Privacy Policy

Society for Glycobiology (SFG) PRIVACY POLICY

SFG is committed to protecting your privacy and providing a safe online experience. This Privacy Policy applies to the SFG websites and governs data collection and usage.  We take this matter very seriously and have instituted policies and procedures to ensure your privacy rights are protected.  The following outlines our Privacy Policy and details the measures we have taken to safeguard and protect your privacy.

WHAT INFORMATION DOES SFG COLLECT?

The data SFG collects is used to help us better serve our members and to further our mission to promote knowledge, encourage research and stimulate personal communication in an interdisciplinary sense, using as the common meeting ground an interest in the complex carbohydrates of glycoproteins, glycolipids, glycosaminoglycans and the biological systems in which they are found.

The information you provide to us will be used to keep you up-to-date on areas for which you have expressed interest. We will maintain the confidentiality of your personal information. It will be used only to support our relationship with you or your company.

If at any time you no longer wish to receive notifications or promotions from SFG, contact us and we will remove you from our active mailing list immediately.

It is our general policy to collect and store only personal information that our website visitors knowingly provide.  This Privacy Policy may be amended from time to time.  Any changes to this Privacy Policy will be posted on this page.

USE OF INFORMATION – HOW DOES SFG USE DATA COLLECTED?

SFG uses information voluntarily submitted by members and other customers in the following ways:

General Users. SFG does not collect any personal information from users browsing its website. When you visit our website, we may automatically collect statistics about your visit. This information does not identify you personally, but rather about your visit to our website. We may monitor statistics such as how many people visit our site, which pages people visit, from which domains our visitors come and which browsers people use.  We use these statistics about your visit for aggregation purposes only.  Aggregate data are only used for internal and marketing purposes and do not provide any personally identifying information.

Personal information and information specific to the requested activity may be collected along with a request for service, product, marketing, event or advocacy resources.  For example, this information may include your company name, contact name, address, telephone number, email address and services requested.

SFG Conference Registrants, Journal Subscriptions, Products, Services and Other Marketing Communications. Generally, SFG uses data collected to improve its own web content; to respond to visitors' interests, needs and preferences; to further SFG's mission; and to deliver products and services.

To gain access to some resources and personalization features on the SFG websites, Users are asked to register and provide some limited information. This information is submitted voluntarily. SFG asks Users to provide information related to supporting the specific service being provided.  Similar information may be requested by SFG through conference or seminar registration, abstract submissions, publication orders, subscriptions, and contest/award applications.

Additionally, for some emails sent by SFG to Users through its listservs and electronic newsletters, we will collect specific information regarding what the recipient does with that email. For those emails, SFG will monitor whether a recipient subsequently clicks through to links provided in the message. Other information collected through this tracking feature includes: email address of a User, the date and time of the User's "click," a message number, name of the list from which the message was sent, tracking URL number and destination page. SFG only uses this information to enhance its products and distribution of those products to its constituents.

Credit Card Account Information. SFG does not disclose credit card account information provided by its members. When members choose to pay using their credit cards, SFG submits the information needed to obtain payment via a secure internet protocol to the appropriate payment gateway.

HOW DOES SFG USE COOKIES?

Cookies are files that contain information created by a web server that can be stored on a user's hard disk for use either during a particular session ("per-session" cookie) or for future use ("persistent" cookie). SFG uses cookies only to facilitate automated activity, store and track passwords, determine appropriate solicitations, and review navigation patterns. Cookies are not used to disseminate significant information about Users over the Internet or to analyze any information that Users have knowingly or unknowingly provided. When a user registers, the system will ask whether the user approves of the attachment of a cookie. Users may instruct their Internet browsers to opt out of accepting a "persistent" cookie and rather accept only a "per-session" cookie, but will need to login each time they visit the site to enjoy the full benefits. If the user declines the attachment of any cookie, the user may not have access to the full benefits of the website.  

Additional information on SFG's use of cookies is available on our Cookies Policy Section below..

OTHER WEBSITES AND LINKS

This website may contain links to other websites. Please note that this Privacy Policy does not cover the privacy practices of websites external to SFG and we are not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of such websites, partners, or affiliates. You should review any privacy policies of such websites.

WHAT MEANS OF REDRESS ARE AVAILABLE?

If any User suspects SFG has handled its personal information in a manner that does not comply with this privacy policy, please contact us by emailing to [email protected] or by calling 240-371-9950.

GDPR Specific Section:

For Residents of the European Union
SFG is the abbreviated name of the Society for Glycobiology, located at 1300 Piccard Dr, Ste LL-14, Rockville, Maryland 20850.

SFG recognizes principles and requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) adopted by the European Union. For more information on GDPR, please visit the European Commissions’ GDPR Website.  SFG will, so far as is reasonably practical, comply with the Data Protection Principles contained in the Data Protection Act to ensure all data is:
  • Fairly and lawfully processed
  • Obtained and used for specific and clearly stated purposes
  • Adequate, relevant, and not excessive
  • Accurate and up-to-date
  • Not kept for longer than necessary
  • Processed in accordance with your rights
  • Secure
  • Not transferred to other countries without adequate protection
WHAT IS PERSONAL INFORMATION?

