Waldorf Alum Networking Platform Privacy Policy

Last updated: [September 2019]


  1. Introduction


The Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA) ("We") respect your privacy and are committed to protecting it through our compliance with this policy.


This Privacy Policy (“Policy”) describes the privacy principles we follow with respect to the types of information we may collect from you or that you may provide when you use AWSNA’s Waldorf Alum Networking Platform (collectively “Services”) and our practices for collecting, using, maintaining, protecting, and disclosing that information. 


Please read this policy carefully to understand our policies and practices regarding your information and how we will treat it. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, your choice is not to use our Services. By accessing or using AWSNA’s Services, you agree to this Policy. This Policy may change from time to time (see Changes to our Privacy Policy). You will be provided notice of this change, and continuing to use the Services after receiving notice will constitute acceptance of the changes.


  1. General Purpose


This platform is made available through the collaboration of the Waldorf schools and institutes in North America.  The primary purpose  is to create an opportunity for Waldorf alum to connect and support each other through this alum platform, and any information we collect serves to support the primary purpose.  The platform is open to alum (former students) of AWSNA schools and graduates of teacher preparation programs of AWSNA institutes through utilization of the Almabase platform system.  No solicitation of gifts will be posted on the continental platform.  Some AWSNA members (schools and institutes) may create school/institute specific 'affinity' groups.  Alum must be members of the continental platform to access an affinity group platform.   On these affinity group platforms, schools/institutes may use the full suite of features on Almabase, including sharing gifting opportunities.


III. Information We Collect About You.


AWSNA collects several types of information in connection with the Services. Such information is utilized in providing an efficient and effective experience to all users. When we provide the Services to you, your data is stored on Almabase computers and servers. AWSNA collects the following information:


  • Personal Information, which includes information through which you may be personally identified, such as name, postal addresses, email addresses, IP address, social media website user account names, telephone numbers, companies you may be associated with, education, employment history, or other addresses at which you receive communications from or on behalf of AWSNA ("Personal Information");
  • Non-Personal Information, which includes information that alone cannot be used to identify or contact you. Such Non-Personal Information may include, but is not limited to; browser information and details; operating system information; mobile device information; pages accessed; times of visit; and referring websites, applications, or services, including the relevant search queries that led you to our Services (“Non-Personal Information”);
  • Collectively, Personal Information and Non-Personal Information shall be referred to as “Information.”


IV. Method of Collecting Information. AWSNA collects Information in two ways: (1) Information you provide directly; and (2) Information we receive from your use of our Services.


Information That You Voluntarily Provide to AWSNA.  

It is AWSNA’s policy to only collect Personal Information you voluntarily submit to AWSNA. We collect information when you (1) Create a user account/profile to use the alum platform Services or (2) Connect other online accounts with your alum platform account, such as Facebook or LinkedIn. 


When you create a user account, we collect your name and email address, as well as other additional information you voluntarily provide, such as your business affiliation, telephone number, etc. When you create a profile on the platform, we will collect the information that you elect to upload to your profile, such as biography, your education, and professional information. You should carefully consider whether you wish to submit personal information and tailor any content in connection with using the alum platform. 


If you use a social media platform or your mobile device (or other methods of communication) to interact with AWSNA, the communication method or application may have a specific and independent privacy policy that governs the use of Personal Information.


Information Automatically Collected. 


When you use our Services, we may collect certain information as described below to improve our Services, troubleshoot bugs, provide the Services, manage the Services, track usage, and provide content for referring traffic sources. Such information may include: IP address; profile information; aggregate user data; preferences; technical session information; browser type; information about your computer, hardware, software, or mobile device, including a device identifier; demographic information including zip code; and navigational data including log files, server logs, clickstream data, and language preference. User IP addresses are recorded for security and monitoring and for providing services. If you arrived at our website via a link from another webpage, we may receive aggregate or otherwise anonymous statistical information about your visit to our site. We monitor customer traffic patterns and site usage to help us develop the design of the site, and to improve the content of our website to better match the interests of our website users. We may combine this automatically collected and other Non-Personal Information with Personal Information, in which case we will treat the combined information as Personal Information under this Privacy Policy.


V. How We Use Your Information/Communications from AWSNA. 


We use information collected about you or that you provide to us, including any Personal Information, to:


  • Provide periodic updates to each alum’s alma mater.  No other distribution of data will be made without express permission from each platform participant.
  • Communicate and provide additional information that may be of interest to you about AWSNA, our merchants, and our business partners, such as news, offers and coupons, announcements, and other relevant materials;
  • Send you reminders, notices, updates, security alerts, support and administrative messages, service bulletins, or marketing materials;
  • Administer contests or any promotional activities or events sponsored by us;
  • Manage our everyday business needs, such as website administration, the fulfillment of orders, analytics, fraud detection and prevention, compliance with the law or reporting obligation, or enforcement of our Terms of Service; 
  • Aggregate anonymous data from our Services used to benchmark, analyze, and improve the Services.
  • From time to time, we may use your Personal Information to send important notices to you regarding material changes to our terms, conditions, and policies or purchased services.


If you do not want to receive communications from AWSNA, you can update your preference by logging into your user account and utilize the communication preference setting, by following the opt-out instructions included in each email communication from AWSNA, or by contacting AWSNA at alumrelations@awsna.org. 


VI. How We Share and Disclose Information 


It is our policy not to share, sell, or rent information to any third parties for their promotional use or for marketing purposes except in the following circumstances: 


  • Almabase and Almabase contracted service providers: Your Information may be used within AWSNA, Almabase, and service providers contracted with Almabase to provide the Services, including but not limited to system maintenance, system operation, sending emails on our behalf, processing payments, providing analytics services and helping us provide services as requested by user Almabase and its contracted service providers are bound by law or contract to protect Personal Information and are only allowed to use Personal Information in accordance with the terms of our service agreements with them.
  • AWSNA business partners and affiliates: AWSNA may share your information with carefully selected business partners and affiliates whose products and services may be of interest to our alum community. All AWSNA business partners are obligated to implement opt-out mechanisms and honor any opt-out requests by recipients in compliance with applicable laws.
  • Notwithstanding the foregoing, we may also disclose your Personal Information: (1) To comply with any court order, law, or legal process, including to respond to any government or regulatory request; (2) To enforce or apply our Terms  of  Services and other agreements, including for billing and collection purposes; and (3) If we believe disclosure is necessary or appropriate to protect the rights, property, or safety of AWSNA, our customers, or others. This includes exchanging information with other companies and organizations for the purposes of fraud protection and credit risk reduction. In addition, in the event of a merger, acquisition, or any form of sale or transfer of some or all of our assets to a third party, we may also disclose your personal information to the third parties concerned or their professional advisors. In the event of such a transaction, the personal information held by us will be among the assets subject to the transaction. 


VII. Data Security


The security of your Personal Information is important to AWSNA. We have implemented administrative, technical, and physical security measures designed to secure and protect your information from accidental loss and from unauthorized access, use, alteration, and disclosure through our agreement with Almabase. HOWEVER, as the transmission of information via the internet is not completely secure, we cannot guarantee the security of information transmitted to use our Services. Although we take reasonable security measures to protect your information when we receive it, you also need to ensure you take appropriate steps to protect your information. Any transmission of Personal Information is at your own risk.


VIII. Children’s Information 


  1. We do not knowingly collect or solicit Personal Information from anyone under the age of 18. If you are under 18, please do not attempt to register for the Services or send any information about yourself to us. Parents and legal guardians are encouraged to monitor the activities of their wards in this regard. If we learn that we have collected information from a child under age 18, we will delete that information unless a parent or guardian provides verifiable consent to use. If you believe that a child under 18 may have provided us Information, please contact us at alumrelations@awsna.org.  

IX. Termination of Account


AWSNA reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to pursue all of its legal remedies, including, but not limited to deletion of User's postings from the platform and immediate termination of User's registration or ability to access the platform, upon any breach by User of these Terms and Conditions or if AWSNA is unable to verify or authenticate any information User submits for registration.  AWSNA shall not be liable to User nor any third party for any termination of User’s account or access to the alum platform.

X. International Access and Cross-Border Data Transfers

Our principle place of business is in the United States. If you are using the Services from outside the United States, your information will be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States where our servers are located and AWSNA is based. In addition, information that AWSNA collects may be stored and processed in and transferred between any of the countries in which AWSNA operates to enable the use of the information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. You agree to such cross-border transfers of personal information. 

XI. Amendments and Updates

AWSNA will occasionally update this Privacy Policy. Any changes to our Privacy Policy will be posted here so that users will know what information we gather, how we might use that information, and whether we will disclose it to anyone. We encourage you to periodically review this page for the latest information on our privacy practices and this Privacy Policy.

XII. Contact Information


If you have any questions regarding this Privacy Policy and our practices regarding the information you provide to us, please contact alumrelations@awsna.org.