SOLE “News and Notes” (090505) – ‘Travels,’ Changes and Appointments

This issue of “News and Notes” provides information about the national airing of SOLE’s “Economic Report” segment.  While you might think the air times are early, you’d be amazed how many people watch TV before they head off to work … or are sitting at their computer checking/composing/reading e-mail.  On that note, we need to make you (and your chapter members) aware of a change to SOLE’s on-line membership directory display, unfortunately precipitated by an unauthorized use of the member e-mails.  In doing so, we’ve tried to provide both some information and tools that can help not only SOLE but all of us manage the “spam” in our lives. 

Finally, we’re proud to announce the appointment of our Virtual Chapter 34-03 Chapter Chair.

Bring on those May flowers!
Sarah

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22 May 2009 National “Travel Channel” Airing of SOLE’s “Economic Report” Segment
SOLE HQ, 15 May 2009

For those of you early risers that haven’t yet had a chance to see SOLE’s “Economic Report” airing, you’ll have the opportunity to view it on Friday, 22 May 2009 on The Travel Channel.

The segment will air at:
     6:30 AM on both the East and West coasts
     5:30 AM in the Central time zone
     4:30 AM in the Mountain Standard time zone
 
And for those of you in the Seattle/Tacoma area, “stay tuned” for news about the segment’s airing on CNN Headline News later this month/early June.

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Changes to SOLE’s On-Line Membership Directory Display
SOLE HQ, 15 May 2009

If you’ve used the SOLE website “Find a Member” feature recently you may have noticed that the “Member Search” page now contains the following notice: “SOLE – The International Society of Logistics (‘SOLE’) is pleased to provide you this on-line Membership Directory for both your use in contacting your fellow professionals, and for use by the chapter/district/corporate headquarters in support of you, the member.  In the interest of protecting the privacy of all our members, you are advised that this Membership Directory is not to be used for or be provided to anyone for any other purpose.  SOLE does not endorse, authorize, sanction or approve the unauthorized use of the Membership Directory for personal/business solicitation.  Disregard of this stated policy will be considered a violation of SOLE’s Code of Ethics, and subject to any an all appropriate action.”You may also have noticed that when your search result is returned, it is now returned without the member’s e-mail.  Why so?  Unfortunately, at the beginning of April we had members (current or past) whose actions led to our having to take reactive/preventative action(s).  We say “unfortunately” because – ultimately – we had to institute tightened security measures (hopefully, temporary) until we can figure out a workable solution that doesn’t break the chapters’ ability to manage/communicate with SOLE’s members.  In addition to the elimination of the member’s e-mail address from the information that is displayed in the membership directory entry, we’ve also changed the temporary User ID/password from “temp” and “a4100″ to another combination that will only be issued by SOLE HQ and changed on a monthly basis.

The good news is that SOLE responded to the reported breach within 2 hours of receiving the notice/multiple complaints from individual and corporate members.  The bad news is that those measures could – ultimately – diminish the membership experience for the rest of SOLE’s members.  But, even in “bad news” there’s some ‘good’ – Chapter Chairs/Vice Chairs, Member Services and SOLE HQ are working more closely together to both request chapter listings and update/validate member listing information.  That means fewer “lost” members, and more members hearing personally from their chapters.  And, in keeping with SOLE’s educational ‘mission,’ we were able to develop a handy “SPAM 101″ guide for distribution to members/posting on chapter web-sites.

And, perhaps the ultimate ‘good news’, was the reminder that sometimes the most effective form of communication is as simple as picking up the phone and connecting in dialogue, member to member.

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“SPAM 101″ – What It Is and What It Isn’t
SOLE HQ, 15 April 2009

Regardless of where an individual or company may or may not have gotten the e-mail address(es) from, unless you, the receiver, asked for the e-mail, it is “spam,” as defined by the US “Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003.”  For your reference, below is a brief summary, of what the law says “spam” is and isn’t :

Definition of Spam
Spam is ANY and ALL unsolicited e-mail or alternative electronic messages. Any promotion, information, or solicitation sent to a person without their DIRECT prior consent is Spam. Examples of Spam (consist of, but are NOT limited to): • Any e-message is Spam if sent to a recipient who had previously signed up to receive newsletters, product information, or any other type of e-message, but later opted-out by indicating to the sender they no longer wish to receive additional e-messages.
• Any e-message sent to recipients that have had no prior association with the sender or did not DIRECTLY agree to be contacted by the sender is Spam.
• Any e-message sent to recipients obtained from “opt-in” lists with which the sender has no prior association is Spam.
• Any e-message sent to a recipient without a clear way for a person to opt-out or request future messages not be sent to them, is Spam.
• Any e-message sent or posted via chat rooms, instant messaging systems, newsgroups, message boards, or Usenet is Spam.
• Any e-message that does not have a valid reply-to address is Spam. What is NOT Spam?
A message is NOT Spam if the recipient directly requested information be sent to them from the sender or the sender’s organization, and that recipient has not subsequently asked for removal from their list.   This is an extremely important point – The first ‘unsolicited’ message you get is spam.  Subsequent e-mails are only considered spam if you “unsubscribe”/request to opt out.  In other words – don’t “delete” the message without first hitting “unsubscribe.”
 
What is the US law governing Spam?
This was the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003.  [Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003.] You can find details about this legislation at www.spamlaws.com/federal/index.shtml.  Countries other than the US (most notably those within the European Union) have similar (sometimes more stringent) laws governing electronic data privacy/Internet solicitation.

Rest assured that SOLE takes seriously its responsibility to protect and safeguard members’ information – not just because it has to, but because it’s the right thing to do.  We do not sell mailing lists or labels, and try to take all reasonable measures not to send e-mails from which individuals can build unauthorized mailing lists.  Should you have any concerns or questions, or need to report suspected abuse, please e-mail or call SOLE HQ at solehq@erols.com or 301-459-8446.

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Phil Frohne, CPL Appointed Virtual Chapter 34-03 Chapter Chair
SOLE HQ, 1 April 2009

On 1 April 2009 Phil Frohne, CPL, was appointed by SOLE’s President as the Chapter Chair of SOLE’s Virtual Chapter – All Other (District 34, Chapter 03).  For those of you who may be unfamiliar with Phil, he’s currently Vice Chair Technical/Admin of the St. Louis Chapter (06/01).  He was the Chapter Chair in 2007, and before that served as the Director of District 06 for 7 years.  He attended the Board of Director meetings that saw the beginnings of the virtual chapter concept; and is chair of the CPL Qualifications Review Board.  [He's also a SOLE Press author.  Look for his math/metrics workshop at  SOLE 2009 in August.]

What is a virtual chapter?  It the case of 34-03, it consists of those non-European or Asia/Pacific members who are not able to affiliate with a local chapter and who desire to participate in a chapter via electronic communications.  How does a virtual chapter work?  In his own words, “The chapter’s purpose is to share what we know about the logistics profession with each other.  Plain and simple.  The more knowledge each of us shares, the more knowledge we collectively hold and the more we can improve the logistics profession for ourselves and those who follow after us.”

Phil and the members are all “… about spreading technical information,”  and are actively building a community of knowledge and “log” experience through e-newsletters and e-mails … not to mention “telling a bad logistics joke now and then.”

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