The GDPR aims to protect the “personal data” or personal information of individuals within the EU and covers many processing activities, including collection, storage, consultation, transfer, and destruction, of this data. “Personal data” means information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person. You can be identified from information such as your name, email address, phone number, home address, driver’s license number, and passport number. You may also be identifiable from information such as an online identifier, IP address, unique device ID or cookie.

WHAT INFORMATION DO WE COLLECT ABOUT YOU?

We collect information about you when visiting SFG websites relating to your use of SFG sites, collected using cookies. We also collect information when you request information on services and when voluntarily completing surveys, contact forms, responding to marketing  communications and participating in SFG events and activities. We only hold this information as long as it is necessary to fulfill a contract, provide you with requested services (including SFG communication updates) or where we believe you will be interested (see ‘Legitimate interest’ below).

HOW WILL WE USE THE INFORMATION ABOUT YOU?

We collect information about you to process your membership, manage your account and, if you agree, to email you about other products and services we think may be of interest to you.

We use your information collected from the website to personalize your repeat visits to our website.

We may share your information if you indicate you would like to learn more about SFG partners  in your communication preferences.

LEGITIMATE INTERESTS & PERFORMANCE OF A CONTRACT

There are a number of lawful reasons that mean we can use (or ‘process’) your personal information, including ‘legitimate interests’ and ‘performance of a contract.’

Broadly speaking, Legitimate Interests means we can process your personal information if:
  • We have a genuine and legitimate reason to do so, and
  • We are not harming any of your rights and interests.
 
And, Performance of A Contract means we can use (or ‘process’) your personal information if:
  • Data processing is necessary for the performance of a contract with or on behalf of the data subject.
MARKETING & ADVOCACY

We would like to send you information about our services and news. If you have consented to receive marketing or advocacy information, you may opt out at a later date.

You have a right at any time to stop us from contacting you for these purposes or giving your information to third party partners or suppliers by modifying your communication preferences by or contacting us at the email listed below.

We gather statistics pertaining to email opening and clicks using industry standard technologies including clear gifs to help us monitor and improve our e-newsletters and other communication resources.

If you no longer wish to be contacted for marketing purposes, please contact [email protected].
 
 
CONFERENCE & EVENTS

Generally, those who wish to attend SFG conferences events will register for those events online, by email or over the telephone. During the process of that registration, you may share personal information about yourself which generally includes contact information, demographics pertaining to your profession and payment information.  

How SFG Uses Your Event Registration Data

Personal Information Registration information will be part of a database that is accessible only to SFG staff and conference organizers.

SFG may use your contact information to provide you with up to-date information about current conferences of interest.  
  • A participant list may be available online to registered conference participants that includes your name, institution, institution address, and email. 
  • Your name, email address, lodging type (and roommate, if applicable), and conference you registered to attend are shared with hotels if you requested lodging accommodations. 
  • A survey company may receive your name, email address, and conference you registered to attend in order for participants to receive an online evaluation form.
  • For those participants that are reimbursed for their participation at the conference, contact information is sent to our internal accounting database, and any bank or wire transfer institution that accounting uses in order to facilitate the payment.
  • SFG does not sell your contact information to third parties.
YOUR RIGHTS

GDPR, implemented on 25th May 2018, gives all individuals a number of rights relating to their personal data held by companies, organizations and other third parties. These are:
  • Informed:  We will tell you exactly how we use your data in clear, plain language.
  • Consent:  We will store or use your data only to support the performance of a contract, to further a legitimate interest, to comply with a legal obligation or with your consent.
  • Access and Portability:  Obtain an  export of all data SFG has collected and processed for you in a machine-readable format (e.g. .csv or Excel file formats)
  • Modification:  Request changes or updates to any personal data SFG stores.
  • Erasure:  Request that SFG purge all personal identifying information.
If you would like to exercise a right you have under GDPR, please contact us at the email address, phone or mailing address below.
HOW TO CONTACT US

Please contact [email protected] or call us at 240-371-9950 or write to us at:

SFG
ATTN:  Data Security Officer, Information Technology Department
1330 Piccard Dr, Ste LL-14
Rockville, MD  20850

 
Cookies Policy

Our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users of our website. This helps us to provide you with a good experience when you browse our website and also allows us to improve our site. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers that we store on your browser or the hard drive of your computer if you agree. Cookies contain information that is transferred to your computer’s hard drive.

We use the following cookies:
  • Strictly necessary cookies. These are cookies that are required for the operation of our website. They include, for example, cookies that enable you to log into secure areas of our website, use a shopping cart or make use of e-billing services.
  • Analytical/performance cookies. They allow us to recognize and count the number of visitors and to see how visitors move around our website when they are using it. This helps us to improve the way our website works, for example, by ensuring that users are finding what they are looking for easily.
  • Functionality cookies. These are used to recognize you when you return to our website. This enables us to personalize our content for you, greet you by name and remember your preferences (for example, your choice of language or region).
  • Targeting cookies. These cookies record your visit to our website, the pages you have visited and the links you have followed. We will use this information to make our website and the advertising displayed on it more relevant to your interests. We may also share this information with third parties for this purpose.
Please note that third parties (including, for example, advertising networks and providers of external services like web traffic analysis services) may also use cookies, over which we have no control. These cookies are likely to be analytical/performance cookies or targeting cookies

You block cookies by activating the setting on your browser that allows you to refuse the setting of all or some cookies. However, if you use your browser settings to block all cookies (including essential cookies) you may not be able to access all or parts of our site.