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Guidelines for a Unit Web-site!
Polices and Procedures for a Scouting Web-site.
The following policies and procedures are recommended when developing a troop web site.
- All mailto addresses should be directed to an adult's email address. That adult can screen the email and forward the appropriate email to the Scouts. The reason for this is the amount of x-rated sites that use web bots to harvest email addresses from web sites and then spam them with links to their x-rated sites.
- Do not display the names of Scouts on the web site. This is related to the Boy Scout Youth Protection Policy and the BSA policy against releasing the names of its members in a public forum.
- Where sensitive information is to be published, hide it behind a password security entrance.
- When ever possible, link to another site for "official" information if it is available. For example, the Council calendar of events. This allows the responsible party to maintain their information in a correct and timely manner.
Following is what the National Boy Scout Council has to say on the subject.
Guidance for Unit Web Sites
After considerable discussion and review, the BSA national council has issued the "Guidance for Unit Web Sites" below. These guidelines address a few vital items pertaining to unit Web sites. Councils may wish to add their own items to this rather short list.
Unit Webmasters should contact their local councils for policies and procedures pertaining to the use of the Internet for promoting and supporting Scouting units.
Guidance for Unit Web Sites
The Boy Scouts of America provides the following advice for individuals who use privately owned Web sites and e-mail accounts to communicate information about Scouting.
Decorum
Scouters should exercise propriety and good taste online. Material that will be posted to a unit site or sent from a unit e-mail account should be reviewed by at least three adult members of the unit committee. Access (the ability to place material on the site or send messages from the account) should be controlled by an adult who is responsible to the committee.
Youth Protection
Names, images, and especially contact information pertaining to youth members should never be gathered or published over the Internet.
Copyright
Do not "borrow" (without permission) content for use in unit Web sites. Written permission should always be obtained,. Even when material is declared to be "free" or "public domain;" it might not be.
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