I'm OUT of the 501st!

[WebChief]

My Garrison raised $10,000 for charity last year alone. It was a busy year with the movie and DVD releases. Just this past weekend we trooped an event to raise money for children's cancer research. Almost every single event that the New England Garrison is involved with raises either money for charities or toys for Toys for Tots. Even when we attend conventions we take photos with ALL proceeds going to charity and raffle off items with ALL the money going to charity as well.

Sorry if your Garrison or squad does nothing but troop for swag and chicks... here's a suggestion. Instead of complaining about it on the RPF (a forum that can do absolutely nothing to affect change in how your squad is run) how about you yourself organize a charity event? Anyone can set up an event in the 501st. You don't need your CO or squad leader to do it.

Its always the same. One person feels wronged by another member and suddenly the entire organization is corrupt.

 

[SithLord]

I tend to agree that hashing out issues relevant to the 501st Legion in respects other than discussion of costumed characters or props is not necessarily the right focus for this forum....they have their own forums for that kind of discussion, or? If it relates to RPF members and how they treat each other off the forum, again it would have to be something relevant to the forum directly. Like a deal in the junkyard or member respect or something that. Just my 2 cents

I'm sorry you had difficulty with them, Hyperdyne. It seems to me that the 501st does a tremendous amount of work to make Star Wars fandome stay alive and vibrant, not to mention the incredible work they do for charity. And not to forget that they are officially recognized by Lucasfilm in more ways than one. Not only that, IMHO the 501st has been influential in driving the replica prop hobby. Many start out with costumes and work their way up to props....and just as in every hobby group, there will be decent folk and the odd bad apple. The problem is, the 501st itself is not a member here, and 501st members here are under the RPF guidelines rather than their own Legion rules.

 

[Cpl Smith]

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As for the Albin pics, those are from DragonCon I believe, and a lot of people get a little crazy at DC. All my experiences with Albin have been great, so I wouldn't let a few party pics from a con form your opinion.
Scott
[/b]

Oh I like to party too...I just dont think I could do it two weeks after a MAJOR death in my family though...as was seen this past year at DC. As far as that goes, I dont even think I could have gone to DC after a MAJOR loss in my family, much less going out partying, getting drunk, and posing with a bunch of half dressed females...my wife or not.

Derek

 

[VaderKLI]

Hey Kevin,
You'll always be a member IN GOOD STANDING. with the Empire 2 Empire Costuming Group. We're glad you're with us...
Too much creativity gets quashed in some groups.

 

[Egon Spengler]

Wow, some of the stuff I'm reading on here is pretty shocking. I'm a 501st member as well, although I've been inactive for a while now.

 

[Skaught]

<div class='quotetop'>(Sandtrooper @ Aug 7 2006, 11:22 PM) [snapback]1295932[/snapback]</div>

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As for the Albin pics, those are from DragonCon I believe, and a lot of people get a little crazy at DC. All my experiences with Albin have been great, so I wouldn't let a few party pics from a con form your opinion.
Scott
[/b]

Oh I like to party too...I just dont think I could do it two weeks after a MAJOR death in my family though...as was seen this past year at DC. As far as that goes, I dont even think I could have gone to DC after a MAJOR loss in my family, much less going out partying, getting drunk, and posing with a bunch of half dressed females...my wife or not.

Derek
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Different people handle grief in different ways. The day after my father died I went to the movies (saw Starman...can't watch it now without thinking about that fact). What you'd do is not necessarily what I'd do or what Albin would do. I don't think you're implying that Albin somehow didn't love his daughter very much, so I at a loss as to what you're really trying to say.

As for me, I think it's wrong to get drunk. Period. But I don't judge those around me who like to get sloppy.

Scott

 

[TK-352]

<div class='quotetop'>(Sandtrooper @ Aug 8 2006, 05:22 AM) [snapback]1295932[/snapback]</div>

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As for the Albin pics, those are from DragonCon I believe, and a lot of people get a little crazy at DC. All my experiences with Albin have been great, so I wouldn't let a few party pics from a con form your opinion.
Scott
[/b]

Oh I like to party too...I just dont think I could do it two weeks after a MAJOR death in my family though...as was seen this past year at DC. As far as that goes, I dont even think I could have gone to DC after a MAJOR loss in my family, much less going out partying, getting drunk, and posing with a bunch of half dressed females...my wife or not.

