FPCForum Acceptable Use Policy

Policy # ___Revision # _00_

I. POLICY STATEMENT

FPCForum is an Electronic Mailing List of the First Parish Church of Stow and Acton that may be used as a discussion medium for members, friends, and family of the First Parish Church of Stow & Acton.

II. SCOPE

FPCForum membership includes any members, friends, and family of the First Parish Church of Stow & Acton who elect to be included in the FPC Directory. However, FPCForum membership is not meant for the at-large community. Membership is restricted to those with a legitimate interest, including those outside the above-listed categories that the moderators feel may have such a legitimate interest.

Topics discussed using the FPCForum electronic mailing list may include (but are not limited to) congregational matters, matters of local interest, political issues, and current events. Members of FPCForum are free discuss anything they like, as long as they adhere to the guidelines for discussion (see Attachment 1). Violation of these guidelines will be met with (depending on the severity of the violation and the surrounding circumstances) warnings and removal from the mailing list, at the discretion of the list moderators.

III. RESPONSIBILITY

The Communications Committee is the responsible committee. It has delegated operational responsibility to the subcommittee known as the Electronic Communication Committee. The list moderators act as final authority in matters regarding membership and communications on FPCForum.

IV. DEFINITIONS

FPCForum The name of the Electronic Mailing List. Moderator The person or persons responsible for maintenance and management of the FPCForum Electronic Mailing List. Moderators are members of the Communications Committee or one of its subcommittees. The names of the moderators will be periodically posted, with the aim of maintaining a goal of open communications within the list. FPCForum membership The FPCForum membership is restricted to those persons who are listed in the FPC Directory, and other interested parties as determined by the moderators who wish to be included on the membership of this electronic mail group.

V. REFERENCES

FPCForum Guidelines (See Attachment 1).

VI. APPROVAL SIGNATURES

Originator /DateFPC President /Date

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attachment 1

FPCForum Guidelines

Below are two sets of guidelines which shall be used in administering the FPCForum electronic mail group. Both are intended to be used as guidelines, however, the second set is intended to provide a framework for the spirit of this FPCForum electronic mail group. The first set (A) follows generally accepted guidelines for use in electronic mail groups. The second set (B) represents the expression of guidelines using a spiritually-oriented construction.

A. Generally Accepted Guidelines for participation in FPCForum

Affronts to Etiquette. Unacceptable activities include:

  • Spamming, posting unsolicited commercial advertising to the list.
  • Spoofing, using a return email address which is not the valid reply address of the sender or sending an email message which does not contain enough information to enable the recipient to identify the party who is sending the message.
  • Trolling, posting controversial messages aimed specifically at generating controversy and not honest discussion.
  • Mail bombing, inundating the list with many messages and no serious intent to correspond.
  • Signing up someone else to the list, without their knowledge or consent.
  • Forwarding messages someone else wrote outside FPCForum. Messages should remain within the listserve only.
  • Flaming sending angry email messages to others. Vigorous debate is encouraged, but if it threatens to become an argument, just agree to disagree and let it go. If necessary, wait 24 hours to reply to a message to ensure that you can respond appropriately. Please remember to show respect for the worth and dignity of every person.
  • Misuse of the reply options. Use common sense when posting. Be aware that you always have two options: responding through the list or to a member personally. The content of your message should determine which of these you choose. In addition, if you're going to be setting an auto-responder while you're out of the office, please temporarily suspend your list mailings.
  • Impolite messages. Typing in ALL CAPS is considered shouting. Use caps only to EMPHASIZE a word or concept; another way to emphasize a word or phrase is to put *asterisks* or -dashes- around it.

 

Abuse of the legal rights of others. Examples of unacceptable activities in this regard include:

  • Posting private information about a person without their consent
  • Infringing intellectual property rights
  • Defaming a person or business
  • Knowingly making available code which will have a deleterious effect on computers (computer virus, worms, Trojan horses, etc.)
  • Harassing, Stalking, or verbally abusing other list members.

 

Abuse of the law. FPC of Stow & Acton reserves the right to report illegal activities to any and all regulatory, administrative, and/or governmental authorities for prosecution. Illegality includes, but is not limited to:

  • Drug dealing
  • Attempting without authorization to access a computer system
  • Pirating, distributing copyrighted material in violation of copyright law (specifically MP3s, MPEG's, ROMs, and ROM emulators)
  • Gambling
  • Schemes to defraud, including pyramid schemes, chain letters, and Ponzi schemes.
  • Trafficking in obscene material
  • Sending a message or having content that is obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, or indecent with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass another person
  • Threatening bodily harm or damage to individuals or groups
  • Violating U.S. export restrictions
  • Stalking
  • Violating other state or federal law such as the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, or the Economic Espionage Act.

 

Abuse of the Service. Abuse of service is any deliberate action by a list member that damages the computer system that manages the list, or the computer systems of other list members.

Adult Content. Adult material or links (URL's) that lead to Adult Material are prohibited. This is an ALL AGES LIST, and the participation of minors is both encouraged and expected. The community itself will determine what constitutes "Adult Content" but the list moderators will act as final arbitrators.

Limitation of Liability. Neither the First Parish Church of Stow & Acton, nor this list's moderators accept responsibility for any claimed damages, including incidental and consequential damages, which may arise from the use of this mailing list. The list owner and the list moderators reserve the right to kick &/or ban any list member, if (at their sole discretion), they feel it is necessary. This in no way implies editorial control or legal responsibility for materials posted by list members to the FPCForum electronic mail list.

Notes:

  1. Once transmitted, there is no way to "take back" the email message on FPCForum. Each email message is the sole responsibility of the author of that message and not of anyone else.
  2. List members may remove themselves from the list any time. In addition, a periodic message is sent out providing members with information regarding how to "unsubscribe", or be removed from the list.

 

B. Spiritually Oriented Guidelines

Gentle Beings... These are a gentle reminder of how 99% of us already act. It helps to keep these things in mind in our cyber world.

  1. You will include a clear and specific subject line.
  2. You will edit any quoted text down to the minimum you need.
  3. You will read your own message thrice before you send it. Is it related to the purpose of your list?
  4. You will ponder over how your recipient might react to your message.
  5. You will check your spelling and your grammar.
  6. You will not flame, spam or USE ALL CAPS.
  7. You will not forward any chain letter or sales pitch.
  8. You will not use e-mail for any illegal or unethical purpose.
  9. You will not rely on the privacy of e-mail, especially from work.
  10. When in doubt, save your message overnight and reread it in the light of the dawn.
  11. Remember that you are contributing to building a "safe and welcoming community". Be mindful of the feelings of others who receive your message.

And, here's the "Golden Rule" of e-mail: That which thou findest hateful to receive, sendest thou not unto others.