About your Security and Privacy
www.SPSmn.org Privacy Policy

This security and privacy policy ("Privacy Policy") constitutes a part of the Terms & Conditions  ("Terms and Conditions") of the SPS Web Site, which governs your use of this Site. The Terms and Conditions, including this Privacy Policy, may be amended by the SPS at any time by posting the amended Terms and Conditions on this Site.  The Terms and Conditions were last amended on May 1, 2005.

In addition to this Privacy Policy, certain SPS services on or accessible from this Site have Supplemental Terms that will govern your use of such services. These also form a part of the Terms and Conditions and govern your use of such services.

Credit Card Transactions
For your protection, we have taken a number of steps to maximize the security of financial transactions that are accepted on the SPS Web Site. Credit Card processing is accomplished using secure processing services. Your entry of credit card information is encrypted when transmitted in secure mode. If you are behind a firewall, the Secure Socket Layer (SSL) feature of your browser and the processing of the credit card may be blocked. 

If for any reason, you still feel uncomfortable submitting your credit card over the Internet, you can mail forms to us.

Using Encryption
In certain transactions you are given the option of running in a secure (SSL) mode or unsecure mode. In cases where a firewall is causing a situation that cannot be corrected, the use of the unsecure mode is given. The unsecure mode is used by you at your own risk.

In addition, there are constantly changing restrictions in the use of encryption software and schemes that are used in various countries. The use of appropriate software and encryption options are your responsibility, and the SPS assumes no risk or liability in ensuring your compliance to local law.

REGARDLESS OF THE PRECAUTIONS TAKEN BY YOU OR BY THE SPS, "PERFECT SECURITY" DOES NOT EXIST ON THE INTERNET. THE SPS CANNOT ENSURE OR WARRANT THE SECURITY OF ANY INFORMATION YOU TRANSMIT TO THIS SITE OR THE SPS, AND YOU TRANSMIT SUCH INFORMATION AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Information We Collect From You, How We Use the Information and Opt-out Choices

There are a number of areas in the SPS Web Site where we ask for and collect information about you, including personally identifiable information. Where we do, it is in order to serve you better, or is necessary to accomplish the service you are requesting. Examples include membership information (which may include name, address, email, telephone number and professional specializations and titles (if applicable)), security identifiers, shipping information, and product purchase information stored in online shopping carts.

Membership information is used both in the SPS mailing lists and in the SPS Membership Directory.

From time to time, to better serve our members the mailing lists may be used in connection with informing you about SPS services, products, conferences, meetings and events. You may instruct us to not share information about you in the SPS mailing lists by sending an email to us at  mailingopt-out@SPSmn.org and include your name for identification purposes. We will not share the mailing list with any third party.

The SPS Membership Directory, printed annually and available to SPS members and others, contains each member's, name, mailing address (home and/or office), title (if applicable), company (if applicable), telephone number and email (if applicable) . All members' names are always listed in the Directory. You may choose to limit the information listed in the next printing of the Directory to only your name and member grade by emailing us at directoryopt-out@SPSmn.org and including your name for identification purposes. This opt-out must also be renewed annually with your membership renewal to remain in effect.

The SPS Membership Directory Online is available to SPS members and others, contains each member's name, office mailing address, title (if applicable), company (if applicable), office telephone number. To only active registered and signed in members of SPS will access be given for home address, home telephone, work and/or personal email or any other directory information disclosed on the web site. All member's names are always listed in the Directory. You may choose to limit the information listed in the online Directory to only your name by logging into your account on the SPS Web site Membership login panel and deselecting the check box to display the information in the directory. This opt-out must also be renewed annually through the login panel with your membership renewal to remain in effect.

Security identifiers are not disclosed to third parties or affiliated persons or entities.  Shipping information (except membership information as noted above) and product/event purchase information stored in online shopping carts is not disclosed except in connection with the fulfillment and processing of your orders and requests

Use of "Cookies"
Cookies are implemented in various parts of the SPS Site, such as the Member Login Area. In most instances, the use of Cookies is discretionary by you, and declining Cookies will usually result only in loss of certain conveniences such as session continuity and re-authentication during current or future sessions. Various types of Persistent and Per-Session (Transient) Cookies may be used with any one service, and their implementations, behaviors, and effects will vary. Most SPS sites using Cookies have specific statements on their use as part of their Frequently Asked Questions ("FAQ") section. It is the policy of the SPS that Cookies do not carry any of your personal information (name, email address, credit card, etc.) nor identification/password-type data that allows access to such personal information on SPS servers. All personal, transaction, and security rights are housed on secure SPS servers, and follow the policy described in the "Information We Collect From You and How We Use the Information" section above.

General SPS Web Server Security
All of the SPS Web servers throughout the main network are registered through e-OnlineData as secure servers using industry-standard certificate techniques. This enables all communication between our servers to be verified when services are requested between our computers.

All of the personal information collected from you on the Site, including names, addresses, are stored behind a "firewall," and defenses have been erected to seek to enhance the protection of your information from outside attack by hackers and curious visitors.

Personal Protection of Your Access Rights and Authentication
There is a common registration process that allows you to receive your "SPS Web Membership Account." The registration involves the use of your first name, last name, and your subsequent choice of a unique user name and password. See the SPS Web Membership Account Site for more information on this service.

The user name and password will be used to authenticate you when you enter privileged services that are offered by the SPS. After authentication, the service being requested will be allowed based on your current status in tSPS.

Links to Third Parties 
This Site contains links to other sites. The SPS is not responsible for the terms or privacy practices of such other sites and you should read their terms and privacy policy carefully before using them. 

Legal Requests
The SPS cooperates with law enforcement inquiries, as well as other third parties, to enforce laws. We can (and you authorize us to) disclose any information about you to law enforcement or other government officials as we, in our sole discretion, believe necessary or appropriate, in connection with an investigation of fraud, intellectual property infringements, or other activity that is illegal or may expose us, service or content providers we work with, or you to possible legal liability.

Questions
Please email us at  member-comments@SPSmn.org with any questions you have about our Privacy Policy or Terms and Conditions.