U.S.S. T’hy’la
NFC-8406
Officers and Crew Handbook
Disclaimer
IFT U.S.S. T’hy’la Handbook @ Copyright 2004. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. Any reproduction or reprint, in part or in whole without IFT written permission is strictly forbidden.
“Star Trek” and “Star Trek: The Next Generation” are registered trademarks of the Paramount Pictures Corporation. The term “starship” and the name “Enterprise” are also trademarks of the Paramount Pictures Corporation. Absolutely no infringement on these rights is intended. “IFT”, the IFT logo designs, and the name “International Federation of Trekkers” are registered trademarks of the IFT fan organization. The name “T’hy’la” and associated logo designs are the registered trademarks of the founding chapter of the International Federation of Trekkers.
Printings
Original Edition
First Printing……………………………September 2004
Second Printing…………………………February 2005
Index
1……………………………Cover Art
2……………………………Disclaimer
3……………………………Index
4……………………………T’hy’la Image
5……………………………Mission Statement
6……………………………Factual History
7-8………………………….Fictional History
9………………………..…..Captain’s Welcome
10..…………………………XO’s Welcome
11-12.………………………Orientation
13…………………………...Senior Staff
14-17…………………….....Duties and Responsibilities
18-21……………………….Daily Operations
22…………………………..Advancement System
23-26……………………….Advancement Caption Explanation
27-32…..…………………...Rank Insignia
33….…………..…………...Insignia Placement
34-38……………………….Crew Listing
U.S.S. T’hy’la Mission Statement
The USS T’hy’la is committed to keeping alive the ideals of Gene Roddenberry as seen in Star Trek. The USS T’hy’la is dedicated to going beyond hoping and wishing for a better future. Through our actions we will strive to make our planet a better place for all to live. We will work towards racial equality, environmental protection, endangered species protection, social equality, educational reforms, and humanitarian relief.
T’hy’la Factual History
Shortly after IFT opened to the public on June 1, 1984, the flagship USS CONQUEST was designed. Based on designs of the movie-era Enterprise and the Excelsior, CONQUEST took the world by storm with new features like phaser strips, pivoting engine pylons, separating saucer, and more.
In 1988, under the command of Jeff Nicolet, who also held the position of Vice President of IFT, it was decided that the name CONQUEST was too warlike and the USS T'HY'LA was born. For a short time, T'HY'LA kept the same fictional ship design, but in a few months things began to change. It was decided that since T'HY'LA would be the fleet flagship, embodying the IFT philosophy of going places and helping people and assisting aid to all other IFT chapters, the ship should be almost a mobile starbase capable of holding movie-era size ships in the hangar deck.
At this time, T'HY'LA patrolled the Cleveland, Ohio area and was among 25 chapters in IFT. Sister ships like the USS CHALLENGER in Lorain, Ohio, USS HARMONY in Erie, Pennsylvania, USS TRANQUILITY in Syracuse, New York, and others all reported to T'HY'LA which held the role of the chapter of the world headquarters of the Federation.
As IFT continued to grow and the Star Trek fan market grew and changed, so did T'HY'LA. In addition to being the real world chapter for the people in Cleveland, T'HY'LA started becoming the home for members who did not have a chapter in their area. Besides doing local charity work, the T'HY'LA staff worked hard to team up people from other areas of the world so that they could create their own local chapters.
With the joining of the USS PULSAR coming to IFT from another group, it was decided to let the PULSAR patrol the Cleveland area while T'HY'LA would cater directly to our members around the world that had no local chapters. The name T'HY'LA is a Vulcan word for "more than friends" and in IFT that is truly what we are. We all work together to help others in their times of need and in the hopes of bringing about a brighter future for our world. That remains the focus and mission of T'HY'LA today: to give our members a chance at active duty as we spread the word, recruit new Federation officers and then team them up to start their own local chapters.
T'HY'LA has seen some great times in 16 years of Federation service as she embodies our dreams and our ideals...to go places and help people as she works to help people start their own local chapters, bringing the IFT experience to their parts of the world.
USS T’hy’la’s Fictitious History
The USS T’hy’la was commissioned in 2353 at the Utopia Planitia shipyard orbiting Utopia Planitia on Mars.
Do to constant unrest with the Romulan Empire and the instability of the Klingon Empire due to the explosion of Praxis , the Klingon Empire’s prime source of energy, the Federation felt it necessary to create a mobile Space Station capable of handling repairs, refits, or complete construction and capable of high warp speed. A tall order indeed.
The T’hy’la is the result of the Federations need. She is a unique ship. To date T’hy’la is the only Nelson Class Super Carrier to be constructed. She is a large ship with a length of 1225 meters, a width of 427 meters and a height with 30 decks of 171 meters.
Although the through carrier design is not unique to the Federation, many of the features on the T’hy’la are quite unique. She is designed to service, repair, or build any size ship in the fleet up to and including a Sovereign Class Star Ship.
Twenty years of cruising space has lead to a large collection of notable stories and legends that surround the T’hy’la.
