Privacy: Privacy is very important to all of us. Since the general public has access to a chapter web site, we are all presented with some challenges. On the one hand we want to showcase the chapter, but on the other we want to protect the privacy of chapter members. So what do you do? Let’s look at each area individually:

Listing names: If you need to list a name, for example, in birthday lists or posting of awards programs, list a nickname, first name or first name and last initial. This way you are not revealing personal identifying information about your members, and are helping to ensure that visitors to your site cannot compile or view a ‘customer list’.

Chapter officer lists: This is the only exception to the rule about listing personal information. People visiting your site may not be from your chapter and would like to contact someone for further information. If, and only if, chapter officers give permission to post this information, you can list their name, phone number and e-mail address.

Pictures: If we can’t have personal information, does this mean we can’t have photos? Nope. Of course, you can have photos on your site. We suggest you don’t place captions underneath the photos, but if you do, just list the person’s first name. Hint: make sure it’s the right name with the right photo.

Member profiles: Can you do these on your site? Absolutely. Be sure to get the member’s permission to have the profile posted on the web. We even suggest you have the member write the profile—that way he or she knows exactly what’s being said.

E-mail lists: Providing an e-mail list of your chapter membership is a great benefit for the members, but it is definitely not something you want the general public to have. By listing e-mail addresses, you open up your members up to receive e-mail from anyone who comes to the site, including competitors and SPAM mail services (you know -- junk mail to your e-mail account). No-one wants to facilitate this. So what do you do? If you want to be linked to hog.com, simply move this information to a password-protected area to which only your chapter members, sponsoring dealer and Regional Manager have the password. This provides the convenience of having e-mail addresses on-line yet protects the privacy of your chapter members.

Chapter newsletter: Providing your chapter newsletter on-line is another great benefit for your chapter members. However, the newsletter is an exclusive benefit for chapter members only. By providing your newsletter on-line you are allowing anyone to view it, and the newsletter is no longer an exclusive benefit. If you want to post your newsletter on-line, place it in a password-protected area where only your chapter members can benefit from this information. This gives members the convenience of having the newsletter on-line, keeps the benefit exclusive, and, since many newsletters publish personal information about chapter members, this helps to protect their privacy.

Privacy statement: Privacy is a hot topic on the Internet. That’s why we’ve asked you to include a privacy statement on your site. This is a best practice of the Internet, and for those people who take the time to read these privacy statements, it let’s them know that H.O.G. values their privacy. A sample statement is in Section H of your chapter handbook. Feel free to modify this statement to fit your chapter’s needs.

Advertising: If you want to be listed on hog.com, you cannot have linkable advertising on your site (banner ads or ads that take you to a company’s web site). However, you can list things like Biker Friendly restaurants on your site as long as you are not providing a link to their web site. This way you are providing a benefit to your chapter members—after all we all like to ride and eat -- but you and your sponsoring dealer do not have to worry about what type of content is on someone else’s business site.

Classified advertising: Classified advertising is different than "advertising". As the Guidelines state, classified advertising (like ‘For Sale’ sections) are prohibited. Why? The web site is open to the general public, not just your chapter members. With this worldwide audience comes both legal and financial risks related to listing classified information, and also a competitive risk to your sponsoring dealer. Many ads directly compete with your sponsoring dealer and the H-D dealer network. What if your sponsoring dealer approved a classified advertising section, and you still want the chapter site to be linked to hog.com? Either remove the section or place it in a password-protected area where only your chapter members can benefit from this information.

**NOTE: if you're going to email someone, use BCC to send your email (unless you're sending to all the officers, etc.) - and be sure to set up your email so your NAME shows, not just your email address because I have no clue who "happyharleymama" is.  And be sure whether or not you need to "reply to all" - we don't all want your personal comments to Matt (for example).  As a courtesy to everyone in your address book, it is best to send group emails as a bcc. This way you are not spreading a friend's email address to someone they do not know and it thus remains hidden from everyone else when sent. All email programs have a bcc and if you can't see yours, check your Preferences and activate it. This is often how email addresses end up in the hands of spammers. Additionally, if someone hits the Reply All button they could be replying to perfect strangers.