II. Guidelines for Scouting Unit Websites
There is not much guidance or resources from the national BSA for Unit Web sites because units
are operated by their chartering organizations and are served by their
local council.
In a legal sense, every Scout unit is "owned" by a chartered organization, not the BSA or the local council, so our stance regarding unit websites is that they are privately owned rather than official venues of communication by the BSA.
The BSA has given us some guidance as to the content of websites:
Guidance for Unit Web Sites From The BSA
The Boy Scouts of America provides the following advice for individuals who use privately owned Web sites and e-mail accounts to communicate information about Scouting.
Decorum for Scouting Websites
Scouters should exercise propriety and good taste online. Material that will be posted to a unit site or sent from a unit e-mail account should be reviewed by at least three adult members of the unit committee. Access (the ability to place material on the site or send messages from the account) should be controlled by an adult who is responsible to the committee.
Youth Protection on Unit Websites
Names, images, and especially contact information pertaining to youth members should never be gathered or published over the Internet.
Copyright Issues on Scouting Websites
Do not
"borrow" (without permission) content for use in unit Web sites. Written permission should always be obtained,. Even when material is declared to
be "free" or "public domain;" it might not be. Councils may elect to provide links to unit website. If the
council does provide this service, they have the “opportunity to provide
guidance for them by requiring the sites to be appropriate to the values
of the Scouting movement”.
Unit websites are not “official” in the sense that the site represents or communicates to the public on behalf of the Boy Scouts of America or the local council. This concept should be included in your website Disclaimer.
Changes in 2005 to the policy
Visit the National BSA site to read the expansion of the guidelines.
In this statement the National Council has stated that Councils establish the standards for unit websites. Since most councils do not have standards, then scouters are still without guidelines and resources from the national council.
III. So What Now?—Implementing the Guidance
Unit Webmasters should contact their local councils for policies and procedures pertaining to the use of the Internet for promoting and supporting Scouting units. Many Councils do not have specific guidance for unit websites so here are some thoughts about the implementation of the national guidance.
A. Decorum on Scouting websites
The best advice I have read on this subject is simply this: follow the Scout Law. Using a little common sense and the principles of scouting, it will be hard to put something up that is inappropriate. All documents, illustrations, photographs and linked material must conform to the principles and traditions of the Boy Scouts of America.
Unit websites should avoid politics allowing the “official” sites to deal those issues. In addition, keep the site factually oriented by avoiding opinions.
Generally avoid commercial advertisements. Unit websites often have sponsors, or use software that requires recognition. Do so in a manner that is appropriate and subdued. Remember that the purpose of the site is to communicate with Scouts, their families and the unit leadership.
A poorly maintained site reflects poorly upon you, your unit and scouting. Keep your site current, it is of little value to your user if it is out-of-date. Fix all problems that inevitably occur quickly. Your site may be designed by a "One-hour-per-week" volunteer, but it should not look like it was designed by an amateur.
B. Youth Protection on Unit Websites
Written permission is required to list the name of any adults and adult leaders. A formal release of liability is required to list any phone number, address or email address.
Unit web sites must consider the safety and privacy of their members and participants by obtaining the necessary permissions to release information about or images of any individual.
Unit Technology Committees should consider adopting a policy that youth names may not be used in conjunction with photographs or use first names or initials only (if John Doe" is pictured, they may use "John" or "John D" or "JD").
Linking to other sites is an integral part of the world wide web. Web masters should take care linking to other sites. You can not control the content of those sites, so review each site before linking it to your site. The list of “official” BSA web sites can be found at: [click here].
A list of links to unofficial scouting sites [click here].
C. Copyright on Scouting Materials
A copyright is the right to protect and control written material or artwork by the creator or the owner. It is important to understand that you do not have the right to use copyrighted materials until you receive written permission from the owner that grants the right to use the material. Also, if the owner sets any conditions or limitations, you must abide by them. Or permission might be granted only for a limited time, after which you could not use the material.
A scout is trustworthy & honest. Violating Copyright is stealing and should never be done.
Since Units in a legal sense are part of the Chartering organization and not the BSA, you also have to have permission to use BSA artwork or materials. This permission is granted in the Annual Charter Agreement. The Annual Charter Agreement states that " the council agrees to provide year round training, service, and program resources to the organization and its unit (s)". This paragraph grants the charter organization, and by extension the unit, permission to use emblems, insignia, logos of the BSA.