2017 Awards Ceremony – Staff awards

[Jordan aka FltAdmlWolf]

Welcome to Day 2 of our yearly awards ceremony! Today we start with our Staff Awards, reserved for those who have achieved the rank of commander or higher. These awards recognize the hard work of those who command ships and help administer our community. They 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.

Just like with last year's selection, the first officers of the fleet were empaneled to vote on the nominations for each staff award, providing recommendations to the EC about who should receive each award. We're delighted to say that all their recommendations were accepted this year without modification!

We now present this year's Staff Awards, and encourage you to add your thanks to these and all of our staff members – as well as your congratulations – in the thread below.

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.

Roshanara Rahman, USS Veritas

Presented by Renos: "Rich is one of the most committed and hardworking members of our community. He has been a pillar of the community for many years and his contributions and achievements throughout the last year have been no less impressive. On the EC and CC, Rich is unafraid to stand up for what he believes in and always contributes to discussions in a thoughtful and fair manner. His insight is invaluable and his technical know-how, with regard to the admin side of the forums and wiki, has been of considerable help time and again. He is one of our Academy's Deputy Commandants, and is someone who has done a great deal of heavy lifting OOC wise not just in the last year but beyond. It's clear, in everything that Rich does, that he cares deeply about this community and its betterment. One of his great strengths is that he has consistently shown he has the stamina and energy to be one of our most active staff members, that's why I'm so proud to present him with this award. Congratulations and well done, my friend! Keep being awesome."

 

---

 

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.

Renos, Andaris Task Force

Presented by Tristan Wolf: "This will be the ninth time, in our history of 21 ceremonies, where the Picard Award has been given to a member of our staff. As the description explains, it’s the highest honor given to those of Admiral rank. And those who have received it previously have shown unfailing dedication and loyalty to our community. They are people who have permanent places in our history. Renos (James) certainly fits that bill perfectly, having touched so many parts of our community, from Training to Publicity to the Captains and Executive Councils. James has facilitated this and the last Awards Ceremony, putting in hours of work to pull everything together – but that’s exactly what I’d expect from James, having seen him help lead simming community events on our behalf, showing that we are not just the best organized group in the web, but also the one with the biggest heart. James is always thinking about where our weak spots are so we can learn how to improve, and that’s exactly what it takes to earn the Picard Award: A sense of stewardship for our community that goes far beyond membership, and even beyond earning a seat on the Executive Council or the rank of Admiral. It’s about being committed to helping the community succeed – and thrive. My deepest thanks to James and my sincerest congratulations for earning this top honor."

 

---

The James T. Kirk Cross

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

Roshanara Rahman, USS Veritas

Presented Toni Turner: "It's difficult to believe that Roshanara Rahman was promoted to Captain less than one year ago, because he has done so much for our group. From founding and developing new fleetwide teams such as the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Featured Bio Competition, to the creation of countless templates to beautify our wiki. And those are just starters to his achievements.

He's a friendly person, who always makes time for people of any rank, whether they're on his ship or not. He is fair, takes a balanced approach to problems and is a great source of support to all captains, which goes to show just how valuable he is across the board.

He has created a unique achievements system, and website for his players to enjoy with functions that help them keep track of their sim rates and achievements. It's clear that he is passionate about not only his crew but the whole fleet and that's why he is so widely respected and admired around the entire fleet.  

Rich, it is my pleasure to present you The James T. Kirk Cross for all the effort you put into our group. Congratulations!"

 

---

T'Pau Cluster of Distinction

For long-term achievement in leading the Training Team.

Renos, Andaris Task Force

Presented by Quinn Reynolds: "The T'Pau Cluster of Distinction is presented to those who have a long history of achievement in leading the training team. This team is both complex to administer and incredibly important to our group, ensuring not only that new members are welcomed and introduced to our simming style, but also helping to train the next generation of leaders and commanding officers. James (Rear Admiral Renos), our winner this year, has always held the academy to close to his heart. His passion for making the training program the best it can be is clearly evident in his dedication in his role as Commandant; ensuring classes run smoothly, offering feedback to our trainers to help them improve; constantly seeking better ways of doing things; and of course, pitching in himself when the trainers are shorthanded! I have had the great pleasure of working with him for some time now as both a Cadet Steward and Deputy Commandant of the Academy, and his enthusiasm is contagious, elevating the rest of the volunteer team. The academy is fortunate to have such a dedicated and enthusiastic leader, and I look forward to seeing where James will take the team in the future. Thank you so much for all your hard work and continued passion!"

