Great Lakes Story & Photo Contest Official Rules

National Wildlife Federation® Great Lakes Story & Photo Contest
OFFICIAL RULES

NO PURCHASE OR INTERNET ACCESS NECESSARY.

1. HOW TO ENTER: The entry period for the National Wildlife Federation Great Lakes Story & Photo Contest (“Contest”) begins Midnight Eastern Standard Time (EST) June 1 and ends 11:59 p.m. EST August 20 (“entry period.”) There are two ways to enter: online, or by mail. No other method of entry will be accepted. Online Method: To enter online during the entry period, go to www.healthylakes.org. Follow the directions to complete the online entry form, answer the questions and click submit. Entrants must complete all data requested on the online entry form. If you do not wish to enter online, you may enter the Contest by mailing your entry to: National Wildlife Federation, 213 W. Liberty St. # 200, Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Entries must include your name, address, city, state and zip code, age, telephone number, whether you are submitting your entry for consideration as a photograph, fishing, camping or general story, your class of entry (Grades K-8, Grades 9-12, or Adult) and be marked attention to: “National Wildlife Federation Great Lakes Story & Photo Contest.”

Special Rules for Participants in the Grades K-8 Category: To comply with federal law, National Wildlife Federation needs a parent or guardian’s consent prior to entry. For this reason, if you are a Grades K-8 participant, you also must provide daytime telephone and/or e-mail contact information for your parent or guardian. Entries in the Grades K-8 category will not be complete until your parent or guardian provides verifiable consent to National Wildlife Federation.

All entries must be completed and received by the National Wildlife Federation by August 20, 2007. Judging will occur on four occasions, based on the date on which National Wildlife Federation receives the entry. To be considered for the June Awards, complete entries must be received after midnight EST June 1, 2007 and by 11:59 p.m. EST June 20, 2007; to be considered for the July Awards, complete entries must be received after midnight EST June 20, 2007 and by 11:59 p.m. EST July 20, 2007; to be considered for the August Awards, complete entries must be received after midnight EST July 20, 2007 and by 11:59 EST August 20, 2007; any entry received during the Entry Period may be considered for a Grand Prize. Limit one story and one photograph entry per person per monthly entry period as outlined above; i.e. June 1-20; June 21-July 20; and July 21-August 20. Incomplete entries are void.

All entries become the property of the National Wildlife Federation and will not be acknowledged or returned. The National Wildlife Federation assumes no responsibility for lost, late, misdirected, illegible or mutilated entries or for any computer, online, telephone, cable, network, electronic or Internet hardware or software malfunctions, failures, connections, availability, garbled or jumbled transmissions, service provider, Internet, web site, or other accessibility or availability issues, traffic congestion, or unauthorized human intervention, or any technical malfunctions that may occur. Entrants shall be the authorized account holder of the e-mail address submitted at the time of entry. “Authorized account holder” is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an e-mail address by an Internet access provider, online service provider, or other organization (e.g., business, educational institution, etc.) that is responsible for assigning e-mail addresses for the domain name associated with the submitted e-mail address.

Stories: Stories must be the original work of the author submitting it, non-fiction, and no longer than 500 words. Stories received by mail need to be typed, unless submitted by children in the K-8 grade category. In either case, stories must be legible. NWF reserves the right to disqualify any entry if deemed illegible.

Photographs: Images should be submitted by the original photographer. Images must be in natural color; Black and white, sepia tone, and duotone images are not eligible. Hard copy images submitted by mail will not be returned. Digital images should be submitted in JPG (at high quality) or TIFF format. Digital images will not be returned.
Minor digital enhancement is permitted, but images that have been significantly modified or appear unnatural will be disqualified.

Examples of digital enhancements that are not permitted include, but are not limited to:

• No borders or frames may be added to images.
• No watermarks, signatures, or copyright notices may be added to images.
• Adding or replacing elements in an image is not permitted.
• Artistic filters are not permitted.

Examples of digital enhancements that are permitted are limited to:

• Images may be cropped and rotated.
• Images may be resized as long as the aspect ratio is maintained
• Red-eye removal and spot editing
• One-step enhancement (such as “AutoFix,” “QuickFix,” “Auto Levels,” etc.)
• Use of filters to sharpen, soften, blur, despeckle, or remove noise.
• Use of corrective functions to improve the natural appearance of the image, such as levels, contrast, brightness, curves, intensity, tone, hue, saturation, lightness, value, color balance, and tint.

Do not send negatives. Do not write on the photo itself.

Restrictions: Obscene, provocative or otherwise questionable content will not be considered. National Wildlife Federation retains sole discretion as to what constitutes inappropriate content.

