SFI History C8

Starfleet History Chapter Eight

Jeannette Maddox
As had happened with Fleet Admiral Wetsch, problems facing the Smith Administration convinced others that they could do better. The Vice Regional Coordinator of Region One, Commodore Jeannette Maddox, decided to make a run for Commanding Admiral of STARFLEET, in the 1988 elections. Unlike 1981, however, this campaign was quite civil and mild. Nonetheless, the election was a memorable one. Fleet Admiral Smith, who had decided to run for re-election, later withdrew himself from consideration when he decided to take a new job. However, when that job offer fell through, he announced that he wished to again be considered for re-election. However, the Admiralty Board ruled that once Fleet Admiral Smith had withdrawn, he was not eligible to return. Therefore, Commodore Maddox ran unopposed and gained the majority of votes cast.

The Maddox Administration
The Maddox Administration can be credited for bringing Star Trek fandom from out of our parent’s basements and into the mainstream. During her four year Administration, STARFLEET made great strides in a variety of areas, becoming once again the premiere Star Trek fan club on the planet. She also stressed Community Service, which both helped people and gained STARFLEET local and national media attention. This included expanding the STARFLEET Scholarship Program started under the Smith Administration. Star Trek: The Next Generation was entering its third season and drawing still more fans. By late 1989 STARFLEET boasted over four thousand members. STARFLEET Academy now boasted eight schools (though far more courses!) and Commandant Lerman showed no signs of slowing.

The Maddox Administration took office with STARFLEET being close to $7,000 in debt. By the end of their first year, that debt had been paid off. Fleet Admiral Smith had requested in late 1988 to return the Membership rate to $10.00, and this was put into place by 1989. Also, the "Family Membership" came into being, which allowed two people to share a CQ and Handbook for $17.00 (or three or more for $20.00), with each person receiving their own certificate and membership card. This helped gain more members by allowing families to join under one membership for $20.00.

To help stabilize finances, the Maddox Administration discontinued the color Communiqué’s of the Smith Administration and to black-and-white format with Issue #31 in February 1989. However, each issue was distributed on time and by August of 1990, the Communiqué grew into a magazine-size format. As finances improved, a colorized cover was eventually added and the CQ went from Third Class to First Class mailing, dramatically reducing mailing times and improving the delivery success rate. The "Caption Contest" in each issue brought laughs and encouraged people to exercise their sense of humor while the Cover Art contest showcased the best in STARFLEET member artistry. With the passing of Gene Roddenberry on October 24, 1991, Issue #48 was dedicated as a Special Issue and contained various memorials and memories of the founder of Star Trek.

End of Sector Chiefs
One major change during Fleet Admiral Maddox’s first term was the abolition of the Sector Chiefs Committee in May 1989 led, surprisingly enough, by the Northwest Sector Chief himself, Rear Admiral Thomas C. Davis. Admiral Davis argued that the five Sector Chiefs (one each for NW, SW, NE, SE, and Pacific [covering R11 in Australia]) were just an additional layer of reporting bureaucracy and not really needed. With their abolition, the Regional Coordinators now reported directly to the Chief of Operations. Admiral Davis was not long out of a job, however, as Fleet Admiral Maddox selected him to replace Admiral Ackerman as Chief of Operations that same year.

Enter the Marines
The Maddox Administration also saw the first "affiliated group" join STARFLEET – the STARFLEET Marine Corps under Commandant Robb Jackson. Now, those members seeking something other than being a member of a starship crew could choose to be a Marine. STARFLEET Academy also added a Marine College. SFMC was the first of many such groups, including the Rangers and SEALS, but only the SFMC experienced serious growth and maintained its official "affiliated group" status. The Klingon Assault Group (KAG) formed as an independent fan club for those of the "Klingon persuasion", though it maintained close ties with STARFLEET during their early years, including regular articles in the Communiqué.

Technical Services Reorganization
STARFLEET’s Technical Services team was reorganized in May of 1991 with the creation of the STARFLEET Department of Technical Services under Rear Admiral J. Scott Spadaro. One of their first acts was to finally allow chapters to officially "serve" in the 24th Century. The actual "first TNG chapter" is in dispute, but Spadaro, with the help of Captain Chris Wallace, did help launch the USS Starchaser in Region Five, the first Galaxy class starship in STARFLEET and one of the first TNG groups.

Maddox’s Second Term
Fleet Admiral Maddox ran for re-election in the fall of 1990 against Admiral Bryan Ackerman, a member of Steve Smith’s EC. Admiral Maddox was re-elected with a 75% majority and Admiral Ackerman soon resigned from STARFLEET to start his own group, The Federation. Also, a new STARFLEET Constitution was ratified by the Membership at this time. This Constitution included a change to the structure of the Executive Committee, the first since Fran Booth in 1984. Reflecting the growing importance of the Shuttle Program in the future of STARFLEET, the Director of Shuttle Operations Command was elevated to the Executive Committee. To maintain the odd-numbered balance of the EC, the Chief of Computer Operations was also elevated, in a way returning the Chief of Personnel (which was renamed to Computer Operations and removed from the EC in 1984) back to the Executive Committee. Equally important was an Amendment that elevated the Regional Coordinators to the Admiralty Board.

Issues with Regional Coordinators
Many chapters complained that when their RC was also the CO of a chapter, they either ignored their Region due to their CO workload, or acted to benefit their own chapter at the expense of others. Vice Admiral Thomas C. Davis, Chief of Operations, circulated a fact-finding petition on not allowing RCs to also serve as chapter COs, but the general consensus of the EC and RCs was to continue to allow RCs to serve as COs. However, the Senior Captain’s Network was officially retired at the start of 1990 when Director Janis Moore noted that participation was so low as to not warrant keeping the program alive.

Epilogue
Increases in costs of producing and distributing membership materials required a dues increase of $5.00 at each level. STARFLEET Academy added new courses and the continued improvements and timely distribution of the STARFLEET Communiqué helped make this increase more palatable.

One dark side of the Maddox Administration that would not become known until after she had left office was her secret incorporation of the club in the State of North Carolina. This was done without the knowledge or consent of either the Admiralty Board or the membership at large. Part of this incorporation involved filing with the IRS, and this would come to haunt not only the next Administration, but succeeding ones as well. Still, they left office with 6526 members and generating close to $100,000 a year in income. That’s quite an accomplishment.

For four FULL years Fleet Admiral Maddox served the organization and was able to hand over the reigns of what seemed to be a sound STARFLEET...