Member Information & Publishing Policy

(Adopted by Pittsburgh’s Syria Shriners, Effective February 13, 2026)

Our organization values both open communication and member privacy. As we continue to share information through print and digital platforms, we are committed to protecting our members while still promoting our events and activities effectively.

  1. Our General Approach

Our quarterly magazine and website may be viewed by members and, in some cases, by the public. Because digital content can be widely shared, we aim to minimize unnecessary exposure of personal contact information.

Going forward:

  • For all public-facing materials (website, social media, digital magazine editions) event chairmen and event organizers are encouraged to use organization-managed contact methods on their submissions whenever possible.
  • These may include:
    • Temple mailing addresses for reservations forms and payment requests
    • Temple phone numbers for more information instead of personal phone numbers
    • Official online registration links through our ticketing platform

This helps protect members from spam, fraud attempts, and unwanted contact.

  1. Personal Contact Information

We recognize that some members prefer to include their personal phone number, email, or mailing address for event coordination or convenience.

To respect individual choice:

  • Personal contact information should not be included by default.
  • Members who wish to include their personal contact information in public materials must explicitly opt in.

An opt-in checkbox will be included on all Voice of Syria submission forms (articles, event flyers, advertisements, announcements), confirming that:

“I understand this information may appear in publicly accessible print and digital formats, and I consent to its publication.”

  1. Print vs. Digital
  • The printed magazine is distributed to members, but may also be viewable by the public.
  • Digital editions and website content may be accessible more broadly.

Where appropriate, event chairmen and event organizers may elect to provide at their discretion:

  • A public-facing version of materials with your personally identifiable information restricted from distribution in the print edition of the Voice of Syria, website, social media, digital magazine editions.
  • A member-detailed version that could contain personally identifiable information for internal distribution in hard copy at the Temple.
  1. Our Shared Responsibility

We encourage all members to:

  • Consider using organization contact channels instead of personal home addresses and phone numbers.
  • Avoid sharing sensitive financial or identifying information in public materials.
  • Report any suspected fraud or impersonation attempts to leadership immediately.
  1. Our Goal

This policy is not meant to restrict communication. It is meant to:

  • Protect members
  • Modernize our practices
  • Preserve our ability to promote events effectively
  • Maintain trust within our organization

We appreciate the cooperation and understanding of all members as we continue to grow responsibly in both print and digital spaces.