STAR OKC 1976-1977

 1976

At the January meeting it is decided that “kids under the age of 11 years old won’t be able to join. This is to help prevent chaotic meetings.” So, tell me: Since then, has STAR had any more chaotic meetings?

The March/April GG is Vol. 2, #5. “The new Co-Editors are Paul Smith and Kevin Acers,” and plans are discussed for S.T.A.R. to put on Galacti-Con ’76.

By the Aug./Sept. GG, Renee Upton can be identified as the second President of S.T.A.R. Editor Jennifer Reynolds (no, not the same as the Channel 9 newscaster) says, “We have tentatively set the date of the Con for Sept. 18, 1976.” But President (and Chairman) Upton also weighs in with a plea for member involvement, stating that S.T.A.R. has only two choices: “officially dissolve the Club, or get it back in shape.” She correctly predicts that lack of member involvement will scuttle the chances of Galacti-Con ’76’s success.

Other officers are Secretary Joan Carter and Membership Secretary Jill Kornfeld. Treasurer and Vice-President slots are open.

On September 6, the Oklahoma City Times prints a feature article on founding S.T.A.R. member Daryl Maxwell, titled “Trekkies never eat, they just live on reruns.” According to this article, Maxwell and Renee Upton “say the members number between 100 and 150, mostly of high school age, some college, even some 40s and 50s.” (It’s likely that the 100¬150 number came from attendance at S.T.A. R.’s Galacti-Cons, not from a list of actual members of S.T.A.R. Oklahoma City.) The article continues, “The club meets every month or so at the Bethany Library.”

1977

The Spring issue of the GG includes a trivia contest; a plug for a STAR TREK postage stamp; and a wordsearch game. Third President Jennifer Reynolds identifies herself as “Chief Helmsman of S.T.A.R.Base,” a new Club name. Other helpers on this GG are Ian Shepard, David Moore, and David Morgan. Plans for a Con have been put off for the time being.

In a letter dated May 20, President Reynolds writes to Larry Nemecek of Lexington, OK: “I am delighted that you have chosen to join S.T.A.R.base Ok.C.” You may have heard of this Nemecek fellow as the founder of ThunderCon.

“S.T.A.R.base Ok.C.” — as President Reynolds calls it — has 17 paid members, but only 3 show up for the July meeting. In a subsequent letter to Nemecek, Reynolds writes, “I have decided to resign” in the face of such apathy.