Scenario

• How the Club began
• The Scenario and location in the galaxy
• What we do
• How to Join

HOW THE CLUB BEGAN

It all began in the Early spring of 1999. Two friends (Ann & Marie) had been looking for a Star Trek Club to join for some years and had discovered that there were no clubs in their local area. The two nearest clubs one 50 miles away the other 30 miles did not offer the kind of fun activities that we were hoping to get involved with. So, one day Marie received a phone call from Ann, "How about starting one of our own?" I said yes, great idea, but I have to confess to having reservations about the whole thing. After all, how do you go about finding out whether anyone is as interested in creating a new club?

Anyway, undaunted, Ann set about finding like minded people. One of the people she found was Ke'reth (aka Robert), now we were three. More people responded to the call for members and we set up a meeting at the Bury St Edmunds Sea Cadet Unit to discuss the club, the name, the premises, activities and most importantly a date to get the whole thing up and running. Those at the meeting agreed that the venue was adequate for our purposes. It was at this meeting that STARBASE 410 was born.

The first Starbase meeting which was also the commissioning of the Starbase was held on 20th June 1999, this was a great success. We would like to express our thanks to all who came and for the great media coverage given to us by Anglia TV, East Anglian Daily Times, The Bury Free Press and Radio Suffolk. Who continue to give us great publicity and support.

The number 410 comes from the number of the Sea Cadet Unit in Bury St Edmunds where we started the Club. After that meeting Ke'reth and Ann kept in close communication and he came up with a background history, scenario and a poster for the Starbase. Ann & I would like to thank Ke'reth for all his hard work.

However, it became apparent, after a few meetings, that the Sea Cadet Unit was no longer suitable for our meetings or some of our members. It was not disabled person or child friendly. And because of the layout, cold in the winter. The Committee decided to look for an alternative venue, which was successful.

Therefore meetings are now held at Kentford Village Hall, near Newmarket, Suffolk.

THE SCENARIO AND LOCATION IN THE GALAXY

It is situated 11 light years from the Klingon border, 11 light years from D.S.9, and 14 light-years from the planet Ogat which houses the Klingon Naval Training Academy. This area of space is along a major trading route between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. The most unusual feature nearby though is the Nightfire Nebula, an incredible crimson lit dustcloud that is 6 light-years wide at its narrowest point. This area of space can play havoc with ships sensors so that Federation Engineers often have to recalibrate the sensors of visiting transport vessels.

On permanent attachment is the USS West Point, a Starfleet Academy training vessel & the USS Rage a Starfleet intelligence vessel, commanded by Captain Leigh Brown. On temporary Attachment by the Klingon High Command is the IKV Hegh qaD, a Negh Var class attack cruiser, commanded by General K'batlh epetai LoDnI'.

WHAT WE DO

Discussions ,quizzes, talks, card tournaments, videos, science and engineering projects, raffles, barbecues and away missions, plus anything else the members decide they would like to do. We have instituted a points system for earning promotions. We have an active junior section (under 16's) with their own ranks, promotion system and activities. We have Embassies for those who do not wish to be members of Starfleet.

There are refreshments available. And for those who like to go on away missions in full costume and make-up, there are advice and practical sessions.

As you can see, we are a very active club, with activities for all ages. There is no obligation to get involved in anything, if you just want to drink raktajino and chat all afternoon, you can.... but if you want to get in on the action then you can do that too!

HOW TO JOIN

So if STARBASE 410 sounds like the sort of fun club you would like to join and you live within travelling distance..... why not join us?

It costs £10.00 adults, £7.50 under 16's, under 5's Free, per six months. This pays for the venue and the monthly newsletter. We also offer postal membership (Newsletter only) by e-mail or snail mail.