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About the AssistU Community, and Our Community Guidelines

The AssistU community was founded on a very feminine business model where collaboration and cooperation replaced a more traditionally masculine model of competition, fear, and selfishness.  Recently, our community was referred to as being like "Mayberry;" a reference to a town in the 1960's T.V. sitcoms, "The Andy Griffith Show," and "Mayberry R.F.D.."  We believe that's an apt description for who we want to be as a community.

For those of you who maybe never saw those shows, Mayberry was a small town where people knew each other, treated each other well, actively worked out their differences (often choosing actions that were best for the community over those that were  specifically self-serving) , frequently bent over backward to help others, and where people felt safe; they understood right and wrong, knew what was expected of them, lived and played by the rules, and were responsible for themselves and their actions -- willingly accepting the consequences when they made mistakes.

Of course, times have changed, and the world isn't much like Mayberry anymore.  Still, in our community, it can be very much like that, and that's what we aspire to.

As a company, we're proud and protective of this community, and we count on all of you to be as well.

The following Community Guidelines were created to let you know what is expected of you, and what you can expect from us.  While they're current right now, they'll be evolving as the community evolves, and so you'll want to check back here so you can keep current.

The guidelines are broken into several sections.  Obviously, some of the guidelines don't apply to everyone (the guidelines for the Registry, for instance, don't apply to current students), but it's smart to familiarize yourself with everything, anyway.  Even though you don't drive a car in Mayberry, you might still want to understand the traffic laws!

Please note that our community is both a virtual and in-person on.  All community guidelines apply to anywhere and any time community members are interacting and communicating.

-- General Community Guidelines (apply to everyone) 
-- Ethical Guidelines (apply to everyone) 
-- Forum Guidelines (apply to everyone) 
-- Registry Guidelines (apply to graduates only) 
-- Intellectual Property Guidelines (apply to everyone) 
-- Violations of Guidelines (apply to everyone)

General Community Guidelines

There are three overarching principles that guide this community:

1. Youâ€™re responsible for yourself and your experience

This is about personal responsibility. Only you can control what you do, what you say, how you say it, who you say it to, how you interpret what you read, - in short, what choices you make and actions you take.  We expect you to be adult, and behave adultly, whether on line in our portal, on community event telediscussions, at in-person AssistU events, and even in your conversations with other community members. Things like gossip, triangulation, law-breaking, abuse - they don't fly.  If you are at all unclear about what constitutes adult behavior, please be sure to ask.

One of the very specific responsibilities you take on is keeping current with what's happening in the AssistU community. While we hope you would be a very active contributor to the community, at the very least, you are responsible for knowing about official announcements pertaining to you, the community, and anything that could impact your membership status.

2. Treat others well and with respect

We'd considered the Golden Rule, but that works on the assumption that everyone likes to be treated well, and we've known some who don't.  It seemed far more succinct to cut to what really matters - and that's that you always treat others in this community well and respectfully.

3. Maintain a generosity of spirit

Consider others before you act. Help out when you can. Give what you have.

Ethical Guidelines

While our ethical guidelines apply to everyone in the community, students and graduates have different levels of commitment to them.

Students, by nature of being students, have very little opportunity to behave in ways that would violate these guidelines. Therefore, we ask them to know what the guidelines are, and to be guided by them to the extent that it's possible to be.

Graduates, on the other hand, must agree with the guidelines, our pledge, and standards, and agree to operate their businesses in accordance with them.

Our Standards of Excellence, Ethics, and Practices Pledge can be found here: 
http://www.assistu.com/forum/index.php?act=loadpage&f=policies/policies.shtml&t=AssistU%20Community%20Policies

Posting Guidelines

Our community boards are our primary tools of communication.  As such, it's important that we all use them in a similar fashion. Here are the guidelines that will allow that to happen:

-- Language: If your language wouldn't be appropriate in polite, mixed company, don't use it here.  Expletives; coarse, offensive, or vulgar words; mean-spirited or inciteful use of language all are inappropriate.  Masking, or hiding the letters so that you don't technically use an inappropriate word is prohibited.  %#)(&@%, used to indicate general upset is fine because it could be used to indicate any number of feelings or words. You're such an a**hole, isn't.  If a member can clearly see the word you meant, its masking, and not allowed.

-- Sexuality: We don't discuss or exchange sexually explicit images, and/or materials; including but not limited to photographs, film, videos, pictures, or computer-generated images (actual or simulated). Links to sexually explicit materials are also prohibited.  Discussion of sexuality in a more clinical sense might be appropriate in a SIG conversation or an off-topic post, but will rarely be appropriately discussed in larger community forums.

