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Region 4

Also known as the 4th Fleet STARFLEET , The International Star Trek Fan Association, Inc.

Region 4

Also known as the 4th Fleet STARFLEET , The International Star Trek Fan Association, Inc.

SFI News

SFI NewsStar Trek News
Dave Mason

Angeles works on ‘Star Trek’ float in Rose Parade

By Commodore Dave Mason

PASADENA — Amanda Payatt stepped on a scaffold high above the ground to reach every “Star Trek” fan’s dream.

A nacelle of the original USS Enterprise.

She was among the USS Angeles members who went to Pasadena on Dec. 30 to work on Paramount Skydance/CBS’ “Star Trek” float in the Rose Parade, which took place on New Year’s Day in the same city. Passengers on the float were “Star Trek” actors George Takei (Sulu on the original series), Rebecca Romijn (Number One/Una Chin-Riiley on “Strange New Worlds”), Tig Notaro (Jett Reno on “Discovery” and “Starfleet Academy”) and Karim Diané (Klingon cadet Jay-Den Kraag (on “Starfleet Academy”).

Fifteen USS Angeles members and guests participated in the work, doing tasks such as cutting and gluing leaves for the captain’s chair on the USS Angeles bridge. Jon Lane and Lisa Sobien also worked directly on the float’s bridge. Lisa glued seeds to cover Mr. Sulu’s helm! As previously mentioned, Amanda worked near the nacelle.

Others helping were members Joe, Cassie and Lili Queen; Ed Millner; Cheryl Templeton; Kristine and Dennis Cherry; Jon’s son Jayden Lane; and I, along with Amanda’s friends. Joe organized the USS Angeles away mission and served as our liaison with Paramount Skydance/CBS. Thank you, Joe!

Paramount Skydance/CBS gave us the royal treatment, setting up a “green room” in the white tent near the Rosemont Pavilion, across from the Rose Bowl. We enjoyed pastries and sodas in the tent and were treated to a surprise: the sudden appearance of Karim Diané, a cast member of “Star Trek: Starfleet Academy,” which will start streaming Jan. 15 on Paramount+. Cassie, our Instagram coordinator, later did a video interview with him in front of the float, and you can find that at the Angeles Instagram page.

Inside the pavilion, we walked around the enormous “Star Trek” float, but were amazed by other floats, which featured everything from a re-creation of a bowling alley to a giant cruise ship. The size was impressive, but so was the attention to detail, right down to the details on the Enterprise bridge. More photos by Angeles members will appear in the Angels Flight, the USS Angeles newsletter, which will feature additional stories. The USS Angeles is a longtime chapter in Region 4 of STARFLEET.

It was a fun morning as we helped to prepare the float, which, besides the Enterprise and the bridge, included transporters, a re-creation of filming site Vasquez Rocks and planets. It was a great way to start the celebration of the 60th anniversary of “Star Trek,” and we enjoyed seeing the float in the parade on New Year’s Day.

Fans work on the USS Enterprise, part of a “Star Trek” float for the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day in Pasadena. (Photos by Dave Mason / USS Angeles)

The USS Enterprise comes to life on the “Star Trek” float in time for the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day.

USS Angeles member Amanda Payatt stands at the top of the giant “Star Trek” float, where she worked near a nacelle of the USS Enterprise.

USS Angeles members Lisa Sobien and Jon Lane, sitting in the captain’s chair, work on the bridge of the USS Enterprise. It’s part of the “Star Trek” float in the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day.

Karim Diané , a member of the “Star Trek: Starfleet Academy” cast, visits the food and refreshments tent for volunteers working on the “Star Trek” float in the Rose Parade.

Volunteers work on the planets on the “Star Trek” float in the Rose Parade.

Joe Queen works on the leaves that will grace the captain’s chair on the “Star Trek” float. Joe is the USS Angeles member who organized the mission to decorate the Rose Parade float.

Cassie Queen, left, and Lili Queen work on putting glue on leaves that will grace the captain’s chair on the “Star Trek” float.

SFI News
Dave Mason

David Nottage elected Region 4 coordinator

By Commodore Dave Mason

David Nottage, who has been commander-in-chief of STARFLEET, is returning to his former position of Region 4 coordinator.

During the recent election, David received more votes than Region 4 Coordinator Ron Coleman, whose achievements included rebooting the region’s website and launching the first Region 4 summit in more than a decade. 

