Join the NCSG Discussion List

Onegreat way to network with chimney professionals is right at your fingertips! NCSG members can participate in an ongoing discussion on business and technical issues that directly affect their businesses. When you join the NCSG discussion list, you’ll have a ready resource at your desktop. NCSG board members and staff join members fromacross the country in this online meeting place. Registering is easy and is included in your membership! 

Just send an email to office@ncsg.orgwith your request to join the NCSG Discussion List. Be sure to include your name, company name and the email address you'd like to use for email to/from the discussion list.

We hope you enjoy this great member benefit, and if you have any problems or questions about the list, feel free to contact the NCSG office.

Terms and Conditions

TheNational Chimney Sweep Guild (“NCSG”) is providing this Discussion List(“Discussion List”) to facilitate discussions among NCSG members. NCSG wants everyone who participates in this Discussion List to have a safe and enjoyable experience. Therefore, as with any community, there are guidelines governing behavior that must be observed for the benefit of all community members. 

ByJoining and/or using the NCSG Discussion List, you acknowledge that youhave read and agree to the terms and conditions set forth herein as well as any terms, conditions, policies, or guidelines provided or posted by the service provider Yahoo! Groups,(“Terms”). If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not subscribe to this Discussion List. If you are currently subscribed and do not unsubscribe via the “unsubscribe” link located at the bottom of each Discussion List post, then you will be deemed to have accepted these Terms and are bound by them. NCSG reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to change, modify, add, or remove any of these Terms at any time.�

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

Thegoal the Discussion List is to create a forum that is a useful and fun environment, which also means a place where behavior that is harmful to others will not be tolerated. These Terms are designed to help support the creation of a free, inviting and vibrant place to chat with other NCSG members. You are entirely responsible and liable for all activitiesconducted when using this Discussion List. 

Inorder to ensure you take full responsibility, you are required to register with the Listserv, indicating your true name as well as your e-mail address, to clearly identify yourself at the bottom of each message sent, and to state the topic of the comments in the subject line.

PERMISSIBLE TOPICS

The following general topics may be posted for discussion on this Discussion List:
(1)   Topics of a technical nature relative to the chimney and venting service industry.

(2)Topics of a business nature relative to the operations of chimney and venting service companies provided such topics do not address or seek information about pricing or any other topics prohibited by federal antitrust laws.

(3)Topics of a social nature that are of benefit to all users of the Discussion List provided such posts do not violate any of the Posting Guidelines contained herein. 

(4) Official announcements from NCSG.

a. The event must be sponsored by a non-profit organization that is chimney industry related.
b. The event must offer CEU credits in the chimney industry.
c. Only one post is allowed per month for a maximum of four months priorto the event, and one post after the event is allowed to thank sponsors.
d. Only ONE person, designated by the sponsoring organization, may post information about the event.
e. Keep in mind that the purpose is not to encourage chatter on the NCSGDiscussion List, but to announce educational events that NCSG members may be interested in. Contact information must be provided as well as a suggestion to contact the poster privately rather than replying to the NCSG discussion list.
f. Non-compliance with the above rules may result in barring of posts about your organization's events in the future. All other rules of the list apply.

Anybusiness or organization, regardless of membership status, is welcome to submit educational or informative industry events (sales events and open houses are will not be listed) to the NCSG office for inclusion in the weekly Educational Dates and Events posts from NCSG office. Please send event date, location, event title and contact information to office@ncsg.org for inclusion in the weekly email, online at www.NCSG.org/dates and in Sweeping magazine.

POSTING GUIDELINES

 You agree not to do any of the following in any posting on this Discussion List:

(1)Falsify your registration information, falsify or omit your name or e-mail address from any message, provide a false subject matter on the subject line, or forge headers or otherwise manipulate identifiers in order to disguise the origin of any e-mail message.

(2)Harass, stalk, embarrass, use abusive language, attempt to intimidate or intentionally cause distress or discomfort upon another user of the Discussion List.

