Space Center Celebrates its 26th Anniversary with an Honors Night. Mr. Williamson Attends for the Free Cake and Opportunity to Mumble from the Back Row as Old People Do. The Imaginarium.

     

     The Space Center celebrated its 26th anniversary on Tuesday with an Honor's Night, cake, and a rambunctious game of Bombardment in the gym.  Several of the CMSEC staff were on hand for the event as well as the the Center's founder who wandered in from the cold having heard free cake was on the offer.   Half way through the program the Space Center's first adult volunteer made a subdued but fashionably late entrance.  Mr. Bill Schuler, wearing his dress greens, entered the Discovery Room, paused to survey the audience, smirked, then paraded to a seat only after hearing his name announced by Space Center Director James Porter. Except for a handful of old timers, Admiral Schuler was unrecognized by the teens and early twenty somethings.  How were they to know of the Admiral's many contribution to the Space Center during its earliest days.

Admiral William Schuler
The Cause of Many a Young person's Overnight Camp Nightmares
Brother to Ernest Weatherly aka. MadDog of the Orion Pirates
Currently enjoying his retirement from Starfleet as an executive with West Tours out of Salt Lake City

     

     Mr. Schuler nearly tripped over a flick of lint on the Discovery Room's carpet on his way to the back of the room; smartly reserved for those unreliable with a paper plate, plastic utensil, and crumbly cake adrift in rapidly melting ice cream.  Luckily his eagle eye spotted said lint before such an unfortunate thing could happen.  Never has the Admiral been taken down by carpet irregularities present only because of the crew's neglect at operating a vacuum cleaner.

     The oblivious young staff gorged themselves on sweet cakes and ice cream while sharing innocent stories of missions they'd worked in their brief tenure on board the Space Center ship.  I say innocent because they were when compared to the tales and battle scars being shared on the back row.  One day, when they're older and wiser, and with Mr Porter's permission, we'll share our tales of tempest gales, churning seas, and life's nearly lost to the dredges who lurk in the darkest cesspools of the galaxy.

     The Space Center's anniversary wasn't the only thing happening that day.  As you can see on Isaac O's shirt, it was election day across the United States.

     Isaac monitored election results during the program hoping against hope that his idol and mentor, Donald Trump, would squeak past Hillary Clinton into the Oval Office.

     He wasn't the only one.  Mr. Jon Parker wore his "I Voted" sticker proudly for all to see.  While not sharing who he voted for, his excitement at hearing the election returns was spread across his face.

Jon with an assortment of Space Center VIP flight directors and supervisors

Staff and volunteers enjoying each other's company - waiting for Mr. Porter to start the formal recognitions.

Mr. Porter giving the thumbs up that all was well and the Honor's were coming

      "Everyone, you'll want to go see the new camera system we put in today. It's in the Magellan Control Room," Mr. Porter announced.
     The Space Center is being outfitted with a new camera system allowing all four ships to be monitored from any location. From the Magellan Control Room I saw the Magellan bridge, the Briefing Room's hallway which separates the Odyssey from the Phoenix, and two live camera feeds coming in from the Odyssey. Everyone was impressed.

It was time to start the official proceedings. Mr. Porter cleared his throat several times before the room grew quiet

I'm happy to see another of my well worn sayings survives me to this day at the Space Center.
It's sad that the current staff are as bad at keeping things tidy as the old staff was in my day

Katie was awarded her Phoenix Pin by Phoenix Set Director Jon Parker.

Several received their Apprentice patches for numerous volunteering hours.

Nathaniel and Brenner happy with their Apprentice Patches.  Mr. Porter was happy at least two were on hand to receive the patches or it would have been embarrassing to be standing alone with honors to give an no one to give them to. 

Wes got his Starfighter patch for many hours volunteered. Wesley's old Space Center volunteering contract from the early 2000's was recently reactivated by Mr. Porter.  Wes was faced with two choices upon hearing of his reactivation. He could ignore the call to duty and face possible prison time on the prison planet of Rurapentae, or return to the volunteer flock and make the best of it.

Brenner also received his Starfighter Patch

Lindsey was given the Starfighter Patch. Wow, that's a lot of hours. I'd tell you what they were if I could remember.

Space Center Sub Commander Jon Parker got his Timelord Patch from Mr. Porter.  "An affront to Timelords everywhere," mumbled Mason, a real Timelord who has the watches to prove it.  I think the only way to describe the hours needed to be  a Space Center Timelord is to say "A Butt Load!"  Pardon my Klingon.

      The Space Center's new and official flag was unveiled during Honor's Night.  Much of the work was done by Orion (right), with Timelord Mason's help and support (left). Strange how the flag's emblem resembles the Space Center's logo.  I'm thinking of demanding royalties. After all, I designed the Space Center's logo 25 years ago.  AND I strongly object to anyone claiming I stole the swoosh from Nike.  Stole is such an ugly word.  Inspired is more accurate ;)

More cake and frivolity was enjoyed during the Honor's Night halftime.  Mr. Schuler (in green) was the halftime show  telling stories and reminding everyone that he and he alone gets credit for the slime vomiting Denebian Slime Devil (among other second story characters).

     The best honor's were reserved for after the halftime show.  Pictured above is Mr. Porter congratulating Mr. Isaac Ostler on receiving his baby blues.  The Baby Blue shirts are reserved for the Space Center's programmers.  Congratulations Isaac!
     While some bring family members along for such important announcements, Isaac chose instead to share the stage with his best friend iMac.

