2016 Awards Ceremony – Staff awards

[Renos]

Welcome to day four of our 20th annual awards ceremony

So far this week we’ve announced the winners of the Length of Service Awards, Special Awards, and Duty Post Awards. And now we’re very excited to present the Staff Awards, which are only for those members who have achieved the rank of commander or higher. These awards recognize the hard work of our staff, who do the behind-the-scenes work required to keep the engine of our community running, and smoothly at that! They help foster the fun simming environment we all enjoy.

This year we have one new award to add to our list: The T’Pau Cluster of Distinction, which is presented for long-term achievement in leading the Training Team. In previous years, the Shuvalis Diamond of Recognition recognised long-term commitment and achievement in the Training or Publicity teams, but since both teams are so important we decided they each needed their own award.

We’re also very happy to announce that the first Kathryn Janeway Award in six years will be presented to a very worthy recipient! This award recognizes those commanding officers who have made a great impact on their crew and left an indelible legacy on our community history – they may have retired and taken a break but they will not be forgotten.

The winners this year, as in 2015, were chosen by the fleet's first officers from the nominations made by you!

Staff Member of the Year Award

For staff members who have contributed tirelessly to the organization through any number of OOC channels, while maintaining excellence in simming on their vessel.

Quinn Reynolds, USS Gorkon

presented by Aron Kells & Cassandra Egan Manno: "Even before she served as Captain-at-Large for the Executive Council last year, Emma (Flt. Capt. Reynolds) was specifically sought out by the EC to give feedback on a difficult issue. Since then, and just to give you some context for her good work over the last six months, she's been elevated to a full seat on the EC and promoted to fleet captain, and it's easy to see why. She's taken a set of difficult circumstances on the Gorkon, including the abrupt resignation of her XO at launch, and forged a cohesive, connected community of a crew. She's active on both the Captains and Executive Councils and I find myself often parroting her good advice -- and, in fact, wishing I'd said what she'd said first! She is an invaluable asset to the group, and I can't imagine serving as we do without her. In fact, as a previous recipient of this award, it's doubly my pleasure to present her with this because of our long history together. I first wrote with Emma when I (as Lily Ventu!) was an XO and lieutenant commander for the first time, and when Quinn had just been named a lieutenant JG and chief of her department. This was, if you can believe it, either 2007 or 2008--and while our first meeting was wonderful, some rocky times followed and neither of us was sure we would be sticking around with the group. However, it's incredibly gratifying to see Emma now as a fleet captain, a member of the EC, and as the (very!) well deserved Staff Member of the Year, and I hope everyone reading this will join me in congratulating Emma and thanking her for her service and her long years of dedication. You rock!"

  

The Picard Award

The highest honor given to those officers of Admiral rank. Recipients of the Picard Award must show an unfailing devotion to the club, as well as work continually on ways to better the atmosphere of simming in our community.

Toni Turner, Embassy of Duronis II

presented by Tristan Wolf: "What is there left to say about the indelible Toni Turner? She started as an eager ensign with little knowledge of Star Trek and now stands in the rank of Rear Admiral, one of only a handful that have reached that high over the course of 22 years. Above all, Turner is resilient. She faced a great many trials along the path to where she is now. But all along, she has been resilient and determined to prove all the naysayers wrong. And in the end, she outlasted all of them! Now she’s a commanding officer with one of our longest records in a simming installation for far longer than most others have even been a member. She’s a member of the Executive Council, and has been one for a number of years now. She just recently stepped down from a long tenure with the Training Team as a dedicated and tireless Deputy Commandant. There’s no greater honor in our community than the Picard Award, and I can’t imagine anyone who’s put more time, energy, sweat, and tears to get here. Congratulations, Toni Turner – this is your day, and you deserve it!"

  

The James T. Kirk Cross

Given to new Commanding Officers who show outstanding potential in the field of commanding.