Derek
[/b][/quote]

Albin needed to get away from real life. He needed to take his mind off of the cruel hand fate had just dealt him. Katies passing crushed him like a ton of bricks. He needed to be around his friends, hell we are more like his family now.
You must think an awful lot of yourself to be able to pass judgement on a man who lost his daughter. I for one am glad you are no longer part of the 501st, we don't need your kind.

 

[Skaught]

As for charity work, my squad alone (not to mention my Garrison) has visited All Children's Hospital twice this year and is currently working on projects for a little boy who has cancer. I just helped set up Lucasfilm with an appearance at a Children's Hospital in S. Florida. I've done Toys for Tots events. A week from Saturday I'm appearing at a children's museum for a special event. Charity work is a major part of what our Squad and Garrison does. We also troop Disney, cons, stores and baseball games for fun.

Here's a new trading card we just made about our hospital visits. The front pic is from Miami.

And no, Tequila wasn't my FIRST drink. I've drank beer (yuck), wine (bad grape juice), and plenty of other drinks. It's just when your non-drinking CO takes a shot around a bunch of already drunk people, people find it funny I guess.

Scott

 

[GeneralMayhem]

While I'm not a 501st member, I have had my experiences with them, both good and bad. Some have become friends, others valued customers, and some have become both. Then you get the occasional wanker with their head up their other end who would happily give a drowning man a glass of water and joke about it afterward. In short, you meet all kinds, in the Legion and out of it.

 

[WebChief]

You know what? The 501st can't friggin' win in some people's eyes... its that simple.

You leave out custom costumes (which 8 times out of 10 end up being someone wearing Field Hockey pads and claiming to be a custom Mandalorian or a black robe and claiming to be a Dark Jedi) and people whine and complain about squashing creativity and elitism.

You allow them in and then people complain that the group's standards are being lowered and that the 501st wouldn't get the recognition that it does from LFL and it's big licensees due to sub par costumes.

The 501st simply can't win. There are some that would hate the organization no matter which side of that argument it sided on. Myself, I'm glad there are high standards... it sets the organization apart from others and allows for a great relationship with LFL and Uncle George himself. You can't say that for any other Star Wars costuming group.

Here's another point that really gets my goat. What's with people and generalizing? I don't get it. If I were to use some of your own rationale here I'd say that the RPF sucks and is a dispicable forum because a handful of people are absolute jerks who smack of elitism. Get off your high horses and stop judging people. Poor Albin and his family went through such a terrible tragedy... one I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy. And then some of you sit there and question the guy's integrity because his friends paid to send him on a vacation to Dragon Con to get away from it all? The guy needed to be surrounded by his friends to help ease the terrible pain of his loss. Would I be able to do the same? Doubtful but I don't blame the guy for doing it. Unreal.

 

[womo68]

<div class='quotetop'>(WebChief @ Aug 8 2006, 08:01 AM) [snapback]1296102[/snapback]</div>

You know what? The 501st can't friggin' win in some people's eyes... its that simple.

[/b]

And there you have the real issue. It really doesn't matter what any of us think, does it? I never judged Albin and again have heard nothing but good things about him. But I remember a wise man told me once that 99% of people live in perception and only 1% live in reality.

Perception rules Webchief, and it's up to people like you and others that are trooping for the right reasons to bring a little more reality to people's perception.


womo

 

[wedge2]

Albin is an amazing person and father. He lost his leg in an accident, began an amazing group of costumed fans which he channeled toward making children happy and raising money for children's charities, and then suffered a terrible blow. His own daughter became the child with cancer. I have spoken to Albin while he, Katie, and his family were going through this awful ordeal and at Katie's memorial service. His strength and giving nature was and is absolutely amazing. I am very dissapointed in what I have read in this thread by those who must not know him at all.

 

[takevin]

I will agree with Thomas, Ive been with the midwest garrison for several years now, in fact, it was what got me started in the whole costume/prop thing, and thousands of dollars later LOL. First time at wizard world 5years ago I believe seeing a bunch of guys suiting up in stormtrooper armor, Ive met a great group of people and friends thru it, who have integrity, honor, and caring for those people and helping out to charities, or hospitals or whatever. All in all, a class act always of the MWG. There is always going to to be bad apple or so in any group a person can belong to, have that in a horse barn the wife and I are at now. When I lived in the south there was a group of totally disorganized people whos idea of trooping is going to a restaurant, yea thats fun. Looking at these pages, reading comments, Ive come to realize to some degree yes there should be some standards in the 501st, hockey shoulder padded fetts definetely shouldnt pass muster, course my own custome fet was jango armor just done up in black/silver. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.