One notable incident is the assistance that the USS T’hy’la gave Captain Rumsfelt and the Zuchov during the Aldabarren Smuggling Incident. Had it not been for the assistance of Captain Jeff Nicolet and the T’hy’la, the Ambassador Class ship would have been lost with all hands to Aldabarran pirates.
The T’hyla’s history is richly logged with interesting stories of adventure, daring, and distinguished service.
The T’hy’la‘s present assignment is to patrol the space of the Sol System and act as a training vessel for the crews of soon to be commissioned vessels. The T’hy’la has many tools to handle this task. As well as numerous flight simulators, holo decks, and class rooms, the T’hy’la has a host of craft stationed aboard for training as well as specialized duty demands. They include: 24 shuttles, 12 Wyvern “Hopper Class” transports- 6 Type 9 and 6 type 11, 72 fighters, 24 Razor Class Interceptors, 12 Broadsword Class Multi-Role Fighters, 12 Valkyrie Class Space Superiority Fighters, 12 Peregrine Class Heavy Fighters, 7 Runabouts, 4 Danube Class Cruisers, 2 Orion Scout ships and 1 Delta Flyer. There is a training ship available or buildable for every desirable purpose and crew.
Crews are trained in these craft and then assigned a commissioned craft, depending on the size of the crew. This craft will either be from the Thy’la’s present inventory of crafts or it can be manufactured on the T’hy’la to meet the duty needs of the new crew.
The T’hy’la acts as a home base during the trial run period for these craft until they are ready to venture out into deep space on their own. With the warp speeds that T’hy’la has available to it though, none of these craft are ever out of range of the T’hy’la’s assistance.
Presently, the T’hy’la is going through a new fitting process. There has been a recent change of command and the ship’s crew structure is undergoing a period of review and readjustment. T’hy’la is scheduled for a 3 year training run with an assortment of training crews and will be leaving dry dock shortly.
Its present flight plan will take it from the star Sol to the outer orbit of Pluto. It will be making stops at every planetary system utilizing each unique situation that is specific to the planetary system that it is presently in. Specialized training is scheduled for each environment that T’hy’la will be encountering. The moons as well as the planets will be used in these training exercises.
As always adventure will abound over the next three years. Although the solar system has been routinely patrolled and explored, surprises always seem to surface during these training sessions. The universe has so much undiscovered mystery to it, that even re-exploring the solar system always is a challenge and at times can be very dangerous. New discoveries are made on every training tour of duty.
Welcome to the T'hy'la
The USS T'hy'la NFC-8406 is a Nelson Class Super Starship and also one of many Cyber-Space (Internet Oriented) chapters that serve in the International Federation of Trekkers (IFT). T'hy'la is a Vulcan word meaning "more than friends". Hopefully during your tour of duty aboard you will find that this name is well suited and a true description of the flagship of the Federation.
The T'hy'la is the oldest ship in the fleet. Her keel was laid in 1985. Being a Carrier she housed and launched the rest of the ships in the IFT fleet when they were ready for commissioning. At present, the T'hy'la's assignment is to stay in the Sol planetary system and patrol GEO 1. Her purpose has and always will be to promote harmony and well being in the rest of the fleet. She will continue to be the first assignment for new IFT members that do not already have an affiliation with an existing ship. It is the goal of the T'hy'la command staff to introduce, as well as familiarize you with the practices and procedures of the IFT. Life aboard the T'hy'la will help you to find the position and assignment that you will want to assume during your time in the IFT.
The USS T'hy'la is a starting platform for the rest of your career in the IFT. If you like, you can remain aboard and help to shape the next generation of the IFT. Or you can find an assignment that is close to where you reside that will let you have direct contact with fellow members. If you are ambitious and have fellow enthusiasts and no other chapters nearby, T'hy'la will prepare you for your own command of an IFT Starship. All things are possible when you open yourself to "Infinite Diversity through Infinite Combinations".
Orientation for New Crewmembers to the T’hy’la
You have made the decision to join the International Federation of Trekkers. So you pay your dues and are know waiting for the membership packet. In a short period of time your packet comes in the mail. Since you had no affiliations with a chapter/ship in your area you are assigned to the USS T’hy’la NFC-8406, so here you are, now what?
That’s what the purpose of these 2 pages are.
As a new member to the IFT, IFT will notify the T’hy’la of your appointment to her. A welcoming e-mail will be sent to you upon notification of your assignment to the T’hy’la. In that welcoming e-mail should be the T'hy'la's web address: iftcommand.com/chapters/thyla. Yes I know you are there know.
Here’s how you start your adventure on the T’hy’la.
Go to your computer.
Do a search for iftcommand.com or the T'hy'la's address above.
Click on the site and bring it up.
On the main page find Active Fleet on the right side of the page. Click on this icon.
Four icons will come up to the left of Active Fleet.
Click on the GEO’s and Chapters Icon.
Scroll down almost to the bottom of the page. You will see the Thy’la emblem and site there.
Double click the emblem and you are at T'hy'la's web sites opening computer terminal.
