PURPOSE

To promote positive use of the internet and the world wide web while providing for the protection of our youth and the Scouting program.

To promote a single unified presence for the Northwest Suburban Council (NWSC) on the Internet.

To promote electronic access to information regarding NWSC programs, special events, training, Council staff, and international Scouting Web links.

To encourage programs and units within the Northwest Suburban Council to create and maintain individual Web pages in support of the NWSC Web page.

To provide guidance for development of program and unit Web pages.

To encourage communication between Scouts, Scouting Professionals, and volunteer Scouters.

To promote the establishment of contacts within each district who will actively promote the objectives of this committee.

To review and approve all data and information to be linked from the NWSC Page.

To review future electronic communication development for use by the Northwest Suburban Council. Such future development may include interactive exchange of information such as submission of training or special event registrations, tour permits, and/or Scout Shop transactions.

DEFINITIONS:

1. Adult - individual over 18 years of age

2. Council (NWSC) -- The Northwest Suburban Council, BSA.

3. Council Site (Official Site) -- The internet site used to publish information developed by or specifically for Council programs. Example: Publishing the contents of an Northwest Suburban Council program brochure could only be done on the official Council approved site. Discussion and/or promotion of the program can be done on any site.

4. Council Webmaster -- The Council Webmaster is Chairman of the Council Internet Subcommittee and is responsible for the day to day review of the Council site and Council approved sites.

5. Internet Subcommittee -- The Subcommittee formed by the NWSC Communications Committee to promote the positive use of this electronic medium.

6. Internet Site -- Any public electronic medium accessible by computer to computer communication. This includes, but is not limited to, web, ftp and gopher sites.

7. Member -- Any adult or youth member of the Boy Scouts of America.

8. Private Sites -- Sites providing information about the Scouting program in an unofficial capacity.

9. Program and Unit Sites -- Sites run by units of the NWSC to promote their own programs and approved by NWSC to link with the Council site.

INTERNET POLICY

It is the policy of the Northwest Suburban Council that all internet material or information linked from, associated with, or utilizing the Northwest Suburban Council name or logos be approved by the Northwest Suburban Council through its Internet Subcommittee and conform to the following guidelines.

GUIDELINES

Publishing:

1.Providing information through an internet site is considered publishing and is subject to the same standards and restrictions of any publishing medium.

2.Copyrighted materials, other than those developed by the Council and the BSA, are strictly prohibited on Council approved sites.

3. All documents, illustrations, photographs and linked material must conform to the principles, policies and traditions of the Boy Scouts of America, the Northwest Suburban Council and the unit's chartered partner.

Northwest Suburban Council Official Site:

1.The Chairman of the Internet Subcommittee or his designated registered Volunteer Member representative and the Staff Advisor to the Council Communications Committee or his designated Professional representative will BOTH approve ALL materials published on the Council Official Site prior to submission to the site.

2. The Chairman of the Internet Subcommittee will be designated Council Webmaster. He will hold permissions for full access to the Council Official Site as will the Professional Advisor to the Council Communications Committee. The Council Webmaster and the Professional Advisor may together approve granting permissions to a limited number of other individuals as deemed necessary for good and proper operation of the Council Site.

Council Approved Site:

1. No member shall publish information covered under these rules or present himself or herself as an approved program or unit site of Council or display the web site logo without Council approval through the Council Internet Subcommittee.

2. While useful information about Council programs and divisions may appear on many web sites, only one web site will be recognized as the official web site for that program or unit.

3. The Council Internet Subcommittee shall develop an application procedure for members wishing to operate Council approved sites.

4. All linked units and groups must have a registered adult advisor for their Web Page and all material must be approved by the advisor prior to placing it on a Web Page.

5. The home page for the approved program or unit will contain a hyperlink to the Northwest Suburban Council home page (http://www.nwsc.org) prominently displayed. There is only one official NWSC home page. All approved web pages must clearly identify the unit that it represents and a contact person with e-mail address for comments.

6. These guidelines must be followed for the unit (group) [i.e. pack, troop, post, district] to have a link established from the Northwest Suburban Council's Web Page to the unit's home page.

7. Council approved status may be withdrawn by the Council Internet Subcommittee without notice for failure to comply with these rules.

Other Sites:

1.Unit sites, private sites and other internet sites may not publish substantial portions of published Council information. However, sharing program information is encouraged.

2. Sites sharing information about the Scouting program are encouraged to use common sense and the guidance of the Scout Law in the operation of their sites.

Member Protection:

1. Last names, last initials or any identifying information about youth members shall not be published on the web. Names and information about any adult shall be published only with the written approval of that individual.

2. Pictures of youth may appear on the web as long as no name or other personal information is associated with the picture.

3. Under no circumstances shall the address or personal phone number of any youth be published on the internet. Phone numbers of adult members may only be published with permission.

4. E-mail addresses may be published, with the permission of the holder, if worthwhile benefit to the program would be achieved.

Security:

1. One adult with site access shall be named as the responsible contact for the each site. In the case of youth run sites, one adult and one youth, both of which have site access, shall be named the responsible contacts for each site.

2. The name, address, phone number, and e-mail address of each responsible contact shall be provided to the internet subcommittee. Other pertinent information may be required.

Liability:

The Internet Subcommittee, like other Council Committees, provides general oversight of this program. Members operating internet sites are responsible for their content. The Council shall not be held liable for the contents of any web site whether or not such web site has obtained Council approved status.