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DarthAloha

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Posts posted by DarthAloha

    Sith Eternal Officer

    in New CRLs - Completed

    Posted

    Hi everyone,

     

    Here's to hoping Greene or someone can wrangle a back view of this costume out of LFL. 
     
    Bob asked about our process decrying a lack of transparency. There isn't much to it. If we're not already involved on the respective detachment forums, we'll get word from a detachment about a possible inclusion (usually via lmo@501st.com) of a new to the legion costume, we discuss it in the LMO area on the legion forums, and we vote on it. 

     

    One improvement we intend to make (as suggested by Rikki today) is to put a time limit on the vote and discussion. It'll be a 7 day period to ensure the detachment isn't waiting on us. 
     
    In past years the decision was made unilaterally, usually with input from the team, by the lead LMO. Last year Nathan instituted an all LMO vote for such things which Kris and I continued on. Going even further back in history the LMO made all the decisions with zero transparency often just authoring CRLs himself (when I was DL of FISD the LMO dropped the jes gistang CRL on me without even consulting with the detachment). 
     
    I cannot speak for past LMOs, but personally having been around the LMO block a few times, I've been very consistent in requiring front, back and side references. This time the entire team agreed. I have and will continue to apply this standard, even to comics, trading cards, and other non-screen references too. 
     
    What’s a little ironic is that you can find threads on the legion forum accusing me of not believing in accuracy. I often take a much softer stance on the need to put every single detail with measurements in our requirements. The Greedo CRL being my very favorite of all of them. Here we are being lambasted on social media and the forums by a campaign against our desire for accuracy. 
     
    I do feel terrible for the costumer who made the Sith Eternal Officer. I harbor no small amount of guilt for our decision even if I think it is the right one. 
     
    If you look back on the history of new to the legion costumes you will find wild inconsistencies having to do with whatever LMO team was ratified that year. Precedence is often thrown out the window year to year when there is a change in LMO. That is the nature of the LMO office. You'll find this is true with your GCOs too. 
     
    The system where the LMO decides if a costume is acceptable for inclusion in the 501st was created when the legion was smaller, and then radically updated by Anderson along the way in 2016. Given our growth, if you feel that there may be a better process I invite you to contact your GCO or DL (both of your reps have access to council) to propose an amendment to the operating protocols. 
     
    The question becomes... How do we move forward?
     
    My suggestion is to start a thread of all the potential new to the legion costumes or major edits to existing ones and start discussing them as early as possible. I'm happy to start it. I'd prefer a collaboration from the get go to avoid where we are now with this costume. 
     
    I totally understand the anger and frustration. It's a crappy situation. Let’s work together to avoid it in the future. 
     
    Thank you,
     
    —Eric

    Sith Eternal Officer

    in New CRLs - Completed

    Posted

     

    Bob, Kalani et al,

     

    Apologies for how long this has taken. I'm the only person to blame for that.

     

    At this time this costume does not have enough references to be included in the 501st's roster. Specifically the back view is lacking.

     

    Every LMO team has had to make this same determination for an uncountable number of costumes. It is not one that has ever been taken lightly. Our goal is for members to build the most accurate costumes possible. Having a clear view of front, back and sides of the screen used costume is one of the 501st's core tenets.

     

    This is the second time around for this costume. Last year's LMO team came to the same conclusion. Sadly this was never documented since it allegedly occurred in an ephemeral Facebook chat. 

     

    If I had to make a wild guess maybe development of this CRL continued after the previous team's ruling on this costume? I can't say because that was then this is now. It was a different LMO team and a different IOC command staff.

     

     

    On 5/9/2021 at 8:20 PM, kman said:

     

    Or is this more in regards to other costumes, to be developed in the future?

     

    The comment was more about future costumes than this. The Sith Eternal Office ended up being a kerfuffle for sure and I'm hoping to prevent such things moving forward. 

