Privacy Policy
Last updated: April 22, 2024
Overview
This is the website of the Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council (PTC). PTC respects the privacy of its members and other visitors to its website. In summary, PTC does not collect any information through the website without the knowledge and consent of the user. In addition, all personal information collected through the site is provided on a voluntary basis by the user through a visible means of data entry. As part of this privacy pledge, the following provides a more detailed explanation of how the information provided to us is used and displayed on Paturf.org.
Information Collection and Use
PTC is the sole owner of information collected on Paturf.org. PTC uses the information to offer special services, to facilitate the flow of information between PTC and its users, to support and improve the council’s programming, and to help keep the council’s database systems current. All personal information collected on Paturf.org is provided voluntarily via the submission of the various applications, surveys, forms and other online services located throughout the site.
We collect the e-mail addresses of those who communicate with us via e-mail and payment information (e.g., credit card number and billing address). If you supply us with your postal address on-line you may receive periodic mailings from us with information on new services or upcoming events. You may receive physical mailings from PTC Commercial Member companies as well. We ask you to consent to this collection of data via a Consent button. We also provide the right to withdraw your consent at any time.
Privacy
PTC maintains processes to ensure the protection of user data. We conduct internal privacy audits and are committed to prompt handling of inquiries and complaints related to GDPR compliance.Data Breach and Protocol and Security
When personal data is accessed without authorization, PTC will notify the member/visitor within 72 hours of identifying the breach. Details about what data and how it was stolen will be included in the notification, as well as the plan or steps taken to correct the breach, and potential consequences to data subjects impacted. PTC has security and protection protocols in place through its management software, Wild Apricot, and their secure server.
Usage Tracking
Paturf.org analyzes its Web server logs to track the site’s usage patterns and gauge its performance. Although the server automatically tracks the visitor’s domain name to determine the site’s overall number of visitors, no attempt is made to correlate that information with individual users. PTC releases limited aggregate site data for marketing and informational purposes. In addition to distributing general site statistics, this includes providing the number of views and clicks on particular pages or advertisements to sponsors and advertisers. Additionally, some HTML email communications are designed to track page views and clicks in order to gauge their performance and determine response rates. This data appears only in aggregate form and no personally identifiable information is collected or disseminated.
Registration and Personalization
In order to gain access to certain features on the site, users must be a PTC Member. PTC members must only submit their username and password, which may be changed at any time by the user. To optimize the site for PTC’s users, certain areas of the site are personalized upon login. The information used to provide this personalized content is based on the data contained in the user’s individual PTC record. To review or update any of this information, please login at Paturf.org or contact PTC at 814-237-0767.
Disclosures to Third Parties
Membership directory
PTC makes member contact information available to other members through the online membership directory. Membership contact information may not be used for commercial or promotional purposes. If they wish, members may opt out of appearing in the online directory by contacting PTC at 814-237-0767.
List services
For its industry clients, PTC may offer list services. Through these services, clients may obtain mailing information for individuals and facilities in PTC’s database that match a requested demographic set (such as facility type, region, title, etc.). This contact information may include an individual’s name, title, facility name, and preferred mailing address and is intended for marketing purposes. However, email addresses are NOT provided with this service. PTC Commercial Member Companies receive a one (1) time per year use of the PTC Membership Mailing List, upon request.
Links to third-party sites
Paturf.org contains links to other Web sites. PTC has no control over and is not responsible for the privacy policies or content of these other sites.
Ad Servers
We do not partner with or have special relationships with any ad server companies.
Online Ordering
Paturf.org houses a shopping cart where PTC products and services may be purchased. All PTC Internet transactions are handled through a secure server, and credit card information is never transferred via confirmation emails. Though it cannot guarantee the security of any third-party site, PTC as a practice works to ensure that any external site used for ordering PTC products and services adheres to the appropriate standards for security and privacy.
Use of Email Addresses
Because PTC is a professional membership organization, PTC will use the email addresses provided to it to notify constituents of special announcements, new online services, conduct surveys, or other services offered by the council. PTC also distributes email communications to its constituents and reserves the right to develop and distribute further industry related news content for members. By joining PTC, purchasing a product from PTC, or providing your email address to PTC, you are giving PTC permission to contact you via email, with relevant future offers or news. PTC is sensitive to the concerns of its users and works to segment its distribution lists so that only recipients who would benefit from the communication are included on the list. PTC shares its member addresses with Pennsylvania Turfgrass Magazine, PTC’s official magazine. Members email addresses are NOT shared with other PTC members including Commercial Members without consent. Users may opt out of receiving these communications by contacting PTC at 814-237-0767, or following the unsubscribe instructions and link at the bottom of the particular communication. PTC does not sell, rent, loan, trade, or lease the email addresses collected to any outside organization. In addition, to help prevent the reproduction of mailing lists, all directories on the Web site have been configured so that only one member’s contact information is available at a time. You can, however, have your name put on our do-not-share list by contacting PTC. Please provide us with your exact name and address.
Legal Disclaimer
The information we collect is disclosed when legally required to do so, at the request of governmental authorities conducting an investigation, to verify or enforce compliance with the policies governing our Website and applicable laws or to protect against misuse or unauthorized use of our Website. PTC reserves the right to change this statement at any time to reflect changes in its policies and procedures. This statement and the policies outlined herein are not intended and do not create any contractual or other legal rights in or on behalf of any party. From time to time, we may use customer information for new, unanticipated uses not previously disclosed in our privacy notice. If our information practices change at some time in the future we will post the policy changes to our Web site to notify you of these changes and data collected from the time of the policy change forward be used for these new purposes only. If you are concerned about how your information is used, you should check back at our Web site periodically.
Physical Security
We have appropriate security measures in place in our physical facilities to protect against the loss, misuse or alteration of information that we have collected from you at our site.
Contact Information
PTC values the privacy of its members and other users of Paturf.org. If you feel that this site is not following its stated information policy, you may contact us at the address below, call us at 814-237-0767, or send us an email at info@paturf.org.
Our address is:
Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council
PO Box 99
Boalsburg, PA 16827