My experience with the 501st is also like Krista's. The last time we did a Star Wars Reads Day, they weren't interested. I would only ever consider the 501st to be a nice add on if they show up. I would always make sure to have lots of activities planned and not count on them. Holly Kirsten Head of Youth Services Chesterfield Township Library 50560 Patricia Ave. Chesterfield, MI 48051 586-598-4900 ext. 235 Raising a reader is: Talking * Singing * Reading * Writing * Playing On Mon, Jun 13, 2016 at 2:23 PM, Krista Ghazar < kghazar@madison-hgts.lib.mi.us> wrote:
Hi Pam,
I was planning a May the Fourth showing of the Force Awakens and contacted the 501st Legion's Great Lakes Garrison and The Rebel Legion's Great Lakes Base. There is a form on their website that you can submit to ask for an appearance. I made the request 2 months out and about two weeks prior to the event they still didn't have any volunteers willing to come. I ended up canceling the event. That being said, the guys who responded to my requests were both friendly and helpful. They do stress though that, because the characters are volunteers, they can't promise anyone coming. They recommended we not use their presence in advertising because of this fact. Without being able to advertise that they would be there, we couldn't really expect enough of a turn out to justify having them come. But if you already anticipate a good turn out, then requesting an appearance and hoping someone shows up as a surprise may work for you.
I hope this helps!
The forms are here: http://www.501st.com/request.php http://www.rebellegion.com/rebel-legion-event-request/
Krista Ghazar Adult Reference Librarian Madison Heights Public Library 240 W. 13 Mile Rd. Madison Heights, Mi 48071 248-837-2850
3. Help! (Pam Withrow) 5. Re: Help! (Kerry Fitzgerald)
Message: 3 Date: Mon, 13 Jun 2016 09:24:19 -0400 From: Pam Withrow <pwithrow@uproc.lib.mi.us> To: <michlib-l@mcls.org> Subject: [Michlib-l] Help! Message-ID: <003101d1c576$e52d5060$af87f120$@uproc.lib.mi.us> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Our Star Wars characters just cancelled for our Summer Reading kickoff party on Wednesday (June 15th, 5:30-6:30 pm). Does anyone have a connection with someone in the 501st Legion? Our event has been advertised throughout the community and on tv and radio. Our kids have been looking forward to this for weeks. Any help will be appreciated.
Thank you,
Pamela Withrow, Director
Forsyth Township Public Library
180 W. Flint St.
PO Box 1328
Gwinn, MI 49841
906-346-3433
Message: 5 Date: Mon, 13 Jun 2016 10:10:17 -0400 From: Kerry Fitzgerald <kfitzgerald@loutitlibrary.org> To: Pam Withrow <pwithrow@uproc.lib.mi.us> Cc: michlib-l@mcls.org Subject: Re: [Michlib-l] Help! Message-ID: <CAJRAa= iqC56QSA-RnpvVYZBgBza2ZJ5bXL0ZwpkSLjmW3mLJjQ@mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
Pam,
Being a big Star Wars fan myself, my heart goes out to you. I just wish you weren't in the UP! I cosplay Kylo Ren and have connections with a couple folks from the 501st in the Grand Rapids area. With such short notice and a huge travel distance, I don't think any of us can help you, but I just wanted to offer my assistance to libraries in southwest Michigan looking for a Star Wars character for their programs. Our Youth Department had a Jedi Academy in April and I crashed it as Kylo Ren. I was fighting off up to 6 kids armed with pool-noodle lightsabers at a time. It was a blast!
Best of luck to everyone with Summer Reading this year and May the Force be with you!
On Mon, Jun 13, 2016 at 9:24 AM, Pam Withrow <pwithrow@uproc.lib.mi.us> wrote:
Our Star Wars characters just cancelled for our Summer Reading kickoff party on Wednesday (June 15th, 5:30-6:30 pm). Does anyone have a connection with someone in the 501st Legion? Our event has been advertised throughout the community and on tv and radio. Our kids have been looking forward to this for weeks. Any help will be appreciated.
Thank you,
Pamela Withrow, Director
Forsyth Township Public Library
180 W. Flint St.
PO Box 1328
Gwinn, MI 49841
906-346-3433
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-- Kerry FitzGerald, Assistant Director Loutit District Library 407 Columbus Ave Grand Haven MI 49417 616.842.5560 x233