Now you can take some time and find out about the ship that you have been assigned to. You will find another Introduction, a Mission Statement, the History of the T’hy’la, the Command staff for the T’hy’la, a welcoming remark from the CO and XO, and many more things.
I’ve looked around. What should I do know?
Here is ship procedure.
Send an e-mail to the Executive Officer of the USS T'hy'la, this address can be found on the XO's page, advising him that you have been assigned to the T’hy’la. The Executive Officer will inform the Captain, the Chief of Operations, the Chief Medical Officer, and the Ship’s Counselor of your arrival. The Executive Officer will send you back a welcoming e-mail.
The Staff page on the T'hy'la web site contains a listing of assignments that are open. They will have duty descriptions for each position. Look them over and decide how you would like to serve on the T’hy’la’
Once you decide on a position that would be enjoyable for you, send an e-mail to the Executive Officer. He will forward it to the Captain for approval. Upon the Captain’s approval you will be sent a hail from the Captain, welcoming you aboard and informing you to what Department Head you need to report for your assignments.
Depending on which assignment you have been assigned, you will either have the Chief of Operations, the Chief Science Officer, or the Chief of Services as your Division Commander. He/She will assign a Department head to be your Commanding Officer. Most of the reporting that you do on your assignments will be directed to this Commander. Any questions, problems, or complaints should also be addressed to your Department Head. He will notify the proper department to aid you.
Shortly after reporting aboard, you will be hailed by the Ship’s Chief Medical Officer and the ship’s Counselor. Both of these officers are on board for your well being.
The Chief Medical Officer will send you a medical history form. This is not mandatory to fill out. However, the well being of each crewmember is the concern of the Chief Medical Officer.
The Ship’s Counselor will want to get to know you. He/She is responsible for your tour of duty on the T’hy’la to be an enjoyable as well as a fulfilling one. He/She will maintain a continuous dialog with you as long as you are on the T’hy’la. Feel free to discuss problems or any question that you have. The Ship’s Counselor’s job is your well being and keeping the ship a happy, well functioning ship.
That should get you started and help you to settle in. Hopefully the time that you serve on the T’hy’la will be an enjoyable and rewarding one for you, an experience that you will wish to share with family and friends.
Welcome Aboard !
Command Position Responsibilities
Commanding Officer Responsibilities
• Liaison between headquarters and the executive committee.
• Oversees the executive committee.
• Delegates duties as deemed waranted.
• Chairman of the executive committee.
• Oversees executive committee promotions.
• Open to complaints pertaining to executive committee.
• Reports chapter activities to headquarters after the reporting cycle.
• Chapter website editor.
Executive Officer Responsibilities
• Liaison between the CO and the senior staff.
• Oversees the senior staff.
• Delegates duties as deemed waranted.
• Chairman of the executive committee when the CO is absent.
• Chairman of the general crew meetings.
• Takes and oversees staff promotions recommendations.
• Open to complaints pertaining to the senior staff.
• Reports chapter activities to headquarters after the reporting cycle when the CO can not.
• Oversees business endeavors.
• Assistant chapter website editor.
Senior Staff Responsibilities
• Hold one departmental meeting a month.
• Reports departmental activities during the reporting cycle via the communications form.
Operations Officer Responsibilities
• Oversees the operations department.
• Delegates duties as deemed waranted.
• Chairs operations department meetings.
• Chapter mailing list moderator.
• Chapter website designer.
• Reports mail and web activities to the CO and XO.
• Pending authorization, reports authorized mail and web activities to the entire crew.
Operations: Communications Officer Responsibilities
• Oversees the communications department.
• Delegates duties as deemed waranted.
• Attends operations department meetings.
• Chapter mailing list moderator.
• Chapter website designer.
• Reports mail and web activities to the CO and XO.
• Pending authorization, reports authorized mail and web activities to the entire crew.
Operations: Engineering Officer Responsibilities
• Maintain ship's statistical information. (size, weapons, crew, etc.)
• Maintain ship's graphical layout.
• Provides graphical design assistance to crew.
• Provides sound design assistance to crew.
• Department website editor.
Operations: Security Officer Responsibilities:
• Registered member of the IFT Federation Security Corps.
• Receives security information from IFT.
• Provides security information to the crew.
• Assist crew in dealing with computer invasion issues.
• Assist crew with finding free/legal security programs.
• Department website editor.
Services Officer Responsibilities
• Oversees the services departments.
• Chairs services department meetings.
• Delegates duties as deemed waranted.
• Creates the chapter newsletter.
• Coordinates with the headquarters' newsletter to submit materials.
• Maintains the crew handbook.
• Chairman of the crew meetings when the CO, XO and OPS are absent.
• Oversees accounting endevours.
• Assistant chapter website designer.
Services: Affairs Officer Responsibilities:
• Issues birthday wishes.
• Issues condolences for deaths and hardships.
• Issues wedding and anniversary announcements.
• Oversees the affairs department.
• Attends services department meetings.
• Reports all activities to services officer.
Services: Morale Officer Responsibilities
• Creates fun activities for the crew. (crafts, games, puzzles, etc.)
