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DATA PRIVACY & SECURITY POLICY NOTICE

This privacy notice discloses the privacy practices for The Indian Ponds Association. This privacy notice applies solely to information collected by its website and Facebook page.

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Information Collection, Use, and Sharing
We are the sole owners of the information collected on these sites.  We only have access to/collect information that you voluntarily give us via email, other direct contact from you or is available in the public domain. We will not sell, rent or otherwise share this information to anyone.

We will use your information to respond to you, regarding the reason you contacted us. We will not share your information with any third party outside of our organization, other than as necessary to fulfill your request.

Unless you ask us not to, we may contact you via email in the future to tell you about programs, events, advocacy opportunities, community interest items and solicitation for donations, or changes to this privacy policy.

 

Google Analytics

We use a tool called “Google Analytics” to collect information about use these sites. Google Analytics collects information such as how often users visit this these sites, what pages they visit when they do so, and what other sites they used prior to coming to these sites. We use the information we get from Google Analytics only to improve these sites. Google Analytics collects only the IP address assigned to you on the date you visit this site, rather than your name or other identifying information. We do not combine the information collected using Google Analytics with personally identifiable information. Although Google Analytics plants a permanent cookie on your web browser to identify you as a unique user the next time you visit this site, the cookie cannot be used by anyone but Google. Google’s ability to use and share information collected by Google Analytics about your visits to these sites  is restricted by the Google Analytics Terms of Use and the Google Privacy Policy. You can prevent Google Analytics from recognizing you on return visits to this site by disabling cookies on your browser.

 

Your Access to and Control Over Information
You may opt out of any future contacts from us at any time. You can do the following at any time by contacting us via mail or the email address given on our website:

  • See what data we have about you, if any.

  • Change/correct any data we have about you.

  • Have us delete any data we have about you.

  • Express any concern you have about our use of your data.

 

Security
We take precautions to protect your information. When you submit sensitive information via the website or Facebook page, your information is protected both online and offline. We do not collect or store credit card and bank account information. Wherever we collect sensitive information, that information is encrypted and transmitted to us in a secure way. You can verify this by looking for a lock icon in the address bar and looking for “https” at the beginning of the address of the Web page.

While we use encryption to protect sensitive information transmitted online, we also protect your information offline. Only the IPA Board members who need the information to perform a specific job (for example, billing, membership status checks or customer service) are granted access to personally identifiable information.

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Links to other websites

Our website and Facebook page contain links to other websites for additional information. Once you click a link and leave our website, know that we do not have any control over that other website. Therefore, we cannot be responsible for the protection and privacy of any information which you provide whilst visiting such sites and such sites are not governed by this privacy statement.

If you feel that we are not abiding by this privacy policy, you should contact us immediately via email at info@indianponds.org

IPA COMMUNICATIONS POLICY AND GUIDELINES

The IPA aims to preserve and protect the natural environment and ecological systems of the Indian Ponds and surrounding parcels of lands and watershed. To that end the IPA promotes technical, seasonal and educational information on the welfare of three Indian Ponds along with items of community and general interest. The IPA Board shares this information with members, friends, associations, residents, governmental and civic organizations and the general public through a variety of media including but not limited to its newsletters, website, and Facebook page and has adopted the following guidelines regarding acceptable and appropriate content for these communications. 

 

General: The IPA Board welcomes constructive and respectful expression of ideas and views that advance those aims and are consistent with our mission. Our avenues of communication are not forums for disrespectful comments, political or commercial messaging. Anyone submitting articles or comments for publication does so on the understanding that the IPA will review any comments prior to posting and reserves the right at its sole discretion not to publish anything that violates this policy. The IPA Boards’ decision to edit, delete or censor any article or comments is final and they will not enter any discussion about them. 

 

The IPA abides by the Codes of Standards of the online platforms it utilizes but believes a less liberal and more narrowly defined standard reflecting the specific aims, mission and character of the IPA is appropriate for its communications.

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Acceptable and Appropriate Content (similar but not limited to the following):

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Links to:

  • Similar or related organizations i.e. APCC, BCWC, MassDEP, CCCC etc.  

  • Village Associations i.e. MMVA, Cotuit, Centerville & West Barnstable etc.,

  • Other pond & lake associations. i.e. Long Pond, Shubael, Wequaquet etc.

Articles, Educational, Technical and informational:

  • Newsletters.

  • Pond studies.

  • Pond water quality advisories.

  • Public Health advisories.

  • Photographs and videos of the ponds, associated flora and fauna.

  • Herring count notices and results. 

  • Regional environmental issues. 

  • Watershed protection regulations.

  • Annual Meeting Notices.

  • Annual Dues Notices.

  • Membership information.

  • Online and manual payment instructions.

  • In Memorials for notable members and/or residents.

 

Community issues:

  • Road works and closures. 

  • Sewerage expansion project. 

  • Town regulations and ordinances.

  • Nitrogen remediation projects in the estuaries and cranberry bogs.

  • Storm water mitigation projects.

  • COMM Drinking Water Advisories.

  • Climate change discussions.

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Unacceptable and/or inappropriate Content:

  • Hateful or discriminatory comments regarding race, ethnicity, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation or political beliefs.

  • Offensive or violent language.

  • Political statements.

  • Promotion of and/or support for local, state or national political candidates.

  • Grievances.

  • Births, deaths, marriage, christenings or graduation notices.

  • Sponsored events (other than for the IPA's benefit).

  • Garage and yard sales.

  • Boat and kayak sales.

  • Commercial solicitations.

  • Irrelevant or inappropriate subjects.

  • Links or comments containing sexually explicit content material.

  • Violations of copyright or intellectual property rights.

  • Attacks on specific groups or any comments meant to harass, threaten or abuse an individual.

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Data Collection and Retention.

The IPA collects personal data (name, address, email, phone, membership status etc.,) on its members, friends, certain residents, and others who have expressed an interest in the Association. This data is not sold nor distributed and is used solely by the IPA in the promotion of its activities and the distribution of relevant technical, seasonal and educational information. The IPA does not collect nor retain credit card or banking information for any of its members. The data the IPA collects is managed by the designated database manager in an offline database and is accessible to all elected board members.

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This policy and guidelines, which may be revised any time at the sole discretion of the IPA Board, was approved by the IPA Board on the 5th day of November, 2020 and will be reviewed and re-approved at least annually thereafter.

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