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
A Fistful of Spooky Encounters
Since it's inception Star Trek hasn't just been a sci fi show, but a show that used it's science fiction setting to tell a variety of stories from a large pool of themes and styles. And since we're officially in 'Spooky Season' on the countdown to Halloween, why not take a look at some of Star Trek's best dives into darkness? EMPOK NOR DEEP SPACE NINE, SEASON 5 Deep Space Nine is falling apart and thanks to the war, O'Brien can't exactly ask the Cardassians for spare parts. But he has a plan. Along with Nog and Garak, O'Brien leads an engineering crew to another abandoned Cardassian station to salvage what they can. Only problem is... there's a reason it was abandoned... Possibly the most straight forward horror story in the series, Empok Nor was host to an experiment gone […]
Delta Quarter Promotions & Citations: September 2026
Throughout it’s entire existence SFC has grown, evolved and thrived due to the commitment and passion of our officers and crew. Keen members can make a huge difference within their unit or the fleet as a whole, and we like to ensure members are rewarded and recognised for all they bring to the organisation. Starting this year, we're opening every new period within the fleet celebrating those who have made an impact and engaged in being a positive influence in their unit or in Q2 overall. And while we're getting in a little bit earlier, we'd like to introduce our Delta Quarter awards. While promotion is one of the most visible awards available to members, one of the most vital are our commendations. Commendations are a formal recognition awarded to members of Quadrant 2 who have shown commendable service and […]
Wibbly Wobbly, Timey Wimey: ‘Tomorrows Enterprise’, Strange New Worlds S4E10
Focusing on two timelines, Tomorrows Enterprise leads with Uhura of the present linked to her future as the two work together, manipulating the timeline to their advantage to solve the mystery of an undecipherable alien message, and a certain Scottish engineer who seems to have vanished from the timeline in the future... Writers: Henry Alonso Myers & Robbie Thompson. Director: Chris Fisher. In the present, there's some weirdness for Pike's Enterprise as they investigate a White Hole thats giving off some weird signals and an energy pulse that causes a temporal shift that directly effects Uhura after she hears strange sounds over comms. As she begins to hear things, such as Scotty screaming for help, her future self is going through some oddities of her own. A year in the future, the Enterprise is on the other side of […]
What If…. the Whales Were Never Extinct?
Fondly remembered as the lightest, more comedic entries in Star Trek's film offerings, The Voyage Home is the story of an alien probe coming to Earth to talk to it's whale pen pal, a little bit miffed that they've not had a letter in a while. In the 21st century, those pen pals – Humpback Whales – had been hunted to extinction. Meanwhile, Kirk and his disgraced crew were on the way home to stand trial and through some time warp shenanigans, take a stolen Bird of Prey back to the 20th century, kidnap some whales, and take them to the 23rd century to save the day. The charges against Kirk were a fairly big deal. Previously Kirk had stolen a soon to be retired Enterprise, went against orders and along with support from his long standing command crew barged […]
It’s a Kind of Magic: ‘Once La’an A Time’, Strange New Worlds S4E09
Developed by an alien tapping into the mind of M'Benga's daughter, turning reality into her favourite book, the Elysium Kingdom is now more reality than fantasy. Having morphed from a surreal experience to a flat-Earth like planet replica floating through space, the Elysium Kingdom lives on with it's evil queen continuing dream up new schemes. But the Kingdom's purpose has shifted with it arriving to unsubtly help one of the Enterprise crew... Writers: Onitra JohnsonDirector: Sydney Freeland Not quite by chance, the Enterprise runs into the 'unknown flat planet', a disc-shaped world moving through space with it's own power, air and life. Beaming down, Pike, Spock, Pelia and La'an find themselves in a fairy tale world. Complete with real fairies. And a fairy castle. After running into King Ridley, the part played by M'Benga in the season one episode, they […]
[Retro Review] The Doomsday Machine
Responding to a distress call from the USS Constellation, the Enterprise race to the rescue but they arrive too late to save the day. Coming under fire from an alien entity, the Constellation has been heavily damaged and with only one survivor within it's charred shell; Commodore Matt Decker... Still in shock from the attack, Decker isn't able to say if it was an alien ship, or a creature that tore his ship apart. It doesn't take long to track the aliens flight path. It's not from around these parts, entering the Galaxy and on course towards populated areas that would undoubtedly be next in it's devastating path. Beaming on board with an away team, Kirk aims to try and get whats left of the ship back up and running while getting Decker to safety. But during the transit, the […]
