Some may say the Space Center's Meta Celebration last Thursday night was Pleasant Grove's social event of the year. Sadly, some of our Center's friends missed it due to complications in schedules, organizational failures, misplaced priorities, or chronic forgetfulness (my go to reason for missing an event whether I forgot it or not). Regardless of your reason for missing the event, there is no need to drift into terminal despondency because The Troubadour's team of resourceful reporters were on hand to cover the event for today's post.
I arrived late due to my Young Astronaut Club responsibilities at The Space Place. I was pleased to find the parking lot full when I got there which was a good sign. Meeting our guests in the lobby were Voyager Club volunteers directing traffic and organizing planetarium show groups.
Space Center Director James Porter and son manning the "Spin for a Prize"give away table in the lobby. James hates photographs and religiously presents a frown when a camera is drawn to discourage the photographer. I realized a once in a lifetime opportunity when I found him at the table greeting gala attendees. He had to simile as is required of all amiable hosts. I just had to wait long enough for a guest to approach and I'd have the photo which has alluded me for years - Mr. Porter Smiling!
James Porter saw me in camera mode as I approached the table. Look at the panic in his face. He knows he's trapped. My phone is at the ready and a youngling is standing there wanting a greeting and a spin. Imagine the turmoil in Jame's head. "Do I smile to greet this young man and give Mr. Williamson that warm smile he's wanted for so long, or do I greet this boy with a scowl and scar him for life just for the sake of tradition..... What to do, What to do?"
This photo was taken toward the end of the event showing the Space Center's lobby. Do you recognize anyone toward the horizon?
Here is a closer look. Does this picture remind you of anything? I even saw Scott swat at a few pesky flies.
Yep, four old rednecks with root beers in hand (this is a family blog), each with a long list of honey do's to get done but always finding time to stand around to talk about that big one that got away, or highly questionable control room exploits, or that time when they scored the perfect 10 on a summer camp.
I knew I'd find the old timers on the couch suite in the lobby and I was right. Scott Wiltbank and Matt Ricks did a good job entertaining Connor Larsen and Jordan Smith, two former Space Center flight directors who retired from activity space duty and currently find themselves occupied with bingo, corn hole, Trivia Pursuit, and finding a way to digest overcooked meals at the Space Center's Retired Flight Director's Center (SCRFD). This is the place where they receive treatment for PDSD, the result of too many space campaigns. Oh, the things they've seen during their years of service..... things that can never be unseen but emotionally managed.
The SCRFD is a charitable 513 organization where donations are gladly accepted. The Center is currently raising funds for a pool table and mini fridge.
This was the prize wheel in the lobby. "Everybody a Winner, Come Spin for a Prize!" was the carny's call. I gave it a spin and landed on one of the special "grand prizes" - an evening with a retired Space Center Flight Director who was promised to entertain your private home party with tales of adventure, cunning, intrigue, and danger from their days in space service. I declined the offer and took a lanyard instead.
On the prize table one could also win planetarium tickets and / or a Meta notebook. I was happy to see my signature stamp still in use after all these years. I should have another made for back up should the current one implode due to overuse.
Also in the lobby, the Space Center's Plasma Tube was on display. The Tube started in the Odyssey, but due to several issues it was decided to move it upstairs and out of reach.
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Just west of the Space Center's lobby and down one of Central Elementary School's hallways was the "Try Out Meta's Oculus 3's area. Meta gave a very sizable donation to the Space Center in cash to help create new simulator control software - hence the reason for the event. AND, Meta donated several Oculus 3s to the Center. Thank you Meta for your kindness and dedication to our mission to explore the boundaries of experiential education using the Discipline of Wonder.
Jack, a Space Center Voyager Volunteer, manned the Oculus station. His job was to keep the crowd moving. "OK kid, you've been on long enough, there are people waiting so speed it up." Actually, it was Jack who wanted to sit down for a few minutes to continue his game. When asked why he was playing when others were waiting he replied, "Perks of the job". Of course I may have misremembered his exact words or that I was even there in the first place
The Ocului (plural for Oculus) were so popular that Marcus and Scott called in Imperial reinforcements to keep the younglings in line and keep the line moving.
Marcus was excited for his turn but Jack wouldn't have any of it. "Not for volunteer use. Guests only," he repeated over and over whenever Marcus saw an open seat and began moving in that direction. When questioned why he got to use them, Jack replied that it was his job to ensure each headset was in proper working order.
Scott had trouble with the Oculus due to his advanced age. Happily a young girl was nearby to help him with the technology.
Mica Clegg (blue shirt) was on hand to offer assistance where needed and to warn people 65 and older of the danger from motion sickness when using the headset. "Because of their advanced age and proneness to severe motion sickness a warning is in order." He explained. I decided to give one a try. Within 30 seconds I was struck with motion sickness to the point that I was a danger to myself from falling and the carpet from my dinner. By the way, that's Matt Ricks in the back wandering about looking for his wife and daughter.
