About Us
Augsburg Fortress ("Augsburg") created, maintains and operates thevbsplace.org web site (this "Site") as a service to churches and other organizations (our "Congregations"), who use this Site to supplement their religious education programs.
Purpose and Scope of this Privacy Policy
thevbsplace.org is designed to serve administrators of VBS programs, leaders of VBS program, and learners of the VBS program. Since our learners of the VBS program are children under the age of 13, we have adopted a Children's Privacy Policy to protect the privacy of the learners. Click here to see terms of our Children's Privacy Policy. This Privacy Policy is part of our thevbsplace.org Terms of Use.
Definitions
As used in this Privacy Policy:
- The term "administrator" refers to persons that purchase the VBS Web Tool Kit in order to run a VBS program.
- The terms "child" and "children" refer to children under the age of 13.
- The term "learner" refers to an individual who uses our Site as a student.
- The term "leader" refers to an individual who uses our Site as the leader or teacher of a group of learners.
- The term "parent" refers to a child's parent or legal guardian.
- The term "personal information" refers to information that identifies a particular individual, alone or in combination with any other information that may be available to us.
Your Consent
By accessing and using this Site you are consenting to the collection, use and disclosure of your personal information as set forth in this Privacy Policy. If you do not consent to the collection use and disclosure of your personal information as set forth in this Privacy Policy you may not use this Site.
How Do We Protect Your Personal Information?
Web Security. We take reasonable precautions to protect the confidentiality and security of the personal information we collect through this Site. It is important that you understand, however, that no Web site or database is completely secure or "hacker proof."
Password Protection. For your protection, administrators must log in each time they visit the Site. Such administrators will have access to your personal information as described in this Privacy Policy. We have the right to assume that anyone who accesses this Site using a password is, in fact, the administrator to whom that password is assigned, and we will grant access accordingly.
What Personal Information Do We Collect Through This Site?
When you use this Site, we may collect personal information about you in the following ways:
Information You Actively Provide. We collect the personal information you actively provide (using your mouse or keyboard) when you use this Site.
Information Provided by Your Congregation's Administrator. The administrator of your VBS program may provide your full name and e-mail address.
Information Sent to Us by Your Web Browser. We collect information that is sent to us automatically by your web browser. This information typically includes your computer's IP address, the address of the web page you were visiting when you accessed our Site, the name of the operating system (such as Windows® or Macintosh®) installed on your computer, the name and version of the browser (such as Netscape® or Internet Explorer®) you are using, and the date and time of your visit. The information we receive depends on the settings on your web browser. Please check your browser if you want to learn what information the browser sends or how to change your settings.
The information provided by your browser does not identify you personally. We use this non-personal information primarily to create statistics that help us improve our Sites and make them more compatible with the technology used by our visitors. We do not link browser information to information that identifies you personally, however, if we suspect criminal activity, we might share our server logs -- which contain visitors' IP addresses -- with the appropriate investigative authorities who could use that information to trace and identify individuals.
Information Collected Using "Cookies" and Other Web Technologies. We use "cookies," and similar technologies to collect information and support the functionality of this Site. A cookie is a small text file that is placed on your computer's hard disk by a web server. Cookies cannot be used to install computer programs or deliver viruses to your computer. We may use two types of cookies -- "session cookies" and "persistent cookies."
Session Cookies. A "session cookie" assigns a randomly-generated, unique identification number to your computer when you access this Site. Assigning a number to your computer permits us to follow you as you move from page to page. A session cookie expires after you close the browser.
Generally, we use session cookies to collect information about the ways visitors use our Site – which pages they visit, which links they use, and how long they stay on each page. We analyze this information (known as "click-stream information") to better understand our visitors' interests and needs and to improve the content and functionality of our Site. Session cookies are also used to facilitate the proper functioning of the features of our Site. For example, session cookies let us follow you as you complete a multi-page quiz or survey. Without the session cookie, we could not collect all of your answers as you move from page to page.
Sessions cookies do not identify you personally. However, once you log in, we know your identity and we may link the information collected by our session cookies to information that identifies you personally and store it with other information we have collected from or about you.
Persistent Cookies. We use persistent cookies to remember your login name for future logins. These persistent cookies will identify you as a learner or leader and may contain other information that will allow us to provide you with a personalized online experience. Unlike a "session cookie," a persistent cookie does not expire when you close your browser. It stays on your computer until it expires (for example, at the end of the academic year) or until you delete it.
Rejecting Cookies. You have the ability to set your browser to reject cookies, however, if you set your browser to reject cookies, you will not be able to use key features and functionality of this Site. For this reason, you must set your browser to accept cookies to use this Site. You may; however, choose not to save your login/user name. (This choice is offered on the login screen.) If you choose not to save your login/username, our server will not send any persistent cookies to your computer. If you choose to save your login/user name, you can change your mind at any time by deleting our cookies from your hard drive.