<div class='quotetop'>(The Clone Emperor @ Aug 7 2006, 05:13 PM) [snapback]1295758[/snapback]</div>

If a deal goes bad on the RPF, a thread can be started to inform other members. If the offending member's offense is chronic, they are like to be banned. As far as restitution goes, I doubt anyone could think to ask the mods of the RPF to do anything more.

¿What more should the mods of the 501st forums --or 501st command-- do?

¿If a case is open and shut, why not involve those who have the legal ablitiy to arbitrate; the police?

I am a member of Legion Command Staff and I help our members as best I can.

I am sorry for Hyperdyne's experience. (I have a great respect for you sir.) I wish I could do more on his behalf.

I would mention from my experience trooping is not done for swag, or the promise of sexual promiscuity. My own Garrison is one of the oldest and largest. We troop regularly for charity. And for fun. I argue that these purposes are not mutally exclusive.

Be well,
Thomas
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[Cpl Smith]

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Albin needed to get away from real life. He needed to take his mind off of the cruel hand fate had just dealt him. Katies passing crushed him like a ton of bricks. He needed to be around his friends, hell we are more like his family now.
You must think an awful lot of yourself to be able to pass judgement on a man who lost his daughter. I for one am glad you are no longer part of the 501st, we don't need your kind.
[/b]

Ive known Albin longer than anyone on this board Im sure...remember, I am one of the ones that helped him build this group. I started the Ga. Garrison when Albin came to me and asked me to start it. I have absolutely NO problem with Albin..like I said, Ive known him when there were only about 50 costumers at DC...and only 9 of us in the 501st. Albin did great things for the 501st, but since then it has completely been destroyed and he wont do anything about it. His role is "leader".....He should do just that.

Ive seen people owe money, people steal money, people steal girlfriends, people who act like Hitler and want to run things like some concentration camp, people lie....and I got fed up with it. One of the best and most active members was kicked out for complete BULLSH.T and no one but me came to his defense. And the leader, who was good friends with him, just let it happen.
BUT people acted like Scott Hawkins was the best thing for the most part and that he "could" redeem himself.....never could figure that one out. Everyone kept wanting to give him a chance after he messed up the way he did.....Just ask Dave, he will tell you about the chance he gave Scott. He was arrested for approaching Scott...and had to deal with that by himself if Im not mistaken....my point is, the 501st was a group that I dearly loved to be apart of...and now its complete crap. The troopers in my ex garrison wont even troop unless theres a chance for a TV spot or newspaper recognition.

Ive said my piece....and now Im done.....so bash away if you deem necessary.

btw 352, I for one am glad IM out of the 501st, because I definately dont need their kind.


Derek

 

[WebChief]

Derek, you said your piece and now FINALLY Al has said his:

http://www.albinjohnson.com/bobbean.html

 

[Skaught]

Hey, Hawkins stole money from me, too. It didn't stop me from joining. But that was five years ago. Time to move on.

The small number of naysayers keep talking about how the 501st is doomed, it's going to implode, it's about to die. But they've been saying that for a few years now and the club has only gotten bigger and more fun. It's afforded me a lot of opportunities to do cool things. On Friday a shipment of 3,000 501st Legion Action Figures is scheduled to arrive at my house. Hasbro created these figures in recognition of the club and all the good things we do. LFL has recognized the club in so many different ways it's hard to keep track. George Lucas himself came up with the idea to fly 200 of our members in from all over the world for the Rose Parade in Pasadena. Hardly the sign of an organization that is about to self destruct.

Anyway, a small number of people will continue to make bogus accusations and try to blame the 501st for their own inability to socialize with other people. Anyone choosing to employ some common sense will see through that.

For the other side of the story, see Albin's response linked above. Having met both Bob Bean and Albin Johnson, I know which story sounds like the truth.

Scott

 

[darthgoat]

Is this a fan club or a cult?

Edit:
Someone mentioned how we didn't have a big flame war in August yet. I think this is it.

 

[SHalamar]

<div class='quotetop'>(darthgoat @ Aug 8 2006, 08:20 AM) [snapback]1296203[/snapback]</div>

Is this a fan club or a cult?

Edit:
Someone mentioned how we didn't have a big flame war in August yet. I think this is it.
[/b]

Whats the difference? :lol

 

[darthgoat]

haha

Touche.

 

[Treadwell]

Well, Hawkins is long gone, and I don't think a single person misses him. He was just one of those guys who could mask their true nature with charm or enthusiasm, and it took some folks a while to see past that.