<div dir="ltr"><div>PAOs,<br><br></div>I recently received the email below from the NASA social media team about the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_Bucket_Challenge">Ice Bucket Challenge</a>. Some if you may have seen this going around on social media already, but before you film dumping a bucket of icy water on your wing commander's head, take note. Even though it's for a good cause, it is considered fundraising. That means no Air Force style uniforms -- like on cadets doing this on their own. Now as for CAP supporting this in other ways ... that's up to the chain of command. <b>The take away here is no fundraising with anything perceived to be Air Force.</b><br>
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<blockquote style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex" class="gmail_quote"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">We've
had multiple NASA centers, programs, and missions ask about the Ice
Bucket Challenge and doing it here. Even the NASA Administrator has been
challenged,
as have the astronauts on the ISS. We've sought out the guidance of our
general counsel here since this is a charity fundraiser event.
<b>NASA's general counsel strongly advises us against participation in an official capacity.</b> Here's counsels official reasons why:</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">Doing
the Challenge in an official capacity as a NASA employee or in the
workplace implicates some of the legal prohibitions on fundraising.
First, employees
may not participate in fundraising activities in their official
capacity. This means that employees may not use their NASA title,
position, or authority to fundraise. For example, if an employee were
to identify themselves as a NASA employee in the video,
this could run afoul of the prohibition. This could also create
problems under other ethics provisions that restrict employees from
using their Government title, position, or authority to endorse a
product, service, or enterprise OR to imply the Government
sanctions or endorses their personal activities or those of another.
In addition, participation may violate prohibitions on engaging in
fundraising activities outside of the Combined Federal Campaign in the
Federal workplace. Finally, employees should not
use official resources, such as Agency social media accounts, to
support or promote a fundraiser. </span></i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black"></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black"> </span></i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black"></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">This
does not prohibit employees from participating in the Challenge in
their personal capacity off-site and on their own time. One last thing
to keep in
mind is that, regardless of the context, employees must avoid
soliciting funds from subordinates or from prohibited sources, i.e.,
entities that do business with NASA or are seeking to do so. Thus, if
an employee did participate in the Challenge, he or she
should not nominate subordinates or Agency contractors. It is also
worth noting that the 2014 CFC season will soon begin, providing many
opportunities within the Federal workplace for employees to support
their favorite charities.</span></i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black"></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">This
guidance has been provided by the Office of General Counsel at NASA HQ.
Figured I'd share in case you are working with your lawyers on similar
guidance at your agencies. Obviously our
counsel's guidance may not apply at your agency but it may be useful to
have.</span></p>
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<br clear="all"></blockquote><div><div dir="ltr"><br>v/r<br>--<br><b>PAUL S. CIANCIOLO, Lt Col, CAP<br>Public Affairs Officer<br>National Capital Wing</b><b></b><br><br><div>Cell: <a href="tel:301-751-2011" value="+13017512011" target="_blank">301-751-2011</a><a href="http://www.NatCapWing.org" target="_blank"></a><b><br>
</b></div><div>Work: <a href="tel:202-385-9599" value="+12023859599" target="_blank">202-385-9599</a> (@FAA)<b><br></b></div><div><b><i></i></b>
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<div style="text-align:left;font-family:Verdana"><hr style="width:100%;height:2px"><div style="text-align:center"><font style="font-weight:bold" size="1">Civil Air Patrol National Capital Wing</font><font style="font-weight:bold" size="1"><br></font><font size="1"><span style="font-family:Verdana"><i>"Citizens Serving Communities: Above and Beyond"</i></span></font><br><font size="1"><br><span style="font-weight:bold">CFC Charity #26757</span><br style="font-weight:bold"></font><font size="1"><a style="font-weight:bold" href="http://www.NatCapWing.org" target="_blank">www.NatCapWing.org</a><br></font></div></div><br>