Post by Mala Foxx on Jul 1, 2016 22:01:14 GMT -8
The history of the great Outer Rim Brigade (ORB) from your Brigade Relations Officer, Mala-
It was the late spring of 2012. Three friends who were very active in the Star Wars costume community had been talking about an idea for a good, long while and decided to jump head first into a venture that would turn into something bigger than they could ever imagine.
The idea - a group that covered the last, untouched niche of the Star Wars costuming groups, which was custom Bounty Hunters, Smugglers and Scum. What was originally meant to be a small, local movement quickly gained traction on a national level. Before they knew it, they had members joining up from other countries outside the United States. With the help of the then Command Staff of The Dark Empire, the first full ORB command council was formed and official approvals of membership began. Before they knew it, ORB approved by LFL to be one of the few recognized Star Wars Costuming Organizations active in the world. This had them sharing the big stage with organizations such as the Mandalorian Mercs, The 501st, and Rebel Legion. The membership quickly grew and led to things such as honorable mention at Star Wars Celebration in Orlando, Florida in 2012. Things were extremely positive and were looking to be very successful with Outposts forming all over the world. In 2012 alone, ORB helped raise nearly $30,000 for charity. This is considered a giant accomplishment for such a new group.
Sadly, in early 2013, ORB had to turn off the lights. It was a very sad, painful moment for the entire Star Wars costuming community as a whole who had considered us their “little sibling”. Unlike some organizations which may have internal issues, ORB had an external issue in which the organization and its members were targeted repeatedly by an individual who had their hand in many pots. As we believe in focusing on the positive and not the negative in ORB and respect the privacy of the victims, we will not go into the details of the sick actions, but will just say they were unwarranted, falsified and found to be incorrect. Unfortunately, all of that was found out after the fact of being shut down due. This individual went on to terrorize many other organizations and individuals sadly, but never broke the hope of the original 55 first members that someday, someway, they’d get their club back. They kept their chins up and laid low...
Fast forward to June 2016. No longer did anyone have to hide. The dark cloud in which laid over the community for YEARS was banished and was no more. During this event, it was discovered how imbedded the individual was overall and how false claims and accusations were used to terrorize and control a entire brand of costumers. It came forward how mentally ill he was and he was promptly removed from an entire community, never to return. This gave people hope. And when we say hope, we mean H O P E (No words describe how much hope it actually put forward).
A new breed of ORB believers came forward in hope of redemption and resurrection of the legendary club they heard of and many held very dear. Myself, a long time veteran of the costuming community and top advocate for “causeplaying”, combined with a crew of Veteran ORB members, sat out to contact LFL and get the ORB approval back. We felt it was a long shot, but it was well worth a shot.
We were in tears the day LFL gave us permission to exist again. And in more tears when we broke the news to the community. The forums were rebuilt, the old crew came back and it was like a day wasn’t even missed. Old friends reunited and new friends formed friendships to last a life time. All while holding the same thing true as day 1 - Spreading Charity and Goodwill throughout the Galaxy.
We are the Outer Rim Brigade. We survived the worst and always held ourselves to the best. And through that, we live now and cherish every day with every member who ever steps foot in our group.
As a very wise man with a dream once said… ORB! PUH POW!
It was the late spring of 2012. Three friends who were very active in the Star Wars costume community had been talking about an idea for a good, long while and decided to jump head first into a venture that would turn into something bigger than they could ever imagine.
The idea - a group that covered the last, untouched niche of the Star Wars costuming groups, which was custom Bounty Hunters, Smugglers and Scum. What was originally meant to be a small, local movement quickly gained traction on a national level. Before they knew it, they had members joining up from other countries outside the United States. With the help of the then Command Staff of The Dark Empire, the first full ORB command council was formed and official approvals of membership began. Before they knew it, ORB approved by LFL to be one of the few recognized Star Wars Costuming Organizations active in the world. This had them sharing the big stage with organizations such as the Mandalorian Mercs, The 501st, and Rebel Legion. The membership quickly grew and led to things such as honorable mention at Star Wars Celebration in Orlando, Florida in 2012. Things were extremely positive and were looking to be very successful with Outposts forming all over the world. In 2012 alone, ORB helped raise nearly $30,000 for charity. This is considered a giant accomplishment for such a new group.
Sadly, in early 2013, ORB had to turn off the lights. It was a very sad, painful moment for the entire Star Wars costuming community as a whole who had considered us their “little sibling”. Unlike some organizations which may have internal issues, ORB had an external issue in which the organization and its members were targeted repeatedly by an individual who had their hand in many pots. As we believe in focusing on the positive and not the negative in ORB and respect the privacy of the victims, we will not go into the details of the sick actions, but will just say they were unwarranted, falsified and found to be incorrect. Unfortunately, all of that was found out after the fact of being shut down due. This individual went on to terrorize many other organizations and individuals sadly, but never broke the hope of the original 55 first members that someday, someway, they’d get their club back. They kept their chins up and laid low...
Fast forward to June 2016. No longer did anyone have to hide. The dark cloud in which laid over the community for YEARS was banished and was no more. During this event, it was discovered how imbedded the individual was overall and how false claims and accusations were used to terrorize and control a entire brand of costumers. It came forward how mentally ill he was and he was promptly removed from an entire community, never to return. This gave people hope. And when we say hope, we mean H O P E (No words describe how much hope it actually put forward).
A new breed of ORB believers came forward in hope of redemption and resurrection of the legendary club they heard of and many held very dear. Myself, a long time veteran of the costuming community and top advocate for “causeplaying”, combined with a crew of Veteran ORB members, sat out to contact LFL and get the ORB approval back. We felt it was a long shot, but it was well worth a shot.
We were in tears the day LFL gave us permission to exist again. And in more tears when we broke the news to the community. The forums were rebuilt, the old crew came back and it was like a day wasn’t even missed. Old friends reunited and new friends formed friendships to last a life time. All while holding the same thing true as day 1 - Spreading Charity and Goodwill throughout the Galaxy.
We are the Outer Rim Brigade. We survived the worst and always held ourselves to the best. And through that, we live now and cherish every day with every member who ever steps foot in our group.
As a very wise man with a dream once said… ORB! PUH POW!