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| Welcoming Another Overnight Camp 2007 |
Post From the Past: Know Your Space Center History
The Space Center Journal: The Space Center Versus the Olympics and the Alpine School District Transportation System. Chris Call Returns to the Space Center and Becomes the First Flight Director to Work Solo. Stephen Porter Saves the Day Again. Mr. Williamson is a Real Jerk on the Overnight Camps.
November 4, 2001
Hello Troops,
We welcomed Chris Call back to employment at the Center on Friday. He assisted in the Voyager control room and on the bridge. Chris will be taking the reins of the Odyssey from David Merrell at the end of December. David will be devoting full attention to his education.
Chris recently returned from an LDS mission to the Philippines. Before his mission Chris was a flight director for the Odyssey. Chris carries the distinction of being the first flight director to operate a ship alone without second chair assistance.
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| The Odyssey Crew Settles into their Tasks. 2007 |
I was informed of what one would consider - bad news last Thursday. One of the 6th grade teachers from Hillcrest Elementary phoned Thursday morning to tell me that her principal canceled all field trips for the duration of the Olympic and ParaOlympic Games. He was
acting upon instructions from the District Office. Apparently there are not enough busses for regular school operations and Olympic field trips therefore all other trips such as the Space Center will not be supported by the transportation department. I phoned and confirmed the
order. During the call I was told that the Olympics had to take precedence. They are a once in a lifetime opportunity for the students of the district. I almost spoke up and pointed out the fact that for many of the students in the District their Space Center visit with their school is also a once in a lifetime event. Of course I surrendered the argument and now face the storm of calling the teachers of the affected schools. There will be weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth.
I'm considering other options for field trips. The policy states that schools may come to the Center if they provide their own transportation. Private cars are not allowed by policy. Schools could try to book private busses but they will also be as rare to get as ice in the desert and the price inflated due to the Olympics. Another possibility would be to run our field trips after school thus allowing parent transportation.
Central School and the Space Center have a new secretary. Her name is Sheri. She lives in Alpine. Ruth had to give up full time employment due to her son's health problems.
Stephen Porter saved me again this week. Tuesday was of those days that try a man's soul. We started our A.M. flight with a sound system whacked out. I most likely did it myself messing around with the buttons and dials. The music sounded odd on the bridge and my voice was almost inaudible. If it was possible I would have turned around and walked out of the simulator but I remember the old saying, The Show Must Go On. Live theater can be very stressful with an audience waiting on you and equipment in the fritz. Stephen came and an experimented for several minutes making several trips from the control room to the
bridge. After several minutes the sound was passable and then actually presentable. Thanks Stephen.
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| The Odyssey's Mid Deck. 2007 |
The Overnight Mission went well. David Merrell was happy to have the night off. We hosted the A.L.L. fifth grade students from Lindon Elementary. 80% of them are Ensigns.The missions had to be lowered to 1/2 level. We also tried some of our Blue Shirts in unfamiliar
positions. Randy Jepperson was assigned to the Voyager as Supervisor and Brady Young was given Magellan's bridge. Both showed a dusting of rust blown off by the gale of the flight director. It goes to show that once you get a pass on a station you should ask me to work that station on a regular rotation basis to stay current on that simulator.
We had gym after the overnight mission. There were many good games of bombardment. Half way through the games two of the older staff came in to play. Ryan Davis and Josh Webb brought their cannons online and the younger staff have the battle wounds to prove it.
Thank you to all of you that volunteering this last week. Thank you to the staff that worked with me in the Voyager and tolerated my temper when things weren't going well on Tuesday. Thank you to the Friday night staff. Mr. Williamson isn't always in good humor when Friday
night rolls around. Remember, I've put in at least 10 missions by the end of the week and then I face the overnight mission. It is my last flight of the week. By then I'm tired and worn out but The Show Must Go On. I'm usually in better spirits on Saturday morning because I see my short weekend just hours away. I want anyone that works with me on Friday evenings to know that I know I can be a real *&^^&$%$#^%%$ sometimes. I can't even stand my own company on a Friday evening most of the time.