 

---

The Sarek Star

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

 Toni Turner, Duronis II Embassy

Presented by Quinn Reynolds: "The Sarek Star is presented to a command officer who shows great diplomatic ability in working with members and staff. As you can imagine, that's not always the easiest of tasks in an online community, where words can so easily lose their intended context when you cannot see or hear the person speaking them. Communicating effectively in this kind of environment doesn't always come easily, and the winner of this award is a person who can consistently and skillfully do so. The nominations for Ann (Rear Admiral Toni Turner), were multiple and glowing, each speaking of highly of her skill at navigating difficult situations within and without her ship. Her ability to keep a clear head, and act in a fair and impartial manner while mediating issues close to her heart were often spoken of by those who have worked alongside her. Having been privileged to serve with Toni on the Captains and Executive Councils, I can wholeheartedly agree with their assessments! She is a welcome presence in any debate, delivering her considered insights with tact and care. Congratulations, Toni!"

 

---

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.

Sal Taybrim, 118 Ops

Presented by Toni Turner: "A lot can be said for Sal Taybrim, because Jamie, his writer, does everything that's expected and much more. Jamie has made Sal an astounding captain and person, who's more than "just a member". She's dedicated to Starbase 118 Ops with unbelievable fire. One could say she loves it just by reading and watching. And anyone who knows her knows she does love it. Anyone who writes with her can see the effort and commitment put into each sim, into each character, articulating them into a living, breathing, person that pops right off the pages. Jamie is a shining example for everyone. It's the fire that she possesses that steers her station and crew, even her staff. She answers every question no matter how small, and is willing to push everyone to achieve all that they can be, by asking them what it is they want, making things special and personable. And beyond that she even sends our birthday wishes for every crew member, making them feel special and unique, and pivotal to the station and to the fleet. For your outstanding leadership, I am very pleased to award you The Christopher Pike Pendant! Congratulations, Sal!"

 

---

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.

Brell, Andaris Task Force

Presented by Renos: "As a staff member, Lee – who plays Brell – is enthusiastic, eager to learn and willing to help out wherever he can. He takes an active role in helping to develop mission plans, and facilitate the plot, is a kind, friendly mentor who is always on-hand with some reassurance for nervous mentees. He's active on our OOC and staff lists, the forums (where he was co-facilitator of the Poll of the Week for a significant time) and is a regular attendee of ship and fleet chats. He helps to keep our wiki pages up to date and has been known to create bios for new players as well as adding them to the relevant pages. He was our mission archivist for several months, where he took the notes needed to do the write up and added links to sims and pictures to create an impressive record of our adventures. Other fleetwide activities include being a member of the publicity team and training team, where he is a deputy commandant and volunteers to participate in classes. He was also a member of The (Image) Collective for approximately a year and contributed towards a LGBT primer that was created by FltCapt. Manno I believe some time ago. All of this he does without compromising the quality of his work. Truly, Brell is a powerhouse, and I genuinely believe there is no candidate more hard working or more deserving than him, which is why I am so proud and excited to present him with this award. Congratulations!"

 

---

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.

Zalea Solzano

Presented by Roshanara Rahman: "Zaela Solzano's writer Tony like myself has had a number of player characters over the years, and many in the fleet best remember him as the writer for Lily Ventu and Aron Kells. Behind the different names and characters has been the same warm, caring, and thoughtful man. I first began simming with Tony in 2012, and through the years that we wrote together on the Mercury and later Garuda and Invicta, I saw firsthand the genuine support he was always giving to those he worked and wrote with. Most of all, I saw his kindness and his effective command style based on nurturing an open and positive atmosphere among his ship's staff and crew. Beyond his ship, Tony's contributions to the fleet at large included facilitating the writing challenges, serving as cadet steward and promotions coordinator, and participating in other creative endeavors such as the Federation News Service's presidential election. On both the Captains and Executive Councils, he brought both his love for the group and that same thoughtfulness to every discussion. Yet ultimately his greatest contribution and legacy to our community is the generation of players among his crew and the greater fleet that he helped train and counsel through his leadership and friendship. Congratulations, captain! It's been an honor."

