Greetings, Comtriya,

The following are stories we wrote about Creation Cons, Charity events and club trips to Disneyland we volunteered for or attended as members of several different SciFi clubs in San Diego. We started out as members of the USS Palavra, My daughters an I became founding members of Com Station Z (CSZ). After ten years of on and off being CO of CSZ and one who did the most recruiting at that time I was relieved of Command.
In 2005, my daughters and I with a few friends started another club called the USS Copernicus. Because we are the authors of the following stories. The stories are from conventions we volunteered at, charity events we also volunteered at and ‘all SciFi club’ trips to Disneyland.
I procured them from another site for posting here. Ekim
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Grand Slam 1996
MAY I SEE SOME I.D. PLEASE…

Name …… Ekim ………………….
Date …….. Mon Apr 22, 1996
RE: A Grand Slam Story……

I was stationed at the top of the back stage garage entrance, to prevent people from trying to go down the ramp to park. The other part of the job was to let Creation know when a celebrity showed up (I had a list of who to expect).

Everything was going well, when this one car pulled up …. I stopped the
car and went to the driver’s side, the driver rolled down the window
and asked if this was the back stage parking. I said it was… He said that
he wanted to park there. I told him that there was parking across
the street, that this parking was only for celebrities. About the time I got
that sentence out of my mouth I recgonized the person I was talking
to as the one and only Garrett Wang (Star Trek Voyager actor who plays
Harry Kim). You see, he wasn’t supposed to be there until the next day.

Anyway, he took it well….actually he thought it was very funny and
threatened to tell the story on stage. I did manage to get his autograph
for Krystyna and he posed for a picture with him and me together.
– Ekim
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Grand Slam 1996

EAT T.V.

Name …… Kelly ……………………
Date …….. Mon May 27, 1996
…………………. RE: Here’s one from the Grand Slam con:

On Sunday, Krystyna was supervising the upstairs area of the dealer’s room. During my lunch break I went up to visit and to eat. Since there wasn’t really anywhere to sit, I sat down on the floor. We noticed that several guys from E! TV were taping the crowd from the ‘balcony’. Being funny, Krystyna asked if they wanted to tape a supervisor. They laughed and declined the opporunity. A few minutes later they came back around to leave. As they walked past, one of the guys said [refering to me], “Hey, we *could* tape the supervisor on the floor eating lunch.”

Boy are those camera people funny! ha..ha..ha….plbtht!

– Kelly
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Babylon 5 Convention 1996

KNOW THY ACTORS

Name …… Kelly …………………..
Date …….. Sun Aug 10, 1997

Like my dad, I have a knack for embarrassing myself in front of celebrities while “just doing my job”.

At the 1996 Star Trek and Babylon 5 convention at the Pasadena Convention Center, I was working backstage. It was my job to make sure that everyone gets where they’re going, that the “big cheese” (the co-owner, Adam Malin) knows what’s coming up next, and that the security backstage is maintained. Part of maintaining the security means that only authorized people or VIPs come through the curtain. (We have fellow volunteers, Zimm and Mike M., watching the stage curtain on a rotating basis.)

I was called over and told that a man wants to get backstage because he says that he’s supposed to meet Richard Biggs (Babylon 5 actor) at such and such time. I asked the man his name and told him that I would go ask Mr. Biggs if he’s expecting him. Silly enough, I couldn’t *quite* remember which one was Richard Biggs! I thought that he may be the doctor guy but I wasn’t sure. So I started walking around saying “Mr Biggs?…….Mr Biggs?!. Excuse me, Richard? Oh, sorry. Mr. BIIGGGSSS!! Richard! Yo Biggy! Hello? Mr. Biggs? Nope….” and so on.

I then ran into the whole group of ‘em waiting to go onstage. Drats…I thought…they’re all together! They were all in this big circle so I just rotated around saying “Mr Biggs?……Mr Biggs?….Excuse me, Mr Biggs?…. Excuse me, Could you point me to Mr. Richard Biggs?….” They were ignoring me! Finally I stopped at Mr. Andreas Katsula (B5 actor) and he ignored me too. I kept asking and asking but he wouldn’t look at me.
So, frustrated and impatient, I whacked him pretty hard and said “Hey! Are you Richard Biggs?!?!”

Of course, everyone stops and looks at me. Andreas and Peter Jurassic looked at me shocked, and then pointed me towards the real Richard Biggs without saying a word.