• Coordinates online celebrations.
• Oversees the morale department.
• Attends services department meetings.
• Reports all activities to services officer.
Services: Records Officer Responsibilities:
• Maintains crew enlistment records.
• Informs crew members of pending membership renewals.
• Maintains minutes for crew and executive committee meetings.
• Oversees the records department.
• Attends services department meetings.
• Reports all activities to services officer
Services: Treasury Officer Responsibilities:
• Maintains inventory of the ship's store.
• Maintains a list of collectable vendors.
• Locates convention discounts for the crew.
• Oversees the treasury department.
• Attends services department meetings.
• Reports all activities to services officer.
Sciences Officer Responsibilities:
• Oversees the sciences departments.
• Delegates duties as deemed waranted.
• Chairs sciences department meetings.
• Educator for the Science Cadets.
• Department website designer and editor.
Assistant Sciences Officer Responsibilities:
• Oversees the sciences departments when the CSO can not.
• Completes duties as deemed waranted by the CSO.
• Chairs sciences department meetings when the CSO can not.
Sciences: Environmental Officer Responsibilities:
• Oversees the environmental department.
• Delegates duties as deemed waranted.
• Attends sciences department meetings.
• Tracks all planetary environmental activities.
• Reports all activities to sciences officer.
• Department website editor.
Sciences: Sensor Officer Responsibilities:
• Oversees the sensor department.
• Delegates duties as deemed waranted.
• Attends sciences department meetings.
• Tracks all astronomical activities.
• Reports all activities to sciences officer.
• Department website editor.
Sciences: Counseling Officer Responsibilities:
• Oversees the counseling department.
• Delegates duties as deemed waranted.
• Attends sciences department meetings.
• Tracks all mental health developments.
• Open to listening to crew with mental health concerns.
• Reports all activities to sciences officer.
• Reports mental health activities to the CO and XO.
• Department website editor.
Sciences: Medical Officer Responsibilities:
• Oversees the medical department.
• Delegates duties as deemed waranted.
• Attends sciences department meetings.
• Tracks all physical health developments.
• Open to listening to crew with physical health concerns.
• Reports all activities to sciences officer.
• Reports physical health activities to the CO and XO.
• Department website editor.
Qualifications & Requirements for
Department/Division Chief
1) Officer will hold Latinum Membership in accordance with Section 3.1, Item 1a, 1b, and/or 1c of the IFT By-Laws. (In the event that a ?Latinum Associate? member applies for a Department/Division Chief?s position, their membership must be upgraded to a ?Latinum Active Duty Membership?.)
2) Not required.... but recommended - officer should complete the "Officer Candidate Course" and the "Staff Officer?s Course" through IFT Academy East prior to application for Department/Division Chief position.
3) Officer must be an active member on T'HY?LA for a minimum of 2 months prior to application for open Department/Division Chief position. (i.e. getting involved w/storylines (RPG) .... posting reports.... Just saying hi...etc.)
4) Once application is submitted and position is granted, Officer MUST remain active in Ship functions and activities. If Officer falls inactive for 2 months, Division Chief (with Captain's permission) or the Chapter Commander may relieve Officer of his/her duties and refill position at Chapter Commander?s discretion.
5) Department/Division Chiefs? must submit a monthly report via the listserver Division Chief/Chapter Commander respectively. Department Chief?s report will be due by the end of each month to his Division Chief.
6) Department/Division Chief?s will serve a 3-month probationary period. At the end of the 3-month probationary period, if Department/Division Chief has performed satisfactorily, he/she will continue holding that position.
7) In the event a new member or a current Inactive member wishes to apply for the Department/Division Chief position, he/she may do so with the understanding that their titles will be "Acting" Department/Division Chief for 2 months. During this time, Acting Department/Division Chief will be evaluated on his/her performance in that position. If during this time, another member applies for this same position, then whichever member is most qualified for that position will be selected to hold that position and Item # 6) applies.
Executive Committee Responsibilities:
Attend at least one executive and one crew meeting per month.
Be able to report activities for departments downstream as well as upstream.
Committee consist of: CO, XO, Chief of Operations, Chief Science Officer, Chief of Services, Chief Medical Officer, Chief of Communications, and Chief Counselor
Reporting Cycle
Between the last two and first five days of each month a report must be filed via the communications form for the previous month by the senior staff members. If you are to report on January activities, you must submit the report between January 30 and February 5.
Assistant Department Heads
Act as an Attaché’ to his/her specific Department Head. As such he/she answers to that Department Head in regards to their duties and responsibilities. Although they help with the duties of their respective Department Head, they are not in command of the Department under that particular Department Head. In the event that their Department Head should be unable to continue service on the T’hy’la, he/she would assume the position of that Department Head until the Captain either appointed them permanently to the position, or a replacement Department Head would be appointed.
Daily Operations on the T’hy’la
Since the T’hy’la is a Cyber Chapter procedure will be different and sometimes be a little more difficult than on a normal ship/chapter. For the most part all communications will be via the internet. So any communication will be slower than in a live setting. This should be taken into account by all crew members when a reply is requested of them, or if they have questions. Timely communications are the key to running a successful Cyber Space ship.
