Editorial guidelines

·        The Editor has the responsibility to seek the approval of the Communications Committee for the publication of any articles not meeting the guidelines as stated.

·        Only articles which express a neutral or positive point of view toward life in Sea Trail will be printed

·        The Editor will screen all articles for content, assuring that nothing of an offensive nature is printed

·        The Editor has the responsibility to edit any article for length. Articles and reports should NOT be longer than one column.

·        Articles by members voicing their individual complaints or biases will NOT be printed.

·        Anonymous articles will NOT be printed; a contributor’s name must be associated with the piece.

·        Sign-up sheets will not be printed.

·        Contributors of articles rejected because of content may appeal to the Communications Committee; when necessary, the Committee will present the matter to the Sea Trail Master Association (STMA) Board of Directors for final decision.

Advertising Guidelines

·        The Communications Committee has the responsibility of working with and directing the efforts of the staff accepting or rejecting advertisements for publication.

·        At times, the Communications Committee will determine advertising rates and collection procedures, and have access to all staff members.

·        All advertisements will be recognized as advertisements, rather than articles, by being printed in the Sea Trailer with a designated border entirely surrounding the item.

·        Any commercial advertisement for a profit making concern must pay the advertising rate.

·        Information regarding all STMA sponsored events will be printed at no charge.

·        Any STMA recognized member, club, or organization, whose only purpose is to inform the full membership about an entertainment or social event shall have free access to the Sea Trailer; these notices will not exceed one page.

·        Specific neighborhood events must be announced in the form of an article, with no sign-up sheets.

·        With the exception of special events notices outlined below, any notice from a non-profit organization requesting donations or indicating articles or services for sale with the purpose to raise money, will be considered an advertisement and charged the appropriate rate.

·        All information regarding raffles, ticket sales, or items for sale will be considered an advertisement and charged the appropriate rate.

·        SPECIAL EVENTS NOTICE

Þ    This column will feature articles on upcoming events sponsored by non-profit organizations that provide benefits and services to our community. All articles must be submitted by an STMA member who is involved with the event. There are a few rules:

-         The article must be short, one or two paragraphs

-         Fees or donations may be mentioned

-         No forms or tear-offs

-         The name of the STMA member must be listed as a contact

-         If more information is necessary, an ad may be purchased and referenced in the article (tear-offs not allowed in ads either)

-         An event may be included for no more than two months

·        The final decision to accept or reject an advertisement or to decide whether an article or notice is, in fact an advertisement, is the responsibility of the Communications Committee, and then, in turn, the STMA Board of Directors.

Distribution and Delivery Guidelines

·        It is the responsibility of the Communications Committee to distribute and deliver the Sea Trailer, working with the Neighborhood Representatives, and those that do the mailing of the Sea Trailer to nonresidents.