 

---

Please join us in congratulating these members of the staff!

[Renos]

I can't congratulate the winners enough! It truly is lovely to see everyone rewarded for their hard work, dedication and passion.

I first met Rich (Roshanara Rahman) when we worked together on the featured bio team. Back then there were only three of us in the team, it was a monthly competition and we provided tips and reviews of the nominated bios. We had such fun doing that and I knew back then that he was destined for big things. Though we've not yet had the chance to sim together, we've worked together on various things over the last few years, he's been a great source of support and a lovely friend - not just to me or those on his crew but to anyone who needed him. I'm truly delighted to see him recieve the Staff Member of the Year and James T Kirk Awards - Congratulations Rich!

Ann (Toni Turner) holds a special place in my heart - I think each of us can say that about the staff who trained us and Toni Turner was the CO of the class that brought me into the game. I've forgotten a great many things since the early days when I first started here over 6 years ago now, but one thing I will never forget it the training scenario she and her team put me through. We were on an inhospitable planet, so EVA suits all round. Someone simmed leaving the shuttle before everyone else was ready, so when myself and another cadet started simming choking on nonbreathable air she had to stop the simulation and give us all a dressing down about safety. She handled it beautifully - like a true diplomat. She was incredibly warm and welcoming and I've always found her a pleasure to work with, whether it was joining her crew for a joint mission on the Vigilant to stop the Bluegills, through one of our teams, the CC or EC. There's no doubt in my mind that Ann is deserving of this award and I'm very happy to see her awarded with it - congratulations!

I first met Jamie (Sal Taybrim) as an Ensign when she briefly joined my ship. Though we've not had a lot of opportunities to work together, from working with her on the CC it's clear how passionate she is about the game and making it as much fun as she possibly can for her players. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Jamie and think it's brilliant to see her recognised this year with the Christopher Pike Pendant! Well done.

I think my presentation for Lee (Brell) pretty well captures my feelings about his hard work but I want to add in here, again, just how proud and appreciative I am of everything he does for us and everything he has achieved. I have no doubt that he'll be commanding a ship of his own in due course and that he'll be a fantastic commanding officer.

I miss Tony (Zalea Solazno) a great deal and wish he was still with as, as I'm sure many of our members do. Curse real life for robing us of such a wonderful person and a talented CO. I always had a good experience working with him. He was always happy and enthusiastic about helping me develop some of the ideas I wanted to introduce to the game and it's because of his support I was able to achieve things like making my move to the Delta Quadrant and later Andaris Task Force such a success. He helped me make sure I'd considered everything I needed to and that my plans were sound. I really do hope we see him back here one day! He is definitely deserving of this award.

[Sal Taybrim]

Congratulations to all the staff winners!

I would like to give a special shout out to Tony (Solzano) who assisted StarBase 118 Ops both in its initial startup and in the transition from Captain Handley-Page to myself.  I have never met a more patient, thorough and caring mentor than Tony.  He always provided good advice, was a wonderful person to talk ideas through and made sure that our ship - along with so many more ships across the fleet - had a strong and stable foundation to create a great game.  I miss him, and hope that he can return to playing full time again soon!

Congratulations to Rear Admiral Renos, who leads by example in every aspect of the game.  I still remember his tireless work on the publicity team, and that's how I first saw this game advertised.  I believe he brought many of the fantastic players who currently play into the game and he had worked on innumerable projects and taskforces since then.  It is wonderful to see him recognized for his devotion through the Picard award and for his work on the training team.  Congratulations, Admiral, and we're looked forward to a wonderful new year with your help and support!

Congratulations to Admiral Turner!  While I have not worked extensively with Ann, she is the champion of reminding all staff that the most important purpose of a game is to have fun, and this shows clearly through her work as a staff member as well as though the joy in her crew on the Embassy.  Ann makes sure this game is a better and more fun place to play in!

Congratulations to Captain Rahman for all the hard work he has done behind the scenes over thee past years.  It is great to see him getting recognized for his longterm devotion to SB118 and his recent accomplishments!  Congrats, Rich!

