Austin, Texas Local Interest Group

Privacy Notice. The Austin, Texas IT Service Management Forum Local Interest Group (Austin LIG) respects the privacy of its members and other visitors to its Web site. The Austin LIG 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, the Austin LIG has implemented the following policies.

What Information does the Austin LIG Collect?

Most data the Austin LIG collects is used only to help us better serve our members. It is our general policy to collect and store only personal information that our members and visitors knowingly and accurately provide. If our privacy policies change, we will notify all users by e-mail or a special announcement placed on the Web site.

From General Users. The Austin LIG does not collect any personal information from users browsing its Web site. 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 Austin LIG Members, Conference Registrants, and Other Customers. To gain access to members-only resources and personalization features on itsmfaustin.org and/or itsmfaustin.com, members and other users are asked to register and provide some limited information. This information is submitted voluntarily. The Austin LIG may ask users to provide their name, member number (for members), organization name, business phone, and e-mail. Similar information may be submitted to Austin LIG through membership applications, conference or seminar registration, publication orders, subscriptions, and contest registrations. Additionally, for some e-mails sent in HTML format by the Austin LIG to its members through its electronic newsletters, we may collect specific information regarding what the recipient does with that email. The Austin LIG only uses this information to enhance its products and distribution of those products and services to its members. This information is not sold or distributed in any other manner.

How does the Austin LIG use Data Collected?

The Austin LIG uses information voluntarily submitted by members and other customers in the following ways:

Austin LIG Member Services and Products. Generally, the Austin LIG uses data collected to improve its own web content; to respond to visitors' interests, needs and preferences; and to develop new products and services.

Disclosures to Third Parties. The Austin LIG does not make member contact information available through the Austin LIG Membership Directory to other members. However, the Austin LIG may provide e-copies of the Membership Directory to Local Interest Group leadership for networking opportunities. On occasion, the Austin LIG may also provide limited data to third parties that produce events sponsored by the Austin LIG under a nondisclosure arrangement. These limited data include names, job titles, companies and business addresses, and e-mail addresses. Users may request the Austin LIG to refrain from disclosing the data it collects to third parties on the membership application form, conference registration form or any other form on which they are providing information; an opt-out box will appear on each form on which a user provides information. Alternatively, users may contact the Austin LIG at webmaster@itsmfaustin.org to express their preferences if they determine later that they do not wish to have the information shared.

Consent to Use Personal Information. For the purposes of the Data Protection Act(s) 1984 and 1998 (as applicable), the Austin LIG or its agents must store, host and otherwise process the information (including personal data) supplied by the User when registering for membership. User supplies as defined above when registering on the Web site in order to allow the Austin LIG (or its designated agents) to use the information to send the User unsolicited direct mail advertisements, promotions, and solicitations for third parties' products and services.

Credit Card Account Information. The Austin LIG does not disclose credit card account information provided by its members and customers. When members and customers choose to pay using their credit cards, the Austin LIG submits the information needed to obtain payment to the appropriate clearinghouse.

How does the Austin LIG Use Cookies?

Cookies are files that contain information created by a web server that can be stored on a User's hard disk for use either during a particular session ("per-session" cookie) or for future use ("persistent" cookie). The Austin LIG currently does not use cookies, but may in the future for web hosting and whom states that they use a session cookie that does not store user information, only session information based on the user that authenticates, so that users may move back and forth between public and member secured pages. However, the Austin LIG may not have control over their use of cookies and users are instructed to view their site for their use of cookies.

What Privacy Issues Arise With Links To Other Sites?

This Web site contains links to other web sites. The Austin LIG has no control over and is not responsible for the privacy policies or content of such sites.

What Means Of Redress Are Available?