Richard,completely oblivious, looks up and says “Yeah?” and I say “Uhm…there’s a Mr so-and- who says he’s supposed to meet with you. Are you expecting him?” Richard replies, “Oh yes! Of course! Where is he?….”

Luckily enough, Mr Biggs was really nice and later teased me. I have noticed that Mr. Katsula now stays away from me….hrm…I wonder why….

Of course, the CSZers won’t let me live that incident down (they all whack each other and yell “Hey! You Richard Biggs?!?!” whenever B5 comes on!)
– Kelly
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X-Files Convention, June 1996

BRINGING NEW MEANING TO THE TERM “HOME SHOPPING”

Name ……. Ekim ………………….
Date …….. Mon Jun 10, 1996
RE: San Diego X-files Con 6/9/96

During the day, I was checking on those people who were assigned posts, so my travels took me all over the Community Concourse (where the con was being held). I kept running into a girl/youngish lady (about 24 yrs old) who always stopped to say something to me.

At one point I was relieving the position at the entrance where I was stamping hands when, one more time, this girl came up to me and started talking. All of a sudden she said, “Oh, you’re married” pointing to my wedding ring which I wear on my right hand. “Yes”, I said, “Is that a problem?”

She said that she thought that she had found a potential “Step dad”. She apparently wanted me to date her widowed mother. She said she thought I would be a good date for her mom. I was very gracious and thanked her very much and told her that not only was I married, but that my two daughters were working the convention with me.

I told Kelly about the incident and, later during the autographing, I saw the same young lady again. I called to Kelly and told the young lady that this was one of my daughters. Kelly jokingly said to her something like, “This is MY dad, not YOUR dad, you can’t have him!” Anyway, she took it in a light vein, we all had a little fun over the situation.
– Ekim
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X-Files Convention, June 1996

HE DOUG HIS OWN HOLE

Name …… Kelly ………………….
Date …….. Mon Jun 10, 1996

Wheee! Don’t we just love conventions?? I have one from the June 8th X-Files convention in San Diego. The last thing on the convention schedule was the autograph(s) signing. Trying to be “orderly” about it , all of the volunteers were having the guests get up row by row to get in line. The plan was to march them up one aisle, across another and down the side. No problem!

I was talking with some of the guests when Albert informed me that a bunch of people were blocking the aisle [that we needed to lead the guests through]. I looked over to see Doug Hutchinson, the actor who played “Mr. Toomes” on X-Files, and about 12 of his “groupies” right smack-dab in the middle of the aisle. I walked over and asked a bunch of the people to just move over a few feet. They refused to move (I assume that they didn’t want to risk being farther away from Doug). I asked again and they *wouldn’t even budge*. I decided to go straight to the root of the problem and ask Doug to move.

I FINALLY got his attention and straight-out asked him to move further into the row of chairs. He looked at me perplexed for a second. Then he took me by the hand and said, in a most sweetly apologetic voice, “Kelllly, Kelllly, Kelllllly!!!!…You’re doing your job so well! I *really* appreciate you bringing this to my attention. I’m in your way?”

I responded quite bluntly by saying “Well, yes, you’re blocking our route, not to mention the fire exit.” Doug hugged me saying, “Awww! I’ll have to move then!” I replied, “We all know you’re ‘hot’, but that’s not the kind of ‘fire’ I was refering to!!” Just then, Ekim walked up, grabbed Doug by the scruff of the neck/jacket and “dragged” him up the aisle while saying something to the effect of, “Alright! You’re blocking the aisle! Let’s go!”

Needless to say, our walkway was clear for the next group to go through and a laugh was had by all (and no one was hurt!) Doug has made sure to stop by and say hello to us (and get in my way) at every convention since.
– Kelly
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Grand Slam Convention 1997

AND YOU ARE………??

Name …… Kelly …………………..
Date …….. Mon Aug 11, 1997

At the 1997 Grand Slam in Pasadena, I did it again – I just didn’t slap any actors this time.

As usual, I was working backstage and running around. I often help out the Production Coordinator, Mike McAlister, with whatever he needs. Both he and Adam instructed me to make sure that the celebrities get onstage safely (ie. make sure they don’t trip in the dark). So, for most of the afternoon I shined flashlights on various celebrities’ feet. Walter Koenig even did a dance up and down the stairs while he was waiting – boy, that man can *move*!!!! In any case, I need to keep on my toes so that I know what’s coming up next on the schedule.

