ABATE OF FLORIDA, INC. WEBSITES STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES (SOP)P.O. BOX 2520 DELAND, FL 32721-2520 (386) 934-9610
Individual Chapter websites are not required, and shall be developed at the option of individual chapters, however, all sites must carry the ABATE of Florida, Inc. name and shall conform to the following guidelines, including approval from the State Board of Directors:
1. Websites shall be informative in nature and will not be used for any purpose that would reflect negatively on ABATE of Florida, Inc. or any of its members.
2. No slanderous or malicious content will be posted on any ABATE of Florida, Inc. site or social media representing ABATE of Florida, Inc. A positive image should be maintained at all times.
3. LINKS: Due to the possible misperception that a website obtained by a URL from an ABATE chapter’s website (commonly known as a “link”) may be to a website condoned or endorsed by ABATE of Florida, Inc, combined with not being able to control every website’s content, chapter websites shall not have any links or references to non-ABATE websites unless prior approval is obtained through the State Board. The only exceptions to this are:
a. A required link to the ABATE of Florida, Inc., website (
b. A required link to the ABATE of Florida, Inc’s Legislative Information Center (
c. Links to that chapter’s paid advertiser’s websites
d. Links to other ABATE of Florida, Inc. chapters’ websites.
e. Exceptions may be granted by the State Board.
4. PROHIBITED CONTENT: Pursuant to United States Codes (U.S.C. 2251-2260) there will be no nudity, profanity and/or discriminatory language allowed on any state or chapter website, either in content or suggestion.
5. WEBSITE RATING: Pursuant to Federal Communications Commission Regulations, Title 18 United States Code, Section 1464 and Florida Statutes Chapter 815 – All information posted to the website must maintain a rating suitable for all visitors to read, whether adult or child. This includes but is not limited to Text Content, Images, Photo’s, Cartoons and Animations.
6. REQUIRED CONTENT: As required by the Internal Revenue Service, as part of our tax status, all state and chapter sites must have the following disclaimer and statement posted on every page of the site in capital letters: “ABATE OF FLORIDA, INC. DOES NOT CONDONE DRINKING AND RIDING.
DONATIONS TO ABATE OF FLORIDA, INC. ARE NOT DEDUCTIBLE FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. 1-800-435-7352”. Fliers or Advertisements for any ABATE of Florida, Inc. sponsored event that are posted or made available for download must also carry this same disclaimer.
7. CONTRACTS: As per ABATE of Florida, Inc. by-laws, no chapter or individual shall enter into any contract or agreement on behalf of the corporation without the approval of the State Board of Directors. Copies of agreements concerning website initiation or continuation, must be sent to the PR/Communications Trustee, and the State Webmaster. The State Board of Directors will review the agreement and/or contract in a timely manner. For purposes of these Website Standard Operating Procedures, a “contract” shall mean any agreement (terms of use) outside the ABATE of Florida, Inc. Board of Directors to provide website hosting, a domain name, or email services. All items bearing the ABATE of Florida, Inc. name and/or a chapter name is considered being done on behalf of the corporation.
In accordance with the existing ABATE of Florida, Inc. by-laws, copies of all signed website agreements, entered into prior to the adoption of these State Board of Directors approved Website Standard Operating Procedures, will be sent to the State Board of Director’s for review. This would include, but not limited to, any agreements entered into by individuals on behalf of ABATE of Florida, Inc. for the purpose of hosting an ABATE of Florida, Inc. chapter website and/or supplying a domain name. These documents should be sent to the State Office attention of the State PR/Communications Trustee and State Webmaster. Chapters that have verbal agreements need to notify the above parties of such agreements.
