Privacy Policy
BNI County Line Connections Chapter Policy
Effective Date: March 1, 2025
Last Updated: March 1, 2025
Introduction
BNI County Line Connections (“we,” “our,” or “us”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal data. This privacy policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website countylineconnections.com (the “Website”), subscribe to our newsletter, or interact with our chapter.
This policy applies to information we collect:
- On this Website
- Through our email newsletters and marketing communications
- In email, text, and other electronic messages between you and our chapter
- When you interact with our advertising and content on third-party websites and services
- From third-party mailing list providers for our newsletter distribution
Relationship with BNI Global Privacy Policy
As a BNI chapter, we operate under the broader BNI Global privacy framework. For complete information about how BNI processes data globally, including international transfers and additional rights, please review the BNI Global Privacy Policy at https://bnitos.com/privacy/
Joint Data Control
BNI County Line Connections operates as a joint data controller with BNI Worldwide Development Ltd and BNI Global, LLC for member data processed through BNI Connect and other BNI systems. As part of the BNI franchise system, certain data may be shared with BNI Master Franchisees and Sub-franchisees who have independent data protection obligations.
Information We Collect
Information You Provide to Us
We collect information you provide directly to us, such as when you:
- Request an invitation to visit our chapter
- Submit a membership application
- Fill out visitor forms
- Subscribe to our weekly newsletter
- Contact us for information
- Register for chapter events
This information may include:
- Name and business name
- Contact information (email address, phone number, business address)
- Professional information (business category, years in business, website)
- LinkedIn profile or other professional social media profiles
- Information about your networking goals and ideal referrals
- Payment information for chapter dues (processed through secure third-party providers)
Information from Third-Party Sources
We obtain contact information from third-party mailing list providers, including:
- RampedUp.io business mailing lists for Central Florida (with pre-obtained consent for B2B marketing)
- Publicly available business directories
- Professional networking platforms
- Business association membership lists
This information typically includes:
- Business name
- Contact name
- Email address
- Business category/industry
- Geographic location (Central Florida region)
- Consent status for B2B marketing communications
Information We Collect Automatically
When you visit our Website, we automatically collect certain information about your device, including:
- IP address
- Browser type and version
- Time zone setting and location
- Operating system and platform
- Information about your visit, including pages viewed, time spent on pages, and navigation patterns
Information from BNI Systems
For members and visitors, we also receive data from:
- BNI Connect for member management and referral tracking
- BNI University for training compliance
- PALMS reporting system for attendance tracking
- BNI Global systems when you become a member
Information from Other Chapter Members
We may receive information about you from:
- Chapter members who refer you as a visitor
- Members who pass referrals involving your business
- Members who identify you as a potential chapter visitor
How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to:
Provide and Improve Our Services
- Process visitor requests and membership applications
- Manage chapter meetings and track attendance through PALMS
- Track referrals and Thank You for Closed Business (TYFCB)
- Send meeting reminders and chapter communications
- Maintain our member directory
Newsletter and Marketing Communications
- Send our weekly BNI County Line Connections newsletter
- Inform Central Florida business professionals about networking opportunities
- Share business growth tips and networking best practices
- Promote chapter visitor days and special events
- Feature member success stories and chapter achievements
Communicate with You
- Send welcome emails to new members and visitors
- Provide chapter updates and announcements
- Notify you about changes to meeting times or locations
- Share success stories and member achievements (with consent)
- Respond to your inquiries and requests
Legal and Business Purposes
- Comply with legal obligations
- Enforce our terms and policies
- Protect the rights, property, and safety of our members and visitors
- Analyze and improve our marketing effectiveness
- Maintain accurate business records
Legal Basis for Processing
We process your personal data based on:
Consent
- When you subscribe to our newsletter
- When you opt-in to receive marketing communications
- When we share your success stories or testimonials
Legitimate Interest
- To inform Central Florida business professionals about networking opportunities
- To send B2B marketing communications to businesses who have consented through our data partners
- To grow our chapter and strengthen the business community
- To maintain relationships with potential visitors
- To analyze the effectiveness of our outreach efforts
Contractual Necessity
- For member services and benefits
- To process membership applications
