PRIVACY POLICY
The following summarizes the information collection and usage practices affecting visitors to the web site located at: www.stfrancispotomac.org.
St. Francis Episcopal Church in Potomac is committed to protecting the personal information provided by visitors to its web site. We have created this Privacy Policy to explain why we collect particular information from visitors to our web site, and how we protect the personal information of visitors to our web site. St. Francis reserves the right at any time and without prior notice to change this Privacy Policy by posting such changes on our web site. Any such changes will be effective immediately upon posting. By visiting the St. Francis Potomac web site, you consent to the information protection practices described in this statement.
What Information Does St. Francis Collect and Why?
St. Francis collects from visitors to our web site only an Internet Protocol (IP) address and, where applicable, the other information specifically described below. We do not otherwise request or store personal information from our visitors. We do not sell personally identifiable information from our visitors. Except as required by law, or to protect the rights or property of St. Francis, or to complete a transaction or provide a service requested by a visitor to our site, we will not disclose the visitor’s information to any other person or entity, and in all cases we will use such information only for the purposes described below.
Collection of IP Addresses
We collect an IP address from each visitor to our web site. An IP address is a number that is automatically assigned to your computer when you use the Internet. IP addresses do not contain personally identifiable information. We use IP addresses to administer our web site, help diagnose problems with our server, analyze trends in use of our web site, and gather aggregate demographic information to help us improve the site. We may use IP addresses in the future to help us deliver customized content.
Use of “Cookies”
Our web site may use “cookies” to enhance your experience while visiting our web site. Cookies are text files that some web sites transfer to the computer that is browsing the site, to personalize the user’s experience while visiting the site, and to help analyze usage of the site. Use of cookies makes web-surfing easier for the visitor, for example by saving the visitor’s preferences and informing the server when visitor returns. Cookies are uniquely assigned to each visitor’s computer and can be read only by a web server in the same domain that issued the cookie. St. Francis does not use cookies to collect or store personally identifiable information about visitors to our web site. We only will use the information we collect through cookies to understand trends in our visitors’ preferences, as a group, with the goal of improving our web site.
Visitors have the ability to accept or decline cookies from our web site. Most web browsers are set to accept cookies. If you would prefer not to receive cookies, you typically may change the configuration of your browser to refuse cookies. It is possible that some areas of our web site will not be properly viewable if the visitor refuses cookies.
Security of Information Transmitted By Visitors
All information provided by visitors via the St. Francis web site is transmitted using Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption. SSL is a proven, widely-used coding system that permits the visitor’s browser to automatically scramble, or encrypt, information before sending it to St. Francis. We protect any such information we receive by storing it on a secure portion of our server that is only accessibly by qualified employees of St. Francis.
When visitors provide St. Francis with personal information, we abide by any limitation as to its purpose that is expressed where it is collected.
Unfortunately, no information transmission over the Internet is 100 percent secure. While we strive to protect our visitors’ personal information, we cannot guarantee the security of any information.
Other Web Sites
The St. Francis web site contains links to other sites from time to time. Please note that when you click on one of those links, you are entering a different web site for which St. Francis has no responsibility, and to which our Privacy Policy does not apply. We encourage you to read the privacy statements on all such sites, as they may differ from ours.
Contact Us
Questions regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal information transmitted to St. Francis may be directed to: info@stfrancispotomac.org.
NOTICE OF RECORDING & PHOTOGRAPHY
When you enter a St. Francis Episcopal Church worship service/event, you will be entering an area where photography, video and audio recording may occur.
St. Francis Episcopal Church takes photographs and/or makes audio and/or video recordings of members involved in church related activities. Staff and/or participants may use such photographs or video records to recall activities or participants. In addition, such photographs and audio/visual recordings may be used in St. Francis Episcopal Church’s publications, advertising materials to let others know of our ministry, and/or streaming and website hosting of worship services. In addition, local news organizations may hear of our activities or events and our church may allow them to record our events for news reporting on special interest features.
By entering the service/event premises, you consent to, photography, audio recording, video recording and its/their release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction to be used for live streaming, promotional purposes, advertising, inclusion on web sites, and/or any other purpose by St. Francis Episcopal Church. You release St. Francis Episcopal Church, its clergy, church officers, employees, laity, and each and all persons involved from any liability connected with the taking, recording, digitizing, and/or publication of photographs, computer images, video and/or sound recordings.
By entering the service/event premises, you waive all rights you may have to any claims for payment or royalties in connection with any exhibition, streaming, webcasting, or other publication of these materials, regardless of the purpose. You also waive any right to inspect or approve any photo, video, or audio recording taken by St. Francis Episcopal Church or the person or entity designated to do so by St. Francis Episcopal Church.
You have been fully informed of your consent, waiver of liability, and release before entering the service/event.
Media Opt-Out Form
We believe that using recordings and photos of friends of all ages in our print and web publications fosters a greater sense of community. Photographs and audio/video recordings of our church members and friends help to display the vibrancy and joy of our church community. We use them to enhance the quality of our print materials, newsletters, website, social media, publicity, and fundraising. As a participant in our church events, you have a right to opt out of inclusion in photographs and recordings, but unless an Opt-Out form is signed and on file, participation at our church events implies permission for the use of images taken at those events.
To opt-out, please complete and sign our Opt-Out-Form and turn in the completed form to the church office along with your photo. Individuals who have submitted an opt-out form should also inform event videographers/photographers of their decision to opt-out so that they are not accidentally captured in crowd shots.
Remember: participation in church services and events implies permission for the use of images taken at those events unless we have a signed opt-out form on file at the church office with a reference image of the person opting out.