Meetings such as the Monthly Executive Meeting (3rd Sunday of the month), and the General Crew Meetings (4th Sunday of the month), and the Department Meetings will be held on AIM (America on Line Instant Messenger). Robert’s Rules will be in effect at all these meetings. A meeting agenda will be e-mailed to you a week prior to every meeting. You should look over the agenda and gather your thoughts before the meeting.
All meetings on the T’hy’la are of critical importance. Ship functions and needs will be addressed at these meetings. So attendance is crucial to the success of any meeting. So it is important that you send an e-mail to the Captain or Executive Officer if you can not attend. By sending that e-mail you will receive an excused status on the minutes for that meeting. An unexcused missing of a meeting will show up on your permanent record and would be a consideration during promotion times.
Projects and Fund Raising projects need to be thought out prior to meetings. Brainstorming is a always a wonderful idea, however time is limited at these meetings. A short well prepared presentation should be presented at the meeting.
When considering a project or fund raiser think about the special situation that exist on the T’hy’la. There are people from around the world serving on T’hy’la. A bake sale or paper drive is not going to be a good project for our crew. We need to find projects that the entire crew can participate in regardless of their location on the planet.
Charity drives such as “Walk of Life” for Cancer, the “ MS Walk” for Multiple Sclerosis, “March of Dimes” for children’s birth defects, and “Feed the Children” for world hunger are but a few of the charity fund raisers that can be participated in, in any country in the name of the USS T’hy’la and the IFT.
A Monthly Report must be submitted to IFT Command and our local GEO by the 10th of every month. Department Heads must submit their reports a week prior to the tenth of every month to the Captain and the Executive Officer. The Captain, or the Executive Officer in his absence, will compile that information into the Monthly Report and submit a copy to IFT Command and GEO 51. The monthly report is a critical information source to IFT Command and our local GEO. It communicates the active functioning of the USS T’hy’la.
Monthly Newsletter
The monthly newsletter will be published and distributed by the Chief of Service. Crewmembers with internet access will receive a PDF form of the newsletter via e-mail. Crewmembers without e-mail can obtain a copy of the newsletter by submitting $1 a month or $12 for the year to the Executive Officer of the T’hy’la. The fee is to cover the price of mailing.
Relations between crewmembers
Communications between crew will take place in the Yahoo T’hy’la chat room. It is the hope of the Executive Officers that friendships and bonds will be formed between crewmembers. Please make use of this forum to discuss ship projects, Star Trek Events, Hobbies, etc.
Conduct on the Chat site is always that of becoming of an Officer. Any vulgar language or obscene presentations are not permitted. The T’hy’la is a family ship and the Flagship of the Federation. We can have fun on the site without becoming crass. Always keep in mind that at any given time children may be looking on the site. So please be courteous and adult. Let’s always be aware that we are to set an example that Gene Roddenberry would be proud of. Also keep in mind that the Chief of Security and the Executive Officer are Moderators for the crew site. Any language or behavior that is un-becoming will be deleted and made note of by the XO. A reprimand will follow. Please make this never necessary.
Cadet Corps
Being that the T’hy’la is a family ship we may have crew that are 15 years of age and younger. Please consider taking a Cadet membership for your children ages 5 through 15. There is a program in IFT that is designed and geared strictly towards our youth. Always remember that the youth are the future of any organization. Our youth are very important to us and if the world that is Star Trek will ever exist it will be the children that make it so. It is never too soon to introduce our children to the ideals that are Star Trek.
Regulations on the T’hy’la
Rules of proper conduct should always be of common sense and respect for your fellow crewmates. Also never lose track of the fact that the USS T’hy’la is the Flagship of the Federation. We must set the example for the rest of the fleet through the example that we show through our performance of duty as well as our demeanor. The following are a few considerations that we should always remember and apply.
1. Always act as a responsible member of the T’hy’la. You are the T’hy’la’s ambassador.
2. Always conduct yourself as an Officer and Gentlemen.
3. Do not engage in foul, improper, or vulgar language.
4. Refrain from any behavior that sets a bad example for our youth.
5. When visiting a convention keep in mind that you are a representative of the T’hy’la and the IFT. Always conduct yourself in a responsible manner. Represent the T’hy’la in a positive light by presenting yourself as a positive personality, by volunteering help if it is needed, by being courteous, by being polite, and by being patient. All these attributes will reflect well on you and on your ship.