(3)Make any threat of any nature, directly or implied, including but not limited to threats of litigation or bodily harm or sexual language of a violent or threatening nature directed at another individual or group ofindividuals.

(4) Attack the posting of others. The intent is to stimulate discussion, not create contention.

(5)Transmit any information, data, text, files, links, software, chat, communication or other materials that is unlawful, harmful, threatening,abusive, harassing, defamatory, libelous, vulgar, obscene, hateful, racially or otherwise objectionable or is deceptive, fraudulent or an invasive of another's privacy.

(6) Use profanity, including by use of symbols for omitted letters.

(7) Promote any unlawful activity or encourage conduct that would constitute a criminal offense.

(8) Disrupt the normal flow of messages or otherwise act in a manner that negatively affects other participants.

(9) Violate any applicable local, state, national or international law.

(10) Fail to fully comply with all actions required hereunder.

 In addition:

(1) You may not post any material that is a discussion in any manner of a political or religious nature.

(2) You may not post advertisements, promotional materials, or any other forms of business solicitation.

(3) You may only post information that is useful to the entire list.

(4)You may not post information pertaining to members who have been sanctioned or removed from this Discussion List or the process or reasons therefore, nor may you make any postings for such person while under suspension or after removal from this Discussion List.

(5) You may not post large files that contain photographs or otherwise take up considerable computer file space.

(6)You may not post any content that you do not have a right to make available under any law or under contractual or fiduciary relationships (such as inside information, proprietary and confidential information learned or disclosed as part of employment relationships or under nondisclosure agreements) or any copyrighted material for which you are not the owner of the copyright, including without limitation e-mails written by others and not posted by such person on this Discussion List and MP3 files.

(7) You may not post any chain letters, pyramid schemes, form of lottery or gambling or investment opportunities.

(8) You may not harvest or collect information about the users of this Discussion List.

(9)You may not use any e-mail addresses from this Discussion List for the purpose of transmitting or facilitating the transmission of unsolicited bulk electronic e-mail or communications.

(10)You may not post or otherwise make available any material that containssoftware viruses or any other computer code, files or programs designedto interrupt, destroy or limit the functionality of any computer software or hardware or telecommunications equipment, or that is designed or intended to damage or obtain unauthorized access to any dataor other information of any other person.

NETIQUETTE

When using this Discussion List, keep in mind the following netiquette:

(1)It is not always necessary to send a reply to the entire list. Please be careful when hitting the reply button, especially if you do NOT want your reply to read by the entire list.

(2) If you are responding to a posting on the Discussion List, consider trimming some of the original message.

(3)Do not respond unless you have something meaningful to say. A short "not me," "me too," or "thanks for the information" just clogs up in boxes.

(4) Do not use capitals. IT MEANS YOU ARE SHOUTING.

(5)Warn other list subscribers of lengthy messages either in the subject line or at the beginning of the message body with a line that says "LongMessage."

(6) Do not send administrative messages, such as remove me from the list, through the Discussion List.

(7)It is proper e-mail etiquette to post your name, company name, locationand contact information at the bottom of each message.  An automatic signature can be set up easily through any e-mail program.

DISCLAIMER AND LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS

ThisDiscussion List is provided as a service to NCSG members. You acknowledge and agree that all information, comments, submissions, data,text, software, music, sound, photographs, graphics, video, messages orother content posted on the Discussion List (collectively “Content”) isthe sole responsibility of the person from which such Content originated. NCSG accepts no responsibility for any Content posted on this Discussion List; all Content posted on the Discussion List is the opinion and responsibility of the person posting the Content. NCSG does not prescreen, monitor, censor or undertake an editorial control of any Content prior to transmission to the Discussion List membership. The Discussion List is hosted by Yahoo! Groups, an independent organization not affiliated with NCSG, and managed by the Discussion List moderator. NCSG disclaims any responsibility or liability for any technical difficulties that may arise with network servers, equipment, and/or communication connections.

