This is a lengthy post, but please take the time to read it as it covers a number of changes that will be occurring within NELUG in the immediate future.

NELUG has certainly grown since it started in 1999. Over the last year or so, we have seen the club begin to strain under the informal organization that has carried us up until now. As we have grown, questions about who has the authority to make decisions, the process of making decisions, accountability of NELUG's assets and financial resources, and even trying to define who is a member have all surfaced. These kinds of questions and needs continue to grow at an increasing rate.

Up until now, two members have basically filled a vast majority of the administrative aspects of the club. While this has worked fairly well, neither member was elected to this position. As a result, what happens if someone else wants to take on certain responsibilities? How do we go about this? What do we do if either member no longer wants to continue handling the responsibilities? How do you hold them accountable for anything? How does the outside world know who to contact? Who controls our finances? The list goes on. In short, NELUG's informality has become a barrier to its own future.

Well after several shows where we asked for more space we finally got it for this show and this let us have a nearly 10'x30' layout, our biggest to date. The extra space let us have by far our largest rail yard to date and gave us the option of running up to 4 trains at once. There was a clearly defined city section on one end and a residential section at the other end that included our ammusement park.

Among the additions for this show were David Gwon's great appartment complex and bumper cars. Dave Eaton also displayed several new buildings that are destined for Brikwars distruction but very cool none-the-less. A property value decreasing Pink Castle Liquor store also made its debut.

As always we were happy with the turnout at the show as well as the feedback we got from fans. Some of our fans have become regular visitors and we love it!

To view more photos from the show please visit the following Galleries:

NELUG continued its tradition of displaying at the Greenberg Toy and train show. This years layout featured a downtown city section with skyscrapers.

Several other items made first time appearances including a new amusement park ride, automated crane, point to point trolly, and several structures.

Occasionally, NELUG is invited to display at non-traditional venues. In the summer of 2004, we were approached about providing a display for the Rhode Island Cooks! show at the Providence Civic Center. The show was a food and cooking expo, and the organizers expected a need for some children's entertainment. What better than a big Lego train display? And a giant cow. We're not responsible for the cow.

In continuing our tradition of constantly trying to change our layout and bring something new to every show Mike Crowley's King Kong was a huge crowd pleaser. With animation including opening jaws and a swinging arm with a damsel in destress spectators were drawn to the new creation.

Our residential section appears to be growing as well and boy are those Minifigs happy! Finally a place to call home. Now if we could just add some public services like a fire station and... Oh, never mind...