6. During internet conversations always be thoughtful and courteous to your fellow crewmen. Keep in mind that words are like daggers. Once a comment is thrown it can never be retrieved. A well thought out response is greatly preferable to a hasty response in anger. Keep in mind that after a harmful post the situation between you and the other individual will never return the same way it was previous to the encounter. An apology after the fact is too late. The damage has already been done. So please think before you post. Always consider how a post will affect the rest of the crew, Consider this as well, sometimes when we post or are reading a post, we may be frustrated and may have a difference of opinion. Always read a disturbing post several times before formulating a response. It is some times easy to misunderstand a post. A hasty angry response can cause an ugly situation to occur. The Command of the T’hy’la would ask you not to let this happen. Although hazing and pocking fun can be a healthy thing, it can also be harmful to a healthy crew relationship. Please keep it civil and always be respectful of your crewmembers feelings. Put downs, name calling, and foul language have no place on the T’hy’la. If you are respectful to your fellow crewmates they will be respectful to you.
Cause for Disciplinary Action
The Command Staff of the USS T’hy’la hopes that there will never be an occasion for such action. However do to the fact that we are human such actions may occur from time to time. The following are actions that will result in a written warning.
1. Dereliction of Duty: When we take on a duty station there are responsibilities that accompany that station. It is expected that we carry out our responsibilities until completion. The T’hy’la is a place to have fun. But with that fun also comes a responsibility to IFT and the T’hy’la to place into action the purpose of IFT. Duties are how we accomplish that task. Since you joined IFT you must have a feeling towards the mission of the IFT. Therefore, you should understand the importance of completing projects and the harm of not completing projects.
2. Actions that are unbecoming of an Officer: We are representatives of the Flagship of the Federation. As such, we must always present ourselves in this light. Inexcusable language and behavior is just that, inexcusable. It will not, and can not be accepted on the T’hy’la.
3. Misuse of USS T’hy’la or IFT properties: In the IFT and on T’hy’la almost everything is available to all crewmembers for the asking. The use of handbook materials and logos without proper permission is stealing. We must be above such behavior.
Disciplinary Action
First Offense: A written reprimand from the Executive Officer
Second Offense: A written reprimand from the Captain.
Third Offense: A Formal reprimand from the Captain that will appear on your permanent record and you will be reduced one grade in rank.
Fourth Offense: A second Formal reprimand from the Captain will appear on your permanent record and a reduction of one grade in rank. Also a Command Council Meeting will be convened to determine if the matter should warrant consideration by the IFT Council. If the offense is a matter that warrants reporting to the IFT Council, action may include ship transfer or dismissal from the Federation. If it is the decision of the Command Staff or the IFT Council to retain the crewman aboard T’hy’la, a 6 month probationary period will be in effect. Any violation of ship protocol will result in the dismissal and transfer from the T’hy’la for that crewmember. An appeal may be presented on any offence as long as it is presented in written form to the Captain within 10 working days of the decision. An appeal will be taken into consideration by the Command Council and a final decision will be submitted within 7 days to the offender.
The Advancement System aboard the T’hy’la
Everyone that is new to the IFT and comes aboard the T’hy’la starts as an Ensign 3rd class. There are two promotions available every year. To earn a promotion an officer has to earn 250 points. There are various ways of earning these points. These are some.
Point system
10 Accepted Project Proposal
Major projects
30 Team Leader
20 Assistant
10 Crew Person
Recruiting Project
30 Team Leader
20 Assistant
10 Crew Person
10 Member Sponsor
Fund Raiser
30 Team Leader
20 Logistics
50 Top Producer
30 Next Highest Producer
Newsletter (Per Issue)
40 Editor
20 Associate Editor
10 Staff Reporters
10 Featured Column
Meetings
30 Presentation
20 Attendance
Membership
10 Active
10 Associate
Uniforms
100 Next Generation uniform (I time only)
All promotions are dependent on an accumulation of points as well as review by the ship’s Executive Officer and the ship’s Counselor. Approved promotion reviews will go to the Captain for approval. If an officer feels that they have been treated unfairly in regards to a promotion, a review board consisting of the Executive Committee will be convened to fairly resolve the issue.
The point system is an approximate system. Degree of difficulty and time spent in activities will increase the point value for a given section.
Explanation of the Point System Captions
Accepted Project Proposal
All proposed projects need to be e-mailed to the Captain for review and approval. Upon approval by the captain the submitter of the proposal will receive 10 points towards their next promotion.
Major Projects
Major projects are projects that significantly advance the promotion and interaction of the IFT and the T’hy’la. Improvements such as web site design, ship communication improvement, and ship public relation promotions are but a few examples.
Away Team
Although this is not a caption it needs explanation. An Away Team consist of a Team Leader, an Assistant Team Leader, and Crew members. All are equally important to the completion of a project. It is important that an Away Team act as just that, a team. The old saying there is no I in the word team explain a good way to manage a successful operating Away Team.
Team Leader
The Team leader is the person that is responsible for the overseeing of the project from the beginning until the completion. It is their duty to report progress and presentation of completed projects to their Department Heads. He/She will be in command of every aspect of the project. It is their duty to assign duties and responsibilities to the crewmembers that are working on the project and to make sure that they perform and complete their responsibilities. A good team leader needs to participate in the project.
Assistant Team Leader
The Assistant Team Leader assumes the duties and responsibilities of the Team Leader in the event of their leaving a project. Normal duties include assisting in overseeing and aiding in the completion of a project. He/She acts with the permission of the Team Leader to make decisions when they are not available for advice or decisions.
