Privacy Statement

MEABT Privacy Statement

I. Introduction

The Maine Education Association Benefits Trust ("MEABT") values the trust and privacy of its members and other supporters. This Privacy Policy sets forth MEABT's practices regarding: (1) what personal information we collect about you - both online via the MEABT website and MEABT Intranet and offline via traditional, hard copy forms; (2) how we use that information; (3) under what circumstances we disclose it; (4) what choices are available to you regarding such information collection; and, (5) what security we use to protect such information. This Privacy Policy also provides some additional information for users of the MEABT website and MEABT Intranet.

II. Definitions

As used in this Privacy Policy, the following terms have the meanings indicated below:

The term "we" or "us" means MEABT.

   1. The term "you" means a current or former MEABT member or other person who has provided personal information to us in connection with obtaining an MEABT service (e.g. a person who  subscribes to an MEABT-produced electronic newsletter).
   2. The term "personal information" means any piece of information that on its own can specifically identify a current or former MEABT member or other person who has provided personal information to us in connection with obtaining an MEABT service. This would include, but is not limited to, full name, postal address or e-mail address.
   3. The term "MEABT website" means MEABT's external website located at:MEABT.org, maine.nea.org/meabt, and any future websites that we may develop.
   4. The term "MEABT Intranet" means MEABT's internal, private, and secured website for members, board members, local leaders, staff, or any other entity created by MEABT.
   5. The term "MEABT-related organizations" means MEA's Members, MEABT's Member, NEA foundation, and any other entity created by MEABT.
   6. The term "third party" means a legal entity that is separate and independent from MEABT, its state and local affiliates, any MEA-related organization, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, or PATH, .
   7. The term "cookie" means a small file that is placed on your computer that allows a website to store, and sometimes track, information about how you use that website.
   8. The term "discussion forum" means an asynchronous website component that enables users to exchange ideas by posting questions and answers on relevant subjects. Discussion forums are also commonly referred to as "discussion groups," "discussion boards," "message boards," "bulletin boards," and "online forums."

III. Personal Information Collected

We may collect personal information about you from the following sources:

   1. Personal Information that you voluntarily provide to us on MEABT forms - whether online via the MEABT website or MEABT Intranet or offline via traditional, hard copy forms (such as your name, postal address, telephone number, e-mail address, etc.).
   2. Other Personal Information that you voluntarily provide to us via the MEABT website or MEABT Intranet (such as an e-mail address if you subscribe to an MEABT-produced electronic newsletter or other personal information contained in an e-mail that you send to us via the feedback feature of the MEABT website).
   3. Personal Information that we receive from our state affiliates or other MEABT-related organizations (such as your name, postal address, telephone number, e-mail address, etc.).
   4. Personal Information that we receive from third parties (such as name, postal address, telephone number, e-mail address, etc.) in connection with the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and PATH).

IV. How We Use That Information

The personal information that MEBTA collects about you helps us and MEABT-related organizations to efficiently and effectively provide you with valuable member benefits.
V. Information Sharing

In order to provide you with efficient and effective representation and member benefits, we may share all of the personal information that we collect about you, as described in Section III above, with MEABT-related organizations, as well as third parties that perform services on our behalf.

Additionally, we may share any of the personal information that we collect about you, as described in Section III above, with certain third parties that share our interests or as otherwise permitted by law.

VI. Available Choices

Any personal information that you provide to us is voluntary. MEABT members may update their personal information at any time. Please use this link to contact us.

If you subscribe to any MEABT-produced electronic newsletter, you may cancel your subscription at any time by following the instructions at the bottom of all such newsletters. If you have any problems canceling such a subscription, please contact us directly at: info@meabt.org.

VII. Your California Privacy Rights

California residents have a right under state law to ask entities with whom they have an established business relationship to provide certain information regarding the sharing of personal information for direct marketing purposes during the past year. MEABT will honor such a request coming from any current or former MEABT member or other person who has provided personal information to us in connection with obtaining an MEABT product or service-whether residing in California or not. Simply submit a request to us at one of the following addresses: info@meabt.org or MEABT, 35 Community Drive, Augusta, ME 04330 and we will respond within thirty days of receiving your request.

VIII. Information Security

We maintain administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to: (1) insure the security and confidentiality of your personal information; (2) protect against any anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of such information; and (3) protect against unauthorized access to or use of such information. For more information on our information security, contact MEABT at info@mea.org to request a copy of the MEABT Information Security Program.

IX. Additional Information for Users of the MEABT Web Site or MEABT Intranet

   1. Collection and Use of Non-Personal Information
      If you use the MEABT website or the MEABT Intranet, you provide us with certain non-personal information in addition to any personal information that you may voluntarily provide. For example, if you browse the MEABT website or MEABT Intranet or download information, our operating system automatically records the following non-personal information:
         1. The Internet domain for your Internet service (such as "xcompany.com" or "xcompany.net" if you use a private Internet access account, or "yourcollege.edu" if you connect from a college or university domain);
         2. The type of browser that you use (such as "America Online version 7" or "Microsoft Internet Explorer 8");
         3. The type of operating system that you use (such as Windows or Macintosh);
         4. The date and time that you visit the MEABT website or MEABT Intranet and the webpages that you view;
         5. The address of the previous website that you visited if you linked to us from another website; and
         6. The address of the next website that you visit if you link to it from the MEABT website or MEABT Intranet.

We use the above non-personal information to diagnose technical problems and track user interests so that we can provide content that interests you.

We gather this non-personal information in the aggregate and we share it in the same manner that we share personal information, as described in Section V above.

   2. Cookies
      We use cookies to track what you are viewing when you visit the MEABT website and MEABT Intranet, and to enhance your user experience. In order to provide you with customized content and an enhanced user experience, certain cookies used by MEABT identify you as an individual. If you are concerned about MEABT's use of cookies, check your Internet browser. Most have a setting that will allow you to reject cookies. However, some MEABT features and services may not function properly if your cookies are disabled.

      Additionally, MEABT allows third parties who advertise or provide content on the MEABT website or MEABT Intranet to use cookies. Third parties' use of cookies is subject to their own privacy policies, and is not governed by this Privacy Policy.

   3. Discussion Forums
      If you participate in a discussion forum on the MEABT website or MEABT Intranet, your comments, along with any personal information that you voluntarily disclose, may be collected, used, and shared by anyone with access to that forum. We are not responsible for the personal information that you choose to submit in a discussion forum.

   4. Children
      The MEABT website and MEABT Intranet are general websites, and we do not knowingly collect any personal information from children under the age of 13.

   5. External Links
      This Privacy Policy applies only to the MEABT website and MEABT Intranet. It does not cover any websites that are linked to or from the MEABT website or MEABT Intranet for which we are not responsible ("linked-sites"). These linked-sites will have their own policies and practices which may be different from ours. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the policies and practices of the linked-sites especially if you provide personal information to them.

X. Effective Date, Amendments, and Consent to This Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy is effective August 1, 2010. We retain the right to amend or otherwise update this Privacy Policy at any time for any reason. By joining MEABT or using the MEABT website or MEABT Intranet, you consent to the collection, use, and sharing of personal information as we have described herein. If we amend or update our Privacy Policy, we will post the changes online at the MEABT website and MEABT Intranet so that you are always aware of MEABT's current practices. You may also contact us at info@meabt.org at any time to request an up-to-date hard copy version of the Privacy Policy.

XI. Contact Us

If you have any questions regarding this Privacy Policy, you can contact MEABT at info@meabt.org.