David, who will continue his role as the long-time commanding officer of the USS Golden Gate in San Francisco, will start his new term as Region 4 coordinator on Jan. 1. 

And Ron has been appointed STARFLEET chief of operations and will move into that position on Jan. 1. He also will continue to be commanding officer of the USS Wessex, an Oceanside-based STARFLEET chapter with members around the world.

The regional coordinator is elected by the commanding officers of each Region 4 chapter. The region consists of STARFLEET chapters in California, Arizona and Nevada. The region includes Hawaii, but there are no chapters there.

In his concession mail, Ron thanked all the chapters who participated in the election and the commanding officers who voted for him.

“I appreciate the trust you placed in me and the cooperation we’ve shared over the past year,” Ron told Region 4 commanding officers.

He went on to congratulate David.

“I want to acknowledge the results and offer my sincere congratulations to Fleet Admiral Dave Nottage on his selection as the next regional coordinator,” Ron said. “I respect the decision of the region and wish him success as he steps into the role, and I stand ready to support a smooth and effective transition.”

“It has been an honor to serve Region 4. Together, we have made the region better, and I look forward to the direction FADM Nottage will take us,” Ron said. “Thank you again for your support and leadership.”

David Nottage, who was commander-in-chief of STARFLEET, has been elected to his former position as Region 4 coordinator. (Photo courtesy David Nottage)

Under Ron Coleman’s term as the Region 4 coordinator, the region improved its website and held its first summit in more than a decade. (Photo courtesy Ron Coleman)

SFI News
Dave Mason

Region 4 Summit to be part of Loscon

Editor’ note: This story was updated on Nov. 5.

By Commodore Dave Mason

STARFLEET’s Region 4 will present special “Star Trek” speakers during its first summit in more than a decade.

The summit will be open to everyone attending Loscon on Nov. 28 at the Hilton Los Angeles Airport, 5711 Century Blvd., Los Angeles.

Loscon is providing a meeting room at no charge to Region 4, which will hold its summit starting at 11:30 a.m. in the room called “La Jolla B.”

The summit will continue throughout the afternoon.

To attend the summit, you must buy a Loscon membership, which costs $75 for the weekend for adults and older youths if tickets are purchased by Nov. 20. After that, the rate will be $85.

The weekend rate for children ages 3 to 11 is $25. You can pay at loscon.org, the website operated by USS Angeles member Kristine Cherry, or at the door. There is no discounted daily rate.

Once you buy a Loscon membership, there is no additional charge to attend the Region 4 summit.

The summit will consist of four, 75-minute panels, which allows for 15 minutes of Q&A after each hour-long talk. Panelists include Larry Nemecek, a journalist who has covered “Star Trek,” and award-winning composer David Raiklen.

The schedule consists of:

–  11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. “Star Trek Crafts” with Tracy Newby (moderator) and Stacy Meyn. Tracy and Stacy are experienced Loscon speakers with a rich knowledge of “Star Trek.” 

– 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. “Star Trek Costuming” with Tracy Newby (moderator), Stacy Meyn, Larry Nemecek, Ron Coleman and Dave Mason.

– 2:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. “What is STARFLEET?” with Region 4 Coordinator Ron Coleman (moderator), Larry Nemecek and Dave Mason . Ron, a longtime “Star Trek” fan and leader in STARFLEET, and others will talk about Region 4 of STARFLEET: The International Fan Association and its various chapters. We also may use this time to conduct Region 4 business and recognize STARFLEET achievements.

We encourage people who haven’t heard of STARFLEET to come to this session and learn all about us!

– 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. “Star Trek: Past, Present and Future” with Dave Mason (moderator),  Larry Nemecek,  Ron Coleman and David Raiklen.

We’ll look at “Star Trek” from its beginning in 1966 to “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” “Star Trek: Starfleet Academy” and possibilities for other shows. “Legacy,” anyone?

Larry, a bestselling author who wrote “Star Trek: The Next Generation Cmopanion” and hosts “The Trek Files” podcast and “Trekland Tuesdays LIVE,” was one of the moderators interviewing actors on stage at Creation Entertainment’s “Star Trek” convention in August in Las Vegas.

