Adopted 5/21/26
The Western Apicultural Society of North America (WAS) respects the privacy of all its members and is committed to ensuring that your personal data is secure. To prevent unauthorized access or disclosure, we have put in place appropriate technical and organizational measures to safeguard and secure the personal data we process.
This Privacy Policy applies to information submitted to WAS by you or collected by WAS, including through the use of WAS’s website, applications and services, and governs the way WAS collects, stores, uses and shares your personal information.
WAS collects and processes Personal Information and Personal Sensitive Information only as necessary in the exercise of the Sociey’s legitimate interests, functions, responsibilities as a member-based non-profit educational organization. When information is submitted by you or you use the Society’s websites, applications, and other services, you agree to the collection, use, and disclosure of that information as described below. As necessary, depending on the nature of the information and the circumstances, the Society will obtain consent for its collection, use and disclosure of your information.
WAS may share data with trusted third parties to assist with statistical analysis, to send you email or postal mail, or to provide customer support. WAS may also share data with trusted third parties who have entered into a contract with WAS to support its operations or delivery of services to you.
WAS keeps track of the websites and webpages that you visit within WAS. This data IS NOT used to deliver customized content or advertising to those whose behavior indicates that they are interested in a particular subject area.
WAS will disclose your information, without notice, if required by law or with the good faith belief that such action is necessary to comply with legal process served on WAS, to protect and defend the rights and/or property of WAS, and to protect the personal safety of users of WAS or the public, to fulfill WAS contractual obligations, including delivery of services to you. Except as permitted by law, WAS will not use or disclose personal sensitive information without your consent.
WAS collects information from and maintains information about you when you become a member of the Society or register for a WAS sponsored or hosted event. This information includes your name, postal address, phone numbers, email addresses, and other personal information. This information is used solely by WAS and is not shared, traded, or sold to third parties. This does not include trusted third parties who assist us in operating the website, conducting our business, or servicing you, so long as those parties agree to keep your personal information confidential. WAS may also release your information when it believes release is appropriate to comply with the law, enforce WAS policies, or protect ours or others rights, property, or safety.
WAS must collect and use your information to operate its websites, applications and services, to deliver its services to you, and to inform you of other products or services that are available from WAS. WAS may contact you to conduct research on current services or potential new services that may be offered in the future. WAS does not sell, rent or lease customer lists to third parties.
As a member of WAS, by default, you may receive any of the following three types of electronic (or email) communication from the Society: 1) information and updates pertaining directly to the WAS (events, meetings, news, surveys, and other information), 2) information regarding educational opportunities pertinent to beekeeping that are hosted by organizations other than WAS, and/or 3) the electronic version of our periodic newsletter, the The Western Apiculturalist). You may opt not to receive each of these types of communication (1, 2, and/or 3) individually. By default, you will not receive solicitations from companies promoting their beekeeping products that are available for purchase, unless you opt to receive solicitations. WAS will not share your personal information with outside educational organizations (2) or solicitors
(4); all such communication will come directly from the WAS or through one of our trusted third parties who assist us in conducting our business or servicing you.
For any of the above types of electronic communications (1 – 4), your email address may be used by a WAS Officer (President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Regional Director, a WAS Board member, or the WAS Webmaster.
If at any time you would like to unsubscribe from receiving emails regarding any of these types of communications, you may do so by notifying the WAS President via our website’s electronic contact form. In addition, WAS will include unsubscribe instructions in all emails it sends to you.
Your email address will not be printed or published on any website unless you are an Officer or Appointee of WAS.
Your email address will not be shared with other WAS members.
The WAS website may contain links to other websites. WAS is not responsible for the privacy statements or other content on websites, applications or social media outside of WAS, including links to other websites, applications or social media controlled or maintained by third parties.
Please be familiar with the privacy statement of each and every service that you visit that collects your information.
Cookies and Identifiers
A “cookie” is a small data file written to your device memory or storage that contains information about your visit to a website. Tracking technologies also used are beacons, tags and scripts to collect and track information and to improve and analyze our services.
If you prefer not to receive cookies, configure your browser not to accept them at all, or to notify and require your approval before setting new cookies. This may cause some websites or webpages to malfunction, and/or you may have to provide the same information each time you visit those websites or webpages.
By becoming a member of the WAS, you signify your agreement to our privacy and communication policy as stated above.
WAS may periodically change this Privacy Policy as necessary and encourages you to review this Privacy Privacy to keep updated on how WAS is protecting your information.