Crew Person
A crewperson is a member of the away team on a project. They answer to the Team Leader or the Assistant Team leader for responsibilities and duties that they need to perform to efficiently aid in the satisfactory completion of the project. They need to report to the Team Leader all questions and completed projects that they have.
Recruiting Projects
Recruiting projects are promotional presentations that increase the membership base of either the International Federation of Trekkers or the USS T’hy’la. Away Teams that work on recruiting project have the same structure as Major Project Away Teams with the addition of the following point obtaining caption.
Member Sponsor
Member Sponsors are those T’hy’la crew members that promote IFT by bringing in new members to the IFT and hopefully the T’hy’la. 10 points are awarded for every new member that joins IFT.
Fund Raising Projects
Fund Raising Projects are those projects that bring in money either for T’hy’la operating expenses or for Humanitarian support. For the most part Fund Raising projects will be concerned with the raising of funds for charity organizations. There are many charities that we could participate in even though we are a Cyber Space chapter. Charities such as “Save the Children”, “MS Walk”, “March of Dimes” and “Walk of Life”, and many others, are noble and important causes. They can easily be participated in with credit going to the T’hy’la and the IFT. Away teams are the same set up as Major projects with the addition of these positions.
Logistics
This away team member is responsible for the accounting of the Fund Raising Project. He/She tracks and submits a report to the Chief of Operations in regard to the operating progress and the completed and completed totals of the project.
Top Producer
The crew member that obtains the largest amount of contributions for the fund raising project is the top producer.
Second Top Producer
The crew member that obtains the second largest amount of contributions for the fund raiser is the second top producer.
Newsletter
Timely communications are one of the most important requirement for the T’hy’la to be successful. This is doubly true for a chapter like T’hy’la . Being a Cyber Space chapter T’hy’la’s communications are sometimes not up to standard. A monthly or bi-monthly Newsletter can go far to improve ship communications.
Each Newsletter will feature a message from both the CO and the XO, a listing of upcoming IFT happenings, upcoming Star Trek happenings, ship news: such as promotions and progress reports, and a ship financial report. Some Department Heads are responsible for being editors on the Newsletter.
Editor
The Editor of the T’hy’la’s Newsletter is the Chief of Services. He/She is responsible for the layout and the meeting of the deadline for each issue of the Newsletter. He/She is responsible for the distribution via the internet to all members. The Chief of Services will act as the Away Team Leader on the Newsletter.
Associate Editor
The Associate Editor position is filled by the Assistant Chief of Services. He/She will work directly with the Chief of Services in preparing the Newsletter. In the absence of the Chief of Services, the Assistant Chief of Services will assume the responsibilities of the Chief of Services. Should the Chief of Services resign or become incapable of performing his/her duties on the Newsletter, the Assistant Chief of Services will be promoted to hold the position.
Associate Editors Assistants
The Associate Editors Assistants are Department Heads that are responsible for sections of the Newsletter.
IFT Happenings – Chief of Communications
World Happenings – Chief Science Officer
Medicine Today – Chief Medical Officer
Star Trek Happenings – Chief Quartermaster
Fund Raising Activities – Chief of Engineering
Staff Reporters
Staff Reporters are crewmembers that report on individual topics for the Newsletter. He/She researches the topic and then writes an article on that topic. These articles are to be submitted to the Associate Editor that is responsible for the topic area.
Featured Column
When a topic or a writer holds a special place of interest to the crew, the topic or writer will be requested to write an ongoing article for the Newsletter. Such a feature might be an ongoing story of the adventures of the crew of the T’hy’la. Any topic could be considered for a Featured Column. It is the crew’s interest that determines what that should be.
Meetings
Meetings will be conducted in a Live Chat Room. Time and day of the meeting are very important due to the International nature of the T’hy’la. Meetings will be conducted once a month on a consistent day and time that is mutually acceptable to the Command and Crew of T’hy’la. Attendance at monthly meetings is mandatory and strongly advisable. There will always be projects and ship procedures that we will need to discuss. The monthly meeting is an important forum for the proper functioning of the T’hy’la.
If a crew member can not be in attendance at a monthly meeting, it is requested that they submit an e-mail to the Captain one week prior to the meeting to inform the Captain of their absence. A written e-mail to the Captain will be considered the only excusable reason for missed attendance. The Captains exception list for missed meetings will be included in the minutes of every meeting.
Presentations
Presentations are formal notification of upcoming ship activities such as, the promotion and implementation of a fund raiser, a membership drive, or a special ship service or activity. They should be well thought out and presented in an organized and professional manner. Included in them should be an outline of the program, responsibilities for the program, and a plan of attack for completion.
Attendance
Attendance in any organization is always critical to the success of that organization. T’hy’la, being a Cyber Chapter, can not possibly entertain the idea of physical attendance. Attendance has to exist purely on an internet basis. Monthly meetings, Executive Committee meetings, and Department meetings will only be successful and fruitful if we strive to be at them, therefore, attendance is critical.
