Ingham County, Michigan, 2004 Web Page Policy

March 5, 2004

As representatives of Ingham County 4-H Youth Development Program , 4-H members and volunteer leaders shall conduct themselves in a professional and mature manner befitting the responsibilities of a World Wide Web author.

Each 4-H member and volunteer leader shall subscribe to the following guidelines concerning the websites, chat, e-mail, and other technological communications that are transmitted, posted, or willingly received while acting in a 4-H Youth Development capacity.

Individual clubs are responsible for the design of your site as long as it does not infringe on local, county, state and national 4-H guidelines. Use of the 4-H Club name and emblem (the clover) on the site must adhere to The 4-H Name and Emblem Guidelines for Authorized Use and be within the "spirit" of 4-H. Use of the emblem and name is granted to established 4-H units by the 4-H youth agent or county Extension director in each Michigan county. Detailed information about their use is found at the National 4H web site.

Following is a summary of the general use of the 4H Name and/or emblem:

• The official 4-H emblem consists of a green four-leaf clover with stem and the letter "H" in white or gold on each leaflet. The 4-H emblem pictured on the cover of this publication most nearly reflects that which is described in the 4-H name and emblem law and is thus recommended for use nationwide.
• The four-leaf clover with stem and the letter " H " in white or gold on each leaflet may also appear, if necessary, in other colors and still be considered the official 4-H emblem. For example, when it is not possible to use the color green for the emblem, as in printing on fabric, plaques, and trophies, other colors may be used.
• When used, the 4-H Club name and emblem shall be given a position of prominence. It is not permissible to superimpose any letter, design, or object on the 4-H emblem or to alter its shape in audiovisuals, on stationery over which a letter is written or typed, certificates, publications, etc.
• Any use of the 4-H Club name and emblem is forbidden if it exploits the 4-H program, its volunteer leaders, or 4-H youth participants or the United States Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Services of the Land-Grant Universities, or their employees. Also, the 4-H Club name and emblem cannot be used to imply endorsement of commercial firms, products, or services.
• Only use an official emblem graphic obtained from an authorized 4-H source which includes the language "18 USC 707" to the right of the stem. You need to maintain the proper height and width proportions of the image.
• Text or graphics should never cross the clover emblem. Use of the 4-H clover as a desktop wallpaper or web page background is inappropriate.
• Read the emblem guidelines carefully regarding commercial use of the name and emblem and production of items with the 4-H name or emblem. The correct ink color for printing the 4-H emblem is PMS 347.

2. Only enrolled 4-H members, volunteers or staff should have access to creating and making changes to 4-H club Web sites.
3. Events, programs, and materials related to 4-H and Michigan State University Extension may be promoted on or linked to from a 4-H club Web site. Please confirm these events and links with your county 4-H staff before posting.
4. The following indicia (affirmative action statement) must appear on your home page: "MSU is an affirmative action/equal opportunity institution. Michigan State University Extension educational programs and materials are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status or family status."
5. If your site provides links to non-MSU Extension 4-H sites, the following disclaimer statement must also appear on your home page: "External Web sites are not endorsed by this club or MSU Extension 4-H. Linking to these sites does not imply endorsement of or bias against those not mentioned. We cannot guarantee what you will find, and disclaim responsibility for the content you view, outside of our Web site."
6. Your 4-H club is responsible for promoting your club Web site to encourage its use as an information and educational tool. Use of the site for commercial purposes is prohibited.
7. Your 4-H club must respect U.S. and international copyright and licensing laws.
8. The content of your 4-H club Web site should be consistent with the standards of your club and county 4-H program. Club sites may not be used as forums for activities, promotions or discussions that would be harmful, either physically or emotionally, to others.
9. The privacy of 4H members and volunteer leaders participating in the program needs to be protected. Addresses and phone numbers should not be posted. Use caution when posting full names or images of individuals on your page, If you do post names or photos, you must have releases signed by all adults and the parents or guardians of all minors named or pictured in any images posted to your page. You may check with the Extension office to see if they have signed a photo release authorization. The office will send you a confirmation for your record. (See "Web Safety Links" Microsoft’s Safe Kids Site (http://www.microsoft.com/safekids) National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s Internet Safety www.ncmec.org)
10. All 4H Clubs must be linked with county and state 4H pages and other appropriate pages.

• At no time will members or volunteer leaders, acting on behalf of the 4-H Youth Development Program:
• transmit, post, or willingly receive correspondence, text, graphics, movies, sounds, or other media which contains: profanity, advocacy of the use or possession of illegal substances or alcoholic beverages, advocacy of the illegal use or the illegal possession of weapons, or solicitation or the advocacy of sexual misconduct.
• attempt to gain access to areas, information, servers, domains, or other material to which expressed permission has not been given. Also, at no time will members/volunteer leaders intentionally violate the laws governing copyrighted material.
• willingly harass others through the use of technology. Harassment by e-mail, chats, or otherwise shall not be tolerated. This includes but is not limited to harassment based upon race, color, national origin, religion, sex, physical or mental disability, medical condition (cancer-related or genetic characteristics), ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or status as a covered veteran.
• misrepresent or assist someone else in misrepresenting his or her true identity to others through technology. Members/volunteer leaders will not claim to be or represent themselves as someone else. Those who represent the 4-H Youth Development Program through technology do so under their own identity.
• seek to promote specific religious orientations or political opinions on behalf of the 4-H Youth Development Program. While members/volunteer leaders retain the right to advocate their own religious beliefs and political opinions acting as individuals, they will not advocate them under the representation of the 4-H Youth Development Program.

Consequences:Members or volunteer leaders willfully violating any of the guidelines will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Consequences of violating the guidelines may include:

• Revocation of authorization to author 4-H websites
• Assessing the member or leader the cost of damages and repairs
• Removal from the 4-H Youth Development Program

Your signature on the code of conduct form is your agreement to abide by this policy.

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Submit the following form before you develop a 4-H web page for an Ingham County, Michigan, 4-H club or activity.

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Ingham County, Michigan,  Approval Form for a 4-H Youth Development Club Website

___ Non 4-H YDP Server: 4-H Youth Development Website (CAC Voices, Yahoo, AOL etc.)

URL of the Site ______________________________________________________________

___4-H YDP Server: 4-H Youth Development Program Server

 Name of the Site ______________________________________________________________

Type of Access:_ FTP_ FrontPage

I have read and understand this policy and I will follow these guidelines and ensure that the 4-H members and other volunteer leaders will follow them as well.

Volunteer Leader______________________________________Date _________________________