Connecting Our World respects the privacy of its members and other visitors to its Web site. Connecting Our World strongly believes that if electronic commerce and online activities are to flourish, consumers must be assured that information provided online is used responsibly and appropriately. To protect online privacy, Connecting Our World has implemented the following policy.

What Information Does Connecting Our World Collect?

Data Connecting Our World collects are used only to help Connecting Our World better serve its members. It is our general policy to collect and store only information that our members and visitors knowingly provide.

From General Visitors

Connecting Our World does not collect any information from visitors browsing its Web site. Visitors to the public areas of Connecting Our World’s Web site browse anonymously. Only aggregate data — such as the number of hits per page — are collected. Aggregate data are only used for internal and marketing purposes and do not provide any personally identifying information.

From Connecting Our World Members, and Other Visitors

To gain access to members-only resources and personalization features on the Connecting Our World Web site, members and other visitors are asked to register and provide some limited information. These data are submitted voluntarily. Connecting Our World asks visitors to provide their name, organization name, business phone, and e-mail. Connecting Our World only uses this information to enhance its products and distribution of those products to its members.

How Does Connecting Our World Use Data Collected?

Generally, Connecting Our World uses data collected to improve its own Web content; to respond to members’ interests, needs and preferences; and to match members with members of Congress and target action alerts.

Rental of Postal and E-Mail Addresses

Members can change their mail and e-mail list permission on-line by editing their profiles. Members or visitors may change preferences by contacting us or by calling 202-737-3699.

How Does Connecting Our World Use Cookies?

Cookies are files that contain information created by a Web server that can be stored on a visitor’s hard disk for use either during a particular session (“per-session” cookie) or for future use (“persistent” cookie). Connecting Our World uses cookies only to facilitate automated activity. Cookies are not used to disseminate significant information about visitors over the Internet or to analyze any information that visitors have knowingly or unknowingly provided. Visitors may instruct their Internet browsers to opt out of accepting a “persistent” cookie and rather accept only a “per-session” cookie, but will need to login each time they visit the site to enjoy the full benefits. If the visitor declines the attachment of any cookie, the visitor may not have access to the full benefits of the Web site. Registration enables the site to better determine members’ interest areas and provide the most relevant information.

Privacy

We will not knowingly collect personal information or accept any information by any children under the age of 13. In compliance with the United States Law and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, it is necessary for us to obtain parental permission for all children under the age of 13 to register as a member of this Web site. For any child under the age of 13, a parent or guardian will need to contact the Webmaster to provide consent for any portion of the site which gathers personal information. Permission by Connecting Our World will only be granted after all information has been verified by the Webmaster.

We may also disclose our users’ personally identifiable information in special cases when we have reason to believe that disclosing such information is necessary to identify, contact or bring legal action against someone who may be causing injury to or interference with Connecting Our World’s rights or property, other users of Connecting Our World’s Web site, or anyone else that could be harmed by such activities. We may also disclose your personally identifiable information when we believe in good faith that the law requires it or for administrative and other purposes that we deem necessary to maintain, service, and improve Connecting Our World’s Web site.

The description of our use of your personally identifiable information above is not exclusive.

Contacting You

We may send you newsletters and other materials from time to time containing information that we think may be of interest to you. If you later decide you do not wish to receive any further materials, you may opt-out of receiving future mailings by contacting us. Please be aware that we may contact you for administrative purposes, to notify you about important changes to the Site or to respond to your inquiries, even if you unsubscribe from our mail list.

If you would like to review, update or correct the personal information you have provided to us, you may do so by using our online contact form.

We may modify the Privacy Policy at any time by updating this Web page. Please check back to this area of Connecting Our World’s Web site to look for changes in the Privacy Policy so that you are always aware of what information we collect and how we use that information. Any modifications made to the Privacy Policy will automatically become effective thirty (30) days after posting and your continued use of Connecting Our World’s Web site following these changes will constitute your consent to the Privacy Policy, as changed. If at any point we decide to use personally identifiable information in a manner different from what our Privacy Policy stated at the time the information was collected, we will send you an e-mail notification and you may opt-out of having that information used in the different manner by using our online contact form.

We share your concern over the safety and security of your personal information on the Internet and have implemented procedures to promote the safety and security of the information we collect online. We use industry standard efforts (such as secure socket layers, where appropriate) to safeguard the confidentiality of your personally identifiable information. Unfortunately, no data transmission over the Internet can be guaranteed to be 100% secure and we cannot ensure that all of your private communications and other personally identifiable information will never be disclosed in ways not otherwise described in this Privacy Policy. For example, we may be forced to disclose information to the government or third parties under certain circumstances, or third parties may unlawfully intercept or access transmissions or private communications.

What Privacy Issues Arise With Links To Other Sites?

This Web site contains links to other Web sites. Connecting Our World has no control over and is not responsible for the privacy policies or content of such sites.

Questions?

Please contact us.