IC/4

Hello and welcomed to the Badlands, excuse our dust, its the first updates we've had in a little while but I hope you will enjoy the eclectic articles contained within. Everything from club reports to fan trek to reviews on Star Trek zombie books can be found here *grin*. And we hope to have even more next time around as people get more time to write, the idea is a quarterly newsletter for now, and gather articles. As for the variety, what I can I say, we Maquis are an odd bunch but it suits us just fine. A club of free thinkers and true individuals, I am pleased to have been selected as the latest in a line of suckers...er honored and valued International Coordinators to serve *grin*.

A lot has gone on the past year, not the least was the change of command and awards ceremony in January of 2011. After four years of service our then IC FADM Cummings had decided to step down. It's hard to believe so much time has passed since one chapter in 1995 decided that it would strike its own path. MFI would not be where it is today without the hard work of those who had come before, who have worked and continue to work, in building up our club here. Their legacy is ever enduring, even as we look to the future to see what we might accomplish together next :).

I'd like to take a moment to once again congratulate all those who gained a well earned award or promotion at the recent ceremonies in January. For it is on the hard work of our volunteers that we as a club can get anywhere *grin*. I especially want to congratulate the MFI EOY winners and the well earned promotions given out at the ceremony.

MFI Unit of the Year 2010: MFS Aurora of Zone 9 MFI Rebel of the Year 2010: Commander Josh Laury MFI Volunteer of the Year 2010: Captain Donna Parker

And Congratulations to:

Admiral Will Lightning Admiral Logan Andrews General Larry French, Sr. Bvt Rear Admiral Frank Parker Major General Marc Easterly Force Captain Donna Parker Captain Joanna Nickerson

We've got a lot of plans, to improve the site, the Academies, the feedback path for our membership to make it even easier to tell us whats on your mind are just a few of them :). Membership services like new flyers, how to make business cards and other useful information is also in the works. We're very excited about this upcoming year and with your input we will continue to raise the bar! :). As for the Badlands, please feel free to submit an article to FADM Davis anytime for the next edition. The deadline for that is on or about June 7th 2011 so plenty of time to get those creative synapses firing! So keep your eyes open for material or good articles to share, review a trek related book or article, talk about your chapter, there's a lot of possibility here :).

I know this is a bit of an eclectic message but it fits with MFI and this Badlands, places where we are stronger for it,

IDIC and Maquis Forever!

Christina R. Doane, FADM