Greg, definitely some great thoughts here.
Let me start by restating the purpose of LUGBULK in the eyes of LEGO. It’s for members of LUGs – Not for the direct improvement/addition to/starting of any LUG owned display, inventory, or ability. To that extent though, if members decided to give back to the LUG, that’s entirely acceptable.
I can see a desire to contribute to the greater goal and improving the LUG. While I think there is room for duality, I also recognize the LUG is still new, this is our first LUGBULK, and the majority of our members do not have basements full of parts. I think the LUG and the individual abilities are BOOMING, and LUGBULK will only act as an additional catalyst to that growth.
I think this is a question certainly worth people asking themselves, yearly, as we approach and enter LUGBULK. Do members, like Dan and Rich, or you and Zack, want to use LUGBULK to facilitate your own visions? DO IT. Any member with a desire for parts – this program is for you.
I can definitely see that there will be some members that don’t have a personalized goal or inspiration to buy and build. That’s OK. I’d first like to encourage them to pursue their own talents/ideas/skills/etc. If contributing to a LUG-centric big picture gets that rolling, that’s totally acceptable. I think you’re right to mention train/minifig scale displays as what we’re getting better at. Buildings, landscapes of water, fields, trees, and mountains, sidewalks, trains, brick-built roads, cars – all of these things could give those without direction a clearer path to begin their AFOL journey, and I would present that as the LUG goal, if personal goals did not naturally exist, for now.
Know that our growth plan does involve becoming more cohesive as a group, but I think we’ll see those relationships develop over time. I do plan to touch on some of this at Q4, but I think I remember you won’t be there, Greg. No worries, I’ll summarize for sure. For now – EVERYONE HAVE FUN AND ENJOY THE LEGO HOBBY AND LUGBULK!
Now, the second part of your question is something I really like. I have never thought about having a more permanent home for our displays…That would be a killer opportunity to get in with the children’s museum or some other outlet…Anyone want to seek out those opportunities?