How Do We Use the Personal Information We Collect Through This Site?
We use personal information to provide the information, products, and services you request. For example, when you purchase the VBS Web Tool kit, we use the personal information you provide to send you the products that you have ordered. We also use personal information to respond to your requests. For example,
- We use administrator's username and password to control access to various portions of our Site.
- We use the information you provide on the "Contact" page to provide the information or assistance you request.
We also maintain personal information on behalf of administrators. Administrators may use this information to communicate with leaders, schedule meetings, and track attendance.
We also study the personal information we collect through our Site to improve our programs and services and to improve the content, functionality, navigation and usability of this Site.
We will not use your personal information for marketing purposes unless we give you an opportunity to "opt-out."
Augsburg Fortress also operates discussion forums on its main Web site, www.augsbergfortress.org. The ownership of, responsibility for, and other related issues concerning content posted on discussion forums is governed by the General Terms of Use.
With Whom Do We Share the Personal Information We Collect Through This Site?
Our Service Providers. We share personal information collected through our Sites with companies and organizations that perform services on our behalf, such as data storage and web hosting services. These companies and organizations are required by contract to use the personal information we share with them only to perform services on our behalf (and not for their own purposes) and to protect its confidentiality.
Leaders and Congregations. We share a leader's personal information with the administrator of the leader's VBS program for use as described in this Privacy Policy.
Our Successors. We may transfer the personal information we collect through this Site to another company (either an affiliate or an unrelated third party) that has acquired the assets of Augsburg Fortress, one of our affiliates, or one of our operating divisions, for example, as the result of a sale, merger, reorganization, dissolution or liquidation. If such a transfer occurs, the acquiring company will "step into our shoes" and collect, use and share your personal information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
Other Limited Circumstances. There are other limited circumstances in which we may share the personal information in our databases with unrelated third parties. For example, we may disclose the personal information we collect through this Site when we, in good faith, believe disclosure is appropriate to comply with the law or a regulatory requirement or to comply with a subpoena or court order; to prevent or investigate a possible crime, such as fraud or identity theft; to enforce a contract; to protect the rights, property or safety of Augsburg Fortress, our learners, leaders, and other users; or to protect a the vital interests of a user.
Not for Marketing Purposes. We do not share your personal information with third parties to use for their own marketing purposes.
This Privacy Policy May Change
We are continually improving and adding to the functionality and features of this Site. As a result of these changes (or changes in the law), we may need to update or revise our Privacy Policy. Accordingly, we reserve the right to update or modify this Privacy Policy, at any time and without prior notice, by posting the revised version of this Privacy Policy on this Site. These changes will only apply to personal information we collect after we have posted the revised Privacy Policy. Your use of our Site following any such change constitutes your agreement that all personal information collected from or about you through this Site after the revised Privacy Policy is posted will be subject to the terms of the revised Privacy Policy.
To alert you to these changes, we will provide a notice at the top of this Privacy Policy for at least 30 days after the new effective date and highlight the changes so that you can locate them easily.
You may access the current version of this Privacy Policy by clicking on the hyperlink marked "Privacy Policy" at the bottom of each page of this Site.
This Privacy Policy was last revised on November 7, 2007.
Your Right to Access Your Personal Information
If you would like to know what information we have collected about you through this Site, or if you would like to review, correct, or have us delete any of your personal information, please contact us by e-mail at customerservice@augsburgfortress.org or by postal mail at
VBS Customer Service
Augsburg Fortress
PO Box 1209
Minneapolis, MN 55440-1209
We will respond to your request within a reasonable time. For your protection, we may ask you for additional information to verify your identity. In most cases, we will provide the access you request and comply with your request to correct or delete your personal information. In some cases, however, we may limit or deny your request if applicable law permits or requires us to do so.
This Site Is Hosted on Servers in the United States.
Augsburg Fortress is a non-profit organization headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This Site is hosted on servers located within the United States.
Different countries have different privacy laws and requirements. Please know, however, that no matter where your personal information is collected, used, transferred or stored, if it was collected through this Site, it will be protected by the terms of this Privacy Policy.
Governing Law
This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of the State of Minnesota, U.S.A. without regard to its conflict of law principles.
Links to Other Sites
This Site may contain links to other websites operated by Augsburg Fortress. It may also contain links to websites that are owned and operated by unrelated third parties.
This Privacy Policy applies only to personal information collected through this Site. It does not apply to personal information collected on any other website operated by Augsburg Fortress or any third party.
Questions About Our Privacy Policy
If you have any questions about our Privacy Policy or Augsburg Fortress's privacy practices, please contact us by email, telephone or postal mail. Our contact information is as follows:
VBS Customer Service
Augsburg Fortress
PO Box 1209
Minneapolis, MN 55440-1209
customerservice@augsburgfortress.org
(800) 328-4648 or 612-330-3300
fb.us.2388580.03
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