The following are our Terms of Service:

1. Acceptance of Terms

The Encounter-centered Community (EcC) and Hedy Schleifer provide this members-only community to you subject to the Terms of Service (TOS) and Community Guidelines which are incorporated herein by reference.

The TOS and Community Guidelines may be updated at any time, and without prior notice. You will always be able to review the most current Terms of Service and Community Guidelines at this page link.

In addition, when a part of different groups, you shall be subject to posted guidelines or rules applicable to such groups.

Your continued membership in and use of the EcC community resources following updated terms of any section of the TOS or Community Guidelines will be your express and binding acceptance of and consent to the new TOS and/or Community Guidelines.

2. Description of Service

EcC currently provides community members with a rich collection of resources, including a variety of communication tools (the “Service”). You understand and agree that the Service may include advertisements provided by persons or businesses interested in providing products and services to you which may include affiliates and companies sometimes referred to as “partners” who are willing to offer discounts to members of EcC, but who do not hold any ownership in EcC and have no fiduciary duties to EcC. You also agree that the Service includes communication from EcC, such as service announcements and administrative messages, and that these communications are a part of the EcC membership, and you will not be able to opt out of receiving them. Unless specifically stated otherwise, any new features added to the current Service shall be subject to the TOS. You understand and agree that the Service is provided “as-is,” and that EcC assumes no responsibility for the timeliness, deletion, mis-delivery, or failure to store any user communications or personalization settings. You are responsible for obtaining access to the Service and if that access includes third party fees (such as an Internet Service Provider), you are responsible for those fees. You are also responsible for providing the necessary equipment to access the Service.

3. Your Member Obligations

In consideration of your use of the Service, you represent that you are of legal age to form a binding contract and are not a person barred from receiving services under the laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdiction. You also agree to: (a) participate and keep current with what’s happening in EcC (b) abide by all TOS, and Community guidelines, and EcC Policies (c)provide true, accurate, current and complete information about yourself as prompted by the Service’s registration form (such information being the “Registration Data”) and (d) maintain and promptly update the Registration Data to keep it true, accurate, current and complete. If you provide any information that is untrue, inaccurate, not current or incomplete, or EcC has reasonable grounds to suspect that such information is untrue, inaccurate, not current or incomplete, we have the right to suspend or terminate your account and refuse any and all current or future use of the Service (or any portion thereof).

4. Privacy Policy

Our privacy policy for the community is the same as our company-wide privacy policy. You can review that at: https://hedyschleifer.com/privacy-policy/

5. Member Account, Password, and Security As a member, you receive a username and password. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of the password and account, and are fully responsible for all activities that occur under your password or account. You agree to (a) immediately notify us of any unauthorized use of your password or account or any other breach of security, and (b) ensure that you exit from your account at the end of each session. EcC cannot and will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your failure to comply with this

6. Member Conduct

You understand that all information, data, text, software, music, sound, photographs, graphics, video, messages or other materials (“Content”), whether publicly posted or privately transmitted, are the sole responsibility of the person from which such Content originated. This means that you, and not EcC, are entirely responsible for all Content that you upload, post, email, transmit or otherwise make available via the Service. EcC does not control the Content posted via the Service and, as such, does not guarantee the accuracy, integrity or quality of such Content. You understand that by using the Service, you may be exposed to Content that is offensive, indecent or objectionable. Under no circumstances will EcC be liable in any way for any Content, including, but not limited to, for any errors or omissions in any Content, or for any loss or damage of any kind incurred as a result of the use of any Content posted, emailed, transmitted or otherwise made available via the Service.

You agree to not use the Service to:

a. upload, post, email, transmit or otherwise make available any Content that is unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, tortious, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, libelous, invasive of another’s privacy, hateful, or racially, culturally, ethnically or otherwise objectionable;

b. misrepresent your true identity, or impersonate any person or entity, including, but not limited to, an EcC team member, forum leader, or host, or falsely state or otherwise misrepresent your affiliation with a person or entity;

c. upload, post, email, transmit or otherwise make available any Content that you do not have a right to make available under any law or under contractual or fiduciary relationships (such as inside information, proprietary and confidential information learned or disclosed as part of employment or contractual relationships or under nondisclosure agreements);

d. upload, post, email, transmit or otherwise make available any Content that infringes any patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright or other proprietary rights (“Rights”) of any party;

e. upload, post, email, transmit or otherwise make available any unsolicited or unauthorized advertising, promotional materials, “junk mail,” “spam,” “chain letters,” “pyramid schemes,” or any other form of solicitation;