Sal Taybrim, Starbase 118 Ops

presented by Aron Kells & Cassandra Egan Manno: "Oh, man, I really wanted to write this one out! Jamie, aka Captain Taybrim, is someone who I knew was going to rise to the very top when I first interacted with her. When I was launching her former CO and it was time to consider who would be his new XO, Jamie was the first one I thought of: She was experienced, thoughtful, conscientious, and a great writer, and she had just weathered a particularly unpleasant crisis in a way that very much impressed me and further convinced me that one of her greatest strengths was leadership. She commands her ship with honor and dedication--two of her nominations for this award came from members of her crew, both of whom wrote stellar nomination essays that dug deeply into what makes Jamie an excellent CO--and she's a thoughtful and erudite presence on the Captains Council and the Executive Council. What's perhaps most impressive to me, however, is how much thought Jamie puts into everything that she does. Her many years of experience running games and groups (some similar to SB118, and some wildly different!) have given her a considerable level of experience, and she's even evolved theories of game operations that she uses to guide her crews through mission planning and execution. If this sounds too cold, I'm sure that her crew will be the first to tell you that it isn't at all! Jamie's experience and theoretical knowledge combine to help turn the current iteration of SB118 Ops into one of the most enjoyable that the group has ever seen. Here's to this year's Kirk Cross winner--and I look forward to seeing what comes next!"

  

The Shuvalis Diamond of Recognition

For long-term achievement in leading the Publicity Team as a way of advancing peaceful relations with "newly discovered life forms.

Tristan Wolf, Executive Council

presented by Renos: "Tristan Wolf has long provided strong support for the publicity team by providing guidance, encouragement, helpful and informative reading materials to the team's facilitator and members. He is always available to bounce ideas off and shows his passion for this most important of teams. As a website administrator making sure we're optimized for search engines and facilitator of the news team and by making sure our blog always has fresh content he is helping to make sure we rank well with search engines. He has even paid for facebook advertising out of his own pocket to push our most successful social media pages to help us make a bigger splash and pull in more new players. While other people come and go, Tristan Wolf is always there whether the publicity team is doing great or otherwise. On a personal level, I am thankful for all of the support he gave me as former publicity team facilitator and could not have been as successful without his support and guidance. It's my view that he is long overdue recognition and thanks for all that he does behind the scenes, that isn't always seen but certainly contributes to our success."

 

T'Pau Cluster of Distinction

For long-term achievement in leading the Training Team.

Selene Faranfey

presented by Tristan Wolf: "Our Training Team is a pivotal part of our community, for a number of reasons. First, it acquaints new members with our way of simming, which is nearly unique – at this point – in the simming world, and a proudly cherished relic from days gone by. Second, it’s the primary training ground for our mid-level leaders, and future commanding officers, who learn about mentoring, providing simming feedback, leading a team, and working with our toolset. There are a myriad of moving parts that have only grown more complex in recent years as we’ve added new components. But Captain Faranfey has navigated these parts with aplomb, acting as a dedicated member of the team in the capacity of a training officer, and then later volunteering to take on a new leadership role with our “Statisticians Team,” which keeps track of our ever-growing database of records regarding the Academy. And when the former Academy Commandant stepped down, she was eager to learn the ropes as a Deputy Commandant, and work her way into the Commandant role. She now manages the Academy with ease, improving our materials, providing honest and empathetic feedback, and coordinating the other staff. It’s a difficult job in which Captain Faranfey is still learning and growing, but one that she’s shown herself quite adept at. So for her long-time leadership of the Training Team, it’s my honor to bestow the inaugural T’Pau Cluster of Distinction on Captain Faranfey. Congratulations to her!"

 

The Sarek Star

Given to a command officer who shows great diplomatic ability in working with members and staff.

