Privacy Policy

Effective Date: August 18, 2026

The Greater Burgess Community Association (“GBCA,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how information is collected, used, stored, and shared when you visit greaterburgesscommunity.org, use the GBCA mobile application, become a member, contact us, or otherwise use our services.

GBCA is a community membership association serving residents, neighborhoods, and businesses in the Greater Burgess area of Horry County, South Carolina. GBCA does not provide insurance, banking, healthcare, investment, or other regulated financial services.

1. Information We Collect

Information You Provide Through the Website

We may collect information that you voluntarily provide when you:

Create or manage a membership account
Join or renew a membership
Submit a contact form
Contact GBCA by email
Register for an event or program
Participate in another GBCA activity

This information may include:

Name
Email address
Telephone number
Mailing address
Username and account information
Membership type or level
Membership status and expiration date
Neighborhood, organization, or business affiliation
Messages, questions, or comments submitted to GBCA
Transaction details, such as the date, amount, and status of a membership payment

Payment Information

Membership payments may be processed by a third-party payment provider. Payment-card information is entered into and processed by that provider.

GBCA does not intentionally store complete credit- or debit-card numbers in the GBCA mobile application. GBCA may receive limited transaction information needed to confirm payment, maintain membership records, issue receipts, and respond to payment questions.

The payment provider’s handling of payment information is governed by its own privacy policy and security practices.

Information Collected Automatically by the Website

When you visit the website, the website, hosting provider, security services, and website plugins may automatically receive technical information such as:

Internet Protocol address
Browser and device type
Operating system
Date and time of access
Pages viewed
Referring website
Cookie or session identifiers
Website security and diagnostic information

We use this information to operate, secure, troubleshoot, and improve the website.

2. Information Handled by the GBCA Mobile App

Most features of the GBCA mobile app—including public news, events, alerts, community information, and business perks—can be used without creating an account or signing in.

Member Center

If a user chooses to open the Member Center, the app displays GBCA’s existing secure membership website. Membership authentication and account management are handled by the website.

The native mobile app:

Does not maintain a separate membership database
Does not receive or store the member’s password
Does not store complete payment-card information
Does not sell member information
Does not use member information for advertising or tracking

Perk Card and Expiration Information

To allow a household to continue displaying its GBCA Perk Card without signing in every time, the app may store limited information locally on the user’s device, including:

The membership-card webpage address
Membership expiration date
Whether a locally generated expiration reminder should be displayed

This information remains on the user’s device and is used to display the Perk Card and membership reminders. GBCA does not operate an app database that receives this locally stored card information.

Users can remove this locally stored information by signing out or deleting the app.

News, Events, and Public Alerts

The app retrieves public information from:

The GBCA website
The National Weather Service
Other public sources identified within the app

When the app requests online information, the service providing that information may receive standard network information, such as the device’s Internet Protocol address and request time.

Notifications

If a user enables notifications, the app may schedule meeting and membership-expiration reminders on the user’s device.

Users can disable notifications at any time through their device settings. GBCA does not use notification permission for advertising.

Calendar Access

The app requests calendar access only when a user chooses to add a GBCA event to the device’s calendar.

The app does not upload or collect the contents of the user’s calendar. Users can revoke calendar permission through their device settings.

Device Location

The app does not request or collect precise device location. Public-weather alerts are selected using the National Weather Service zone for Horry County rather than the user’s GPS location.

3. How We Use Information

GBCA may use information to:

Create and maintain membership accounts
Process membership applications and renewals
Confirm membership status
Provide membership benefits and Perk Cards
Respond to questions, requests, and community concerns
Send membership, meeting, event, or community communications
Maintain accurate organizational and transaction records
Operate, secure, diagnose, and improve the website and app
Prevent fraud, abuse, and unauthorized access
Comply with applicable legal and accounting obligations
Protect the rights, safety, and property of GBCA, its members, and the public

GBCA does not use personal information for behavioral advertising.

4. Cookies and Similar Technologies

The website may use cookies and similar technologies to:

Keep users signed in
Remember website preferences
Operate membership and contact forms
Maintain website security
Prevent spam and fraudulent activity
Understand general website performance and usage

Browser settings may allow users to block or delete cookies. Disabling necessary cookies may prevent certain website or membership features from working correctly.

The GBCA mobile app does not use locally stored Perk Card or expiration information for advertising or cross-app tracking.

5. How We Share Information

GBCA does not sell or rent personal information.

We may disclose limited information to service providers that assist us with:

Website hosting and maintenance
Membership-account administration
Payment processing
Email delivery
Website security and spam prevention
Technical support
Data storage and backups
Legal, accounting, or administrative services

Service providers are permitted to use information only as needed to provide their services or comply with applicable law. GBCA expects service providers with access to personal information to maintain protections consistent with this Privacy Policy and applicable privacy requirements.

We may also disclose information:

When required by law, subpoena, court order, or other legal process
To investigate fraud, misuse, or security incidents
To protect GBCA’s rights, property, members, volunteers, or the public
With the user’s direction or consent

Links to external websites—such as Facebook, the National Weather Service, participating businesses, and payment providers—are governed by those services’ own privacy policies.

6. Data Retention

GBCA retains personal information only as long as reasonably necessary to:

Maintain active and historical membership records
Provide requested services
Complete transactions
Meet tax, accounting, nonprofit-governance, and legal requirements
Resolve disputes
Prevent fraud or abuse
Enforce agreements

Retention periods may vary depending on the type of record and applicable requirements. Information that is no longer reasonably necessary will be deleted, anonymized, or securely disposed of when practical.

Locally stored information in the mobile app remains on the device until it is replaced, cleared through the app, or removed when the app is deleted.

7. Data Security

GBCA uses reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards appropriate to the nature of the information it maintains.

However, no website, mobile application, electronic transmission, or storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Users are responsible for protecting their passwords and should notify GBCA if they believe their membership account has been accessed without authorization.

8. Your Privacy Choices and Rights

Users may contact GBCA to request:

Access to personal information maintained by GBCA
Correction of inaccurate information
Deletion of personal information
Closure of a membership account
Withdrawal from optional communications
Additional information about GBCA’s privacy practices

Requests may be sent to:

in**@*********************ty.org

GBCA may need to verify the requester’s identity before completing a request. Certain information may be retained when reasonably necessary for legal, accounting, security, transaction, or nonprofit recordkeeping purposes.

Users can also:

Disable app notifications in device settings
Revoke calendar access in device settings
Sign out of the membership website
Delete locally stored app information by deleting the app
Unsubscribe from optional emails using the instructions in the message or by contacting GBCA

9. Children’s Privacy

The GBCA website and mobile app are intended for a general adult audience and are not directed to children under 13.

GBCA does not knowingly collect personal information through the website or app from children under 13 without appropriate parental consent. If a parent or guardian believes that a child has submitted personal information, please contact GBCA so the information can be reviewed and deleted when appropriate.

10. Third-Party Websites and Services

The website and app may contain links to services not operated by GBCA. GBCA is not responsible for the content, availability, security, or privacy practices of those third parties.

Users should review the privacy policy of each outside service they choose to use.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

GBCA may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in its services, technology, legal obligations, or privacy practices.

The updated policy will be posted on this page with a revised effective date. Material changes may also be communicated through the website, app, or other appropriate means.

12. Contact Us

Questions, privacy requests, and concerns may be directed to:

Greater Burgess Community Association
P.O. Box 1055
Murrells Inlet, SC 29576
Email: in**@*********************ty.org
Website: https://greaterburgesscommunity.org