And Congratulations to Brell!  It's been a treat watching Brell climb up the ranks and grow as a game leader and as a writer.  I enjoy working through the academy program with Brell and look forward to where he goes in the next years!

Congratulations once again to all the winners!

[+ Trellis Vondaryan]

Congratulations!

I've not had the pleasure of writing with James, Lee, Ann or Rich, but I've been around long enough to see their names scattered throughout the fleet in various projects. My ability to edit wiki pages definitely wouldn't be as good without Rich's fantastic guides.

I miss Tony's enthusiasm and wit. I would have loved to see what his plans for the Za included had he stayed around. Hopefully he can come back some time in the future and bring another new, strange ship to the fleet.

As for Jamie, I cannot say enough good things. I first met her on my first day in Ops. From the start I could tell she loved Sal, the crew, Ops and the whole universe. Jamie definitely brings Ops to life with humor, dedication and a lot of fun. Every character is unique and 3-dimensional. Being privy to that alone has helped me grow as a writer fleshing out my own characters.

All the awards were richly deserved. Congratulations to all the winners.

[Oddas Aria]

So Rich, Captain Roshanara Rahman, was my CO during training and his guidance started then, starting by helping with some of the finer points of my biography that helped me make Aria a better character.  Later when I, on a whim, published a paper for the JSCE he encouraged me to do more and has constantly answered questions, offered advice and always had an encouraging word, even though I do not serve on his crew.  It is no surprise to me that he has won this award for OOC work.

From the moment I first started on the Training Team Renos has been encouraging and helpful, always available to offer advice and guidance.  He has always been easy to talk to and made it apparent that I can ask questions and that he has had my back if I make a decision.  Thanks for putting up with all of the questions.

Toni has been my commanding officer, I was very pleased to see her nomination accepted and her ultimate award.  I've seen her navigate choppy waters with players and always make decisions for the good of her ship, club, players, and ultimately the "fun" of the game.  A more deserving player I cannot imagine.

[Tony, aka Rouiancet]

So clearly I had to drop back in to say hello, to thank everyone above for their kind words, and to congratulate my fellow winners!

I'll start with James, who is absolutely deserving of the Picard Award and the T'Pau Cluster. I was endlessly disappointed when I saw that James was taking some time away from the group several summers ago, even though I knew it was necessary, and I hoped that -- when he came back -- he would do so with a vengeance. He exceeded my expectations at every turn! James has redefined in many ways how our group functions and how simming takes place. I've been lucky enough to work with him as he plans, and the amount of effort and energy he put into starting the Andaris Task Force represents his absolute dedication. He's a legend!

I'm glad to see this year's Chief's Citation go to Lee. He's always struck me as one of those unsung heroes of the group, just like the award intends, and so I hope it's a great reward for him to be recognized with this -- and at the staff level, no less! Well done on that deserved promotion, too, Lee!

Ann's kind hand and gentle generosity make me a little surprised she hasn't received the Sarek Star yet, but it seems like this is definitely the right year. Way, WAY back when, she mentored me as a new CO as I worked toward the rank of captain, and she was always ready with positive feedback and encouragement to explore my own style as a CO and use what worked for me. She's one of the longest serving COs in the fleet's history with one of the most dedicated crews, and it's easy to see why.

Oh my gosh, Jamie! I have so much respect for Jamie. Not only is she one of the coolest people I've ever met through 118 (seriously, just look at any of her hobbies!), but she was one of those people I knew from the start would do great things for the group. But the respect I have for her comes, in part, from my recognition of her experience -- when I was much newer to the group, I wanted to reach command so I could create ships, missions, and stories, and once I got there, I learned administration and how to run a ship. Jamie's experience allowed her to make informed decisions at every step, and whenever she's stepped into a new role or declined an invitation, it's always with both eyes firmly fixed on how to create the best experience for the writers on Ops. I've come to think of her work there as the Ops renaissance, because while Ops has been around for decades, no one has run it as smoothly, as kindly, or as intelligently as Jamie.

