unit and their members need within that unit, each representing an area or group that makes up the whole. To contrast and add to the Captains Table, Fleet Support – and now the expanded General Board – allows to give both opinions of fleet leadership and fleet membership equal standing and ensure we hear a […]
Welcoming Our New Fleet Development Officer
To quote Heraclitus, the only constant in life is change. Quadrant 2 has been through many changes before and with the recent appointment of a new Admiralty Board, we're looking ahead with more changes to the fleet structure. With Piers Drinkall joining the board alongside David Shires, there were some discussions about what to do with Piers' Fleet Development role and after some serious thinking, a decision was made. After aiding in Piers' efforts within the Command Training Program, and being a solid right hand on the USS Sovereign, we're pleased to welcome Karl Drinkall to the Fleet Development position. Karl is a sharp mind with a lot to give to the fleet and a clear grasp of our aims and goals in the coming months and years. With his dedication and string mindset, it was an easy decision to […]
[Retro Review] Errand of Mercy
Relations between the Federation and the Klingons are in tatters and the prospect of an all out war casts a shadow over the region. To help prepare for the worst, Kirk and the Enterprise are sent to Organia, a planet populated by inherent pushovers right on the border between Federation and Klingon space. With the prospect of the Klingons getting a foothold that would help their war efforts, Kirk's job is to negotiate a protection order, getting the Organians on their side before the Klingons annexe the planet as a launching pad for conflict. Problem is, the Organians are hardcore pacifists and their native tech is limited. They don't want to be part of any war, and they don't want to change their values to resist. Which becomes a bit of a problem when the Klingons arrive ready to occupy the […]
Dude, Where’s Your Shuttle? Human Best Friend; Strange New Worlds S4E03
It's been a stressful few months for the Enterprise crew and they want, well, demand, shore leave. Choosing a tech-free planet with natural psychedelics in the atmosphere, the command crew take a shuttle down, take in all the wonders the world provides. And then it all goes a bit wonky... Writers: Kathryn LynDirector: Yana Gorskaya Engineers and pilots hate each other. It's the rules. Scotty and Ortegas have been following those rules to the letter, with the bickering pair opening with a dual monologue highlighting how irritating they are to each other between Scotty setting up alerts and alarms to keep the engines in check, and Ortegas duct tapping over the console to get rid of them so she can push the limits freely.While they're constantly irritating each other, the rest of the Alpha shift command team are exhausted. Months […]
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