I was sitting around when I realized that it was time for Kate Mulgrew (Star Trek Voyager actress) to go onstage. I didn’t see her or Mike around and I started to worry. I looked back in the greenroom and didn’t see them there either. I figured that Mike was just going to delay bringing her to the stage for some reason – perhaps for extra security.

Creation always plays a “Salute”, or video, to the actors before they go onstage. When I heard Kate Mulgrew’s video on, I went out front to make sure that we had our security clearance around the stage (ie. make sure that no one is waiting next to the stage to mug her when she walks out). Although it was dark, I saw about 15-20 people and VIPs milling around near the curtain. I immediately walked over and started asking them to sit down. Some complied right away and some took their time. One woman wouldn’t listen to me when I asked to move along so I just passed her up and shuffled everyone else into their rows. I looked back at her and she was just standing there! “Can you please *take a seat*??” I asked her. No response. I then turned and saw Mike standing there. “That’s funny,” I thought “what’s he doing out here? Shouldn’t he be backstage with….” My thought trailed off.

It clicked in my head. “I just told *Kate Mulgrew* to *take a seat*”

Mike looked at me as if to say “Hrm, you don’t know who this is do you?”
Kate looked at me as if to say “Hrm, you don’t know who I am do you?

Of course, trying to not look really stupid (which was pretty impossible), I looked back at both of them as if to say “Duh, I know who this is, I just couldn’t see her in the dark” I looked right at Ms Mulgrew and said, quite bluntly, “Yeah, hi, how are you doing.” Mike looks at me kinda shocked. Back to Kate I add “Sorry, It’s dark. What do you expect?” I then turned back to another VIP and told *him* to sit down. Mike just stares at me. “Oh, Mike, Adam wants you to make sure that you get those balloons up in the catwalk on time.”
I said. Mike still looks like he still can’t believe I told Kate to take a seat. He nods and I proceed back to the curtain. As I pass, Kate looks at me – smirking. I guess she found me to be amusing.

Apparently, Kate wanted to be different and walk onstage from the side instead of the back. Gee Mike, thanks for telling me.

– Kelly
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Pasadena Convention

MIKE, WHERE WE GOING???????????

Sun morn. 11/30, we were all up and checking out of the motel, in as much as we had plenty of time before we hadto be at the convention center we all decided to go to Dennys for breakfast. Mr Homn (Mike M.) decided to come to the motel to see if we were up and to find the way to Dennys. I was ready to go and in as much as I was riding with Mike, we decided to leave and meet everyone at the restaurant. I got into the van and Mike pulled away from the curb and behind another car. We were both now stopped at a stoplight facing south, facing E. Colorado Blvd. Finding the light to be to long for his liking, Mike pulled around to the right of the other car and made a right turn and proceeded west on E. Colorado Blvd. When we had gone about a block, I asked Mike Where we were going. He said to Dennys. I said: “Ah Mike, Dennys is located in the other direction, we have to go east on this street to get there.”
“Are you sure?” responded Mike. “I thought it was this way.”
“No, Louis & Clark breath” I said, “Dennys is located in the other direction.”
“No problem,” Mike said, “We’ll just turn around and go the other way.”
So Mike made a right turn at the next corner and went to the next street and made another right turn.
“Ah Mike,” I said, I don’t know if you are aware of this or not, but we are now going the wrong way down a one way street.”
“What??” OOP’s,” and Mike proceeded to make a ‘U turn.’
Thankfully, there is no traffic on any of these smaller streets on Sunday morning, so we had no problem correcting Mike’s mistakes. : )
We were now driving east on E. Colorado Blvd. After driving a while Mike said, “Are you sure that this is the right direction?” “We have been driving a long time now and I do not see a Dennys, are you sure it is not located in the other direction?” “No, I’m sure that it is somewhere in this direction, This area is starting to look familuar, let’s go at least one more light.” We passed that light and Mike was going to the next one when I said, “There it is,” pointing to our left. So we went around the block, this time no one way streets and pulled into the parking lot.
“Boy, this will be a great story for our ‘Convention Story Sub’ on the BBS”
“Your not going to put this on the sub are you?” Mike replied with a hurt look on his face. Well, as you can see, I have. : )

Ekim
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Video Shoot 1997

ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW

Name ……. Ekim ……………….
Date ……… Fri Oct 18, 1997

By invitation of the CO of the USS Angeles, who is a cinematography student, members of CSZ drove up to Vasquez Rocks (a location of at least one ST TOS story) which is located just west of Palmdale.