Related
Academy Class of 2403: Delta Season Graduates
Opening the Delta Quarter, we're pleased to announce the latest to graduate and roll out following completion of their provisional term! 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 Delta 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. Melanie Paproth SC-805807-TSL Engineering Officer, USS Tesla Alexander Collins SC-805808-PRX Operations Officer, USS Proxima Thomas Hillman SC-805809-CHL Security Officer, USS Churchill Congratulations Ensigns and welcome to the Officer ranks! We’d also like […]
Delta Quarter Promotions & Citations: September 2026
Throughout it’s entire existence SFC has grown, evolved and thrived due to the commitment and passion of our officers and crew. Keen members can make a huge difference within their unit or the fleet as a whole, and we like to ensure members are rewarded and recognised for all they bring to the organisation. Starting this year, we're opening every new period within the fleet celebrating those who have made an impact and engaged in being a positive influence in their unit or in Q2 overall. And while we're getting in a little bit earlier, we'd like to introduce our Delta Quarter awards. While promotion is one of the most visible awards available to members, one of the most vital are our commendations. Commendations are a formal recognition awarded to members of Quadrant 2 who have shown commendable service and […]
Star Trek Day 2026: Celebrating 60 Years of the Final Frontier!
Sixty years ago the world was introduced to a sci fi series that planted a seed of adventure, imagination and inspiration that would blossom into a juggernaut of media. After launching with the Man Trap on September 8th in the United States, the series would later grow into a pop culture icon spawning 9 Live Action Series, 3 Animated Series, 13 Feature Films & more including Streaming Events, Shorts and a huge amount of offshoot media across games, comics and books. With generations of fans discovering new era's and new adventures for decades, today we celebrate not only that first flight of the USS Enterprise and it's original crew, but an entire franchise that continued to grow, evolve, building a world of adventure, inspiration and hope for a better future! As we celebrate Star Trek at 60, we'd love to hear how […]
Away Team, Assemble! The USS Tesla Set To Beam Down to Epic Comic Con!
Returning to Glasgow this September, the Tesla Crew are once again in action at Fan Frontiers Epic Comic Con in the SEC Hosted by Fan Frontiers, Epic Comic Con has been one of the core places to meet the crew of the Tesla since it’s origins as Acme Comic Con and has become a firm part of the diverse and welcoming fan centric communities hosting everything from Rebel Legions to Ghostbusters! Taking their regular spot once again the Tesla crew will have Star Trek props and collectables on display as the team get ready to share the wonders of the final frontier! With possibly the biggest and most intriguing line ups to date, Epic will be hosting some surprises including Lord of the Rings' hobbit Duo Billy Boyd & Dominic Monaghan, What We Do in the Shadows Star Kayvan Novak, […]
60 Year Mission Celebrations!
This month Star Trek celebrates 60 years since the continuing mission launched and this year we've decided.... one Star Trek Day isn't enough. We're having a whole month of celebration! With plans including virtual meets, Europa chats, competitions and more, we're inviting the whole fleet to jump on board, get involved and join the fun of celebrating sixty years othe final frontier! Virtual Meet Sunday September 6th 8pm Starbase Europa 60 YEAR MISSION Meet the Fleet in Celebration with an evening of catching up, sharing stories, maybe a few bad jokes and general shenanigans! As we open a month of celebrating one of sci fi's most enduring franchises, grab a drink, pull up a chair and have a few laughs to begin the month! Discussion Sunday September 6th All Day Starbase Europa STAR TREK DAY 2026 From dusk 'till dawn, […]
Projects Faraday & Bowen Enter Phase One
One of the most common questions within SFC membership is all about command; to the point we compile a list of interested potential CO’s on application to the club. Though some can feel hesitant to begin when they’re uncertain of what region might benefit or fit the criteria for members to take command of a new start-up. Over the past year we've discussed with members and heard feedback looking for new opportunities within our larger regional groups to find their own corner of the galaxy to splinter off and explore the final frontier of fandom together and focus on more meetups, events and general shenanigans in person without relying on an internet connection to enjoy the fun. Especially with the shifting culture away from social media following the pandemic which shan't be named! After a lot of thought and planning, […]
