Look Who's Back! Nathan King Makes Flight Director! Desks Rearranged! The Imaginarium. It's All Too Much for a Saturday Night.

Saturday at the Space Centers

Hello Space EdVenturers!
     The Farpoint Voyagers held a general membership meeting this morning at Renaissance Academy.  I spoke for fifteen or so minutes (well, maybe more like thirty minutes, but who's counting?) updating the gathering on the latest news concerning the Vanguard simulator. I also spoke about our Long Duration Mission Simlabs starting in the CMSEC's Magellan simulator in February.  The fifty or so in the meeting were excited to hear the LDM's, so long promised, were going to be a reality.  Applications to create and/or join one of the flight squadrons were passed out.  Afterwards, the cadets were dismissed into their departments. Mr. Daymont and I met with the Cosmography Department and imagineered what we needed to do to get the Vanguard ready to launch this summer.  The cadets were given the assignment to research nearby stars and known planets for our database.  They were also asked to create the names, ranks, and backgrounds on the 300 or so crewmen populating the Vanguard for reference.  We have a lot to do and little time to do it.

Mr. Williamson

Look Who's Back!  

     Finding Adam Hall working Magellan's second chair this afternoon was a pleasant surprise.  Adam recently returned from an LDS mission.  Before leaving, Adam was an Odyssey flight director.
     Adam didn't age all while he was gone. He is still ridiculously photogenic, snapshot ready, and groomed to perfection.  A second before this photo was taken, Adam was overwrought and in a state of near panic as he tried to keep up with Connor's orders and the crew's demands.  I said, "Smile," and in a millisecond he transformed into what you see above.  A millisecond after the photo he was back to being an emotional mess :)  
     We all missed Adam and are happy he is back.  Adam will be working part time at the CMSEC on daytime field trip missions.           

     I'm told the Magellan Control Room's rearrangement pictured above is temporary.  There are days when the Magellan flies with only one staff member - the flight director. Imagine doing a three-person job all by yourself, which is why the flight director's station was moved to where you see Connor above.  "I hate it," Connor answered when I asked his feelings on the change - which is why I'm told the rearrangement is only temporary.
     Erin is at the video station, Adam is at second chair and Connor (aka. the Dark Knight) is flight directing. I say Dark Knight because he came to work dressed in his new super villain costume. The stress of up to four private missions a day is finally getting to him. You see him evilly, and with extreme malice, plotting his next move against a crew of helpless younglings. It was either that or he was trying to decide whether or not the slight pause in the mission was a good time to finish his lunch. 
      

             
I didn't know JCW's did peanut butter and jelly sandwiches....

     Jon Parker, Assistant CMSEC Director, is seen behind Adam doing what he does best, demonstrating the proper method to fold one's arms.  Jon is the CMSEC's best arm folder. Nobody does it as classy as Jon, and with such breathtaking choreography.  Jon is registering his arms with a local modelling agency.  Imagine seeing those folded arms on a billboard along I15.  On the visible wrist would be a Bulova $5000 watch.  I've no doubt sales of Bulova watches would double, if not triple. 

There were several Farpoint Voyager cadets working the Saturday afternoon missions.

This is Scott and Brandon in the Phoenix, both happy to be working with the legendary Miranda.  

This is Sam, Travis, and Mikaila making ready to fulfill Connor's diabolical scheme to take the Magellan's bridge by force from the younglings.  Sam has the attack mapped out and ready for implementation. Sam's plans leave no survivors.  He's a shoo in for West Point. 

Introducing Discovery Space Center's Newest Flight Director    

     Nathan King is the Discovery Space Center's newest flight director.  He took the Columbia simulator's microphone one month ago. When asked how he was doing, Nathan replied, "I've never ceased to amaze all those who've flown with me!"  Modesty is a trait never in short supply when it comes to Nathan.
     Nathan started his journey to the dizzying heights of flight directing two years ago as a volunteer at the CMSEC.  Last year he transferred to the Discovery Space Center and has been there ever since.  Nathan is awesome, kind, and soft spoken.  He's got a kind word to say about everyone.  His mild demeanor is perfect for handling the stress of flight directing.
Congratulations Nathan on your promotion!  
     P.S. Before leaving this topic, I wanted to point out the top of Sara Glad's head seen in the photo above.  Sara would be very upset if I didn't.  

