Backpacks Got Jets

Bump. New dates for 2025

thanks i'll have @Lgrad reach out and see if we can get that accommodation. They get weird about the employee lot and access.

To be clear, you mean the employee / freight parking? or just the one underneath the XL center? Or the garage across the street?

Its that time again. Legion elections are coming back around. Nominations begin the 27th https://www.501st.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=287

We've hit 50 bodies 2 months out. I think we're gonna break another record

again, i have no issues with him being there but you know that parade and the route has spots that might be a little unforgiving for his wheels and gears and if there's no way to get him out if he breaks down it'd be a bad time. i'll touch base with SG and RL this week to see if we want to try to do a float and he could ride along there otherwise. He'd be kind of lost behind the walls riding in the back of a pickup.

I dont mind him as long as he can make the trip. the real issue will be if there is a malfunction on the route of any kind how do we get him safely stowed. For now we don't have truck or float planned but that may be coming. Best idea would be to try to take him out for a couple mile stroll and see how he does that way you know what to expect and what challenges you may encounter you haven't considered yet.

Real life comes first See you soon!

General note. Arrival time and shift times may change. We're reaching out to the event contact to see what makes the most sense as far as staffing with what they'd like to see versus what we can provide. Trooper comfort/safety is a significant consideration because staffing the entire event timeline with the number we have projected would be a little much. Stay tuned for details on timing.

That would be great. Sometimes its hard getting bodies so NEG support would be great.

Definitely! We should remind people we have a troop lol. Sucks I had to back out but I'll push it on the Hangouts too!

Have to back out. Scheduling conflict

Terrificon 2025 hotel block rates are open https://www.terrificon.com/hotels.html

AL!

Looking for someone to take over Webmaster from Ezra to help maintain the site. Any interested parties please let me know!

It's that time of year again; the Legion Census is here! How To -- Census Per Section 2.1 of the Operations Protocol, completion of the 501st Legion census is required for Active Members, with the exception of unit or Legion Commanding Officer discretion. Here are 3 ways to find the census: 1. If you are on a PC/Mac -- While logged into the 501st Forums, go directly to the Member DB: https://www.501st.com/holocron/member/legacy within the Holocron. Sign in with your 501st Forum credentials and click, "CENSUS". 2. If you are on a phone/tablet -- While logged into the 501st Forums, click the QUICK LINKS hamburger menu in the top right of the forum and select, "Holocron". Sign in with your 501st Forum credentials and click, "CENSUS". 3. While logged into the 501st Forums, go to the Holocron: https://www.501st.com/holocron. Sign in with your 501st Forum credentials. Click the hamburger menu in the top left, select, "LEGACY MEMBERDB", and click, "CENSUS". *Note: You must be signed into BOTH 501st Forums and the Holocron to access the Census area. If not, you will receive a login error screen. Once in the Census, you will scroll to the bottom and complete the sections. Click, "SUBMIT" and you're done for that year's Census You can also take a look at the Census Stats for all 501st units by clicking, "CENSUS STATS" in the left menu. ---All Active Members Are Required To Fill Out The Census To Maintain Active Status--- If you do not fill out the census by the October 31 deadline, your account status will be moved to Reserve on the forums and the MembershipDB! If you have any questions or concerns reach out to command It takes 2 minutes. just go do it Census Information.pdf

