General – ‘WhatsApp’ Usage Guidelines

To establish guidelines around the use of ‘WhatsApp’ groups used for organising sailing activities.

 1. ‘WhatsApp’ groups are set up by the administrator and the administrator may appoint group administrators to assist.

2. It is not necessary to respond to every post unless it is requested.

3. If your message is not relevant to majority of group members, please consider if it is more appropriate

to reply by way of a personal message. In the event of too many messages being posted that are only relevant to a minority of group members ! the group administrator may request the conversation be continued outside the group.

 4. Please respect the time you post. Early in the morning, late at night posts are discouraged wherever possible. Repeat offenders may be removed from groups.

 5. The group should not be used to post private or confidential messages or express personal opinions or gossip. Any opinions expressed are the opinions of individual members and may not be representative of the whole group.

 IMCAI and individual group administrators are not responsible for any comments posted by individual members of the group.

Inappropriate posts include - posting promotions, using inappropriate language, posting inappropriate photographs/video, personal attacks or insulting messages, bullying of any member, voicing grievances with the mentors/club, or with individual members of the group.

Group members must consider GDPR and child protection guidelines when posting photographs/video on their groups.

 6. Junior members under the age of 18 years (“minor”) are only permitted to be be included on the WhatsApp group if their parent is also included on the WhatsApp group. Group members are to be informed that there are members under 18yrs also in the group.

 **This is an open communication platform!

 All communication is sent to all. At no time should an adult communicate on a 1:1 basis with anyone under 18yrs.

 7. By accepting a request to join Club/Team ‘WhatsApp’ groups, participants agree to these group guidelines. Please note, by accepting the request to join, you are sharing your phone number with all other participants within the group (Adults and in some groups Children).

 Once you join, you always have the option to leave the group.