American First Day Cover Society

Please read and understand the Contest rules before proceeding.

COUNTDOWN TO 30,000 OFFICIAL RULES

The American First Day Cover Society (AFDCS) is proud to announce that, in recognition of its issuance of Membership Number 30,000, the AFDCS is sponsoring a “Countdown to 30,000” contest (the "Contest"). The Contest is governed by these Official Rules, as well as by the laws of the State of Maryland and applicable United States federal law, without regard to any conflicts of laws principles. The Contest is void where prohibited, licensed, taxed or restricted by law. By participating in the Contest, each applicant agrees to abide by of these Official Rules and by the decisions of the AFDCS with respect to the interpretation and application thereof, all of which are final and binding on all matters relating to the Contest.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE:

The Prizes (described below) will be awarded to the 30,000th member of the AFDCS, that is, the member who is issued AFDCS Membership No. 30,000 (“Member 30,000”), as well as to the person or organization that proposes Member 30,000 (if any). Regular, online, gold and silver members are eligible to participate. All membership applications will be processed in the order received. Only natural persons may qualify as Member 30,000. Any applicant for membership in the AFDCS who submits an incomplete application or otherwise does not satisfy the qualifications for membership in the AFDCS will not be eligible to receive a Prize. Existing members of the AFDCS are not eligible to become Member 30,000, although they may propose Member 30,000.

All applicants acknowledge and agree that their applications for membership in the AFDCS, upon submission, become the property of the AFDCS and will not be returned to the applicant. Each applicant grants to the AFDCS the right to display, reproduce, perform, promote and otherwise use his or her application in any way that it sees fit, without notification to or further consent of the applicant. All decisions of the AFDCS concerning the Contest will be final and binding on all applicants and proposers.

NOTIFICATION & ACCEPTANCE:

Once Member 30,000 has been identified, the AFDCS will endeavor to notify him or her by email within 15 days of the conclusion of the Contest. Member 30,000 will be required to respond to the prize notification within the time specified in the notification and may be required to sign and return a release of liability, declaration of eligibility, and/or, where lawful, a publicity release permitting the AFDCS to use his or her name, voice, image, likeness, biography and, where appropriate, quotes for advertising, marketing and promotional purposes (without further compensation), in the AFDCS’s sole discretion.

PRIZES:

Member 30,000 and the proposer (if any) will each receive a voucher for 30,000 pennies (that is, $300.00) that can be used to purchase goods or services through the AFDCS’s official website (each, a “Prize”). If a proposer is included on the application, the Prize will be in addition to the recruiting coupon that proposers normally receive. No Prize is transferable or exchangeable. No substitution of the Prize by Member 30,000 is allowed. Reporting and payment of any federal, state, local, or other taxes, fees, customs, duties, or other amounts owed in connection with the Prizes are the sole responsibility of Member 30,000 and his or her proposer (if any). The Prizes may not be used to purchase anything from the AFDCS other than through the official AFDCS website, nor may they be used to purchase anything from any other person or entity. The Prizes may not be exchanged or redeemed for cash.

If any application for AFDCS membership is submitted without a listed proposer, then no Prize will be awarded to a proposer.

ELIGIBILITY:

The Contest is open to any natural person who is a legal resident of the United States (including the District of Columbia, but excluding Puerto Rico), who is 18 years or older at the time of application (19 in AL, DE or NE, 21 in MS). (Due to legal restrictions, the Contest is not open to residents of other countries or jurisdictions.) If AFDCS No. 30,000 is issued to a person not eligible to win the Prize, the Prizes will be awarded to the next eligible person to join the AFDCS and the proposer. If the recipient of AFDCS No. 30,000 is not eligible to receive the Prize, then the proposer of that member will not be eligible to receive the proposer voucher. Only regular, online, gold and silver members are eligible to participate. Neither members of the AFDCS nor members of their immediate household will be eligible to be Member 30,000. No member of the AFDCS may surrender a current membership number and re-apply for membership, in an effort to become Member 30,000. Member 30,000’s proposer may be a natural person who need not be a member of the AFDCS. The proposer may also be an AFDCS Chapter in good standing or any other company, corporation or organization, whether or not a member of the AFDCS. The Executive Secretary and Chair of the Membership Department will not be eligible to receive a proposer voucher. Only one application per individual and only one proposer per application will be permitted. Applications may be submitted online, by mail or in person. If an applicant applies for membership in the AFDCS online, normal internet access and usage charges imposed by the applicant’s online service provider may apply. Applications that are incomplete, or that have been tampered with or altered in any way, are not eligible and will be void. If an applicant fails to list a proposer on the application, no proposer voucher will be awarded. In the event of a dispute, a potential winner may be required to provide proof or identity. It is the sole responsibility of each applicant to notify the AFDCS in the event of a change in email address or other contact information. By participating in the Contest, each applicant is certifying that he or she meets the eligibility requirements of the AFDCS and the terms of these Official Rules.