By subscribing to and using the Discussion List, you further acknowledge and agree:

(1)Providers and users of an interactive computer service (such as the Discussion List) are protected by federal law from liability for the statements of other users. However, the authors of the messages are not immune from legal prosecution.

(2)You are entirely responsible for all Content that you post or otherwisemake available via this Discussion List. Any defamatory, abusive, profane, threatening, offensive, or illegal materials are subject to applicable laws. If you are the author of, or participant in such comments or conversations, you may be held liable for any consequences.

(3)You agree that you must evaluate, and bear all risks associated with, the use of any Content provided in messages sent via the Discussion List, including any reliance on the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of such Content. You follow any advice contained therein or obtained as a result of such messages at your own risk. NCSG is not responsible, and disclaims any and all liability, for any Content in anymessage sent through the Discussion List.

(4)Do not post anything that you would not want the world to see or that you would not want anyone to know came from you. Content posted on the Discussion List is available for all to see, and is subject to applicable laws, including but not limited to those governing libel and antitrust. 

(5)By subscribing to this Discussion List, it is possible that you will beexposed to Content that is offensive or objectionable to you that is posted by other Discussion List members.

(6)Any material downloaded or otherwise obtained through the use of this Discussion List is done at your own discretion and risk and that you will be solely responsible for any damage to your computer system or loss of data that results from the download of any such material.

INDEMNIFICATION; LIMITATION ON LIABILITY

Useof this Discussion List is at your own risk. You shall indemnify and hold harmless NCSG and its directors, officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims, judgments, damages, costs and expenses (including without limitation attorney’s fees) arising out or relating to your use or misuse of the Discussion List, including without limitation, your transmission or posting of any Content to the Discussion List, or your violation of any of these Terms. 

UNDERNO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL NCSG OR ITS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, OR AGENTS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES WHATSOEVER ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE USE OF, OR INABILITY TO USE THIS DISCUSSION LIST, OR FROM ANY CONTENT POSTED ON THIS DISCUSSION LIST. THIS LIMITATION APPLIESWHETHER THE ALLEGED LIABILITY IS BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT, NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, OR ANY OTHER BASIS, EVEN IF NCSG HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

NCSGdoes not maintain the servers or the service through which the Discussion List is operated, and does not send, receive or store any messages. No director, officer, employee, or agent of NCSG associated inany way with the operation of the Discussion List shall have any obligation to store on his or her person computer any messages sent, andyou agree that any such person may disregard any request or instruction(other than a court order) to undertake any such actions on your behalfor on the behalf of any other person.

DISCIPLINARY ACTION

Inthe event that the moderator of this Discussion List believes that any subscriber to this Discussion List has violated or failed to abide by these Terms, such person may be immediately suspended from the Discussion List without warning. Such suspension shall continue until noearlier than the time of the next regular meeting of the Board of Directors of NCSG or earlier meeting of the NCSG Executive Committee to determine whether any suspended user, or any user about which the Board has otherwise been notified, did in fact violate or fail to abide by these Terms.

If is it determined that the user did violate or fail to abide by the terms the following actions shall be taken:

(1)If it is a first offense by the user of any term, the user shall be given a warning and upon agreement to abide by the terms in the future shall be permitted to return to the Discussion List.

(2)In the event of a second offense within a twelve month period, the userwill be placed on “moderated status” for a period to be determined by the moderator, meaning that the Discussion List moderator will need to approve all posts from the user for a specified period of time.

(3) For or a third offense regardless of the time duration, the user shall be removed from this Discussion List.

Anyuser removed from the Discussion List may petition for reinstatement after twelve months from suspension, but the NCSG Board of Directors shall have sole discretion as to whether reinstatement is permitted, provided however that no person shall be reinstated if such person (a) has threatened to bring or brought any legal action against NCSG and/or its directors, officers, employees, or agents, or (b) has falsified any registration information.

Updated -  11/18/11 to include permanent reference to events listings (previously trial language)