Privacy Policy

Our Commitment to Your Privacy

San Mateo County Horsemen's Association ("SMCHA," "we," "us," or "our") is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect when you visit our website (smcha.org / www.smcha.org), how we use it, and your rights regarding that information.

We operate under California law and are committed to complying with the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the California Online Privacy Protection Act (CalOPPA).

Information We Collect

Information You Provide

When you interact with our website, you may choose to provide us with personal information, including:

• Contact Form: Your name, email address, and message when you contact us through our website.
• Volunteer Sign-up: Your name, email address, phone number, mailing address, and areas of volunteer interest.
• Newsletter Sign-up: Your email address when you subscribe to our communications.
• Sponsorship: Your business name, contact information, and sponsorship tier preference when you apply to become a sponsor.

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, we automatically collect certain non-personal information to help us understand how visitors use our site:

• Pages you visit and time spent on each page
• The website that referred you to us
• General geographic region (not precise location)
• Browser type and device information

This information is collected in aggregate form and cannot be used to identify you personally. We use this data solely to improve our website and better serve our community.

Cookies

Our website uses a single authentication cookie ("smcha-auth") to maintain your logged-in session when accessing the site. This cookie:

• Is essential for website functionality
• Does not track you across other websites
• Does not contain personal information
• Expires after 30 days

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Respond to your inquiries and contact requests
• Process volunteer applications
• Send you newsletters and event updates (with your consent)
• Improve our website and services
• Maintain the security of our website
• Fulfill our nonprofit mission of promoting equestrian activities

We Do Not Sell Your Information

SMCHA does not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. We do not share your information for marketing purposes. We are a nonprofit organization focused solely on serving our community.

Information Sharing

We may share your information only in the following limited circumstances:

• Service Providers: We use trusted service providers (such as our database provider, Convex) who help us operate our website. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information.
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or government regulation.
• Safety: We may disclose information to protect the safety of our members, volunteers, or the public.

Third-Party Services

Our website links to third-party services that have their own privacy policies:

• DonorPerfect: When you click on membership or donation links, you are directed to DonorPerfect's website. Your payment and personal information on that site is governed by DonorPerfect's Privacy Policy.
• Constant Contact: We use Constant Contact to send email marketing and newsletter communications. For more information about how your information may be used and the data collected through our email campaigns, see Constant Contact's Customer Data Notice.
• Social Media: Links to our Facebook, Instagram, and SmugMug pages are governed by those platforms' respective privacy policies: Facebook Privacy Policy, Instagram Privacy Policy, and SmugMug Privacy Policy.

We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

Children's Privacy

Our Kids Corner section provides educational games and coloring pages for young equestrians. These features:

• Do not collect any personal information from children
• Do not require account registration
• Do not use tracking cookies

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child, please contact us immediately and we will delete it.

Your California Privacy Rights

Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California's "Shine the Light" law, California residents have the following rights:

• Right to Know: You can request information about what personal data we have collected about you.
• Right to Delete: You can request that we delete your personal information from our records.
• Right to Opt-Out: You have the right to opt out of the sale of personal information. Note: SMCHA does not sell personal information.
• Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising any of these rights.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information below. We will respond to your request within 45 days as required by law.

Data Security

We implement reasonable security measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, alteration, or destruction. However, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Data Retention

We retain your personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by law. Contact form submissions and volunteer applications are retained until you request deletion.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, want to exercise your privacy rights, or need to report a privacy concern, please contact us: