Re: [AISdiscuss] Draft Youth Protection Guidelines

["Loberg" <loberg@adelphia.net>]

I agree with Clarence and also appreciate the work Bob has put into the 
document.

When I saw the AISDiscuss posting, I wondered what did we need to protect 
our youth from.  Then Bob mentioned written policies of such organizations 
as 4H, and my mind thought of the 4H youth policies.  I served in 4H as a 
volunteer for 15 years, including being a Community Leader for many years. 
I hadn't read Bob's proposed document yet but couldn't really see a 
comparison between AIS youth and 4H/Girls/Boys club youth projects.   4H is 
ONLY about youth, it is so much more active every month, in large events, 
and the youth are around physically potentially dangerous animals, e.g. a 
horse or steer which can kick you severely.  4H has for years required the 
fingerprinting of all leaders.  When you enter a youth into 4H, you have to 
sign an agreement allowing 4H to use youth photos in their newsletters and 
publicity.  Additionally, just a couple of years ago 4H implemented a policy 
whereas they ask for an additional adult to be present at all project 
meetings and events.

"These AIS Youth Protection Policy Guidelines are designed to help protect 
our youth in a proactive manner against sexual abuse (hereinafter "abuse")"

Then when I read Bob's first statement in the guidelines, I then saw a 
different angle than when I read Bob's comments about 4H.  I looked at it in 
terms of the language of protection from sexual abuse.  But as I read down, 
I realized there are a couple of statements that I needed to observe, as 
they pertain to the AIS Photo Contest.  It seems VERY far stretched to be 
comparing iris flower photography rules to sexual abuse protection.   Anyway 
the rules mentioned are:

"Photos of Youth Members.   AIS Policy prohibits the posting of photos of 
name-identified youth members on the Internet, unless AIS sponsored and 
password protected.  The publication of photos of named youth members in AIS 
publications whose distribution is limited primarily to AIS members is 
acceptable."

The Photo contest we published is SILENT about photos with youth.  We did 
include a statement whereas the entrant must agree to AIS having permission 
to publish the winning photos on the Internet.

I'm not sure I understand the difference between "name-identified youth" and 
"non name-identified youth".  Would this mean we could publish a photo on 
the Internet if the youth was NOT identified?   I realize that the person 
taking the photo is not the parent of the youth and the photographer may not 
have permission from the parent to publicize the photo.

I do hope we don't do anything to discourage membership from cultivating 
youth to be interested in irises.  In Region 14, it is extremely difficult 
to get volunteers to be a Youth chair at either the region level or club 
level, as well as getting youth involved.  Our biggest hope at my local club 
is to simply get a youth to enter our show.

Having a written policy to require two adult volunteers at youth iris 
projects seems a bit much, as our shows and meetings are never a one person 
event to begin with.

I would like to see any rules pertaining to photography and use of photos, 
whether from a photo contest or just standard photos in the AIS bulletin or 
on the Internet be placed in a separate policy statement, not within a 
policy statement on the prevention of sexual abuse.

Cheers to everyone!

Kitty Loberg

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