8. WEBSITE HOSTING:
a. Chapter websites shall be hosted through the ABATE of Florida, Inc. State webhosting account. These sites will be at no cost to the chapters.
b. Chapter websites will be overseen by the State Webmaster, but maintained by the individual chapters.
c. The chapters’ sites’ content will normally be uploaded via FTP protocol, by each chapters’ webmaster, to an assigned directory for each specific chapter.
d. The State Webmaster will be responsible for issuing usernames and passwords for all chapter websites hosted on the state webhosting account.
e. In CERTAIN UNIQUE, STATE BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVED SITUATIONS, specific chapters have been allowed to have their website hosted on a non-ABATE of Florida, Inc. webhosting account. These exceptions may continue to exist and are bound by these Website Standard Operating Procedures and the following items:
i. The exception was granted PRIOR TO 2009.
ii. This exception applies only to the existing, pre 2009 account and may not be transferred to a new hosting source. Once the decision is made to leave the pre-2009 hosting account, the chapter site must be transferred to the ABATE of Florida, Inc. webhosting account.
iii. This exception will not be allowed to continue for websites that display advertising not directly controlled by the chapter managing the site.
iv. Master usernames, passwords and the exact website address for the control panel and/or FTP account for any chapter website not being hosted on the ABATE of Florida, Inc. webhosting account shall be furnished to the State Office, attention State Webmaster immediately. Failure to supply this required information will result in sanctions to the chapter, will void any prior exception to Section 8e above, may result in the ABATE of Florida, Inc. State Board of Directors assuming legal corporate control of the website, and may result in potential legal action to be enforced in a jurisdiction at the ABATE of Florida, Inc. Board of Director’s choosing.
v. The presiding President and Webmaster of the Chapter hosting a chapter website on a non-ABATE of Florida, Inc. website hosting account shall each be held personally and individually responsible & liable for any content on said website, to be enforced in a jurisdiction at the ABATE of Florida, Inc. Board of Director’s choosing.
9. DOMAIN NAMES:
a. All chapter websites hosted by ABATE of Florida, Inc. will have their domain names assigned by the State Webmaster. The URL for each chapters’ state-hosted website will be a form of the chapter’s name followed by “.abateflorida.com” (chaptername.abateflorida.com).
b. In CERTAIN UNIQUE, STATE BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVED SITUATIONS, specific chapters have been allowed to have their chapter domain name provided by non-ABATE of Florida, Inc. domain registrar. These exceptions may continue to exist and are bound by these Website Standard Operating Procedures and the following items:
i. The exception was granted PRIOR TO 2009.
ii. This exception applies only to the existing, pre 2009 account and may not be transferred to a new domain registrar or management account. Once the decision is made to leave the pre-2009 established domain registrar or management account, the non-ABATE of Florida, Inc. supplied chapter domain shall be allowed to expire. If this non-ABATE of Florida, Inc. account has time remaining before expiring, the State Office attention State Webmaster shall be notified, and he/she will either supply a new Domain Name Server (DNS) or “point” the domain to the chapter’s ABATE of Florida, Inc. hosted website.
iii. This exception will not be allowed to continue for websites that display advertising not directly controlled by the chapter managing the site.
iv. Master usernames, passwords and the exact website address (URL) for the domain registrar or management account for any chapter domain name not issued by ABATE of Florida, Inc. shall be furnished to the State Webmaster immediately. Failure to supply this required information will result in sanctions to the chapter, will void any prior exception to Section 8e above, may result in the ABATE of Florida, Inc. State Board of Directors assuming legal corporate control of the domain name, and may result in potential legal action to be enforced in a jurisdiction at the ABATE of Florida, Inc. Board of Director’s choosing.
11. COST: Cost of posting and keeping a web site including but not limited to high speed access lines and software will be considered the responsibility of the chapter. The expense will be considered a deductible expense for the purposes of the Chapter Treasurer Report only if and when a website can demonstrate an offsetting income that is equal to or greater than the expense deducted.
Any expenses generated from advertising on chapter websites will be classified the same as newsletter advertising for tax purposes, and will follow all guidelines set forth through ABATE of Florida, Inc. by-laws.
12. KEEPING CURRENT: Websites should be kept current and updated at least once per month. Anything posted on the site will have prior approval by the chapter President. All chapters will have a link to the State Site, Any information about legislation on the State Level will be in the form of a link to the State website or will have prior approval from the State President. Each Chapter shall be responsible for the local legislation being posted on their website. Information should be concise and closely scrutinized for accuracy.