Finally, Rich. Like he says above, we've written together for a long while, and it's been a privilege to watch him work and write during that time. He and I have always worked together, in part because we're both focused on ideas and pushing boundaries. Sometimes that could be great, especially when we complemented each other, and other times we could go absolutely crazy as we both focused in on something new! But as happy as I was to see Rich go for his own command -- and as thrilled as I am that he's both a CO and serving the group at its highest levels -- there was always a part of me that regretted losing him as my XO, because how could anyone ever measure up? (I don't mean any disrespect to my other XOs, of course -- I've been lucky in having an immensely talented group of XOs -- but Rich was with me longest and has gone farthest in 118 since!) He's amazing, one of the best folks I've ever met, period, and I can't say more than that.

Stealth mentions to a couple of folks who make presentations! Jordan and Emma are legendary in their own rights, and I miss our conversations on the EC and putting together things like this celebratory write-up. Great job, both of you, and it's always a pleasure to read!

[Brell]

Thank you I am very honored and touched to be receiving the Chief's Citation and the sentiments shared, they will all be treasured. I'd like to also extend Congratulations to everyone! We had an amazing year and Staff working diligently behind the scenes made that possible.

Rich and his contributions to the wiki caught my notice before we had really interacted with one another. The amount and quality of his work has made our wiki shine even more than it had before. In fleet chats where we have interacted, I found him to be charming and funny and, am looking forward to see if we will be neck and neck again at trivia like we were last year!

 

Jamie and I have mostly worked together at the Academy, and of course interacted in the chat where she is always up for a bit of talking with fleet mates. At the academy I got a first hand look at the humor and cheery attitude Jamie seems to always have both in sims and in every OOC message. Her feedback to cadets I found to be an inspiration in postivity and helped me find ways to improve when feedback myself. Any place seems to be brighter when she is around OOC or IC.

 

Tony was my cadet steward so he was part of my fleet experience ever since I returned to the group. Working with him on OOC projects was a joy and his leadership skills, and friendliness always shined. I too hope RL will allow him to come back to us one day.

Ann's grace under fire and civility when dealing with problematic issues is something I remember well during my time on the Embassy staff. Being even handed is not always easy to do yet Ann ensures it in every communication she makes. She will always be my oldest friend in the fleet and I still think back to the adventures we shared as fresh officers.

 

With James being, my mentor and CO I have seen his dedication to the fleet, the academy, and his ship first hand on a daily basis. Inspiration does not fully cover just impressive all of that is. He lives and breathes with the fleet always in mind and does so with distinction and honor. Thank you for everything that you do and Congratulations!

Edited June 28, 2017 by Brell
typo, grammer

[Toni]

Aww, Brell, simming with you has always been a terrific adventure that started more than 10 years ago when I was so new to simming. You helped me then, and I'm proud to see you come back to sim with us, and getting the recognition you so richly deserve.

I thank you, and everyone for all the kind words, and encouragements. Y'all are the best when making simming fun and enjoyable.

Rich, you're like a breath of fresh air, offering help when all seems lost. I am in awe of you for all the things you do to make SB118 a better place. It just seems to me that you have boundless energy and a creative flair for everything.

James, working with you the most, I have found you helpful in many ways. And most deserving of your awards. I'm also in awe of your abilities to lead and be so involved with the Fleet at large.

Tony, I miss your take on the problems we have and your considered input on how to turn things around. You were always the voice of reason that I always appreciated.

Sal, while it's true we have not worked much together, it hasn't been because I haven't wanted to - I have. But maybe we can find a way to mesh the distance between the Embassy and  SB118 Ops some day soon. I think we both have a mutual goal of keeping this game fun, and that seems to have the makings of a fun mission.

Emma (Rear Admiral Reynolds) I feel privileged to work with you on the CC and EC. I've come to respect your honesty in everything you do.

Fleet Admiral Wolf thank you for all the doors you have opened for me to do the best I can with limited resources, and making it so easy to fall in love with the game you have provided us all.

