SAM Files FOIA, Gets 100K Email Addresses from IF&W

Wow, Could AAA get our e-mail addresses from the DMV?

I don't think DMV asks for email addresses.

These addresses are apparently public and anybody can request this list.

Steven Scharf
SCSMedia@aol.com

If you order vanity plates they do. And I know DMR does ask for it when purchasing license online.

Hey, SAM - you can email me right here:

GetStuffed@freemail.com

When SAM has email or postal addresses for its members why the h@ll does George think he needs email addresses to tell folks about coyotes? Geez, he could just leave it to apondsong to wrtie a memo, for cryin' out loud. Seriously, I kinda' resent this.
But, they aren't alone. I know for a fact that Geico obtained billing addresses from Verizon a few years ago to send ads to Verizons customers. I showed Verizon the proof of that and after trying to deny it they stopped talking to me. No personal info is safe.

I think one of the extra benefits of on-line license purchasing to IFW is that, in addition to regulars who like the easy re-licensing, they also get the impulse revenue from last minute purchasers. Regulars may just go to the town hall instead now, but to be a last minute purchaser, you need to give them your e-mail so you can print off the license from an e-mail. Now, how many will just not bother?

Can SAM get all those VISA and MASTERCARD numbers too?

Here is the email they sent me:

As you know, the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife periodically sends out informational emails to our online customers. We only send these e-mails out to customers who have indicated that they would like to receive them.

Recently, we had a Freedom of Access Act request from an individual who represents an organization for our customer e-mail address list. The Freedom of Access Act is a statute that requires a state agency to provide public records to anyone upon request. Our initial response to the individual was that our customer e-mail address list was not a public record and was therefore not covered by the Freedom of Access Act. The individual appealed our decision with the Maine Attorney General's office that ruled in favor of the individual and directed IF&W to provide our customer e-mail address list to the individual. Therefore, we have recently provided our customer e-mail address list to the requesting individual per the direction of the Maine Attorney General's Office.

The list contains only e-mail addresses, no other personal data is on the list. We wanted you to know that we did everything in our power to protect your privacy and apologize in advance for any issues this may cause you.

They didn't even bother to let us know WHO got our email addresses!

Let's all email George and let him know what we think....

george@samcef.org

JCM - IMHO, you might just as well void your bladder straight into a gale and aim high.

I was an active member of SAM for quite awhile.....no more.

Its a shotgun list. Without name and address (city/state) or type of record, (hunter/fishing) Al they can do is send out general messages. As a marketer I would not waste my time with such a list.

Steven Scharf
SCSMedia@aol.com

Steve....

For them it is not such a bad list.....the common thread is hunting/fishing. They email blast 100K, if they get less than 1% return, it's a win. Plus, they cross reference their database.....

So, now, just so I understand, FOI should only be used by organizations like MHPC to get the salaries of public employees, but when private citizens give out information to a public organization they should be exempt.

Both ends and middle I see.

I would like to say that I expected better of George Smith, the Smith's Alliance of Maine is one of the most tightly controlled individual lobby groups in Augusta. I used to be a SAM member, but the I realized if it was not all George, all the time nothing was going to happen. George represents all that is wrong with Maine politics. While I would like to say I would expect more, this has become the expected norm for Club George. I agree an email campain should be launched to let him know how we feel.

Tony

How is an e-mail address any different that a postal address? Good grief! Who's afraid of getting a begging letter or email from Smith?

TM - In this day and age, private citizens must interact with the government in order to participate in almost any activity worth doing. Legislators have even discussed the need for a license to walk in the woods. Should the information which private individuals are forced to give in order to get each and every government permission be publicly available?

When we start having to ask our government for permission to have medical procedures done, should that information then be the subject of public viewing? I imagine you are going to say that is different, of course not, should be protected.

My point is that there are increasing numbers of situations in which government has made it impossible to be a mere private individual. As it is highly unlikely that trend will reverse itself under the control of any political party, shouldn't we have a discussion about what privacy protections should be afforded law abiding private individuals who just want to continue living their lives with the benevolent permission of their government?