-- Copyright/Trademark: Make sure you own what you post, or that you have explicit permission from the owner to post it.

-- Advertising and Solicitation: It's perfectly ok to mention, link to, or discuss web sites that could be of interest to other VAs and their clients. Sharing resources asked for, or resources you find (Hey, look at the new email service I just found! is a terrific way to participate. Self-promotion (In case anyone's interested, I sell Amway get in touch!), promotion of your clients (My client is starting a new teleclass), etc., is not ok. That kind of thing belongs advertised on greatbizstuff.com, our community's sales and marketing outlet (soon to be launched). Searching for a VA? Use the Registry not the community forums. Have a project you need help with? Search the Roster and make personal contact with any VAs who seem to have the skills you need or post to the Creative Partnerships forum.

-- Illegalities: If it's illegal in the world, its off limits as a topic in the forums.  Discussing how to make a bomb or where to buy drugs is off limits. Discussing a current news story in an OT post is fine.

-- Violence and Abuse: As a community, we abhor violence and abuse of all kinds. Our community will not be a place for this.  Violence, as you know, can take many forms. The most common that could take place in a community like ours and which are prohibited, include, but are not limited to, the following:  Conversations that promote hate, posts that threaten another, posts that defame another, gossip mongering, posts that contain racial, ethnic, religious, gender, or disability slurs, and posts that are meant to incite problems within the community or between community members.

-- Impersonation: Please don't attempt to impersonate a member of the AssistU staff, a Community Leader, or another member. Further, please don't misrepresent your affiliation with any person or entity.

-- Triangulation: Triangulation is the practice of involving uninvolved people into a problem. If you have a problem with someone in the community, it's between the two of you. If you post about it, you involve a whole lot of people who shouldn't be involved, incite problems, and create ugliness that has to be cleaned up. That's simply not ok here.

-- Topics: Please keep your posts on topic, and don't hijack the topics and take them in different directions than the original - there's a forum for just about everything (including personal stuff) called 'Daily Grind', and if you need another created, just ask.  Off-topic replies, 'me too' responses, and chit-chatty responses, on the other hand, should be kept off the boards, and sent directly to the person you are replying to (remember, you can send email and PMs directly from the boards!).

-- Privacy: Please don't violate another's privacy by sharing info you have no right to share.

-- Harvesting: Please do not harvest list email addresses for your personal or professional use.

-- Spam and Other Annoyances: Posts that can be considered spam; for example, posting to multiple forums when there's no appropriate reason to do so, or for the sole purpose of interrupting the flow of discussion, are unacceptable. Additionally, chain or Internet hoax letters of any sort, passing on junk mail, and sharing any pyramid schemes are not appropriate. We expect you to do your best to not upload anything containing a virus or worm.

Registry Guidelines

1. You must provide us with accurate information, and keep it updated. Failure to do so will result in disciplinary action.
2. You can only reply to clients you genuinely believe might be a terrific fit for your practice. Only reply to people who fit your ideal client profile. 
3. The only way to respond to a client is via our web mail. 
4. Inclusion here is a privilege, not a right. And if we find that people are abusing the privilege, we retain the right to remove them, at our discretion.

These are abbreviated guidelines. If you are a member of the Alumni Association at AssistU and feel you need to read these before you can agree with our Community Guidelines and login, please be in touch with the Alumni Director who will make sure you receive a complete version.

Intellectual Property Guidelines

Intellectual Property Guidelines spell out the way AssistU community members can use the AssistU IP, and can be found inside the Portal, here:  http://www.assistu.com/forum/index.php?act=loadpage&f=policies/policies.shtml&t=AssistU%20Community%20Policies

While you have to be willing to abide by these guidelines, they are not guidelines you need to see before logging into the Portal.

If you want to see a copy before you login so that you make an informed decision about whether you can abide by our IP policy, please email ippolicy@assistu.com with your request.

Violations of Guidelines

At our sole discretion, we reserve the right to remove, edit, or move posts made to the AssistU Community Boards.  Additionally, certain policies stipulate specific consequences for non-compliance. Unless otherwise stipulated, we reserve the right to impose, at our discretion, appropriate disciplinary measures, including, but not limited to:  restriction of or removal of privileges, loss of certification, and loss of membership in the AssistU community. If you're unclear about whether something is appropriate, please ask first.

and am bound by the following Terms of Service:

AssistU TOS:

1. Acceptance of Terms 
Welcome to the AssistU Community Area!  AssistU provides this members-only area to you subject to the following Terms of Service (TOS) which may be updated at any time, and without prior notice.  You will always be able to review the most current Terms of Service here. In addition, when a part of different AssistU groups, you shall be subject to posted guidelines or rules applicable to such groups. For instance, different terms apply to students than apply to alumni.

