Our privacy policy supplements our Terms of Use.

Introduction

At Bells of the Cascades ("BOC"), we value your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. As an advanced-level community handbell choir based in Portland, we have been advancing the art of handbell ringing through performance and education for 35 years. Our ensemble, composed entirely of volunteer ringers and board members, performs throughout Oregon and Washington, and collaborates with other performing groups.

As a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, we rely on the support of our community to cover expenses related to music, bells, equipment, wardrobe, travel costs, and advertising. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you interact with our website and services.

Information We Collect

We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us, including:

  1. Email Address
    • For those interested in receiving information on newsletters, concerts, and workshop announcements, providing an email address is required.
  2. USPS Mailing Address
    • Cruise Participants and Interested Individuals: Providing your USPS mailing address allows us to send initial mailings and early announcements about future cruises. By signing up for a cruise, you consent to receive cruise-related USPS mailings.
    • Providing a USPS address also enables us to send you information about upcoming cruises and fundraising initiatives.
  3. Website Usage Data
    Our website uses Google Analytics to collect information about your device, browsing actions, and patterns, including:
    • Your IP address
    • Browser type and version
    • Operating system
    • Referral source
    • Pages viewed and time spent on the site

    This data is collected in an anonymized and aggregated form to help us analyze website traffic, user behavior, and improve site performance.

How We Use Your Information

  1. Newsletters, Concerts, and Workshops
    • We use your email address exclusively to send updates and information related to our newsletters, concerts, and workshops.
  2. Cruise Announcements and Past Cruisers 
    • If you have previously participated in our cruises and provided your USPS address, you will receive early announcements about future cruises via USPS mail.
  3. Email Subscribers 
    • Those who have provided an email address will also receive cruise information.
  4. Fundraising Communications
    • We may occasionally use your email and USPS addresses to send fundraising letters and communications to support our mission of promoting handbell awareness.
  5. Website Analytics
    • We use Google Analytics and data is anonymized and used to analyze traffic, user behavior, and website performance. This helps us understand how visitors interact with our website and make improvements accordingly.

Opt-Out of Communications

  1. Email
    • You can unsubscribe from our email communications at any time by clicking the "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of our emails. You may also request we remove you by contacting us at https://bellsofthecascades.org/contact
  2. USPS Mailings

Providing Information

While we encourage you to provide both an email and USPS address to receive comprehensive updates, it is not mandatory to provide both. You can choose your preferred method(s) of communication.

Data Security

We implement appropriate security measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. Our website uses secure protocols to ensure the confidentiality of your data.

Third-Party Disclosure

We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer your personal information to outside parties unless we provide you with advance notice and obtain your consent.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website may use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience. Cookies are small files that a site or its service provider transfers to your computer's hard drive through your web browser (if you allow) that enable the site's or service provider's systems to recognize your browser and capture certain information.

How We Use Cookies

  • To understand and save user preferences for future visits.
  • To compile aggregate data about site traffic and site interactions to offer better site experiences and tools in the future.

Managing Cookies

You can choose to have your computer warn you each time a cookie is being sent or turn off all cookies via your browser settings.

Please note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of our website.

Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed to individuals under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have inadvertently received personal information from a child under 13, we will delete such information from our records.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date.

Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us: