Our Beginning:
Put yourself in perspective: It is now 4 months before the release of Star Wars: Attack of the Clones. Alabama is one of the only remaining states within the U.S. that is without even a small group of organized Star Wars fans to call a 'club'. Being a big fan of the movies, I am eagerly awaiting the release of Clones. This is when I get the wild idea to try and start a club. So, I visit TheForce.Net like I usually do daily, but this time I focus my attention on the community section, FanForce.Net. Viewing the local 'Bama boards day after day, I come to the hard conclusion (believe me) that a city-based club setup wouldn't be suitable for Alabama's dormant fan base. I envision a club - not based in any one city, but covering the entire state. Taking it as a self-appointed duty of any Star Wars fan, I set out to find members for a new club - a state-wide club - for Alabama.

Using the internet as my guide, I search for webpages containing 'alabama' and 'star wars'. No results whatsoever. I am almost ready to give up hope when I check my TFN messenger and I have a message from a 'danamel99'. After positively identifying this new contact as 'Dana', I tell her my ambition. Little did I know that this woman would help me launch the Star Wars Syndicate about a week later! After finding out that Dana was as enthusiastic about this idea as I was, we both set out to planning our future fan organization.

I'd really like to say it was, but it wasn't all cut-and-dry. Dana and I deliberated on names for the club for days.. through e-mail and chat. At one time I remember suggesting the 'Redneck Jedi Order', but we eventually settled on Syndicate. I honestly don't know why, it just fit what we had planned. I cobbled together a starting webpage, signed us up with a free host, and we began getting the word out. So begins our venture into a cohesive fan club for Alabama.

Our First 'Meeting':
Well, if you could call it a meeting! Once we were at this stage, the site had moved into it's current look and our club was humming with activity. We held our first cohesive meeting at the Summit Carmike 16 in Birmingham for the premier of Attack of the Clones. The people who attended are the club's founding members - some who aren't with us today - most who still are. The Premier got the ball rolling and our club hasn't stopped since!

The Present and Our Future:
Our club continues to grow with your support; meeting regularly and often. I would like to personally thank all the founding members - and members to come - for the great experience! With your help, we will be Alabama's Premier Star Wars fan club - now and forever! May the Force be with you all!

- Kevin G.
Club Founder