Renos, USS Darwin

presented by Aron Kells & Cassandra Egan Manno: "For those who have worked with him in any capacity, James's receipt of this award seems like a no-brainer. "Shows great diplomatic ability in working with members and staff" seems like it could have been written about James himself, never mind the Sarek Star, and so the only disappointment to me here is that he can't win it again and again! James epitomizes the Sarek Star, so much that I wonder if we should perhaps rename it after him after this win...but that's a conversation for another time. In one of the nomination essays, James's nominator describes him as "a cornerstone of the fleet," and that couldn't be more accurate. James leads the way when it comes to thoughtful and considerate interactions with his crew, and the respect with which he treats all of them is obvious in the respect they show for him as a leader. His calm and compassionate voice is an important one when it comes to all of his OOC interactions, and many simmers who've interacted with him have great faith knowing that he's one of the select members of the Executive Council. I remember--and bear with me if I've shared this particular anecdote before!--but back a couple of years ago when James won several fleet awards (the Rising Star, the Order of the Valiant Heart, and the Strange Medallion, among others), Emma (Flt. Capt. Reynolds) and I were discussing James's future in the fleet. She said to me then, "There's a fleet captain in the making"--and while that promotion has already come true, James is so much more than simply another flag rank. He is one of the kindest simmers I've ever encountered, and I can't express how much more whole we are as a community because of his presence among us. Congratulations, James, and thank you for all you do!"

  

Christopher Pike Pendant

Awarded to commanding officers who command their ship with honor and dedication, and help to provide an creative atmosphere which fosters outstanding simming.

Quinn Reynolds, USS Gorkon

presented by Aron Kells & Cassandra Egan Manno: "One of the best parts about our awards process is that the nomination process is so egalitarian: Our newest ensign can nominate the most experienced captain, and the most experienced captain can nominate the newest ensign. In many cases, that single fact may help to decide who wins--and in the case of the staff awards, when a CO has the support of a member of his or her crew, that can speak volumes. The Christopher Pike Pendant, which is awarded to COs who "command their ship with honor and dedication, and help to provide an creative atmosphere which fosters outstanding simming," is an award that I expect to see crew members nominate their COs for--after all, who knows better than a crew about their experience with a CO? In the case of this year's winner, however, Emma was nominated not just once, and not even twice, but fully three times by different members of her crew. Since launching the Gorkon, she has established herself as a CO for the history books, both in her fleet affairs and, as the Pike Pendant so rightly says, as a CO who commands the utmost respect from her crew. However, it isn't just the volume of nominations that matters; rather, it's the content that's most important. Her nominators compliment her for high standards when it comes to writing; for her ease in assisting other simmers and seamlessly pushing the plot forward; for her warmth and welcoming of new members; and for the support she offers in helping her crew develop their characters. And while these would be impressive enough on their own, I want to also share that every one of her nominators mentioned Emma's positive and voluminous communications in some way--when she speaks, others listen, and when others want to speak with her, she listens. She is one of the finest COs our group has ever seen, and she thoroughly deserves this year's Christopher Pike Pendant. Congratulations!"

  

Chief’s Citation

Starfleet history is much more liable to recognize the triumphs of its notable officers, and while non commissioned and enlisted personnel occasionally receive recognition, the NCO backbone of a starship is likely to go unremarked upon. So that our integral support staff don't similarly slip through the cracks, the Chief's Citation recognizes those essential staff members whose determined work has benefited the group, IC and/or OOC, even while their primary service was not as the commanding officer of a starship or other simming installation.

John Nugra, USS Doyle

presented by Tristan Wolf: "Nugra has found a niche in which he has shined: Playing the part of the pinch hitter, ready to assist even before he’s asked. Over the past year, he has stepped in to help in moments when the Executive or Captains Councils are already stretched beyond their means, assisting me more than once when it felt like I just didn’t have another moment to give. And he did it with a smile. His loyalty, resourcefulness, and cheerful disposition have been of great service to our community, and for that, we recognize him with the Chief’s Citation. I’m proud, as the former recipient, to be the one to pin this medal on him. Many thanks to him for all that he’s done and will do going forward, and congratulations to him for this award!"

  

Kathryn Janeway Award

For retired Commanding Officers who have made a great impact on their crew and left an indelible legacy on our community history.