- To track attendance and referrals
Legal Compliance
- To maintain required business records
- To comply with BNI Global policies
Information Sharing and Disclosure
We may share your information in the following circumstances:
With BNI Global Systems
As a BNI chapter, we share member and visitor information with:
- BNI Connect for member management
- BNI Global for membership processing and renewal
- BNI University for training tracking
- Regional BNI offices for compliance and support
With Chapter Members
- Member directory information (name, business, contact details) is shared within our chapter
- Referral information is shared between referring members
- Visitor information is shared with our membership committee for application processing
With Service Providers
We may share information with third-party service providers who assist us with:
- Email newsletter distribution platforms (ActiveCampaign)
- Website hosting and maintenance
- Payment processing for chapter dues
- Analytics and marketing services
For Legal Reasons
We may disclose information when required by law or when we believe disclosure is necessary to:
- Comply with legal processes
- Enforce our agreements
- Protect rights, property, or safety
With Your Consent
- When featuring your business in our newsletter
- When sharing your success stories
- When making referrals on your behalf
Newsletter and Email Marketing
Subscription and Consent
- We send our newsletter to business professionals who have consented to receive B2B marketing communications
- For contacts obtained through RampedUp.io, we rely on their pre-obtained consent for B2B marketing
- We use double opt-in for direct newsletter sign-ups on our website
- All recipients can easily unsubscribe at any time
Content of Communications
Our newsletters may include:
- Chapter meeting highlights and upcoming events
- Member spotlights and success stories
- Business networking tips and best practices
- Visitor invitation opportunities
- Central Florida business community news
Unsubscribe Rights
- Every email includes an unsubscribe link
- You can opt-out at any time without affecting any BNI membership
- We maintain a suppression list to ensure unsubscribed addresses are not re-added
Data Retention
We retain personal information for as long as necessary to:
- Provide our services
- Comply with legal obligations
- Resolve disputes and enforce agreements
- Support legitimate business interests
Specifically:
- Newsletter subscriber data: Until you unsubscribe plus 2 years for suppression list
- Visitor information: 2 years from last interaction
- Member data: Duration of membership plus period required by BNI Global policies
- Marketing contact lists: Updated annually to ensure accuracy
For specific retention periods related to BNI systems, please refer to BNI’s Data Retention Policy at https://bnitos.com/retention
Data Security
We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information, including:
- Secure socket layer (SSL) technology for data transmission
- Access controls limiting data access to authorized personnel
- Regular security assessments
- Secure storage of physical documents
- Encrypted storage of sensitive data
However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
Your Rights and Choices
Access and Update Your Information
You have the right to:
- Request access to the personal information we hold about you
- Correct inaccurate or incomplete information
- Request deletion of your information (subject to legal requirements)
- Request a copy of your data in a portable format
Communication Preferences
You may control how we communicate with you:
Newsletter Opt-Out:
- Click “unsubscribe” in any newsletter email
- Email us at info@countylineconnections.com with “Unsubscribe” in the subject line
- Your email will be added to our suppression list
Marketing Communications
- You can opt-out of all marketing while maintaining transactional communications
- Members cannot opt-out of operational communications (meeting notices, attendance reminders)
Cookies Policy
Most web browsers accept cookies by default. You can set your browser to refuse cookies, though this may affect Website functionality. We use cookies for:
- Website analytics
- User experience improvements
- Marketing effectiveness measurement
International Data Transfers
When we share data with BNI Global systems, your information may be transferred internationally. BNI Global maintains appropriate safeguards including:
- Standard Contractual Clauses
- EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework certifications
- UK and Swiss Data Privacy Framework certifications
For details, see https://bnitos.com/privacy/
Children’s Privacy
Our Website and services are not intended for children under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If we learn we have collected information from a child under 18, we will delete that information promptly.
Third-Party Links
Our Website and newsletters may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.
California Privacy Rights
If you are a California resident, you have specific rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including:
- The right to know what personal information we collect, use, disclose, and sell
- The right to request deletion of your personal information
- The right to opt-out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell personal information)
- The right to non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights