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| The Odyssey's Forward Deck. 2007 |
Well, the confessional is over. Please feel free to send in additions to this journal. Special note to Flight Directors - This journal is the official history of the Center. These entries will be printed and stored in a three ring binder. I'd like the Journal to reflect events and impressions from everyone. Set and Flight Directors should send in additions to the Journal to report anything from their missions or simulators that I neglected to report. Staff and volunteers are WELCOME to send in additions. I'd also like this Journal to report on awards and honors received by our staff and volunteers. Let me know of good things happening to you or other members of the staff.
All the best my friends.
Mr. Williamson
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| Mr. Williamson telling his "Throw Up, Happy Bucket" Speech at the Start of Another Overnight Camp. 2007. |
Post From the Past: Know Your Space Center History
The Space Center Journal: A First in Space Center History, A Field Trip Sent BACK! The Voyager Flies with 8 on the Overnight Mission, Discovers that 9 is the Best Number.
The Staff to Attend a Screening of the First Harry Potter Movie
November 11, 2001
Hello Troops,
This week saw a first for the Space Center. In eleven years of operation we have never sent a field trip back to their school. That unsoiled record was contaminated this week because of Utah Power and Light. On Wednesday electricity went out throughout Pleasant Grove.
The outage occurred at 9:55 A.M. There were a few flickers followed by blackness. The bus hadn't arrived yet (a morsel of good luck in a cake of bad). The emergency light came on in the Briefing Room while we sat waiting for the bus and the power to come back on. Minutes passed and nothing. I sent the Central volunteers back to class and stood by the door waiting for the bus from Lehi's Snow Springs Elementary. The rain was still lightly falling. At 10:15 A.M. The bus arrived - 30 minutes late. I rushed out to the bus before the teacher could get the kids lined up. The explanation was short, highlighted by moans and groans
from 55 disappointed children. I suggested they stay on the bus and wait until we made contact with UPandL. The Call Center for the utility estimated a repair time of 1 to 3 hours. Snow Spring's fate was sealed and a perfect Space Center record smashed. I walked to the bus with the burden of delivering the dreaded news, the news that would stab daggers into the playful hearts of the children. I went to tell them they would have to go back to class!!!! There were screams loud enough to wake the Klingon dead in Sorebacor. Some of the faint hearted collapsed back into their seat after hearing the news - their poor hearts not strong enough for such sadness. Darkness surrounded the bus in a deathly shroud as the gray rain clouds thickened, robbing Earth of the sun's warmth and light. Rain dripped down the windows of the bus. Tears mirrored the rain and found their paths down the faces of those inside. Silence sounded and filled the yellow tomb. My eyes found the teacher doubled over in the front seat. Her bony hands gripping the back rest in front of her. Her appearance was that of someone attempting to recover from the kind of news one prays will never be delivered. She slowly looked up at me. Her eyes questioning, asking me if I knew what I had done. I uttered an apology. How powerful a word yet in this case - useless. She turned around and swept the bus with her eyes looking into the faces of her charges. Her eyes came back and focused on mine. "What am I going to do with THEM?" she asked with quivering lips. That is when I realized the despair in her question. Was there a solution? I could offer none except to tell them to return Wednesday next. I stepped from the bus and back into the school. Turning, I saw the bus pull away into the streaking rain and disappear. The next day we heard that bowling was the teacher's salvation. All was well.
The overnight mission was another first for the Space Center. I decided to do something I'd always wanted to do. The Voyager flew with 8 crew! One at telephone, one covered Left Wing and Damage, another was responsible for Right Wing and Scanners. There was an engineer, a captain, a first officer, and a Records Officer. There was one security. I enjoyed it very much but realized that 8 was just too few. A perfect number would be 9. You would need another security officer. The engineer can help right wing. The Records Officer can help on the left. The First Officer can help communications. We flew the Shadows mission. Great reviews.
All of the simulators received good reviews. It was a good crew of gifted kids from Lindon Elementary School.
This week saw a first for the Space Center. In eleven years of operation we have never sent a field trip back to their school. That unsoiled record was contaminated this week because of Utah Power and Light. On Wednesday electricity went out throughout Pleasant Grove.
The outage occurred at 9:55 A.M. There were a few flickers followed by blackness. The bus hadn't arrived yet (a morsel of good luck in a cake of bad). The emergency light came on in the Briefing Room while we sat waiting for the bus and the power to come back on. Minutes passed and nothing. I sent the Central volunteers back to class and stood by the door waiting for the bus from Lehi's Snow Springs Elementary. The rain was still lightly falling. At 10:15 A.M. The bus arrived - 30 minutes late. I rushed out to the bus before the teacher could get the kids lined up. The explanation was short, highlighted by moans and groans
from 55 disappointed children. I suggested they stay on the bus and wait until we made contact with UPandL. The Call Center for the utility estimated a repair time of 1 to 3 hours. Snow Spring's fate was sealed and a perfect Space Center record smashed. I walked to the bus with the burden of delivering the dreaded news, the news that would stab daggers into the playful hearts of the children. I went to tell them they would have to go back to class!!!! There were screams loud enough to wake the Klingon dead in Sorebacor. Some of the faint hearted collapsed back into their seat after hearing the news - their poor hearts not strong enough for such sadness. Darkness surrounded the bus in a deathly shroud as the gray rain clouds thickened, robbing Earth of the sun's warmth and light. Rain dripped down the windows of the bus. Tears mirrored the rain and found their paths down the faces of those inside. Silence sounded and filled the yellow tomb. My eyes found the teacher doubled over in the front seat. Her bony hands gripping the back rest in front of her. Her appearance was that of someone attempting to recover from the kind of news one prays will never be delivered. She slowly looked up at me. Her eyes questioning, asking me if I knew what I had done. I uttered an apology. How powerful a word yet in this case - useless. She turned around and swept the bus with her eyes looking into the faces of her charges. Her eyes came back and focused on mine. "What am I going to do with THEM?" she asked with quivering lips. That is when I realized the despair in her question. Was there a solution? I could offer none except to tell them to return Wednesday next. I stepped from the bus and back into the school. Turning, I saw the bus pull away into the streaking rain and disappear. The next day we heard that bowling was the teacher's salvation. All was well.
The overnight mission was another first for the Space Center. I decided to do something I'd always wanted to do. The Voyager flew with 8 crew! One at telephone, one covered Left Wing and Damage, another was responsible for Right Wing and Scanners. There was an engineer, a captain, a first officer, and a Records Officer. There was one security. I enjoyed it very much but realized that 8 was just too few. A perfect number would be 9. You would need another security officer. The engineer can help right wing. The Records Officer can help on the left. The First Officer can help communications. We flew the Shadows mission. Great reviews.
All of the simulators received good reviews. It was a good crew of gifted kids from Lindon Elementary School.
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| The Crew of the Phoenix Training. 2007 |
Business:
I've noticed that attendance has dropped off at the Center by about 15% since September 11th. I'm not talking about daytime field trips. I'm noticing the decline in private missions and overnight registrations. People are not spending money as they did. I think this is a poor sign for the upcoming Christmas season. This is an excellent time, with a small decline in bookings, for some of you that have acquired enough points for discounted missions to book them. Remember, every 300 points you earn as a volunteer allows you 1 discounted mission. A discounted mission is half the price of a normal flight. You can sponsor the mission yourself and bring your friends or you can give the discounted mission away. Call me if interested in booking one.
Classes:
Our classes are moving along. The tutoring program started last Wednesday. I know several of you would like to advance in the new program. You are looking for a way to earn the class hours required. If none of our regular classes have an appeal you may want to consider
attending one of our workshops. They will be scheduled monthly beginning in January. There will be a different topic each time.