Kali Nicholotti

presented by Aron Kells & Cassandra Egan Manno: "As many of us have done, I spent some time away from SB118 during my tenure here. I had been a commander before I left, and I wanted to command again, and so I rose slowly up through command positions, carving out new relationships where I could and discussing my ambitions with other current COs and up-and-coming simmers. Marissa, aka Nicholotti, had recently begun her captaincy exams when she asked me to become her new XO. Her last one hadn't worked out, and while I was only with her for a short while, she made an immediate impact on me--warm, dedicated, and personable, she was the kind of CO who got to know everyone on her crew and cared about each of them individually, both in and out of character. Marissa's tenure with the group has, unfortunately, come to a pause, but it's important to recognize her indelible legacy. You'll find SB118 littered with those who she's helped and upon whom she's had a measurable impact. Her work is also written in the group itself--she revolutionized the way SB118 is optimized for searching and spearheaded our publicity efforts for some time. She launched the Excalibur and relaunched the Apollo, and guided Ben Livingstone (who many of you will also remember) to become a successful captain in his own right aboard the Columbia. While she may not be currently serving, her legacy is one that will last for years to come, and for that, we recognize and celebrate Marissa!"

  

Please join us in congratulating these members of the staff!

[Graeme Cook]

Wow well done to you all well deserved!!

Congratulations!

[+ Trellis Vondaryan]

Congratulations to everyone!

I'd especially like to say congratulations and thank you to Jamie, aka Sal Taybrim, with whom I've had the pleasure to serve under since graduation. Ops has been great and I can't imagine how she manages to keep everything together! Yet she allows us all to be creative while at the same time providing enough structure to have fun and coherent games. It's been awesome so far, and I look forward to more!

 

[Jordan aka FltAdmlWolf]

As was said in the intro, I want to reiterate that the fleet's First Officers chose this year's winners from the nominations submitted by you folks!

Congratulations to Emma (Quinn Reynolds) for winning BOTH the Staff Member of the Year award AND the Christopher Pike Pendant, which is the highest honor for commanding officers. Tony (Aron Kells) encapsulated most of my thoughts which is thoughtful, wonderful presentation to Emma in the SMotY award, but I just want to thank her again for everything she's brought to the Executive Council in terms of critical thinking, eloquent analysis, and camaraderie. She made a huge difference this year in a number of important decisions and discussions. 

And what an honor for Jamie (Sal Taybrim) to be awarded last year's Rising Star award, and this year win the James T. Kirk Cross, the highest honor for new captains. She has shown from nearly the very beginning of her tenure with us that she has the skills and intuition that make a great captain, a great leader, and a great community member. I'm so thankful that I get to be a part of the staff alongside people like Jamie, who have such a clear focus and understanding of our basic values here. Congratulations to her for everything she's accomplished – I'm so looking forward to what comes next for her!

I already said my congrats to Ann (RAdml. Turner) in her presentation above, but the Picard Award is basically the highest honor anyone can achieve on the staff. It really denotes that someone has put in the extra effort over the course of many years, and has left a legacy that will be remembered long in the future. And that's no small thing when you're talking about a community with 22 years under its belt! So please join in congratulations to Ann who has spent nearly a decade with a focus on being a great member, and a great commanding officer. So many people have been touched by her kindness and empathy. 

And James! (Renos!) A cornerstone of the fleet, indeed – what better description for someone who has put so much heart and soul into the day-to-day operations of our fleet? He's also been an incredible help in making this very ceremony happening, helping to put together each and every day's worth of the awards as well as facilitating the process of organizing and choosing recipients. Thank you, thank you, thank you, James for everything you bring to the fleet

And just because I don't want to miss anyone, thanks again to Nicole (Selene Faranfey) and Jon (John Nugra), which already received my kudos and congratulations above!

You folks, and our other staff members, are really just the best. Let's not forget that many other staff members were recognized just a few months ago at our last December awards ceremony. We have an amazing staff! 

