NHCC Web/Blog Policy
Introduction
The Newport Hills Community Club blog is published under the direction of the Board of Directors to keep the community informed of news, events and other items of interest which are relevant to the community and its membership. It communicates club and board activities and also provides alerts to interested community members via various email lists.
(1) Web Site URL Address
The URL for the Newport Hills Community Club web site is http://newporthillscommunityclub.org/blog/. The site can also be reached via http://www.newporthillscommunityclub.org/blog/.
DreamHost maintains the host server and NetworkSolutions holds the domain name license. The Newport Hills Community Club pays fees for these services from the general fund.
(2) Editorial and Content Policies
The board has responsibility for the content of the web site. The webmaster has responsibility for operation and design of the web site. Responsibility for content is held by Board Members and Chairs. The webmaster shall be appointed by the club president, subject to approval by the board. Only the webmaster, his/her backup, and current Board Members and Chairs are authorized to make changes to the NHCC blog. Contact the webmaster at webmaster@newporthillscommunityclub.org .
- The content of the newsletter (also referred to as the “Newport Hills Community Club Newsletter”), will be converted to electronic form (currently PDF format) and linked on the web site. The webmaster will work with the newsletter editor to accomplish this. Newsletters will remain archived on the site.
- The Home page of the web site contain recent information posted by current Board Members and Chairs.
- The Welcome page of the web site will announce the particulars of the next community meeting.
- A listing of the club officers and trustees will be on the web site.
- The text of the club’s bylaws and policies will be on the web site.
- The web site will not “take a position” on any issue unless the membership, via the means set down in the bylaws, has taken such a position. The webmaster shall strive for a neutral position in presenting both news and the opinions of others. The webmaster shall not offer personal opinions on submitted material. Invited contributions may be published in the newsletter.
- Feedback from club members will be encouraged to improve the accuracy, quality and usefulness of the site.
- The newsletter will publish the URL address of the web site in each issue.
(3) Advertising Policies
Until a web site advertising policy is developed by the board, advertisements will not be permitted on the web site. Advertisements published in the newsletter will only be found in the PDF format linked and archived on the web site.
(4) E-mail Policies
In order to protect against unsolicited e-mail, e-mail addresses of club members will not be published on the site without permission of their owners. Officers, trustees, appointees and committee members will receive generic addresses at newporthillscommunityclub.org (such as president@newporthillscommunityclub.org, webmaster@newporthillscommunityclub.org, etc.) that will forward in turn to their respective e-mail accounts. As the e-mail addresses of the persons holding these positions change over time, so will the forwarding addresses. These generic addresses will be published on the web site.
(5) Mailing List Policies
The webmaster shall create a system for creating and managing e-mail distribution lists (also known as mailing lists) for announcements. Membership in any mailing list is always voluntary; every list member will have the option of being removed from a list at any time. The creator of the list (the webmaster) will be the initial administrator of the list, though this responsibility may be passed to another Board Trustee.
(6) Privacy Policies
This web site does not automatically gather any personal information from you, such as your name, phone number, email or address. This information is only obtained if you supply it voluntarily through contacting us via email or online forms. The information you voluntarily provide to the Newport Hills Community Club web site or to the various club related email addresses will be used only for the purpose that you have requested and subject to the law. The information you provide to this site email addresses will be disclosed to members of the NHCC Board of Directors should a need arise.
NHCC will not sell, lease or otherwise distribute or disclose a club members name, e-mail address, postal address, telephone number, or other personal information for non-club purposes or to outside parties unless required by law.
Adopted by the NHCC Board of Directors on October 16, 2007
(last update: January 21, 2010)
4 responses so far ↓
1 Robin Bentley // Sep 14, 2012 at 6:28 AM
Lisa, re your comment:
” some of the recent posts (the unapproved park committee meeting minutes in particular) are ridiculous and are more like reading an opinion column which disregards significant discussions in a very important NHCC meeting.”
My understanding at the time was that the Parks Committee had some standing and therefore I took minutes. If I’d been allowed to read them at the last meeting you and everyone present would have been better informed. I was trying to keep things as transparent as possible.
“which disregards significant discussions in a very important NHCC meeting.” I’ve looked for these in the minutes–where are they?
Anna Newton has waited over a year for a response–I think she deserved better than a self-aggrandizing diatribe, Lisa.
2 Grace Whiteaker, Past Webmaster // Sep 13, 2012 at 9:07 AM
Well, this comment simply begs a reply. I’d hate for the community to only have the Lisa Viereck version of events with no check of the facts.
Let me respond to your comments point by point, Lisa.
“I have never been given editorial privileges to preapproved/disregard blog posts, create a committee page or had the ability to correct misinformation about myself or other volunteers on the NHCC website. Yet, the Editorial and Content Policies on this website/blob outlines that “The Newport Hills Community Club blog is published under the direction of the Board of Directors… [and that the] …Responsibility for content is held by Board Members and Chairs.” The truth is that there are only a select few who hold the keys to the NHCC website and its blogging content.”