Membership
The USS T’hy’la is the first assignment to all un-chapter affiliated crewmembers. Because the T’hy’la is the Flagship of the Federation no additional dues will be asked of crewmembers. Membership is to the International Federation of Trekkers and is due yearly prior to the date of enlistment.
Uniforms
Uniforms are not a requirement of the IFT, nor a requirement on the T’hy’la. However they do add to the role playing enjoyment for a chapter. The T’hy’la being a “The Next Generation” time frame ship would be uniformed in the style of “The Next Generation”.
Rank insignia for the entire IFT are in the style on “The Next Generation”. An example of a place where a uniform could be to the advantage of the IFT and the T’hy’la would be at a convention recruitment table. A uniform will attract attention and tend to open up communication lines.
T’hy’la’s Division Colors and Insignia Placement
Admiral's rank insignia are worn on both sides of the collar. Line officer's rank and enlisted rate insignia are worn on right side of the collar.
| Uniforms |
| Command |
Marines |
Operations |
 |
 |
 |
| Services /Science |
Admiralty |
 |
 |
| Rank |
Insignia’s and Placement |
| Fleet Admiral |
![[image]](http://www.iftcommand.com/chapters/thyla/graphics/Fleet-Admiral.gif) ![[image]](http://www.iftcommand.com/chapters/thyla/graphics/Fleet-Admiral-A.gif) |
| Admiral |
![[image]](http://www.iftcommand.com/chapters/thyla/graphics/Admiral.gif) ![[image]](http://www.iftcommand.com/chapters/thyla/graphics/Admiral-A.gif) |
| Vice Admiral |
![[image]](http://www.iftcommand.com/chapters/thyla/graphics/Vice-Admiral.gif) ![[image]](http://www.iftcommand.com/chapters/thyla/graphics/Vice-Admiral-A.gif) |
| Rear Admiral |
![[image]](http://www.iftcommand.com/chapters/thyla/graphics/Rear-Admiral.gif) ![[image]](http://www.iftcommand.com/chapters/thyla/graphics/Rear-Admiral-A.gif) |
| Commodore |
![[image]](http://www.iftcommand.com/chapters/thyla/graphics/Commodore.gif) ![[image]](http://www.iftcommand.com/chapters/thyla/graphics/Commodore-A.gif) |
| Captain |
![[image]](http://www.iftcommand.com/chapters/thyla/graphics/Captain.gif) ![[image]](http://www.iftcommand.com/chapters/thyla/graphics/Red-Collar-Lft.gif) |
| Commander |
![[image]](http://www.iftcommand.com/chapters/thyla/graphics/Commander.gif) ![[image]](http://www.iftcommand.com/chapters/thyla/graphics/Teal-Collar-Lft.gif) |
| Lieutenant Commander |
![[image]](http://www.iftcommand.com/chapters/thyla/graphics/Lt-Commander.gif) ![[image]](http://www.iftcommand.com/chapters/thyla/graphics/Yellow-Collar-Lft.gif) |
| Lieutenant |
![[image]](http://www.iftcommand.com/chapters/thyla/graphics/Lieutenant.gif) |
| Lieutenant Junior Grade |
![[image]](http://www.iftcommand.com/chapters/thyla/graphics/Lt-Jr-Grade.gif) |
| Ensign |
![[image]](http://www.iftcommand.com/chapters/thyla/graphics/Ensign.gif) |
| Enlisted Personnel |
| Master Chief Petty Officer |
![[image]](http://www.iftcommand.com/chapters/thyla/graphics/Mst-Chief-Petty.gif) |
| Senior Chief Petty Officer |
![[image]](http://www.iftcommand.com/chapters/thyla/graphics/Sn-Chief-Petty.gif) |
| Chief Petty Officer |
![[image]](http://www.iftcommand.com/chapters/thyla/graphics/Chief-Petty.gif) |
| Petty Officer 1st Class |
![[image]](http://www.iftcommand.com/chapters/thyla/graphics/Petty-1.gif) |
| Petty Officer 2nd Class |
![[image]](http://www.iftcommand.com/chapters/thyla/graphics/Petty-2.gif) |
| Petty Officer 3rd Class |
![[image]](http://www.iftcommand.com/chapters/thyla/graphics/Petty3.gif) |
| Crewman 1st Class |
![[image]](http://www.iftcommand.com/chapters/thyla/graphics/Crewman1.gif) |
| Crewman 2nd Class |
![[image]](http://www.iftcommand.com/chapters/thyla/graphics/Crewman2.gif) |
| Crewman 3rd Class |
![[image]](http://www.iftcommand.com/chapters/thyla/graphics/Crewman3.gif) |
| Miscellaneous |
| Deputy Directors wear a thin golden line beneath their rank insignia. |
![[image]](http://www.iftcommand.com/chapters/thyla/graphics/Deputy.gif) |
Credits
Handbook written and edited by Sherwood Shaplin. Staff position requirements written by Anthony Haslage, Neil Abshire, Kennith Skutnick, David Slocum and Sherwood Shaplin.