Star Trek is a registered trademark of Paramount Pictures Incorporated. Use of Star Trek related concepts and vocabulary here is not intended as infringements of copyright, and is presented only for purposes of non-profit, noncommercial review, study and criticism.
Updated 211209.1
Welcome aboard the USS Ronald E. McNair
Greetings, Crew Member! Welcome aboard the USS Ronald E. McNair! This handbook is for your use as a tool and guidebook for all personnel onboard our ship. Although it may read heavy in spots, it will help with the smooth operation of our organization. As we grow and change, so will our handbook. We plan to have periodic updates and revisions. I hope you enjoy your tour of duty!
Commodore Pam Michaud
Commanding Officer
USS Ronald E.McNair
The USS Ronald E .McNair is named to honor NASA astronaut Dr. Ronald E. McNair. He was the second African American to fly in space. A native South Carolinian, Dr. McNair was born October 21, 1950 in Lake City, South Carolina.On the morning of January 28, 1986 McNair and his six crewmates perished in an explosion aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger.
Members of the McNair support charitable organizations and science education in the Columbia area, and strive to help build a positive future in the optimistic spirit found in the Star Trek television shows and movies. We also enjoy recreational opportunities: the crew of the McNair is a fun group.
As the First Officer, I want to take this opportunity to welcome you to the USS Ronald E. McNair. This ship is one of the finest ships in Region One. It is that way because of her crew. As a new member to the crew, I welcome you to the club and I hope that you will find your tour with us to be a rewarding and enjoyable experience. The members of our club have a wide range of interest and our activities reflect both the caring side of membership through our charity work and the enjoyment side through our fun activities and hobbies. Whether you are a person interested in helping the community or a person just interested in all things Star Trek, we strive to meet those interest. The best way you can help is to express your wishes and participate with the chapter. Our ship is only as strong as the membership. Again, I welcome you to the crew and if there is anything I can do to assist you in your tour of duty with us please do not hesitate to ask. Live long and prosper!
Stephen A. Stott
Fleet Captain, Starfleet International
First Officer USS Ronald E. McNair
Message from our Founder
To the current and future members of the USS Ronald E. McNair. You have opportunities to be more and better then you are now. “How can I help is “Starfleet’s motto. Let it be yours. You and the Ronald E. McNair will do great things.
Ray Seay
Fleet Captain
“Before You Can Have a Dream Come True,
You Must First Have One.”
~ Dr. Ronald E. McNair
Ronald Erwin McNair was born October 21, 1950 in Lake City, South Carolina. He attended North Carolina A and T State University where he graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. degree in physics in 1971. McNair then enrolled in the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 1976, at the age of 26, he earned his Ph.D. in laser physics. His dissertation title was Energy Absorption and Vibrational Heating in Molecules Following Intense Laser Excitation.
McNair soon became a recognized expert in laser physics while working as a staff physicist with Hughes Research Laboratory. He was selected by NASA for the space shuttle program in 1978 and was a mission specialist aboard the 1986 flight of the Space Shuttle Challenger.
Besides his academic achievements, McNair received three honorary doctoral degrees and many fellowships and commendations. These distinctions include Presidential Scholar, 1967–71; Ford Foundation Fellow, 1971–74; National Fellowship Fund Fellow, 1974–75; Omega Psi Phi Scholar of the Year, 1975; Distinguished National Scientist, National Society of Black Professional Engineers, 1979; and the Friend of Freedom Award, 1981, as well as many others. A science building at MIT was named for him. McNair also held a fifth degree black belt in karate and was an accomplished jazz saxophonist. He was married and had a son and a daughter. After his death in the USS Challenger Space Shuttle accident in January 1986, members of Congress provided funding for the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program to encourage minority, low-income and first generation college students to expand their educational opportunities and pursue graduate studies. This program is dedicated to the high standards of achievement inspired by Dr. McNair’s life.
The Dr. Ronald E. McNair Foundation, Inc.In 1986, Dr. McNair made plans to leave the Space Shuttle program. Never one to rest on his laurels, Dr. McNair wanted to share the experiences of the space program with America’s youth. He made a preliminary commitment to accept a position as professor of Physics at the University of South Carolina. However, Dr. McNair made it clear that his passion was to create space science programs for pre-college and college students across America. In February 1986, only weeks after the ill-fated mission of the Space Shuttle Challenger, the McNair family, friends and colleagues established the Dr. Ronald E. McNair Foundation, Inc.
The Foundation honors the legacy of Dr. McNair and the crew of the Challenger. The McNair Foundation is committed to developing and implementing educational programs that motivate and encourage students to pursue careers in Science, Mathematics and Technology. The Foundation has created the Challenger Club Space and Science Camp, the after-school Challenger Club Science Program and the In-service Teachers Training Program. The Foundation conducts Space Science workshops for Talent Search and Upward Bound programs across the country. Since 1986, over 10,000 students and teachers have participated in and benefited from the McNair Foundation programs.
The McNair Foundation was instrumental in getting Congress and the U. S. Dept. of Education to create and implement the coveted Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program. This program is the newest Trio program. Its purpose is to prepare first-generation, low-income students and students from unrepresented groups for doctoral study. In essence, this program helps fulfill Dr. McNair’s dream and thedreams of many disadvantaged students. More than 12,000 college students have participated in this program since its inception in 1987.
(Actual) Ship’s History
The USS Ronald E. McNair was organized as a shuttlecraft (new startup chapter) within STARFLEET, the International Star Trek Fan Association Inc., December 1993 (Stardate 9312). The McNair launched from the USS Olympus (Mothership), at that time stationed in Sumter, South Carolina, and it assumed its own station in Columbia, South Carolina. Led by Ray Seay and Cookie Williams, the new shuttlecraft achieved the required membership for a full size Starship and commissioned as NCC-61809 by Stardate 9411 (5 November 1994). The McNair is a part of Region 1 within STARFLEET, along with other ships in South Carolina and neighboring states.
(Virtual) Ship’s History
The USS Ronald E. McNair is a Nebula-class Light Cruiser, designed in about the same period of “future history” as the Galaxy- class Large Exploratory Cruiser. Completed at the Aggieland Construction Yards, Earth, on Stardate 6945, the McNair was the tenth Nebula- class ship placed in service in Starfleet, and has fulfilled its multi –mission design with no major structural problems since then. It has made a number of notable forays throughout the Federation space that included events important enough to affect history. These forays are documented in printed accounts published as ship’s fiction and available separately.
USS McNair Commission
The USS McNair was commissioned (Stardate 9411) as NCC-61809 in STARFLEET. However, this commission is active only so long as the McNair retains at least ten members in good standing in STARFLEET in its crew. Thus, it is a primary responsibility of the Commanding Officer, through the other officers and crew of the McNair, to insure that this membership level is not allowed to fall below commissionable numbers. As a commissioned STARFLEET vessel, the USS McNair is eligible to launch “shuttles” or start-up chapters that can develop into new starships. If five persons, including at least one person with the rank of Commander or higher, who has completed OTS and OCC Starfleet Academy correspondence courses, desire to form a new shuttle, they may apply to STARFLEET with the support of the McNair command staff and crew, and as new shuttle can be launched with the USS McNair as the “Mothership”.
OBJECTIVES
The primary purpose of the USS Ronald E. McNair (and our Prime Directive) is to have FUN!!
We accomplish this by planning many activities. First, of course, is our monthly meeting. This is where the McNair members assemble to share ideas, comments, and suggestions, and to plan future activities. The monthly meeting is also the time for promotion announcements, convention reports, “Trek” and McNair news,
L / earn about things.A / ccept others for who they are.
U / nderstand that not everything is as we think it should be.
G / o places.
H / ave fun.
T / alk to each other – communicate ideas.
E / xperience life and all the wonderful things it has to offer.
R / emind ourselves that we are but a small part in the universe
Membership, Ranks and Offices
In the positive and inclusive spirit of Star Trek, membership on board the USS Ronald E. McNair is open to any person, without regard to race, sex, religion, planet of origin, or other personal attributes. Members may participate as much or as little as they want. You cannot and will not be forced to do anything you do not wish. Although, it is more fun when more people participate in the ships affairs and all members are encouraged to participate.
USS Ronald E. McNair Membership
There are four types of membership. Each type must be renewed every twelve months, and payment is due in December.
Dues are: $10.00 annually per individual. Family membership is $15. Family members must be actual family members residing in the same domicile.
McNair members have filled out applications and paid annual dues, both to STARFLEET (SFI) and to the USS Ronald E. McNair. McNair members our bi-monthly newsletter, “The Challenger”, a membership certificate, copy of our handbook and may hold offices in the organization.
**Note** To be a member of the McNair you MUST join STARFLEET as well and continue to be a member in good standing.
Membership into STARFLEET (SFI)
(Dues for single individual, $15; special rates for families or more than one person in a single house) comes with six issues of the Communiqué, STARFLEET’s bimonthly newspaper. You also receive a membership handbook, membership card and certificate, as well as STARFLEET Academy correspondence courses. (These courses count towards promotion within the McNair). for more information
Associate Membership
Associate members are members belong to STARFLEET as members of another ship/chapter somewhere else although they are active in the local area served by the McNair. They pay no dues, have no voting privileges and rights to hold office on the McNair, but may hold fictional ranks on board the USS McNair.
Honorary membership
Honorary members are granted membership in the crew by unanimous vote of the Command Staff, for a period of one year. This honorary membership may be renewed each year upon similar vote. Their organizational position is the same as local members, and at its discretion, the Command Staff may also vote to pay the Honorary member’s dues in STARFLEET during the period of their honorary membership, in order to convey full membership benefits.
Lapse of Membership
If membership lapses for failure to pay dues, that person immediately becomes ineligible to hold any actual office on the McNair. However, the Command Staff (excluding any lapsed members) may at its discretion continue to recognize fictional ranks of lapsed members in the “virtual command structure” of the USS McNair.
Description of Ship’s Positions
The offices that can be held on the McNair have been incorporated into the setting of a Star Trek starship. All Governing board members are elected into their office. If a board member resigns, the Commanding Officer will be responsible for finding a replacement officer.
The Command Staff Includes the CO, XO , 2nd officer, CMO, and Counselor. These members are the backbone to the chapter. They make sure the ship runs as smoothly as possible.
Commanding Officer: CO (RED) This is an elected position. This person must be at least 18 years of age, must be a member of STARFLEET Int’l and has completed Officer’s Training School (OTS) as well as Officer Command College (OCC). The Commanding Officer has the ultimate authority of the ship. The CO may, without consulting the Command Staff, promote, demote, offer commendations, or discipline any member of the crew for the safety and well-being of the ship, and to further the goals of the ship as a whole. The CO is responsible for guaranteeing the security and sufficiency of the ship’s funds. The CO sends a Monthly Status Report (MSR) to SFI CompOps and the Region One Coordinator.
First Officer: XO(RED) The Executive Officer is selected by the CO and confirmed by the membership. This person must be at least 18 years old, a member of STARFLEET Int’l and has completed Officer’s Training School (OTS) as well as Officer Command College (OCC) His/her job is to assist in the operation of the ship. He/she assists the Commanding Officer whenever necessary and must help keep order within the ship. He/she is given the rank of Commander. Should a vacancy occur for the XO position the CO shall appoint one that is qualified to this position.
Operations Officer : This member maintains such ship’s stores as are needed to insure successful functioning of the chapter. Maintains minutes of all crew assemblies and attendance rosters of all events, and transmits such information to the Promotions Officer for promotion decisions and the Communications Officer for newsletter publication.
Chief of Communications: Comm(GOLD) This member is in charge of publishing the ship’s newsletter, He/she is responsible for gathering articles from the crew as well as setting the deadline for newsletter article submissions He/she also submits articles of awards presented, away missions, parties, summits, ICs, conventions and anniversaries to the STARFLEET CQ and Region One Channel One newsletter. He/she must make sure that each McNair member gets the Challenger as either a PDF or hard copy (depending on the member’s preference) as well as have copies of the newsletter available at our meetings. He/she must make sure newsletter is downloaded to McNair website. He/she must report to the First Officer and is encouraged to file a monthly report with the R1 RDC of Communications.
Chief of Computer Ops : CompOps( GOLD) is in charge of keeping up and updating the ship’s website. CompOps will also be responsible for brochures, flyers, designing award certificates flyers. He/she must report to the First Officer.
Chief of Security:(GOLD) Aids the Commander in the smooth operation of the ship or shuttle. The Chief of Security coordinates with Ops and XO on security matters during a mission or activity. Since STARFLEET has no law enforcement involvement, security is concerned with safety at meetings and away missions, not the apprehension of lawbreakers. He/she is encouraged to file a monthly report to the region one RDC Security. He/she may also act at sergeant of arms at McNair meetings.
Ships Counselor:(TEAL) The Counselor reports directly to the CO. The Counselor in essence will be the morale officer. The Counselor will also monitor the morale of the ship or shuttle and advise the CO of the general atmosphere.
Chief Medical Officer: CMO (TEAL) The CMO reports directly to the CO and is encouraged to pursue setting up training courses in First Aid, CPR etc. for the membership.
Chief Science Officer: CSO(TEAL) The CSO will advise the CO and crew on matters in the scientific field. The CSO will keep abreast of interesting science facts in all fields and is encouraged to plan at least one scientific field trip for the membership once a year. He/she is encouraged to file a report with the region one RDC Science.
Department Chief – regardless of rank, each Department Chief is responsible for submitting regular departmental reports: attend monthly meetings (online or in our sit down meetings). All Department Chiefs are encouraged to take any courses, offered at SFA that pertain to their department. Department Chiefs report to the First Officer.
Crewmembers – regardless of rank, crewmembers offer their department, and the ship as a whole, a variety of talents, skills, interests and ideas. The crewmembers create the ship’s personality and inspire the USS Ronald E. McNair. To meet its objectives each crewmember reports to a Dept. Chief.