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Downstairs from the lobby is Starbase Williamson, home to the starships Magellan, Cassini, Phoenix, Odyssey, Galileo, and Falcon. The Starbase was in full touring mode during the event.
A table dedicated to suicide prevention was at the bottom of the stairs. Suicide prevention is a social cause the Space Center fully endorses.
Voyager Volunteers here on hand throughout the event to direct traffic and answer questions.
Also on hand to entertain the visitors were several local Star Trek and Star Wars cosplayers. Here you see an argument over which sci-fi is best in the Galileo. The Star Wars character had their lightsabers out ready to enforce their opinion. They tried using The Force to sway the Star Trek characters but their Jedi ways had no effect.
The Magellan was open for tours. Tyler demonstrated a few character capabilities the new software will give the Control Room teams.
Dave Stevens and family. Dave is a Oculus software engineer for Meta and both a Space Center and Space Place Voyager Volunteer. Dave teaches the Voyager Academy's Unity Design class at the Space Center and Renaissance Academy. Dave's two children are also Voyager Volunteers. The space centers' successes are due in part to great families like the Stevens who contribute so much of their time and talents to our cause of creating a space faring civilization.
Photo op character appearances were aplenty in the Starbase's promenade.
Mikey Wiltbank in the Promenade's Staff Room monitoring the holographic video feed to the Server Room.
The video playing from the Promenade's Server Room onto the outer wall glass.
Very Cool Indeed.
The Falcon was also open to tours but I was distracted and missed out on that.
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The next stop of the tour was Central School's lower hallway. Right on the other side of the double doors leading from the Space Center into the school were the refreshments compliments of Crumbl Cookies. I found myself strangely attracted to this area. Perhaps it was the cookies or Jade's good company.
Jade Hansen, another one of our fantastic and dedicated Voyager Adult Volunteers manned the Crumbl station (Jade, you found the best place to park yourself). Three of Jade's children are also Space Center staff or volunteers. In fact, Rylan Hansen is a multi-center employee at both the CMSC and The Space Place. Jade is a Voyager Academy faculty member in charge of the Engineering Department.
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After stopping for a delicious Crumbl (or two) I made my way into the school's gym to peruse the many science activity stations and meet up with some old friends.
And talk about an old friend, Natalie Anderson was there promoting her books. Many of you Space Center fans will remember Natalie from the Odyssey. She is also one of the major characters in the InfiniD company's educational simulation missions. I hear her voice almost daily when I run InfiniD missions for my Young Astronauts at Renaissance Academy.
The Space Center's Engineering Department display. Matt Ricks did an outstanding job on those electrical panels.
You old time Space Center fans may remember these old panels from the original Phoenix. Here are some of the other highlights my tour of the gym.
The molecule exhibit. We were a bit short staffed for the night so didn't have someone to man the molecules station. I was tempted to step in to help but knew that would be a mistake. I'd have snarfed down all the marshmallows in ten minutes leaving nothing for the younglings to work with.
Space Center Navigator Julie Culver manned the Mars Helicopter booth. A Navigator is someone who does planetarium presentations at the Space Center. In the summers Julie is a Junior Space Camp instructor. You can tell from her face that Julie loves space, and we even trust her with scissors!
There was a solar eclipse demonstration table
And a table showing how to make a pin hole solar projector. The tootsie rolls were meant to attract younglings. Knowing that younglings are, by their very nature, drawn to the sugar, the Center used that craving to lure them close enough to Charlie where he could grab their attention to his demonstration.
A local Pleasant Grove Confectioner displayed her company's science fiction chocolates.
There was a display on "The Shrinking Star"
Also, an exhibit on how far is the moon.
Jenny Sumsion, Alpine School District's Elementary Science Coordinator, was demonstrating how to find relative distance with machine tape. Jenny is an old friend from my days at Central Elementary School. I hadn't see Jenny in many years. We discussed ways to provide science inservice to our teachers at Renaissance.
I don't know what Nan was doing, BUT I know she was having a blast.
"I love my job," she said over and over again.
The Space Center's staff and volunteers change over and over again over the many decades. Here are a few of the current crop who make the Space Center a special, fun, and magical place.
Finally, a tribute to all those who came before like Chris Call (pictured above with his family). Thank you to all those who volunteered and staffed the Space Center for the last 34 years. Your roll in the success of the Space Center is the same as those who currently work and volunteer there today.
We are all part of the great Space Center Diaspora. We are united in this one thing - a love for space, a love for science fiction, and a love for the Space Center's mission - to create a space faring civilization. We inspire people to Look Up and wonder what wonderful things are waiting to be discovered.
Mr. Williamson
Imaginarium Theater
The Week's Best Videos from Around the World Edited for a Gentler Audience.
https://vimeo.com/874528274?share=copy
And Finally, One More Thing
