If you have spent time around LEGO Facebook groups or communities, you may have come across the LEGO Ambassador Network (LAN). I heard it a lot before I knew what it was. So let’s take a look at a brief history.
The LEGO Ambassador Network (LAN) is a worldwide community network of LEGO user groups representing the AFOL (Adult Fan Of LEGO) communities and acting as a communication link with the LEGO Group. The LAN was established in 2005 as the Ambassador Program and was renamed in 2014. In 2022, The LEGO Group announced that the LAN would close in April.
Table of Contents
A Brief History
The LEGO Ambassador Network was formed in 2005 as the Ambassador Program. The program aimed to link all AFOL groups worldwide and The LEGO Group.
The fact that Adults are interested in building with LEGO is not new and the first club for this was established over thirty years ago. There is even a term for adults interested in LEGO: AFOL (Adult Fan of LEGO). Jeff Thompson used this term for the first time on June 13, 1995, on rec.toys.lego (RTL) which was a Usenet newsgroup. Some adult fans of LEGO prefer the alternative acronym ALE (Adult LEGO Enthusiast).
The LEGO Group operates a special department, the “AFOL Engagement Team” which interacts with and represents adult fans. One of the functions of the AFOL Engagement Team is to assist adult fan creations in becoming real LEGO sets through LEGO Ideas.
The LEGO Ambassador Network assists adult fans by having a Community Locator, Calendar, and Blog. This allows AFOL to interact with each other, and share build ideas and LEGO news.
Three Types Of Communities
The LAN is made up of three different types of communities:
- Recognized LEGO User Groups (RLUGs)
- Recognized LEGO Online Communities (RLOCs)
- Recognized LEGO Fan Media (RLFMs)
Recognized LEGO User Groups (RLUGs)
Recognized LEGO User Groups are usually located in a limited geographical area and meet regularly for building and other events.
Recognized LEGO Online Communities (RLOCs)
Recognized LEGO Online Communities just like the name are found mainly online and conduct their activities through forums, create discussions and organize building events and other competitions.
Recognized LEGO Fan Media (RLFMs)
Recognized LEGO Fan Media interact with their community through media such as physical and digital magazines, blogs, and Youtube channels. The media will be about LEGO History, News, and Product Reviews.https://lan.lego.com/forums/topic/4104-the-lego-ambassador-network-rules-and-guidelines/
Anyone is free to start or join a LEGO fan club but to be officially recognized, the club must conform to a predetermined set of requirements defined in the program.
Every adult fan may use the Community Locator, Calendar, and Blog made available via the LEGO Ambassador Network (LAN). This will assist you in locating local events, locating a community of other adult enthusiasts with whom you can build and be creative, and a blog that reveals behind-the-scenes tales and news from the LEGO Group. There is a LEGO Ambassadors Network website where AFOLs can learn more about groups and events.
More Access For Designated Ambassadors
Each officially recognized LEGO community also has a community Ambassador who is given extra permission to connect directly with the AFOL Engagement Team and collaborates with other community Ambassadors from around the globe in the Forum. You may learn more about these community Ambassadors by reading the posts in the “Community Ambassadors” section of the Forum.
The Network Assists LEGO Keep In Touch With AFOLs
The LEGO Group acknowledges the existence of this fan community and has a division responsible for interacting with and representing adult enthusiasts. The “AFOL Engagement Team” comprises LEGO Group members who help turn fan creations into real LEGO sets.
How Do You Make A LEGO User Group?
To make a LEGO user group, first, you must find others who share your love for LEGO. You could find other like-minded people through social media or using online classifieds. Maybe, you could put up flyers around your community to get people interested.
Once you have a group of people, you need to find a place to meet. Many LUGs (LEGO User Groups) have started in someone’s garage or house. If you need more space, you may want to try Community Centers or Church halls, You could also rent space in the office building or hotel – share the cost between the members.
The next step is to create a Facebook page and group. This is an excellent way to get the word out about your group and make your group more professional. You can also promote events and meetings.
Go to meetings held by other groups, you may get people that want to join your group.
Once your group is one year old and has a minimum of 20 people, you can register with the LEGO Ambassador Network. Registering your group will get you a LEGO Ambassador who will be in direct contact with LEGO. Your registration gives you access to unique programs run by CEE (Community Engagement & Events) Team from LEGO.
The final and most important step is ensuring you adhere to the LEGO Ambassador Network rules and guidelines.
How Do You Apply For The LEGO Ambassador Network?
The first step to applying for the LEGO Ambassador Network is to read the LEGO Ambassador Network rules and guidelines. Communities can apply all year round while applications will be reviewed twice a year.
The application can be found in the forms section of the LEGO Ambassador website. Once you visit the form library you will be met with two different application forms.
The first form is the LEGO fan Media Recognition application. This application is if you have a LEGO Fan Media community. This is if you engage with your community through fan media such as a Youtube channel, Twitch stream, or a blog.
The second application form is for a LEGO User Group and Online Community Recognition. LEGO User Groups have a physical presence in a limited geographical region such as a country, state, or city.
A LEGO Online Community is active and participates in most of its community activities through forums where they engage in discussions, and organize building activities and competitions.
What Are The LEGO Ambassador Network Requirements?
To be considered for acceptance into the LEGO Ambassador Network, you must be at least 18 years of age, have one year of existence, and be nominated by the community to represent the community on the plan. For more information take a look at the rules and guidelines.
What Are The LEGO Ambassador Network Benefits?
The benefits of being a part of the LEGO Ambassador Network include:
• Access to an online community of like-minded people who love LEGO bricks
• The ability to share your passion for creativity with others
• The opportunity to collaborate with other ambassadors on LEGO projects
• The chance to grow as a creative problem-solver
The LEGO Ambassador Network is a great way to connect with other LEGO fans worldwide. It offers a variety of opportunities to collaborate on projects, share your creative ideas, and learn new skills. Being a part of the network also allows you to grow as a problem-solver, and tap into the wealth of knowledge and experience that other members offer.
How Many People Are In The LEGO Ambassador Network?
There were approximately 449 ambassadors in the LEGO Ambassador Network worldwide as of 2020.
The Closure Of The LEGO Ambassador Network
On Friday, April 1st, 2022, the LEGO Group announced it would begin closing the LEGO Ambassador Network. The LEGO Group did not offer any official reason for the closure but it was rumored that LEGO fans within the LAN felt neglected and unheard.
The owner of LEGO, Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen stated:
We realised that a core group of our fans were not being supported in a meaningful way
Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen
The LEGO Group stated they would create another way to communicate and support the LEGO fans better.
Final Thoughts
The LEGO Ambassador Network closure announcement came as a surprise to many in the community. While there were some complaints about how the network was run, most people felt that it was a valuable resource.
Although the network will be closing down, the LEGO Group has stated it will create another way to support and communicate with its fans. The LEGO Group has stated that they will create another way to communicate and support LEGO fans, but no details have been released yet.