      The last honor was moved to the school's gym. Mr. Porter was afraid the expected whooping, hollering, and celebratory gun shooting would be too loud for the smaller Discovery Room and cause permanent hearing loss.
     Once he had everyone's attention, Mr. Porter made the announcement. "Attention everyone, I'm pleased to announced that Lissa has earned her Flight Director's shirt and is the newest Phoenix Flight Director!"
     Phoenix Set Director Jon Parker was invited to make the presentation. Mr. Porter was right to move the the award to the gym. The celebration was deafening.  Lissa is very popular with the staff and volunteers not to mention talented.  She'll make an excellent flight director.  

      The evening ended with Bombardment.
      So ends the Space Center's 26th Anniversary Party.   May there be many many more to come.

Mr. Williamson


The Imaginarium

Scott Slaugh, Former Space Center Programmer, Makes a Surprise Visit to Prevent the Triggering of the Reactivation Clause in His Former Contract. Great Flight Directors Series: Austin. Theater Imaginarium

Scott and Megan on the Magellan
We anxiously Await his Verdict

     I stopped by the Space Center on Saturday to drop off a small assortment of bakery goods produced by the good folks at Walmart. I do this to ingratiate myself with the staff and to admire how well the Space Center operates under the command of Admiral James Porter and Sub Commander Jon Parker. The staff are well trained, courteous, conscientious to a fault, and protective of the Center's brand, philosophy and history.  You should be ashamed of yourself, especially you old time staff and volunteers, if you haven't stopped by for a mission within the last year or so.  Remember, Mr. Porter can always trigger that reactivation clause I put in your volunteering and employment contract all those years ago. The only way out of that re-activation clause is a healthy donation OR the occasional visit to relive old times and to show your support for something you believe has value in the world of education.

     "There's someone here that says he use to volunteer," Erin said as I walked in.  Believe it or not, it is something I hear often when I make the somewhat traditional Saturday visit.  

     "Who is it?" I asked.

     "He says his name is Scott." 

     I've known a few Scotts during my 23 years at the Space Center's helm.  Which one was the mystery of the day.  I followed her to the Magellan bridge and to my surprise found the one and only Scott Slaugh - returned to us from the dark lands of Madison Wisconsin. He and his wife Megan (daughter of the one and only Vicki Carter, former Central Elementary School principal, good friend of the Space Center, and currently an Assistant Superintendent of the Alpine School District) were in town with their four children ages 5 years to 7 months, visiting family and friends.  Of course they would include the Space Center as one of those stops. Scott is no fool. He knows all about the reactivation clause and therefore scheduled a Magellan mission to satisfy both his former contract from 2002 AND, doing what was expected to stay out of the crosshairs of Fortuna, Goddess of Fortune, and resident mischief maker / protectress of the Space Center.  Oh.... the times Fortuna and I had together; her bad days and good reflected on the simulators and how well they performed. 

     Fortuna's bad days brought us extreme stress and frustration. They were usually brought on because someone on the staff disrespected her. I'd remind the staff never to take a good day for granted. I taught them that our successes were gifts from her bounteous generosity toward we mere mortals, not due to our own abilities and talent. But as soon as someone would speak evil of her or blaspheme by saying she didn't exist - Watch Out because such talk brought disaster. There'd be a power outage, or the network would crash, or a camper or two would start throwing up uncontrollably, or, or, or...... I could list a hundred misfortunes for loose lips.  

     Scott works as a software developer, just like he was when he worked at the Space Center in the early 2000's.

Scott (circa 2001) learning the ins and outs of working the USS Voyager's IIFX Station from the
great one himself, Josh Webb

Scott Slaugh at Honor's Night, February 2002 getting his years of service pips from
Lorraine Houston, the Space Center's matron, head teacher, and longest serving employee. Scott is wearing his
blues showing his position as Supervisor. I wonder if he still has his mission blues.

      
     Scott was instrumental in the original Odyssey's programming transition from Hypercard to Run Time Revolution.  He was the chief programmer for the Phoenix transition from Hypercard to Revolution. This gives him legendary status. 
     Thanks Scott for your dedication and work during your time at the Center and for remembering all of us little people by making a visit to say "hi" on Saturday.  The Troubadours wish you and your family well.

Mr. Williamson

Meet the Flight Directors Series:  Austin  

Austin, obviously pleased with something he's doing....

     The Troubadour is always looking for ways to enrich the Space EdVentures experience by providing the background news and stories from the many different Space Centers system wide. These centers include the Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center, the Discovery Space Center, Lakeview Academy Space Center, Merit Academy Space Center, and Farpoint at Renaissance Academy. 
     Today The Troubadour starts a new series called Meet the Flight Directors.  The Discovery Space Center's Austin is our first flight director in the series - not that he's the best. I think we all know a certain Mr. Williamson may hold that title, even though he hasn't flown a mission in four years. Anyone wanting to question my credentials does so at his or her peril.  I have been known to throw some pretty nasty dirty looks when necessary to defend my reputation in the control room (the kind teachers use to crush students) so tread lightly.  
      Austin is our first because he's good AND I happen to have recent footage of him flying. Again let me say that Austin is good, not just expedient :)
     Austin attended Emily Paxman's Flight Director Academy last year - which is an example of his dedication to his craft.  He's energetic, enthusiastic, talented and can't fly enough!  He loves his job, as does every flight director I've had the pleasure to meet.  
     Enjoy a few minutes of Austin at the helm of the DSC's Everest Simulator as he starts a mission of high schoolers and adults.  

     

Imaginarium Theater

The best gifs of the week, assiduously edited for gentler audiences, minors, and the terminally offended