Generation Lyme Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy applies only to those websites, services and applications included within “Site” and doesn’t apply to any third-party websites, services or applications, even if they are accessible through our Site. Also, please note that, unless we define a term in this Privacy Policy, all capitalized words used in this Privacy Policy have the same meanings as in our Terms of Service.

How do we collect and use information? Our primary goals in collecting information are to provide and improve our Site, to administer your use of the Site, and to enable you to enjoy and easily navigate our Site.

Personal Information. If you sign up to receive our newsletters, contact us or sign up to volunteer with Generation Lyme, we will collect information that can be used to contact or identify you such as your name and email address (“PII”). If you make a donation to Generation Lyme via the Site, we (or our third party payment processors) will also collect PII such as your credit card information and billing address to facilitate your donation.

Information Collected Using Cookies. We collect certain information through the use of “cookies,” which are small text files that are saved by your browser when you access our Site. We may use both session cookies and persistent cookies to tell us how and when you interact with our Site. We may also use cookies to monitor aggregate usage and web traffic routing on our Site and to customize and improve our Site. Unlike persistent cookies, session cookies are deleted when you log off from the Site and close your browser. Although most browsers automatically accept cookies, you can change your browser options to stop automatically accepting cookies or to prompt you before accepting cookies. Please note, however, that if you don’t accept cookies, you may not be able to access all portions or features of the Site.

Information Related to Use of the Site. Our servers automatically record certain information about how a person uses our Site (we refer to this information as “Log Data”). Log Data may include information such as a user’s Internet Protocol (IP) address, browser type, operating system, the web page that a user was visiting before accessing our Site, the pages or features of our Site to which a user browsed and the time spent on those pages or features, search terms, the links on our Site that a user clicked on and other statistics. We use this information to administer the Site and we analyze (and may engage third parties to analyze) this information to improve and enhance the Site by expanding their features and functionality and tailoring them to our users’ needs and preferences. [We may use a person’s IP address to fight spam, malware and identity theft. We also use the IP Address to generate aggregate, non-identifying information about how our Site is used.]

What information do we share with third parties? We will not share any PII that we have collected from you except as described below:

Information Shared with Our Site Providers. We may engage third party service providers to work with us to administer and provide the Site. These third-party service providers have access to your PII only for the purpose of performing services on our behalf.

Information Shared with Third Parties. We may share aggregated information and non-identifying information with third parties for industry analysis, demographic profiling and other similar purposes.

Information Disclosed in Connection with Business Transactions. Information that we collect from our users, including PII, is considered to be a business asset. As a result, if we go out of business or enter bankruptcy or if we are acquired as a result of a transaction such as a merger, acquisition or asset sale, your PII may be disclosed or transferred to the third-party acquirer in connection with the transaction.

Information Disclosed for Our Protection and the Protection of Others. It is our policy to protect you from having your privacy violated through abuse of the legal systems, whether by individuals, entities or government, and to contest claims that we believe to be invalid under applicable law. However, it is also our policy to cooperate with government and law enforcement officials and private parties. Accordingly, we reserve the right to disclose any information about you to government or law enforcement officials or private parties as we, in our sole discretion, believe necessary: (i) to satisfy or comply with any applicable law, regulation or legal process or to respond to lawful requests, including subpoenas, warrants or court orders; (ii) to protect our property, rights and safety and the rights, property and safety of third parties or the public in general; and (iii) to prevent or stop activity we consider to be illegal or unethical.

The Security of Your Information. We take reasonable measures to protect the information that we collect from or about you (including your PII) from unauthorized access, use or disclosure. Please be aware, however, that no method of transmitting information over the Internet or storing information is completely secure. Accordingly, we cannot guarantee the absolute security of any information.

Links to Other Sites. Our Site may contain links to other websites and services. Any information that you provide on or to a third-party website or service is provided directly to the owner of the website or service and is subject to that party’s privacy policy. Our Privacy Policy does not apply to such websites or services and we’re not responsible for the content, privacy or security practices and policies of those websites or services. To protect your information we recommend that you carefully review the privacy policies of other websites and services that you access.

Your Information. You can access and modify the PII you provide to us via the Site by sending us an email at info@genlyme.org. If you want us to delete your PII, please contact us at info@genlyme.org with your request. We’ll take steps to delete your information as soon as is practicable, but some information may remain in archived/backup copies for our records or as otherwise required by law.

International Transfer. Your PII may be transferred to, and maintained on, computers located outside of your state, province, country or other governmental jurisdiction where the privacy laws may not be as protective as those in your jurisdiction. If you’re located outside the United States and choose to provide your PII to us, we may transfer your PII to the United States and process it there.

Our Policy Toward Children. Our Site is not directed to children under 13 and we do not knowingly collect PII from children under 13. If we learn that we have collected PII of a child under 13 we will take steps to delete such information from our files as soon as possible.

Changes to Privacy Policy. Any information that we collect is subject to the privacy policy in effect at the time such information is collected. We may, however, modify and revise this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make any material changes to this Privacy Policy, we’ll notify you of such changes by posting them on the Site or by sending you an email or other notification, and we’ll indicate when such changes will become effective.

Questions? Please contact us at info@genlyme.org if you have any questions about our Privacy Policy.

Purpose & Disclaimer. Generation Lyme and genlyme.org are intended as a resource for all individuals interested in finding a supportive community when dealing with Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases. The information presented is for informational purposes only. No information on the site should be considered medical or legal advice. Generation Lyme does not give medical or legal advice. Any information on the site should not be used to take the place of advice from your personal physician or from any other professional. Any health care or legal information on the website is attributed to the professional(s) who wrote the information and is not necessarily endorsed by Generation Lyme. Links to other sites are provided for ease of research, and information on those sites is the opinion of those who publish the sites and is not necessarily that of Generation Lyme. Generation Lyme does not endorse professionals, products or services.

You are responsible for assessing the contents of this website for accuracy and completeness. By using this website, you agree that Generation Lyme will be held harmless for any loss or damage caused by reliance on information obtained through the website. Generation Lyme Board Members are not liable for any direct or indirect damages or any damages whatsoever resulting from loss of use, data or profits, whether in an action of contract, negligence or other tortious action arising out of or in connection with the use or performance of information from this website.

Funding and Advertising Policy. Generation Lyme does not accept or host any advertising on its website. The website is funded by donations and grants to Generation Lyme, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.