What is ChiLUG:

ChiLUG is an RLUG, or Recognized LEGO User Group. This means that The LEGO Group (TLG, the owner of LEGO) recognizes the group has met the requirements to function as an officially recognized LEGO User Group. We are not owned or operated by LEGO and have no partnership with LEGO. However, we do represent LEGO by using their products and acting in accordance with TLG values.

Mission:

ChiLUG exists to support and promote its members’ creation of their own unique LEGO models, also known as MOCs (My Own Creation). Both within the group and in the AFOL community, members can share experiences, advice on building techniques, and knowledge of LEGO pieces (called elements) and products with each other. A crucial part of the ChiLUG’s activity is putting on public displays of our builds for the public to enjoy.

Members:

The ideal member is an active one with a love for promoting LEGO usage, regardless of personal skill level. We do not charge membership dues. We simply require our members to participate in meetings and events to retain an active status. We encourage our members to be interactive with each other and event visitors. Our members have a variety of interests and personalities, which allows our group to display a wide range of creations including buildings, trains, vehicles, landscape scenes, Sci-fi figures, mossaics, botanicals, fantasy items, motorized models, and so much more!

Organization:

ChiLUG or Chicagoland area LEGO User Group is a not for profit organization. There are no member dues, and we do not charge venues to display. At times we may request parking from the venue. Often a venue may offer lunch and/or drinks and is very much appreciated, but is not required. Below is a list of all Executive roles, other roles, and a description of the roles. President, Vice president and Head Membership coordinator roles are voted on yearly. LEGO ambassador role is voted on every other year. There is no term limits.

Executive Committee:

1. President: Oversees all major organizational decisions and guides the organization to fulfill the mission of the club. Accountable for the internal and external reputation and performance of the club.
2. Vice President: Maintains LUG calendar and responsible for helping event coordinators tasks. Accountable for event coordinators reporting their reports to the ambassador.
3. Membership Coordinator: Oversees all incoming membership requests and membership committee voting.
4. Ambassador: Serves as the point-of-contact Between ChiLUG and LEGO on the Lego Ambassador Network (LAN) for all activities related to LEGO programs and LUG interactions.

Other roles:

1. Website Administrator: Responsible for updating and maintaining the website and social media for the LUG.
2. Social Media Coordinator: Admin for all social media pages and accounts. Responsible for adding new members to the facebook group and other social media profiles.
3. Membership Committee: Voting committee on all new membership requests. Responsible for determining if a perspective member should be invited to join the LUG.
4. Event Coordinator(s): Any ChiLUG member hosting a show. Will act as the club contact between ChiLUG and the venue. Responsible for providing the Vice President the details of the show, posting on facebook, and submitting a report to the ambassador when the event is completed.

Join:

If you would like to apply to become a ChiLUG member, please fill out our Membership Application

Outreach:

We participate in many public display events to promote enjoyment, creativity, and share information about building with LEGO. We strive to explore and engage with a vast range of activities associated with LEGO. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Building MOCs and official LEGO sets
• Building using instructions, freestyle, scale using math, and/or digital design tools
• Teaching modular and structural styles
• Using LEGO as an artistic medium
• Inclusion of motion, lights, coding, and robotics in MOCs
• Information on element and set collecting
• The sharing of building techniques
• Teaching individuals to embrace their inner creativity.

We invite you to attend our display events to experience our creations. We welcome visitors to ask questions about what we build, how we build creations, or any other questions you may have about ChiLUG or the LEGO hobby.

Conduct:

Our public displays are meant to be enjoyed by the entire family. We do not allow the following content to be part of our displays:

• We do not charge an admission to attend ChiLUG display events.
• Reference to nudity/sex, illegal drugs or use, excessive gore, violent crime, mass killings, or religious persecution.
• Controversial political symbols or statements, such as swastikas or denigration of a political figure or party.
• Any video or audio presentation included with a ChiLUG display must be G-rated, or edited to remove any adult themes, language, nudity, political denigration, religious persecution, excessive violence or violent crime.

History

The Chicagoland area LEGO User Group, commonly known as ChiLUG, was founded in the Summer of 2012 by Dave Xandegar, John Thorton and Jeff Viens. They formed ChiLUG to meet and share their love of LEGO and desire to display individual MOCs in the Chicagoland area. Our first meeting was in January 2012. Our first presence at Brickworld Chicago, and the AFOL community was in June 2012.

Page last updated: July 21 2026 17:01:39.
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