[Jalana]

Congratulations to the very deserving winners of the Staff Awards.

I'd like to especially congratulate Nicole (Selene Faranfey) whom I had the pleasure to mentor ever since she joined the community. I'm immensely proud of you, Nicole. You have been a pillar for the community ever since you joined and your hard work cannot be praised enough! 

[Minxing Shimisi]

Congratulations to all the receivers. I've had the pleasure to know some of you for quite some time and even simmed with a few. Hoorray!!

[Ayiana Sevo]

Congratulations to everyone, but especially to Captain Reynolds! Cupcake has been incredibly patient and helpful with me as I start my journey to command. She has fielded my questions without hesitation and given me advice. I had an idea for a simple B-plot for a character of mine, but I wanted to get permission to do it first. She not only accepted it, but thought it was a great idea for the whole crew. That B-plot is now currently being simmed!

Of course, I also can't forget Nugra, my first CO! Though the reptilian part of you is now gone, I'm glad to see you are still up and kicking!

Congrats to Toni, who oversaw my training two years ago. I also was fortunate to do a Joint Mission with the Embassy on the Victory, simming with her again!

[+ Kamoyo Aleksandrov]

Congratulations

[Sal Taybrim]

Wow!  <3

I want to say congratulations to everyone!  And a big thank you to Tony for your kind and awesome words.  You've been one of the best mentors to me in this game and it means a lot to get to presented this award by you!  Thank you so much. 

And of course, a Captain is only as good as her crew, so a big thank you to Ops for being, well, awesome.  And humorous.  I love the humorous Starbase!  And (to risk sounding like an old commerical) I love you guys!

Also a big congrats to Fleet Captain Renos, on a very well deserved Sarek Star.  I'm really glad we've gotten to interact and know one another in a new and different light.  I think we've both come along way from a freshly pipped Commander and an ornery Ensign.    Your crew on the Darwin speak volumes of what a fine Captain you have become, and it's wonderful reading about your crew's stories!  Congratulations!  I look forward to working together in years to come!

And also big congratulations to Fleet Admiral Wolf!  In a lot of games the admin person is just that 'big scary admiral guy' - but on StarBase 118 it's clear how much Fleet Admiral Wolf cares about the game and cultivates it to be successful year after year.  That means a lot both to the staff are supported by these actions, but to all the players.  It's really comforting and wonderful to play in a game that promises to be here year after year - it means we can keep telling wonderful stories and keep dreaming among the stars.

[Kurt Logan]

Well done, congratulations and thank you for the work you put in that we don't see but benefit from daily.

'Given to a command officer who shows great diplomatic ability in working with members and staff.'  

I can vouch for that when first aboard the Darwin and on the receiving end of such ability :-)

[Toni]

I want to congratulate all the staff members recognized here, particularly Admiral Wolf, who tirelessly gives so much of himself to keep our community running as smoothly as possible, and helps us (from those entering our Academy to those retiring) the opportunity to excel as writers, leaders, and friends.

My sincere thanks, Admiral, for your kind presentation words. They mean a lot to me, but not as much as you giving us UFOP: Starbase 118 - a place to grow, and follow our dreams.

[+ Salkath]

As a first officer in the fleet, I have the distinct pleasure of working with and learning from all these fine people. In the day-to-day administration of the fleet, it never ceases to amaze me how selfless and hard-working the entire Captain's Council and Executive Council are, and I truly believe that the fun and success of this fleet rests squarely on each of their shoulders. Each of these awards were presented due to thoughtful and heartfelt nominations, and I'm certain that the decisions of who to award were difficult to choose due to an embarrassment of worthy choices. Congratulations to each and every one of you, a deep thank you for all you do for the ships and the fleet as a whole, and an extra special thank you to all for allowing me to learn from you how to be dedicated and effective in my own quest for advancement  You've set a high bar indeed, and we all benefit from your strive for excellence in all you do.

[Christopher Lambert]

Congratulations to everyone and specially for the good captain of Darwin.