Effective Date: 08/01/2025
Stone Mountain Villager (“we,” “our,” or “us”) operates the website https://www.smvillager.com (“Site”) to provide information, news, and resources relevant to residents of Stone Mountain, Georgia. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, and protect your personal information when you interact with our Site.
By using the Site, you agree to the terms outlined in this Privacy Policy.
1. Information We Collect
We collect both personal and non-personal information from users of the Site. This includes:
A. Information You Provide Voluntarily
- Contact Forms: Name, email address, and any content you submit.
- Newsletter Signup: Email address and user preferences.
- User Submissions: Any content submitted to Community Voices, Candidate Directory, or volunteer forms.
B. Information Collected Automatically
- Device & Usage Data: IP address, browser type, pages visited, time spent on the site, and referring URLs.
- Cookies & Similar Technologies: We use cookies to enhance functionality, personalize content, and track user behavior on our Site. You may disable cookies through your browser settings.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
- To operate, maintain, and improve the Site
- To communicate with users (e.g., responses to inquiries or sending newsletters)
- To facilitate public submissions (e.g., opinions, candidate bios, community engagement)
- To comply with legal obligations
- To analyze user behavior and website performance
We do not sell your personal information.
3. Sharing of Information
We may share your information under the following circumstances:
- Service Providers: Third-party vendors (e.g., hosting, analytics, email delivery) who assist in site operations and are contractually obligated to keep your data secure.
- Legal Compliance: If required to comply with a legal obligation, court order, or governmental request.
- Public Contributions: Any content submitted for publication (e.g., Community Voices or Candidate Directory) may be displayed publicly along with your name or affiliation if you provide it.
4. Email Communications
If you sign up for our newsletter or submit forms, we may send you emails regarding updates, news, or engagement opportunities. You may unsubscribe at any time by clicking the “unsubscribe” link in the footer of our emails.
We use a verified third-party email service (e.g., Elastic Email; Mail Chimp; MailPoet) to manage our communications.
5. Data Retention
We retain personal information only for as long as is necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required by law.
6. Your Rights and Choices
Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights:
- The right to access or receive a copy of the personal data we hold about you
- The right to request correction or deletion of your personal information
- The right to opt out of marketing emails
- The right to withdraw consent for data processing (where applicable)
To exercise these rights, contact us at: support@smvillager.com
7. Security
We take appropriate administrative, technical, and physical security measures to protect your personal information. However, no online transmission or storage method is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
8. Children’s Privacy
The Site is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If we become aware that we have collected personal data from a child under 13, we will take steps to delete that information promptly.
9. Third-Party Links
Our Site may contain links to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any external sites you visit.
10. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the “Effective Date” at the top of this page. We encourage users to review this page periodically to stay informed of our privacy practices.
11. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy, please contact:
Stone Mountain Villager
Email: support@smvillager.com
Website: https://www.smvillager.com