Our chapter has been in the area officially for over ten years. Our current members are mostly from Montgomery County, but there are also members from the surrounding areas in Southeastern PA and out of state. We are from all walks of life with varying ages and backgrounds. We have all become good friends and we make more new friends at almost every activity we attend. Some have even found spouses through fandom.

We encourage the philosophy of Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations (IDIC) as espoused in Star Trek. Our chapter is primarily a conduit to making friends and learning more about the interests we have in common. Many times, our family and/or (non-Trek) friends have enjoyed spending time with us at our events. We welcome families and children to our meetings and events. We seek to live in peace and foster the goodwill that may one day bring about the future that Gene Roddenberry portrayed in the Star Trek series.

We meet monthly to share ideas, pleasant conversation, friendship and to plan activities to suit the desires of the members. As avid Star Trek and Sci-Fi fans, we frequent conventions and exhibits. We exchange information and ideas about our favorite shows and characters. However we are also a social group interested in non-Trek activities.

Our activities include, but are not limited to games, bowling, crafts, picnics, movies, model building, model rockets, hobby shows, mini-golf, traveling, tubing (water & snow), science exhibits, amusement parks, museums and seasonal excursions/parties. We'll try anything once. Most of our events are also kid/family-friendly.

The USS Adamant was commissioned as a fully sanctioned meeting chapter of STARFLEET, the International Star Trek Fan Association on September 8th 1996 - the 30th Anniversary of Star Trek. We existed as the Shuttle Adamant (chapter-in-training) for over a year, under the tutelage of the USS Thagard, our mother ship (support chapter) prior to our commissioning in 1996. Even farther back we existed as a group of STARFLEET Rangers in the early 90s. Today, after almost a decade, we have come a long way and we have grown quite a bit.

As a social organization, the USS Adamant strives to help our community in whatever ways we can. Our chapter has a main charity in the Montgomery County area that receives the majority of our support. This charity is Laurel House, a home for battered women and their children.

Laurel House is the only emergency domestic violence shelter in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The shelter was founded by the Women's Center of Montgomery County in 1980. Domestic violence causes more injuries to women in the United States between the ages of 15 and 44 than car accidents, muggings and rapes combined. With statistics like this, the services Laurel House provides are more important than ever.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Wear a purple ribbon to show your support and commitment to the elimination of domestic violence.

Our charity work is not limited to just this single organization:

• We've contributed cards to St. Judes Ranch for Children for their Recycled Card Program.
• We participated in the Delaware Valley Childrens Charity - Adopt a Kid Holiday Program. We combined our efforts and dollars to purchase gifts for one special boy. Total we donated almost $100 worth of gifts.
• We joined other area chapters in an annual bowlathon to raise money for Project H.O.M.E. The grand total for the event was just over $1000.

We lend our help to any worthwhile charity that comes to our attention. Our desire is to help one another and make this small area of our planet an example of the humanity that was Gene's dream of the future. Together, we can make a difference.

STARFLEET, the International Fan Organization consists of, and is run by, Star Trek fans. It seeks to unite Star Trek fans all over the universe into local fan clubs and the central organization. On a smaller scale, it can bring together people in friendship that would not ordinarily meet under other circumstances.

As a local chapter of STARFLEET, the USS Adamant offers fans a futuristic atmosphere for those who wish to be part of this fleet structure. Membership in this larger organization has many benefits including a membership packet, a bi-monthly newsletter called the Communiqué, and a consistent flow of information from the local to the international level regarding STARFLEET and its operations. Currently, membership in STARFLEET is mandatory for members of the USS Adamant, and is covered in the annual chapter dues.

The international organization is represented locally by regional divisions. These divisions consist of the STARFLEET members and local chapters (ships and shuttles) within a specific geography and a leader, the Regional Coordinator. The USS Adamant is part of Region Seven, which is composed of Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

Besides chapter events, members of the USS Adamant are also exposed to events hosted by other area STARFLEET chapters, Region 7 sponsored events and STARFLEET international sponsored events. Such a broad range of events and activities ensure that there is something for everyone in STARFLEET.

The USS Adamant is structured to emulate a starship, including having several departments that handle specific club activities. As a member of the USS Adamant, you can ask to be assigned to the department of your choosing. Please carefully review the department descriptions and chose the department that best suits your individual talents and interests. The department you choose will not limit in any way the club activities you may participate in. Members of one department are always free to participate in or help out with activities run by another department. You may also choose not to be assigned to any specific department.

For more information on the USS Adamant's Departmental Structure and the specific duties of each department, visit:

• COMMAND
• COMMUNICATIONS
• ENGINEERING
• MEDICAL
• OPERATIONS
• SCIENCES
• SECURITY
• CADETS