Re: Online Membership

["William Plotner" <gardens@molalla.net>]

I will add to this,

We also already have regional membership chrm.   That should be their job as
the AIS membership chrm already sends this list to them and I am sure that
it is available to the RVP's.

All MY Best

Will


----- Original Message -----
From: "K. Loberg" <loberg@adelphia.net>
To: <aisdiscuss@aisboard.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 18, 2007 11:38 PM
Subject: Re: [AISdiscuss] Online Membership


> Bob,   Your comment about a "high tech way" is valid to consider.
>
>    Going from what John's proposal indicates, "The easiest implementation
> would allow anyone to get the region list", I can tell you it would take
me
> about 15 minutes to load that region list (from the web) into a database.
> And, combined with a number of public databases which can be purchased, it
> might take me another 20 minutes to 1 hour to match and extract addresses
> such that I'd have a new mailing list.   High costs?   Not really, I know
of
> places to get public mailing lists from local government for very low fees
> (I worked for County government for two decades and I used to provide
those
> lists to entities who purchased them.)
>
>     So I don't want anyone thinking this is impractical or hard to do,
> because I could do it.   I'm pretty sure there are  commercial vendors who
> sell the "matching" service on a state wide basis.
>
>     So I don't understand the need to make this available on the AIS web
> site.   Does the membership secretary get a large number of inquiries that
> we're trying to eliminate or reduce?   If the primary purpose is to serve
> the RVPs and affiliates, I suggest announcing the list web location
> privately, and not open to the public on the AIS web site.   Sending the
> list via email is an easy alternative.
>
>    Are other plant societies doing this on a large scale?   I'm just
curious
> to know.
>
>    Perhaps membership should be asked if they want their name published in
a
> public list.   There could be a check box on the renewal form giving their
> permission.
>
>    I appreciate John's thoughts for the unprotected approach for
simplicity
> sake.  I'm very hesitant as to whether it should be public.
>
> Kitty Loberg
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <bobplankmail@aol.com>
>
> > John raises a valid issue. We do need a written Privacy Policy (and a
> > Liability Disclaimer Policy) covering the Internets.
> >
> > I quote below from "Guidebook for Directors of Nonprofit Corporations,"
> > second edition, published by the American Bar Association (2002).
> >
> > "Confidential Information.  The nonprofit corporation should also
exercise
> > care to protect its confidential and proprietary information.
Employees,
> > volunteers, and others may have access to trade secrets or confidential
> > information such as donor or member lists, personnel information,
medical
> > records, patient or client information or other data or materials that
> > must be kept confidential.  The nonprofit corporation should adopt a
> > confidentially policy and should take reasonable precautions (such as
> > passwords, limited distribution, stamping materials 'CONFIDENTIAL' to
> > protect against unauthorized dissemination of the organization's
> > confidential information."  Page 159-160; Emphasis added.
> >
> > Privacy is a hot button issue with many.  The laws vary from state to
> > state and are not static.  That's not to say that a member list, without
> > addresses, is "confidential information."  So far as I have determined,
> > such a list presently by law is not "material that must be kept
> > confidential."
> >
> > I'm inclined to agree with John Jones, favoring the "simple unprotected
> > approach just like the SJI does," because I do not view widespread
> > dissemination to be a commercial practicality because of the high costs
> > that would be involved in matching my name with an address. I would
object
> > (mildly) if it turns out that there is an inexpensive high tech way to
do
> > so, and as a result I got a flood of Invitations to Join from the
orchid,
> > rose, hosta, daylily, cactus, and gourd societies.
> >
> > Since the law does not appear to be determinative of the matter, it
should
> > be decided on other grounds, such as (a) whether rank and file members
> > would strongly object on privacy grounds to their names, without
> > addresses, being available on the AIS web site; and if so (b) whether
> > overcoming such possible objections are outweighed by the complications
of
> > password protecting the data; or (c) whether just to continue providing
> > the lists to the RVPs by mail or fax on hardcopy, and to continue
relying
> > on the members' own resources, or the RVPs, to remind them of the need
to
> > renew.
> >
> > Bob Plank
>
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