Family Photo Contest

Do You Know Your Italian Roots?

If not, here’s your chance to win a Genealogy Research Project!

OPEN TO ALL CURRENT 2021 MEMBERS OF OSDIA!

In honor of Italian American Heritage Month, the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America (OSDIA) is holding a “Family Photo” contest to win a genealogy research project donated by My Italian Family (valued at $3,000). Through the entire month of October 2021 and the first half of November 2021, all OSDIA members will be eligible to enter for a chance to win one of two available research projects:

1. Discover your family history all the way back to the late 1700s! The winner of the “5 Generations Back” Research Project will learn his or her ancestors’ names, occupations, where they grew up, and many more amazing historical details.
2. Reconnect to your living relatives! The “Living Relatives” Research Project will identify the winner’s Ancestor’s descendants in his or her town of origin in Italy. A great opportunity to discover potential Italian cousins.

Complete research results will be provided in both printed and electronic versions.

To enter this OSDIA-member contest, email an old photo of your Italian ancestors to NationalOffice@osia.org along with your name, address, lodge number (or specify that you are an at-large member), and a description of the photo.

We extend very special thanks to Bianca Ottone, owner of My Italian Family, LLC, for generously donating the research project for this contest. Not the winner of the contest? Sign in to the Members Only community of OSIA.org for details about a special discount on research and other services from My Italian Family for Sons and Daughters of Italy members. Visit www.myitalianfamily.com for more information.

^*OFFICIAL RULES: Only current members of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America (OSDIA) are eligible to enter. One entry per member. The photo submission must be emailed between October 1, 2021, and November 15, 2021. By submitting your photo, you authorize OSDIA to use, reproduce, exhibit, distribute, and publish this photo within the context of this competition and for any other lawful purpose, now or in the future, in any other medium including, but not limited to, television, print media, magazines, journals, books, articles, internet and social media. You further acknowledge that you will not be entitled to payment, royalty or compensation for any use of this photo, now or in the future.  The winner will be selected by December 3, 2021, and contacted directly by the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America. For a full Official Rules, please see below.

Contest Disclaimer

The following are basic rules governing the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America (OSDIA) My Italian Family Photo Contest:

Members of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America may submit original photos for the contest to win a genealogy research project donated by My Italian Family (valued at $3,000).  To enter this exclusive OSDIA-member contest, simply email an old photo of your Italian ancestors to NationalOffice@osia.org along with your name, address, lodge number (or specify that you are an at-large member), and a description of the photo. One entry per member. The contest will run from October 1, 2021, through November 15, 2021.

OSDIA members will be eligible to enter for a chance to win one of two available research projects:

1. Discover your family history all the way back to the late 1700s! The winner of the “5 Generations Back” Research Project will learn his or her ancestors’ names, occupations, where they grew up, and many more amazing historical details.
2. Reconnect to your living relatives! The “Living Relatives” Research Project will identify the winner’s Ancestor’s descendants in his or her town of origin in Italy. A great opportunity to discover potential Italian cousins.

A panel will select the winning photo.  The prize that may be awarded to the eligible winner is not redeemable for cash or exchangeable for any other prize. Participants must provide valid and accurate contact information. If a winner cannot be contacted or is disqualified for any reason, OSDIA reserves the right to determine an alternate winner or not to award that winner’s prize, in its sole discretion.

Eligibility and Limitations. Participants and the winner must be OSDIA members.  There is no limitation on age. A parent or guardian of any participant who is a minor must sign a release on behalf of the minor to be eligible to receive a prize.

Entries. Only entries submitted via email to NationalOffice@osia.org along with your name, address, lodge number (or specifying that you are an at-large member), and a description of the photo as designated by OSDIA may be used to enter the contest. Winner will be selected from all eligible entries received in accordance with contest rules, and all entry rules must be followed to be eligible.

Tax. Any valuation of the prize is based on available information provided to OSDIA, and the value of any prize awarded to the winner may be reported for tax purposes as required by law. The winner is solely responsible for reporting and paying any and all applicable taxes related to the prize and paying any expenses associated with the prize which is not specifically provided for in the official rules. Each winner must provide OSDIA with valid identification and a valid taxpayer identification number or social security number before any prize will be awarded.

Publicity; Use of Personal Information. By participating, where allowed by law, all contest participants and the winner grant OSDIA exclusive permission to use their names, characters, photographs, voices, videotape, and likenesses in connection with promotion of the contest and waive any claims to royalty, right, or remuneration for such use. By participating in the contest, where allowed by law, participants agree that OSDIA may disclose personal information obtained from participants in the contest to third parties and use such information for marketing and other purposes.

Disqualification; Fraud. Failure to comply with any published contest rules is grounds for immediate disqualification from the contest. OSDIA reserves the right to disqualify any entry not conforming to the rules of the promotion at any time. OSDIA and its contest and promotional partners assume no responsibility for entry fraud committed by any entrant. In the event it is determined that an ineligible entrant wins a prize, OSDIA reserves all rights to the ownership and return of the prize and all costs associated with remedying any prize award to an ineligible entry or entrant.

Misinformation. OSDIA is not responsible for undeliverable, lost, delayed, misdirected or misaddressed email or any other issues regarding the electronic delivery of the contest forms or entries. This includes, but is not limited to, the speed at which your email service routes email through the internet. The sole determiner of eligibility for the contest events and determination of the final winner will be the time the email, entry form, and contest voting is received at our offices.

Release. By participating in the contest, each participant and winner waives any and all claims of liability against OSDIA, its employees and agents, the contest’s sponsors and their respective employees and agents, for any personal injury or loss which may occur from the conduct of, or participation in, the contest, or from the use of any prize.   The person chosen as the winner must sign an official waiver form provided by OSDIA to receive their prize.

Conduct and Decisions. By participating in the contest, participants agree to be bound by the decisions of OSDIA personnel. Persons who violate any rule, gain unfair advantage in participating in the contest, or obtain winner status using fraudulent means will be disqualified. Unsportsmanlike, disruptive, annoying, harassing or threatening behavior is prohibited. OSDIA will interpret these rules and resolve any disputes, conflicting claims or ambiguities concerning the rules or the contest and OSDIA’s decisions concerning such disputes shall be final. If the conduct or outcome of the contest is affected by human error, any mechanical malfunctions or failures of any kind, intentional interference or any event beyond the control of OSDIA, OSDIA reserves the right to terminate this contest, or make such other decisions regarding the outcome as OSDIA deems appropriate. All decisions will be made by OSDIA and are final. OSDIA may waive any of these rules in its sole discretion. Any attempt by an entrant or any other individual to deliberately circumvent, disrupt, damage or undermine the legitimate operation of this contest is a violation of criminal and civil laws. Should such an attempt be made, OSDIA reserve the right to seek civil and/or criminal prosecution and/or damages from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Miscellaneous.  Void where prohibited.  Odds of winning depend upon the number of participants and the voting regarding best entries.  The selected winner must submit proof of eligibility and sign OSDIA’s release form to claim a prize. OSDIA may substitute prizes, amend the rules or discontinue the contest at any time as announced. OSDIA disclaims any responsibility to notify participants of any aspect related to the conduct of the contest. All entries become the property of OSDIA.

Compliance with Law.  The conduct of the contest is governed by the applicable laws of the United States of America, which take precedence over any rule to the contrary herein. OSDIA shall follow the applicable laws for conducting contests, including notice to the state attorney general or consumer affairs office, posting of a prize bond, furnishing lists of winners, running specific on-air disclaimers, providing specific written information about the contest, etc. as required by local and state law.

Release, Waiver and Grant

In consideration for the opportunity to submit my Photo and enter the My Italian Family Photo contest to participate as a contest entrant in the OSDIA contest and for other good and valuable consideration, I irrevocably give OSDIA and its Officers, agents, employees and contractors the right and permission to use, copy, distribute, publish, broadcast, and display the Photo and photo description that I have submitted; photographs and images of me that I have provided or that they will create; my voice and likeness; my name; the city, state, or province in which I live; and other information and material included in my Contest entry, on the OSDIA website, elsewhere on the Internet, in advertising and promotional materials, and in any other medium or format for any purpose related to the OSDIA My Italian Family Photo contest.

I acknowledge and agree that if I am selected as winner for the OSDIA My Italian Family Photo contest, OSDIA may post the Photo and my photo description on the Internet accessible to the public (including OSDIA members).

I waive any right to royalties or other payment for the use of my Photo and photo description entry and any photo or video and I also waive the right to inspect or approve OSDIA’s use of the entry and photo or video and other materials that OSDIA may use with them.

I attest and warrant that there is no copyrighted or trademarked material in my submitted entry. Further, to the extent that I may have any intellectual property rights or interest in my submitted Photo and photo description (Copyright, Trademark, or otherwise) by operation of law or otherwise, I hereby grant and convey to OSDIA all right, title and interest therein and irrevocably grant to OSDIA the exclusive, worldwide rights to use, copy, distribute, publish, broadcast, and display my submitted Photo and photo description.

I release and waive and agree to hold OSDIA, its officers, members, employees, agents, and contractors harmless from any claims, damages, or liabilities resulting from their use of the Photo and photo description entry, and I agree not to bring any such claims against the released parties at any time in the future. This includes, but is not limited to, claims for violation of publicity rights and privacy rights, claims based on moral rights, claims for intrusion, claims for defamation, claims for fraud, claims for infliction of emotional distress, and claims for copyright or other intellectual property infringement, whether those claims may be based on statutes or common law.

I represent and warrant to OSDIA that:

The Photo and photo description entry is my original work or work in which I have the rights to enter it into this contest.

I have not granted anyone else any rights to use, distribute, publish, broadcast, or display the Photo and photo description.

I have the full right and authority to execute the above Disclaimer and Release, Waiver and Grant.

I have all rights necessary to grant the rights, waivers, and releases granted in the above Disclaimer and Release, Waiver and Grant.

I have read the above Disclaimer and Release, Waiver and Grant, I fully understand them, and enter into them knowingly and voluntarily.

All statements and information included in my contest entry and any other statements and information that I provided to or will provide to OSDIA are true and complete.