David Raiklen is an award-winning composer whose music has been performed at the Hollywood Bowl at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. He is a producer and composer for the sci-fi series “Space Command” and has spoken regularly on the music of “Star Trek” on Loscon panels and at USS Angeles meetings. 

In addition to the Region 4 Summit, USS Angeles members will be involved with other aspects of Loscon. For example, Dennis and Kristine Cherry will again run the convention’s blood drive.

As usual, Loscon will feature a variety of panels focusing on science fiction and science, with an emphasis on authors and experts.

The convention’s theme is “Tell me a story.” Guests of honor are writer Ursula Vernon/T Kingfisher, artist Benton Jew, musician Lynn Gold and fan Tadao Tomomatsu, who delivers a video message at loscon.org.

STARFLEET Region 4 Coordinator Ron Coleman will lead the “What is STARFLEET?” panel at the Region 4 Summit. (Photo courtesy Ron Coleman)

Larry Nemecek will sit on several Region 4 Summit panels, including “Star Trek: Past, Present and Future.” (Photo courtesy Larry Nemecek)

Composer David Raiklen will be part of the “Starfleet: Past, Present and Future” panel at the Region 4 Summit. (Photo by Dave Mason/USS Angeles/Angels Flight)

Dave Mason will lead the “Star Trek: Past, Present and Future” panel at the Region 4 Summit. (Photo by Lisa Sobien/USS Angeles/Angels Flight)

Kristine and Dennis Cherry are chairs of the annual blood drive at Loscon. They’re seen here attending Comic Con Revolution in Ontario. (Photo by Dave Mason/USS Angeles/Angels Flight)

SFI News
Dave Mason

USS Wessex beams down community spirit

By USS Wessex

VENTURA — The crew of the USS Wessex joined forces once again with the Community Outreach Center of Ventura and Island Living Apartments to help local students get ready to boldly go into the new school year!

With the help of our dedicated members and friends, we raised $300 — an increase from last year’s $200. These funds helped us purchase 18 new backpacks for kids from low-income families in Ventura, north of Los Angeles.

On July 14, our Commanding Officer, RADM Ronald Coleman, proudly presented the backpacks to Sherry French, Island Living manager. These backpacks are part of the Community Outreach Center of Ventura annual Back to School Drive, which aims to support over 500 kids by ensuring they start the year equipped and confident. The big giveaway event is scheduled for Aug. 2.

By partnering with the Community Outreach Center of Ventura and Island Living Arts, we’re not only helping. We’re investing in hope, creativity and brighter futures for our community’s youth.

A heartfelt thank you goes to every crew member and supporter who made this mission possible.

Together, we can help these kids boldly go into a successful school year!

From left are Island View Apartments Manager Sherry French, USS Wessex Commanding Officer Ronald Coleman and another person dropping off backpacks. The USS Wessex recently helped efforts to provide backpacks for low-income students in Ventura, north of Los Angeles. (Photo courtesy USS Wessex)

EntertainmentSFI News
Dave Mason

Imagination soars at Comic-Con Museum

By Rear Adm. Ron Coleman

Region 4 Coordinator

SAN DIEGO — If you’ve ever wished Comic-Con could last all year, here’s some good news! 

Nestled in the heart of San Diego’s Balboa Park is the Comic-Con Museum, a place where your favorite stories, characters

and fandoms come to life every day. 

The USS Wessex recently visited the museum on an away mission. While there, I interviewed Dr. Emily Schindler, senior director of learning and engagement for the museum, for our club’s podcast.

Whether you’re a lifelong fan or new to the world of comics, sci-fi, fantasy or animation, this museum has something for you.

Right now, visitors are raving about these exhibits:

•  “Doctor Who: Worlds of Wonder”: Step inside the TARDIS and journey through time and space in this hands-on, science-meets-fiction adventure. It’s the exhibit’s first stop in the U.S., and it’s truly out of this world. The exhibit will remain at the museum through March 2026.

Created in conjunction with the BBC, the exhibit is the museum’s most expensive and ambitious project, Dr. Schindler told us during our podcast interview. 

The exhibit features everything from a TARDIS console to the wardrobe worn by the incarnations of the Doctor and an area dedicated to — what else? — Daleks. The robotic villains have invaded the museum!

• “Becoming Betty Boop”: Celebrate 100 years of the original animated style icon. This charming exhibit is full of rare artwork and memorabilia, highlighting her impact on pop culture and animation.

