Prosthelizing from new org

[A.W. Bowman]

Excellent point, Encryptus! And, it is good to see you again!

If the mailing list is used for a purpose other than intended by the issuing organization, then there is a breach in trust and confidence, even if the mailing of the magizine is not a clear solicitation effort. If there is no clear statement concerning the used of the mailing list (membership list/book, etc.), or if there is a claus against non-members using the list, then there is a true ethics issue.

The problem is that these agreed to understandings have not been published until now, rather than at the start of the thread. Actually, the official agreement to the use and/or dissemination of any official membership list is still rather vague. The additional item is does anyone know for certainty the mailing list come from the official UPCI list, and were not names contributed from private lists of defecting members? If this latter point is the case, then while the use of such lists might be legal, it could still constitute an ethics issue.

Now, who among the UPCI membership receives these complementary mailings? Everyone? Only a few? Are these mass mailings or selected mailings? Are they overt invitations for membership or informational and/or instructional in content? Sometimes black and white issues are not always so black and white.


For example:

If there is a membership agreement clause that states that members of this organization shall not use any personal or organizational information derived from their membership in this organization for any purpose not specifically sanctioned by this organization, it shall be deemed as a breach of trust. Or, some other such wording which is used to preclude any non-member (including former members) from using any information (personal or organizational) for any purpose other than that intended by the bylaws of such organization.

Then perhaps there also needs an additional clause that prohibits fellowship between members of the organization and those who have left it. That would make mailing/phone lists containing friends among several organizations null and void, along with the exchange of information among (former?) friends.

So, the entire issue now stands or falls on what does the membership agreement actually state? Anyone care to publish it here? Or, would that constitute another breach in trust?

If any of my speculations are supported by facts, then you have an ethical issue. If not, then the discussion remains unresolved. And, like beauty, the issue shall remain defined only in the eye of the beholder.