Okay, I have to say I am getting a little worried here (MAJOR DRAMA?)
 

Okay, I will admit I was very apprehensive when I submitted my payment to join the FSC. But they assured us that the membership list would not be disclosed to anyone. I did not like the idea that the membership list was being given to some neutral third party, but I figured, what the hell, I will take the chance. It is for a good cause, right?

When it comes down to it, my companies and I did not need this grace period that was "negotiated" between the FSC and the DOJ, but as a sign of solidarity with the industry, I joined anyhow.

For some reason my comfort level was not raised when a few days ago I got a follow up e-mail asking me to list all my URL's, companies, etc. - so I just listed our corporate home page. I also figured that just in case this list fell into the wrong hands, I would send them to my house instead of Indiana, where we are incorporated.

Well, I got an interesting letter via snail mail today.

It was from the U.S. SBA, LA District Office. Now, the content of the letter was to congratulate me on the formation of my "new business" (we have been incorporated for close to 3 years), but the content of the letter is not what really bothers me.

What bothers me is the fact that my corporation is based out of Indiana, not California, and the letter was addressed to my name, with the corporate name, and my home address. No where are there any records indicating my corporation is in CA. Well, no where except one that I can think of.

Sure, the FSC is in Glendale, and the SBA is in Glendale, so it could just be coincidence, but the timing is rather ironic. Two weeks after I give someone my address, someone else sends me a letter congratulating me on my new company.

So, I guess the question that needs to be asked is, has anyone else that has joined the FSC received any mail recently from the SBA?

I would have just tossed it in the trash, so think about it, especially those of you in the LA area. Did you toss some junk mail from the SBA? Or keep your eyes peeled for incoming snail mail.

interesting and possibly disturbing.

No further updates about the racoon?

:Oh crap

I joined, Im in California and I have not received any letter

I haven't received anything like that and am in a similar situation. I think you're jumping the gun.

Well, I seem to recall reading that they are nocturnal, I doubt there will be any updates until tonight . . . but it does bring up an interesting question that I will save for that thread.

Did either of you get corporate memberships?

Yes, I have a corporate membership.

Well, watch your mail then please. I know you are not in LA, and this came from the LA office,

And if I am jumping the gun, why is it that ALL records regarding my corporation point to Indiana, yet today I get this letter in CA?

Hide the racoon in your mailbox.

That'll teach the mailman for delivering that nasty 3rd party SBA snail mail. :D

Well, as my mailbox drops directly into my house, I think I will pass on that, but thanks for the suggestion

baddog, just to make sure i have it right -- your FSC application is the only document or record to join your CA address and IN company -- ?


2HP

Disturbing

We got a corporate membership as well but haven't received anything like that.

I'm considering billing back my FSC membership.

Here's why: I bought it to stand with my fellow Webmasters, and not so much to protect myself. Now, the FSC cuts a deal to only help their members. Fuck the little guy working out of his bedroom making a few sales a week to suplement their income.

So if the FSC won't protect non members, why should I be a member when I don't need their protection?

i joined with a corp membership, but haven't received anything in the mail. i did get that email though asking for my name, corp name, etc.

interesting ...

when FSC goes to court, all the way up to the supreme court, to get parts of 2257 invalidated, that ruling will affect ALL webmasters, not just FSC members.

FSC is a trade organization for the adult biz. By definition, it can only act on the interests of its members.

anyone who runs an adult related biz (offline or online) should be a member.

the reason for you being a member to FSC is not to have some kind of temporary protection from 2257 investigations (if that's the only reason you joined, then its quite foolish), it's to help in the fight against the legal issues that do affect your adult related business, like 2257.

there are many other issues that lobbying and litigation are needed.

I can certainly understand "the rub" you may feel about the "marketing tactic" of only FSC members could be on "the list", but it shoudn't be the dark cloud issue of supporting the ONLY organization that will look to protect your rights to operate an adult biz.

i have heard some say they support the ACLU or EFF.. both of which are great organizations, but when it comes to adult specific issues, FSC is right there and would be the first one to jump in. ACLU might jump into a few issues, EFF on more technical fronts.


Fight the holding up of your two ringers on each hand like rabbit ears and bobbing them up and down then the word "quote" is said!

I did not mention IN to FSC, I just gave them my home addy in CA

Ironic, privacy is one of the unsettling 2257 issues.

That makes sense, and should have been more clearly stated all along.


2HP

I don't have a problem with that . . . I do have a problem if my info was given out/sold.

For all those that joined FSC for the protection. Duh, lets see???????? They come after you, you say but wait!!!!! I'm a memebr of FSC!!! But that is secret.....

FYI - I'm in favor of FSC. But to think your information will be kept secret in light of the situtation is just plain stupid! Sure the court sealed the records. But to receive the protection, your membership must be known or revealed at some point.

Glad you joined FSC baddog! They deserve the support. Just some of the logic escapes me.

I have still not even recived my confirm e-mail from when I joined. Anyone else not get one? If you did get one can you tell me what the e-mail address that it came from, so I can double check my delete bin?

baddog, I'm in WA and I joined both as a corporation and as an individual, as recommended by the attorneys.

I have received email confirmations and a username and password to get into their woefully not updated members' area.

As of yet, I've not received anything 'snail' mail.

can you tell me what e-mail address the user name and password came from?

my thoughts also

Are you sure you got this piece of mail becasue you are a FSC member??



If your answer is NO or I'm NOT SURE then perhaps this being posted on an Adult Webmaster Fourm(s) knowing the potential havoc and drama it can cause an already overworked FSC staff was not your finest post.


If your answer is YES , then stop beating around the bush and say it.

This has been my problem with it. I dont understand how you can be protected if the authorities dont know who you are?

yes, I have 2 corp memberships

#1. I did not join for protection, I don't need it.
#2. One of the things that FSC has repeatedly assured us is that they would never ever divulge their members list.
#3. Not more than 10 days later I get a letter from a federal agency congratulating my new company (that has been around for 3 years).

sig spot

Well, as I received it from the LA District office, I am not surprised that you haven't received one from them . . . but I would be interested in knowing if you eventually get one.

Maybe you can read my post again, in particular:

Usually, when I add 1+1 it equals 2 (the exception being if it is binary, then the answer is 10).

Nowhere can you find my home address associated with my corp . . . except on my application to FSC. Coincidence?

The procedure as I was led to believe would be:

DOJ targets website/webmaster.

DOJ asks FSC (or the third party holding onto the list) if this particular website/webmaster is listed as FSC member.

DOJ responds accordingly.

very interesting..

So far you are the only one though

The only thing THAT proves is that the governement is way too inefficient and would probably take forever to do any 2257 inspections... The timing of your receipt of the letter sounds like it's purely coincidental.

If anyone at all from the DOJ ever reads threads like this one on this board or others, they must chuckle to themselves big time.

From the beginning these new 2257 regs have been nightmarish on so many levels..for both webmasters and doj.

Not the least of the problems is ENFORCEMENT of the new 2257 regs.

But if their intent was to SCARE the hell out of everyone, they sure succeeded in many cases.

From complete shut down of sites to paranoia..and all done without even so much as one agent in the field.

Well, that is part of why I made the post, to see if anyone else did, or does. Just because I got it on Saturday, doesn't mean everyone will.