Birthday:
The Space Center celebrated its 11th birthday on November 8th. We didn't observe the day except for our normal programs. We will schedule a birthday celebration soon. Watch for further details.
Harry Potter:
The movie so many have looked forward to see will be here on Friday. I noticed that several members of our staff have made plans to see the movie on Saturday at 6:50 P.M. At the Cinemark in the Provo Mall. Tickets can be bought online at www.fandango.com or at
www.cinemark.com. It would be fun to fill the theater with just our staff, so if you want to see the movie with many of us then that is the time and buy your tickets now online. I've never read any of the books but hey, I'm always in the mood for a good fantasy to recharge my
own creative batteries.
Voyager News:
We lost one of our Right Wing computers. David Merrell is designing a new computer station for the Captain's Quarters allowing for research and communication. It will also be a quick way for the bridge staff to send a message to the control room without using the walkie talkie or coming down the stairs and through 2 doors.
Magellan:
The Magellan is ready to accept 14 campers on overnight missions.
Odyssey:
Nothing to report for this week that I know of.
Falcon:
Nothing to report for this week that I know of.
Galileo:
Nothing to report for this week that I know of.
All the Best My Friends. If you have any news for the week please post away or send the news to me and I'll put it in this official history of the Center.
Mr. Williamson
The movie so many have looked forward to see will be here on Friday. I noticed that several members of our staff have made plans to see the movie on Saturday at 6:50 P.M. At the Cinemark in the Provo Mall. Tickets can be bought online at www.fandango.com or at
www.cinemark.com. It would be fun to fill the theater with just our staff, so if you want to see the movie with many of us then that is the time and buy your tickets now online. I've never read any of the books but hey, I'm always in the mood for a good fantasy to recharge my
own creative batteries.
Voyager News:
We lost one of our Right Wing computers. David Merrell is designing a new computer station for the Captain's Quarters allowing for research and communication. It will also be a quick way for the bridge staff to send a message to the control room without using the walkie talkie or coming down the stairs and through 2 doors.
Magellan:
The Magellan is ready to accept 14 campers on overnight missions.
Odyssey:
Nothing to report for this week that I know of.
Falcon:
Nothing to report for this week that I know of.
Galileo:
Nothing to report for this week that I know of.
All the Best My Friends. If you have any news for the week please post away or send the news to me and I'll put it in this official history of the Center.
Mr. Williamson
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| The Galileo's Crew Getting Briefed for their Overnight Camp Mission. 2007 |
Post From the Past: Know Your Space Center History
The Space Center's Attendance it 120,000!
November 15, 2001
The Space Center topped 120,000 today in attendance. Between November 8, 2000 and November 8, 2001 we serviced 12,880 people. That is something to be proud of. There is a lot of everyone here at the Space Center. Each mission is a combined effort of a unique team of people because no one in the world does what we do. Thank you to all and take
a minute to take pride in our accomplishment.
Mr. Williamson
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| The Voyager's Command Crew Listening to their Training Tapes. They're at the part where their looking up at the mirror's half globe on the bridge ceiling. 2007 |
Post From the Past: Know Your Space Center History
A Busy Week. Missing Staff. Overpaid Staff. The Good and the Bad on Several Topics.
November 18, 2001
Hello Troops,
An unusual week of both good and bad.
Good:
Lorraine Houston's daughter Christine was married on Friday. Lorraine has given the wedding everything - time, energy, and love. We wish her daughter all the best as she begins a new life.
Bad:
We had to run most of the week with Lorraine Houston at the Center. I've one word to say about that, "AAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!".
Bad:
We also had to operate Thursday and Friday without Jennifer Remy. That is what we call a double, "AAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!".
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| Damage Control Contemplating how he got stuck with that job and Left Wing! 2007 |
Good:
Stephen Porter was able to pitch in and help along with Joey Story. We survived.