The reason for the drive was to help Janice, shoot a movie for her class. Being a Star Trek fan it was only normal for her to do a Star Trek film. While we were in the midst of the activities of the day, someone asked what planet we were supposed to be on. Zimm, CO (at the time) of Con Station Z) turned to the person posing the question and said, “This can be any planet in the world.” Any planet in the world, Zimm???
– Ekim
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Hollywood Charity Horse Show 2000:

William Shatner Charity Horse Show, “Ahead With Horses” April 29, 2000

Well, we have another horse show under our belts. This one was a bit different and to tell the truth, I liked the way this one went. Sure, there were a few gliches, but they were taken care of in a timely manner. To bring you up to speed, this days activities included three charities; “Ahead With Horses,” “The Children’s Museum of Los Angeles” and “LA’s Best”

The first thing that was different this year, is that the children from “LA’s Best,” were brought out on Sat. instead of Sun., as they have been in the past. This, I think, made for a more enjoyable time both for us, the volunteers, and the children.

LA’s Best: (Better Educated Students for Tomorrow) (to quote from the program) “An award-winning after school enrichment program established in 1988 as a partnership of the city of Los Angeles, the LAUSD and the private sector to promote safer schools and educational support in areas most vulnerable to drugs, gangs and crime, for children with the greatest needs and fewest resources….”

For the Childrens Museum, I quote from the program: “….The proceeds from the Hollywood Charity Horse Show will be used to offset the Museum’s Yes You Can! Program. This grant-supported program provides free admission for children who would not otherwise be able to visit the museum…”

It was about 2pm when the first busses arrived with some of the first of the 2,000 of “LA’s Best,” children who were to attend the event. The childrens party was held in a grass field ‘Jumping Ring,’ at least that is what I will call it. It is a very large area, probably about the size of a football field. Large enough to accomodate a BBQ on one end for the children’s lunches, a magician, Indians with two Teepees, two Clown Entertainers with their own stage. There were also antique wagons (3) and about a half dozen cowboys on horseback riding around and letting the kids pet the horses, a petting zoo and a game area. The Indians (real Indians), told the story of how the Indians lived in harmony with the earth and how we should try very hard to not pollute this earth we live on.

Off to one end and off the field and in pens were a Buffalo and a Long Horned Steer on exhibit (not part of the petting zoo). Set up in the same area as the pens, was an ever popular “Pony Ride.” The kids could also try their hand at tossing Horse Shoes among some of the activities that were available to them.

We had about 50 or 60 costumed (Star Trek/SciFi) volunteers who showed up. While the children were enjoying themselves with the scheduled events, they started asking us for our autographs. Some of the costumed volunteers signed several hundred autographs.

There were two volunteers (I do not know their names) who dressed as Darth Maul and Obie Wan. These two young adults took a lot of time and trouble to make their costumes, rehearse their parts and choreograph their fight scenes. The kids were fasinated and entertained by their antics.

Just as entertaining was Saul Del Toro, who brought his “Mugato” (ST TOS “A Private Little War”) costume. It is an ape like creature with serated spional plates on it’s back and a Unicorn like horn growing out of it’s head. It was amusing to watch Saul in his costume being ‘pursued’ by one of the Indian entertainers at the back of the enclosed arena. A comment from one of those watching the antics went something like, “If you kill it, you have to eat it and it don’t taste like chicken.”

There was video taping by Inside Edition and a live weather broadcast by Channel 7 News. Though none of us made it on the weather cast, but Zimm and Saul were fortunate enough to get interviewed by “Inside Edition,” the show aired on Mon 5/2, unfortunately, without the interviews.

Getting back to the days events; The children were entertained from about 2pm to about 6pm with the above mentioned entertainment, along with a Wild West Stunt Show in the Equidome (the enclosed arena).

At 4pm a ‘Silent Auction’ began in a tent which was erected just outside the Cowboy Palace Saloon. There were many items, a number of them autographed, available to be bid on. The auction lasted until 10pm.

By 6pm the 2,000 LA’s Finest children were on there way home.

