As a 501c3, SRNT does not engage in lobbying, as defined by the IRS. However, SRNT may educate or provide expert advice to elected and appointed leaders, the general public and others about the accomplishments and/or needs of nicotine and tobacco researchers on issues pertaining to nicotine and tobacco science.  

Definition of Lobbying  

• • Lobbying is generally defined as communicating, directly or indirectly, with policymakers for the purpose of trying to influence legislation, whether federal, state, local, or foreign (non-U.S.). 
  • U.S. law divides lobbying into two principal categories: “direct” lobbying and “grass-roots” lobbying. 
  • Direct lobbying involves communications that
  • Grass-roots lobbying involves communications that
  • In order to be considered lobbying, an activity must generally meet all the parts of either one definition or the other. In addition, there are certain exceptions to the definitions of lobbying that may apply. 

Website Policy

1. Privacy: SRNT respects the privacy of each visitor to the SRNT website. SRNT may use cookies on its website. Any personal information provided by a visitor will be used solely by SRNT for internal purposes and, where appropriate, to contact individuals directly. Personal information will not be sold and will be shared only with those third-party service providers who perform functions on our behalf, including processing credit card payments, providing customer service, removing repetitive information from customer lists, analyzing data, and providing marketing assistance. 
2. Copyright: The contents of all materials contained on SRNT’s website are owned by the organization (unless otherwise indicated) and are protected by U.S. and international copyright laws. All rights are reserved by SRNT, and visitors may not copy, reproduce, download, upload, republish, disseminate, post, distribute, or transmit by any means the contents of the website , except with the prior express written permission of SRNT. Copyright infringement is a violation of U.S. federal law, and violators are subject to criminal and civil penalties.
3. The information contained on SRNT’s website is provided by the organization for general informational purposes only. None of the information on the website is intended or should be construed to be legal advice or a legal opinion. While every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained on the website is as accurate as possible, omissions and errors may occur. Also, because of the nature of website development, maintenance, and updating, the information contained on the website may not reflect the most current developments. SRNT and its contributing authors expressly disclaim all liability to any person with respect to the consequences of any act or omission committed based upon reliance, in whole or in part, on any of the contents of the Web site.
4. At certain places on the website , live links to other Internet addresses (“third-party sites”) can be accessed. Such third-party sites contain information created, published, maintained, or otherwise posted by institutions or organizations independent of SRNT. SRNT does not endorse, approve, certify, or control these third-party sites and therefore cannot guarantee the accuracy, completeness, efficacy, timeliness, or correct sequencing of information located at such addresses. The information on SRNT’s website and third-party sites is provided “as is” and without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. To the fullest extent permissible pursuant to applicable law, SRNT disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including, but not limited to, implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Use of any information obtained from such third-party sites is voluntary, and reliance upon it should only be undertaken after an independent review of its accuracy, completeness, efficacy, and timeliness. Reference therein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, service mark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not constitute or imply endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by SRNT.
5. The website, its contents and any links provided in the website are provided on an “as is” basis, and SRNT disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including without limitation the warranties of title, noninfringement, merchantability, and fitness for a particular purpose. Your use of the website is at your own risk, and you assume full responsibility for all costs that arise out of its use. Neither SRNT nor any of its officers, directors, partners, employees, affiliates, subsidiaries, agents, representatives, or licensors shall be liable to you or any third party for any compensatory, direct, indirect, incidental, special, exemplary, punitive, or consequential damages, or attorneys’ fees, arising out of your use of the website or inability to gain access to or use the website or out of any breach of any warranty, even if such parties have been advised of the possibility of such damages or such damages were foreseeable. 

Email Privacy Policy

• • Through membership in SRNT, members are establishing a business relationship with SRNT and authorizing use of the e-mail addresses provided to the organization for Society-related activities or business.

Opt-Out Policy

• • SRNT may utilize the e-mail addresses for communication and promotion of SRNT events, meetings, education programs, products, and services, unless specifically instructed otherwise by an individual member.
  • SRNT does not sell its mailing list(s).

SRNT Policy 7.3

Use of Social Media and Media

1.0
Policy Statement

SRNT members and employees of The Rees Group (TRG) who make public statements in the media or post content on social media using the SRNT name or branding in any form will do so in a manner that is consistent with this policy and the SRNT Code of Conduct.

Failure to comply with this policy may result in termination, loss of membership, or other legal remedies.

2.0
Purpose & Scope

The purpose of this policy is to provide members of SRNT and TRG employees with clear information about the Society’s expectations of their behavior when they are engaging with the media or using social media and using SRNT’s name and branding.

This policy applies to all SRNT members and volunteers, including the Board of Directors, Network leadership, and committee leaders, as well as TRG staff, whether directly supported by SRNT or not. The policy is intended to inform all parties of their obligations when engaging with public media and to outline potential sanctions for failure to adhere to these policies.

3.0
Definitions

3.1 Media — Includes all public facing information platforms, including but not limited to published articles or statements made in the press.

3.2
Social Media

Any publicly available website or software that enables users to post, send, receive, or otherwise share information of any type with other users. This includes but is not limited to social networks such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram; microblogs such as X (formerly known as Twitter) and BlueSky; video and audio sharing; blogs, podcasts, discussion forums, online collaborative information, and publishing systems accessible either internally or externally; collaborative information sources such as Wikipedia; YouTube; and member-facing listservs or use of SRNT email distribution lists. 

