Hi there!

I'm Mark, or "halibut" on the forums. I'm one of the RSAs for the UK branch of FanForce (along with Spike2002). I've been "asked" to type out a few words to talk about the online-side of things, and Spike will chat about the real-life side of things :)

There are 3 parts to the FF-UK's online presence. First is the website at www.fanforce.co.uk - which is where you are now, so I guess you already knew that!

Then we have 2 types of forum. We have the regional discussion forum where we just chat about anything and everything. We have serious debates, game threads, TV discussion threads.

Finally there are the chapter forums. Each chapter has its own forum, and that is the primary place where meet-ups are arranged. As some chapters are busier than others, some of the forums will obviously be busier. Links to all these chapter forums (as well as the regional discussion board) can be found on this website.

Although the primary function of FanForce is to encourage and promote real life activities amongst its members, this is absolutely NOT a requirement. We have plenty of members who just enjoy posting on the regional discussion board, and we also encourage that. In fact, the regional board is a great way to start to get to know the other members. We are a family friendly board and so it's probably a good idea to have a read through the "sticky" threads at the top of the regional forum.

So click on the link above and register! Have a gander through some of the threads and join in. If you have any questions (no matter how small), then please email me at halibut@fanforce.co.uk or send me a Private Message at the boards

See you on the forums!!!!

hal

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Hello there, I’m Simon, though most people call me Sie (pronounced like sci, or sigh, or high. Basically not the way it’s pronounced in German) :p

What can I say about FanForce UK? Well, the first thing is to clarify what we are. FanForce is basically the "real life" arm of TheForce.net, and we are the British division of that organisation. We are a group of people who enjoy meeting up. Some of us like to wear SW costumes, some of us like to make films, some of us just like to go to pubs and enjoy a beer. It really doesn't matter. What's important is that we share an interest and we can make real friends here, and our policy is that everybody is welcome.

I first became involved with FanForce UK (henceforth to be given the abbreviation ‘FF-UK’) in 2003, a year or so after I’d joined the Jedi Council forums. Unfortunately I never became involved much at all as the chapter I was joining had become very inactive. By 2004, there were no meets in the original Northern boards, and they closed. By then my attention was focused on other forums on theforce.net and I never paid FanForce much thought.

Then, by accident in early 2006, I stumbled on the new Northern boards, where a meet was being planned, just down the road from where I lived. Always interested in making new friends, I posted asking if I could come along and join them. The reaction was positive and I went to my first FanForce meet on the 11th January 2006.

This proved to be the first of many meets with the Northern England FanForce, which included games of trivial pursuit, pizza and pool meets at a pub, and a charity event thrown by myself, which raised over £300 for the NSPCC.

As 2006 went on, I became more involved with other chapters, attending the Joint Chapter Meet in Birmingham in August 2006 and other charity events.

In October 2006, I was promoted to Chapter Representative (CR) of the Northern FanForce, where I presided over conventions and meetups in Manchester, Newcastle, Leeds, Middlesbrough and other locations.

The job of CR, involves, if I may quote directly from the FanForce FAQ on theforce.net:

“A CR must be a leader -- capable of organizing and supporting their entire chapter. A CR is elected by the members of a chapter. However, if a group has not yet become a recognized chapter, they may still elect someone to represent them and their interests until said group becomes official.”

CRs are responsible for organising all aspects of their chapter, real life and internet-wise. A CR's job is to guide the chapter, and to organise local meet-ups. It is the CR's responsibility to be the first and only point of contact with outside groups, when it comes down to a chapter's presence at a local event. It makes things easier all round. Under my CRship, the Northern FanForce became the most active chapter in FanForce UK, and my successes meant I was chosen to become the Regional Support Administrator (RSA) for the whole of the UK; my duties focusing on helping to organise the real-life aspects of FF-UK, while my fellow RSA, halibut, generally focuses on the Internet-based aspects.

The role of RSA varies and is largely determined by the creativity and proactivity of the individual. Nevertheless, there are sets of core responsibilities that must be upheld by every RSA:

• RSAs are elected by Global Support Staff.

• RSAs are responsible for a region or sometimes an entire country. They must address any and all concerns issued by chapters in their region or country. RSA's do this by interfacing directly with City Representatives (CR) from each chapter.

• RSAs are "moderators" for their region/country's "General Discussion" forum.

With halibut and I in partnership, we have tried our best to breathe new life into FanForce UK, organising the chapters, appointing CRs and encouraging meetups. One of our biggest successes has been Celebration Europe, and the revival of the Midlands chapter (now Midlands and Wales). We are there to take care of all our chapters and communities, and are here to help both established and successful chapters, like London and the North; and fledgling chapters doing their best to get off the ground, such as Midlands and Wales, Scotland and the South with anything they need.

The both of us are dedicated to keeping FanForce UK active and successful in both real life and on the Internet. FanForce is, for us, not just a community of Star Wars fans, but a family. We welcome anyone and everyone to join our family and participate on both the Internet and in real life meetups. What we want to provide on the FanForce is the current motto of one of our chapters: “Fun, Fandom and Friendship”.

Thank you for your time in reading this. We hope to see you join us.

Sie (Spike2002)