Terms of Use

HAMFT Website Terms of Use

We all want our Website to be a safe and comfortable environment through which members and the community can connect, and be a useful and productive tool for working and learning together. To ensure this, all users must agree to the following Terms of Use in order to gain member access to the HAMFT website:

Please read the following information and then indicate your understanding and agreement with the Terms of Use below.

  • I will behave responsibly and respectfully towards all members of this website, respecting their values and viewpoints as well as their rights and feelings.
  • I will work with other website members to ensure that our site remains welcoming to new participants and ideas, and embraces diversity.
  • I will work with my fellow members to deliberate and make equitable decisions. I will do my best to see that every decision making process includes reasonable representation of those who are directly affected by its outcome.
  • Acknowledging that differences of opinion and conflict will undoubtedly occur, I agree to resolve conflict constructively.
  • I understand that every member of this website is entering into this same agreement and that we all have a stake in seeing that it is observed and enforced. My behavior towards other members of this website will reflect that I am abiding by this agreement.
  • I acknowledge that if a duly authorized body of my peers concludes that I have repeatedly and willfully violated this agreement, my rights to participate in this website can be suspended or terminated.
  • I agree that I have read and will follow the rules and guidelines set for this website, including its Member-to-Member list serve and Member Forum.
  • I understand and agree that any and all discussions that I initiate and/or participate in will be related only to topics best suited to this medium.
  • I understand and agree that questions requiring a consultation on a legal, ethical, business or practice concern should be posed to a HAMFT Board member by telephone.
  • I understand and agree that the HAMFT website is not a forum to dialogue, or conduct business, with the HAMFT Board of Directors, and/or HAMFT staff, as they do not monitor the website.
  • I understand and agree that as with any organization, there are rules governing behavior within the available communication mediums.  For example, violating antitrust regulations, libeling others, selling, and marketing are not permissible.
  • I have read and understand the following guidelines. I understand that if I have questions, with regard to these guidelines, I should contact a HAMFT Board Member by telephone.
  • I understand that HAMFT reserves the right to suspend or terminate membership of this website for users who violate these rules.
  • I understand that these terms of use may be changed or updated at any time.
Website Rules
  • Do not post commercial messages unrelated to professional development or continuing education. The cyberspace term for this is spamming. If you do have professional development or continuing education opportunities to share with other members, messages shall be limited to one such post.
  • Use caution when discussing products. Information posted on the list is available for all to see, and comments are subject to libel, slander, and antitrust laws.
  • All defamatory, abusive, profane, threatening, offensive, or illegal materials are strictly prohibited. Do not post anything in a website-based message that you would not want the world to see or that you would not want anyone to know came from you.
  • Responses intended for individual users should be emailed to the intended individual.
  • Group or Forum conversations, in which only a few are participating, should be moved to discussions separate and apart from the general website audience.
  • Please note carefully all items listed in the disclaimer and legal rules below, including the copyright ownership of information posted to the website.
  • Remember that HAMFT and other website participants have the right to reproduce postings to this website.
  • 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 HAMFT and users of this list the nonexclusive right and license to display, copy, publish, distribute, transmit, print, and use such information or other material.
  • Do not post messages 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 or services; salaries; profits, profit margins, or cost data; market shares; allocation of clients or territories; or selection, rejection, or termination of clients or third party payors.

HAMFT does not actively monitor the website 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 HAMFT’s attention, HAMFT will take all appropriate action.

HAMFT reserves the right to terminate access to any user who does not abide by these guidelines.

Website etiquette
  • Include a signature tag on all messages. Include your name, affiliation and location on each posting.
  • Be respectful of your peers. Do not challenge or attack others. The discussions on the lists are meant to stimulate conversation, not to create contention. Let others have their say, just as you may.
  • State concisely and clearly the specific topic of the 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. Also, include the topic of the email to which you are responding in the subject section of your posting.
  • Include only the relevant portions of the original message in your reply, delete any header information, and put your response before the original posting.
  • Do not send administrative messages such as remove me from the list, through a Forum. Instead, use the Web interface to change your settings or to remove yourself from a Group or Forum. If you are changing e-mail addresses, you do not need to remove yourself from the Group or Forum and rejoin under your new e-mail address.
  • Warn other website Members of lengthy messages either in the subject line or at the beginning of the message body with a line that says “Long Message.”
Disclaimer

This website is provided as a service and membership benefit of HAMFT. It is intended to allow members to communicate with other members who participate in this website about professional issues. HAMFT accepts no responsibility for the opinions and information posted within this website by members. HAMFT in no way endorses or expresses any opinion with respect to any products or merchandise that may be mentioned or marketed by a participating member. With respect to the discussion of legal and ethical issues affecting the practice and business of marriage and family therapy, HAMFT encourages members to consult with our Board of Directors or Ethics Committee if they are seeking advice, information, or consultation on a particular matter. Members who rely upon information posted in a Member Forum do so at their sole discretion and their own risk. HAMFT reserves the right to update and/or change these terms of use at any time.