Today, we have implemented a new experimental feature called "RailFan Clubs". Some notes:
1. The purpose of this feature is to encourage RailFan meets at local stations, and to enjoy a shared interest in our hobbies/passions. An "RF Club" is essentially like a "group", wherein only members of that "RF Club" can see and post blogs. This way, when planning RF Meets at your local nearby station, you may post and share specific details, and these posts will NOT be public. ONLY members of that Club can read/write posts.
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Each station is associated with one "Station RF Club". All Stations in a Division are associated with ONE "Divisional RF Club. All Stations in a Zone are associated with ONE "Zonal RF Club".
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3. When you join a Station RF Club, you also automatically become a member of the corresponding Divisional RF Club and the Zonal RF Club.
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4. You may post blogs to your Station RF Club to communicate with, organize meets for that Station's club members. If you wish to reach out to all members of that Division, then you may post to your corresponding Divisional RF Club. When you post to your Zonal RF Club, all members of all stations in that zone can see/reply to your posts.
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5. It is not necessary that you need to join the RF Club of a major station. As explained above, even if you join your small local "Station RF Club", you are automatically also a member of the Divisional RF Club & Zonal RF Club.
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6. You can only join the Station RF Club of the "Nearest Station" & "Home Station" as in your profile.
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7. There is ONLY "RF Club Forum" which consolidates all posts from all Clubs that you are a member of. You can filter to see posts of only a specific Club. When you use the Filter, the Right-hand margin will have a list of members of that specific RF Club.
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8. IRI Admins will be able add individual members to their RF Clubs (if requested).
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9. Although RF Club posts are not public, they will be moderated and subject to the SAME Forum guidelines as in our public Forums. Offensive language and other abusive conduct will NOT not be permitted. In this respect, the "RF Clubs" are different from other Groups that may be seen on other social media sites.
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This is an experimental feature, and will be modified/enhanced depending on uptake. Some features coming soon:
1. Calendar of meets of RF Clubs.
2. Option to "make public" individual Club posts - so that it will appear in the General Forum.
3. Modification of the ChatRoom to integrate better with RF Clubs, so that it is more useful (than it is now).
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Please try it out. Feedback is welcome. Thanks.