BROWN COUNTY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY

Governing Use of the BCGS Website and Related Services

Last Updated: October 19, 2026

By   accessing or using the Brown County Genealogical Society website — located at   https://www.brcountyksgs.org or any successor domain operated by BCGS — you agree to   be bound by these Terms and Conditions. These Terms apply to all visitors,   members, donors, and other users of the site. If you do not agree to these   Terms, please do not access or use the BCGS website.

The Brown County Genealogical Society ("BCGS," "we," "us," or "our") has prepared these Terms and Conditions to ensure safe,  respectful, and productive experience for all users of our website and online services. We encourage you to read them carefully. Questions about these Terms are always welcome — contact information is provided at the end of this document.

The Brown County Genealogical Society is a nonprofit organization incorporated under the laws of the State of Kansas and recognized as tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code §501(c)(3) or a substantially similar provision. BCGS is dedicated to:

● Preserving genealogical, historical, and vital records relevant to Brown County and the surrounding region;

● Supporting community members and researchers engaged in family history research;

● Providing educational programs, publications, and resources related to genealogy; and

● Fostering connections among individuals who share an interest in preserving Kansas heritage.

The BCGS website serves as an informational hub and membership resource for the Society, offering access to research guides, event information, membership enrollment, donation processing, and general information about BCGS programs and activities. It is operated by volunteers and staff on behalf of the BCGS membership and the broader community.

Users of the BCGS website are expected to engage with the site honestly, respectfully, and in accordance with these Terms. By using this site, you agree to the following:

When registering for membership, signing up for events, submitting research inquiries, or making donations, you agree to provide complete, current, and accurate information. Submitting false, misleading, or fraudulent information is prohibited and may result in suspension or termination of access.

If you create an account or are issued login credentials to access member-only areas of the BCGS website, you are solely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of those credentials. You agree not to share your login information with others and to notify BCGS promptly if you suspect unauthorized use of your account.

Users agree not to impersonate any person or entity, misrepresent their affiliation with BCGS or any other organization, or engage in any conduct that could harm other users, BCGS volunteers, or the Society's reputation.

The BCGS website is provided for lawful, mission-aligned purposes. Users are encouraged to make full use of the site's resources within the following guidelines.

The following uses of the BCGS website are expressly permitted:

● Conducting genealogical research using resources provided on the site;

● Browsing informational pages about BCGS programs, history, and activities;

● Registering for BCGS membership;

● Signing up for events, workshops, seminars, and other BCGS programs;

● Making voluntary donations in support of the Society's mission; and

● Contacting BCGS through available contact forms or listed contact information.

The following uses are strictly prohibited:

● Scraping, crawling, or systematically downloading site content using automated tools or bots without prior written permission from BCGS;

● Attempting to gain unauthorized access to any part of the site, its servers, or associated databases;

● Submitting spam, unsolicited advertising, or any content that is unlawful, defamatory, harassing, or obscene;

● Violating or infringing the privacy, intellectual property, or other rights of BCGS or any third party;

● Using the site for commercial solicitation, advertising, or promotional activities without express written permission from BCGS; and

● Engaging in any activity that interferes with or disrupts the operation of the website or its related services.

BCGS reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend or permanently terminate a user's access to the website for any violation of this Acceptable Use Policy or these Terms and Conditions, without prior notice and without liability.

All content published on the BCGS website — including but not limited to text, photographs, graphics, logos, research guides, newsletters, databases, member directories, and other materials — is owned by or licensed to the Brown County Genealogical Society. This content is protected by applicable United States copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

Users may not reproduce, distribute, modify, publicly display, sell, or commercially exploit any BCGS content without prior written permission from BCGS. Unauthorized use of BCGS content may constitute copyright infringement and may expose the user to legal liability.

Users are permitted to print or save limited portions of BCGS content for personal, non-commercial, or educational use, provided that clear attribution is given to the Brown County Genealogical Society and that no modifications are made to the content. Such permitted use does not transfer any ownership rights to the user.

If you submit research materials, photographs, family histories, documents, corrections, or other content to BCGS through the website or related channels, you grant BCGS a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, worldwide license to use, display, reproduce, archive, and distribute that content in furtherance of its mission.

By submitting content, you represent and warrant that: (a) you own or have the legal right to submit the content; (b) the content does not infringe the rights of any third party; and (c) the content does not violate any applicable law. BCGS reserves the right to decline, remove, or modify submitted content at its discretion.

Membership in the Brown County Genealogical Society may be required to access certain resources, databases, publications, or member-only areas of the website. BCGS offers various membership tiers, each with associated benefits and fees as established by the BCGS Board of Directors.

Membership fees and tier structures are set by the BCGS Board and are subject to change. Changes to membership fees will be announced with reasonable advance notice to existing members. Current fee schedules are available on the BCGS website or upon request.

Members agree to:

● Keep their contact information (name, mailing address, email address) current and accurate;

● Renew membership before or promptly after expiration to maintain uninterrupted access; and

● Abide by these Terms and Conditions and the BCGS bylaws and any adopted policies.

BCGS reserves the right to revoke or suspend membership for violation of these Terms and Conditions, the BCGS bylaws, or any adopted society policies. Such action may be taken by the BCGS Board following reasonable notice to the affected member, except in cases involving egregious conduct where immediate action is warranted.

Membership dues are generally non-refundable once paid. Refunds or credits for dues may be considered on a case-by-case basis at the sole discretion of the BCGS Board. Requests for refunds should be submitted in writing to the BCGS Board or designated officer.

BCGS may periodically host workshops, seminars, cemetery walks, research days, annual meetings, and other community events. Information about upcoming events will be posted on the BCGS website as available.

Some events may require advance registration and/or payment of a registration fee. Any applicable fees will be clearly stated at the time of registration. By completing registration for a fee-based event, you agree to pay the stated fee in full.

If you need to cancel your event registration, please notify BCGS as soon as possible. Refunds for event registration fees are issued at BCGS's discretion. As a general guideline:

● Cancellations received at least seven (7) days before the event date will typically be eligible for a full refund or event credit;

● Cancellations received fewer than seven (7) days before the event may not be eligible for a refund, depending on event costs already incurred; and

● No-shows without prior notice are generally not eligible for refunds.

All refund decisions are final and made by authorized BCGS officers or the Board.

BCGS reserves the right to cancel, postpone, or reschedule any event due to insufficient enrollment, weather, venue availability, or other circumstances beyond the Society's reasonable control. In such cases, registered participants will be notified as promptly as practicable and offered a full refund of any fees paid or, where the participant prefers, a credit toward a future event.

The Brown County Genealogical Society gratefully accepts monetary donations in support of its genealogical preservation and education mission. All donations are made on a strictly voluntary basis and are not required for basic access to the public areas of the BCGS website.

Donations are generally non-refundable. If you believe a donation was made in error or through a technical problem, please contact BCGS promptly at the contact information provided in Section 14. BCGS will review such requests on a case-by-case basis.

BCGS is organized as a Kansas nonprofit organization and is recognized (or seeks recognition) as tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code §501(c)(3). Donations to BCGS may be tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by applicable federal and state law. Donors are strongly encouraged to consult a qualified tax advisor to determine the deductibility of their specific contributions. BCGS does not provide tax advice.

All donations received by BCGS will be used in furtherance of the Society's genealogical mission, including record preservation, educational programming, publications, operational costs, and other mission-aligned activities as determined by the BCGS Board of Directors.

BCGS will provide donation receipts or acknowledgment letters as required by IRS regulations, including for any single contribution of $250 or more. Receipts will be sent to the email address or mailing address provided at the time of donation.

To provide a functional and user-friendly website experience, BCGS utilizes certain third-party platforms and services. By using the BCGS website, you acknowledge and agree that your use of those services is also subject to the respective third party's terms and privacy policies.

The BCGS website may use one or more Google services, including:

● Google Analytics — to collect anonymized usage data and help BCGS understand how visitors interact with the site;

● Google Maps — to display location and directions for BCGS offices or events;

● Google Workspace — for forms, document sharing, or other integrated tools; and

● YouTube — for embedded instructional or promotional video content.

Use of these features is subject to Google's Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, available at google.com.

The BCGS website is hosted and built using GoDaddy's website platform and hosting infrastructure. GoDaddy's terms of service and acceptable use policies apply to the hosting and delivery of this website. BCGS is not responsible for GoDaddy's platform performance, outages, or infrastructure changes.

Online payments for membership dues, event registration fees, and donations may be processed through third-party payment gateway providers. BCGS does not collect, store, or have access to your full payment card number, CVV, or other sensitive financial data. All payment card data is handled directly by the applicable payment processor in accordance with PCI-DSS standards. The payment processor's own terms and privacy policy govern the processing of your financial information.

Content from social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, or similar services may be embedded on BCGS website pages. When you interact with embedded social media content, those platforms may collect data about your visit in accordance with their own privacy policies, regardless of whether you are logged into those platforms. BCGS does not control such data collection.

The BCGS website may contain links to external websites operated by third parties, including genealogical databases, state archives, partner organizations, and other resources. These links are provided for convenience and informational purposes only. BCGS does not endorse, control, or take responsibility for the content, accuracy, or privacy practices of any linked external website. Users access external links at their own risk.

