Privacy Policy

Houston Regional Veterans Chamber of Commerce (HRVCC)
Effective Date: September 10, 2026

Houston Regional Veterans Chamber of Commerce ("HRVCC," "we," "us," or "our") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you provide to us.

This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use and protect that information, our use of cookies and tracking technologies, your privacy choices and rights, and our practices concerning SMS/text-message consent and mobile information.

This Privacy Policy applies when you visit HRVCC.org, complete a form, quiz, survey, or application, apply for membership, register for an event or program, communicate with HRVCC, subscribe to communications, or otherwise interact with HRVCC.

1. Information We Collect

HRVCC may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide, including:

• First and last name

• Email address

• Mobile or telephone number

• Business or organization name

• Business address or mailing address

• Job title or role

• Business industry

• Business size and revenue range

• Membership information

• Membership application information

• Event and program registration information

• Sponsorship or partnership information

• Responses submitted through forms, surveys, quizzes, and assessments

• Communications and inquiries submitted to HRVCC

• Email and SMS communication preferences

• SMS opt-in and opt-out records

• Payment and transaction information

• Other information you voluntarily provide to HRVCC

We may also automatically collect certain technical information when you interact with our website, including:

• IP address

• Browser type

• Device type

• Operating system

• Referring website or page

• Pages viewed

• Date and time of visits

• Website interactions

• Cookie and similar technology information

2. How We Use Your Information

HRVCC may use the information we collect to:

• Process and evaluate membership applications

• Administer HRVCC memberships and member benefits

• Respond to membership inquiries

• Provide information requested by you

• Communicate with prospective and current members

• Follow up after membership quizzes, applications, forms, or inquiries

• Administer events, programs, workshops, and registrations

• Provide event and appointment reminders

• Deliver business resources, education, and member information

• Communicate information about HRVCC programs, opportunities, events, and initiatives

• Administer sponsorships and partnerships

• Maintain organizational and membership records

• Maintain communication preferences and consent records

• Process payments and transactions

• Provide customer or member support

• Improve HRVCC's website, programs, services, and member experience

• Analyze website usage and performance

• Protect against fraud, misuse, and security incidents

• Meet legal, regulatory, financial, and organizational obligations

We use personal information only for legitimate organizational purposes and purposes consistent with the reason the information was provided.

3. SMS/Text Messaging and Opt-In

HRVCC may provide optional SMS/text-message communications.

Receiving SMS messages from HRVCC is voluntary.

Individuals may opt in to SMS communications through an HRVCC website, form, membership application, membership quiz, survey, event registration, or another clearly disclosed opt-in method.

When SMS consent is requested electronically, the individual is presented with disclosure language explaining the types of messages they are agreeing to receive.

Providing a mobile telephone number alone does not constitute consent to receive marketing text messages from HRVCC.

Where applicable, users must affirmatively indicate their consent to receive SMS communications. SMS consent is not a condition of purchasing goods or services, applying for membership, or participating in HRVCC programs.

Depending on the consent provided, HRVCC SMS messages may include:

• Membership inquiry follow-ups

• Membership application reminders and updates

• Membership-related communications

• Event and program information

• Registration and event reminders

• Requested information

• Chamber announcements

• Business resources and opportunities

• HRVCC news and updates

• Other communications consistent with the consent provided

Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply.

Recipients may reply STOP at any time to opt out of SMS messages.

Recipients may reply HELP for assistance.

Consent to receive SMS communications may be withdrawn at any time.

4. SMS Consent and Mobile Information — No Sharing for Marketing

HRVCC does not sell, rent, share, or disclose SMS opt-in information or mobile telephone numbers to third parties or affiliates for their own marketing or promotional purposes.

SMS consent is specific to HRVCC and is not transferred, sold, rented, or provided to another organization for that organization's marketing purposes.

No mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes.

Information sharing with subcontractors or service providers in support services, such as customer service or communications infrastructure, is permitted only as necessary to provide services on HRVCC's behalf. All other use-case categories exclude text-messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties for their own marketing or promotional purposes.

HRVCC may use technology and communications service providers to deliver messages on HRVCC's behalf. Such providers may process mobile information as necessary to provide their services to HRVCC, but this does not authorize them to use HRVCC's SMS opt-in information for their own marketing purposes.

5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

HRVCC and service providers acting on our behalf may use cookies and similar technologies to operate, secure, understand, and improve our website.

