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AVAHO Connect Terms and Conditions

Effective Date: August 1, 2026

1. Introduction and Acceptance

These Terms of Use ("Terms") govern your access to and use of AVAHOConnect (the "App"), a members-only digital platform owned and operated by the Association of VA Hematology/Oncology ("AVAHO," "we," "us," or "our"), a Washington 501(c)(3) organization.

By downloading, installing, accessing, or using the App, you agree to be bound by these Terms and by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated here by reference. If you do not agree to these Terms, do not access or use the App.

These Terms constitute a binding agreement between you and AVAHO. Please read Section 15 (Dispute Resolution) carefully, as it affects how disputes between you and AVAHO are resolved.

2. Eligibility and Membership Requirement

The App is provided exclusively for the benefit of AVAHO members. To access and use the App, you must:

  • Be a current AVAHO member in good standing with dues paid and membership not suspended or revoked;
  • Be at least eighteen (18) years of age;
  • Have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement; and
  • Provide accurate and complete registration information and keep it current.

Access to the App is a benefit of membership, not a separate purchased service. Your right to use the App begins when your membership is activated and ends automatically when your membership lapses, is not renewed, or is terminated for any reason. AVAHO may verify your membership status at any time and may suspend access pending verification.

If your employer, institution, or government agency sponsors your membership, you remain individually responsible for compliance with these Terms.

3. Account Registration and Security

You must create an account to use the App. You agree to:

  • Provide truthful, accurate, and complete information during registration;
  • Maintain and promptly update your account information;
  • Keep your login credentials confidential and not share them with any other person, including colleagues, trainees, or staff;
  • Use only your own account and not access the App through another member's credentials;
  • Notify AVAHO immediately at admin@avaho.org of any unauthorized use of your account or other suspected security breach.

Accounts are personal and non-transferable. You are responsible for all activity that occurs under your account. AVAHO is not liable for any loss or damage arising from your failure to safeguard your credentials.

4. License Grant and Permitted Use

Subject to your continued compliance with these Terms and your maintenance of active membership, AVAHO grants you a limited, revocable, non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicensable license to download and use one copy of the App on a mobile device or computer that you own or control, solely for your personal, professional, non-commercial use as an AVAHO member.

This license does not include any right to resell, redistribute, or commercially exploit the App or its contents.

5. Prohibited Conduct

You agree that you will not:

Regarding access and security

  • Share, sell, transfer, or otherwise provide account access to any non-member or unauthorized person;
  • Attempt to gain unauthorized access to the App, other members' accounts, or AVAHO systems;
  • Probe, scan, or test the vulnerability of the App or circumvent any security or authentication measure;
  • Use bots, scrapers, crawlers, or other automated means to access, harvest, or extract data from the App;
  • Reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, or attempt to derive the source code of the App, except where such restriction is prohibited by applicable law.

Regarding member data and the member directory

  • Copy, export, or compile the member directory or any portion of it;
  • Use member contact information for marketing, solicitation, recruiting, fundraising, sales, or any commercial purpose not expressly authorized by AVAHO in writing;
  • Send unsolicited bulk communications to members;
  • Disclose another member's contact information or profile data to any third party.

Regarding content and conduct

  • Post content that is unlawful, defamatory, harassing, threatening, abusive, discriminatory, obscene, or otherwise objectionable;
  • Impersonate any person or entity or misrepresent your credentials, affiliation, or membership status;
  • Post content that infringes any patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright, or other proprietary right;
  • Upload viruses, malware, or any code designed to disrupt or damage the App;
  • Use the App to advertise or promote products, services, employment opportunities, or research studies without AVAHO's prior written approval;
  • Violate any applicable federal, state, or local law, or any policy of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or your employing institution.

6. Protected Health Information and Patient Privacy

This is a critical provision. Please read it carefully.

AVAHOConnect is a professional networking and association-management platform. It is not a clinical system, an electronic health record, a patient care tool, or a HIPAA-compliant environment.

You agree that you will not post, upload, transmit, or store within the App:

  • Protected Health Information ("PHI") as defined by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act ("HIPAA");
  • Individually identifiable patient information, including names, medical record numbers, dates of birth, dates of service, facility identifiers, photographs, or any other direct or indirect patient identifiers;
  • Veteran-specific records or information protected under 38 U.S.C. §§ 5701, 5705, or 7332, or under the Privacy Act of 1974;
  • Any information whose disclosure would violate your institution's policies, your professional obligations, or applicable law.

