The Tree Care Industry Association (“TCIA”), a 501c (6) non-profit organization organized under the laws of Ohio, is the owner of the web site: www.tcia.org. This privacy statement covers the www.tcia.org. Because the TCIA wants to demonstrate its commitment to our users’ privacy, we have agreed to disclose our information and privacy practices in this statement. This includes:

1. What personally identifiable information TCIA collects.
2. What personally identifiable information third parties collect through the www.tcia.org web site.
3. How TCIA uses the information.
4. With whom TCIA shares user information.
5. What choices are available to users regarding collection, use and distribution of the information.
6. What types of security procedures are in place to protect the loss, misuse or alteration of information under TCIA’s control?

If users have questions or concerns regarding this statement, they should first contact TCIA’s Information Technology Department at:it@tcia.org

Information Collection and Use

Information Collection

TCIA is the sole owner of the information collected on www.tcia.org. TCIA collects information from our users at several different points on our Web site. These areas are:

1. Online Ordering
2. Job and Classified Posting
3. Feedback is linked to an email directed to the Web Editor with no user information except the e-mail address of the sender
4. Subscription E-mailing Lists
5. Surveys
6. Meetings Registration

Online Ordering

We request information from the user on our order form. A user must provide contact information (such as name, email, and shipping address) and financial information (such as credit card number, expiration date). This information is used for billing purposes and to fill customer’s orders. If we have trouble processing an order, the information is used to contact the user. Contact information is compared to existing data, which is updated as appropriate.

Payment by Email

TCIA cannot accept payment information by email. Email transmission is not always secure and therefore credit card information is not adequately protected. Do not send any credit card information to TCIA by email. Instead, use our secure registration portal at secure.tcia.org or fax us your reservation form. TCIA shall have no liability for any losses related to credit card information included in email.

Job and Classified Posting

We request information from the user on our order form. A user must provide contact information (such as name, email, and shipping address) and financial information (such as credit card number, expiration date). This information is used for billing purposes and to fill customer’s orders. If we have trouble processing an order, the information is used to contact the user. Contact information is compared to existing data, which is updated as appropriate.

Feedback Form

We request information from the user on our feedback form. A user must provide contact information (such as name, address, email and phone number). This information is used for purposes of gathering user feedback on our web site and addressing user concerns, questions and difficulties.

Subscription E-mailing Lists

We request information from the user in this section of our web site. A user must provide their contact information (email address, first name and last name) to become a member of ListServs. This information is used for purposes of sharing topical information with the users interested in receiving it. E-mail address information is compared to existing data, which is updated as appropriate.

Surveys

From time-to-time our site requests information from users via surveys. Participation in these surveys is completely voluntary and the user therefore has a choice whether or not to disclose this information. The requested information typically includes contact information (such as name and address), and demographic information (such as zip code). Anonymous Survey information will be used for purposes of monitoring or improving the use and satisfaction of this site and for the informational purposes of the survey. Users’ personally identifiable information is not shared with third parties unless we give prior notice and choice. Though we may use an intermediary to conduct these surveys or contests, they may not use users’ personally identifiable information for any secondary purposes. Contact information is compared to existing data, which is updated as appropriate.

Forums

The administrator of TreeCareForum.org registers users by invitation only, and has access to users’ email address, first and last name stored on a third-party secure server at Web Crossing. Web Crossing does not share this information. The forums are not open to the public. Users can delete their email addresses online if they do not wish to receive emails from other users. Web forums use session cookies but do not gather personally identifiable information from the user’s computer.

Information Use

Cookies

A cookie is a piece of data stored on the user’s computer tied to information about the user. Usage of a cookie is in no way linked to any personally identifiable information while on our site. We use session ID cookies. For the session ID cookie, once users close the browser, the cookie simply terminates. By setting a session ID cookie on our site, users would not have to log in a password more than once, thereby saving time while on our site. If users reject the cookie, they may still use our site. The only drawback to this is that the user will be limited in some areas of our site.

Third Party Advertising

The ads appearing on this Web site are delivered to users by the TCIA. Information about users’ visits to this site, such as the number of times they have viewed an ad (but not user name, address, or other personal information), is used to serve advertisers on this site.

This privacy statement covers the use of cookies by TCIA only and does not cover the use of cookies by any advertisers.

Log Files

Like most standard Web site servers we use log files. This includes internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser type, internet service provider (ISP), referring/exit pages, platform type, date/time stamp, and number of clicks to analyze trends, administer the site, track user’s movement in the aggregate, and gather broad demographic information for aggregate use. IP addresses, etc. are not linked to personally identifiable information. Tools are available to identify specific machines from IP addresses (with greater or lesser reliability.) We do not use them.

Communications from the Site

Personally identifiable information collected is compared to existing data, which is updated as appropriate. We use the updated information in our member lists, which are sometimes sold to associate members or those in partnership agreements with TCIA and are often used for TCIA marketing.

Sharing

Legal Disclaimer

Though we make every effort to preserve user privacy, we may need to disclose personal information when required by law wherein we have a good-faith belief that such action is necessary to comply with a current judicial proceeding, a court order or legal process served on our Web site.

Aggregate Information (non-personally identifiable)

We share aggregated demographic information with our partners and advertisers. This data includes web site traffic statistics and demographic information we know about our membership gathered through non-web site related means. This is not linked to any personally identifiable information.

These are the instances in which we will share users’ personal information:

Third Party Intermediaries
We use an outside shipping company to ship orders, and a credit card processing company to bill users for goods and services. These companies do not retain, share, store or use personally identifiable information for any secondary purposes.

