At the Heart of Celebration II: Star Wars Fan Clubs - Official Site Update

I thought this deserved it's own thread, for selfish reasons.

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At the Heart of Celebration II: Star Wars Fan Clubs - March 21, 2002

The Star Wars universe is about fans, after all. Our convention partners, Wizards of the Coast, which runs the Official Star Wars Fan Club, set aside a special area at Celebration II for qualifying fan groups. In rooms 208 & 209, clubs will display and communicate information about their unique niche in fandom.
Congratulations to these exceptional fan clubs and organizations, who will be staffing booths throughout Celebration II at the Indiana Convention Center May 3-5, sharing with us what Star Wars fandom and community is all about:

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"Loyal? Hard-working? Fully expendable? The Empire Wants You!" So reads the recruitment posters for the 501st Legion.

The 501st is probably the most widely-recognized Star Wars fan club going. Referring to themselves as "the premiere Star Wars costuming fan club," members dress in hand-crafted, but incredibly precise, Imperial costumes. Most of the club's more-than-800 members march as stormtroopers, but they also wear biker scout, snowtrooper, bounty hunter, and Imperial officer uniforms.

Their public appearances are many, but the 501st is not content to simply parade at fan conventions. Members of the group visit children's hospitals, and help with fundraisers and charity events. At Celebration II the 501st will volunteer, providing security 'against Rebel sympathizers.'

At the 501st's Celebration II table you can learn how to join the club (those who show up in costume are automatically enrolled). Pick up flyers and information cards

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The 501st will be working alongside its affiliated costuming group, The Rebel Legion. The Legion's 'mission statement' is to "engage in costuming in the spirit of fan fellowship and spread Star Wars costuming into the mundane Universe."

Portraying characters as varied as Mon Mothma, Hoth Rebel troopers, Jedi, and 'non-Imperial' aliens, the Rebel Legion appears at conventions, charities, children's hospitals, and has been active raising money for the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

The Rebels claim they remain in character while in costume. You can pick up flyers and business cards at their table, and view the homemade props that help round out their costumes. The members plan to showcase the do-it-yourself attitude that leads them to create their exceptional costumes. If you want to join The Rebel Legion, you'll need a Rebel costume, and wish to be included "in a club that celebrates the diversity yet good-guy aspect of the movies."

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From Bricks to Bothans aims to "enlighten and entertain fans of the LEGO® Star Wars toys," and will feature an open construction area of LEGO® bricks where fans can build and play.

According to their club resume for Celebration II, Bricks to Bothans strives to maintain a family-friendly atmosphere on their web site. They have more than 300 members registered in over a dozen countries.

Celebration II attendees visiting the Bricks to Bothans fan club area will also be treated to a life-sized Boba Fett, made by LEGO® bricks donated by the fans and members of the group. There will be displays of custom-built dioramas and models, a display of the over 60 Star Wars LEGO® sets made to date, and even more.

Members of the Bricks to Bothans group will host a free random drawing for LEGO® sets, and will have information and other give-aways at their table.

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The Pennsylvania Star Wars Collecting Society (PSWCS) offers an e-mail list, website, and monthly meetings to help their membership stay in touch, and share their love of Star Wars collecting.

PSWCS not only helps their members enjoy their Star Wars collecting hobby, they also plan social events and club trips to toy shops across the state. They collect toys and donate them to local children's hospital wards.

Stop by the PSWCS area in the fan club room at Celebration II to see their displays of the various aspects of

 

Yea Us!

Seriously, I know Indy has been working hard, and we will also, so remember to stop on by!