Privacy Policy

Effective Date: November 23rd, 2022
Revised: July 6th, 2026

1. Who We Are

Shaping Our Appalachian Region
Website: https://soar-ky.org/

2. Information We Collect

We collect information to better serve you and improve our programs.

Information you provide

Name, email, phone number, or organization details submitted through forms
Information shared when you register for events or programs
Comments or content you choose to submit
Information collected automatically
IP address
Browser and device information
Pages visited and time spent on the site

This helps us improve performance, security, and user experience.

3. Comments

When you leave a comment:

We collect the information shown in the form
We collect your IP address and browser details to help prevent spam

Comments may be reviewed through automated spam detection services.

If you use a profile image service like Gravatar, an anonymized version of your email may be shared to display your profile image. Once approved, your comment may be visible publicly.

4. Media Uploads

If you upload images to the website, avoid including embedded location data (EXIF GPS).

Visitors may be able to download images and extract location data.

5. Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies to improve your experience and understand how our website is used.

Cookies help:

Remember your preferences
Improve site functionality
Analyze website performance
Types of cookies we use

Essential cookies

Support core website functionality

Preference cookies

Save information like your name or email when submitting forms

Analytics cookies

Help us understand how visitors use the site

Specific cookie use on this site

Comment cookies may store your name and email for convenience (up to 1 year)
Temporary cookies help determine if your browser accepts cookies
Content editing cookies may store limited session data (expires within 1 day)

Managing cookies

You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings.

Some parts of the site may not function properly if cookies are disabled.

6. Embedded Content from Other Websites

Pages on this site may include embedded content such as videos, images, or articles.

Embedded content behaves the same as if you visited the external website directly.

These third-party sites may:

Collect data about you
Use cookies
Track your interactions

We are not responsible for their privacy practices.

7. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information.

We may share limited data:

With spam detection services to protect the site
With trusted tools that support our website and communications
When required for legal or security purposes

8. How Long We Keep Your Data

Comments and related metadata may be stored indefinitely

This allows us to:

Recognize repeat commenters
Maintain site functionality
Improve moderation and security

9. Your Rights and Choices

You have control over your information.

You can:

Request a copy of your data
Request corrections
Request deletion of your data

Some data may be retained if required for legal or administrative purposes.

To make a request, contact: marketing@soar-ky.org

10. Data Security

We take reasonable steps to protect your information.

No system is completely secure, so please use discretion when sharing information online.

11. SMS Terms and Conditions

By opting in to receive SMS messages from Shaping Our Appalachian Region (“SOAR”), you agree to receive recurring text messages related to programs, services, events, and communications based on your preferences.

Program Description

SMS messages may include:

Responses to your inquiries
Event reminders and updates
Program and service information
Other communications related to your participation with SOAR

One-to-One Consent

By opting into our SMS program, you provide consent to receive messages from Shaping Our Appalachian Region only.

Your consent is not shared with third parties, affiliates, or other organizations without your express permission. Your consent is voluntary and is not a condition of receiving services.

Message Frequency

Message frequency varies depending on your interaction with SOAR but will generally not exceed 3 to 5 messages per day, except when urgent notifications are necessary.

Opt Out

You may opt out at any time by replying STOP to any text message.

After opting out, you will receive one confirmation message and will no longer receive SMS communications unless you opt in again.

Help

Reply HELP to any message for assistance or contact us:

Email: feedback@soar-ky.org

Phone: (606) 766-1160

You may also visit:
https://soar-ky.org/contact

Message and Data Rates

Message and data rates may apply according to your mobile carrier’s plan. SOAR is not responsible for carrier charges.

Consent Records

To comply with applicable federal regulations, we maintain records of SMS opt-ins and opt-outs, including consent method, date, and timestamp.

Data Sharing

We never sell your mobile number or SMS consent information.

We may share limited information with trusted service providers, such as mobile carriers or SMS delivery platforms, solely to facilitate message delivery. These providers are required to protect your information.

We also honor applicable National Do Not Call (DNC) protections. If you are registered on the National Do Not Call Registry, we will only send SMS messages after receiving your express consent.

Changes to SMS Terms

We may update these SMS Terms and Conditions to reflect changes in applicable laws or our messaging practices. Material updates will be posted on this page and may also be communicated by SMS when appropriate.

Continued participation in our SMS program constitutes acceptance of any revised terms.

For more information about our SMS Terms & Conditions, please visit our Communications Policy page.

12. Third-Party Services

We may use trusted third-party tools (such as analytics or embedded content providers) to support our website.

These services may process limited data to function properly.

13. Updates to This Policy

We may update this policy as needed.

Updates will be posted on this page with a revised effective date.

14. Contact Us

If you have questions about this policy:

Shaping Our Appalachian Region
feedback@soar-ky.org
soar-ky.org/contact