ETC Timeline

April 1989 ETC is founded at Shakey's Pizza Parlor under the alias of The Science Fiction Alliance.
May-August 1989 We meet TWICE a month and have lots of picnics. Everyone buys enough Marshmallows to get everyone in the club a "Marsh Melon Dispenser" from Star Trek V. We also had LOTS of hot dog/marshmallow roasts at the lake to use up all the "Marsh Melons"!
October 1989 We move meetings to a member's house because it's getting too cold for the park. We also have our first Halloween Party.
November 1989 Our first name change: we're now Trek and Friends. The name was changed to better reflect the composition and goals of the group.
January 1990 The press discovers us. Our first newspaper article is written by the San Angelo Standard Times and includes a picture.
February-April 1990 The Couch Potato Era: We met and discussed a lot, but didn't do much.
May 1990 1st anniversary meeting held at Shakey's.
June-September 1990 We went to the lake a lot. July 4th a group of us got caught out at the lake in a war zone created by the patriotic fire bugs. Passed the fire truck on the way out when the marina area caught on fire.

ETC Camp on "Mars"

ETC Camp on "Mars"

January 1991 Second (and final) name change: People thought "Trek and Friends" was a hiking group so we decided on the Enterprise Tardis Connection. Good choice don't you think?
April-May 1991 Filled the display windows of the Tom Green County Library with Start Trek and Dr. Who memorabilia.
June 1991 Held a quilt raffle at the mall. Proceeds went to buy 6 Dr. Who books for the library.
August 1991 Enterprise Tardis Connection: the Next Generation forms for younger members of the club.
October 1991 ETC is asked by KIDY-TV to provide a display and "atmosphere" at the ASU planetarium. We played costumed hosts and brought 90 people to the planetarium when they usually have about 30.
December 1991 ETC members travel to Austin to see Star Trek VI. We help STAR (the local Austin Star Trek club) by appearing at the theater in uniforms to provide atmosphere. We also created our first Christmas light display: the Gene Roddenberry Memorial Light Show. It spent most of the rainy month under a tarp because it was paper mache and was melting in the rain.
February 1992 ETC sponsors the First Annual Star Trek Trivia Contest. About 20 people participated and $40 was raised for the Lighthouse for the Blind.
June 1992

Our first president had one goal for ETC: to put a float in the Fiesta Del Concho Parade.

Three years later we did it.

First Shuttle for the Fiesta Parade

First Shuttle

July 1992-December 1994 In this BIG gap, we mostly did the same types of things we'd been doing, EXCEPT for all the car washes to raise money. We were planning a CONVENTION!
January-September 1995 LOTS and LOTS of planning, getting dealers, and guests.
October 1995 Our first convention is held and declared a success. Over 200 people attended, and we were able to donate $1000 to the Make-a-Wish Foundation of West Texas.
November 1995 We're exhausted!
August 1997 Several members attend The World Science Fiction Convention in San Antonio.
June 1999 ETC celebrates it's 10th birthday by putting on a Micro convention. MicroCon1: A Trekin' Tenth was free to the public and had games, art, models, and videos.
June 2000 ETC wins 1st place in the Fiesta Del Concho Parade with our float "Aliens on Vacation" Sadly this would be San Angelo's last Fiesta Parade.
October 2005 Hosted our first book signing at Hastings.

Martha Wells

Martha Wells