 

Congratulations Everyone! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jordan aka FltAdmlWolf]

I'm a bit jealous that @Renos got to present the Staff Member of the Year award to @Roshanara Rahman, whose mark on this community is unmistakable. I have sung his praises before, many times!, but there's no harm in doing so again, right? Rich's boundless energy has touched so many people and parts of this group, where to begin? This year he's being honored for his work as a staff member, and it was a long, hard road to get here. I saw in him incredible potential when he started sailing through the wiki years ago, beautifying and organizing pages and creating new portals. Then he ruffled some feathers across our staff when he created the Dept. of Veterans Affairs, a team whose goal was to help us maintain members, but often presented to the CC (and me!) some very challenging feedback about things we really needed to fix. When he got to the Captains Council first as a First Officer and later as a Captain, it was clear that his clarion voice would not be quieted as a newbie, and he often helped push discussion in productive ways that helped us really think about what it was we were trying to do and what the best way was to do it. Now he's landed on the Executive Council as the Captain at Large, while helping to run the Federation News Service and the USS Veritas, a ship of his own creation. He's also receiving the James T. Kirk Cross for his achievements as a new captain, and I'm sure most – if not all! – of his crew would agree that he's quite deserving. I'm so appreciative for members like Rich who are inspired by this community and want to help it grow and be more dynamic. Thanks to him for all his hard work – he earned this award with countless hours of effort. 

I said quite a bit about @Renos in my presentation of the Picard Award, and the Great Bird Award, but yes, let's a moment to thank James for all his hard work on the Training Team. He's been learning the ropes over the course of the last year, seeing the team through a very difficult period as our applications have slowed and it's become harder to keep our team humming along as we always have. But James has been diligent, and constantly pushing for improvements to manuals, making sure that everyone gets taken care of, all while running the Andaris Task Force! He definitely deserves this award. 

To @Toni, I ask: Is there any award you haven't received? 😂  The Sarek Star is an award that Ann really had to earn. I remember an officer with fire in her eyes who was bound and determined to rise to the top, no matter what anyone said. And that led to some moments of confrontation on the CC and EC in years past. But over these past few years, I've seen a new side to Ann – one that's compassionate, empathetic, and very sincere. She's grown so much and created a quiet and intentional brand that makes the Embassy very welcoming for weary players looking for a long-term place to call their own. Among the staff, Ann rarely raises her "voice" and instead chooses diplomacy more times than not. Congratulations to her for adding another award to her rack! 

And @Sal Taybrim earning the Pike Pendant is quite an achievement these days considering that she's one of our newer captains. She brought to our community some long-developed skills and it was easy to see from very early on that she was destined to command a ship of Taybrim groupies! I've worked with Jamie both in setting up her transition on SB118 Ops, but also on the Chat Team, and have always appreciated her hard work, as well as her sage opinions on the Captains Council, where she often gives carefully considered feedback. But this award is all about command, and Jamie has certainly created an environment where members on SB118 Ops remain for quite a long time and seem incredibly dedicated. So thanks to Jamie for putting in what it takes to not just know what leadership is, but understand how it must be wielded for everyone's benefit.

To all the others: Congratulations to you as well! Thank you for being a part of what we're building and being such important parts of this.

[+ Salkath]

Y'all didn't make it easy to cast my votes on who got which award from the impressive lists of nominees!

@Roshanara Rahman, as my very first taste of excellence in the fleet during my time in the Academy, you've left a lasting impression on me, Rich. I'm so glad to see you get such prestigious awards!

@Renos, I wouldn't be where I am in the fleet today without your masterful tutelage and guidance. A truly excellent person in every way, know that whenever I give praise to anyone for anything, it is ALWAYS implied that you are first and foremost in my gratitude for giving me the same skills and opportunities.

@Toni, you've always been such a great sport when I get to write with you, I only wish I had more opportunities! Your lasting impressions on the game itself reverberate to the core of the fleet and its history, and I'm honored to get to work with you whenever I get the chance.

@Sal Taybrim, I've said this elsewhere, but I don't know how you do it! You are such an active and engaging player all over the fleet, from the CC, through the ships you serve on, and through your OOC activities. I absolutely love writing with you, and I know I'm not the only one!

@Brell, Brell, Brell... I miss you a ton, Lee, and I know you're one of the good ones! Keep on doing your thing, and this will be far from the only Staff award you'll earn!

@Tony (Kells-Solzano-EM), alas, our time together was cut far too short. Thank you for launching such an innovative ship in the Za, and I hope that I get to work with you again in the near future!

Thank you so much to each and every one of you for your unfailing dedication and excellence! Our fleet is in great hands with fine folks like you keeping us on a true course!