     

    I alluded to this in my previous post, but it is imperative that detachments reach out to the LMO team before CRL development, and certainly before a member decides to build a costume. We receive emails and messages from detachments asking this question on a regular basis. 

     

    Some of the onus is on the LMO team to keep up with the ongoings on this forum. I intend to fix that part of it personally. What we want to prevent is detachments merely throwing a CRL over the wall at us for approval. My preference is for the LMO team to be involved in (or at a minimum aware of) the development of a new CRL. 

     

    I intend to follow this forum and keep up with the goings on here on a regular basis. Along with the detachment leadership communicating with us as soon as about possible new CRLs I believe we can prevent what happened here in the future. 

     

    In the coming days I'll look through these threads and attempt to compile a post with an up to date list of new CRLs or amendments to current ones. Then we can work the list together from there. 

     

    Thanks again for your patience,

     

    -Eric


     

    Sith Eternal Officer

    in New CRLs - Completed

    Posted · Edited by DarthAloha

    12 hours ago, kman said:

     

    I think the shots earlier in this thread are as good as it's going to get, unless LFL decides to release more BTS footage.

     

    Fortunately, CRLs can be edited if something dramatic and new is learned later.


    Ok. Thanks!
     

    Now that I’m home I’ll catch up with the rest of the team about it. Lately these decisions are voted on by all LMOs with no one LMO having more say than the other. 
     

    What I’d like to work on is getting us involved earlier in the CRL creation process. It’s sort of broken that we tend to sit around and wait for a detachment to throw something over the wall to us to think about. That’s an internal LMO problem not something about the detachments or IOC. My hope is to spend more time on IOC this year to prevent that. 
     

    Thanks for everyone’s patience. 
     

    -Eric 

    Sith Eternal Officer

    in New CRLs - Completed

    Posted

    Hi folks. One of your LMOs here.

     

    Apologies for the 11th hour question. I’ve been traveling for work and I’ve had my head down for too long. 
     

    Is there any more reference for the back of this costume?


    I promised Bob I would be more involved with new CRLs as they hit the IOC forums. Please allow me to start living up to that as of now. 
     

    -Eric 

    Generic First Order General CRL Discussion

    in New CRLs

    Posted

    1 hour ago, TK75608 said:

    So this morning I woke up with thousands of messages "Theres a generic FO General CRL" and I was like wtf? What did I miss?

    So here's the question to the LMO and Detachment Staff. What did I miss??

     

     

    Do not get me wrong. I'm happy that my girlfriend has her officer approved. But since March 10 nothing new appeared regarding any officers so I want to ask why there is a CRL now. Kinda suspicious to me atm. 

     

     

     

     

     

    Hi. LMO here.

     

    What is there to be suspicious about? I'm not sure you missed anything because things take time. Not only are we processing a ton of new CRLs there is getting over our hangovers from Celebration (honestly C8 stopped all legion work for a month or more). 

     

    I admitted I made a mistake and posted in the wrong thread because I am an idiot. Went on to say there was no reason not to have a generic general. All IOC CRLs are generic. 

     

    But if you have a conspiracy theory I'd love to hear it. It's been a while since I've been accused of something.

     

    Troop on, 

     

    -Eric

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Generic First Order General CRL Discussion

    in New CRLs

    Posted

    On 3/5/2017 at 9:02 PM, captsafe66 said:

    As the LMO said, no matter what text we find in a book or what an actor, director or anyone else states, without a sequence of hi def pics, he won't create a CRL for a Generic General.  Do I like that?  NO, but the buck stops with the LMO.  Our only hope would be production photos or any additional deleted scenes surface.

     

    Actually I never said that we can't have a generic FO general in the 501st. I see no reason not to. That's basically Hux without the ginger hair requirement no? 

     

    I'm thinking maybe I posted my response in the wrong thread. I was posting about generic officers in general not generic generals. 

     

    1l4590.jpg

     

    My point was that I've read a bunch here on IOC and there's been a lot of banter and back and forth about other FO officers but no one has produced any screen references to look at. Blurry photos of the starkiller base lineup during Hux's Hilter speech aren't good enough for me.

