MN Free-mo New Members Policy
Minnesota
Free-mo Modelers is a group of railroad enthusiasts dedicated to
building and operating detailed, prototypically-oriented HO and N Scale
modules in the Twin Cities, Minnesota area. The MFMM welcomes new
members of any skill level as long as they are committed to quality
construction and realistic model railroading as well as to contributing
as good citizens to the betterment of the group and its layout.
There
are no dues required of MFMM members. Members will adhere to the
national Free-mo
standards
and the MFMM
Recommended Practices.
The MFMM layout and
equipment is entirely private property. The layout is built and is run
principally for the enjoyment
of the module owners. They have established the following guidelines to
encourage new members in joining them in the fun of building and
running large, prototypically inspired model railroads.
1.
If you are interested in learning more about MN Free-mo, contact one of
the current members or send an email to: info@mnfreemo.org.
Minors (under 18 years of
age) fall under special guidelines (below).
2. After
contacting a
group member and learning the basics of what Free-mo is all about, you
will be warmly welcomed to participate in group events as a Guest.
Events include not just set ups where a
layout is operated, but also build sessions and social gatherings. By
attending as a Guest you will learn more
about Free-mo and will be better equipped to design your own first
module. Please note that a Run Chief may set
particular guidelines for Guest operations at any given set up. Any
Guest must have made prior contact with the Run Chief prior to any
event to ask about guidelines for the event. The MFMM does not allow
non-owners to simply arrive at a set up and run their equipment without
some prior arrangement and Guest status.
3.
Continued access to the layout at set-ups requires that you contribute
to the building, running and teardown of the layout
at a set-up. After participating as a Guest,
individuals are expected to design and construct a Free-mo compliant
module. Please
understand that a good looking, well functioning Free-mo module
requires a certain level of commitment of time and money. If you are
not prepared to make those investments,
Free-mo is not for you. Individuals are also expected to provide their
own throttles at set ups. Locomotives and rolling stock must be in good
operational condition. Any problematic equipment that detracts from
the layout or its operations can be removed from the layout at any time
by any Run Chief.
We
are an open, friendly, welcoming group and have a strong interest in
having more individuals
join us in the fun. But individuals must understand that module owners
invest a considerable amount of time and
money and have an expectation that their access to the layout will not
be hindered or reduced by activities of non-owners. Module
owners, acting by
way of the Run Chief of any event, have the right to deny access to
their modules and the
layout to non-owners.
Minors
Policy
Minnesota
Free-mo Modelers is a group for adults (18 years and over). Minors may
have access to the layout by way of the responsibility of their parent
or
legal guardian, who must be a Guest or module owner, and must be
actively involved in the railroad.
If
you are a minor with an interest in Free-mo model railroading, contact
the group by way of your
parent or legal guardian. Your parent or legal guardian must be
actively involved in MFMM activities (see our
new members policy about learning about Free-mo, participating as a
Guest, and transitioning to an owner). We do not appreciate
circumstances where minors are involved with the layout but
parents or legal guardians are present but passive. Run Chiefs will act
accordingly.
Minors
must have a legal guardian with them at all times at all MN Free-mo
group activities.