Privacy Policy

Last updated: October 20, 2026

The Torrey Pines Gulls (TPG) is a nonprofit recreational club dedicated to radio-controlled soaring. This policy explains what personal information we collect through this website and our membership process, how we use it, and the choices you have. We collect only what we need to run the club, and we never sell member information.

Information We Collect

Information you give us. When you create an account we collect your name, email address, a password (which we store only as a secure hash), and optionally your Discord username. When you register or renew your membership we also collect your mailing address, phone number, date of birth, your Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) number and its expiration date, and answers to club questions such as the disciplines and fields you fly, your LSF levels, whether you are rated at the Gliderport, whether you want training or a gate key, your preferred way of being contacted, and any comments you choose to share with us.

Payment information. Membership dues and other payments are processed by PayPal. We never see or store your card or bank details. We keep a record of the transaction itself: the PayPal order and transaction identifiers, the amount, the date, what the payment was for, and the email address PayPal reports for the payer.

Information collected automatically. Our web server and analytics record ordinary technical details of a visit, such as your IP address, browser and device type, and the pages you view. When you sign in, we store a session record that includes your IP address and browser so you stay signed in and so we can detect suspicious activity.

How We Use Information

We use the information above to administer memberships and renewals, verify AMA membership as our insurance and site agreements require, issue membership cards and gate access, organize contests, meetings, and other club activities, communicate with members, keep records required for club governance, and protect our accounts and website from abuse. Aggregate answers to membership questions help the officers plan events and improve the club.

Cookies and Analytics

We use a small number of cookies. Two are necessary: one keeps you signed in to your account, and one protects forms against cross-site request forgery. We also use Google Analytics to understand, in aggregate, how the site is used. You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings, though doing so will prevent you from signing in.

How We Share Information

We do not sell or rent member information, and we do not share it with advertisers. We share it only in these situations:

• Club officers and volunteers who need it to administer memberships, events, and field access.
• Service providers that help us operate, including Google (document hosting, Google Groups mailing lists, and analytics), PayPal (payments), and Discord (member discussion). These companies handle information under their own privacy policies.
• The Academy of Model Aeronautics, to confirm that a member's AMA registration is current.
• When required by law, or when necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of the club, our members, or the public.

Data Security

We take reasonable precautions to protect member information, including serving this site over an encrypted connection, storing passwords only as hashes, limiting access to member records to the officers and volunteers who need it, and locking accounts after repeated failed sign-in attempts. No system is perfectly secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

How Long We Keep Information

We keep member information for as long as you have an account with us and afterwards only as long as reasonably necessary for club administration, historical club records, and any applicable legal or accounting requirements. Payment records are retained as needed for the club's financial records.

Your Choices and Rights

You can view and update your name, email address, Discord username, and password at any time from My Account, and you may update your membership details when you renew. You may contact us to correct your information, ask what we hold about you, change how we communicate with you, or request that your information be removed. We honor removal requests except where we must keep certain records for legal or accounting reasons. Club emails that are not essential to your membership include a way to unsubscribe, and you can leave our Discord server or Google Group at any time.

Children's Privacy

This website is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect information from them. The club welcomes junior members, but a parent or legal guardian must create the account and provide the registration information on their behalf. If you believe a child has given us information without a guardian's involvement, please contact us and we will delete it.

Links to Other Sites

Our site links to other organizations, vendors, and resources. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of sites we do not operate, and we encourage you to read their policies.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy as the club's activities and services change. When we do, we will revise the date at the top of this page. Significant changes will be communicated to members through our usual channels.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this policy or about the information we hold, please contact us through our website.