2. ELIGIBILITY: This Contest is open only to legal residents of the U.S. (excluding Puerto Rico). Employees of the National Wildlife Federation or National Parks Conservation Association, their respective subsidiaries, affiliates, prize suppliers, and advertising and promotional agencies, as well as the immediate families (spouse, parents, children, siblings and their spouses) and individuals living in the same household as such employees are ineligible. This Contest is governed by the laws of the United States and is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Void in Puerto Rico and where prohibited.

Incomplete entries are void. Grades K-8 entries for which NWF does not obtain verifiable parental consent within the entry period are void.

3. JUDGING: Winners will be selected by staff at the National Wildlife Federation and National Parks Conservation Association (the “Judges”) on or about July 6, August 6, and September 6, 2007 from among all eligible entries received in the time frames specified above. Grand Prize Winners will be selected in September, 2007 from among all eligible entries received during the Entry Period.

For the K-8, 9-12 and Adult categories of the story contest, the Judges will evaluate entries based on the following criteria: content, originality, appeal, and skill.

Two Grand Prize story contest winners shall be selected by the Judges on the basis of the following criteria: content, originality, appeal, skill and overall impact. Preference will be given to those stories which illustrate in a compelling way the connection between people and the Great Lakes.

For the K-8, 9-12 and Adult categories of the photograph contest, the Judges will evaluate entries based on the following criteria: creativity, composition, and photographic quality.

Two Grand Prize photograph contest winners shall be selected by the Judges on the basis of the following criteria: creativity, composition, photographic quality, and overall impact. Preference will be given to those photographs which illustrate in a compelling way the connection between people and the Great Lakes.

In judging eligible entries, the Judges may consider advice from outside experts. By participating, entrants agree to be bound by the Official Rules and the decisions of the National Wildlife Federation and the Judges, which shall be final and binding in all respects. The Judges reserve the right to disqualify any entry if it finds any evidence of tampering, as solely determined by the Judges. All prizes will be awarded. Limit one prize per person. Winners will be notified via email, U.S. mail, telephone, and/or by overnight courier, method at National Wildlife Federation’s discretion.

4. PRIZES: National Wildlife Federation will award prizes on four occasions, based on categories and classes of entry. The June, July, and August Awards are to be awarded in four categories – Fishing Story, Camping Story, General Story, and Photograph Entry. Prizes vary, based on the three classes of entrants: Grades K-8; Grades 9-12; and Adult.

• K-8 winners receive one of the following, depending on the category of entry: Fishing story winners are to receive a Kids Zebco Ignition Rod/Reel Combo and Plano Magna Pro Series 90239 Tackle System Bag (approximate total retail value of $80); Camping story winners are to receive a Tent Quest Eagles Peak 3 9X7 dome and Laurel Ridge 40 degree sleeping bag (approximate total retail value of $85.00); General story winners are to receive a Backpack and 33 inch Whamo Boogie Board (approximate total retail value of $85.00); and Photography winners are to receive a Fuji A400 Digital Camera and waterproof case (approximate total retail value of $179.98).
• Grades 9-12 winners receive one of the following, depending on category of entry: Fishing story winners are to receive a Berkley Cardinal 250 Cherrywood Graphite Rod w/C2 Combo Reel and Plano Magna Pro Series 90239 Tackle System Bag (approximate total retail value of $110); Camping story winners are to receive a Tent Quest Eagles Peak 3 9X7 Dome and Laurel Ridge 40 degree Sleeping Bag (approximate total retail value of $85.00); General story winners are to receive a Jansport Scout Backpack (approximate retail value of $90.00); and Photography winners are to receive a Fuji A400 Digital Camera and waterproof case (approximate total retail value of $179.98).
• Adult winners receive one of the following, depending on category of entry: Fishing story winners are to receive a Shimano Sojourn Reel with Sonora 400FA Reel and Piano Magna Pro Series 90239 Tackle System Bag (approximate total retail value of $110); Camping story winners are to receive a Tent Quest Eagles Peak 3 9X7 Dome and Laurel Ridge 40 degree Sleeping Bag (approximate total retail value of $85.00); General story winners are to receive a Kelty Coyote 4750 Backpack (approximate retail value $150.00); and Photography winners are to receive a Fuji A400 Digital Camera and waterproof case (approximate total retail value of $179.98).

In addition, National Wildlife Federation will award four Grand Prizes as follows: Two Story Contest Grand Prize winners shall receive a 12’ Heritage Featherlite Kayak, Harmony Vest, and Carlisle Paddle (approximate retail value $750); Two Photography Contest Prize winners each shall receive a Canon Xti camera (approximate retail value $799.00).

Prizes cannot be exchanged for cash, and cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion. National Wildlife Federation reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value in the event the offered prize is unavailable. No substitution or transfer of prize permitted except as provided herein. Prizes being awarded to a minor shall be delivered to the parent or legal guardian of the minor.

