Privacy Policy

How we collect your information

You can visit many of our site pages anonymously, without providing any personal information. But when you visit our web site, we automatically collect and log certain non-personal electronic data, such as your Internet Protocol (IP) address and online activity data.

Use of cookies

We use “cookies” that are placed on your computer when you visit our web site, if you allow them to be so placed and do not delete them. These small text files include non-personal information used to automatically recognize and login repeat visitors to facilitate ongoing access and use of certain content and features. The AWWOA believes that this technology enhances online customer service and saves users from restating their preferences on each visit.

You may nevertheless adjust settings to your browser to prohibit our collection and use of cookies, although please note that this may delay the efficiency with which you may navigate through the web site in the future.

Site Registration

If you choose to register with us to use certain features and functions of our site, we ask you to provide certain personal information voluntarily. If you choose not to provide the information requested, you may be unable to access and use certain services and content on our web site.

The AWWOA restricts its collection of personal information to demographic characteristics which help it understand and better serve the interests and needs of its members, customers, and visitors, and to information used in authorized transactions.

Examples of circumstances under which AWWOA may collect your personal information online include:

• Your inquiries regarding and registration to attend conference and educational events and booking exhibit space for our annual seminars.
• Your purchase of in-class, on-line or home study courses
• Your submittal of a response to AWWOA's calls for papers or presenters at conferences and other events.
• Your participation in online discussion forums and blogs and submission of comments and inquiries using online forms, including the Contact Us form and surveys.

How we use your information

Personal Information Used Internally.

We generally use your personal information for our own business and administrative purposes, such as, without limitation, responding to your questions or comments; identifying products, programs, and events that might interest you; tracking your membership, online purchases and in-house course grades.

Name, address, fax, e-mail address, affiliations, job title, gender, age and other similar information is used by AWWOA to understand its audiences and to offer member benefits and products to members, customers, and website visitors who are likely to be interested in them.

Personal Information Used in the Rental of Mailing Lists

AWWOA does not practice in the rental of personal addresses collected from members and non-members. Information collected is restricted to internal use only. The AWWOA does not rent telephone numbers, fax numbers or e-mail addresses.

Non-personal Information Used for AWWOA Statistical Reports

Information we collect that does not identify you personally is used to monitor the use of and improve our web site, as well as for internal analysis. In particular, but without limitation, IP addresses are used to diagnose problems with the server on which this information is stored, analyze trends and statistics, administer our web site, track visitors’ movements, gather information to improve visitors’ online experience, and to facilitate their visit within the web site.

Information Collected By Third Parties

AWWOA uses third parties to provide certain services for our web site, including administrative support for certain online activities such as, but without limitation, course purchases, payment processing, and seminar registration. In connection with providing these services, we may share your information with these third parties, and when appropriate, law enforcement authorities. In addition, these third parties may collect certain personal information such as your name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, and interests. Although we endeavour to select only reputable companies that share our commitment to user privacy, we are in no way responsible for the actions or policies of these third parties.

The AWWOA only shares your personal information with organizations that work on AWWOA’s behalf. In certain instances we may also disclose your personal information when we have reason to believe that it is necessary to identify, contact, or bring legal action against persons or entities that may be causing injury to you, us, or others.

Credit/Debit Card Account Information

The AWWOA does not disclose credit or debit card information provided by members and customers. When members and customers choose to pay online using a credit or debit card, that information is processed directly through a third-party clearinghouse using appropriate security processes and data encryption. Member and customer credit and debit card information is not stored or maintained by the AWWOA.

Other Websites

Our Site contains links to third-party websites that are provided for your convenience. We do not endorse nor are we responsible for the privacy practices or the content of such sites.

Opting Out

The AWWOA recognizes that its’ members and customers may wish to limit AWWOA's use of personal information, and that this decision may occur after such information is provided to AWWOA, via our web site or otherwise. To that end, this web site provides registered users the means to voluntarily opt-out of delivery of various AWWOA communications by selecting preferences in their online account. You may also contact Customer Service to select opt-out preferences. You can also access and update your account information at any time if you are a registered user of this web site.

Opting out of such deliveries can deprive you from receiving or learning about benefits of membership or other association with AWWOA.

Data Security

The AWWOA is concerned with its user’s data safety. As a result, the AWWOA utilizes SSL encryption for all commerce transactions to protect your personal information including name, address, and credit card. Additionally, systems are compliant with PCI regulations to further protect your information.

Site Security

To prevent unauthorized access to your personal information, we have put in place commercially reasonable physical, electronic, and managerial measures to safeguard and secure the information we collect through our web site. However, no data or information transmission over the Internet is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot ensure or warrant the security of such information and cannot be responsible for loss, corruption or unauthorized acquisition of information or data submitted to our site, or for any resulting damages.

AWWOA HEREBY DISCLAIMS ANY GUARANTEE AND ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND WHATSOEVER. AWWOA MAKES NO GUARANTEE OR WARRANTY REGARDING THE OPERATION OR PERFORMANCE OF ANY SECURITY MEASURE OR DEVICE INSTALLED ON ITS SITE OR USED IN PROCESSING ONLINE TRANSACTIONS OR THAT ALL DATA WILL REMAIN COMPLETE, ACCURATE, SECURE, OR INTACT. IF YOU BECOME AWARE OF A SECURITY BREACH OR THAT THE SECRECY OF YOUR ACCESS LOGINS HAVE BECOME COMPROMISED, PLEASE NOTIFY THE AWWOA PROMPTLY BY CONTACTING AWWOA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND AWWOA WILL ENDEAVOR TO CONTAIN THE ADVERSE IMPACT OF SUCH COMPROMISE. PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU MAINTAIN BACKUP OF YOUR OWN DATA AND INFORMATION AS AWWOA MAKES NO ASSURANCES AS TO THEIR ONGOING AVAILABILITY OF ACCURACY. THE FOREGOING STATES THE ENTIRE LIABILITY AND OBLIGATION OF AWWOA WITH RESPECT TO DATA THEFT OR CORRUPTION.

Changes to this privacy statement

We will occasionally update this Privacy Policy. When we do, we will also revise the "last updated" date at the bottom of this Policy. Therefore, you should periodically review this Privacy Policy to stay abreast of our most current policies and practices. For material changes to this Privacy Policy, we will notify you by placing a prominent notice on the web site.

Last updated Aug 16, 2015