6:15 to 7pm Star Trek on Parade. All the costumed volunteers gathered behind the Equidome for ‘Star Trek on Parade.’ We filed into the Equidome and lined up facing the VIP’s. The National Anthem was sang and Mr. Shatner made some welcome announcments and introduced the three charities involved, after which we filed out of the arena.

After a Reining & Dressage demonstration, a charity Demonstration was presented by “Ahead With Horses.”

For those that do not know what “Ahead with Horses” is, I will again quote from the program:

“Ahead With Horses” (Accelerated Habilitation Education And Development) is a non-profit therapeutic riding organization which works with children that are very badly disabled. Most cannot walk, some are blind, some have little chance of survival, but all benefit from the devotion of the staff of Ahead With Horses……”

Words cannot express what goes through your mind as you watch these children perform. Hat’s off to the “Ahead With Horses” and their dedication.

After the Charity Demonstration, Hallelujah Horseplay 2000 presented another Wild West Stunt Show for the adult audience.

At 7pm the Silent Auction was in full swing and the Cowboy Palace Saloon’s BBQ began. As usual there were lots of items to bid on and lots of good food to eat. I especially liked the BBQ beef.

There were celebrities present, Stephen Austin (B5), Barbara Luna (ST-TOS), Guy Williams Jr, Jeff Rector (ST & others), Leslie Ann Warren & Jeff Conaway to name a few.

I think I can speak for most all the volunteers that were there when I say that, we had a ball entertaining the children!! I don’t know who had the bigger grins, or enjoyed the day more, the kids or the volunteers who were signing autographs and/or entertaining the children.

The children is what this is all about, whether disabled or disadvantaged, they all need attention and we enjoy giving it to them. I think that this Hollywood Charity Horse Show was, by far the most succesful in the area of entertaining and educating the children I have the opportunity to be associated with.

Mike Witt
Com Station Z CS-001
San Diego
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Mouse Trek 2000:

MOUSE TREK VI, 2000 (The Undiscovered Century)
Trek Organizer, Damien & Jamie Metz, of the USS Columbia, Las Vegas, NV.

I was up at 5am to get ready for my drive up from San Diego, to Disneyland in Anaheim, CA. I wound up leaving about 6:20am and getting to Disneyland a little over an hour later.

After parking the car and getting on the tram to be taken to the main entrance, I purchased my ticket and went to the turnstyles to see if I could find anyone I knew. As I rounded the turn, I saw two people waving at me, it was Zimm and his mother. Bypassing the end of the line, I got in line with them. By now it was about 8am and Disneyland was only a short time from opening it’s gates to the “Happiest Place on Earth.”

After we got in, we had to wait until Damien (the Mouse Trek organizer) to show up with the Mouse Trek polo shirts. This year’s Mouse Trek was named after the movie; “Star Trek VI, The Undiscovered Country.” Our shirts proudly proclaimed, “Mouse Trek VI, 2000 The Undiscovered Century.” Damien handed out shirts to those that were present and the rest were handed out later that day, to those who showed up later.

I believe that there were some 60 people in attendance at this year’s Mouse Trek. Note: this was not a UFPI function, but it was sponsored by a UFPI member. I do not have a complete list of clubs that were in attendance, but the following org. were represented; UFPI, SFI, IFT, KAG & RSE (I don’t think I left anyone out). The farthest anyone traveled to attend was from Florida.

First order of the day, go to New Orleans Sq. and get breakfast. Pancakes, eggs, bacon & coffee started my day.

Second order of the day: HAVE FUN!

Third order of the day: learn the phrase of the day. When Damien shouted “Never Surrender!,” we were to answer, “Never Give Up!” It took a few tries, but most finally got the hang of it.

We split into groups and were suppose to meet at the canoes at noon. Ah yes, the canoes……… Picture some three boat loads (canoe loads) of people wearing “Mouse Trek” shirts. Our group was in the 2nd of the three boats. After being ‘taught’ how to paddle by one of the two ‘cast members,’ we were off. It didn’t take long for us to try to catch up to the first canoe. We not only caught up to it, we could have passed it at will, but the ‘cast members’ would not allow this. As we were coming around the last turn (where the Mark Twain parks, for those familiar with this area of the park), the command “Never Surrender” was given by Damien. We stopped rowing, we responded, “Never Give Up!” was the response. At this time, we started paddling BACKWARDS!, to the dismay of the ‘Cast Members.’ Talk about strange looks on the faces of someone who was suppose to be in charge……. So we took pity on them and stopped paddling backwards and started going forward again for all we were worth We wanted to keep the canoe behind us from passings and to catch up to the one in front of us. I think that the canoes were the best part of the day for me. I thought they were great! I Can’t wait until next year, so that we can go canoeing again.

