Time With Toni Turner

[StarBase 118 Staff]

If you’ve been in Starbase 118 for any length of time, you’ve probably at the very least have seen the name Toni Turner. More than likely, you’ve interacted with her at some point, and for many of those in SB118, they’ve had the pleasure of seeing her in a role of leadership. Today, we get to know a little more about her in one of those roles.

DeVeau: Welcome and thank you for taking some time to allow us to get to know you and your character a little better.

Turner: That’s no problem at all. I’m glad to help in any way I can.

You’ve been a part of SB118 for quite some time now, haven’t you?

Yes, ten years last September. I suppose that’s a long time, yet it doesn’t seem so. As they say, (whoever *they* are), time flies when you’re having fun. ::smiles::

During your time here, where have you served in an out of character capacity?

This is difficult to explain. Most of these were served at the same time: Member Academy Training Team, Senior Deputy Commandant,  Cadet Steward. Member of Publicity Team, Podcast Team, Fleet Chat Team, Species Development Committee,Facilitator of the Monthly Fleet-wide Chat, and one of the judges of the bimonthly Writing Challenge. What can I say? I’m a workaholic.::grins::

In one of those positions, you’ve been on the training team for how long?

Nine years.

That’s a really long time.  How did you get started on the training team?

I was nominated to become a trainer, after I reached the rank of Lieutenant. I think Captain T’Pen may have welcomed the relief it gave her on the ship as I’ve always been a prolific simmer.

What made you decide to take the position of Deputy Commandant of the training team?

After I met my requirements, I applied to become the first Cadet Steward, and did that until an opening as a Deputy Commandant became available.

Do you have any idea how many people you’ve seen go through the academy during your tenure?

I’d have to guesstimate that total – probably somewhere between five to seven hundred cadets.

I know that we hope when someone comes through training, we can not only help them acclimate to a different way of formatting sims, but also to help them be a valuable part of our community.  Were there times that you found yourself facing a candidate who was difficult or just wasn’t a good fit for the group?  If so, how did you handle that?

Most of the time we try to set a good example, and be patient in our guidance through the week long classes. However, sometimes we do run into a dyed in the wool antagonist who will try our patience. Those are the ones who usually don’t make it as they have no desire to be any other way. There comes a point that they become disruptive to the entire class and have to be put on monitored sims, or ejected from the class. Thank heavens these are few and far between. The thrust of the classes is to bring as many new Ensigns into the group, and when one puts that goal into jeopardy, well, we have to look out for the “needs of the many.”

Who was/were your most memorable trainee/s?

::laughs:: Well, two come to mind instantly. One of them blew up the USS Centris with Toni in it. I was sure glad the safety controls were implemented on the holodeck at the time.

The other, well, let’s just say he was so impressive that we became friends, and later when he transferred to the ship I was on, we enjoyed years of on again off again simming together.  

What advice would you give to someone who is considering becoming a part of the training team?  

Be prepared to sim at your best, putting someone else’s needs before yours. Also they should understand that the skills they will be learning is a prelude to skills they will need to have before they can be considered for a Commander’s rank and as a Captain.

Where do see yourself going from here in an out of character capacity?

Since I retired from the Academy in December, I have implemented the Clean Up Crew (CUC). Our goals are varied, in that we do all those little jobs that are left hanging. At present we are assembling a list of alumni. And will be sending out emails to see if they would want to come back and sim with us. And while we are doing that, the Captain and up members are bolstering the Captaincy Exam with more questions to choose from. The duties of the CUC will always be different in that the limits are endless, but I have confidence in my crew – Captain Renos, Captain Nugra, Commander Alex Blair, and Major Ben Edwards.

Other than that and my duties to the Embassy/Thunder and the CC/EC, I’m sure I’ll come up with something else to do. I really love our simming community and want the time I spend here to enhance its processes and keep it the best simming group online.

Thank you for your long tenure of service in the Academy, and thank you for taking the time to let us get to know more about you and your role in SB118.

If you have an interest in finding out more about the Academy and how to serve in it, check out SB118’s Training Team Wiki page.

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