For ALL KCBS Members

[MilitantSquatter]

I haven't entered a contest on my own since '08, yet I still receive several e-mail blasts and/or pamphlets in the mail at home announcing contests each season... These appear to be from organizers I've never competed at other contests they ran.

[boogiesnap]

Originally Posted by smoke-n-my-i's

I bet you can't guess who I did NOT vote for???? LOL

agreed.

[boogiesnap]

Originally Posted by Leatherheadiowa

Boogie,
I couldn't agree with you more. While nothing illegal happened, something unethical did happen. I wondered how my name got into someone else's hands and now I know. Do we have to ask that a privacy clause be put in every registration now to keep people from sharing for unethical practices? Add a check box that allows people to share our information? I WOULD HOPE NOT! Something about one bad apple...
I guess desperate times call for desperate measures!

agreed again. while there is no clause or checkbox currently, one can only imagine, if they thought this would pan out well, what other ideas might they implement?

now we have another issue.

[dmprantz]

Personal Rant: I did not receive this eMail, but from listening to the last couple of board meetings, it became plainly obvious to me that this board in general and a few directors in particular don't at all respect the privacy of individuals when it comes to eMail. There was talk about sending out unsolicited eMails for various purposes, and spammer tendencies of "opt out," when in fact people should only ever have to opt in. I don't appreciate that. I haven't brought it up because I didn't want to be a pain in the ass about it, but unsolicited eMails are wrong.

dmp

[Jeff_in_KC]

OK guys, I'm not friends or anything with Gene but I'm going to defend him sending unsolicited emails. And nothing unethical happened, BJ. GEESH! The man collected emails and sent what's called a CAMPAIGN message out to a very targeted audience. If you don't want it, block him or just tell him politely to remove your name from his list. It's not spam until you tell him it is, at least not to him. In 2009, I sent out weekly emails to approximately 800 people I collected from various emails, etc. that I had saved over recent years. Occasionally, I'd get a message back from someone asking to be removed. I politely acknowledged their request and immediately removed them from the mailing lists. I created a dialogue with myself and anyone who asked questions in response. Very effective. And it almost worked. I went from being a "who the hell is that?" to someone recognized across the country and fell only 51 votes short. Just because you get an unsolicited email in your inbox doesn't mean it's the end of the world. Y'all are making it sound like a crime or an inconvenience.

[boogiesnap]

jeff, it's the principle, not the act.

with that said, as always, i'll take my brothers thoughts and consider another opinion.

[dmprantz]

Sending out an eMail asking for support from those with whom you've had contact is one thing. Collecting a list of eMail addresses for people that you don't know from a third party with the sole intent of sending them unsolicited eMail is very much the definition of SPAM, whether any one wants to admit it or not. Some one who obtains a list of eMail addresses for the purpose communicating leading up to an event who then takes that list and gives or sells it to a third party for uses not directly related to their intended purpose....I dunno if I would call that "unethical," but it is disrespectful and rude at the very least.

dmp

[timzcardz]

Originally Posted by Jeff_in_KC

Just because you get an unsolicited email in your inbox doesn't mean it's the end of the world. Y'all are making it sound like a crime or an inconvenience.

Actually, it IS an inconvenience.

[bover]

It is the definition of spam. For the record, I received a similar email from one of the other candidates. The only way that person could have got my email is because I was a judge for the contest they organize every year. I provided my information for purposes of exchanging information about the contest...not to receive unsolicited spam messages. I too forwarded the email to KCBS, but haven't heard anything back yet. It absolutely is an unethical practice.

[Greendriver]

not spam if you are a bbq'r. hit delete and enjoy the rest of your day. I didn't vote for him, but...

[HoDeDo]

It isnt that hard to compile a list on your own... heck just a quick facebook search will net you a list of folks that you can many times find a email address for, right in their info. Heck if you have smart phone, you can load it as a contact inthe facebook app....

Export, table, import, and viola! Your email list. Yes, you would hope that folks don't sell your email, but just about any site you visit that collects it can share it - it's scary really.

Anyway, definately dont agree with the spamming, but I also got emails from others... I know they could have gotten it from my website, facebook, any number of places... so I wouldnt make the jump that KCBS gave them anything.

[Jeff_in_KC]

Come on guys, seriously? If you're a KCBS member and are eligible to vote (which pretty much just takes being a paid member), how can you consider it spam? The only inconvenience is an extra click on the delete button. Reading is not required. The emails I collected were from mostly emails sent that I was included on and the sender did not use the BCC function (which I almost always do when sending out an email to large groups and did in the 2009 campaign). These came mostly from organizers contacting teams. Many of my 800 or so had never met me. I NEVER EVER hear any of you complaining when you get an email from an organizer asking you to attend their event yet when it comes to someone wanting to serve membership for three years on the board, it somehow raises all kinds of hackles. What about those postcards and letters from contests you've never cooked that appear in your postal mail box? No complaints voiced there either.

[dmprantz]

Originally Posted by Jeff_in_KC

Come on guys, seriously?

Seriously. Some people respect the privacy of others and expect the same in return. Obviously, you either don't consider an eMail address to be private or don't care about others' privacy. In either case, you are not in agreement with some population of the world in general and members of this forum in particular. I don't think any of us need to justify our privacy expectations to you, but I would expect you to respect them. Marketing is marketing, and campaigning is a form of marketing. If you seriously think it's okay to give out others' eMail addresses, share yours here, and I'll be sure to tell every viagra, penis enargement, and fake Rolex salesman I find that you might be interested. Afterall, you likely have a penis and a wrist, so you could use any of them, right?

dmp

[Jeff_in_KC]

Originally Posted by dmprantz

Seriously. Some people respect the privacy of others and expect the same in return. Obviously, you either don't consider an eMail address to be private or don't care about others' privacy. In either case, you are not in agreement with some population of the world in general and members of this forum in particular. I don't think any of us need to justify our privacy expectations to you, but I would expect you to respect them. Marketing is marketing, and campaigning is a form of marketing. If you seriously think it's okay to give out others' eMail addresses, share yours here, and I'll be sure to tell every viagra, penis enargement, and fake Rolex salesman I find that you might be interested. Afterall, you likely have a penis and a wrist, so you could use any of them, right?

dmp

Yeah, I respect your privacy so I wouldn't give your email to anyone else. And if I send you an email and you don't want it, I'd take your name off the list. That's how it works.

[dmprantz]

Originally Posted by Jeff_in_KC

Yeah, I respect your privacy so I wouldn't give your email to anyone else.

Then I think we are largely in agreement. What I said above is that to use an existing communications channel is one thing, but to receive a contact list from a third party is disrespectful. I think one of the big complaints here is that people who have never had dealing with an individual are now getting eMails from that person. He has also admitted that he acquired eMail addresses from others for marketing purposes. That's SPAM and not appreciated by many.

dmp