2. Description of Service 
AssistU currently provides community members with a rich collection of resources, including a variety of communication tools (the "Service"). You understand and agree that some tools or areas, or offerings of the Service are available only to students, some only to alumni, and some to everyone. You understand and agree that the Service may include advertisements, and that these advertisements are necessary for AssistU to provide the Service. You also agree that the Service includes communication from AssistU, such as service announcements, administrative messages, and the AssistU News, and that these communications are a part of the AssistU Community membership, and you will not be able to opt out of receiving them. Unless specifically stated otherwise, any new features added to the current Service shall be subject to the TOS.  You understand and agree that the Service is provided "as-is," and that AssistU assumes no responsibility for the timeliness, deletion, mis-delivery, or failure to store any user communications or personalization settings. You are responsible for obtaining access to the Service and if that access includes third party fees (such as an Internet Service Provider), you are responsible for those fees. You are also responsible for providing the necessary equipment to access the Service.

3. Your Member Obligations 
In consideration of your use of the Service, you represent that you are of legal age to form a binding contract and are not a person barred from receiving services under the laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdiction. You also agree to: (a) participate and keep current with what's happening in the AssistU community (b) abide by all TOS, and Community guidelines, and AssistU Policies (c)provide true, accurate, current and complete information about yourself as prompted by the Service's registration form (such information being the "Registration Data") and (d) maintain and promptly update the Registration Data to keep it true, accurate, current and complete. If you provide any information that is untrue, inaccurate, not current or incomplete, or AssistU has reasonable grounds to suspect that such information is untrue, inaccurate, not current or incomplete, AssistU has the right to suspend or terminate your account and refuse any and all current or future use of the Service (or any portion thereof).

4. Privacy Policy 
We never rent or sell our community information.

5. Member Account, Password, and Security 
As a member, you receive a user name and password. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of the password and account, and are fully responsible for all activities that occur under your password or account. You agree to (a) immediately notify AssistU of any unauthorized use of your password or account or any other breach of security, and (b) ensure that you exit from your account at the end of each session. AssistU cannot and will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your failure to comply with this Section 5.

6. Member Conduct 
You understand that all information, data, text, software, music, sound, photographs, graphics, video, messages or other materials ("Content"), whether publicly posted or privately transmitted, are the sole responsibility of the person from which such Content originated. This means that you, and not AssistU, are entirely responsible for all Content that you upload, post, email, transmit or otherwise make available via the Service. AssistU does not control the Content posted via the Service and, as such, does not guarantee the accuracy, integrity or quality of such Content. You understand that by using the Service, you may be exposed to Content that is offensive, indecent or objectionable. Under no circumstances will AssistU be liable in any way for any Content, including, but not limited to, for any errors or omissions in any Content, or for any loss or damage of any kind incurred as a result of the use of any Content posted, emailed, transmitted or otherwise made available via the Service.

You agree to not use the Service to: 
a.  upload, post, email, transmit or otherwise make available any Content that is unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, tortious, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, libelous, invasive of another's privacy, hateful, or racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable; 
b.  impersonate any person or entity, including, but not limited to, an AssistU staff member, forum leader, or host, or falsely state or otherwise misrepresent your affiliation with a person or entity; 
c.  upload, post, email, transmit or otherwise make available 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 or contractual relationships or under nondisclosure agreements); 
d.  upload, post, email, transmit or otherwise make available any Content that infringes any patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright or other proprietary rights ("Rights") of any party; 
e.  upload, post, email, transmit or otherwise make available any unsolicited or unauthorized advertising, promotional materials, "junk mail," "spam," "chain letters," "pyramid schemes," or any other form of solicitation; 
f.  upload, post, email, transmit or otherwise make available any material that contains software viruses or any other computer code, files or programs designed to interrupt, destroy or limit the functionality of any computer software or hardware or telecommunications equipment; 
g.  disrupt the normal flow of dialogue, or otherwise act in a manner that negatively affects other users' ability to engage in real time exchanges; 
h.  intentionally or unintentionally violate or encourage the violation of any applicable local, state, national or international law; 
i.  "stalk" or otherwise harass another; or 
j.  collect or store personal data about other users.

You acknowledge that AssistU may not pre-screen Content, but that AssistU and its designees shall have the right (but not the obligation) in their sole discretion to refuse or move any Content that is available via the Service. Without limiting the foregoing, AssistU and its designees shall have the right to remove any Content that violates the TOS or is otherwise objectionable or doesn't meet AssistU standards. You agree that you must evaluate, and bear all risks associated with, the use of any Content, including any reliance on the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of such Content. In this regard, you acknowledge that you may not rely on any Content created by AssistU or submitted to AssistU.

You acknowledge, consent and agree that AssistU may access, preserve, and disclose your account information and Content if required to do so by law or in a good faith belief that such access preservation or disclosure is reasonably necessary to: (a) comply with legal process; (b) enforce the TOS; (c) respond to claims that any Content violates the rights of third-parties; (d) respond to your requests for customer service; or (e) protect the rights, property, or personal safety of AssistU, its users and the public.

You understand that the technical processing and transmission of the Service, including your Content, may involve (a) transmissions over various networks; and (b) changes to conform and adapt to technical requirements of connecting networks or devices.

You understand that the Service and software embodied within the Service may include security components that permit digital materials to be protected, and use of these materials is subject to usage rules set by AssistU and/or content providers who provide content to the Service. You may not attempt to override or circumvent any of the usage rules embedded into the Service. Any unauthorized reproduction, publication, further distribution or public exhibition of the materials provided on the Service, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited.

7. Special Admonitions for International Use 
Recognizing the global nature of the Internet, you agree to comply with all local rules regarding online conduct and acceptable Content. Specifically, you agree to comply with all applicable laws regarding the transmission of technical data exported from the United States or the country in which you reside.

8. Indemnity 
You agree to indemnify and hold AssistU, and its subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, agents, co-branders or other partners, and employees, harmless from any claim or demand, including reasonable attorneys' fees, made by any third party due to or arising out of Content you submit, post, transmit or make available through the Service, your use of the Service, your connection to the Service, your violation of the TOS, or your violation of any rights of another.

9. No Resale of Service 
You agree not to reproduce, duplicate, copy, sell, trade, resell or exploit for any commercial purposes, any portion of the Service (including your AssistU username/password.), use of the Service, or access to the Service.

10. Modifications to Service 
AssistU reserves the right at any time and from time to time to modify or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, the Service (or any part thereof) with or without notice. You agree that AssistU shall not be liable to you or to any third party for any modification, suspension or discontinuance of the Service.

11. Termination
You agree that AssistU may, under certain circumstances and without prior notice, immediately terminate your AssistU account, any associated email address, and access to the Service. Cause for such termination shall include, but not be limited to, (a) breaches or violations of the TOS or other incorporated agreements or guidelines, (b) requests by law enforcement or other government agencies, (c) a request by you (self-initiated account deletions), (d) discontinuance or material modification to the Service (or any part thereof), and (e) unexpected technical or security issues or problems

Further, you agree that all terminations for cause shall be made in AssistU's sole discretion and that AssistU shall not be liable to you or any third-party for any termination of your account, or access to the Service.

You understand that, by its very nature, the Service provides a place to communicate and share information. This information will often be in the form of threaded discussions. By using the Service, you understand that your posts contribute to the discussions, as well as to an archive of searchable information valuable to the community members. You understand that if you leave the community for any reason, material you posted will remain with the Service so as to not disrupt the flow of conversation or information. You grant AssistU a limited irrevocable license to retain the material you post without compensation to you.

12. Dealings with Advertisers 
Your correspondence or business dealings with, or participation in promotions of, advertisers found on or through the Service, including payment and delivery of related goods or services, and any other terms, conditions, warranties or representations associated with such dealings, are solely between you and such advertiser. You agree that AssistU shall not be responsible or liable for any loss or damage of any sort incurred as the result of any such dealings or as the result of the presence of such advertisers on the Service.

13. Links 
The Service may provide, or third parties may provide, links to other World Wide Web sites or resources. Because AssistU has no control over such sites and resources, you acknowledge and agree that AssistU is not responsible for the availability of such external sites or resources, and does not endorse and is not responsible or liable for any Content, advertising, products, or other materials on or available from such sites or resources. You further acknowledge and agree that AssistU shall not be responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with use of or reliance on any such Content, goods or services available on or through any such site or resource.

