The staff of FA: United hopes that everyone who comes has a fun, safe, and enjoyable weekend. To ensure a good time for everyone, there are some rules we expect our attendees to follow. This document attempts to specify many of those rules. However, the number one rule is this:
Treat everyone with the kindness and respect that you would have them show to you.

If there is any doubt about the rules in this document, apply that rule. If there is still a question or disagreement, Convention staff reserve the right to change or clarify these rules at any time, and any such decision will be final. Members are expected to abide by these rules at all times during the convention..

Convention spaces are to be kept to a “PG” rating at all times. Deliberate destruction of convention or hotel property, public fighting, or public sexual behavior will result in your membership being revoked, as well as involvement from hotel security or local authorities. Threats, stalking, harassment, or persistently rude behavior may also result in your membership being revoked if our staff deems it necessary.

Please be considerate of those around you, especially those not attending the convention, by not blocking doorways, hallways, stairways, elevators, or the hotel lobby.

Please do not allow more people into an elevator than will comfortably fit, and always observe the posted limits. If you have to squeeze in, it’s too many. Also, please give preference to disabled persons, fursuiters, and hotel guests who are not attending the convention.

No sleeping in any public areas of the hotel. You will be woken up and asked to move by convention staff, unless hotel security finds you first, in which case their response is at their discretion.

Shirts, pants/shorts, and appropriate footwear are to be worn at all times on hotel property. The exception is the pool area, where appropriate swimwear should be worn. Nudity (including simulated nudity) and explicitly revealing clothing are not to be displayed in public areas.

Fursuits are considered “appropriate” in all areas of the hotel except for the restaurants, the pool, and the gym. Rules about nudity and revealing clothing still apply to fursuits.

A minor is any person who, on their first day attending the convention, will be under 18 years of age. Minors must provide us with a notarized copy of our Parental Consent form before picking up their badge. No refunds will be given to pre‐registered members who are missing this form. No exceptions to this policy will be made.

New Jersey state law prohibits smoking except in designated areas of the hotel and convention space, including private sleeping rooms. When smoking outdoors, please properly dispose of your cigarette butts. Please note that the legal age for purchase of tobacco products in New Jersey is now 19.

Use or possession of illegal drugs will not be tolerated at any time in the convention space or on hotel property. Anyone found to be possessing, using, or distributing illegal drugs will be reported to local authorities, and banned from the convention. This includes prescription medications which were not prescribed to the person using them.

Adults of legal drinking age in the state of New Jersey (21 years) may consume alcohol only in private rooms, in the restaurant, bar, or lounge areas of the hotel, or in areas where the hotel or the convention are providing drinks for immediate consumption. Anyone noticeably under the influence of alcohol or any other drug may be asked to remove themselves from public areas of the hotel.

Anyone knowingly or unknowingly serving alcohol to a person under the age of 21 is guilty of a felony crime. If Convention staff becomes aware of this happening, they are obligated to report it to local authorities, and the person serving the alcohol will be banned from the convention. For your own safety, ensure that no minors are present if you are serving alcohol in your room.

For the safety and comfort of our attendees and staff, weapons are not to be used, displayed, or otherwise present at any time in the convention space. This includes “toy” or “prop” weapons, functional or otherwise.

Convention staff reserves the right to determine what is and is not a weapon. Such staff decisions are final. Any item used in a dangerous or threatening manner, regardless of the item’s common use, may be considered a weapon.

Weapons used as props for masquerade acts may be present ONLY after inspection by and approval from Convention security, and once approved may only be present during the masquerade act and rehearsals, and travel to and from them.

Signs, flyers, and announcements are only to be posted on the official convention message boards. Any other signs posted will be removed, especially those blocking any hotel signage.
Signs posted on doors to private rooms are allowed, but must not damage the surface they are attached to when removed, and must not contain offensive language or images.

Still images of the convention and its attendees may be used only for personal, non‐commercial purposes. Please do not take photographs or other images of anyone who does not wish to be photographed. Audio or video recording of the convention or its attendees without express written permission from the convention staff is prohibited. Images or recordings of the convention and its attendees may not be broadcast or published without express written permission from the convention staff.

Attendees agree to allow their images, as taken by official convention photographers, to be used without compensation by the convention for promotional purposes.

The staff of FA: United is especially concerned about the comfort and well‐being of our attendees. If you have any questions, concerns, or complaints, please bring them up with any staff member. If you have complaints about a staff member, please bring them up with Razor, the head of Security; complaints about a Security team member can be brought to Sox, the Operations Director.

The convention’s staff and security, as well as hotel staff and security, are authorized to enforce this Code of Conduct, as well as the hotel’s regulations, at all times. Enforcement of the Code of Conduct may include warnings, badge confiscation, removal from the premises, permanent banning from this and future events, or arrest by local authorities, as deemed appropriate by our staff. Registration fees of any person removed from, banned from, or arrested during the convention will not be returned.

Attendees are required to respect and obey the decisions of hotel and convention staff and security.

The convention and its representatives are not responsible for loss of or damage to attendees’ personal property, nor is the hotel or its staff responsible for the same.

Neither the convention nor the hotel, nor their representatives, shall be held responsible for any personal injury which occurs on the premises. If any attendee, staff member, hotel guest, or any other person on the premises is injured badly enough to require emergency care, please alert convention staff or security, but call 911 first! If the injury is not life‐threatening, please contact a member of our Staff or Security.

The convention cannot and will not be held responsible for any action or events taking place in private sleeping rooms. The person to whom the room is rented will be held responsible for all activities and any damages. If our staff becomes aware of any illegal activity taking place in a private sleeping room, we are obligated to report this to the authorities.

Any unattended items found at the convention may be turned in at the Con Ops room, at the registration desk, or to any member of Security. Convention staff will hold any items turned in until they are claimed by their owner. If the item is not claimed during the convention, a notice will be posted to the convention website. Any items not claimed within ninety (90) days of this point will become the convention’s property, and may be disposed of.

Convention staff may examine the contents of items left in the Lost and Found in order to determine their owner. This includes notebooks, sketchbooks, backpacks, wallets, purses, PDAs, cell phones, laptops, and any other device which may contain clues to the owner’s identity. If you do not want convention staff examining your property, you are encouraged not to lose it.