Meeting Hall Organization/Official MHO Guide/Section 1

Meeting Hall Organization/Official MHO Guide/Section 1 is an Official GemStone IV Document, and it is protected from editing.

Section 1: Defining and Creating an MHO

What is an MHO?

An MHO is a Meeting Hall Organization. A Town Meeting Hall provides a location for member groups to meet as well as services that aid in the running of events and activities. Each Hall contains several reservable meeting rooms, a place to rent services such as food carts and themed tents, a shop to purchase unique group insignia and other supplies, and a private tavern. The Hall also allows groups to issue news items and event announcements. Some services are available immediately upon joining, others become available after time and demonstrated community involvement. The Hall is not responsible for the quality of events run by member groups.

MHO Applications

MHO applications are currently CLOSED.

Who can apply to become a Hall member?

Any individual on a non-trial, non-F2P account and with a clean activity record (no negative infractions) for twelve months can apply for an MHO when MHO applications are open.

How does one become a Hall member?

Any group with a defined purpose which is open to new members and engages in activities which involve the greater community is eligible to join the Meeting Hall. To apply, a group must submit an application via email. The application will be reviewed and either accepted or returned to the group with an explanation of why revision is needed. Acceptance is at the discretion of the MHO GM.

Application Process/Stages:
When applications are open, this is the process to follow and expect

1. Email gs4-mho@play.net during the application period and include the following:
   • Group name
   • Group purpose and/or goals
   • Leadership structure
   • Officer names
   • Membership structure
   • Primary officer contact name and email address
   • Group symbol or crest (an insignia will be designed off this)
   • Town in which group is based
   • Brief idea for your first MHO event (just to give us an idea of what you plan on doing)
2. MHO GM will confirm receipt
3. If MHO application meets requirements, no additional action needed during submission process
4. If MHO application does not meet requirements, MHO GM will alert the primary contact and provide an opportunity to resubmit during the application period
5. Once the application period closes, the MHO GM will review all applications meeting criteria and select the new MHOs.
   • For the 2022 application process, 5 new MHOs will be selected.
   • If more than 5 applications are submitted, the MHO GM will set up a time for the representatives to gather, and a spinner will be used to randomly select the 5 MHOs
     • Any applicants not selected but that did meet criteria will be top priority at the next round of new MHOs. This means that if they are still interested and still meet criteria, they will be automatically part of the next round added. If there are more leftover, eligible applicants than spots in the second round, the same random selection process will occur, but no new applications will be accepted until all of these eligible applicants have a spot in the MHO system

Elements of the MHO Application

• Name:
  • This will be going on a plaque outside the Hall, so give it some thought! Names that violate game policy will be turned down.
• Purpose or Goals:
  • Not every group has to have a high and lofty purpose, or a good and noble one. Almost any sort of goal will work, as long as it will somehow involve or affect non-members (this may just be a matter of how you state it. "The purpose of our group is to make us rich" isn't community-related, but "the purpose of our group is to provide XYZ services to raise funds for our personal use" is). It is understood that a group's purpose may change and evolve with time. Again, a purpose which explicitly violates game policy will be returned for revision.
• Leadership:
  • The character name and email address of the group's contact person must be provided. The filing fee will be taken from this person's account, and the application will be returned if the funds are not available. There are no restrictions on the type of leadership structure. You may provide the current officers' names if you desire. In order for the group to prosper it is suggested that at least one of your leaders have a minimum of six months experience in Elanthia.
• Membership:
  • Who is eligible to join your group, and how will they be selected? There are no restrictions on criteria or methods, but MHOs must maintain at least five (5) members. Please provide a list of current members.
• Group crest:
  • This will be the identifying mark for your group and will most likely form the basis of your group badge or insignia should you request one later on.
• Primary town:
  • Each town has its own Hall, and although member groups can access the Hall and its services in any town, only one will be considered the group's "home base." If it becomes necessary, a group can designate a new base for a fee of 500,000 silvers. The town in which you pay the filing fee will be set as your primary town.
• Event Outline:
  • Please include a basic outline of the first event your group intends to run after becoming Hall members.

What happens after a group is accepted as a Hall member?

When a group has been accepted as a Hall member, the supervising GM will set up the applicant as a group officer and will email the applicant with some "getting started" information.

