Twitter Policy

Purpose

This document describes the appropriate use of the Twitter social networking platform. By using a Twitter account, you agree to abide by the guidelines established below.

Guidelines for Use of Twitter Accounts

1.  Do not disclose confidential or proprietary information. Disclosing confidential information is cause for termination.

2.  Be responsible for what you write. Remember that just because you “can” say something doesn't mean that you should. Written word is more difficult to interpret than verbal interaction. Remember that what you say will be a permanent record. Be careful. Be smart.

3.  Do not engage in discussions about legal issues in which the organization is involved or government issues related to the organization or the United Methodist.

4.  Respect copyrights. Don't post text, images, audio or video created by someone else without proper attribution. If you have questions about copyright law and/or usage of certain media, contact the Church Administrator.

5.  Twitter is not a substitute for inter-organization communications. Important information should be transmitted within normal organization communication channels, not on Twitter.

6.  While Twitter can greatly aid in the timely care of and communication with our members, volunteers and prospects, it is not a substitute for member customer service. Remember to refer member and prospect concerns to the appropriate communication channel instead of handling inquiries entirely through Twitter.

7.  Add value to the conversation. Tweeting about organization events, activities, and press releases is fine, but Twitter is about conversations and connections.

8.  Most of the time you will follow those who follow your approved organizational account. However, if they are spammers or use inappropriate language, you can remove them as followers by unfollowing them and blocking them.

9.  Use search.twitter.com regularly to find mentions of the organization, our activities and services, and general industry terms. Follow those who use them and thank them for mentioning the organization.

10.  Relay important issues to appropriate staff and clergy as soon as possible.

11.  If you have questions about how to respond to a specific tweet, or if you are unsure if a certain topic is acceptable for tweeting, discuss the issue with the Church Administrator prior to posting. Don’t guess.

12.  When using your own account, be clear that you are not an official spokesperson for the organization and that your views do not necessarily reflect those of the organization.

13.  When using your personal Twitter account at work, some portion of your tweets should be related to Dunwoody UMC, its activities or the United Methodist Church. There is no specific numeric requirement you must meet, but 20% of total tweets is deemed an ideal level.

14.  When using your personal Twitter account, keep a positive attitude when engaging in any discussion of Dunwoody UMC, its staff, leadership, volunteers, members, activities or community involvement.

Signed: ______Date: ______

Employee

Signed: ______Date: ______

Dunwoody United Methodist Church

DUMCTwitterPolicy-1a.doc·Revision 2.0·May 27, 2010