Privacy Statement

This Privacy Statement discloses the privacy practices for the Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI) and its Internet Web Site: www.safeplumbing.org (hereinafter referred to individually as a "website"). PMI, an independent, non-profit organization, provides you with the following information:

What personally identifiable information of yours or third-party personal identification is collected from you through the website;
How the information is used;
With whom the information may be shared;
What choices are available to you regarding collection, use and distribution of the information;
What security procedures are in place to prevent the loss, misuse or alteration of information under PMI's control; and
How you can correct any inaccuracies in the information.

If you feel that PMI is not abiding by its posted privacy policy, you should first contact the PMI at 847-481-5500.

Information Collection and Use

PMI, or third parties designated by PMI, collects personally identifiable and non-personally identifiable information from users in a variety of ways. PMI is the sole owner of all the information collected on the website, and may use and share with third parties any and all of the information collected in any manner whatsoever that it deems appropriate for business purposes in its sole discretion.

Registration

To access areas designated as "member areas," users must be current members or affiliates of PMI. The information collected when members join PMI is also used to control access to these areas of the website.

Online Orders

PMI requests information from its users on its membership form, including contact information (such as name and address) and financial information (such as credit card number, expiration date, etc.). This information is primarily used by PMI and third parties designated by PMI for billing and to fill customer orders, but may be used by PMI or third parties designated by PMI for other business purposes. For example, if there is a problem processing an order, this information may be used to contact the user.

Cookies

PMI uses permanent cookies for several business purposes only. Primarily, when visitors arrive at our site, a unique cookie is automatically stored on the visitor's Internet browser that allows analysis software to differentiate between new and returning users.

There are two types of cookies. The standard cookie is information about the user stored on the visitor's Internet browser. The second type of cookie, called a session cookie, also stores information about a user. However, these cookies are not stored on the user's hard drive. These cookies are used only while the user is actively connected to a website. Once the user closes the Internet browser (or is inactive for more than 20 minutes), these session cookies are destroyed. PMI uses both types of cookies on its website. In the future, PMI may add additional cookies for business purposes.

Finally, session cookies are used while a user is active on the website for a multitude of business purposes. For example, these cookies allow members to navigate freely through the website once they have logged in. Without these cookies, members would have to login each time they requested a "member area" page. These cookies are also used while a member is joining, renewing or altering account information. This allows the website to track a user's activity before any data is committed to a database.

Log Files

Each view of a page on the website is logged. Information such as the user's Internet Protocol ("IP") address, time of day and duration of activity on the website is recorded. This information may be used by PMI or third parties designated by PMI to analyze trends, administer the website, track users' movements and gather broad demographic information for aggregate use or for other business purposes.

If illegal activity is detected on the Web Site, PMI or third parties designated by PMI may attempt to connect an IP address to personal information.

Links

The website contains links to other Internet sites. Please be aware that PMI is not responsible for the privacy practices of such other Internet sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave the website and to read the privacy statements of each Internet site that collects personally identifiable information. This Privacy Statement applies solely to information collected by PMI's website.

Photography and Video Notification

PMI reserves the right to use any photograph/video taken at any event sponsored by PMI, without the expressed written permission of those included within the photograph/video. PMI may use the photograph/video in publications or other media material produced, used or contracted by PMI including but not limited to: brochures, invitations, books, newspapers, magazines, television, websites, etc.

A person attending a PMI event who does not wish to have their image recorded for distribution should make their wishes known to the photographer, and/or the event organizers, and/or contact PMI.

By participating in a PMI event or by failing to notify PMI, in writing, your desire to not have your photograph used by PMI, you are agreeing to release, defend, hold harmless and indemnify PMI from any and all claims involving the use of your picture or likeness.

Any person or organization not affiliated with PMI may not use, copy, alter or modify PMI photographs, graphics, videography or other, similar reproductions or recordings without the advance written permission of an authorized designee from PMI.

Surveys

From time to time, PMI, or third parties designated by PMI, requests information from users via surveys. Information requested may include contact information (such as name and address) and demographic information (such as zip code). Survey information may be used by PMI, or third parties designated by PMI, for a variety of business purposes. For example, surveys will be used for purposes of monitoring or improving the use of and satisfaction with the Web Site and other services offered by PMI.

Security

When you submit information via the website, PMI, or third parties designated by PMI, takes certain precautions to protect your user information both online and offline. For example, currently, when registration/order forms on our website ask users to enter information (such as credit card number), that information is encrypted and is protected with encryption software: Secure Sockets Layer ("SSL"). While you are on a secure page, such as our order form, the lock icon on the bottom of Internet browsers such as Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer becomes locked, as opposed to unlocked or open, when you are just 'surfing'. These security features may be updated from time-to-time in PMI's sole discretion.

Just as we currently use SSL encryption to protect sensitive information online, we also use certain efforts to protect user-information offline. Currently, our users' information is restricted primarily in our offices and our servers are all password protected.

If you have any questions about the current state of security with respect to information collected at the website or stored offline, you may send an email to jstuhrberg@safeplumbing.org.

If we change our privacy policy, we will post those changes on PMI's homepage so that our users are always informed of what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we disclose it.