NOTE: Any attempt to submit multiple applications or use other tactics to avoid these Official Rules may result in disqualification and any associated application will be void.

DISQUALIFICATION:

The AFDCS reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any applicant that the AFDCS determines: (1) has tampered with the registration process or the operation of the Contest; (2) has acted in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner or with the intent to annoy or harass the AFDCS or any other person or entity; (3) has not satisfied all of the requirements for participation in the Contest; or (4) to be otherwise ineligible under, or in violation of, these Official Rules. Any attempt by an applicant to commit any of the above-listed acts of misconduct may be a violation of civil or criminal law and the AFDCS reserves the right to seek damages from such applicant to the fullest extent permitted by law.

REPRESENTATIONS:

By participating in the Contest, each applicant represents and warrants that he or she has the right to participate in the Contest, that he or she is not currently a member of the AFDCS, that no one in his or her immediate household is currently a member of the AFDCS, and that he or she has the right to grant the rights granted in these Official Rules, free and clear of all claims and encumbrances, without violating the rights of any other person or entity.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND RELEASE:

Each applicant (each, a "Releasor") releases and holds harmless the AFDCS and any other persons or entities involved in the Contest, each of its and their respective parents, subsidiaries and affiliates, and each of its and their respective officers, directors, employees, contractors and agents (collectively, the "Released Parties") from any liability for any losses, damages or costs of any kind whatsoever ("Losses") arising out of or resulting from (1) his or her participation in or inability to participate in the Contest, (2) lost or delayed data transmission, and/or (3) any other error in the administration of the Contest, due to any cause whatsoever, including, but not limited to, any technical malfunction, failure, interruption or defect of the AFDCS website or any network, equipment or software, due to human error, or due to any combination of the any of the foregoing. The above release will not include or extend to any proposers, for any acts or omissions in their capacity as such.

Each Releasor and his or her proposer further release and hold harmless all Released Parties any from liability for any Losses arising out of (1) any decision by the AFDCS to disqualify the Releasor for any reason, including but not limited to a violation of these Official Rules or applicable laws; (2) the acceptance, delivery, receipt, possession or use of a Prize; (3) any injury or damage to any computer or other device related to or resulting from the Releasor’s participation in or downloading of any materials in connection with the Contest; and/or (4) any conditions arising from events beyond the AFDCS’s control.

WITHOUT LIMITING THE GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING, NEITHER THE AFDCS NOR ANY OF THE RELEASED PARTIES SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE CONTEST, HOWSOEVER CAUSED, WHETHER ARISING IN STATUTE, TORT, CONTRACT, OR OTHER LEGAL THEORY, AND REGARDLESS OF WHETHER SUCH RELEASED PARTY WAS ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. ALL SUCH DAMAGES ARE HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED AND EXCLUDED.

OPTING OUT:

Any applicant for membership in the AFDCS may opt out of participating in the Contest by either noting that fact on the application or otherwise communicating that fact to an authorized person at the AFDCS. If any applicant chooses to opt out of the Contest, neither the applicant nor the proposer will be entitled to receive a Prize.

PUBLICITY:

By submitting an application for membership in the AFDCS, each applicant grants to the AFDCS the right to publish the applicant’s name, voice, image, likeness, biography, quotes (where appropriate), and state of residence, whether online, in print or in any other manner, in connection with the administration, advertising, marketing and promotion of the Contest, without additional compensation, except to the extent prohibited by law.

TERMINATION:

The AFDCS reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, modify, suspend or terminate the Contest at any time for any reason, including, but not limited to, any cause that affects the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the Contest.

NO ENDORSEMENT:

Nothing contained in these Official Rules or in any of the Contest materials should be construed as an endorsement by the AFDCS of any third-party product or service.

WINNERS LIST:

The name of Member 30,000 and the proposer (if any) will be posted by the AFDCS on its website within 30 days of the completion of the Contest.

For the names of the Prize winners, interested persons may also send a request, together with a stamped, self-addressed envelope, after the close of the Contest, to the

AFDCS Central Office
Attn: Member 30,000 Contest
PO Box 27
Greer, SC 29652-0027