Privacy Policy
Posted Thursday, April 7, 2011 10:55 AM

 

Privacy Policy
 
The following Privacy Policy governs the online data collection practices of REELFOOT FOUNDATION. Specifically, it describes the types of information that we collect about you while you are using the REELFOOT FOUNDATION, and the methods in which we use this information.
As the web is a continually evolving medium, we may need to change our Privacy Policy at some time in the future. If we do we make changes we will update the "Effective Date" above to reflect the date of the changes. Your continued usage of the REELFOOT FOUNDATION websites after we post any such changes will be considered as acceptance and agreement to the updated Privacy Policy terms.
What Information is Collected About Visitors?
The data that we collect about you while you are using the site falls into two basic categories:
1. Information You Provide to Us. We may collect and store data that you voluntarily supply while using the REELFOOT FOUNDATION websites. Some examples of this type of information include demographic information that you electronically submit when you sign up, information (such as your name or email address), information that you post on message boards on the site, and information contained in emails or questions that you submit to the Site. Should you decline to provide us with certain information while using the site it is possible you may not be able to use some or all of the features of the REELFOOT FOUNDATION websites.
2. Information Automatically Collected. We also collect and store information that is generated automatically as you navigate through the REELFOOT FOUNDATION websites. For example, we use a standard feature of browser software called "cookies." Cookies are small files that your web browser places on your hard drive for record-keeping purposes. By showing how and when visitors use the REELFOOT FOUNDATION websites, cookies help us track user trends and patterns. They also prevent you from having to re-enter information on some areas of the site, such as login and password information to access the system. Another example of information we might automatically collect as you use the REELFOOT FOUNDATION websites is information about your computer’s connection to the Internet. This information allows us, among other things, to improve the delivery of our web pages to you and to measure traffic on the site.
How is this Information Used?
REELFOOT FOUNDATION respects your right to privacy. REELFOOT FOUNDATION collects information only for the purpose of creating your web site and answering your questions. We may also use the information we collect from you while you are using the website for other internal purposes, including using the information to customize features that appear on class web sites. We will not use personal information that we collect online from you while you are using the REELFOOT FOUNDATION websites, nor will we use any information provided by classmates, to mail or email promotional offers (AKA spam). Your personal information and the personal information entered by your classmates will never be shared with other companies or organizations electronically or otherwise — period.
Please also keep in mind that whenever you voluntarily make your personal information available for viewing by third parties online – for example on message boards, In Memory forums, through email or web logs, etc. – that information can be seen, collected and used by others besides us. REELFOOT FOUNDATION cannot be responsible for any unauthorized third party use of such information.
Be aware that although we have not done so to date, we may release information about site visitors when release is appropriate to comply with an order of the law, or to protect the rights, property or safety of users of the REELFOOT FOUNDATION sites.
Please also note that as our business grows, we may buy or sell various assets. Although not in our plans, in the unlikely event that we sell some or all of our assets, or our sites are acquired by another organization, information about our visitors may be among the transferred assets.
How To Make Changes to Your Information
Administrators and classmates alike can log into the system and update your personal information at any time.
Questions About Privacy
1.    Can people find my Classmates' Profile pages by searching Google or other major search engines?

Answer: It depends. Your Profile pages are fully indexable by major search engines, but each individual Classmate has the ability to permit viewing of his or her Profile only to fellow registered Classmates. If Profile information has been restricted to only fellow Classmates, then search engines can not get into this information and index it, nor can any non registered Classmate get in. Please note that your Classmates' public profile is found in the search engines when no restrictions have been set by the Classmate him or herself. This is the same information that anybody can see simply by visiting your web site unless a Classmate has restricted Profile viewing to only fellow Classmates. Your Classmates' private information is not findable and will never be displayed even if their Profile is left open to the public. Specifically, your Classmates' email addresses, mailing addresses, and telephone numbers are completely protected and not visible to the public, and not findable/indexable by search engines no matter what. Please note that anyone can still send an email to your Classmates by filling out the contact form at the bottom of any Classmate Profile page. This allows open communication between Classmates and non Classmates alike, while protecting Classmates' personal information.
2.    My Classmate's Profile and pictures are being seen when you Google her name. She has her Profile restricted to viewing by only logged in fellow Classmates. Why is this happening? It appears the Profile restrictions are not working.

Answer: The Profile restrictions are working fine. Your Classmate is currently logged into your web site. When she logs in a thing called a "cookie" is set on her hard drive that tells our system she is logged in. Even if she leaves your web site and goes somewhere else on the Internet (e.g. Google), she is still logged into your site. So when she goes out and Googles her own name, up comes a link to your Classmate Profiles page (or sometimes a link directly to the Classmate's Profile itself). Next she is going directly to her own name and clicking on it, which brings her to her Profile and her pictures. Remember, she can see her full Profile because she has remained logged in throughout this process. Logged in Classmates can see restricted Profiles as they are supposed to. Had she not been logged in, however, instead of seeing her Profile she would have seen a message saying her Profile was restricted.

If you or your Classmate wants to see this process like the public sees it just do this:
1.    Go to your web class site and click the "Log out" link on the left.
2.    Go to Google and search for your Classmate's name.
3.    Click on the result that takes you to your Classmate Profiles page.
4.    Now click on your Classmate's name.
You will see that you get the Profile restricted message — you do not get access to the Classmate's Profile.

Bottom line, if a Classmate thinks his or her Profile restrictions are not working it is only because your Classmate is still logged in. Have the Classmate log out of your site first by following the steps above, and then search Google for his or her own name, and it will become apparent that everything is working properly.
3.    I see on some Classmate Profiles people can leave comments for the Classmate. What if a Classmate doesn't want public comments left?

Answer: The presence of the Classmate Comments board is solely under the control of the Classmate. If a Classmate doesn't want comments left for them that others can read, they can simply deactivate the Comments area under their Edit Profile area.
4.    On some other web sites I see a security code that must be entered in order to fill out forms or submit emails. Why isn't there a feature like this on our Classmates' Profiles? I'm concerned my Classmates might get spammed.

Answer: There is no need to worry about your Classmates being spammed. REELFOOT FOUNDATION utilizes an invisible-to-the-user form of spam protection that stops automated spam attacks cold. Our spam protection system works like some email spam protection systems, in that it uses a series of tests to find out if an email is from a legitimate user, or a spammer. These tests are sophisticated, and include things such as analysis of mouse movements and keyboard strokes. Simply, real email will get through, spam email will not. All of this is possible without making your Classmates type in hard-to-read text, and without blocking Classmates who are seeing impaired.
 
Questions Regarding Privacy
If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, our privacy practices, or your dealings with us, please contact us in writing at: privacy@lcsaa.org