14. Assistu's Proprietary Rights 
You acknowledge and agree that the Service and any necessary software used in connection with the Service ("Software") contain proprietary and confidential information that is protected by applicable intellectual property and other laws. You further acknowledge and agree that Content contained in sponsor advertisements or information presented to you through the Service or advertisers is protected by copyrights, trademarks, service marks, patents or other proprietary rights and laws. Except as expressly authorized by AssistU or advertisers, you agree not to modify, rent, lease, loan, sell, distribute or create derivative works based on the Service or the Software, in whole or in part.

15. Disclaimer of Warranties

YOU EXPRESSLY UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT:  
a.  YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK. THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" "WITH ALL FAULTS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS. ASSISTU EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. 
b.  ASSISTU MAKES NO WARRANTY THAT (i) THE SERVICE WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS, (ii) THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, TIMELY, SECURE, OR ERROR-FREE, (iii) THE RESULTS THAT MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE USE OF THE SERVICE WILL BE ACCURATE OR RELIABLE, (iv) THE QUALITY OF ANY PRODUCTS, SERVICES, INFORMATION, OR OTHER MATERIAL PURCHASED OR OBTAINED BY YOU THROUGH THE SERVICE WILL MEET YOUR EXPECTATIONS, AND (V) ANY ERRORS IN THE SOFTWARE WILL BE CORRECTED. 
c.  ANY MATERIAL DOWNLOADED OR OTHERWISE OBTAINED THROUGH THE USE OF THE SERVICE 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. 
d.  NO ADVICE OR INFORMATION, WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN, OBTAINED BY YOU FROM ASSISTU OR THROUGH OR FROM THE SERVICE SHALL CREATE ANY WARRANTY NOT EXPRESSLY STATED IN THE TOS. 
16. Limitation of Liability  
ASSISTU ASSUMES NO LIABILITY WHATSOEVER, AND YOUR SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY FOR ANY DISPUTE WITH ASSISTU IS THE CANCELLATION OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP. 
YOU EXPRESSLY UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT ASSISTU SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, GOODWILL, USE, DATA OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES (EVEN IF ASSISTU HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES), RESULTING FROM: (i) THE USE OR THE INABILITY TO USE THE SERVICE; (ii) THE COST OF PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS AND SERVICES RESULTING FROM ANY GOODS, DATA, INFORMATION OR SERVICES PURCHASED OR OBTAINED OR MESSAGES RECEIVED OR TRANSACTIONS ENTERED INTO THROUGH OR FROM THE SERVICE; (iii) UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO OR ALTERATION OF YOUR TRANSMISSIONS OR DATA; (iv) STATEMENTS OR CONDUCT OF ANY THIRD PARTY ON THE SERVICE; OR (v) ANY OTHER MATTER RELATING TO THE SERVICE.

17. Exclusions and Limitations 
SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN WARRANTIES OR THE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES. ACCORDINGLY, SOME OF THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS OF SECTIONS 17 AND 18 MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

18. No Third Party Beneficiaries 
You agree that, except as otherwise expressly provided in this TOS, there shall be no third party beneficiaries to this Agreement.

19. Notice 
AssistU may provide you with notices, including those regarding changes to the TOS, by either email, regular mail, or postings on the Service.

20. Trademark Information 
AssistU, AssistU logo, trademarks and service marks and other AssistU logos and product and service names are trademarks of AssistU (the "AssistU Marks"). Without AssistU's prior permission, you agree not to display or use in any manner, the AssistU Marks.

21. General Information 
Entire Agreement. 
The TOS constitute the entire agreement between you and AssistU and govern your use of the Service, superceding any prior agreements between you and AssistU. You also may be subject to additional terms and conditions that may apply when you use or purchase certain other AssistU services, affiliate services, third-party content or third-party software.

Choice of Law and Forum. 
The TOS and the relationship between you and AssistU shall be governed by the laws of the State of Maryland without regard to its conflict of law provisions. You and AssistU agree to submit to the personal and exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located within the county of Baltimore, Maryland.

Waiver and Severability of Terms. 
The failure of AssistU to exercise or enforce any right or provision of the TOS shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision. If any provision of the TOS is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, the parties nevertheless agree that the court should endeavor to give effect to the parties' intentions as reflected in the provision, and the other provisions of the TOS remain in full force and effect.

Statute of Limitations. 
You agree that regardless of any statute or law to the contrary, any claim or cause of action arising out of or related to use of the Service or the TOS must be filed within one (1) year after such claim or cause of action arose or be forever barred.

The section titles in the TOS are for convenience only and have no legal or contractual effect.

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