This show has been something that over the years has been an absolute pleasure of a troop. It also gives some nerd bragging rights and a "fun fact" to drop at social gatherings that you were one of Weird Al's backup dancers. It's a long day but its well worth it. Tradition is we try to allow people who have not yet done the performance to have on-stage priority. The rub is that the stage manager will have final say on what costumes he will allow for the performance. Weird Al's preference is Original Trilogy TK's and Vader and those costumes will get priority Costumes that are not ANH TK or Vader will be subject to discretion and final say by the stage manager. FAQ: I'VE NEVER DONE THIS! HOW CAN I BE POSITIVE I CAN DO THIS PERFORMANCE? If you have a TK or a Vader and you have not done the performance before you will get priority. If for some reason there is a Vader conflict that comes up, that will have to be worked out with the costumers to who would do the performance. If no agreement can be made then it will come down to time in service. I DON'T HAVE A TK BUT WOULD LIKE TO DO THE PERFORMANCE! It is my intention to do what I can for troopers who have never done the performance. Below is a list of costumes that are "allowable" but left up to final decision by the stage manager. If you'd like to raise your chances of seeing the stage, you have plenty of time between now and then to put a TK together that fits the criteria. I HAVE A JAWA AND I TECHNICALLY FALL WITHIN THE LAST CRITERIA! Jawa costumes are VERY low priority and chances are if you're going to see if there's an available spot to bring your jawa you're likely going to be out of luck. WILL WE GET TIME WITH WEIRD AL? Yes, A little bit to shake his hand say a few words and get an autograph and a couple pictures. He's usually very cordial and grateful for our participation. You can bring something for him to sign. WRANGLERS & ARCHIVIST Wranglers will be kept to a minimum. Probably 2 or 3. If they'll allow more I'll try but there's no guarantee. We are also allowed 1 archivist to take photos and videos for the garrison. Decisions on wranglers and archivist will be made much much closer to the event. COSTUMES THAT ARE A NO Any costume that shows your face regardless of character. Custom Mandalorians Not Easily Recognizable Star Wars characters I AM NOT IN THE CONNECTICUT GARRISON BUT WOULD LIKE TO GO That's very unfortunate because you won't be going. WHO MAKES DECISIONS ON THE FINAL ROSTER Command will create a roster list to forward to the stage manager that the manager will review. The manager will have final say on performers and total number of wranglers THIS IS AN INTEREST SHEET FOR THE TROOP, NOT AN OFFICIAL SIGN UP DOCUMENT. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1hXky7Vebl5b0gaWHBNr6w_Vh2C6TI-fGxPgomLZUO1I/edit?usp=sharing The garrison command staff will use this to communicate to the stage manager what costumes we can field for the performance. Final rosters will be determined by Garrison Command and the stage manager. Please see below release from Weird Al's manager: Personnel For the show, we invite you to provide: • The preferred lineup is an even number of between 4 and 8 traditional Storm Troopers and Darth Vader. This may be limited to as low as 4 Troopers for venues with smaller stages or garrisons with limited available members, and can sometimes go as high as 10. Please note: it must be an EVEN number of Troopers to maintain symmetry on stage. • While Storm Troopers are our first preference, Scout Troopers, Sand Troopers, Snow Troopers, Clone Troopers, Biker Scouts or Imperial Guards may be substituted for some or all of the Storm Troopers. • Optional: Space permitting on stage, an additional 2 helmeted or masked characters are also welcome (no human face recognition, please) such as Boba Fett, C3PO, Chewbacca, or Tusken Raider. Please let our Tour Manager know how many handlers you would like to bring. You may also bring one archivist to shoot home video of the performance for your Garrison’s archives. If you wish to shoot the performance from the house, please check with our Tour Manager regarding your shooting location. Videotaping may be subject to venue approval. Performance “The Saga Begins” and “Yoda” are performed back-to-back at the end of the show. Your appearance on stage takes place during the performance of the song “We all have Cell Phones” which leads in to “The Saga Begins.” You will promptly exit stage at the end of “ The Saga Begins” and before “Yoda” begins. After Show Meet & Greet All group members are invited to join us after the show for the VIP Meet & Greet and photo opportunity with Al. This typically begins 15-20 minutes after the show has ended and lasts 30-45 minutes. Depending on the number of costumed members in your Garrison, we may encourage splitting the participation of members between the Meet & Greet and greeting fans in the lobby or exit area of the venue. Showtime/Arrival All garrison members and handlers should plan to arrive between 2 ½ and 3 hours prior to show time, with everyone present by 2 hours prior. Our Tour Manager will advise you of your show’s start time. To find out the show time for your show before then, please visit the venue’s website. Schedule After everyone has arrived, your group will be shown the routine by our Stage Manager. If you’re not familiar with the routine it’s extremely simple and is quickly learned. You’ll have a room or space to rehearse with audio (the recorded version of “The Saga Begins”) as much as you would like up until the time you’re needed on stage. There are also videos from past performances that can be found on YouTube for advance reference. Parking/Guests Parking availability varies and is based entirely on the venue for any given show. Some venues, especially older theatres, have limited parking, while others may have the space to accommodate several vehicles. We are usually able to accommodate at least three vehicles. If you have more vehicles than we can accommodate at the venue, we will provide passes or reimbursement for near-premise lot parking. Please check with our Tour Manager if you have backstage guests you would like to bring. Food We will provide pizza and salads along with a variety of drinks backstage for all 501st performers and handlers prior to the performance. Topic is for discussion of event. To Sign up/RSVP for this event, please visit the calendar link: Weird Al "Bigger & Weirder" 2025 Tour

this was great last time.

This is a product of the weird two tier event lookup system we built into the website a million years ago that we're going to phase out The troop is Saturday 11-4 I'll edit the heading to resolve confusion

The commitment is for the duration of the troop as listed. This prevents troops from starting late or troopers fading out forcing the troop to end too early. There are no rules that prohibit you from showing up to the faire with your costume, but if you sign up to troop the expectation is you'll be there for the duration in an appropriate trooping capacity. Once on site, there is a lot of flexibility, however, if you have to leave you should work that out with the other troopers attending. Whether or not RL will credit you with a troop if you dip early will depend on their guidelines.