Privacy Policy
1. About this policy and who it covers
Veterans Beer Club Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit registered in California (EIN 99-4950366) ("VBC National," "we," "us," or "our"). VBC operates through local chapters, some of which run their own websites under the Veterans Beer Club name.
This single Privacy Policy applies to VBC National and to participating VBC chapters and their websites, including:
- veteransbeerclub.org (VBC National)
- vbcsandiego.org (VBC San Diego chapter)
- vbctemecula.com (VBC Temecula Valley chapter)
- other VBC chapter websites that link to this policy
We refer to these collectively as the "Sites." Chapters are part of the VBC community but may operate on different technology platforms and collect somewhat different information. Where a practice applies to only one Site, we label it — for example, (National only), (San Diego only), or (Temecula only). A chapter that uses service providers beyond those listed here will identify them where required on its own Site.
By using the Sites, you acknowledge the practices described in this policy.
2. Information we collect
A. Information you provide directly
- Contact and inquiry forms. Information you submit — typically your name, email, and message, and sometimes your phone number or company (National only).
- Newsletter / mailing list sign-ups. Your name and email, and — where offered — an optional self-identification of how you're connected to the community (for example: veteran, service member, military spouse, Gold Star family member, employer, venue partner, or supporter) (San Diego and Temecula). Providing this self-identification is entirely voluntary.
- Member accounts and profiles. If you create an account, we collect information such as your name, email, and password, plus any profile details you choose to add. On chapters that offer career and networking features (Temecula), your profile may include additional details you provide, such as background, skills, experience, interests, and veteran/military affiliation.
- Event RSVPs, registrations, and check-ins. Information needed to register you and check you in at events, which may include a QR code or PIN tied to your account (Temecula).
- Business directory listings (Temecula only). If you list a veteran-owned business, we collect the business information you submit for the directory.
- Employer and venue partner submissions. Information provided by employers, hosts, or venue partners who contact us or sign up.
- Donations (National only). Donations are processed by third parties (PayPal and Venmo). We do not collect or store full payment card or bank account numbers; those are handled by the payment provider. We may receive confirmation details such as your name, email, and amount.
B. Information collected automatically
When you use the Sites, we automatically collect technical and usage information through cookies and similar technologies — for example your IP address, device and browser type, pages viewed, referring pages, and interactions. See Section 6.
C. Information generated about you
On chapters offering career-matching features (Temecula), we may generate information about you from what you provide — for example activity, engagement, or matching-related scores used to connect you with relevant opportunities and employers. See Section 5.
D. Self-identified military and family status
Some sign-up and profile fields let you tell us whether you are a veteran, service member, military spouse, or Gold Star family member. This is always optional and collected only if you choose to share it, so we can serve our community and tailor relevant opportunities. Please do not submit government IDs, Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, or health information through the Sites.
3. Where the information comes from
We collect information (a) directly from you; (b) automatically from your device and browser; (c) from our service providers (Section 7); and, for career-matching features, (d) as information we generate from what you provide (Section 5).
4. How we use information
We use information to:
- respond to inquiries and communicate with you;
- send newsletters and event, workshop, and opportunity updates if you have opted in;
- create and manage member accounts and profiles;
- manage event RSVPs, registrations, and check-ins;
- operate community features such as the business directory and, where offered, veteran–employer matching and networking (Temecula);
- acknowledge and record donations;
- operate, secure, maintain, and improve the Sites;
- prevent fraud, spam, abuse, and security incidents; and
- comply with legal obligations.
We do not sell your personal information, and we do not use it for cross-context behavioral (targeted) advertising. [CONFIRM accurate — see checklist on ad pixels.]
5. Automated processing, profiling, and employer matching (Temecula only)
The Temecula chapter offers career features that use automated processing. Its matching engine analyzes profile and activity information to generate match suggestions and related scores, which are used to connect veterans with relevant opportunities and to help verified employers find candidates. If you create a member profile and choose to be discoverable, certain profile information may be made available to verified employers for recruiting purposes — this happens at your direction to help you connect with opportunities.
You control this: you can review and edit your profile, limit what you share, ask to be excluded from employer discovery, or delete your profile. These automated tools support human connections; they do not make legally or similarly significant decisions about you on their own. To ask questions about how matching uses your information, or to request human review, contact us (Section 13).
8. Third-party sites and services
The Sites link to services operated by others — for example our online stores, event/fundraiser registration platforms (such as Perfect Golf Event — National), donation providers (PayPal, Venmo), Google Forms, and our social media profiles (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube). When you follow these links or use those services, the information you provide is governed by that service's own privacy policy, not this one.
9. Data retention
We keep personal information for as long as needed to fulfill the purposes in this policy — maintaining your account, profile, or subscription; recording events and donations; and meeting legal, tax, and recordkeeping obligations — after which we delete or de-identify it. You can ask us to delete your information (Section 10).
10. Your California privacy rights
We provide the following rights to California residents. Depending on how the law applies to a nonprofit of our size, some may be provided as good practice rather than strict legal obligation, but we honor them either way. Subject to verification and legal limits, you may request to:
- Know / access the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected, the sources, the purposes, and the categories of parties we share it with;
- Correct inaccurate personal information;
- Delete personal information we have collected from you;
- Opt out of "sale" or "sharing" — note that we do not sell or share your personal information for these purposes, so there is nothing to opt out of; and
- Not be discriminated against for exercising these rights.
Members can also review and update much of their information by logging in and editing their profile.
How to make a request. Contact us at [PRIVACY CONTACT EMAIL] or the address in Section 13. Tell us which right you wish to exercise and give us enough information to verify your identity. You may use an authorized agent, subject to verification.
11. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
We do not sell your personal information and do not share it for cross-context behavioral advertising, so no opt-out mechanism is required. If this ever changes, we will update this policy and provide the required opt-out.
12. Children's privacy
The Sites are intended for adults and are not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us personal information, contact us at [PRIVACY CONTACT EMAIL] and we will delete it.
13. Contact us
Veterans Beer Club Inc.
General: national@veteransbeerclub.org
Privacy requests: [PRIVACY CONTACT EMAIL]
Mailing address: [MAILING ADDRESS]
Chapter contacts: San Diego — VBC-San-Diego@googlegroups.com · Temecula — vbctemecula@gmail.com
14. Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will post the updated policy on the Sites and revise the "Last updated" date. Significant changes may also be communicated by email or an on-site notice. Continued use of the Sites after an update means you accept the revised policy.
