Privacy Statement

The American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) respects the privacy of its members and other visitors to its Web site. To protect online privacy, ASHG has implemented the following policy.

Policy Overview

Data collected by ASHG is used to provide better service to ASHG members and other users of ASHG’s Web site. It is ASHG’s policy to collect and store only information of a personal nature that members and users knowingly provide.

Providing Visitors with Anonymous Access

Visitors can browse our Web site without disclosing personal data, subject to the specific policies and provisions set forth below. Only aggregate data, such as IP addresses and the number of hits per page, are collected. These data do not provide any personally identifying information, and are used only in aggregate form for internal analysis of Web site usage and traffic and for the improvement of ASHG programs.

Informational and Educational Purposes Only

The contents of this Web site are intended for educational and general informational purposes only. ASHG does not endorse, guarantee, warrant, or recommend any products or services discussed or advertised on or linked from this Web site. Information on this site is not and should not be considered medical advice.

The content of material provided by ASHG is copyrighted by ASHG or used by ASHG under license. ASHG and its licensors retain all copyrights and other proprietary rights in or relating to any content, including any software, provided. All rights are reserved and such content may not be reproduced, downloaded, modified, published, displayed, disseminated, or transferred, in any form or by any means, except with the prior written agreement of ASHG. You may not sell, transfer, reproduce, transmit, distribute, perform or display such content for any commercial purpose without the prior express written consent of ASHG.

Online Forms

Several areas of the ASHG Web site (such as membership forms, meeting registration forms, abstract submission forms, and online voting) require users to provide various types of information: contact information (e.g., names and email addresses), financial information (like account or credit card numbers), and demographic information (like address and zip code). Each type of information serves a different purpose, depending on where it is requested.

Contact information obtained from forms may be used to provide information about that user. Financial information that is collected is used solely to bill the user for products and/or services ordered. Financial information will in no way be used for marketing purposes, nor will they be shared with any third parties unless the third party manages the billing for ASHG.

Member Information

ASHG uses member contact information to send information about meetings and membership benefits and discounts, such as voting privileges, award opportunities, funding agency requests for information, leadership opportunities, etc., as well as the ASHG SNP-IT Newsletter. Membership contact information is also used to contact members when necessary for administrative purposes. The online Membership Directory is provided for informational purposes, and members may opt out of being listed by contacting ASHG and asking to be removed. Users of the online Membership Directory are to use the information for individual, personal, and confidential reference purposes only. ASHG takes great steps to ensure that the member database is not used except through special arrangement with the ASHG management office and in compliance with ASHG procedures.

ASHG may rent its membership and conference registration lists for one-time use by third parties promoting meetings, publications, or products of interest. These rented lists are mailing addresses only and do not include email addresses, phone numbers, or any other information collected by ASHG. Members have the option to opt out of receiving communications from third parties by contacting ASHG.

Emails

ASHG uses email as a method to communicate with members and colleagues.

Security Capabilities and Financial Information

Financial information may be collected online when individuals register for meetings, publications, or make payment for membership. The online forms are within an SSL secured site using https. The SSL certificate is provided by VeriSign. This encrypts the information during the transaction so as to secure the cardholder data from access by unauthorized users.

External Links

This site contains links to other sites. ASHG is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of external Web sites. Web sites maintained by third parties may collect information and use it in a way inconsistent with this privacy statement. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave ASHG’s Web site, and to read the privacy statements of each Web site they visit. Web sites maintained by third parties may also refer to ASHG services. Unless ASHG has provided explicit authority, such references in no way indicate our endorsement, recommendation, or preference.

Changes to This Statement

ASHG reserves the right to change this privacy statement at any time. We will use data in accordance with the privacy statement under which any data have been collected.

Use of the Information This Site Gathers and Tracks

We use your Internet Protocol (IP) address to help diagnose problems with our server and to administer our Web site. IP addresses are used, for example, to gather broad demographic information, but we do not link them to any personally identifiable information.

Questions

If you have any questions about this privacy statement, the practices of this Web site, or dealings with this Web site, please contact ASHG at The American Society of Human Genetics, 9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814 (society@ashg.org)