North Carolina Citizens for Protecting Our Schools
TERMS OF USE AND PRIVACY POLICY

This website is operated by the North Carolina Citizens for Protecting Our Schools (“NCCPOS”, “we” or “us”). This terms of use and privacy policy (collectively, the “Policy”) explains how personal information is collected, used, and disclosed by the NCCPOS with respect to your use of the Web sites such as this which are operated by the NCCPOS and which display this Policy (the “Sites”) so you can make an informed decision about using the Sites. We reserve the right to change the provisions of this Policy at any time. We will alert you that changes have been made by indicating on the Policy the date it was last updated. We encourage you to review this Policy from time to time to make sure that you understand how any personal information you provide will be used.

We may update these Terms of Use and Privacy Policy to improve the Site from time to time without notice other than by posting them on this Site. All visitors have the obligation to review changes to this agreement. Unless otherwise specified, such changes shall be effective when they are posted. Your access or use of this website constitutes your agreement to be bound by these Terms of Use and the terms and conditions of our Privacy Policy, as posted on this Site, and which are incorporated herein by reference, including any changes that exist when you re-access this Site (whether or not you have chosen to register as a member of the Site). IF YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE PRIVACY POLICY OR ANY OTHER POSTED GUIDELINES OR RULES, THEN DO NOT USE THIS SITE.

Purpose

The purpose of this website is to publicize educational activities and events, gather and disseminate accurate and timely information to promote the general public’s understanding of ways to maintain and improve North Carolina’s public education system.

Monitoring

We have no obligation to monitor the use of the Site. However, you acknowledge and agree that we reserve the right to, and may from time to time, monitor any and all information transmitted or received through the Site for operational and other purposes. During monitoring, information may be examined, recorded, copied, and used for authorized purposes in accordance with our Policy. Use of the Site constitutes consent to such monitoring. Furthermore, we reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials, in whole or in part, that in our sole and absolute discretion are objectionable or in violation of Policy.

What Is Personal Information?

As used herein, the term “personal information” means information that specifically identifies an individual (such as a name, address, telephone number, mobile number, e-mail address, or credit card number) and information about that individual or his or her activities that is directly linked to personally identifiable information. Personal information does not include “aggregate” information, which is data we collect about the use of the Sites or about a group or category of services or users, from which individual identities or other personal information has been removed. This Policy in no way restricts or limits our collection and use of aggregate information.

What Personal Information Do We Collect?

Active Collection: Personal information may be collected in a number of ways when you visit our Sites. We collect certain information you voluntarily provide to us, such as when you create an account, make a donation, make a purchase, send us an email, fill out a form, sign up to be a volunteer or request information. Such information may include personal information, such as your name, mailing address, email address, phone number, and credit card information. Personal and demographic information may also be collected if you provide such information in connection with creating a profile or group, leaving comments, posting blog comments or other content, sending an email or message to another user, or participating in any interactive forums or features on the Sites. In addition, from time to time we may collect demographic, contact or other personal information you provide in connection with your participation in surveys, contests, games, promotions, and other activities on the Sites.

Passive Collection: When you use the Sites, some information is also automatically collected, such as your Internet Protocol (IP) address, your operating system, the browser type, the address of a referring web site, and your activity on our Sites. We treat this information as personal information if we combine it with or link it to any of the identifying information mentioned above. Otherwise, it is used in the aggregate only.

We may also automatically collect certain information through the use of “cookies” or web beacons. Cookies are small data files stored on your hard drive at the request of a website. Among other things, cookies help us improve our Sites and your experience. If we link cookies to any personally identifying information, we will treat this information as personal information. If you wish to block, erase, or be warned of cookies, please refer to your browser manufacturer to learn about these functions. However, if you choose to remove or reject cookies, this could affect certain features on our Sites. Web beacons are small, invisible graphic images that may be used on the Sites or in emails relating to the Sites to collect certain information and monitor user activity on the Sites.

How Do We Use the Personal Information We Collect?