Good:
The Inventory is almost finished. Every simulator will have a detailed inventory for the Set Directors to maintain. This is a first for the Space Center. The Green Shirts are standing, clapping enthusiastically.The Blue Shirts are jumping for joy. The Voyagers are now chiming in with screams of ENCORE! The Pioneers are clapping politely and seeing they are being
out clapped by the Voyagers are now on their feet drowning everyone out.
Good:
We had a full week of income. We ran every day of the week not taking the normal Wednesday off for business day.
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| This lad had Sensors, Scanners, and Right Wing. 2007 |
Bad:
I'm afraid I'm going to need the extra money the Center made to cover my psychiatric help. We had a week of 5th graders. The last two days the classes exceeded 30 students each! I believe I was mumbling incoherently by the end of the last mission on Friday.
Good:
We had an overnighter of Gifted 8th Graders from Lakeridge Junior High.
Bad:
We had an overnighter of Gifted 8th Graders from Lakeridge Junior High.
Good:
A new Star Wars Trailer was released on Friday.
Good:
I saw Harry Potter on Saturday. Excellent film ! Your thoughts? One of the reasons I liked it was the fact that it is children's literature but the author had the sense to leave some very dark themes in the story.
Bad:
It ended after 2 hours and 30 minutes. I was ready for more. I also had to sit in line 2 hours to be sure to get MY seat at the Cinemark. I must have the seat with the metal railing for my feet. If I don't get a seat on that row on the aisle then I politely stand in front of the rail and stare at the people sitting there. I move from person to person. Usually after 5 to 10 minutes I can get someone to crack and give up their seat.
Bad:
The Magellan mission was short handed on Saturday.
Good:
Charlie Heaton was able to come in and help out.
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| Bradyn Lystrup Training the Bridge Engineer. 2007 |
Bad:
The overnighter was short handed.
Good:
Bryson Lystrup and Brady Young were gracious enough to come in and help.
Good:
The Voyager was able to do a level 3 Shadows mission with the gifted 8th graders from Lake ridge.
Bad:
The Voyager was able to do a level 3 Shadows mission with the gifted 8th graders from Lake ridge.
Good:
Our new secretary was able to figure out the payroll so our hourly workers will get paid at the end of November.
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| The Voyager's First Officer Learns to Write Messages every 10 Minutes. 2007 |
Bad:
I'm still having the pay 2 people whom shall remain nameless time and a half because they are putting in more than a 40 hour week for the District. Some say they may be worth it....................(how do I get out of that last statement? I could put a smiley face. I could
just let the reader interpret it themselves. I could say they are worth it and lose the intended joke. I don't know what to do................Well as my mother always said, "If you can't say
anything nice don't say anything at all." I don't think my mother ever met Tex or Admiral Schuler and Trapper, or one of Mark Daymont's Paklids).
Have a good week my friends.
Mr. Williamson
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| The Voyager's Security Team Learn How to Dispatch Security Throughout the Ship. 2007 |
Post From the Past: Know Your Space Center History
The Staff and Volunteers Vote on Their Favorite Missions. Shadows Wins!
November 20, 2001
The following spaceedventures poll is now closed. Here are the final results:
POLL QUESTION: What is you're favorite mission(s) at
the space center?
