Rules for Conduct

All users of International Foundation listserves must adhere to the following guidelines:

1. When posting a message
   Use the subject line to describe the subject matter of your message. Be specific. In the body of your message, do not use ALL CAPITAL LETTERS. It is equated with shouting and is considered impolite. Also, identify yourself. Include your name, affiliation, and e-mail address to give others on the list a frame of reference.
2. When replying to a message
   Include only the relevant portion of the original message to which you are responding. This will allow others who read your message to understand the context of the conversation. Always put your reponse at the top of your email, above any portions of the original e-mail.
3. When sending a message
   Only send messages to the entire list when it contains information everyone needs to know or when you are asking a question of the list. If you are responding to just say "thanks" or "me too" or to ask for an item someone has offered, please do not reply to the entire list. In these cases, send your message to the e-mail address of the person you are responding to.
4. Flames
   Challenging or attacking others in a listserv is considered bad net etiquette, and is referred to as "flaming." The discussions occurring within the list are meant to stimulate conversation, but are not meant to create contention. Everyone should be allowed to participate in the discussion.
5. Selling and Marketing
   Do not post commercial messages. Selling and marketing are considered very bad listserve etiquette. This includes direct replies to individual posts. Listserves are not meant to be sales tools but rather open forums to discuss best practices and professional advice. Feel free to discuss products you’ve had experience with (but do not represent or sell), with the understanding that the listserve is a public domain and your comments are subject to libel and slander laws.
6. Be professional
   All defamatory, abusive, profane, threatening, offensive, or illegal materials are strictly prohibited. Do not say anything in a listserve that you do not want the world to see and would not want to know came from you.
7. Copyright
   Gain permission to reprint copyrighted material before posting it. If you post information that is not your original work or ideas, please specify the original source of your information. Do not post anything that is not original unless it meets the "fair use" guidelines of copyright law, or unless you have permission from the original source. When posting materials, the poster voluntarily presents him/herself as the copyright owner or has received permission to reprint copyrighted materials.

To unsubscribe from the list, send an e-mail message to: lists@ifebp.org stating UNSUBSCRIBE, the name of the list, and the e-mail address you want to unsubscribe. Your address will then be deleted from the list.

This listserve is provided as a service to members of the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (the International Foundation). The International Foundation has no control over the messages posted on the Listserve, which are solely the creation of the Listserve's subscribers. The International Foundation accepts no responsibility for, and gives no endorsement of, any opinions posted on this Listserve. The International Foundation in no way guarantees the accuracy or completeness of any information posted on the Listserve.

The International Foundation does not actively monitor the site 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 the our attention, we will take appropriate action.

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