We did a round of rides; Pirates of the Caribbean, Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, The Matterhorn, Star Tours and Roger Rabbit’s Car Toom Spin. It was a little after 6pm when we finally left the Car Toon Spin ride, so we decided to go to the Blue Bayou Restaurant in New Olreans Square for dinner. The wait was long at the restaurant, but we stuck it out and finally made it in. We had eight people at our table and because we were seated by the water, we interacted with the people in the boats going into the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ ride. Comments like, “Save us something to eat” were bantered about by those on the rides and “Don’t eat the green frogs, they’re not ripe yet.” by us on ‘shore.’ The dinner was grand, as was the service. I give 5 stars to the Blue Bayou and our waiter (#22-Dan S.)

After dinner, it was off to the Haunted Mansion and and the Indiana Jones rides. After these two rides the time was getting to be a little after 11:00p and we were getting tired.

I decided to leave and head home, so I bid everyone a goodby and headed off to the lockers to retrieve my stuff.

Again, it only took a little over an hour to drive back to San Diego. But, on the drive home I realized that in saying my goodbys to everyone, the countdown to Mouse Trek VII, 2001, had begun.

Mike Witt
Com Station Z CS-001
San Diego
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Grand Slam Star Trek Convention 2001:
(Pasadena, California)

March 30 – April 01, 2001

For anyone who has ever attended a Star Trek convention in the Pasadena Convention Center, you know how big the auditorium is. This is the first time that I have ever seen it standing room only. To say that this convention was a success would be an understatement.

Well, now we’ve done everything. We have been paying guests at Star Trek conventions; we have been volunteers at Star Trek conventions and we have been autograph signing ‘Celebrities’ at a Star Trek event (Ahead With Horses, the William Shatner Charity Horse Show). The only thing we have not done up until now was to be vendors at a Star Trek convention. Well, this all changed at this years Creation Grand Slam. Due to some extenuating cicumstances, the members of Com Station Z decided to host a recruiting table at this years Grand Slam.

Through my connections, I was able to procure us a table. Our table/booth was in a prime spot, that of being the first thing you saw when you entered the Annex, which was located just off the main Auditorium in the Pasadena Convention Center.

Zimm built a display board for us and we had a sign made for us by Damien Metz, proclaiming us to be COM STATION Z. About the sign, Zimm said that a couple of people at the convention thought we had something to do with the new ST fanchise one person thought it was the name of the new Star Trek series.

The table/booth itself looked really great. I think that we had UFPI displayed at least six times, if not more. We had plenty of photos albums showing what CSZ had done in the past on display. It was also decided that we would also represent the other chapters in San Diego county, those being the USS Palavra and the KAG chapter the IKV Stranglehold. Photos of activities were supplied by the other clubs and some of their members joined us in manning the table during the weekend.

In order to make a little money, we sold items we had gathered over the years. I was surprised at the amount we made; not a real lot, but more than I thought we would make.

A number of CSZ members attended the convention and manned the table. To help make waiting in line for autographs more pleasent, CSZ members Taffy Phelps and Brenda Zimmerlee with some help from Kelly Witt, played a game called ‘ScienceFictionary.’ They took a dry erase board & markers and went down the line of those waiting for autographs drawing pictures representing character or situtations from science fiction movies or TV shows and asking them to figure out what was drawn. The prize for the winners was candy in the form of ‘Fun Size’ candies and tootsie rolls. Everyone seemed to enjoy the game.

Fri and Sun were club shirt days, Sat was dress up in your costume/photo op day. Most everyone from CSZ was in costume as were visiting members of the IKV Stranglehold who ‘invaded’ the booth that day.

We were also graced with a visit from our DCFO Jim Rennie who was working for Richard Arnold (Creation Trivia Expert & ST Vendor). It was nice to see Jim, I think he enjoyed the weekend, from what I could see. I hope that he was impressed with our table and efforts to promote UFPI.