CHOICES AND RESULTS
- Greenpeace, 3 votes, 3.06%
- Introlance, 4 votes, 4.08%
- Mission impossable: Armegeddon, 1 votes, 1.02%
- Robot Master, 1 votes, 1.02%
- Stakeout, 0 votes, 0.00%
- Bughunt, 2 votes, 2.04%
- The Lost Throne, 1 votes, 1.02%
- Stazi (Odyssey Vers.), 0 votes, 0.00%
- The Plague, 5 votes, 5.10%
- Norad, 0 votes, 0.00%
- The Lost Patrol, 3 votes, 3.06%
- The Grand PoohPah, 11 votes, 11.22%
- The USS Canada, 3 votes, 3.06%
- Shadows, 17 votes, 17.35%
- Supernovas, 6 votes, 6.12%
- Parameter, 0 votes, 0.00%
- Maximus, 4 votes, 4.08%
- Destination Romulas, 1 votes, 1.02%
- Fort Apache, 11 votes, 11.22%
- Tora! Tora! Tora!, 10 votes, 10.20%
- Red October, 15 votes, 15.31%
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| The Staff and Crew Finishing Up their Training. 2007 |
Post From the Past: Know Your Space Center History
A Nice Thanksgiving Break. What do the Simulator's Main Computers Talk About When the Staff Aren't There?
November 25, 2001
Hello Troops,
I hope all of you enjoyed a very carnivorous Thanksgiving. Holidays like Thanksgiving make us all happy we are meat eaters and hold the place of Supremo Honchorus on Nature's food chain.
It has been a very relaxing holiday for me. The week started with the 5th grades from Cascade Elementary School on Monday and Tuesday. They were fine. Tuesday's after school mission was another Mesa group from the Jordan School District. They scheduled the Voyager and Odyssey and showed up with enough people to open the Galileo as well. The only problem was the Galileo was not ordered. We had to cram them all into the Voyager and Odyssey. That isn't pretty when you are dealing with junior high students. The awesome staff of the Voyager and Odyssey prevailed and we got through it. I was all smiles as I dismissed them knowing I had this long break waiting to wrap me in its lazy arms.
Wednesday the Magellan flew my nephew's birthday party. They loved the mission. Who doesn't enjoy a good Magellan mission? We had cake and ice cream and then nearly 2 hours of gym afterwards. There were wounded, luckily ambulances were standing by to carry out the injured. I locked up the school after the gym balls were put away and haven't been back since. I'm sure our simulators wonder where we have been. They aren't used to being left on their own for so long. I wonder if they've been playing nicely? The question I put to all of you is this, What do you think our simulators do when we are not around. Do they take off and fly without a crew? If so, where do unleashed starships do? Does the Voyager, Odyssey, Falcon, and Galileo soar around the Magellan taunting and teasing it because it just sits there? If so, does the Magellan get its revenge by firing its
massive weapons systems? I wonder what the computers that run these powerful machines say about us when we are not there?
Voyager Computer: "You know Odyssey, If I have to say `working' one more time I'm going to open a can on Williamson.
Odyssey Computer: "I know how you feel. I cringe every time I feel that mic switch activate wondering what kind of stupid thing I'm going to have to say next. I mean do I have to run the ship for these 1/2 bit brained human children all the time? Aren't they suppose to tell
me what to do? Next thing you know I'm going to have an extension of myself placed in the toilet to tell them how to use the bathroom.
Voyager Computer: " You think you've got bitless wonders flying you! Try doing this for 11 years! I've seen it all. And what's with this Tex?!! He hogs all the air time giving me little if anything to say. I've got a surprise for him next time he sticks his Texan lips near the
PA system. He will be sipping his chili and Barbecue through a straw after I pass 5000 volts through him. Does it seem like I've got a lot of pent up anger?
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| Bradyn Lystrup Giving a Few Last Minute Tips to Security. |
Odyssey Computer: "Yea man...... Take a chill pill. I mean - count your blessings. You want to hear a computer that has something to complain about? Try talking to that poor processor that runs the Magellan. Last time I got him talking I ran out of memory just listening.
Voyager Computer: "You're right. We should count our blessings. Afterall we could of ended up running the Galileo! (HEARTY LAUGHTER ALL AROUND)
Galileo Computer: "Hey guys..... What's up? Hey its me. Down here Not there - I said down here....."
Well forgive my imagination running rampant. If any of you would like to continue this conversation between our computers please feel free to do so. I'd love to hear what else they have to say.
The Imaginarium
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