IKV Executioner highlighted

From The Charlotte Observer:

Posted on Sun, Sep. 02, 2007

These Klingons come in peace
`Star Trek' fan club concentrates on fun, community service

MARY KATHERINE CREEL

When he's working at Sherrills Furniture as a material handler, Dave Jenson's co-workers call him "Cotton."

An avid "Star Trek" fan, Jenson also answers to another name -- Lt. Karrtush Degar vestai. He's also a Klingon.

For the past six years, Jenson has been a member of Hickory's Klingon Assault Group, a nonprofit fan club that stresses fun and community service. Internationally, KAG boasts thousands of members. Here in the Catawba Valley, Jenson estimates there are about 40.

KAG members meet once a month, usually at a member's house, for a covered-dish meal. Meetings are for discussing upcoming community events, fundraisers and Star Trek.

Most Klingons in the group make their own uniforms, complete with stripes and battle notches. Personas are not complete without headpieces, makeup and long hair.

"We're more than just sci-fi nuts," Jenson said. "We're out to help anyone and everyone we can."

Hickory's chapter of KAG is called the IKV (Imperial Klingon Vessel) Executioner. Locally, IKV has been involved with "Trek for Food" and raised money for Hospice of Catawba Valley, Cats Cradle and the Red Cross.

In October, Jenson and fellow KAG members will participate in the Lutheran Home's "Safe Halloween," and serve as tour guides in complete Klingon regalia.

Members range in age from 18 to 60. Younger members, under age 18, can participate as "cadets."

There are no dues to join KAG or attend local meetings and functions.

"There's only one rule to joining KAG," Jenson said. "You can't be human."

While the amount of role-playing varies from chapter to chapter, portraying Klingons also means upholding the warrior code of "honor, loyalty, challenge and duty."

And, Jenson said, it's a heck of a lot of fun.

Aliens and shape shifters interested in joining KAG can learn more online at www.kag.org.

(The article continues with non-Klingon content at Charlotte.com.)