13. SITE UPDATES: Chapters must notify the State Office, attention PR/Communications Trustee and State Webmaster when any major updates or changes occur on the site. Major Updates/Changes are defined as follows:
a. The redesign of a website to the extent that 60% of the site has been changed;
b. The introduction of a chapter message board, online classifieds, and/or online auction (NOT ALLOWED);
c. Monthly updates such as the publication of minutes, newsletters, etc. ARE NOT classified as a “Major Update/Change”.
d. After any major change the website shall not be made available to the public until reviewed and accepted by the State PR/Communications Trustee and the State Webmaster.
14. ON-LINE ADVERTISING: Each chapter will set the advertising rates for their individual websites. Any sponsors, links or free advertisements will be the responsibility of the chapter and must conform to FCC Regulations, Title 18 United States Code, Section 1464, Florida Statutes Chapter 815, and U.S.C. 2251-2260.
If Chapters make the decision to allow members to advertise personal merchandise for sale on their website it will be at no cost to the individual member.
15. PRODUCTS:
a. A chapter may sell their own chapter products on their website at a price determined by the chapter.
b. Any chapter may sell State ABATE products on their website, at the suggested retail price only.
c. No chapter will increase and/or decrease the suggested retail price to gain an unfair market advantage over other chapters.
d. Until such a time as the State Board of Directors determines that the corporation is generating enough e-sales to offset the cost of the various forms of e-payment, all sales will have to be paid by check and sent by regular mail, from the buyer to the seller. Checks should be made payable to the chapter selling the products.
e. On-line auctions for items on the chapter’s website is prohibited
16. Information on website development will be made available to each chapter, upon request, via the State PR/Communications Trustee and/or State Webmaster.
17. The State Office, PR/Communications Trustee and State Webmaster must be notified as soon as possible when there are any changes in the Chapter Webmaster contact information and/or personnel. The new Chapter Webmaster shall sign this Website Standard Operating Procedures prior to being issued the username & password for the chapter’s website.
18. COMPLIANCY OF THESE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES:
a. The State Board of Directors shall be the only body in deciding compliancy and the spirit of these Standard Operating Procedures.
b. Any chapter website that is not hosted on the state webhosting account and are allowed to remain off the state webhosting account shall immediately comply with these Website Standard Operating Procedures in its entirety.
c. Any website and/or chapter not adhering to these guidelines will be notified of the corrections needed to bring the site back into compliance.
d. Should a site not hosted by the state webhosting account and in violation of these Website SOPs not be corrected in a timely manner after notification; the State Legal Counsel may notify the Internet Service Hosting Company of the violation of our Corporate Operating Procedures, which these SOPs are part of.
e. Continued failures to bring the site into compliance with ABATE of Florida, Inc. Website SOPs & By-Laws will necessitate control of the site being assumed by the ABATE of Florida, Inc. State Board of Directors.
f. Any cost incurred by ABATE of Florida, Inc. to have the chapter website come into compliance with these Website Standard Operating Procedures will be paid by the violating chapter.
g. No cost that has been incurred by a chapter, due to the removal of a non-compliant website, will bereimbursed to the chapter.
h. These Website Standard Operating Procedures shall be signed annually every July by each chapter President and Webmaster, and then forwarded to the State Office or State Webmaster forthwith.
- Contact information for the State Office, State PR/Communications Trustee and State Webmaster are available on the state website;
APPROVED June 27, 2014
This document applies to the respective chapter’s:
website / other
Check all that applies, if different individuals, each must sign separate form.
By signing below, I hereby accept these ABATE of Florida, Inc. Website Standard Operating Procedures and all conditions within.
Chapter President (Sign and Print Name) / Date
Email:
Chapter:
Webmaster(sign and Print Name) / Date
Email:
Chapter:
James “Doc” Reichenbach II
State President, ABATE of Florida, Inc. / Date
Read and sign this page:MAIL THE ORIGINAL signature page (page 5 of 5 only) to the State Office at: ABATE of Florida, Inc., PO Box 2520, Deland, FL, 32721-2520
Revised 6/15/2015