BCGS is not responsible for any loss, damage, or inconvenience arising from your use of third-party services accessed through or in connection with the BCGS website. We encourage users to review the terms and privacy policies of any third-party service they use.

BCGS respects the privacy of all users and members. In connection with the operation of the website and BCGS programs, we may collect limited personal information, including:

● Name, mailing address, and email address (for membership, correspondence, and event registration);

● Payment information (processed securely through third-party payment processors — see Section 8.3); and

● Website usage data (collected through Google Analytics or similar tools in anonymized or aggregated form).

BCGS collects and uses this information solely to operate its programs, communicate with members and donors, process transactions, and fulfill the Society's genealogical mission. BCGS does not sell, rent, or share personal information with third parties for marketing or commercial purposes.

For complete information about how BCGS collects, uses, stores, and protects your personal information, please refer to the BCGS Privacy Policy, which is published separately on the BCGS website. [Link to Privacy Policy — to be published separately]. By using the BCGS website, you also agree to the terms of the Privacy Policy.

The BCGS website and all content, features, and services provided through it are offered on an "as is" and "as available" basis, without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, BCGS disclaims all warranties, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.

BCGS makes reasonable efforts to ensure that the information published on its website is accurate and up to date; however, BCGS does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or reliability of any genealogical records, research resources, member-submitted content, event listings, or other materials available on the site. Historical records may contain errors, omissions, or inconsistencies that are beyond BCGS's ability to correct.

All genealogical research results, family history information, and related content provided through the BCGS website are for informational and educational purposes only. Users are solely responsible for independently verifying any research findings before relying on them for legal, medical, personal, or other consequential decisions.

BCGS relies heavily on the contributions of dedicated volunteers and community members. BCGS is not responsible for errors or omissions in content contributed, transcribed, or submitted by volunteers, members, or third parties, and makes no representations regarding the accuracy of such content.

BCGS does not guarantee that the website will be available at all times, free from errors or interruptions, or free from viruses or other harmful components. BCGS reserves the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue the website or any feature thereof at any time without notice.

Important   Notice

Please   read this section carefully. It limits BCGS's legal liability to you in   connection with your use of the website.

To the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of Kansas and applicable federal law, the Brown County Genealogical Society, and its officers, directors, employees, volunteers, agents, and representatives, shall not be liable to any user for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, punitive, or exemplary damages arising out of or in connection with:

● Your access to or use of (or inability to access or use) the BCGS website;

● Any content on the website, including genealogical records, research resources, or member-submitted materials;

● Any errors or inaccuracies in site content;

● Any unauthorized access to or alteration of your data; or

● Any other matter relating to the website or BCGS's services.

In any event, BCGS's total aggregate liability to any user for any claim arising from or related to the website or these Terms shall not exceed the greater of: (a) the total amount paid by the user to BCGS during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the claim giving rise to liability; or (b) one hundred dollars ($100.00).

Some jurisdictions do not permit the exclusion or limitation of certain warranties or liability for incidental or consequential damages. If you are located in such a jurisdiction, some of the limitations in this Section may not apply to you, and BCGS's liability will be limited to the minimum extent permitted by applicable law.

These Terms and Conditions and any dispute arising out of or related to your use of the BCGS website shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Kansas, without giving effect to any choice-of-law or conflict-of-law provisions that would require the application of the law of another jurisdiction.

Any legal action or proceeding arising from or related to these Terms or the use of the BCGS website shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts of competent jurisdiction located in Brown County, Kansas. By using this website, you consent to personal jurisdiction in those courts and waive any objection to such venue.

Before initiating any formal legal action, BCGS strongly encourages users to contact BCGS directly to describe their concern and seek an informal resolution. Many issues can be resolved quickly and amicably through good-faith communication. BCGS is committed to working with users and members to address concerns fairly and promptly.

BCGS reserves the right to update, modify, or replace these Terms and Conditions at any time, in its sole discretion, to reflect changes in law, technology, society programs, or operational practices.

When material changes are made to these Terms, BCGS will post the revised Terms on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date at the top of the document. Where feasible, BCGS may also notify members of significant changes via email or a notice posted on the BCGS website.

Your continued use of the BCGS website following the posting of revised Terms constitutes your acceptance of those changes. If you do not agree to the revised Terms, you should discontinue use of the website. We encourage all users to review these Terms periodically.

If you have questions, concerns, or feedback about these Terms and Conditions, or if you wish to request permission for use of BCGS content, please contact us using any of the following:

Brown County Genealogical Society

Hiawatha, Kansas

Email: brcogenealogy@yahoo.com 

Mailing Address: 116 S. 7th St., Hiawatha, Kansas, 66434

Website Contact Form: Contact BCGS 

BCGS volunteers and officers will make every reasonable effort to respond to inquiries in a timely manner.