Broadlands Hospital

Since I have never given you my email address and have never been involved in the hospital issue my accusation is not without foundation as you state. The only way I can think of that you received my email address is from the neighborhood watch list that I signed up for, which is one of the HOA related committees.

 

WOW!!!

...I also stated this to Donna (06 & 07) and she turned around and threatened legal action against me.

I have/had some concrete proof of >20 names that were on the AOL List serve Neighborhhood watch list - that some how managed to now be on Donna's Inova Spam/Distro shortly after she Chaired this committee w/ me last year.

Coincidence?

 

So, how many other aliases and email addresses from those who live in other neighborhoods (counties, states, etc.) may be on the list of "Broadlands" supporters?

Donna- As I said in my original reply and others have echoed here, it would be more accurate to have people opt-in to the list, along with their home address to verify them as a Broadlands resident; especially considering the suspect nature of the original list of email addresses. But, perhaps an accurate, and albeit lower, count of supporters is not the most desired result.

-Jim

 

One of the issues with Donna's email list isn't the need to delete them as another of the myriad of unwanted emails that pour into our in-boxes, it is her using the count of all of the email addresses on her list as the number of supporters to her cause. If a receiver only takes the action of deleting, then you are still counted as a supporter. Her count of "supporters" is used in various venues as a gauge of the level of support that she has.

-Jim

 

Ironically, I only get Donna e-mails forwarded from a friend, although I have thrice asked to be added, and volunteered to help with the campaign resisting the hospital.

 

So. let's see.....So far the "Concerned Citizens of Broadlands" has one named Broadlands resident, Donna, who happens to work for Inova. The only party mentioned as financing this group, and it's lawyer and campaign manager, is....Inova.
What a joke!

 

If there are any residents that can confirm this, I would like to hear from them.
Specifically, if they were on the Neighborhood Watch list and then started receiving Donna's emails unsolicited.
I would like to know when you started receiving these emails.
Please PM me with your information.
Thank you.

 

Thanks Cliff for your help. Would you also ask for proof of the letter I supposedly wrote using HOA letterhead. I certainly would be interested in seeing that as well.

 

I'm not aware of one with official letterhead, but I think it refers to the one with the Broadlands-type logo on it. That's been discussed and resolved long ago.

 

FWIW ... on the issue of SPAM emails and mailing lists. I am an independent dealer of spices and home care products.

The company who manufactures the products is very dealer oriented, it lets us know about requirements that could cause problems for us and them due to violation of these state or national requirements.

One of these is the requirement under the 'CAN-SPAM' act to always include a way to Unsubscribe. Now, as we know, many SPAM messages carry an unsubscribe link that does nothing more than adds that email to the mailing list.

Most legitimate (if there is such a thing) mass-email campaigns will include a link that will bring the user to a website that would have their email address already displayed and a button to unsubscribe.

However, for most home-based lists this is something beyond its capabilities. However, providing a link to unsubscribe is required, and something that my company insists on. For two reasons, not only would I be liable under CAN-SPAM, but also the company would be liable.

Since this 'Concerned Citizens' group is, as I understand it, partially funded by Inova, it should be worried about such liability, and as such should verify its email list by providing the 'opt-out' unsubscribe link at the bottom of the emails.

At the least, it should not say that it will include someone on a petition, without an 'opt-in' link where they can affirm that choice. Otherwise, they will definitely wind up with egg on their face if the entity they are petitioning (or petitioning against) decides to take the list to verify the names.

 

There are numerous items within the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003. Below are a few highlights.

• You must provide a return email address or another Internet-based response mechanism that allows a recipient to ask you not to send future email messages to that email address, and you must honor the requests.

• Any opt-out mechanism you offer must be able to process opt-out requests for at least 30 days after you send your commercial email. When you receive an opt-out request, the law gives you 10 business days to stop sending email to the requestor's email address.

• Your message must contain clear and conspicuous notice that the message is an advertisement or solicitation and that the recipient can opt out of receiving more commercial email from you. It also must include your valid physical postal address.

• Each violation of the above provisions is subject to fines of up to $11,000.

For a complete review of the act see: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/buspubs/canspam.shtm

 

Hmmm...would this then imply that a not-for-profit organization is funding a political group? If so, I think that's a no-no.

 

I am not so sure about that Flynnibus. In this case it can be argued that the individual sending the emails is an employee of a commercial service provider. A company that is benefiting from the effort. Not only is the individual employed by the company but the company is funding the effort. This is a relatively new law with not a lot of common law established. It would be interesting to see if there have been any similiar cases. I'd bet it would get some attention from the FTC.

 

The FTC is doing a lot more than you infer about anti-spam. It just doesn't get publicity. I know this first hand.

Your commercial interest statement maybe true. It's the type of question that a jury would decide. An argument can be made for both sides on that one.

 

As the debate rages on the applicability of the anti-spam legislation, has anyone noticed that we still await an answer on how Donna will resolve the concern at hand?

-Jim

 

As my response back to you stated, I was aware of your concerns and stated that I will and would not be using those people that I did not hear back from. I want our list of supporters to be authentic...

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How about using people who actually contacted you...if you want authentic.

Your current process is nothing but shady.

 

i've been uncharacteristically quiet on this thread since I am ambivalent about the hospital, but on this email thing:

i am giving her the benefit of the doubt she has emails from people who may have requested info, may have shown support, may have written to argue against Inova, etc, and simply needs to purify the list! who here remembers their connection with everyone in their address book?!?

i have fitness contacts, networking p.o.c.'s, parents of little league teams for 3 years ago, friends, web business contacts, toital strangers who are friends of friends... over 500. and i have never taken the time to organize and name each one. so i can only imagine Donna may have a similar issue, therefore-

purifying the list. some folks don't like her way of going about it- some of you feel misrepresented getting onto the list anyway- fine. did her kid play ball or attend dance class with yours? were you on another committee that she was part of? did you scrapbook or attend the same tupperware party with here?!?! your email could have ended up in her list a million different ways! six degrees of separation ppl...

imho she is not a heinous criminal or dirty player... maybe she just wanted to cover ALL bases and not miss a supporter so she emailed everyone to clear the list up.

just opt out and move on. like i did.

or i could be wrong and she thinks she can get away with misuse of email accounts in this neighborhood of educated, internet savvy, and ueber-sensitive-on-this-issue residents... that those opposing Inova would just let it slide or not catch on? i think she knows ppl here are FAR too smart for that.

i'm out again...