TenthFleet:News/2026 New Year's Message from the TRMN President
Greetings TRMN members:
Welcome to 2026!
As we close out 2025 and enter the new year, I thought I would provide you with an update on some of our association’s recent accomplishments as well as a quick glimpse at some of the things you can expect in the few months.
Policy/Bylaw Revisions/Transparency – In keeping with our work in 2025, we continue to refine our organizational structure making things more transparent, democratic, and increasing accountability with checks and balances. Minutes and meeting videos are posted on the wiki and most Zoom calls are open to the whole membership. There will be more to do in 2026, but with most of that work done, our focus will be on finding additional ways to better use our two Houses of Parliament and work toward them having an enhanced voice in governance.
New Space Lords and Branch Heads – 2025 saw the largest ‘changing of the guard’ in the history of our club’s branches and bureaus. There will continue to be some of that in 2026, but the goal will be to increase stability and focus on organizational capacity and goal setting. Please continue to honor our retirees and support our incumbents, as they take on new roles that will lead us forward.
Branches – Significant work was achieved in 2025 in refining some of the functions of a few of our branches to ensure there was no crossover or conflict with parallel work going on in our bureaus. I am happy to say that with open and honest communication this was achieved with no drama and that where needed the restructuring was thoughtful and progressive. Branch heads will continue to represent our various star nations and services on the Steering Committee and will have renewed focus on revisions to our awards program.
BuPlan – ConStack, our one-stop-shop for upcoming TRMN events and opportunities, was down for a period of time, but through significant work by BuComm, the portal is back up and fully functional. Plans and announcements are being made related to MantiCon 2027, which will take place with WindyCon 2027 in Rosemont, Illinois from 8-10 October 2027. Be sure to save the dates and do please sign up to work on our planning committees if you are able. Tonight (1/11) is a Social Hour featuring Qs & As with David Weber at 7 P.M. ET. BuPlan is on the move!
BuShips – The Grand Alliance Unit Excellence Program (GAUEP) continues to help drive chapter activity and participation in local, regional, and TRMN-wide challenges across the organization. Awards are announced regularly and we expect the final results of 2025 to be announced quite soon. Since TRMN is a chapter-based organization, discussions are being held at the highest levels about what we can do to support enhanced chapter leadership and increase chapter activity. The bureau has worked cooperatively with BuComm in the re-establishment of the CO manual on the wiki, which will see many updates in the coming months, along with work with BuPers on job descriptions to support chapter functions. There is much still to do and BuShips would love to hear any ideas you might have on how to improve the chapter experience.
BuComm – Noted above is BuComm’s cooperative work with BuPlan on ConStack and BuShips with the CO Manual. The bureau continues its work to update the wiki, Medusa, and the Forums to keep these as current and functional as possible. Some of these systems are quite dated and revisions need to be handled delicately and in slow, easy steps to ensure that crashes do not occur. Work has also been accomplished in streamlining the number and quality of our servers, and this has saved the organization a considerable amount of money on a monthly basis. Work continues apace with the development of the LMS system with BuTrain, with 2026 sure to be a big year as we work to finally bring that system online.
BuPers – The background check system is operating smoothly, and open communication with the Office of the Chief Legal Officer, allows us to address any questions or concerns in a timely, professional, and discreet manner. Promotion boards are working well, but the whole organization is reminded to use the online request form linked to the TRMN website for that purpose and to develop detailed and well-supported nominations. The Awards Office is up to date and will be working cooperatively with the Steering Committee as awards criteria are refined. Finally, the Office of Member Services has seen some leadership transitions in 2025, but with staffing being stabilized, BuPers is confident that both traditional and some new roles are going to make 2026 a great year.
BuTrain – 2025 saw the turnover of a number of important leadership positions within the bureau and there will likely be a bit more of that in 2026. Early in 2025 the Aerospace Wings challenge saw a truly enormous number of courses taken. The new Intro to TRMN 1,2,3 video course series was finally released and the feedback we have received to date has been quite positive. Both the KR1MA mainline and specialty courses along with the reestablishment of Chiron House (the RMA honor society) was achieved and work on the Republic of Haven and Sphinx Foresty mainline courses are advancing apace with release dates on the next series likely to occur in 2026. As noted above, the bureau seeks to work cooperatively with BuComm on completing the long-awaited learning management system (LMS), which will transform and modernize our whole operation.
BuSup – Our new store location and operational systems continue to work quite well, and a number of new products have been developed and placed for sale within the store over the course of 2025. 2026 will see some new, exciting products as well, including a surprise initiative that even David Weber is involved with. With rising costs world-wide and with postage also increasing, the bureau is taking a hard look at our price points and shipping costs to ensure financial viability not only of our basic operations, but also as a support to the whole of the organization.
Art Department – The department has been working cooperatively with BuPlan to begin to develop 20th Anniversary designs that we will need for MantiCon 2027. Of course, BuSup will also be very interested in these once the designs are complete. While there is certainly plenty of work to do, the unpleasant reality is that due to staffing, only so much work can be accomplished at a time. If you are a talented artist or graphic designer, we could certainly use your expertise. There is a lot to do. Please reach out and help us do even more to support TRMN.
Leadership – In keeping with the comments on the Art Department, we are chronically short staffed in any number of areas. There are a considerable number of vacancies in BuTrain for instructors. All of the other bureaus need staff, especially BuPlan as we gear up for MantiCon in 2027. Branch, Fleet/Army, and other echelon vacancies are ubiquitous. I know we all have personal lives and many of us want TRMN to be ‘fun’ not work, but without volunteers to help make all aspects of the organization run smoothly, that is just not going to continue to be possible. Please step up and take on even just a small role to help us keep moving forward.
Finances – Noted in a few places above, we have discussed rising costs, trimming our expenses, and increasing fees and postage. The grim reality is that we are becoming less financial solvent in a world of spiraling costs. The Board and our bureaus will continue our level best to find a balance that ensures BuSup products, swag, and postage are offered at fair prices, but as our primary revenue source, increases are inevitable. We are proud that TRMN does not charge annual dues like many other fan organizations, but as we look hard at ensuring the future of the organization, I want to be clear that all options are on the table for consideration. I will provide a much more thorough update on our finances in my mid-year message in June 2026.
Finally, our leaders at every level and in every unit (and your chief executive officer especially!!) are always looking for great ideas. Via PM, Discord, email, Messenger, social media, etc., please contact us and share your ideas. Constructive and forward-thinking criticism is always most welcome. Get involved! Help us make TRMN more fun, more engaged, and ever better as a worldwide sci-fi fan organization.
Wishing you and yours a fabulous 2026!
Geoff Zoeller
President & CEO, TRMN