Hlep me find BSA website policy

[bugle344]

Please help me! I have searched the net for hours to locate what I believe to be an official BSA website policy for Troops. No luck so far.

 

We have a new webmaster who wants to take our website and kick it up a notch - BAM! I have heard there is a set of "rules" to protect the boys - something to do with not showing face closeups and of course, no full names/phone numbers.

 

Can any of you "webbies" link me up?

[hops_scout]

Here is the link to my council's policy. It may help you.

 

 

http://okawbsa.org/council/unitpolicy.htm

[bugle344]

Correction: HELP me...sorry!

[Laurie]

http://www.scouting.org/legal/privacy.html

 

The above is the link to the privacy policy of National's website.

 

When I designed our website, I took what I believe to be some common sense measures to protect our children:

 

No names listed under photos *and* no photos put on-line without first obtaining written permission from the parents. If the parent doesn't want their child on-line, they don't go on-line.

 

No last names supplied for leaders or children.

 

No addresses other than the meeting place address.

 

No links to sites that might be questionable. If I would not allow my Cub to view the site, the link to it does not go on-line. ie We had a counter just to track how many views there were of particular pages, and I looked into the counter a bit more: had a boy clicked on the counter, he'd have a list of the top sites viewed, many of them porn. The counter was replaced immediately.

 

Additionally, the only e-mail link provided is one that I had made up for the pack. There are no forms to gather personal info, and we made a decision not to go that route. I currently am the only one with that e-mail, and I simply forward it to the appropriate person.

 

Hope this helps some.(This message has been edited by Laurie)

[evmori]

There isn't any policy but common sense prevails.

[SR540Beaver]

Bugle,

 

Pardon the length of this post, but here is our council's policy for linking a unit or district site to the council's site. Also, the national policy for linking a council site from the national site. Hope this helps.

 

http://www.lastfrontiercouncil.org/lfc_policies.htm

 

Last Frontier Council ("LFC")

 

Website Policies and Procedures

 

Updated as of July 21, 1999

 

 

 

The content and format of the LFCs Website will be approved and maintained by the LFCs Internet Committee ("IC"). The LFC Website will adhere to all BSA policies and procedures regarding Websites.

Units, other LFC committees or individuals desiring to make changes or additions to the Web-site will submit all requests to the IC chairman for review and approval by the whole IC. The IC will consider factors such as content, applicability and resource consumption before approving additions to the LFCs Website.

The LFCs Webmaster will be a member of the IC and will be responsible for all updates and additions to the LFCs Website once approved by the IC.

Appropriate content includes, but is not limited to, the following:

A. Links to Unit Websites and the BSA National Website.

 

B. Calendars and schedules of upcoming events such as training, Camporees, Scout Show, etc.

 

C. Forms such as event registration, tour permits, etc., provided such forms comply with all applicable LFC and BSA requirements.

 

If a Unit requests that its Website be linked to the LFCs Website, the IC will review the Unit Website for appropriate content, as outlined below, before such a link will be established. IC members will be assigned responsibility for monitoring the Unit Websites linked to the LFCs Website. IC members will perform a review of their assigned Websites monthly to insure continued compliance with BSA and LFC policies.

Before a Units Website link will be approved for inclusion on the LFCs Website, it must meet the following criteria:

A. Unit Websites must adhere to both the BSA National and LFC Website Policies and Procedures (the "Policies and Procedures"). The Policies and Procedures will be accessible from the first page of the LFC Website. A copy of the Policies and Procedures, signed by an adult Unit leader, must be on file with the Council IC Staff Advisor. Copies are available in the Council Service Center(s).

 

B. The Units Website must abide by all laws regarding copyrights, trademarks and other intellectual property.

 

C. No youths personal information, e.g. address, phone number, etc., will be available on the Units Website without password protection, in order to comply with BSA and LFC Youth Protection policies. The password must only be available to the approved adult leadership of the Unit and must be changed at least every 90 days.

 

D. Any links used on Unit Websites must also adhere to these Policies and Procedures. It is the Unit leaders responsibility to insure enforcement of the Policies and Procedures.

 

The LFC provides the LFC Website and links to Unit Websites as a service to the youth and adults of the Last Frontier Council. Inclusion of a link to a Units Website does not constitute an endorsement by the LFC of that Unit or its program over those of any other Unit in the LFC. The LFC, through the IC, reserves the right to discontinue a Units Website link, or the LFCs Website, if such a link or the LFCs Website is deemed to be not in the best interest of the LFC or the Boy Scouts of America.

These Policies and Procedures may be amended, expanded and otherwise changed from time to time by the IC. It is the responsibility of the adult Unit leaders to monitor any such changes and comply with the same.

 

 

http://www.lastfrontiercouncil.org/national_policies.htm

 

National Council, Boy Scouts of America1

 

Website Policies and Procedures

 

Following are the standards set fourth by the National Council, Boy Scouts of America, that must be met for a local council to have a link from the National Council Website to the local council Website.

 

 

 

In order to request a link to your council's* Web site, please verify that you are following these guidelines:

 

The council must have direct control over the content of its official Web site.

The content of the council site must be appropriate to the Scouting movement.

The council site cannot contain links to any sites that contain material that is not appropriate to the Scouting movement.

The council site cannot contain any advertisements or commercial endorsements.

The council site cannot engage in the electronic sale of BSA Supply Division merchandise or competing products.

The council site cannot replicate any BSA publication currently for sale through the Supply division.

Council sites must abide by all laws regarding copyrights, trademarks, and other intellectual property.

Council sites must consider the safety and privacy of their participants by obtaining the necessary permissions to release information about or images of any individual.

 

* District/Unit Websites are not linked from National, but may be linked from your local councils site.

 

1These Policies & Procedures are standards for the Last Frontier Council having a link to the LFC Website from the National BSA Website. In order for a link to be included on the LFC Website for a Units Website, that Unit must adhere to the National Council Policies and Procedures as well as those of the Last Frontier Council.