Membership Levels

There are two levels of membership in the MHO system, Prominent and Renowned. In Prime, all groups start at the first level, regardless of prior activity. In Platinum, all groups start at the second level. There is not a supported MHO system in Shattered. After two years of meeting activity requirements, a Prominent MHO will advance to the Renowned Tier.

MHO Membership Minimums: MHOs must maintain a minimum of 5 members at all times. The MHO GM will regularly check membership levels, and an MHO will be given three (3) months to meet membership minimums once discovered they have fallen below

Prominent Tier

Prominent Tier MHOs will have the following:

• General access to the MHO Halls in-game
• HALL verb functionality (criers, news items)
• Prize closet with only 1 item (insignia only)
• In order to be considered for advancement to the Renowned Tier, a Prominent MHO must complete one (1) event per calendar year, solely hosted by the MHO, open to all, and advertised via NEWS 4. Failure to meet minimum activity requirements may result in loss of MHO status entirely.

Renowned Tier

Renowned Tier MHOs will have the following:

• Everything under the Prominent Tier
• One calendar item per year, submitted 30 days in advance
• Prize closets are expanded to 5 items (one of which will be your insignia item)
• TIERS tent can be requested once per year at the cost of one (1) million silvers
• To maintain Renowned status, a Renowned MHO must complete two (2) events per calendar year, solely hosted by the MHO, open to all, and advertised via NEWS 4, the official calendar, Discord, and/or TownCrier's news systems. Failure to meet minimum activity requirements may result in demotion from Renowned to Prominent Tier.
  • Any Renowned MHO with items grandfathered from the previous system (including extra prize closet items and MHO physical structures) will lose these items upon demotion.

Are there any dues associated with Hall membership?

Member groups are not asked to pay dues. Instead, the Hall supports itself by charging for services actually used. Each group can choose its own level of involvement and select only those services it really needs.

Can a group lose its status as a Hall member?

Prominent Tier MHOs who fail to run an event run the risk of being removed from the MHO system entirely. Renowned Tier MHOs who fail to meet the requirements will be demoted to Prominent Tier. If a group with a permanent structure or other grandfathered items fails to meet event requirements, their access to these items will be removed. The MHO GM is always willing to work with MHOs through difficult times, as we do not wish to take away these special items.

MHO leaders should alert the MHO GM immediately regarding extenuating circumstances whenever minimums cannot be met.

A group may also request inactive status or cessation of membership. Requesting inactivity will remove the group from the Hall roster. A group that chooses to cancel membership will be removed from the roster and must reapply in order to rejoin.

A group whose activities as a group violate game policy will forfeit Hall membership and will not be able to reapply. However, the individuals will still be able to join existing groups or form new ones.

Requesting MHO Inactive Status

An MHO can request a one-year suspension of MHO requirements. Inactivity grants are on a calendar year basis. At any point, you can request an early end to an inactivity status, and you will be granted MHO system access again. However, you must also meet all requirements for the year. You cannot be inactive for more than one year. MHOs will automatically be placed back in the MHO system at the end of their inactivity period, and normal requirements will apply.

An MHO should not request inactivity more than once. Again, however, on a case-by-case basis, a second, non-consecutive time may be granted. This should not be used to "game" the system and shirk MHO requirements. MHOs suspected of doing this will be reviewed and risk removal from the MHO system permanently.

Example:

• Current year: You know you will not be able to meet 2022's requirements. You reach out to the MHO GM and are granted an exemption for 2022 requirements. For the remainder of 2022, you do not have access to the MHO system. Starting in 2023, you will be placed back in the system.
• Upcoming year: You suspect 2023 will be rough, so you reach out to the MHO GM in advance and are granted an exemption for 2023 requirements. You will meet 2022 requirements, and for 2023, you will not have access to the MHO system. Starting in 2024, you will be placed back in the system.

Being placed as inactive means:

• No access to the MHO Halls or their systems (tent rentals, etc)
• No access to your MHO structure, if applicable
• No event requirements for the time period

Can a group change their home base?

Groups are able to change their primary location one time. The exception to this rule is with groups who have structures, who may not move their home base. If you have a structure, and want to change your home base, you will lose the structure.

Please be certain where you want your home base to be before building a structure. Once this change has happened there will not be any future opportunity for any change of their home base.

The cost for a home base move is 500,000 silvers.