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Dave Mason

USS Angeles encounters big cats and dinosaurs

By Commodore Dave Mason

LOS ANGELES — Upstairs, dinosaurs towered above USS Angeles members.

Downstairs, we were stalked by lions.

Elsewhere, we encountered bison, bears and more. We had beamed down to a land of adventures — also known as the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History. The USS Angeles went there on Jan. 25 to see the special exhibit “Fierce! The Story of Cats,” which told the story of felines varying domestic cats to lions, tigers and the species that runs at warp speed: cheetahs.

Jeremy Kranz and I, along with two of Jeremy’s friends, saw all of those, along with the museum’s brilliant and diverse collections of gems. Mother Nature is an artist.

We also saw exhibits such as “Reframing Dioramas: The Art of Preserving Wilderness,” which features more than 75 habitats varying from arctic tundra to tropical rainforest. For the exhibit, the museum restored and reopened a diorama hall that was closed for decades.

Lisa Sobien wasn’t able to join us for the Jan. 25 mission, but she and I went there on Feb. 14 as our Valentine’s Day date on the cat exhibit’s last weekend. We noticed many other couples did likewise. This time around, I caught details on the exhibit that I missed during the Jan. 25 mission.

The “Fierce!” exhibit taught me about the similarities and differences between domestic cats and their wild cousins. The exhibit also explored the history of wild and domestic cats. Felines are believed to have first been domesticated in the Middle East about 10,000 years ago.

The exhibit noted felines’ taste buds aren’t engineered to detect sweetness, although Lisa and I aren’t certain about that because her family’s cats loved ice cream!

In addition to discussing taste buds and hunting techniques, the exhibit had a device that allowed us to peer into it and see something with a cat’s vision. 

Lisa and I enjoyed the exhibit, as well as going upstairs to take photos of each other being terrorized by the giant skeletal reconstructions of dinosaurs.

The museum is near the California Science Center at Exposition Park. During the Jan. 25 mission, I arrived early to explore the exhibits there and go on the shuttle simulator ride.

Back on Earth, I saw that the exterior of the new Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center was  finished. The Endeavour space shuttle previously was hoisted upright in its new launchpad configuration, and the center was built around it.

A docent at the museum told me that the Apollo, Gemini and Mercury capsules had been moved from their previous location in the spacious hallway on the second floor in anticipation of the facility’s completion. 

Once an opening date is announced, we’ll plan a USS Angeles away mission.

Lisa Sobien, one of the associate chiefs of communications of the USS Angeles, encounters a dinosaur and other creatures at the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History. (Photos by Dave Mason / USS Angeles / Angels Flight)

A family of lions graces part of the “Fierce!” exhibit.

From left, Jeremy Kranz, the USS Angeles first officer, and his friends gather outside the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History before seeing an exhibit on cats.

SFI News
Dave Mason

Region 4 hosts summit during Loscon

By Commodore Dave Mason

LOS ANGELES – An estimated 30-plus fans heard STARFLEET officers and guests talk about the future, past and present of “Star Trek” during the first Region 4 summit ever held as part of Loscon.

Other panels at the Nov. 28 summit at the Hilton near the Los Angeles International Airport covered “Star Trek” props and costumes, as well as an introduction to STARFLEET.

Admission to Loscon, the longtime fan-operated convention, included admission to the summit, which meant many fans were introduced to STARFLEET.

The biggest audience in the large ballroom came for the panel on “Star Trek” movies and episodes. I led the panel, which also featured Rear Adm. Ron Coleman, who was the regional coordinator at that time, and journalist Larry Nemecek and composer David Raiklen, two people who regularly talk about “Star Trek” at conventions.

David traced the evolution of music in “Star Trek” from its dramatic beginnings in the original series to the more subtle approach in the “Next Generation.” Executive Producer Rick Berman said he didn’t want the “Next Generation” to sound like TOS.

Larry and I agreed we preferred the music in the original series, and I noted the music served as a cue to the audience when Capt. Kirk was saying something heroic. William Shatner’s dramatic pauses allowed for strong music during speeches such as the “Risk … is our business” talk that Kirk gives in the episode “Return to Tomorrow.”

