Okay Kids! I had an entire other article in mind for the website, but not wanting to give away trade secrets, and being threatened vehemently by Section(ahem) I am graciously, switching topics. Today's topics are Contests! Weblogs! & Anniversary Parties! Now, lets get into it, shall we?

Contests
The contest for the CONTEST for Avenger Recreation Swag, is almost at an end! There have have been some good suggestions so far, and I'm hoping that this last day of the Contest for the Contest, will bring in more! So get your suggestions in people!

Weblogs
Okay, our Operations Chief Lauren Milan brought up a really good point the other day. I was complaining on why some of the senior staff have YET to use their weblogs and she wondered exactly why they were here in the first place and posed the theory that others of the Cstaff may not really know what to do with these Weblogs. Maybe I should put together an article on it.... well I'm doing a subarticle... and here it is ;)

Whats a Weblog, and why should the Cstaff be using theirs? Well, people all over the planet are using weblogs. Basically they are just diaries that people can edit whatever they want and put them up online for all to see. And that's really what they are here. 'cept we've got one for each member of the senior staff so that they can keep in touch with their division members! AND they can update them on changes in the division or what's happening at an event they might be throwing.

So I hope that's cleared up, WHAT a weblog is and the basic idea of why they are here. Since we put them on the site, giving division leaders a voice, we've noticed that it might be a good idea to make the logs somewhat more flexible than just the standard ideas in the last paragraph. So we've loosened it up a bit. Now we've got logs that, keep us updated on sciences and various trips and interests in that arena, we've got a log that keeps us clued in to away team trips our Communications Chief takes to fascinating places, and even words from his job at the ER. We've got our Captain's Log, keeping us up to date on exatly what he's up to in regards to the ship (though he failed to mention that he was kidnapped to Disneyworld for a week or two, which is why he won't be at the Anniversary Party this year).

And that's not all! We've got other logs here, Like Our Ops Chief's Log, who though sporadic in updating is a pretty good read and there's my weblog which I'm just using as a standard repository for site updating information... like what I'm doing for the *x6 side of the site, and various issues there.

Amazingly though, Engineering, Security and Medical haven't chimed into their weblogs yet and this is worrisome. I think that the Division Chiefs may be either unaware of how to login or think it somewhat of a bother, but it really isn't a bother and I can help with your login information if you need it again guys! Basically, weblogs provide interactivity and new content, on the fly, to the website and enrich our group inbetween meetings. I hope you guys will see the weblogs as not an obstacle or a hoop to jump through, but something that helps you build and communicate with the membership and those other readers from around the region and around the planet (and some in orbit) that stop by. Its a recreation device, and its a recruitment tool, and a useful communications medium to boot. So give it a shot if you haven't already... you don't have to add to it everyday, but you should try it :) And readers... stay tuned.. some great stuff should be coming!

Anniversary Parties
So the 21st is coming up quickly! This weekend will mark our 18th Anniversary as a ship... Wow... that's a long time! We've had alot of changes since the keel was layed, and we keep evolving. We've had great times, dark times, and all sorts of adventures in-between.. Through it all though, we've made it through and I hope we continue to make it as a time goes forward. The Anniversary Party is set at the field where they usually hold the Italian Festival in North Brunswick, Right next to the North Brunswick High School.

Avenger Command has requested that if you are coming to the party and have not RSVP'd, PLEASE DO SO NOW, You only have till Thursday I think. After that, well, does SOL mean anything besides a star designation to you? ;)

The Lowdown
Their is no lowdown.. or spoon for that matter. But we're gonna have some fun at the party! And then there is SHORE LEAVE! So stay tuned! You'll likely see a SHORE LEAVE SURVIVAL KIT article here before July, just to prepare you for all the splendor of Riding The Donkey, Avenger Style!

See you about the Rec-Deck!