Thanksgiving Thanks

With Thanksgiving tomorrow and the rest of the holidays right around the corner, I want to take a few minutes to tell you about the USS Tiburon, one of the things I am most thankful for this year. Now I could give you my normal rundown, as I do at an event when trying to recruit someone; you all have heard it, I’m sure. However, I want to give you a little more perspective on the Tiburon and how it’s changed my life over the last couple years.

You all know, or should know, what the Tiburon is, but just in case, we are the Denver chapter of STARFLEET International, which is the longest running Star Trek fan club, started in 1974. The USS Tiburon is, at its core, a group of like-minded, nerdy people who love to hang out and be nerdy. We are also a group of people that enjoys helping our community, by volunteering and doing charity work. We have done everything from preparing meals at the Denver Homeless shelter to a trash pick-up day at local parks and lakes. In essence, the people who make up the Tiburon are some of the nicest and most generous people I have ever met.

I joined the Tiburon and STARFLEET on May 4th, 2019, during free comic book day at a local comic bookstore. A good friend of mine and I were eating lunch after going to the movies and we decided, on a whim, to head to the comic store and check out free comic day. When I walked in the door, the first thing to catch my eye was the large Star Trek display set up with people in full Star Trek uniforms standing around. I immediately walked over and was engaged in conversation with a very tall fellow, and within 10 minutes I was signed up as a member of my first fan club and social group. For the next two plus years, my life changed more than I would ever expect it to.

Just a short month later, I found myself attending the 2019 Denver Comic Con as a member of the USS Tiburon. It was so overwhelming at first; I didn’t know there was so much that could go on behind the scenes. I was amazed at how much work went into setting up and running a display at an event such as Denver Comic Con. The coolest part about doing these types of events are the people you get to meet and those who sign up to join us. There were a few people to join over that weekend, but the one who changed my life would end up being our “Chief Medical Officer.” She joined on June 2nd and jumped right in, helping with the display and many other projects over the next few weeks.

Becky would prove to be an invaluable member of the Tiburon and work her way into my heart. Becky and I met because we both found the Tiburon and then we found each other. We started hanging out at Tiburon events and became very close; eventually we started dating. Fast forward 2 years, and we are now engaged to be married. I had the fortunate opportunity to propose to her on the bridge of the original USS Enterprise replica during the Las Vegas Star Trek Convention. I am over the moon with happiness and so very very thankful for the Tiburon being in my life. I would never have dreamed that so much could happen in such a short time, but I am eternally grateful.

We just had our biggest event in over a year, thanks to the pandemic. We were able to return to Denver Comic Con, now known as Denver Fan Expo. We were able to recruit many new members, and I am happy to say welcome aboard. I truly cannot wait to meet all of you and welcome you to our family. I hope you all have a wonderful, happy, and safe Thanksgiving with your families. If you’re feeling a little less than thankful this holiday season, remember you are now part of a very large and wonderful family known as the USS Tiburon, and though we may have not met yet, you are an important part of my life now. I am your Chief Science Officer Timothy (or Princess Peanut on Discord, long story), and I am happy to have you aboard. Until we meet again, Live Long and Prosper my friends!

– Timothy Epperson

 

Hello, crew of the Tiburon! With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I’d like to say how grateful I am to be part of such an amazing and welcoming crew such as ours! Hot on the heels of the great success at Fan Expo, I’d like to extend a hearty welcome aboard to all our new members; we are very happy to have you as our new crewmates! Looking back at this time last year, I’m sure we are all very grateful for the progress we have made, both as a ship and as individuals, through one of the toughest years and times in recent memory, but as intrepid adventurers we shoulder such times with grace and perseverance. Here’s to looking forward and to boldly go where no one else has gone before!

– Sam Baca