1   Enjoy the Information Exchange on CHAMP: This is our most important “policy.”

2   Attachments:  The CHAMP listserv will reject messages with anything larger than a nanoparticle attachment.  In addition, large attachments eat up space on recipients’ mail servers.  Therefore, attachments are limited to 150kb.  If you have a larger file that you want to share, please note that in your message and offer to send it to interested individuals.  Alternatively, you can post your file on a website and direct readers to the link.

3   Message Format:  Please use a specific and descriptive Subject line for your message.  This will enable readers to search for your valuable comments in the future and to quickly delete messages that are not of interest to them.  Please change the subject line in your reply if you introduce another subject.

4   Replying to messages:

a.  Most replies are of interest to the entire CHAMP readership.  Specific situations where you would want to ask readers to "please reply directly to me" include questionnaires, seeking job candidates, individual queries, etc.

b.  When personally replying to the original sender, please look at the addressee line before you click "Send" to ensure that the message will be sent to the intended recipient.  If you simply click "Reply", your message will be sent to the full membership.  If your intent is to reply personally to the sender, then copy and paste their personal email address into the "To" line.

5   Commercial Activity:  Discussion of commercial technologies and products is a frequent subject of CHAMP discussions.  We encourage participation of our AMP members from commercial companies in these discussions where added information is useful.  However, we have a strict policy that prohibits distribution of promotional material. Therefore, company employees may not make product announcements (e.g. new products, FDA clearance/approval, IP position, offer to collaborate, etc.), even if it is in response to a current discussion thread.

6    Postings by Professional Recruiters:  We recognize that AMP members may be interested in such information so we are willing to allow paid advertising for molecular positions.  We also recognize that advertising on CHAMP is high value because a message on CHAMP reaches a large number of specific targets quickly.  Professional recruiters have 3 options for advertising jobs with AMP:

7   Gene Patents:  Patents are “banes” for many AMP-member labs and “boons” for others.  For several reasons, we’ve chosen to not approve discussions of gene patent claims.  It is difficult and time-consuming for us to verify claims suggested.  It is also difficult to balance giving everyone their “say” with policing members’ messages that vent frustration and anger over the “banes” of gene patents. AMP has a published position on gene patents; this is an ongoing area of work for the Professional Relations Committee.

8   Announcements of non-AMP Meetings:

We will advertise meetings on CHAMP that meet the following criteria:
·  The meeting focus is molecular (research or clinical), and
·  The meeting is organized by a non-profit group, and
·  The meeting is directed by an AMP member (or at least a number of people on the Organizing/Program Committee are AMP members)

Alternatively,
·  AMP has a co-promotional agreement with the organizing group.  This co-promotional agreement could be as simple as reciprocal link on their website and distribution of JMD and AMP membership brochures at the meeting, etc.  We recommend that AMP members use their influence with their meeting-organizing colleagues and the organizers of the meetings at which they’ve agreed to present to seek an agreement with AMP.  It’s win-win-win.  The organizing group gets its meeting advertised to over 1,400 molecular diagnostics professionals, AMP gets visibility and promotional benefits, and the members hear about a meeting that may interest them.  Mary Williams says, “If you’re speaking at or attending a meeting that you believe should be advertised on CHAMP, get your people to call my people (me) and we’ll talk.”