These technologies may collect information such as:

• IP address

• Browser and device information

• Pages visited

• Referring pages

• Time spent on pages

• Website interactions

• General website usage information

We may use this information to:

• Maintain website functionality

• Remember user preferences

• Understand how visitors use our website

• Measure website performance

• Improve website content and user experience

• Detect technical or security issues

• Measure the effectiveness of HRVCC communications and outreach

Third-party services used on our website may also place cookies or use similar technologies according to their own privacy practices.

Users may control or disable certain cookies through their browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect the functionality of some website features.

6. How We Share Information

HRVCC does not sell personal information for monetary consideration.

We may disclose personal information to service providers that perform legitimate services on HRVCC's behalf, including providers supporting:

• Website hosting

• Customer relationship management

• Email delivery

• SMS delivery

• Event registration

• Payment processing

• Data storage

• Analytics

• Cybersecurity

• Membership administration

These providers may access information only as reasonably necessary to perform services on HRVCC's behalf and subject to applicable contractual or legal obligations.

We may also disclose information when required by law, legal process, governmental request, or when reasonably necessary to protect the rights, safety, security, or property of HRVCC, our members, users, or others.

For clarity, SMS opt-in data and consent are not shared with third parties or affiliates for their own marketing or promotional purposes.

7. Data Security Practices

HRVCC uses reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards designed to protect personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, loss, or misuse.

Our security practices may include, as appropriate:

• Access controls for systems containing personal information

• Limiting access to individuals who need information to perform authorized responsibilities

• Authentication and account-security measures

• Use of reputable technology and service providers

• Appropriate protection of organizational systems and accounts

• Maintaining backups where appropriate

• Reviewing and updating organizational technology and security practices

While HRVCC takes reasonable measures to protect information, no website, internet transmission, electronic communication, or data-storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

8. Data Retention

HRVCC may retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary to:

• Provide requested services

• Administer memberships

• Maintain membership and organizational records

• Maintain communication consent and opt-out records

• Complete transactions

• Fulfill contractual obligations

• Resolve disputes

• Meet legal, accounting, regulatory, or reporting requirements

• Protect HRVCC's legitimate interests

Information that is no longer reasonably required may be deleted, anonymized, or retained when required by law or legitimate organizational recordkeeping requirements.

9. Your Privacy Rights and Choices

You may have the right or ability, depending on applicable law and the nature of your relationship with HRVCC, to:

• Request information about personal information HRVCC maintains about you

• Request correction of inaccurate information

• Update your contact information

• Update your communication preferences

• Unsubscribe from eligible marketing emails

• Opt out of SMS/text communications

• Request deletion of certain personal information where applicable

• Ask questions about how your information is being used

SMS Opt-Out

To stop receiving SMS messages from HRVCC, reply:

STOP

You may receive a confirmation that your opt-out request has been processed.

SMS Help

For assistance with HRVCC text messaging, reply:

HELP

Email Unsubscribe

Marketing emails may contain an unsubscribe link that can be used to stop eligible marketing communications.

Certain transactional, administrative, membership, or service-related communications may continue when necessary to administer an existing relationship or requested service.

To request an update or correction to your information, you may also contact HRVCC using the information provided below.

10. Member Directory and Public Information

Certain HRVCC membership benefits may include participation in a public business or member directory.

Information specifically provided or authorized for public display may include:

• Business name

• Business contact information

• Website

• Industry

• Business description

• Other business information intended for publication

Information designated for public display is treated differently from private account information, communication preferences, SMS consent records, and other non-public information.

11. Payment Information

HRVCC may use third-party payment processors to process membership dues, event registrations, sponsorships, or other payments.

Payment processors may collect and process financial information according to their own terms and privacy practices.

HRVCC does not intend to store complete payment-card information on its own systems when payments are handled through an authorized third-party processor.

12. Third-Party Websites and Services

HRVCC.org may contain links to third-party websites, applications, or services.

HRVCC is not responsible for the privacy, security, or content practices of independently operated third-party services.

We encourage users to review the privacy policies of third-party websites and services they choose to use.

13. Children's Privacy

HRVCC's website, membership offerings, and business programs are not directed toward children under 13.

HRVCC does not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 through its general website services.

14. Changes to This Privacy Policy

HRVCC may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes to our programs, technologies, organizational practices, or legal requirements.

The current version will be published on HRVCC.org with its effective date.

15. Contact HRVCC

Questions about this Privacy Policy, your personal information, communication preferences, or HRVCC's privacy practices may be directed to:

Houston Regional Veterans Chamber of Commerce (HRVCC)
1201 Fannin Street, Suite 262
Houston, Texas 77002
Email: [email protected]
Website: hrvcc.org