[+ Prudence "Rue" Blackwell]

When @Sal Taybrim writes about how she prodded me to join SB118, it is completely and utterly accurate. In truth, she has been someone I've considered a mentor and friend for ages, and I believe I speak for everyone when I say the Pike Award is one she epitomizes in spades. @Sal Taybrim is someone who knows the value of these games, that the stories we weave together are another way for us to test our creativity, build friendships, and in a way, another way to enjoy our lives more fully. She builds her characters with care, and because she knows the value of her own characters, she treats other people's characters with an equal amount of care to help other players build upon what was created to make a more complete whole. She emphasizes that the value of a "game" is not just merely whether you win or lose, but the experience itself, and most importantly having fun. @Sal Taybrim is fierce, passionate but all of that energy goes to show just how much she wants everyone to have a good time and really experience things to the fullest. Congratulations @Sal Taybrim - you absolutely deserve this. 

 

Congrats to the other winners and all the best wishes! 

 

[Rahman and Rivi Vataix]

First, I want to thank everyone for the kind words sent my way. It is truly humbling not only to read them but also to be in such company as the others honored this year. So, I'd like to share my own memories and praises for my fellow recipients.

@Renos, the fact that you've been both awarded this year the highest "admiral"-level award and named only the second person thus far to receive the group's highest award the Great Bird Award says it all about your contributions to this community. This very awards ceremony is only possible thanks to your tireless efforts to not only do the job because it has to be done but to do it well! You are meticulous in your work, planning events such as these or running the academy with the precision of a military general (or admiral I suppose, appropriately enough!).

But you're also not just interested in doing the job as it's always been done but figuring out if there are ways to improve. You don't seek the facilitator roles you've often found yourself in for the sake of the title or recognition. You do so because the group has needed a leader on these efforts, and you've stepped up to ensure it can continue to prosper. Ironically, despite how close we've now worked with each other starting with that first enthusiastic message I received from you when we were both Lt. Commanders getting ready to launch the Featured Bio Contest together and the countless OOC conversations we've since shared, we have yet to sim together! We must rectify that at some point, perhaps in this next year before the 2018 ceremony! Congrats again, my friend!

@Toni was my academy instructor (back when she was a commander) AND she was the first person I sent my first feedback about how StarBase 118 might consider doing things while still as a cadet! So I suspect she always knew I was going to be one to stir things up long before some of those other things @FltAdml. Wolf mentioned happened later!  I deeply respect how she has been able to command Embassy for the past several years and not only just lead it but driven her crew to thrive on such an unconventional setting for a Star Trek sim group. The consistently high activity level, interesting missions, and unbridled enthusiasm of her crew are all testaments to her fine leadership.

@Sal Taybrim I feel like you could write a book on how RPGs work (and if you have, let me know so I can pick up a copy). I've always been impressed with your insight into how this game of ours works and your ability to see and understand the things that aren't so obvious but are key to running a successful group and ensuring everyone is having fun. You understand that while our pastime involves writing, it's not *just* about writing and that as you've said many times, a good writer might not necessarily be a good simmer. There's an entirely separate skillset needed to be the kind of simmer that others want to write/play with and another set of skills needed to successfully sim in a command role IC and OOC. I hope our group is able to incorporate that insight you bring to this community into how we operate and how we teach others to sim and lead.

@Brell, I haven't been able to sim or work with you as much as I'd like, but from what I've seen so far in the academy, we're very lucky to have you among the training team staff. I can see why James was so excited to have you come aboard as a deputy commandant, and congratulations again on your promotion. Your enthusiasm, attention to detail, and energy will serve both you and our group well for hopefully many years to come!

Finally, @Tony (Kells-Solzano-EM) well, I've already said quite a bit in my official presentation, right? You already know how much our friendship means to me, so I think I'll just share with everyone else that having my character (Joseph Washington) punch your character (Aron Kells) in the face was one of the highlights of my time here, and for everyone out there that enjoys Captain Rahman, you can thank Tony for helping convince both her and her writer to give it a shot since originally she was destined to always just be an engineer. Though both she IC and I OOC weren't sure if it would work (her more explicitly), I think Tony and I have both learned that no matter how much we may think another type of character may seem to make more "sense" for command purposes and other utilitarian reasons, ultimately, it's important that you write for the character you most enjoy because it comes through in your writing that you're having fun, and that is vital for a captain to show to his or her crew so they can feed off of that enthusiasm.

Congratulations again to all!