     

    I'm sorry for the confusion. 

     

    -Eric

    Generic First Order General CRL Discussion

    in New CRLs

    Posted

    Hi folks... LMO here. 

     

    The rank or title is less important to me (general, lieutenant, sergeant, first class floor mopper) than screen references. The books are great as a backup reference but I'd like to see actual film screen captures of any costume that is proposed. Without screen references I'm loath to add it to our list of approved of costumes based on the front view in a book. 

     

    Please post what images you have here for review. 

     

    Here is the new costume approval wording: 

    http://databank.501st.com/databank/Costuming:CharacterApproval

     

    -Eric

     

    Legion Membership Officer Introduction

    in The Officer's Lounge

    Posted

    Aloha Officers,

     

    I apologize for the delay in posting this. Between election madness and then some work related travel I am finally getting a chance to sit down to use a keyboard that does not involve thumbs.

     

    Please allow myself to introduce myself with a form letter going out on all the detachments forums. I am Eric Brager your Legion Membership Officer (LMO) for 2016. If you recognize the name Darth Aloha it is likely due to my involvement with FISD as a two time Detachment Leader (DL) and of course as your web host server dude. 

     

    The LMO office this year is here to help. We will support the IOC's goals for updating and creating new CRLs. Through your DL we will be an advocate, advisor, and champion. Most of all we will be accessible and approachable. No longer are the LMOs aloof and unreachable.

     

    Last year saw the a small but important changes to the Operating Protocols regarding CRLs. Section 7 states a few things that define a new working relationship between the detachments and the LMO. First is that a new costume may not be added to the Legion without completed CRL. Second is that the detachments are responsible for the creation and maintenance of the CRLs not the LMO. We do not make your CRLs. The result of these changes is that base level CRL requirements should not change unless the LMO and the DL are in agreement.  Thirdly and lastly the DL should solicit buy-in from the detachment community regarding changes.

     

    In this new arrangement we have no choice but to work together. With that said every one of the 15 detachments will have an LMO representative assigned to them.

     

    Your LMO rep is Bradley Graham (TB-3910/Sentry02) He will be logging into your forums and contributing to your community, if he isn’t already doing so. The LMO office needs to be active in your community. That way we may fully understand each detachment’s vision and needs if we are going to support your CRL needs.

     

    What is the next step in this glorious shiny new hug-fest? I am asking the DL to send their LMO representative (or post up) a list of CRL goals as well as issues, concerns, gripes, problems, woes that we can help with. I will be integrating that list into my ongoing high level goals for 2016 that will be posted publically on the forums. I encourage any discussion between the dets and the LMO office to occur out in the open on the forums as much as possible. 

     

    If anyone reading this (and hasn’t dozed off) has a question of any kind they are welcome to PM me anywhere or email me. Your DL will be receiving my phone number shortly and is welcome to text or call anytime for any reason.

     

    Let’s get some poodoo done this year.

     

    -Eric

    FISD 2015 Elections

    in The Officer's Lounge

    Posted

    Officers,

     

    For those of you who are also TKs and may not know it, I am running for FISD DL again. 

     

    I know I have the Legion and leadership experience, vision and detailed plan to make 2015 the best yet for our shiny white corner of the Internet.

     

    For your consideration here are links to the detachment Q&A and my answer thread:

    If anyone has any trouble adding FISD to their list of detachments on the 501st site please PM or email me and I'll sort it out.

     

    Thank you,

     

    -Eric

    Darth Aloha is Running for FISD DL

    in The Officer's Lounge

    Posted

    Aloha kakou,

    Most of you know me as your friendly neighborhood IOC web host. Seeing as many of you comfortable soft costume wearing folks also keep a set of hard plastic armor on hand I want to announce here that I am running for Detachment Leader (DL) of the 1st Imperial Stormtrooper Detachment (FISD.) I have been active member of the senior staff of FISD for over a year. You may know me as the FISD Chief Tactical Officer or the web host guy. I have a record of working easily with disparate international groups and I avoid drama through mutual understanding and consensus building.