Service Provider
We partner with other third parties like Midwest Arborist Association and Sherill, Inc. in a royalty arrangement on-line. When the user buys services from them on their web site, TCIA receives a royalty to go towards member services, and the member receives a credit against their next year’s dues. We share names and contact information necessary for the third party to provide these services. These third parties are not allowed to use personally identifiable information except for the purpose of providing these services.

Member
TCIA Members are entitled to access the membership directory of TCIA, which includes names, company names, address, telephone, fax, e-mail, and web site information for our members This is an on-line directory that allows members to change their information at any time and is linked directly to our database.

Choice/Opt-out
Should a TCIA member wish to opt-out of receiving faxes or e-mails from us, they can contact us directly at the office and make this request.

Link
This Web site contains links to other sites not administered or controlled by TCIA. Please be aware that we, TCIA, are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every Web site that collects personally identifiable information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this Web site.

Security
This Web site takes every precaution to protect our users’ information. When users submit sensitive information via the Web site, their information is protected both online and off-line. When our registration/order form asks users to enter sensitive information (such as credit card number and/or social security number), that information is encrypted and is protected with some of the best encryption software in the industry – SSL. To learn more about SSL, follow this link http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/S/SSL.html

If users have any questions about the security at our Web site, users can send an email to Bruce White at bwhite@tcia.org

Notification of Changes

If we decide to change our privacy policy, we will post those changes to this privacy statement and other places we deem appropriate so our users are always aware of what Information we collect, how we use it, and under what circumstances, if any, we disclose it. We will use information in accordance with the privacy policy under which the

information was collected.

Logos, Emblems, Trademarks

The same policies that guide the use of the TCIA logo will remain in effect in this medium.

Passwords

The ‘members only’ section of the TCIA web site will require a password in order to enterit.

Political Activity

TCIA will not carry any endorsements for candidates for political office at any level on the site.

Contact Information

If users have any questions or suggestions regarding our privacy policy, please contact us at:

Phone: 603-314-5380
Fax: 603-314-5386
Email: it@tcia.org
Postal Address: 136 Harvey Rd, Suite 101, Londonderry, NH 03053
Web site URL:www.tcia.org

European Union Privacy Policy

Notice
The Tree Care Industry Association will inform potential members on its application forms of the purposes for which it collects and uses information, a contact to handle inquiries or complaints, and the types of third parties to which it discloses individual information. In addition, TCIA will also contain a statement on all surveys of why information is being collected, how it will be compiled, and to whom it will be reported. This policy in its entirety will be placed on the TCIA web site and in the TCIA Policy Manual.

Choice
Should a member wish to prevent distribution of information to third parties, or desire to be excluded from the TCIA membership directory, TCIA will provide a place on the application for opting out. TCIA’s database will provide a field to manage these requests. For long-term members, upon request, TCIA will mark their records to prevent distribution. Since distribution of information to third parties has been a long-term practice of TCIA, the association assumes that failure to notify the TCIA previously of a desire to opt-out is permission to continue to distribute information to third parties, with whom we have an associate member or partnership relationship. Aside from address, phone, company, and owner’s name information, disclosure of information to TCIA is always optional. TCIA will only use information for the purposes of collection stated at that time or as authorized by the member.

Sensitive Information
TCIA does not collect information specifying medical or health conditions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, or information specifying the sex life of the individual; therefore, we will not provide opt-ins for this type of information. When TCIA collects racial or ethnic origin data or political opinions, it will be voluntarily collected, allowing the individual to opt-in should they so desire.

Onward Transfer
TCIA will forward information to third parties after exercising the notice and choice options as specified above. TCIA associate members or partners who purchase or are provided the TCIA mailing list are only allowed to utilize this information for purposes directly related to the associate/active member relationship or the partnership agreement signed with the TCIA.

Security
TCIA protects its database from loss, misuse and unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction as follows.

Daily back-ups of the file server are maintained off-site. An alarm system provides burglary protection for the association.

Membership information can only be changed internally via authorized staff members or externally by the member through on-line access via a membership ID number. Membership records are marked to prevent disclosure of information per their instructions.

Statistical information gathered and maintained by the association for the purposes of wage analysis, safety records, and business information is distributed only in collective analysis format. Individual information is not disclosed.

Data Integrity
Disclosure of how information will be used when collected is a part of all TCIA surveys and data collection. TCIA compiles this information, or enters it into the appropriate database, and releases the information per the instructions to the membership.

Access
TCIA members may contact the TCIA via phone, fax, e-mail, or on-line web correction to update membership information at any time.

Enforcement
This policy will become part of the TCIA Policy Manual and will be distributed to all TCIA staff members. This policy will be reviewed annually by the President, who will sign a self-assessment statement. Staff failing to adhere to this policy will receive a written reprimand in their personnel files.

Members who have concerns about the enforcement of this privacy policy may contact the President of TCIA as follows:

David White
President
Tree Care Industry Association
136 Harvey Road
Londonderry, NH 03053

Phone: 1-800-733-2622
603-314-5380
Fax: 603-314-5386
email: dwhite@tcia.org

Specific complaints should be submitted in writing and signed via mail or fax. Providing the President is in town, complaints will be investigated and a written response generated within 10 business days. Complaints unresolved to satisfaction may be taken to arbitration in Manchester, New Hampshire and can be filed with the Department of Commerce at www.export.gov/safeharbor.