Privacy Policy
WEBSITE ACCEPTABLE USE, DOMAIN USAGE AND PRIVACY POLICY OF TROOP 844
The Boy Scout Troop 844 Website Acceptable Use, Domain Usage, and Privacy Policy (the “Policy”)
The chartering organization for Troop 844 is Alum Creek Church of Christ, Lewis Center, OH. Troop 844’s unit charter is granted by the Simon Kenton Council, in accordance with the requirements of the bylaws, rules and regulations of the Boy Scouts of America.
Purpose of the Policy
This Policy sets forth the policies of the Troop 844 Boy Scouts of America regarding the use of its domain, website, e-mail, and any Internet features, including privacy. All persons, before having access to the website to post or do anything except view the website, must sign the attached acknowledgement form. By doing so, each such person agrees to comply with the Troop’s Policy as set forth in this document. Such agreement is a condition to that person obtaining access to the Website.
Troop 844 retains the right not to provide access to any person for any reason.
Please note: Troop 844 reserves the right to change this Policy at any time by posting the revised policy on the BSA Troop 844 website, http://www.troop844.org (the “Website”). No advance notice to any Users shall be required or necessitated, and such changes shall be effective as soon as published. Changes to this Policy will be considered and approved by majority vote of the Troop 844 Committee.
Purpose of the Website
The purpose of the Website is to provide a centralized communication tool for the troop members and parents, guardians and leaders to share information, to plan outings and events, and to act as a conduit for disseminating information to Troop 844. The webmaster will make every effort to keep the Website updated, keeping in mind at all times that the content and design of the Website should reflect the purposes and values of scouting and the unique character of our Troop.
Disclaimer
By using any of the Troop’s features, the User and the User’s parents and User’s guardians understand, acknowledge and agree the Troop does not have the ability to monitor email or most usage of the Website, save the disabling of email addresses and certain features by canceling or disabling the User’s account. Scouts are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the Boy Scout law, oath, and other codes of conduct and to refrain from inappropriate or offensive conduct on the Website.
Every attempt will be made to preserve the integrity of the site and features and react to any issues that may arrive, but there is no guarantee of the effectiveness of these preventive or reactive measures. By using the Troop’s features, the User and the User’s parents and guardians understand the inherent risks to using the site and the Internet in general. All concerned acknowledge, agree, and understand the Troop cannot control access or data of any kind to any resources not located on our domain.
The Troop does not have any means to monitor or restrict emails, including spam or inappropriate emails that come into or out of the Website. Any inappropriate emails or content should be reported to the webmaster immediately so that Troop 844 adult leadership and the webmaster can investigate and take actions within their control to eliminate and/or address the inappropriate emails and content.
Hold Harmless
Under any and all circumstances, the User and the User’s parent(s) and/or guardian(s) understand and agree the Troop provides these resources in good faith to aid in the proper development of the Troop and the Scouts and shall hold the Troop, the Boy Scout’s organization (all levels), the webmaster, the leaders, the committee, the sponsoring agents, and all persons related to the Troop, the domain, the Website, the Boy Scouts, the individual Scouts and their families, and anyone else, blameless and harmless without any type of responsibility (financial or otherwise) for any difficulties, damages (financial or otherwise), or complaints (expressed or otherwise) related to the Troop’s domain or resources.
Every attempt has been made to comply with the National Boy Scouts of America’s Internet policies, Youth Protection, and Cyber Chip.
Privacy
In accordance with policies and standards regarding the protection of minors and personal information, all Users agree not to post or cause to be posted in public areas the following information:
Last names of minors (only first names and last initials shall be used), Personally Identifiable Information (including but not limited to full names, addresses, phone numbers, etc).
Times and locations at which children will be present without adequate adult supervision.
This information may indirectly be made available, such as via a link to a newspaper article, etc. Efforts will be made to restrict content posted on the Troop’s site, but links will not be withheld solely on this basis.
These privacy policies are in accordance with BSA Youth Protection Guidelines and the BSA policy against releasing the names of its members in a public forum. The Youth Protection Guidelines are available at http://www.scouting.org/YouthProtection.aspx.
Troop 844 is committed to respecting and protecting the personal privacy of its members and those who visit the Website. This site does not acquire or retain personal information from Users, other than from parents and guardians.
Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)
Troop 844’s Website is in compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (http://www.coppa.org/), which prohibits the collection of any personally identifiable information from children under 13 years of age. If any interface requires the collection of personally identifiable information, it will include a statement that submissions cannot be accepted from Users under 13 years of age.
Information Sharing
Troop 844 is the owner of the information, which is collected on this Website. We will not sell, disseminate, disclose, trade, transmit, transfer, share, lease or rent any personally identifiable information to any third party not specifically authorized by you.
Links
Troop 844’s Website may contain links to other Scout-related websites. Troop 844’s Policy does not apply to such external websites and Troop 844 has no control over the contents of those external websites. Users acknowledge and agree that by using such external links, they are subject to those other websites’ content and their usage and privacy rules.
Photos and Videos
As the parent(s) and/or guardian(s), you acknowledge and agree and give permission for photos and videos and the first name and last initial of your Scout to be used freely for the Troop’s purposes, including website photos, writings, or any other legitimate purposes. In addition, you acknowledge and agree that, while efforts will be made to limit or prevent any information containing last names in connection with photos on the full access portion of the Website, some information might be indirectly made available as set forth above.
You also acknowledge and agree that, should a likeness of your Scout be used by Troop 844 or published in local newspapers or other mediums, no compensation shall be due and owing to you for the use of such likeness.
Message Restriction
Communications of any type (including but not limited to emails, chats, images, etc) may not contain content that a reasonable person would consider to be defamatory, offensive, harassing, disruptive, or degrading, including but not limited to offensive language, sexual comments or images, slander, ethnic slurs, or other comments or images that would offend someone on the basis of race, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, political beliefs, or disability.
Users may not use the Troop's resources in the creation, reception, or distribution of chain letters, spam, distribution of jokes, or non-Troop purposes.
Piracy
Users may not use the Troop’s resources to upload, download, or transmit copyrighted, trademarked, patented, confidential, private or proprietary information without proper authorization.
Users must not use the Internet or Troop resources to pirate software, steal passwords, or hack into other machines.
No unauthorized software may be loaded onto the Troop’s site; this includes games, screensavers, music, and any program without prior approval.
The introduction of viruses, attempts to breach the system, and other malicious tampering with any of the Troop’s resources is expressly prohibited.
Obscene materials
Users must not use the Troop’s resources to view or exchange pornography or obscene materials, send discriminatory or harassing email, or engage in any other unauthorized activities.
Users may not upload, download, or otherwise transmit any sexually explicit materials or images.
Account Usage Restrictions
The email addresses and any accounts provided by the Troop or that bear the Troop’s domain or a similar domain’s name shall not be used for any purpose other than legitimate Troop interests in accordance with this Policy.
At no time shall any of these accounts or email addresses be used to subscribe to non-Boy Scouts of America or non-Troop 844 services, sites, or activities.
Passwords and Security
No one may allow the use of his/her passwords by others. No one may enable unauthorized third parties to have access to or use of Troop resources or otherwise jeopardize the security of the Troop’s systems.
Chats and Auctions
Users may not participate in newsgroups or chat group sessions unless expressly authorized and hosted by the Troop or a Boy Scouts of America sponsored or approved site. The usage of these type of activities or services that are sponsored by other BSA Troops or other sites will only be authorized IN WRITING by the Troop’s ADULT leadership.
Users are prohibited from buying and selling personal items using the Troop’s resources (including email addresses).
Conduct and User Responsibility
Users will be held personally responsible for their online conduct. Any and all liabilities that may be caused by the User is the sole responsibility of the User and his Parent(s) and/or Guardian(s) in accordance with applicable laws.
Sanctions
Violations of the policies described above for legal and ethical use of the Troop’s resources will be dealt with seriously. Violators will be subject to the normal disciplinary procedures of the Troop. Illegal acts involving the Troop’s resources may also be subject to prosecution by local, state and federal authorities.
In addition, any User found in the reasonable opinion of the Webmaster and Troop 844 adult leadership shall have access and usage rights terminated.
Sole Discretion
The Troop 844 adult leadership has sole discretion in the canceling or restricting of any and all accounts, domain name, any resources, email addresses and any other electronic features with or without notice, with or without cause.
Questions About the Policy
Any questions about this Policy should be submitted to Troop 844 via the “Contact Us” link within the Website. We welcome your questions and suggestions about the Policy and will be in touch promptly upon such inquiry.
This Policy has been derived from Troop 626‘s policy http://bsatroop626.org/aboutus.