Given that is has probably been a very, very, very long time since I have done an endorsement in an STF election, and I am known for my occasional long post, it’s fair to say this will be a long post. Sorry Calé, I’m not sure how to put this post in a witty format :(

I’ll try to summarize this long post with one behind-the-scenes story from this election, which probably summarizes why I am endorsing Sarah and Rob. As we all know, on occasion a complaint may have been made about a post or two in this election. Sometimes, those complaints were about a post that contained a question for Sarah’s ticket. Sarah hated that complaints were made. Why? Because she wanted to answer those questions, and use the answer as an opportunity to show the club how to de-escalate a situation as well as an opportunity to build communication with someone who might otherwise disagree with her. And that summarizes Sarah’s approach previously as President, her role in leadership since coming backing to STF, and I think what we can expect with Sarah when she becomes President again.

It’s been noted more than once that Sarah served 20 consecutive months as President from 2006 to 2008, and that is a club record for consecutive months as President, as well as the longest serving President since we left Prodigy and moved to the web (that is, since the club became fully independent and self-reliant without having the support of a larger organization). What hasn’t been discussed is why. When most Presidents burn out by the end of an eight-month term, and even two consecutive terms are considered rare in the club, what was it about Sarah that not only made it that she was willing to be President for so long but that she had a strong club support for doing so. As someone who was mentored by Sarah in club leadership back then - a leadership style I have modified and tried to make my own when I have served as President and Personnel Director - I think I can point to a number of factors, which even with the length of this post, would be impossible to fully list. For example, her work to build bridges and make Command an environment where things can be discussed without fear is a big one. I know there was a lot of talk about bullying in this election. I strongly encourage you to look at the archives and read the command discussion posts from 2004 to 2006 - you would be shocked at the level of bullying and attacks back then. Compare those posts to the level of discourse in Command by 2008 and 2009, and you will see a huge difference - one for the better. As someone actively involved in Command back then, I strongly believe this improvement was because of Sarah’s work as President.

At a time where even trying to look for older posts from a week ago was a technical challenge for any STF member, Sarah would create these spreadsheets, meticulously noting every person’s comment and point and how that post can be looked up again, summarizing the feedback received and leading an actual, productive discussion in Command where everyone felt heard (even if not everyone agreed with the final decision, but that was okay). Once Sarah established this model, she then recruited other people in the club to lead command discussions - even people who hadn’t even become a CO yet - and trained them in this approach to Command discussions. Because at the end of the day, Sarah’s approach has always been to show everyone how we can act and lead by example and try to get newer people involved (and yes, getting a certain new member involved in command discussions, becoming a cabinet member, and having him run with her as VP to train him on how to be Prez).

Sarah’s previous terms as President were also a bedrock in smart and competent governance. All those bylaws that we still use and rely on today? The vast majority of them were created when Sarah was Prez or substantially changed into their current form when Sarah was Prez. It was the next natural step just over a year later that those edicts would serve as the club’s very first bylaws under one of Sarah’s successors. Sarah did all of that while serving a mentor for countless new members. Oh, and let’s not forget being President for one of the three biggest changes in STF’s history (moving from effWeBB to WeBBspace; the other two being moving from WeBBspace to Exodus, and moving from Prodigy to the web… although the latter was spread out over a longer period of time).

Traditions started by Sarah while President: (1) thanking all the volunteers by edict so they can be remembered going forward; (2) ensuring properly run command discussions and raising the level of discourse on all major changes to the club’s governance edicts (now bylaws); (3) codifying the awards to make then a regular, permanent part of STF; (4) and as I mentioned above, the work that went into the edicts we now call our bylaws.

But that was over 10 years ago, so what about now?

Sarah re-joined STF 15 months ago, and when she came back her plan was for a quiet return. Say hi to a few friends and enjoy role-playing in STF again. Certainly not get involved in STF government again :P. Except when one of those friends - the Personnel Director - needed a different perspective on the membership retention problems he was facing, Sarah reluctantly agreed to join the Personnel Department… even though she had a whole RL to keep her occupied. Because that is Sarah - someone who will go out of her way to lead by example, mentor, making sure the club has a long future ahead of it, and getting members involved. The personal approach of the PDept - more encouraging of Discord use by new members, reaching out to them right away to connect them to their CO and mentor, creating a dedicated channel to answer the questions of new members? That’s all from Sarah joining the PDept.

And then we get to the USS Challenger. 16 cadets. One ship - such that if any DH goes AWOL, no cadet can be placed in that department because it all comes down to just that one ship. Where if the 16 cadets get busy with RL and need to take a break, they give a heads up they might only be able to post “once a day”. 1500 posts in a single month, where we’re supposed to be reading all those posts so we can mentor them. A massive undertaking that could have gone horribly wrong. And yet it went so right - to the point where the ship was named Best Ship - a possible first for an Academy ship. And I can tell you every single person on that ship points to one person who made it all come together: Sarah. You would think after that task was over, and those cadets were graduated, the ship’s CO might go for a slightly easier job afterwards. But no, Sarah has just started a new plan for the Challenger: to train and mentor four brand new DHs on how to be a DH and an Academy mentor. Another Academy first, if I’m not mistaken.

As VP, Sarah has taken the lead in leading command discussions, a continuation from her work 10 years ago in Command.

Rob’s experience directly compliment’s Sarah. Sarah looks at the big picture of STF - mentoring large groups of cadets and DHs, using command discussions and posts to education and mentor members. Rob looks for the individual underdogs. Those members who are struggling and need someone to take the under their wing. Rob finds them, mentors them, and turns them into captains, major contributors, and even ship designers. In addition, Sarah may have not been in Command in those years while she away from STF, but Rob was active, and together, they work off of each other strengths.

As Personnel Director, the platform presented by Sarah and Rob is exactly what STF needs right now. We still struggle with retention and getting newer members more connected to the club. Their plan to find and promote the “unique” in STF and to find more ways to get newer members involved is not only something that as Personnel Director I believe needs to be done, but based on their platform and what they are presenting, I believe they can do it.

In my mind, the question isn’t whether Sarah should be elected President. The question is how quickly can we make it happen.

Therefore, I am endorsing Sarah Hemenway and Robert Archer for President and Vice-President of STF, and I hope you will join me in voting for them.

Daniel Lerner
Personnel Director
Former President and Vice-President
(Bunch of other positions I can’t remember)