Panelists pointed out the “Next Generation” had strong music in episodes such as “The Inner Light,” in which Capt. Picard (Patrick Stewart) experiences another lifetime on the planet Kataan and learns to play the Ressikan flute. Another musically enhanced story was “Best of Both Worlds, Part 1 and 2,” in which the Borg assimilate Picard and turn him into Locutus. Ron Jones’ score builds dramatically near the end of the Part 1, right up to Cmdr. Riker (Jonathan Frakes) giving the order to fire on the Borg cube containing Picard/Locutus. The screen then faded to black and the sinister words in white typeface: “To be continued.”

Fans had to wait an excruciating three months to find out what happened next. That marked the start of the “Next Generation” tradition of season-ending cliff hangers.

During the Region 4 Summit, David also discussed music in the 21st-century “Star Trek” movies and TV shows.

And I pointed out Frakes, who’s had a long career directing “Star Trek” movies and episodes, helmed episodes of the new “Star Trek: Starfleet Academy” series. At Creation Entertainment’s “Star Trek” convention in Las Vegas, Frakes noted the series would have a ship, the USS Athena, and that it was a pleasure working with Oscar-winning star Holly Hunter, who plays Chancellor/Capt. Ake, and Oscar-nominated guest star Paul Giamatti, who plays villain Nus Braka. During interviews, Giamatti described Braka as a pirate. (“Starfleet Academy” premiered Jan. 15, and new episodes stream every Thursday on Paramount+.)

Besides the TV shows, the Region 4 panel discussed the uncertain future of “Star Trek” movies. Paramount has seen several failed efforts since “Star Trek: Beyond” (2016).

Earlier during the summit, Larry and I sat on a panel led by Ron, “What is STARFLEET?” Ron discussed what chapters in STARLFEET do, from their “Star Trek”-related activities to community service. 

Fleet Capt. Tracy Newby, commanding officer of the USS Northern LIghts, led the panel on costuming, which also included Stacy Meyn, Ron, Larry and me.

Tracy and Stacy were also the panelists discussing “Star Trek” props, which they displayed. Those watching the panel such as Capt. Jeremy Kranz, first officer of the USS Angeles, and Cmdr. Richard Cortopassi, chief engineer of the USS Wessex, were invited to come to the panelists’ tables and handle props. (Ron Coleman incidentally is commanding officer of the USS Wessex and is the new STARFLEET chief of operations. Fleet Adm. David Nottage succeeded Ron on Jan. 1 as the regional coordinator.)

The treasures during the props panel varied from phasers from several “Star Trek” productions to bars of gold-pressed latinum.

Besides watching panels, Jeremy assisted with the summit and operated the laptop that showed images on the screen.

The Loscon crew helped us with our audio-visual needs and promoted the summit in its schedule and website. The Region 4/Loscon partnership proved to be a stellar one.

Jeremy Kranz, left, and RIchard Cortopassi listen to Tracy Newby, seated next to Stacy Meyn , discuss “Star Trek” props at the Region 4 Summit. (Photo by Dave Mason / USS Angeles / Region 4)

Ron Coleman, left, listens as Dave Mason leads the panel “Star Trek: Past, Present and Future” during the Region 4 Summit in November at Loscon. (Photo by Jeremy Kranz / USS Angeles / Region 4)

Phasers from various “Star Trek” productions are displayed during the Region 4 Summit. (Photo by Dave Mason / USS Angeles / Region 4)

From left, Ron Coleman, Dave Mason and Larry Nemecek discuss “What is STARFLEET?” during a Region 4 Summit panel. (Photo by Jeremy Kranz / USS Angeles / Region 4)

Rear Adm. Ron Coleman, who was then the Region 4 coordinator, discusses starting a chapter in STARFLEET during the Region 4 Summit. On Jan. 1, Fleet Adm. David Nottage started his term as the region’s coordinator. (Photo by Dave Mason / USS Angeles / Region 4)

Props varying from set pieces and panels to bars of gold-pressed latinum are shown during the Region 4 Summit. (Photo by Dave Mason / USS Angeles / Region 4)

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.

Website Message
Christopher Mulrooney

It’s the live launch of Region4.org; your 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. 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 add viewers to your websites.

To get the Region 4 website started, you’ll see content from the USS Angeles, Dave and Christopher’s chapter. That begins today (Saturday, May 3, 2025) with a story on the Angeles’ away mission to Vasquez Rocks, a popular “Star Trek” filming site. 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!

USS Angeles Founder Janice Willcocks visits Vasquez Rocks, a frequent “Star Trek” filming site. Please go to Region 4 News in the top bar to see a story on the USS Angeles’ away mission there. (Photo by Dave Mason/USS Angeles/Angels Flight)