Girl Scouts of Buckeye Trails Guidelines for Troop and Service Unit Web Sites

 If you have any questions about any of the guidelines feel free to contact us at 937-279-6530 or toll free at 800-233-4845 ext. 530 or webmaster@btgirlscouts.org

The safety of girls and volunteers is a top priority of Girl Scouts of Buckeye Trails Council. Using the internet as a tool for promoting what you and your Girl Scouts are doing and communicating with your service unit and parents is wonderful; however, it must be done with caution because of its vast accessibility.

General Guidelines

• Each troop or service unit web site must contain the following information on its home page – Girl Scouts of Buckeye Trails Council

• The Girl Scout logo must be located on the upper left corner of the home page.

• The Girl Scout logo may not be manipulated in any form or fashion. The trefoil should never be represented without the "Girl Scouts" part underneath, and the words can not be added separately; they are part of the entire, original logo.

• If the tag line"Where Girls Grow Strong" is used, it should be attached to the logo originally. You cannot type it as a separate line. The logo should not be used as part of a design, i.e., tiled to form a background, rotating, or showing any designs behind it. You may make it any color and place it on any solid (or lightly patterned) background.

• If you provide something on your web site that requires a plug-in, such as Adobe Acrobat Reader, always provide a link to obtain it.

• Never use a messaging system that allows anyone to post information without it first being reviewed. This includes guest books and chat rooms.

• Try to avoid dead-end pages. Every page should at least have a "Back" link so visitors are able to get back to earlier pages.

• No phone numbers if possible. It is much safer to put email addresses on the site, but make sure you have the adult's permission to do so. No personal girl information at any time, including phone numbers, email addresses, addresses, etc.

• Do not post photographs with a girl's full name and where she goes to school. First name is acceptable, but it is best to not use names at all. Make sure you blur out any names that may appear on nametags, swim caps, t-shirts, etc. in the photo.

• You must have a photo release form filled out for any recognizable persons in photos placed on the site. You can print out this release. This should be kept on file at all times.

• Posting a calendar of events is fine, but do not post the location – or directions to the activity - unless it is a public place like a restaurant, or movie theater etc. It is best to include the organizer's contact information so that girls, parents and volunteers can get more information.

Please make sure you proofread your web site text

• Always include an email contact to the person who manages the site. Visitors like to be able to tell you if there are problems.

• Remember that underlining is reserved for hyperlinks. Use bold or large fonts for emphasis.

• Try to keep information current. Visitors will appreciate this!

Using graphics

• Visitors get frustrated if pages take too long to download. Have someone test your site out to see if things are taking too long. Usually, you should save graphics as .gif files and photos as .jpg files. Resolution for images should be set to 72-96 dpi.

• Copyright code of conduct is the same with web sites as it is for publications. A basic principle for graphics and other design is, "if it's not yours, don't use it," even if it is easily downloadable. If you would really like to use something that you did not create yourself, you must obtain written permission to do so from the owner.

• It is suggested that you learn to use a graphic program, such as the paint program that comes with your computer, to create your own original graphics. You can also draw your own pictures and text on paper and then scan them in.

• Using music or sound on your site (or the printed words to songs) follows the same copyright rules. Make sure you have permission!

• You should have a copyright notice on the bottom of each page that reads "Copyright 2007. Girl Scouts of Buckeye Trails Council. All rights reserved."

Providing Links

• Troop and service unit web sites can not link to a sight that sells a product or service. By linking to a web sight that offers products or services it implies that the Girl Scouts promotes or endorses its products or services. The Girl Scouts never endorse any product or service at a local level. Girl Scout of the USA handles all endorsements and promotions.

• Avoid using trademarks, banners, icons, graphics, or logos from other sites. Any advertisements that appear on web pages (as on "free" web site space) should have a disclaimer below it that states "Neither GSUSA nor its council is responsible for the content of any other site linked to this site. The inclusion of any link to such a site does not create or imply any approval or endorsement of that site by GSUSA or its council. GSUSA and its councils make no representations whatsoever as to any other web site that you may access through this one." You can make this text very small. You can also use this text where other links to non-GS sites are posted.

• If you have links to other areas that you do not maintain personally, you should have a place for girls to take the My Online Safety Pledge before having access to these links.

• These links should be monitored closely for inappropriate messages, advertisements, etc. Do not include links blindly on your site without thoroughly browsing the site to which they refer.

SAFETY TIPS FOR GIRLS  

Because this list does not address every situation, girls should be instructed that if they have doubts about any situation they encounter online, they should log off the Internet and ask a parent/guardian for help. Also, all applicable program standards and activity checkpoints in Safety-Wise must be followed. Share the following tips with your girls for their own safety. Girl should:

• Never reveal their passwords to anyone, even friends.

• Never reveal their name, address, telephone number or any other personal information online.

• Never send personal or family photographs to anyone online.

• Never open an e-mail attachment from an unknown person. Viruses can spread quickly online and could seriously damage your computer.

• Log off and immediately tell a parent or guardian if an inappropriate e-mail is received or anything else upsetting is seen online.

• Always think carefully about what is sent and to whom. Nothing is private over the Internet.

• Never make plans to meet in person with someone met online. Things are not always as they seem online and some bad adults pretend they are children in order to meet other children. Protect yourself.