The NAM currently collects three types of information from its Web site: (1) your IP (Internet Protocol) address; (2) information voluntarily submitted on publication order forms, meeting registration forms or e-mails sent to the Web site administrator, or for access to the Members Only section of our Web site; and, (3) cookies if the user so chooses.

Your IP address often does not identify an individual, but rather is only a temporary name by which an individual obtains access to the NAM Web site. The NAM uses your IP address to help diagnose problems with our server and to administer our Web site quality. We do not use IP addresses to personally identify users. We use a log file of IP addresses to determine which areas of our site visitors like based on the volume of traffic and to better prepare future site content based on the interests of users. We do not track the usage patterns of individual users, except when they click through from e-mails that we send out.

Information voluntarily disclosed to the NAM either online or in writing through publication order forms, meeting registration forms, survey response forms, service enrollment forms and e-mail is added to the relevant NAM database to enable processing of the order or registration, or for appropriate response. This information is usually the name, address and item purchased, meeting attended or topic of interest. The NAM may distribute further relevant information to individuals identified in this way. On occasion, we also contract with third parties for comarketing or other activities related to the NAM’s goals and objectives, and allow them to use selected member information under strict confidentiality agreements. The NAM will use its best efforts to prevent the government from obtaining member or customer information unless required by law.

Information provided to the NAM in non-electronic form may also be used in this way. Individuals who would like to “opt out” of receiving additional communications from the NAM should contact the NAM to have their names removed from our lists. Corrections or other changes may also by made by e-mailing mcox@nam.org or by calling (202) 637-3036.

The NAM endeavors to take appropriate measures to assure the reliability of member records and to protect them from loss, misuse or alteration. Member records are protected from access by Internet users through a firewall.

Use of Cookies

Cookies are bits of information stored on your computer when you visit a Web site. Cookies can be used to store your personalized information such as username and password. At any time, you may choose to use, or not to use, this type of cookies technology to perform personalization on our site. If you choose not to, you must always manually log in to your profile each time you visit the site.

Further information on the NAM’s online privacy policy may be obtained from Maureen Davenport, Senior Vice President of Communications, who is responsible for carrying out the policy. E-mail mdavenport@nam.org or call (202) 637-3134. Additional information is available from the NAM Law Department, law@nam.org.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cookies

Can cookies be used to take a “snapshot” of my hard drive?
Cookies cannot be used to get data or view data off your hard drive—early Javascript implementations could allegedly do this. This problem has been solved along with more serious Java exploits and no longer poses any threat. A server can only get data from the cookie it wrote to the cookie file. The server must be on the same domain from which the cookie was set.

Can someone from one site access the cookie information written by another site?
A site can only access a cookie that has been sent from its own domain. It cannot access any other cookies from your computer.