Privacy Policy

Our commitment to your privacy

The Austin Amateur Radio Club (“AARC,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) respects the privacy of our members and visitors, and we take it seriously. This policy explains what limited information we collect, how we use it, and the promises we make about protecting it.

Our core promise is simple: we do not sell, rent, trade, share, or otherwise disclose your personal information to any third party for any reason, under any circumstances, except where we are compelled to do so by a valid, legally binding order (such as a court order or subpoena). We do not participate in advertising networks, data brokerages, or marketing exchanges of any kind.

Who we are

Our website address is: https://austinhams.org.

Information we collect

We collect only the information we need to operate the club and provide the services you request:

• Membership information you provide when you join or renew, such as your name, call sign, email address, mailing address, and phone number.
• Payment information you provide when you pay dues or make a purchase (see “Payments” below).
• Correspondence you send us, such as email or contact-form messages.
• Basic technical data automatically logged by our web host, such as IP address and browser type, used only to keep the site secure and functioning.

We do not collect any personal information beyond what is necessary for these purposes.

Payments

We use Stripe as our payment processor. When you pay dues or make a purchase through our site, your payment card details are transmitted directly to Stripe and are processed on Stripe’s secure systems. We never see, handle, or store your full card number.

Stripe processes your payment information as an independent data processor under its own privacy policy, which you can review at https://stripe.com/privacy. We share with Stripe only the information required to complete your transaction.

How we use your information

We use your information solely to:

• process membership applications, renewals, and payments;
• communicate with you about club business, events, and meetings;
• maintain club records and rosters; and
• keep our website and services secure.

We do not use your information for advertising, profiling, or any purpose unrelated to operating the club.

Who we share your data with

We do not share your personal information with third parties, and we will never sell or rent it. The only exceptions are:

• Payment processing: limited information shared with Stripe strictly to complete a transaction you have initiated; and
• Legal obligations: disclosure required by a valid court order, subpoena, or other legally binding demand, or where necessary to protect the safety of our members.

We do not share member information with other members, outside organizations, mailing lists, or the public without your explicit consent.

How long we retain your data

We retain membership and payment records only as long as necessary to operate the club, meet our legal and financial obligations, and maintain historical club records. When information is no longer needed, we securely dispose of it.

How we protect your data

We limit access to your personal information to the club officers and volunteers who need it to perform their duties. We rely on reputable, security-focused service providers (such as Stripe for payments) and take reasonable measures to protect your information from unauthorized access, disclosure, or misuse.

Your rights

You have the right to:

• request a copy of the personal information we hold about you;
• ask us to correct inaccurate information;
• ask us to delete your personal information, except where we are obliged to retain it for legal, financial, or legitimate administrative reasons; and
• withdraw your consent to non-essential communications at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information on our contact page.

Cookies and analytics

Our website uses only the cookies necessary for the site to function properly. We do not use third-party advertising or tracking cookies.

Embedded content from other websites

Pages on this site may include embedded content (for example, videos, images, or maps). Embedded content from other websites behaves as if you had visited the other website directly, and those websites may collect data about you under their own privacy policies. We do not control and are not responsible for the practices of third-party sites.

Children’s privacy

Our website and services are intended for a general audience and are not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

Changes to this policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date.

Contact us

If you have any questions about this privacy policy or how we handle your information, please reach out through our contact page.