f. upload, post, email, transmit or otherwise make available any material that contains software viruses or any other computer code, files or programs designed to interrupt, destroy or limit the functionality of any computer software or hardware or telecommunications equipment;

g. disrupt the normal flow of dialogue, or otherwise act in a manner that negatively affects other users’ ability to engage in real time exchanges;

h. intentionally or unintentionally violate or encourage the violation of any applicable local, state, national or international law;

i. “stalk” or otherwise harass another;

j. via manual or automated methods, scrape, use crawlers, scripts, robots, spiders, other data-mining tools and the like to collect or store data from or about this EcC or its members and staff.

You acknowledge that EcC may not pre-screen Content, but that EcC and designees shall have the right (but not the obligation) in their sole discretion to refuse, delete, or move any Content that is available via the Service. Without limiting the foregoing, EcC and designees shall have the right to remove any Content that violates the TOS or is otherwise objectionable or doesn’t meet EcC standards. You agree that you must evaluate, and bear all risks associated with, the use of any Content, including any reliance on the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of such Content. In this regard, you acknowledge that you may not rely on any Content created by EcC or submitted to the EcC Hub.

You acknowledge, consent and agree that EcC may access, preserve, and disclose your account information and Content if required to do so by law or in a good faith belief that such access preservation or disclosure is reasonably necessary to: (a) comply with legal process; (b) enforce the TOS; (c) respond to claims that any Content violates the rights of third-parties; (d) respond to your requests for customer service; or (e) protect the rights, property, or personal safety of the EcC Hub, its users and the public.

You understand that the technical processing and transmission of the Service, including your Content, may involve (a) transmissions over various networks; and (b) changes to conform and adapt to technical requirements of connecting networks or devices.

You understand that the Service and software embodied within the Service may include security components that permit digital materials to be protected, and use of these materials is subject to usage rules set by EcC and/or content providers who provide content to the Service. You may not attempt to override or circumvent any of the usage rules embedded into the Service. Any unauthorized reproduction, publication, further distribution or public exhibition of the materials provided on the Service, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited.

7. Special Admonitions for International Use

Recognizing the global nature of the Internet, you agree to comply with all local laws regarding online conduct and acceptable Content. Specifically, you agree to comply with all applicable laws regarding the transmission of technical data exported from the United States or the country in which you reside.

8. Indemnity

You agree to assume the defense of and indemnify and hold EcC, and  subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, agents, co-branders or other partners, and employees or contractors, harmless from any claim or demand, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, made by any third party due to or arising out of Content you submit, post, transmit or make available through the Service, your use of the Service, your connection to the Service, your violation of the TOS, or your violation of any rights of another.

9. No Sharing of Service

You agree not to share, reproduce, duplicate, copy, sell, trade, lease, resell or exploit for any commercial purposes, any portion of the Service (including your EcC username/password.), use of the Service, or access to the Service.

10. Modifications to Service

EcC reserves the right at any time and from time to time to modify or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, the Service (or any part thereof) with or without notice. You agree that EcC shall not be liable to you or to any third party for any modification, suspension or discontinuance of the Service.

11. Refunds

In your first month of membership, should you decide that Circle membership isn’t for you, your membership feel will be refunded as long as you tell us before your membership payment recurs. After the first month, you are free to cancel your monthly-recurring membership at any time as long as you do so at least five business days before a recurring payment is scheduled to post Once a recurring payment has been made we offer no retroactive refunds.

12. Termination

You agree that EcC may, under certain circumstances and without prior notice, immediately terminate your EcC Hub account, any associated email address, and access to the Service. Cause for such termination shall include, but not be limited to, (a) breaches or violations of the Community Guidelines, TOS or other incorporated agreements or guidelines, (b) requests by law enforcement or other government agencies, (c) a request by you (self-initiated account deletions), (d) discontinuance or material modification to the Service (or any part thereof), (e) non-payment of fees due, and (e) unexpected technical or security issues or problems.

Further, you agree that all terminations for cause shall be made in EcC’s sole discretion and that EcC shall not be liable to you or any third-party for any termination of your account, or access to the Service.

You understand that, by its very nature, the Service provides a place to communicate and share information. This information will often be in the form of threaded discussions. By using the Service, you understand that your posts contribute to the discussions, as well as to an archive of searchable information valuable to the community members. You understand that if you leave the community for any reason, material you posted will remain with the Service so as to not disrupt the flow of conversation or information. You grant EcC a limited irrevocable license to retain the material you post without compensation to you.

