Thank you for your interest in the Astra.
This is just a brief information sheet which
explains who we are, how we operate, and the
kind of activities members are involved in.
The Astra meets on the first and third Mondays of every month (even holiday Mondays, unless otherwise notified), at 7:30 pm. Meetings usually follow the standard format of ship's business (departmental reports etc.), then a brief discussion of items of Star Trek interest, then a presentation by members. Our meetings usually last until 9:00 pm or so and then we usually go to a nearby restaurant (Melrose Cafe on 17th Ave.) for a snack. There is a recommended $1.00 dues per meeting.
Our official designation is the USS Astra, NCC-77210, our motto is "Per Ardua Ad Astra" ("Through Adversity to the Stars), and we a local chapter (or "ship") of Starfleet International. Starfleet is an international Star Trek fan association which is based in the United States, but has chapters in all over the world. Membership is open to anyone who is a Star Trek fan. Each local chapter is an autonomous group, and is organized along the lines of a ship: i.e. the President is known as the Captain; the Vice-President is known as the First Officer and there are nine departments, run by Department Heads. The departments are as follows: Command, Sciences, Communications, Engineering, Security, Medical, and Ship's Services, as well as the 420th Marine Training Unit, 12th Regiment. Members may develop a fantasy persona if they wish, and each member is also given a fictional rank. Each new member is given the initial, probationary period rank of "Crewman" for three months in which they may not vote on club matters but may participate in every other way. If a Crewman attends 4 of the possible 6 meetings in that three month period, they will be to full active member status and receive the starting rank of "Ensign" (effective the beginning of the fifth meeting attended). Personas and ranks are taken as seriously or as lightly as each person decides, but hold no literal power within the organization. There are also Associate Member and Away Team Member statuses for those who can not, or do not want to take an active role within the Astra; ask for more information if you are interested in these forms of membership. If a member does not attend six consecutive meetings (and has not made prior mention of a period of absence to the Captain), they will be removed from active status. Upon return, inactive members will be required to undergo the Crewman probationary period, but the previous rank achieved will be reinstated at the completion of that period.
The Astra was formed on August 29, 1990 by a small group of devoted Star Trek fans. While Star Trek remains our primary focus, we have since developed interests in Twin Peaks, Rocky Horror, the Prisoner, The Vampire Chronicles, Blake's 7, the X-Files and many other things. The Astra publishes a bi-monthly fanzine, The Astradiem, and also has a Ship's Archives, which includes autographed photos of Star Trek celebrities, autographed program books, Star Trek collector cards, a TNG phaser model, uniform patterns, and newsletter / fanzines from all over the world. Members are encouraged to make Star Trek costumes, write articles for the fanzine, attend local science fiction and fantasy conventions -where the Astra's Medusa Jones Emporium is one of the most popular and profitable events - and to develop new and interesting projects for the Astra to undertake. Many of our past and current projects feature involvement in charity fund-raising.
Our official charity is the SHARP (Society Housing for AIDS Restricted Persons) Foundation. We have also been involved with the Children's Miracle Network Telethon, the Canadian Paraplegic Association's Wheelchair Race, the Calgary Charities River Festival, and the Interfaith Food Bank. We strive to have fun and to better our community through the application of the philosophies of Star Trek!
We hope this answers some of your questions about the Astra. Please feel free to approach any of us with
your comments and suggestions. Your input is valued and we encourage you to plunge right in to all of our activities
and to help us keep the Astra interesting and enjoyable or all!
Please phone Pam (CO) at (403) 277-2237,
or Phil (XO) at (403) 246-5369 if you have any further questions.
U.S.S. Astra Web Pages