5. GENERAL CONDITIONS: All federal, state, and local taxes, fees and surcharges on prize packages are the sole responsibility of the prize winners. Prize winners may be required to execute and return an Affidavit of Eligibility/Release of Liability/Prize Acceptance Form within seven (7) days following notification. Return of any prize and/or prize notification as undeliverable or failure of any entrant to comply with any Official Rules will result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner.

By entering, all participants grant the National Wildlife Federation and Healing Our Waters Coalition with a non-exclusive, perpetual, irrevocable license to use, copy, distribute, perform, and display their entry materials, and also to prepare derivative works based upon their entry materials. Further, by entering, Winners grant the National Wildlife Federation and Healing Our Waters Coalition the right to use and publish their legal name and state of residence online and in print, or any other media, in connection with the Contest. Except winners who are residents of the State of Tennessee, acceptance of a prize constitutes permission for National Wildlife Federation and the Healing Our Waters Coalition, and their advertising and promotional agencies to use winners’ names and likenesses for editorials, advertising and promotional purposes without payment of additional compensation unless prohibited by law. By entering, participants release and hold harmless National Wildlife Federation, its parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, and related companies, its advertising and promotional agencies, its Healing Our Waters Coalition members or any of the foregoing’s directors, officers, employees, attorneys, agents, and representatives from any and all liability for any injuries, loss, claim, action, demand or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with the Contest or any prize won, any misuse or malfunction of any prize awarded, participation in any Contest related activity, or participation in the Contest.

As a condition of participating in this Contest, participant agrees that any and all disputes which cannot be resolved between and the parties, and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Contest shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, exclusively, before a court of competent jurisdiction located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, which court shall apply the laws of the state of the Commonwealth of Virginia without regard for rules of conflicts of law. In any such dispute, participant shall, under no circumstances, be entitled to claim punitive, incidental, or consequential damages, or any other damages, including attorneys’ fees, other than participant’s actual out-of-pocket expenses (if any) associated with participating in the Contest, and participant hereby waives all rights to have damages multiplied or increased.

CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY A CONTESTANT OR ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEB SITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH CONTESTANT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

6. LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY: National Wildlife Federation is not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by web site users or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Contest or by any technical or human error which may occur in the processing of submissions in the Contest, including but not limited to any misprints or typographical errors. National Wildlife Federation assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, entries. National Wildlife Federation is not responsible for any problems or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer on-line-systems, servers or providers, computer equipment, software, failure of e-mail or players on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any web site or combination thereof, including injury or damage to participants or to any other person’s computer related to or resulting from participating or downloading materials in this Contest. If, for any reason, the Contest is not capable of completion as planned, including by reason of infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures or any other causes beyond the control of National Wildlife Federation which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of this Contest, National Wildlife Federation reserves the right at their sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest. National Wildlife Federation reserves the right to award prizes based on the entries received before the termination date.

IN NO EVENT WILL NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION, ITS PARENTS, AFFILIATES, SUBSIDIARIES, AND RELATED COMPANIES, ITS ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONAL AGENCIES, THE HEALING OUR WATERS COALITION MEMBERS OR ANY OF THE FOREGOING’S DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, ATTORNEYS, AGENTS, AND REPRESENTATIVES, BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OR LOSSES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF PARTICIPANT’S ACCESS TO AND USE OF THE INTERNET SITE http://www.healthylakes.org OR THE DOWNLOADING FROM AND/OR PRINTING OF MATERIAL FROM SAID SITE. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, EVERYTHING ON THIS SITE IS PROVIDED “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. SOME JURISDICTIONS MAY NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES SO SOME OF THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. CHECK YOUR LOCAL LAWS FOR ANY RESTRICTIONS OR LIMITATIONS REGARDING THESE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS.

7. LIST OF WINNERS: Winners will be posted on www.healthylakes.org monthly to announce monthly prize winners and at the completion of the contest to announce grand prize winners. Winners will not be announced publicly until notified. For a list of winners, after September 30, 2007, mail a separate, self-addressed stamped envelope to: National Wildlife Federation Great Lakes Story & Photo Contest Winners, National Wildlife Federation, 213 W Liberty St # 200, Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Vermont residents may omit return postage.

8. NOTICE TO INDIVIDUALS: REMOVAL FROM MAILING LIST: Any individual (or other duly authorized person) may elect to exclude the name and address of that individual from all lists used by National Wildlife Federation. To elect to have an individual’s name excluded from all such lists, submit a removal request in writing to: National Wildlife Federation Great Lakes Story & Photo Contest, National Wildlife Federation, 213 W Liberty St # 200, Ann Arbor, MI 48104. This notification system may be used to prohibit mailing by National Wildlife Federation to such individual.