13. Dealings with Advertisers

Your correspondence or business dealings with, or participation in promotions of, advertisers found on or through the Service, including payment and delivery of related goods or services, and any other terms, conditions, warranties or representations associated with such dealings, are solely between you and such advertiser. You agree that EcC shall not be responsible or liable for any loss or damage of any sort incurred as the result of any such dealings or as the result of the presence of such advertisers on the Service.

14. Links

The Service may provide, or third parties may provide, links to other World Wide Web sites or resources. Because EcC has no control over such sites and resources, you acknowledge and agree that EcC is not responsible for the availability of such external sites or resources, and does not endorse and is not responsible or liable for any Content, advertising, products, or other materials on or available from such sites or resources. You further acknowledge and agree that EcC shall not be responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with use of or reliance on any such Content, goods or services available on or through any such site or resource.

15. Proprietary Rights

You acknowledge and agree that the Service and any necessary software used in connection with the Service (“Software”) contain proprietary and confidential information that is protected by applicable intellectual property and other laws. You further acknowledge and agree that Content contained in sponsor advertisements or information presented to you through the Service or advertisers is protected by copyrights, trademarks, service marks, patents or other proprietary rights and laws. Except as expressly authorized by EcC or advertisers, you agree not to modify, rent, lease, loan, sell, distribute or create derivative works based on the Service or the Software, in whole or in part. You further acknowledge and agree that with regard to EcC events, by attending live you agree to be recorded, and for the event recording, inclusive of your participation, to be shared within the EcT Community. You further grant permission for Hedy Schleifer, her team, her heirs, and assigns to use the audio visual program including excerpts for any and all marketing and creative purposes they deem to undertake, without anonymizing any aspect of your involvement without compensation to you.

16. Disclaimer of Warranties

YOU EXPRESSLY UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT:

a. YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK. THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” “WITH ALL FAULTS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS. EcC EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

b. EcC MAKES NO WARRANTY THAT (i) THE SERVICE WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS, (ii) THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, TIMELY, SECURE, OR ERROR-FREE, (iii) THE RESULTS THAT MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE USE OF THE SERVICE WILL BE ACCURATE OR RELIABLE, (iv) THE QUALITY OF ANY PRODUCTS, SERVICES, INFORMATION, OR OTHER MATERIAL PURCHASED OR OBTAINED BY YOU THROUGH THE SERVICE WILL MEET YOUR EXPECTATIONS, AND (V) ANY ERRORS IN THE SOFTWARE WILL BE CORRECTED.

c. ANY MATERIAL DOWNLOADED OR OTHERWISE OBTAINED THROUGH THE USE OF THE SERVICE IS DONE AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION AND RISK AND THAT YOU WILL BE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE TO YOUR COMPUTER SYSTEM OR LOSS OF DATA THAT RESULTS FROM THE DOWNLOAD OF ANY SUCH MATERIAL.

d. NO ADVICE OR INFORMATION, WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN, OBTAINED BY YOU FROM EcC OR THROUGH OR FROM THE SERVICE SHALL CREATE ANY WARRANTY NOT EXPRESSLY STATED IN THE TOS.

17. Limitation of Liability

EcC ASSUMES NO LIABILITY WHATSOEVER, AND YOUR SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY FOR ANY DISPUTE WITH EcC IS THE CANCELLATION OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP.

YOU EXPRESSLY UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT EcC SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, GOODWILL, USE, DATA OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES (EVEN IF EcC HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES), RESULTING FROM: (i) THE USE OR THE INABILITY TO USE THE SERVICE; (ii) THE COST OF PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS AND SERVICES RESULTING FROM ANY GOODS, DATA, INFORMATION OR SERVICES PURCHASED OR OBTAINED OR MESSAGES RECEIVED OR TRANSACTIONS ENTERED INTO THROUGH OR FROM THE SERVICE; (iii) UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO OR ALTERATION OF YOUR TRANSMISSIONS OR DATA; (iv) STATEMENTS OR CONDUCT OF ANY THIRD PARTY ON THE SERVICE; OR (v) ANY OTHER MATTER RELATING TO THE SERVICE.

18. Exclusions and Limitations

SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN WARRANTIES OR THE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES. ACCORDINGLY, SOME OF THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS OF SECTIONS 17 AND 18 MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

19. No Third Party Beneficiaries

You agree that, except as otherwise expressly provided in this TOS, there shall be no third party beneficiaries to this Agreement.

