We are now an Official FanForce! Congratulations to everyone who played a part in helping us become official.  At our meeting at the Cheesecake Factory we talked about what we wanted our official name to be and who we wanted to be our City Representative (CR). We all agreed that in order to be fair to everyone we would post a poll on the board and let everyone vote there. The results are in as follows:

KC FanForce Official name:    Heart of the Alliance FanForce

KC FanForce CR:                        LukeSkiewalker   (Bradley)

    The other main topic we discussed was how to handle meetings in the future. To begin with we all agreed that we will not have another meeting until September busy most of us are still in some level of school and August is just a busy month. We also felt that having a meeting every other month until we get more members will probably be sufficient. These meetings will be held at the same place everytime and the same time of the month (e.g. Barnes & Noble on the Plaza every 3rd Saturday at 1pm). Things like going to see movies, restaurants, and barbecuing will separate from our meetings and will be held whenever someone wants to plan one. Those of us at the meeting felt this would be the best arrangement for everyone. This way everyone knows in advance when our meetings will be and can change their shedules accordingly, and if someone is unable to come to an "outing" they can still come to our meetings and be left out. As of yet we do not have a definite place or time to have our meetings.   Mara_Jade_Raven does work at a hotel we can use but I think the consensus thus far has been it is too far to drive. Keep checking the boards for updates on this matter.   Until next time, MTFBWY.

Thanks again everyone and we hope to see you at our next meeting!

[top]

    by Bradley Robertson

        Well, I promised I would tell you more about my Jedi boots in this issue.  And in due time I will. But first I would like recap what I've covered. My desire for costuming began as a spur of the moment decision 6 years ago to dress up as Luke Skywalker as well as submit my teddy bear to similar torture by dressing him up as Yoda. Then I blossomed into a Jedi in the fall of 1999, and now in the present that blossom has grown ever larger. From buying items from Thailand to buying boxes of pens so that I can turn the caps into props.

    The next level of costuming began after I returned home from Celebration II. After spending a weekend around several people with some very high quality costumes I decided I needed a "real" Jedi costume. The costume needed to be the same caliber of those worn in the movies. I felt the first thing I needed to acquire was a pair of good Jedi Boots.  I figured I could probably find some for sale on the internet. And I was right but the price wasn't. 295 US dollars!  But oh they were perfect. You could have switched these boots with Ewan (providing they were the same size) and he wouldn't have noticed. However, for the time being these boots were going to have to continue to reside in Thailand because I could not afford them. Yet.

    Since the boots were a bust I decided the next thing I needed was a lightsaber. I had already ordered an Anakin FX lightsaber from Master Replicas but I felt in order to be a true Jedi I needed to make my own. To do so I raided Home Depot, Lowes, and Ace Hardware. I used mainly plumbing parts to make my first lightsaber. For my second lightsaber I branched out a little bit and used some resin replica lightsaber parts. Currently I am working on my third lightsaber, my pride and joy, my precious (sorry wrong fantasy movie). Anyway my current one will be made out of a Heiland HK flashgun which is what the prop department used to make Darth Vader's lightsaber in ANH. My saber will also have a detachable neon blue blade as well as sound. I hope to finish this one by October. Recently I purchased an AOTC Obi-Wan lightsaber that also has a neon blade and sound.

    Boots,Boots,Boots,Boots. That was all I could think of last Halloween. How was I going to make my Jedi costume work without the proper boots. I realize I didn't have the right boots in the past but the bar had been raised and I needed something better that what I already had. I decided to go to the ever so useful Wal-Mart once again and see what kind of boots I could find. I think somewhere deep inside I was really hoping I would magically find THE boots, but I settled on a pair of rubber stable boots. I later spray painted the boots brown and my problem was solved for that Halloween. However, I vowed to never again wear imitation boots. By next Halloween I would have my Jedi boots. And have them I do! Granted, my wallet is over $350 lighter (the extra $50+ was for S/H and insurance). But you know what they say: Love has no boundaries.

[top]

  Once again we have a new feature called the Add-to Story. This is a reprint of last month's story. No one submitted a story to add so it is being published again. Each month another member will further the story. There are no guidelines for where the story will go. So be creative. This month's part was submitted by "Laynel". Thanks.

Kinda gasped. Her older brother Tem whirled away from his game to stare at her.
"What's wrong?" He demanded.
"I don't know" Kinda was sobbing now. "Something terrible just happened!"
"Should I call Dad?"
Tem knew better than to question his little sister's Feelings. Small for a ten year old, Kinda had more than once warned him about something. She had never yet been wrong. Now, biting her lip to stop her tears, she shook her head.
"He'll know soon."
At fifteen most of Tem's friends would rather have crawled under a rug than hug one of their sisters. But Kinda and Tem had a special relationship. Ever since Kinda had started getting her Feelings the two siblings had been close. Now, Tem sat down beside the girl and pulled her close. It was a long time before she calmed.
                                                                                * * * * * * * * * * *
Tem had never told his parents about Kinda's Feelings. As the family quietly ate their supper he wondered if he had been wrong to keep it from them. Twice he almost said something, then changed his mind. Later, getting ready for bed, he thought about why he had not spoken.
"Tem." Kinda's voice was quiet.
"What is it, kid?" Tem asked, turning to see her small shape in the doorway.
"I'm worried."
"Another Feeling?"
"I keep thinking that this isn't going to last much longer."
"What isn't?" Tem felt slightly confused.
"This life. Mom, Dad, you, me. Something's going to change. And I don't think it's going to be a good change."
From any other child this statement would have sounded melodramatic and silly. But this was not "any other child." Tem had often wondered whether his sister's feelings were like the legendary Jedi; now he hoped for the first time that she was wrong. Something in her tone had chilled him.
                                                                               * * * * * * * * * * *
Creeping down the stairs Tem bit his lip as one creaked. He waited, holding his breath. The voices downstairs continued. At the bottom of the stairs he paused and leaned toward the door to the living area. The voices were not hard to make out. They sounded frightened.
"I'm telling you, Tess," Tem's father said. "Alderan's gone. Totally blown away by that "Death Star" thing of Tarkin's. He's gone too far!"
"Gen, think what you're saying!" Tem heard his mother reply. "It's treason to say such things! What will happen to our family if you help the rebellion? Aren't we more important to you?"
"Tess, please. You are the most important things in my world. I have to do something to protect you. I don't want Tem and Kinda growing up in a world where they're always going to wonder if the planet they're on might be the next one to blow."
When his mother sighed Tem knew that, just as Kinda had said, his whole life had suddenly changed forever.

[top]

Fan Poetry

Long Lost Brother

by Orli_Bloom_Fan

You don't remember your mother,
Yet you tell me that mine is yours.

This came as no surprise to me,
I had known for forever and more.

You have promised to train me,
To help open the doors.

You don't remember your mother,
Yet you tell me that mine is yours.

[top]

Trivia

    Congratulations to "clonedmenace" with the correct answer of Krayt dragon to last month's trivia question!

Since only two people answered the question last month we are giving everyone who did not already submit a correct answer another chance.

Okay everyone, here is your chance to impress your friends. For this month's question we will be giving away a picture of Yoda holding a lightsaber signed by FRANK OZ with a COA!  To be fair we will randomly pick a winner from all correct submissions.

Q:  What does Frank Oz's license plate say?

    Stumped? Visit http://www.imdb.com and search for "Frank Oz"

    The winner will be announced at the next meeting and in the next issue.

    Email your answer to info@KCStarWarsFans.com

[top]

ideas or suggestions for next issue?

   Do you have ideas, suggestions, questions, or want to submit to the newsletter? Let me know by sending us an email to the link at the bottom of this page.

[top]

If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter or have questions please send an email to info@KCStarWarsFans.com