“Star Trek” fans from across the Southeast will be landing in Columbus this weekend for the Starfleet Region 2 Summit at the Holiday Inn Airport North, 2800 Manchester Expressway.
Starfleet’s Region 2 includes Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida and the Caribbean, though no one from the Caribbean’s expected to beam up, said Capt. Freddy Heller of the USS DaVinci, the Columbus chapter launched in the mid-1990s.
Heller, who also holds the Starfleet rank of vice-admiral, said this is the third time the Region 2 summit’s in Columbus. Usually about 100 rendezvous, but like other long-distance trekkers trying to cut back on travel expenses, they've had a reduction in force. About 65 are expected this weekend, Heller said.
Though officially the summit begins at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, some Trekkers in town Friday will get together for the Fleet Admiral’s Dinner at Golden Corral, he said.
“All day Saturday we have different panels that you can attend, anything from how to do CPR to Trek collectibles,” he said. “We’re also having a pie, smack-in-the-face charity auction, so you get to smack some of the uppity-ups in the region like myself and the fleet admiral. You’ll bid on a pie.”
A blood drive also is set for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. At 7:40 p.m., members may don Starfleet regalia for a banquet, after which regional awards will be presented. A card tournament will follow.
A nondenominational service will be 8 a.m. Sunday, followed by more panels and closing ceremonies at noon, Heller said.
Anyone interested is welcome to come by and check it out, he said. No Pandorans from the movie "Avatar" are anticipated, but some Andorians, blue-skinned aliens with antennae, may make the trip.
Cubans may not: “From what I understand, there are some folks who want to start a Starfleet chapter in Cuba,” Heller said. “However, because of the U.S. laws, I don’t think that’s going to be possible. I mean, they can start their own clubs, but I don’t think they can be affiliated with the national organization.”
Even interstellar travel can't circumvent some legal obstacles.
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