Welcome to the Midwest Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Google Group. PARC is an inclusive partnership dedicated to the conservation of the herpetofauna--reptiles and amphibians--and their habitats. Our mission is to "keep common species common." To learn more about MWPARC, visit us on the web at mwparc.org and on Facebook. For more information about the Google Group, visit our page at https://groups.google.com/d/forum/mw_parc, where you can look through archived messages, as well as change your email preferences.

We want the MWPARC Google Group to be an important and effective way to communicate with people across the Midwest who share a common interest in amphibian and reptile conservation. Emails to the group should be sent to: mw_parc@googlegroups.com

Before sending an email, please be sure to read and agree to the Terms of Use below.

Terms of Use:

Rule 1: Do not use the forum for illegal purposes, including, but not limited to, defamation, violation of intellectual property laws, anti-trust or unfair competition laws or criminal laws.

Rule 2: Do not intentionally interfere with or disrupt other forum members, network services, or network equipment. Do not distribute unsolicited advertising, chain letters, computer worms or viruses, or use the network to make unauthorized entry into any other machine accessible via the Forum.

Rule 3: “Personal reflections" upon other members, no matter how serious their differences over policy questions, is prohibited. Common courtesy and respect, which excludes personal attacks or criticism, must be observed. Sweeping statements disparaging professions or groups of individuals are not constructive and will not be tolerated.

Rule 4: Postings should pertain to amphibian and reptile conservation issues, and not to unrelated issues. Messages urging Listserv members to advocate for issues that do not directly relate to amphibian and reptile conservation and the work of MWPARC, are not to be placed on Listserv, no matter how worthy the cause.

Rule 5: Communications should be oriented towards increasing the knowledge base of those concerned with amphibian and reptile conservation. The Listserv is a forum for sharing information and community building. It is a place where differences of opinion can be aired, however, with courtesy and respect.

Rule 6: Do not use the listserv for commercial purposes. "Commercial" as used for purposes of evaluating listserv messages means communications whose primary purpose is to advance the business or financial interests of any person or entity, or otherwise to promote a financial transaction for the benefit of the author directly or indirectly. Examples of prohibited communications include advertisements for non-MWPARC products or services.

Examples of messages that are allowable because they do not inure to the financial benefit of the author include news of job listings or position openings, or discussion of profession-related products or services where the listserv member conveying the information is not in the business of selling the products or services. Announcements that provide useful professional information to List members but may also have some incidental commercial benefit to the sender (e.g. an author who is a list member merely advising the List of publication of a professional book) typically would not be "commercial" for purposes of this restriction.

Rule 7: MWPARC retains the right to remove users who are found in violation of the above terms of use or the spirit in which they were written.

1. Upon the first violation, a warning will be sent directly to the violator, with a reminder of the rules and an explanation of the violation.

2. In the case of a second violation, the violator will be informed of the nature of the violation, and that a third violation will result in permanent removal from the Google Group.

3. Upon the third infraction within one year, the subscriber is permanently removed and blocked from the Google Group.

Updated Alison Ochs Advisory Board Statement

jbuc...@g.emporia.edu