Discovery Space Center Rearranges Desks in the Command Center!
    
     I debating posting this next bit of news, but in the interest of 'taking up blog space' I decided to go with it.
     Casey Voeks, Chairman and Visionary of DSim,  prophetically envisioned the rearrangement of DSC's registration desk and gift shop. Speaking in his position as Oracle Pontificate, Casey ordered the rearrangement, and it was done post haste. Reactions to the move were wildly enthusiastic,  bordering on hysterical - a testament to Casey's talent not only as an oracle, but also as an interior designer.  
               

OK, I'm done for now. 
Enjoy the Imaginarium

Mr. Williamson

 The Imaginarium

Jake Hadfield Gets the Coveted Supervisor Blue Shirt! James Porter Offers Teachers a Sweet Deal. The Imaginarium.

Farpoint Cadet Jake Hadfield (aka Jake H.) Gets His Space Center Blue Shirt!

     Jake H., started volunteering when I was the director of the CMSEC back in the day.  At the time Jake was regarded as a painfully shy, softly spoken, wet behind the ears youngling volunteer who showed great promise and enthusiasm.  Jake's enthusiasm for the Center and its mission didn't diminished over the next few years, regardless of the effort and patience it took to scale Olympus' dangerous cliffs and treacherous outcroppings.  
     Jake reached the pinnacle yesterday and was welcomed by the Olympians into their ranks.  In a brief, non televised ceremony, Mr. Porter bestowed upon Jake the coveted Supervisor's Blue Shirt and the paycheck that goes with it!  

     
     As Supervisor, Jake will be able to look down on his former comrades in the volunteering core.  He will have the right to use commanding tones when giving volunteers instructions and the responsibility to nicely, yet firmly, order campers around.  Because of his natural soft spokenness, Jake has taken training on developing his Supervisor's voice from his fellows in the Order of the Blue Shirt .  I'm told his lessons have come along nicely. His command, "YOU'RE DOWN!" was heard over the Magellan's sound effects and music in a recent mission. He looked surprised when the campers heard him, and shocked when they actually obeyed his command and fell to the floor.  Those in the Control Room were equally surprised.  High Fives were passed back and forth along with a few hoots and hollers followed by a chorus of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow!"

Jake getting his Magellan Bridge Pass back in the day

      "I knew he had it in him," James Porter whispered to Jon Parker as his eyes misted with pride for his new Supervisor.  
     Jon agreed and stood upstanding. "I believe this calls for a bit of the ole Bubbly!"
     "Here Here!" replied the staff and volunteers.  Jon left the Magellan Control Room and promptly returned with a bottle of effervescents.  He popped the lid and poured everyone - minors included - a cup of Chateau La Sprite vintage 2014.  The toast:  "To Jake, May His Crews be Victorious, His Voice Heard,  His Commands Obeyed, and his Eyes Sharp - for Whatever Can Happen, Will Happen.  So Say We All." 
     "So Say We All!" was the reply.  

                 

Congratulations Jake.  I hope to always hear great things about you.

Mr. Williamson

P.S.  Sorry Jake that I wasn't able to come by the Center myself to congratulation you.  I was volunteering at a chess tournament all day.  What I wrote above is how I envisioned the day's events.  Was I close?   

James Porter Offers Teachers A Sweet Deal.  Tell Your Teacher. 

Dear Teachers,

We need your help as you are the main promoters for our program.  If you haven't yet and are willing, would you please hand out the attached flyer to your students and explain that if they sign up for a camp, $1 of the price goes towards paying for your field trip.  As an additional incentive, if just one student signs up from your class, we will send you a voucher for 25% off one of our 2.5 hour private missions.  That is an $18-$37 value that you can use yourself or pass on as a motivational incentive to your students.

If you can please hand out the flyers this week, and perhaps even put up our poster in your room, we would greatly appreciate your help in sustaining our program.  Also, don't forget to pass on this information to your fellow teachers in 5th-8th grade.  To get a voucher for your class simply email us the name of a student who has registered and we will send you the voucher.

As an additional encouragement, any teacher that fills out this form will be entered into a drawing for two 1-Day Flex Passes to Thanksgiving Point ($60).  You must hand out your flyers by Dec 10th to be eligible.  I'll email those who participated to announce the winner on Dec 11th.

James Porter

CMSEC Director

The Imaginarium