5.0
Provisions

5.1
SRNT members, regardless of role within the Society, and TRG employees, regardless of direct support by SRNT, are required to comply with this policy.

5.1.1
Any time an SRNT member or TRG representative speaks to the media or shares content on social media and affiliate their statements with SRNT by name or brand, it is critical that they understand and follow all applicable laws governing content copyright, online activities, and other restrictions that apply to SRNT activities as a 501C(3) non-profit.

5.1.2
Members and TRG employees should not knowingly make any untruthful statements in public posts or comments affiliated with SRNT.

5.1.3.
Members and TRG employees should not engage in partisan advocacy when making public posts or comments affiliated with SRNT.

5.1.4
Members and TRG employees may not post any material about SRNT members, funders, or contractors that reasonably could be viewed as obscene, threatening, or intimidating, or that violates applicable laws against discrimination, harassment, retaliation, illegal activity, and/or threats of violence.

5.1.5.
Members and TRG employees may not use or disclose any confidential and proprietary information of SRNT’s in the media or on social media.

5.1.6
SRNT members and TRG employees should not represent themselves as a spokesperson for SRNT without the express authorization from the Executive Director or Board of Directors to do so. This is particularly important for volunteers who hold formal roles within the Society including, but not limited to, Board members, Network leaders, and Committee members.

5.1.7
SRNT members and TRG employees should obtain pre-approval before Setting up social media sites using SRNT branding. This includes, but is not limited to LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, BlueSky and similar sites used to share information with the public and membership. Accounts credentials should be managed by, or accessible to, TRG staff. Accounts should not be personally and solely owned by members if they are being maintained on behalf of SRNT.

5.1.8
Members and TRG employees are personally responsible for the content that they publish online or in other media. When sharing personal opinions, they should avoid invoking SRNT by name or branding. They should be mindful that content can be copied or stored indefinitely by the site itself or by a third party. They should also be mindful that public comments or posts can be linked to statements made on other social media sites or in other publications and accordingly take care to understand the impact that their communications can have on their own reputation as well as that of SRNT.

5.1.9
Employees may not represent that they are communicating the views of SRNT or do anything that might reasonably create the impression that they are communicating on behalf of or as a representative of SRNT without the express written consent of the Board or Executive Director. To prevent creating the wrong impression, it is best to include a disclaimer that the statements made are not the opinions of SRNT.

Only the President, Executive Director or other individual(s) designated by the Board are authorized to speak with the media on behalf of SRNT. The President, Executive Director and/or the Board designate will discuss message development and coordinate who will handle which press inquiries.

Staff, Board members and members acting in a capacity within a committee are not authorized to make statements, provide information for distribution, or provide background information about SRNT unless specifically directed to do so by the President or Executive Director.

Public Policy Statements
The Board may agree to approve a resolution on any public issue for which it feels a “voice from SRNT” could improve the public dialogue, and the Board members or NicPAC members are encouraged to propose such resolutions for the Board’s consideration. Once approved, the Executive Director is authorized to add SRNT’s name to others’ statements, letters, proclamations, etc.

General Policy
SRNT is committed to taking a preemptive approach to public relations crises, using disclosure whenever possible as the preferred strategy for preventing or minimizing public relations crises.

Only the President and Executive Director are authorized to speak to the news media in a crisis without specific approval from the President.

Crisis Prevention
Staff will maintain regular contact with the President, advising him or her when internal issues or developments appear likely to lead to public relations problems (whether internally, with the membership, or externally).

Similarly, the Board will notify staff of any developments that may escalate into public relations crises.

Crisis Response
When crises erupt, staff will gather and verify information about the crisis, assess the severity of the crisis, and develop strategies concerning how information is to be released, who should speak for SRNT, and who is to be notified.

Staff also will confer with the President or his/her designate, as appropriate, to work out logistical details of releasing information, and distribute verified information as quickly as possible to internal and external audiences.

Crisis Communication Procedure

I. Types of Crises

• A. Foreseeable Crises
  • 1. Crisis assessment: The President will be notified immediately of an emerging crisis and will determine the necessary strategy and who should be involved.
  • 2. Formation of a crisis team: The team will gather as many details as possible, recommend strategies for internal and external communication, and select an appropriate spokesperson. The President has final approval of the recommendations.
• B. Sudden Crises

II. Establishing a Clear Line of Communication
Communications will be authorized to gather and verify information in a crisis and will be the only department authorized to release information.

III. Releasing Information Internally
Whenever practical, the Executive Director will attempt to inform the Board and staff of crises in any appropriate manner before details are released externally.

IV. Informing Outside Parties
Staff will coordinate notification of key member stakeholders and other parties likely to be affected by or strongly interested in the crisis.

V. Releasing Information to the News Media

• • A. The Executive Director will work to supply verifiable details to the news media as rapidly as possible.
  • B. After releasing information, the Executive Director will monitor the news coverage and quickly correct any errors that are made and its assessment of the lessons learned and any new guidelines for the next crisis.

VI. Evaluation and Follow-Up

• • The Executive Director will document the news coverage surrounding a crisis, including wire stories, newspaper articles, radio, and television broadcasts.
  • When the crisis is past, the Executive Director will supply the board with a summary of news coverage.

Click here to view SRNT’s Public Face Protocols.