Thank you for participating in the aaspConnect community. To ensure the best possible experience for all aasp members, we have established some basic guidelines for participation.
By joining and using these discussion areas, you agree that you have read and will follow the rules and guidelines set for these peer discussion groups. You also agree to reserve list discussions for topics best suited to this medium. aaspConnect is a valuable tool with which members can solicit the advice of your peers, benefit from their experience, and participate in an ongoing conversations. Questions about aasp should be directed to our Member Services department.
Please take a moment to acquaint yourself with the following guidelines. In order to preserve a climate that encourages both civil and fruitful dialogue, aasp reserves the right to suspend or terminate membership on all lists for members who violate these rules.
The Rules
- Do not engage in personal attacks on others. Discussions on aaspConnect should be used to further the industry.
- Do not post commercial messages or advertisements. Contact people directly with product and service information if you believe it would personally help them.
- Do not post career listing or job postings to aaspConnect. Please use aasp’s Career Advance.
- Use caution when discussing products. Information and comments are subject to libel, slander, and antitrust laws.
- All defamatory, abusive, profane, threatening, offensive, or illegal materials are strictly prohibited.
- Material might be subject to copyright. Please review the copyright information listed below.
- aasp has the right to reproduce postings to any discussion group.
- aasp reserves the right to reject any message for any reason.
e-Group Etiquette
- Include a signature tag on all messages; include your name, affiliation, location.
- State concisely and clearly the topic of your comments in the subject line. This allows members to respond more appropriately to your posting and makes it easier for members to search the archives by subject.
- Include only the relevant portions of the original message in your reply. Delete any header information, and put your response before the original posting.
- Only send a message to the entire list when it contains information that everyone can benefit from.
- “Reply All” messages should be substantive and continue the conversation. Send messages such as "thanks for the information" or "me, too" to individuals–not to the entire list.
- Do not send administrative messages, such as remove me from the list, through a discussion group.
- Please include an email signature (without graphics) when responding via email.
The Legal Stuff
- This website is not to be used by anyone for any activity prohibited by federal, state or local law, including, but not limited to, any activity that illegally restrains trade.
- aasp has never nor ever will engage in such activity, and nothing appearing on this website should ever be construed as aasp ‘s condoning such activity. Furthermore, aasp specifically disclaims any responsibility for or legal liability relating to statements posted on this website by anyone without aasp ‘s express written permission.
- These discussion groups are provided as a service of aasp for the benefit of association members.
- aasp is NOT responsible for the opinions and information posted on this site by others.
- aasp disclaims all warranties with regard to information posted on this site, whether posted by aasp or any third party; this disclaimer includes all implied warranties of merchantability and fitness.
- In no event shall aasp be liable for any special, indirect, or consequential damages or any damages whatsoever resulting from loss of use, data, or profits, arising out of or in connection with the use or performance of any information posted on this site.
- Do not post any defamatory, abusive, profane, threatening, offensive, or illegal materials.
- Do not post any information or other material protected by copyright without the permission of the copyright owner. By posting material, the posting party warrants and represents that he or she owns the copyright with respect to such material or has received permission from the copyright owner. In addition, the posting party grants aasp the nonexclusive right and license to display, copy, publish, distribute, transmit, print, and use such information or other material.
- Messages should not be posted if they encourage or facilitate members to arrive at any agreement that either expressly or impliedly leads to price fixing, a boycott of another's business, or other conduct intended to illegally restrict free trade.
- Messages that encourage or facilitate an agreement about the following subjects are inappropriate: prices, discounts, or terms or conditions of sale; salaries; profits, profit margins, or cost data; market shares, sales territories, or markets; allocation of customers or territories; or selection, rejection, or termination of customers or suppliers.
aasp does not actively monitor the site for inappropriate postings and does not on its own undertake editorial control of postings. However, in the event that any inappropriate posting is brought to aasp ‘s attention, aasp will take all appropriate action.
aasp will adhere to the following "Three Strikes" Policy outlining consequences for participants who violate the Code of Conduct:
- Upon the first violation, the participant will receive a written warning from aasp staff or Board member.
- A second violation will result in a three-month suspension from aaspConnect.
- A third violation will result in immediate and permanent suspension of all aaspConnect privileges.
aasp reserves the right to terminate access to any user who does not abide by these guidelines.
Identifying Inappropriate Posts/Content
- Notification of specific posts identified as having violated the Code of Conduct should be submitted to the form.
- Any member can identify and submit posts as potential violations.
- The identity of the member who flagged the post will remain anonymous.
- Reports of infractions should contain the following:
- A link to the specific post in question
- Individual posting the content
- A description of the violation
- Code of Conduct rule that has been potentially violated
Submit a Violation
Investigation and Decision
- Upon receipt of a complaint, the identified post will be removed within 24 hours.
- The poster will be notified their post has been removed and information regarding the portion of the code of conduct upon removal.
- The post will be reviewed and the poster will be notified of the infraction upon final decision.
- Copies of the complaint are available upon request.
- Sanctions will be in accordance with the discussion group Code of Conduct that involves three strikes within a 1-year (365 days to date) period.
- Upon the first violation, the participant will receive a written warning.
- A second violation will result in a three-month suspension from aaspConnect.
- A third violation will result in immediate and permanent suspension of all aaspConnect privileges.
- Appeals:
- Written appeals can be submitted to appeals@advserv.org.
- Appeals will be reviewed by the chair of technology and the executive committee of the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors reserves the right to terminate without the three strikes policy when necessary.