CCHSAA warns local alumni of non-affiliated sites
By Jennifer Zartman Romano
Many local Columbia City High School alumni have recently received an email from an online entity promising membership in an alumni organization online – only to be shocked to learn this organization is not affiliated with Columbia City High School Alumni Association (CCHSAA).
The site has issued emails to many Columbia City High School Alumni urging membership in an online organization for alumni. But, according to the CCHSAA which is an actual membership organization, the two are in no way affiliated.
Several local alumni have received the email and, assuming it was from the CCHSAA, have signed up online. 
One young alumni member signed up and was surprised to find there were fewer classmates on the website than he’s found on Facebook, the social networking website.
“I thought this was coming from the CCHS Alumni Association,” he said.
“Well, it certainly appears to intentionally confuse people,” he added. “It confused me.”
The CCHSAA has its own website, www.cchsaa.org, and does offer membership. Lifetime and annual memberships are available through the Whitley County Community Foundation, but the CCHSAA has not solicited membership via alumni’s email addresses.
According to Bob Brittain, president of the CCHSAA, a quick search of the internet reveals several websites, none of which are affiliated with the local CCHSAA, that have areas defined for Columbia City High School alumni.
“So-called alumni associations ending with a ‘.com’ are commercial sites designed to created a database for commercial purposes,” said Brittain. “They may or may not ask for money to join.”
Brittain said it is important to note that the local alumni association’s website ends with .org designating its organizational status.
“We do ask for membership donations,” Brittain said, adding, “those monies are used to serve members and create scholarship funds.” The CCHSAA is a 501c(3), tax-exempt organization.
For more information about the CCHSAA, visit their website at www.cchsaa.org