20. Notice

EcC may provide you with notices, including those regarding changes to the TOS, by either email, regular mail, or postings on the Service.

21. Trademark Information

EcC, EcC logos, trademarks and service marks and other EcC logos and product and service names are trademarks of Hedy Schleifer (the “Hedy Schleifer Marks”). Hedy makes her intellectual property available to you via a Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

22. General Information Entire Agreement.

The TOS and Community Guidelines constitute the entire agreement between you and Hedy Schleifer and governs your use of the Service, superseding any prior agreements between you and EcC . You also may be subject to additional terms and conditions that may apply when you use or purchase certain other EcC services, affiliate services, third-party content or third-party software.

Choice of Law and Forum. The TOS and the relationship between you and EcC shall be governed by the laws of the State of Maryland without regard to its conflict of law provisions. You and EcC agree to submit to the personal and exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located within the county of Baltimore, Maryland.

Waiver and Severability of Terms. The failure of EcC to exercise or enforce any right or provision of the TOS shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision. If any provision of the TOS is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, the parties nevertheless agree that the court should endeavor to give effect to the parties’ intentions as reflected in the provision, and the other provisions of the TOS remain in full force and effect.

Statute of Limitations. You agree that regardless of any statute or law to the contrary, any claim or cause of action arising out of or related to use of the Service or the TOS must be filed within one (1) year after such claim or cause of action arose or be forever barred. The section titles in the TOS are for convenience only and have no legal or contractual effect.

The guidelines have been thoughtfully organized into various sections for your convenience.

 

Please be aware that our community is virtual now, and aspires to become one with genuine, face-to-face gatherings in the future. We sincerely request that all community guidelines be respected and adhered to by members in all forms and locations of interaction and communication.

 

— General Community Guidelines
— Posting Guidelines
— Intellectual Property Guidelines
— Ethical Guidelines
— Violations of Guidelines

 

There are three guiding principles that deeply influence this community.

1. We each have the responsibility for ourselves and our experiences. This community values personal responsibility, recognizing that only you can influence your actions, words, and interpretations. We trust every member to engage with maturity and respect. Gossip, drama, hate speech, and abuse have no place here. If you have any doubts about appropriate behavior, please don’t hesitate to ask.

One of the key responsibilities you have is staying informed about community policy changes and events. While we hope you will actively participate, at a bare minimum, we expect you to stay aware of official announcements related to you, the community, and anything that might affect your membership. Rest assured, we will keep you informed, so please make sure to stay updated.

2. We treat others with kindness and civility. We are free to be open, curious, and explore. We understand that everyone here is at a different point in their journey with Encounter-centered Transformation. Some may be just starting out, and we remember being in their shoes. Others may be at a similar stage to us, sharing a common perspective. And some are further along, having already experienced what we are going through. There are no gurus; we are all journeying together, learning and growing as a community.

3. We maintain a generosity of spirit. Consider others before you act. Help out when you can. Give what you have.

Posting Guidelines Our community posts are our primary tools of communication. It is crucial that we all use them in a similar fashion, as they serve as the foundation of our interactions. Here are the guidelines that will facilitate this harmonious collaboration:

• What is shared: If you wouldn’t say something in front of your grandmother, please refrain from using it here. We are more concerned about the use of kind and civil language, than we are about curse words. Let’s discuss issues without attacking others or their beliefs, especially concerning religious and political views. Wherever possible, use the language of abundance instead of the language of deficit (a concept rooted in Appreciative Inquiry).
• Sexuality: We do not discuss or share sexually explicit content, such as photos, videos, or links. While conversations about sexuality may be acceptable in certain contexts, they are typically not suitable for broader community forums.
• Copyright/Trademark: Please ensure that anything you post is either your own content or that you have explicit permission from the owner to share it. Sharing Hedy’s content within our community is encouraged and appreciated. If you need to understand her permissions for sharing outside our community, you can find that information in a section below in this document.
• Advertising and Solicitation(also includes making referrals): Feel free to mention, provide links to, or discuss websites that may interest other professionals in our community. Sharing resources you find compelling or that others have requested (like “Hey, check out this new book!”) is a wonderful way to participate. However, we kindly ask that you avoid posting your own affiliate links. With many people doing so, it could eventually feel spammy and make others uneasy about constantly being asked to use affiliate links.
• Searching for an EcT professional? Member profiles are searchable, giving you a fantastic opportunity to connect directly with others who may have the skills and services you need. Feel free to read profiles and reach out and start a conversation to see if another member might be able to help with whatever you need. We encourage you to take advantage of this feature!
• Self-promotion (including information about your practice, or workshops, etc.) and soliciting isn’t permitted. It’s important for us all to feel safe and comfortable knowing that our personal information is respected and not used without our consent. We also need to be able to trust that when we join a call, Zoom meeting, discussion, or private conversation, we won’t be overwhelmed with sales pitches from others in the community. For these reasons, we don’t permit self-promotion in the EcC.
• Promotion of events that might interest other community members should be sent to hello@encountercentered.com for consideration. If accepted, our team will gladly share it with the community.
• Sensitive Topics may include discussions related to polyamory, suicide, gender issues, individuals in crisis, and other potentially complex or controversial subjects. We encourage open and respectful dialogue. However, we do not allow content that’s specifically political or religious, or discussions or behaviors that promote or incite hate, threaten others, defame anyone, spread gossip, bully, or use slurs based on age, sex, race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, size, or disability. We invite all members to engage in constructive, civil conversations that promote education, awareness, understanding, and connection.
• Illegalities: As a global community, it’s important to recognize that laws vary from place to place. We encourage responsible conversations and kindly ask you to be mindful of the legal context for your posts in your own area. Please refrain from sharing or advocating for anything that may be prohibited in your region.
• Impersonation and Personal Representation: It’s critical that you always represent yourself honestly. Please don’t pretend to be a member of Hedy’s team, a Community Leader, or anyone else. Additionally, avoid giving the wrong impression about your affiliation with any person or organization. Lastly, ensure that your username is your real name and your profile includes a current picture of yourself. We genuinely want to get to know you, and transparency is key to making that happen!
• Triangulation: Triangulation, or involving uninvolved people in a problem you’re having with another person, can lead to unnecessary conflicts and negativity. If you have a disagreement with someone in the community, please resolve it privately between the two of you. Sharing it publicly can complicate matters and isn’t conducive to a positive environment. Let’s work together to keep our community supportive and respectful for everyone, and the space between us unpolluted.
• Staying on Topic: Be sure to keep your posts focused on the topic and your comments relevant to the subject of the post you’re commenting on. If you have an unrelated subject you’d like to discuss, please start a new conversation or consider sending a private message with your off-topic thoughts. This helps keep our discussions organized and enjoyable for everyone.
• Privacy: Please respect others’ privacy by not sharing information without their permission.
• Harvesting: Please respect our members’ privacy by not collecting or using their information, such as names, contact details, or social media handles, for marketing purposes. If you’d like to connect with someone outside of the Hub for professional reasons, please seek their permission first.
• Spam and Other Annoyances: Please avoid posting content that might be considered spam, such as posting in multiple topics without valid reasons or with the intent to disrupt discussions. Additionally, spreading misinformation, forwarding chain letters, internet hoaxes, junk mail, or participating in pyramid schemes is not appropriate. Please exercise caution and refrain from uploading any content that may contain harmful viruses or worms.
• Language: English is the designated official language of the Encounter-centered Community. In this global community, creating a shared understanding through a single language is essential. All posts, documents, information, literature, and other spoken or written materials shared by members, or by Hedy’s team will be in English.

Intellectual Property Guidelines Hedy has a generous policy regarding the use of her intellectual property, licensing it under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International license.

Ethical Guidelines We expect that you conduct yourself professionally within our community. While we haven’t established our own ethical guidelines, we trust you to uphold the professional ethics you are bound by and adhere to a high standard of conduct.

Violations of Guidelines We may occasionally need to remove, edit, or move posts made to the EcC Hub, and do so at our sole discretion. If this happens, we will promptly inform you and provide an explanation. Our goal is not to chastise, but to help clarify any policies that may have been misunderstood. We understand that innocent mistakes happen and are always here to support you in such cases. However, we have zero tolerance for willful violations or attempts to circumvent our policies.

Additionally, other policies may stipulate specific consequences for non-compliance. Please refer to individual policies for those consequences.

Please be aware that, unless otherwise specified, we reserve the right to take appropriate corrective actions if necessary. These actions may include restricting or revoking privileges or, in some cases, terminating membership within the Encounter-centered Community, and are at our sole discretion. Our goal is to maintain a positive and respectful environment for everyone.