False: You have had editorial priveleges in the past and I have spent MANY HOURS showing you how to edit pages and create your own posts. I created instructions you could refer to if you had trouble remembering the process. All for naught. Time after time we would have to roll back to previous versions of pages because your edits would mangle the formatting and the page (a different part of the blog than a post). We decided (and this included YOUR input, Lisa) that page updates should be sent to the blog administrators to save time. You have post creation priveleges and have had them from the beginning. Pages are meant to be more permanent information that is agreed upon by the board (and the pages have been approved by past boards – it’s up to the current board to check and make sure the information is not stale).
“Please understand that support freedom of speech and I want to be clear about that, but some of the recent posts (the unapproved park committee meeting minutes in particular) are ridiculous and are more like reading an opinion column which disregards significant discussions in a very important NHCC meeting. The intent to be accurate is noteworthy and this is why NHCC meeting minutes have traditionally been submitted for BOD approval for many years now, especially prior to posting on the NHCC website/blog . We should consider if the NHCC website/blog is becoming a playground of discontent where neighbors are posting highly opinionated meeting minutes or embellished statements (which are NOT true) about neighbors. This is precisely why some organizations do not offer blogging on their websites. The “Golden Rule” as a Terms of Use Policy would be a very simple and friendly point of beginning.”
Yes, Lisa, the blog is a forum to allow community input on issues that affect members of Newport Hills. It was put it place for that reason. I’m sorry you don’t have complete and total control to put out the “Truth according to Lisa Viereck” – but having worked around you for several years and having left the club because of you, and you alone, I’m rather glad that is not an option. You may not like some of the feedback and opinions that people in this community have, they may not like your opinions – but that doesn’t mean either side should be quashed. You can post your “reality” to the blog, but you need to expect that community members can post their response to it and ask questions that, if they pertain to NHCC decisions, should be answered.
“Some Newport Hills residents are afraid to serve on the NHCC BOD/committees because they are concerned about their neighborhood reputations being damaged via blogging…. Some volunteers are gone because of it.”
Oh, this is good – really good. I haven’t read twisting of facts like this since the last political convention updates! Those volunteers who have left in the last year (myself and quite a few others) did so for one reason and one reason only – you. We may, however, return once your past president term is over.
It’s unfortunate that a club that once was strong and had respect from the City of Bellevue as a club that really worked for its community is going through such a tough time – but that will change, as all things do. Whether the change will be for better or for much worse remains to be seen.
Grace Whiteaker
Past NHCC Webmaster
2005-2011
3 Lisa Viereck, NHCC Past President // Sep 12, 2012 at 6:04 PM
The NHCC Blog/website has been in serious need of a TERMS OF USE POLICY. This would be consistent with most public websites who invite blogging. I am a dedicated Newport Hills community volunteer and neighbor who served on the NHCC BOD for over 6+ years, served on the NHCC executive BOD for nearly 3 years, organized 9 major club events, served on 8 committees and have put in over 2000 volunteers hours toward the NHCC. I have never been given editorial privileges to preapproved/disregard blog posts, create a committee page or had the ability to correct misinformation about myself or other volunteers on the NHCC website. Yet, the Editorial and Content Policies on this website/blob outlines that “The Newport Hills Community Club blog is published under the direction of the Board of Directors… [and that the] …Responsibility for content is held by Board Members and Chairs.” The truth is that there are only a select few who hold the keys to the NHCC website and its blogging content. Please understand that support freedom of speech and I want to be clear about that, but some of the recent posts (the unapproved park committee meeting minutes in particular) are ridiculous and are more like reading an opinion column which disregards significant discussions in a very important NHCC meeting. The intent to be accurate is noteworthy and this is why NHCC meeting minutes have traditionally been submitted for BOD approval for many years now, especially prior to posting on the NHCC website/blog . We should consider if the NHCC website/blog is becoming a playground of discontent where neighbors are posting highly opinionated meeting minutes or embellished statements (which are NOT true) about neighbors. This is precisely why some organizations do not offer blogging on their websites. The “Golden Rule” as a Terms of Use Policy would be a very simple and friendly point of beginning. Some Newport Hills residents are afraid to serve on the NHCC BOD/committees because they are concerned about their neighborhood reputations being damaged via blogging…. Some volunteers are gone because of it. This energy is a distraction and digression from the premise of the NHCC mission statement so I am blogging in hopes that the NHCC revisit the reoccurring agenda item: A Terms of Use Policy for the NHCC website/blog. Could we please include this agenda topic in the September 18th NHCC general membership meeting?
4 Anna Newton // Jul 16, 2011 at 9:57 AM
It would be nice to be able to post questions to (and get answers from) the NH community on this site. For example, I am looking for someone to teach piano lessons in my home to my daughter. I’d love to get recommendations from within the neighborhood.
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