Terms of Service

Terms of Service (Terms of Use) for the Itsekiri Association of Northern California

Effective Date: April 5, 2026

Welcome to the Itsekiri Association of Northern California (IANC). These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of our website (www.itsekirincal.org), membership services, events, classes, donation platforms, and any other IANC-operated activities (collectively, the “Services”). By using our Services, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use our Services.

1. Eligibility & Membership

• Membership in IANC is open to anyone who supports our mission of promoting Itsekiri culture, language, and community welfare, regardless of ethnicity or origin.
• To become a voting member, you must complete the membership application, pay any applicable dues (if any), and abide by our bylaws and code of conduct.
• IANC reserves the right to refuse, suspend, or terminate membership or participation in any event for violation of these Terms or our code of conduct, including harassment, fraud, or disruptive behavior.

2. Code of Conduct

All members, event attendees, volunteers, and donors agree to:

• Treat all persons with respect, dignity, and kindness, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, religion, or political views.
• Refrain from hate speech, physical violence, bullying, or any form of discrimination at IANC meetings, events, or online spaces.
• Respect the privacy of other members – do not share personal contact information or photos without explicit consent.
• Comply with all applicable local, state, and federal laws.

Violations may result in a warning, temporary suspension, or permanent expulsion from IANC activities.

3. Events & Registrations

• Event tickets, class registrations, and activity sign-ups are non-transferable unless otherwise stated.
• Refund policy for paid events: Full refund if cancellation is requested at least 7 days before the event; 50% refund if canceled 2–6 days before; no refund for cancellations within 48 hours, unless due to medical emergency or family bereavement (documentation may be required).
• IANC reserves the right to cancel or reschedule any event due to low attendance, weather, public health orders, or other unforeseen circumstances. In such cases, registrants will receive a full refund or credit toward a future event.

4. Donations & Payments

• All donations to IANC are voluntary and non-refundable, unless made in error (e.g., duplicate charge). In case of an erroneous donation, contact us within 30 days.
• IANC is a nonprofit organization. Donations may be tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. You will receive a written acknowledgment for any donation of $250 or more.
• We use third-party payment processors (PayPal, Venmo, Stripe). These Terms do not govern those platforms’ practices; you are subject to their separate terms.

5. Intellectual Property

• All content on our website and in our materials – including text, logos, photographs of IANC events, original Itsekiri lesson plans, and video recordings of cultural performances – is the property of IANC or its licensors.
• You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, or commercially exploit any IANC content without prior written permission. However, you may share our public event flyers and announcements for non-commercial purposes, provided you give credit to IANC.
• Members retain ownership of their own photos or comments shared in our private forums, but by posting, you grant IANC a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use that content for internal or promotional purposes (with appropriate credit unless you request anonymity).

6. User-Generated Content & Conduct

If you post comments, upload photos, or participate in IANC online forums (e.g., WhatsApp group, Facebook page), you agree not to post:

• Offensive, defamatory, or illegal material.
• Spam, advertisements, or solicitations unrelated to IANC.
• Content that violates anyone’s privacy or copyright.

IANC reserves the right to remove any user-generated content and to block users who violate these rules.

7. Disclaimer of Warranties

IANC provides its Services “as is” and “as available” without warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement. We do not warrant that our website will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free of viruses.

8. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, IANC and its officers, directors, volunteers, and agents shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising out of or related to your use of our Services. Our total liability shall not exceed the amount you paid to IANC in the preceding 12 months (if any) or $100, whichever is greater.

This limitation applies to claims for personal injury, property damage, lost data, or any other losses, even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages.

9. Assumption of Risk for In-Person Events

By attending any IANC in-person event (cultural festival, picnic, health screening, etc.), you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to illness, accidents, or injuries. You agree to follow all safety protocols communicated by IANC (e.g., masking, hand sanitizing) and to hold IANC harmless for ordinary negligence. This does not apply to gross negligence or willful misconduct.

10. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless IANC and its representatives from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from your violation of these Terms, your misconduct at an IANC event, or your violation of any law.

11. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

These Terms shall be governed by the laws of the State of California, without regard to its conflict of laws principles. Any dispute arising out of these Terms or your use of IANC Services shall first be submitted to mediation in Alameda County, California. If mediation fails, the dispute shall be resolved by binding arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association, rather than in court. Both parties waive the right to a jury trial or class action.

12. Changes to These Terms

IANC may update these Terms from time to time. We will notify members of material changes via email or a prominent notice on our website. Your continued use of our Services after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

13. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms, to request permission for use of IANC content, or to report a violation, please contact:

Itsekiri Association of Northern California

Attn: Secretary / Legal Contact

2200 International Blvd, Suite B

Oakland, CA 94606

Email: legal@itsekirincal.org

Phone: (510) 555-8742