    The only approved 501st Imperial Legion costume I own is a TK. I sport an EIB approved RT-MOD kit because I’m too tall to be a stormtrooper. I had never been a fan of Halloween or costumes until I purchased a crappy rubies Vader and wore it with flowery board shorts, flip flops, and a lei. The excited look on kids' faces that Halloween had me hooked from the very moment I stepped onto the street. There was no stopping me from joining the 501st to enjoy a larger community of like-minded Star Wars nuts and to be able to help others while doing it. In my personal life I try to be of service to my community as much as possible. The 501st lets me do that at the same time as being a real life action figure.

    Beyond ensuring that TKs old and new always look their best, my goals for 2013 are as follows:

    • Continue with the charter to maintain the FISD sense of inclusiveness and "Troopers Helping Troopers" for new and existing TKs.
    • Add more entries to the TiKipedia that houses reference information for every TK armor part in the CRL.
    • Create an incentive program to encourage existing TKs to update their costume to current basic standards.
    • Work with the GMO to improve the base CRL to align it with modern armor construction and availability.
    • Implement a formal attaché program to educate local garrisons about various TK related construction methods and costume requirements.
    • Create a CRL change policy that ensures updates to the TK CRLs are voted and implemented properly and with transparency.
    • Bring back the staff position of Detachment Armorer.

    Here is a list of my accomplishments while on the FISD staff:

    • Maintained a tutorials database for TK related HOWTOs including a beta of the TiKipedia reference guide.
    • Along with other forum admins, implemented photo reference gallery with 2,400 screen capture and reference imagery
    • Created photo reference checklists for both Expert Infantry and Centurion applicants.
    • Rewrote the Expert Infantry and Centurion application guidelines with photo examples of each CRL requirement.
    • Installed and maintained content management system to allow for mission statement and "about" FISD web pages.
    • Two-time winner of Trooper of the Month for my contributions to FISD.

    Why should you vote for me?

    FISD Experience - I was asked to be on the FISD staff nearly a month after my TK approval. For over a year I have been maintaining the FISD website and its forum software. During my time on the FISD staff I have been involved with the inner workings of the detachment and have had my hand in the likes of policy setting and CRL changes.

    Leadership - If elected I intend to set clearly communicated priorities for FISD. I will create specific goals to achieve those priorities and, when necessary, delegate related tasks to a dedicated group of staff members. Along the way those priorities will be revisited and goals adjusted accordingly. I am a hands-on leader and feel confident in jumping into the role of any of my staff members if need be. In my non-TK life I have been a team lead and manager of technical people for 13 years. I understand that to build a successful team a leader must surround himself with a trusted group of very smart people.

    Vigilance - As most of you know I am an active member of the FISD forums. For the past two years I have followed nearly every thread and read almost all posts in a daily basis. My contributions are visible not only by the forum features I have added, but my posts as well.

    Transparency - It is vital to me that the entire detachment knows what our priorities are. Communication must be clear and consistant across the board. Additionally everyone on staff should know what the DL is doing and why. As much as possible information about the running of the detachment must be posted on the forum. Back channel communication for important matters will not be tolerated.

    Professionally, I operate, test, deploy, (break) and maintain ocean going robots for a living. In past lives I have been a system administrator for enterprise class unix systems, a wood boat builder, and yacht crew. Personally, in my spare time I scuba dive, paddle 6 man hawaiian outrigger canoes competitively and scurry about my wood shop pretending to build furniture. I live on the Big Island of Hawai'i at 3100 ft elevation in the town known to most (except the US post office) as Waimea. I am happily married to a very patient woman. We have a 2 year old boy and a mangy lovable mutt.

    Mahalo for your consideration.

    -Eric

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