We use personal information collected through our Sites for the purposes described in this Policy or elsewhere on the Sites. For example, we may use personal information we collect:

• to provide the services, products, or information you request, and to process and complete such requests and any related transactions;
• to send you confirmations, updates, alerts, and support and administrative messages and otherwise facilitate your use of, and our administration and operation of, the Sites;
• to notify you about important changes to the Sites;
• to send you newsletters and otherwise provide you with information or services you request or that we think will be of interest to you, such as sending you information to keep you informed about various campaigns, candidates, issues, events, resources, promotions, contests, products and services;
• to help connect you with other supporters, and to solicit volunteers, donations and support for the NCCPOS and for candidates, issues and organizations that we support;
• to request feedback and to otherwise contact you about your use of the Sites;
• to respond to your emails, submissions, questions, comments, and requests and to provide customer service;
• to monitor and analyze site usage and trends, and to personalize and improve the Site and our users’ experiences on the Site, such as providing ads, content, or features that match your profiles or interests, and to increase the Site’s functionality and user friendliness;
• to notify and contact contest and sweepstakes entrants; and
• for any other purpose for which the information was collected.

We may store and process personal information in the United States and other countries.

What Personal Information Do We Share With Third Parties?

It is our policy not to share the personal information we collect from you through our Sites with third parties, except as described in this Policy or as otherwise disclosed on the Sites. For example, we may share personal information as follows:

• with vendors, consultants, and other service providers or volunteers who are engaged by or working with us and who need access to such information to carry out their work for us;
• with organizations, groups or causes that we believe have similar political viewpoints, principles or objectives;
• when you give us your consent to do so, including if we notify you on the Sites, that the information you provide will be shared in a particular manner and you provide such information;
• when we believe in good faith that we are lawfully authorized or required to do so or that doing so is reasonably necessary or appropriate to comply with the law or legal processes or respond to lawful requests, claims or legal authorities, including responding to lawful subpoenas, warrants, or court orders;
• when we believe in good faith that doing so is reasonably necessary or appropriate to respond to claims or to protect the rights, property, or safety of the NCCPOS, our users, our employees, our volunteers, copyright owners, third parties or the public, including without limitation to protect such parties from fraudulent, abusive, inappropriate, or unlawful activity or use of our Site;
• to enforce or apply this Policy or our other policies or agreements; and
• in connection with, or during negotiations of, any merger, reorganization, acquisition, asset sale or in any other situation where personal information may be disclosed or transferred as one of the assets of the NCCPOS.

We are not responsible for the actions of any service providers or other third parties, nor are we responsible for any additional information you provide directly to any third parties, and we encourage you to become familiar with their privacy practices before disclosing information directly to any such parties. Nothing herein restricts the sharing of aggregated or anonymized information, which may be shared with third parties without your consent.

Interactive Features:

You understand that when you use the Sites, information you: post in your profile, blogs, forums and other interactive areas of the Sites, as well as any information you share with individuals through the Sites or share through social network sites, will be available to other users and, in some cases, may be publicly available. We recommend you be cautious about giving out personal information to others or sharing personal information in public or private online forums. We are not responsible for the actions of any third parties with whom you share personal information.

Links to Other Websites

Our Sites may contain links to other websites. Any personal information you provide on the linked pages is provided directly to that third party and is subject to that third party’s privacy policy. This Policy does not apply to such linked sites, and we are not responsible for the content or privacy and security practices and policies of these websites or any other sites that are linked to from our Sites. We encourage you to learn about their privacy and security practices and policies before providing them with personal information.

What Steps Do We Take To Protect Your Information Online?

We take reasonable measures to protect your personal information in an effort to prevent loss, misuse, and unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction. Please be aware, however, that despite our efforts, no security measures are perfect or impenetrable and no method of data transmission that can be guaranteed against any interception or other type of misuse. To protect the confidentiality of personal information, you must keep your password confidential and not disclose it to any other person. You are responsible for all uses of our web sites by any person using your password. Please advise us immediately if you believe your password has been misused.

What Choices Do You Have Regarding the Use of Your Information?

You may “opt out” of receiving text messages, email updates and newsletters by following the instructions in those text messages and emails. Please note that we may still send you other types of emails such as emails about your use of our Sites even if you opt out of receiving email updates and newsletters.

Questions?

If you have any questions about this Policy, please contact us at admin@protectncschools.org.