RKL...your a smarter man than that last comment reflects....it's not about the address, its how it was obtained.

Huh?

I am not a fan of George Smith but I don't see why this is something to get upset about.

Don't misunderstand me Wilson. I am all for open and transparent governmet. But, I chuckle when some that argue for sunshine laws get all bent out of shape when their information is no longer "hidden" or protected.

Since George Smith effectively works for Les Otten (Ursus managing his media, Edie Smith managing the campaign,etc), this FOIA request is tantamount to Les Otten receiving 100,000 free email addresses from the state for use by his campaign.

I think some of you people need to understand how spam filters work. SAM has been on my spam list for quite a while. I too was a SAM member for a long time. Now everything they might send me goes straight to the junk mail folder.

Dan,

I buy a license from the DIF&W each year. I choose to do so and that email used for the transaction is given to the state so they can complete the transaction. I NEVER do business with Smith's Alliance of Maine because I disagree with Geroge Smith, his positions, and the board members who keep him employed. If I get an email from him, I intend to file spam compaints to anyone I can. I suggest we all do the same. If that lists ends up in the hands of a politician (I don't use that email for anything political) I will scream and howl at the AG, the Governor and the Legislature for allowing that to happen. I hope this little FOIA request cost George even more lost memberships.

Tony

Let me get this straight: You believe that the government should be able to hide information that it has from the citizens?

Should voter lists be sealed from public view? Lists of property taxpayers?

The general principle is that if the government has information, the public is entitled to get that same information. There are exception to that general rule, but I fail to see why e-mail addresses should be such an exception.

I agree with Dan on this.

BTW, it is even more likely that a candidate would get access to the list and be able to use it in ways SAM cannot. Candidates are exempt from most do not call/emial rules.

Steven Scharf
SCSMedia@aol.com

I just renewed one of my DIF&W licenses by snail mail. The application required my social security number. Two questions; why do they need my ss number and should that info be in the public domain?

Dan,

That is information that I need to give the state to conduct a transaction. By your rationale George should be allowed to have my credit card number. Afterall the state has the information. What harm could come from it? If this is such a good thing, why is it that Janet Mill's email address is not available to the public? I have emailed Mr. Smith about SAM's use of my email address and what I will do if I get SPAM from him. I hope everyone else takes a moment to tell him that SAM's unwanted communications will be reported as SPAM. Make sure you tell him that you will be reporting to both your provider and his.

Tony

Your e-mail address is not the same as your Social Security number or your credit card number.

Do we really want to live in a world where ONLY the government knows how to contact all those with hunting & fishing licenses? The government can use that information to send out information about its position on issues of important to those with licenses. Those in the private sector should have the same ability.

The application required my social security number. Two questions; why do they need my ss number and should that info be in the public domain?

I've had forms requiring my SS# and I leave it blank. As far as I'm concerned the only people who need my SS# are the IRS. Many agencies are smartening up on that and use DOB or some other identifying # instead.

Dan,

I do not think highly of SAM or Mr. Smith. I want to live in a world where I do not get any information from them. If I wanted their information I would have signed up for it, or even better joined the "rubber stamp what George wants club." I don't because I do not agree with George or his positions. Sounds to me like the free market is not working for SAM as more and more members are dropping out. To BAD! I have never had DIF&W push political or policy information via that email. If they had I have enough of a background in F&W management to make my own decisions.

Again if the ability to communicate is so precious, where is the Attorney General's email information at Maine.gov? If it was so important for SAM to have mine, I think all 100,000 privacy victims should have hers. Don't you?

Tony

Privacy victims? You can't be serious.

You need help Tony. If you are so sensitive that an e-mail from SAM will make you feel "victimized," you should be hospitalized.

You might also want to cancel your voter registration. Anyone that wants to -- including those you disagree with -- can find your address and send you information that you might not want to see. They might even knock on your door! I just want to warn you so you don't become a victim.

By the way, if you want Janet Mills' e-mail, make the same request that SAM did and you will get it.

Editor's Note: By request I removed on sentence from this post.