Privacy Policy &
Community Standards

Information We Collect

This group is administered by volunteer community members and operates on the Facebook platform. We do not independently collect, store, or process personal data beyond what is visible within the Facebook group itself. However, the following information may be visible to group administrators:

• Your Facebook profile name and profile photo as displayed on Facebook
• Posts, comments, photos, and other content you share within the group
• Responses to membership screening questions submitted when requesting to join
• Reports submitted by members regarding content or conduct

Facebook independently collects data about your activity on its platform according to Meta's Privacy Policy. We encourage all members to review Meta's data practices separately.

How We Use Information

Information visible to administrators is used solely to manage and maintain the group. Specifically:

• To verify that membership applicants have a genuine connection to Pine Mountain Club
• To enforce community standards and moderate content in accordance with this policy
• To respond to member reports and resolve disputes
• To maintain a safe, accurate, and constructive community environment

We do not sell, share, rent, or distribute member information to any third party for any purpose. Administrator access to member data is limited to what is necessary for group moderation only.

Fact-Based Posting Standard

Pine Mountain Club Members is a community built on trust. To protect the integrity of information shared among neighbors, we hold all posts to a factual standard. This is one of our most important community rules.

This standard applies to all content including posts, comments, photos, shared links, and any other media. Posts that meet this standard typically include one or more of the following:

• A firsthand account clearly identified as personal experience ("I witnessed…", "This happened to me…")
• A link to a credible source such as a news outlet, official agency, or government website
• Documentation such as a screenshot, official notice, or photograph that supports the claim
• Attribution to a named, verifiable source (e.g., Kern County Fire, PMCPOA, CHP)
• Official announcements from recognized community organizations or government agencies

The following types of content are not permitted and will be removed by administrators:

• Rumors or hearsay presented as established fact
• Accusations against individuals, businesses, or organizations without supporting documentation
• Misinformation, disinformation, or deliberately misleading content of any kind
• Posts that claim "everyone knows" or "I heard from someone" as their sole basis
• Political misinformation or unverified claims about elections, public officials, or policy
• Medical or safety claims not supported by qualified professional sources

Members who repeatedly post unsubstantiated content may be warned, temporarily suspended from posting, or removed from the group at administrator discretion. We apply this standard consistently and without prejudice. If you are unsure whether your post meets this standard, we encourage you to add a source link or clearly frame the content as personal opinion.

Member Conduct

All members are expected to engage with respect, honesty, and good faith. In addition to the fact-based posting standard above, the following conduct guidelines apply:

• Treat all community members with courtesy, even in disagreement
• Do not post personal contact information (phone numbers, addresses) of other individuals without their consent
• Do not use the group for commercial solicitation or spam without administrator approval
• Do not post content that is hateful, discriminatory, threatening, or harassing
• Do not impersonate other individuals, organizations, or official entities
• Report content that violates these standards using Facebook's reporting tools or by contacting an administrator directly

Content Removal & Appeals

Administrators reserve the right to remove any content that violates this policy without prior notice. When practical, we will notify the member of the reason for removal. If you believe your content was removed in error, you may contact a group administrator directly via Facebook Messenger to request a review. We will consider appeals in good faith and respond within a reasonable timeframe.

Repeated violations, severe violations, or conduct that undermines the trust and safety of the community may result in permanent removal from the group without appeal.

Third-Party Platform Notice

This group operates on Facebook, a platform owned and operated by Meta Platforms, Inc. This Privacy Policy governs only the administration of the Pine Mountain Club Members group. Meta independently controls the Facebook platform, its data collection practices, advertising systems, and algorithmic features. We have no control over and are not responsible for Meta's data practices. For information on how Facebook handles your data, please visit facebook.com/privacy/policy.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in community needs or legal requirements. When we make significant changes, we will post an announcement in the group and update the effective date at the top of this document. Continued membership in the group following any update constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, concerns about content in the group, or wish to appeal a moderation decision, please reach out through one of the following: