JHYM Photo and Digital Media Policy

The JHYM community has spent a year seriously considering the commitment agreement that is posted on our photo gallery.  You can see it here.  Technology changes almost faster than we can talk about it, though, so we are aware that this will be an ongoing conversation.   Our intentions in raising these issues with our JH’ers and staffers are twofold.  One, we want our beloved young people to be safe and savvy online, particularly on the social networking sites.  Two, we want the integrity and spirit that covers our times in community to be celebrated, honored and preserved.

·        Photographs are taken at our retreats to preserve memories and to convey something of the essence of our community to others interested in learning more about JHYM.

·        Hard copy (paper) photo albums are maintained for the community’s enjoyment.  Many (but not all) of these same photos are also posted to our online photo album linked to our program’s website.  You can see it here.

·        We never display the full names of JH’ers in our online photo album.

·        We are aware that some photos of how we are or what we do at retreats could be misinterpreted by the wider world.  Without context and first-hand experience, photos of us being silly or even peaceful, for example, could be wrongly judged.  We love what happens in our community and don’t want photography to negatively impact how we are with each other.   We agree that there are particular times, particularly in worship or during small group times, when photo-taking would be a distraction to us being present to each other and the Spirit.

·        The staff photographer(s) have a special sheet of instructions in their staff notebooks.    You can see it here. 

·        We check in with the community at every retreat, to make sure we have a current list of Friends who do not want to appear online at all.

·        Occasionally our photos are sought for inclusion in other Friend's publications, in which case permission is sought from all photographed, and the parent/guardian of JH’ers, beforehand.

As the coordinator, what is posted on our website and put into our photo albums is ultimately my responsibility.  Parents and/or JH’ers may request to omit their image(s) from any or all of our photo albums or sites.  Please speak with me about specific photos or about our photo and media policy in general. 

Gretchen Baker-Smith, Dec. 2011