In conjunction with the exhibit, the Comic-Con Museum theater is showing Betty Boop cartoons, Dr. Schindler said. “You can see what’s possible with characterizations with (Betty’s) floppy arms.”

• “POPnology”: If you’ve ever dreamed of hoverboards, virtual reality or friendly robots, this one’s for you. It explores how science fiction inspired real-life technology — and lets you play with it, too!

•  “From Big Dots to the Digital Universe”: This is a colorful journey through the evolution of comic book coloring, from the days of Ben-Day dots to cutting-edge digital techniques.

• Legacy exhibits: Don’t miss the heartfelt tribute to Marvel Comics icon Stan Lee, or the anime-themed installations celebrating Cowboy Bebop and My Hero Academia.

Dr. Schindler noted the museum, opened in November 2021 by San Diego Comic-Con, allows people, including those unable to attend the massive San Diego convention, to have the Comic-Con experience throughout the year.

“Essentially our mission at Comic Con is to celebrate the popular culture,” she told us. 

“We always have big dreams,” Dr. Schindler said. “The fun part of my job is finding the dreams that we can do. There’s no shortage of inspiration here.”

For more about the museum, see comic-con.org/museum.

Watch out! The Daleks have taken over the San Diego Comic-Con museum in Balboa Park in San Diego. The USS Wessex recently beamed down there on an away mission. (Photos by Ron Coleman/Region 4)

Jennifer Coleman and Richard Cortopposi of the USS Wessex beam down to the Comic Con Museum in San Diego’s Balboa Park. The giant toucan is the mascot for San Diego Comic-Con.

A TARDIS model is part of the “Doctor Who” exhibit. Don’t let it fool you! It’s bigger on the inside.

A TARDIS console and the Doctors’ wardrobe grace an exhibit at the Comic-Con Museum.

Richard Cortopposi and Jennifer Coleman of the USS Wessex stand outside the Comic-Con Museum in Balboa Park in San Diego.

“Doctor Who” aliens visit the Comic-Con Museum in San Diego.

The Comic=Con Museum stands in the former Hall of Champions in Balboa Park in San Diego.

SFI NewsStar Trek News
Dave Mason

Region 4 website relaunched; you submissions are welcome

By Commodore Dave Mason

Welcome to the live launch of Region4.org.

The Region 4 communications team recently redesigned the region4.org website, and new content started appearing Saturday, May 3, 2025. For the news from chapters throughout our region, please click on Region 4 News in the top bar. Stories will consist of republications of stories from chapters’ newsletters and websites from throughout the region, as well as original content exclusive to the Region 4 site. We’ll also have stories about “Star Trek” conventions, “Star Trek” programming news and other topics of broad interest to Region 4 of STARLFEET.

The goal is to publish at least one story a week.

The Region 4 website is operated by Commodore Dave Mason, the Region 4 chief of communications who’s overseeing stories and photos, and Capt. Christopher Mulrooney, the webmaster overseeing design, production and technology issues. Chris did the redesign work you see here.

Submissions of photos and stories are welcome anytime from commanding officers or their designated officers from every chapter in Region 4. To submit stories and photos, please email them to Dave at davemason1701@gmail.com. Photos should be high-resolution, 200 dpi in Photoshop, If you don’t have Photoshop or are unsure of the dpi, please set your camera or phone to its highest resolution. That likely will make photos big enough. And in your stories, please include a link to your chapter’s website. We want to promote your chapters and send readers to your websites.

To get the Region 4 website started, you’ll see content from the USS Angeles, Dave and Christopher’s chapter. But our hope is to have content from as many chapters as possible from every state in our region. The breadth and depth of content will determine this website’s success. Please share your stories and photos. Thank you.

In addition to news, you’ll see bios of the Region 4 Command Staff as well as a list of all of our region’s chapters and their websites.

Again, welcome to the new Region 4 website!

Melanie Scrofano, who plays Capt. Marie Batel on “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” answers a question at Creation Entertainment’s Women in Sci Fi convention in March in Burbank, Calif. A story about the convention will appear this month on the new Region 4 website, region4,org. A different story about the event will appear in May on the USS Angeles website, ussangeles.org. (Photo by Dave Mason/USS Angeles/Angels Flight)