The highlight of the weekend for me was celebrating Grace Lee Whitney’s 71st birthday on April 1st. Grace and I have become very good friends over the years, and I thought it would be a nice touch to throw her a little party. So I bought her a cake, flowers and a card. In the afternoon, when things started slowing down, Grace had to go backstage for a few minutes. I brought out the cake and got everything ready. My daughter Kelly (who assists Adam Malin backstage) escorted her back to her table where we surprised her with the ‘party.’

I want to thank all those who helped with setting up, tearing down and manning the table. We spread the work about CSZ and the other clubs. One comment that was made, was that there should be more club tables at these conventions and I agree.

Mike “Ekim” Witt, XO, CSZ

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CSZ Disneyland Trip 2001

Year End Trip To Disneyland (2001)

The year was coming to an end at a very fast clip. Several of us from Com Station Z wanted to make a trek to Disneyland, we wanted to see the Haunted Mansion as the Nightmare Before Christmas, before it reverted back to the Haunted Mansion.

So, we decided on Thur Dec 27th 2001 as ‘DL’ Day. It was a small group that met that day. Zimm and his mom from the Hemet Sector and Jennifer & myself from Starbase San Diego. Jennifer graciously volunteered to be pilot, though I was prepared to do the driving.
Jennifer and I met at about 6am and headed for the ‘Happiest Place on Earth’ in her shuttlecraft. Traffic was not to bad and once we entered the I-5 wormhole the trip didn’t take as long as we thought .

We entered the old parking lot off Harbor and after paying for the parking, were directed to the new parking structure. Jennifer skillfully piloted her ‘shuttle’ in a ‘docking bay’ and secured the craft. It was about 7:15 am when we got on the ‘Disney Shuttle Tram’ and were taken to the main gates of Disneyland.

OK, now the waiting begins. We got in line for the 8am opening while we kept an eye out for Zimm and Brenda, as I had all the tickets. It was getting closer to 8am, still no sign of Zimm & Brenda. Pretty soon, the gates were opened and we had to move to an area where we could see the people coming off the trams, still no Zimm or Brenda. 8:10a, 8:15a, 8:20a, still no sign of them. What happened? Was there an accident that held them up, or a flat tire, were they in an accident????? 8:30 finally came and we decided that maybe we
shouldn’t wait any longer. I guess this would be a nice time to have a cell phone, but I don’t have one and Jennifer left her’s in her car. I didn’t have Zimm’s cell number anyway, so the point was moot.

Jennifer and I went into the park and decided to see if there were a way we could leave the tickets for them to pick up, assuming they were still coming. We went to the exit to talk to the ‘cast member’ manning that post. While he was telling us that we really didn’t have much of a chance of getting the tickets to them, I looked up and saw Zimm and Brenda coming from the direction of the trams. I got my hand stamped and went out to give them their tickets. They said that they were held up by traffic getting into the parking lot. With that problem solved we entered the park and went to get some breakfast at the Riverbelle Terrace Restaurant. After breakfast, it was off the the Haunted Mansion. I really liked what they did to the Haunted Mansion. I was under the impression that not that much was changed in the Mansion when they changed it to Nightmare Before Christmas, but it looked to me like 90% of the attraction had been changed, starting with the outside of the building. I will not tell you what it looked like inside the Mansion, if they do this again next year (and I hope that they do), I would suggest that you make the effort to see it for yourself. It was really nice, I liked it.

The rest of the day was taken up with taking our turns riding on Pirates of the Caribbean, Splash Mountain (or as Jennifer said, “This is NOT good”), the Monorail, “Honey, I shrunk the Audience, Innoventions, and the Disneyland Railroad. We also went into Toontown to get an antenna ball and we explored Downtown Disney and the Disney ‘Grand Californian Hotel.’I tried to take as many pictures as I could, after they get processed, they will hopefully be put up on the website.

The last ride we were on, was the Disneyland Railroad. Once we did a turn around the park, getting off at the entrance to the park. It was time for Jennifer and I to start heading for Starbase San Diego. Zimm & Brenda were not leaving yet, so they were going to stay on the train and get off at New Orleans Square and go to the Indiana Jones ride.

After taking the Disney shuttle back to the docking port, we entered Jennifers shuttle and after a bit of ‘exploring’ the parking lot, exited the lot and headed for the I-5 wormhole again. The drive back to San Diego was uneventful and we arrived at Starbase San Diego in a timely manner, thanks to Jennifer’s excellent piloting skills.

End of report,

Ekim out