Brief History of the USS
Onizuka:
The Onizuka was launched as the
meeting chapter "Shuttlecraft Onizuka" in Chico,
California, affiliated with the (then STARFLEET) chapter "USS
Defiance" out of Sacramento, California, on April 25th, 1992.
She was commissioned as a full independent chapter of STARFLEET just
10 months later, on February 21, 1993. Her crew compliment increased
from the minimum original five to over 70 at the commissioning
ceremony in upper Bidwell Park in Chico. All crew members at that
time were awarded the status of "Plank Holder".
The
crew remained at it's impressive level through most of Star Trek: The
Next Generation's remaining seasons, having three mall-style
conventions (an idea borrowed from the USS Defiance) during that time
with guests such as Robert Wise and Grace Lee Whitney.
Partly
due to the end of ST:TNG and the lesser success of following
franchise offerings, partly due to burn-out of those who had
volunteered in leading the club and conventions, the USS Onizuka had
a major drop of membership around 2000 dropping from it's original
70+ to between 10-20 members, where it has remained to present. Due
to this, club events had to be scaled back-we could no longer have
conventions, there just wasn't enough of us. We shifted to service
event that our smaller club could still handle - volunteering at
various charity and service organizations around Butte County, and
showing our appreciation to those who serve during the holidays that
the rest of us may remain safe by delivering plates of cookies to
firefighters & law enforcement.
About 2005, the USS
Onizuka had to make another transition. Chico is a great place to
live, but is also populated by those attending CSU, Chico. Therefore,
Chico is a short term home for them who, once graduated, have to find
work elsewhere. We had a good core group of members, but over half
had moved away from Chico out of necessity. And out of necessity the
Onizuka transformed itself into a correspondence chapter.
Chico
remains the USS Onizuka's home for now (with "correy"
chapters, home is where the club CO lives), and we are still working
on transitioning completely to "correy" operations (unlike
our ship, the officer's & crew hardly ever work at warp speed).
We all have lives outside the club and, as a result are quite relaxed
in what we do. We try to concentrate on having fun and occasionally
helping out where we can.
And this club isn't just for Trek
fans. Whatever your interest: Star Trek, Star Wars, Bab 5, LotR,
furry - we have room for you. If this sounds like a ship you might be
interested in, contact us. (After all, it gets kind of stressful at
times running a Galaxy-class ship with only 20 crew :) )
Col.
Christopher J. Brownlee
Executive Officer (Vice President) &
resident furry
