Idaho LUG Blog

Our May meeting was focused on preparation for MOCFEST! 2024. We spent some time discussing last-minute details and preparing for the show. We put together this year's trophies and assembled the builder bags with a bunch of cool gifts for our builders. We are looking for submissions for 2025 trophy ideas, please submit your ideas as a Stud.Io file or a picture of your prototype build to Greg. The trophy needs to be fairly easy to build and try to keep the parts cost low. 

We are also looking for more ideas on builder activities as well as presentations that will be open to the public. This year we have seven activities and five presentations scheduled. We are looking to increase that number next year. Please send your ideas to info@idaholug.com.

Setup will involve setting up several kids activities including a Duplo area, free build and a new graffiti wall. The main hall will also be configured to display the MOCs which will be arranged by theme. We have nearly 200 MOCs registered and we are looking forward to a great show. 

Show and Tell

Lighted Octagon by Thad Space Base Lab Spider-Man No Way Home by Oliver

Infinity Gauntlet Spaceship by Landon

Events

Displayed the Saturn IV rocket at the Village on May 12th. There will be another space-based event at the Village in June. We also have an opportunity to bring MOCs to FanX in September. More details to come!

Finally, remember that BrickSlopes is 23 - 35 August in Sandy Utah. Greg has a discount code available for LUG members.

Thanks to all the members for all your help with MOCFEST! and for working so hard to get your MOCs ready for the show. Our next meeting will be on June 20th at Bricks & Minifigs in Boise.

Over the past three months, we have done ten STEM events starting with the BSU Engineering and Science Fair. We participated in eight Elementary STEM Nights and a First LEGO League event at Hubbard Elementary.

MOCFEST! 2024 is about a month away and we need to keep getting the word out. If you would like to put up a flyer you can download one here. Please register for MOCFEST! as soon as possible so we can get a good list of MOCs and Activity registrations. If you need help with registration, entering your MOCs under your profile, or registering your MOC for the show take a look at our FAQ page. We have several workshops and presentations scheduled for this year. If you are interested in presenting this year or in the future please contact Greg. 

Our next meeting will be the day before MOCFEST! setup and load-in. We will be building the show trophies, assembling builder swag bags and other show preparation. 

Future Events

The Village has an event on May 11th where we will display the Saturn V. and provide free play. The Village has another event in June, we will provide free play and we would like to display Space-Themed MOCs. The June event will be on the center green most likely under tents. We will put all the details on our calendar.

We are looking for ideas for a Make-And-Take item for Festival of Trees in November.  Last year Shawn designed a Reindeer which cost $15 and had about 30 pieces. All proceeds for these Make-And-Take items go to the Festival Of Trees. They will pay for the required pieces but we would like to keep the part cost less than $10 if possible.

Many group members will be going down to BrickSlopes this August. We are coordinating carpools as well as lodging so keep in touch if you are going to BrickSlopes.

Show and Tell

Thad brought in his latest weapon a Boneshard Bow	Jake brought in his finished Marionette60
Oliver with a scene from Spiderman (2002)	Greg showed a flower in a vase600
Daniel Killer Whale	Daniel Dinosaur scene

As always take a look at our events calendar frequently to stay up to date on upcoming events. Our next meeting is on 17 MAY hope to see you there!

Our March meeting was on March 21st, and we discussed our many upcoming events. These include several STEM events with local elementary schools, HACKFORT and MOCFEST! 2024.

Events

We have several STEM events coming up in April. We are looking for more volunteers to help with a big event at Compass Elementary on April 12th. There is also a First LEGO League (FLL) event on April 13th. We will also be adding an event for Liberty Elementary on May 1st. These are great events and we encourage all members to volunteer.

We will be displaying MOCs at HACKFORT on Saturday March 23rd. HACKFORT asked us to provide more support, but we did not have enough time to schedule volunteers. With more time we hope to have a much larger participation next year. We would like to setup a Great Ball Contraption (GBC) for next year's event. The Steiners are planning a GBC workshop for some time in late April. 

The Village has several events scheduled for this Summer and have asked us to participate with some builds and activities. They have a car show and a space themed event. More information will be available soon.

BrickSlopes registration is open and IdahoLUG members can get a discount code from Greg. The event is scheduled for 23 - 25 August at the Mountain America Exposition Center in Sandy, UT. 

Keep an eye on our event calendar for all the latest on our activity.

MOCFEST! 2024

  Planning for MOCFEST is in full swing and we have a great plan put together. We are still looking for sponsorships so if you know of any organizations that would potentially sponsor MOCFEST please let us know. There will be a silent auction on Saturday May 18th and we are looking for donations. If you have anything to donate, please bring it to our next meeting on April 18th. 

  This year we will be having more activities, presentations and workshops. If you are interested in conducting a presentation or workshop, contact us at info@idaholug.com. Registration for MOCFEST! 2024 will open on April 1st. Register to display MOCs and participate in the many activities that will be available.

  We will keep both IdahoLUG.com and MOCFEST.com up to date.

Show and Tell

  Several members brought builds to share at our meeting. Zach brought a lightsaber (I didn't get a pic) based on the GWP available with the UCS AT-AT. Thad brought in several arcade and pinball builds and Daniel brought in several wheelbarrow builds for wheelbarrow races.

A big thanks to everyone that attended and your continued support of the IdahoLUG. Our next meeting will be on April 18th 7PM at Bricks & Minifigs.