If you wish to discuss a clinical scenario, you must fully de-identify it in accordance with HIPAA's de-identification standard and your institution's requirements.

AVAHO is not a covered entity or business associate with respect to your use of the App. You are solely responsible for any PHI you improperly disclose. AVAHO may remove such content and suspend your account without notice.

7. No Medical Advice; Educational Purpose Only

Content available through the App — including discussion forums, abstracts, presentations, educational materials, and member commentary — is provided for informational, educational, and professional-development purposes only.

  • Such content does not constitute medical advice and is not a substitute for independent professional judgment.
  • Statements made by members represent their individual views and not those of AVAHO, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, or any other agency or institution.
  • AVAHO does not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or currency of member-generated content or third-party materials.
  • You are solely responsible for all clinical decisions you make and must independently verify any information before applying it in practice.
  • References to specific drugs, devices, protocols, or off-label uses do not constitute endorsement or recommendation by AVAHO.

8. Member Content

Your content. "Member Content" means anything you post, upload, or submit through the App, including forum posts, comments, profile information, photographs, documents, and messages.

You retain ownership of your Member Content. By submitting it, you grant AVAHO a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable, perpetual, and irrevocable license to host, store, reproduce, display, adapt, and distribute that content in connection with operating, promoting, and improving the App and fulfilling AVAHO's mission. This license survives termination of your account with respect to content that has been shared with other members.

Your representations. You represent and warrant that you own or have all necessary rights to your Member Content; that it does not violate these Terms or any law; that it contains no PHI; and that you have obtained any consents or institutional approvals required before posting.

Moderation. AVAHO has no obligation to monitor Member Content but reserves the right, in its sole discretion and without notice, to review, edit, refuse to post, or remove any Member Content, and to suspend or terminate accounts. AVAHO's exercise or non-exercise of this right does not make it responsible for Member Content.

Feedback. Any suggestions, feature requests, or feedback you provide may be used by AVAHO freely and without compensation or attribution.

9. AVAHO Intellectual Property

The App and all content provided by AVAHO — including software, text, graphics, logos, trademarks, service marks, educational materials, abstracts, session recordings, layout, and design — are owned by AVAHO or its licensors and are protected by U.S. and international intellectual property laws.

"AVAHO," "AVAHOConnect," the AVAHO logo, and related marks are trademarks of AVAHO. You may not use them without prior written permission.

Except as expressly permitted in these Terms, you may not reproduce, distribute, publicly display, publish, create derivative works from, or otherwise exploit any AVAHO content. You may download or print materials for your own personal, non-commercial professional reference, provided you retain all copyright and proprietary notices.

10. Membership Dues, Fees, and Purchases

Access to the App is included with AVAHO membership. If the App offers paid features — such as annual meeting registration, continuing education, or dues renewal — the following apply:

  • All fees are stated in U.S. dollars and are due at the time of purchase;
  • Payments are processed by third-party payment processors subject to their own terms; AVAHO does not store full payment card numbers;
  • Membership dues are generally non-refundable except as provided in that policy;
  • You are responsible for any applicable taxes.

Purchases made through the Apple App Store or Google Play are additionally subject to those platforms' terms and refund policies.

11. Third-Party Services, Content, and Links

The App may contain links to or integrations with third-party websites, services, sponsors, exhibitors, or content. AVAHO does not control and is not responsible for third-party services or their privacy and security practices. Your dealings with third parties are solely between you and them. The presence of a link or sponsorship does not imply endorsement.

12. Suspension and Termination

By you. You may stop using the App at any time and may request deletion of your account by contacting admin@avaho.org. Deleting the App from your device does not by itself delete your account.

By AVAHO. AVAHO may suspend or terminate your access, in whole or in part, with or without notice, if:

  • Your membership lapses, is not renewed, or is terminated;
  • You violate these Terms or AVAHO's bylaws, code of conduct, or other policies;
  • Your conduct poses a risk to other members, to AVAHO, or to the integrity of the App;
  • AVAHO is required to do so by law; or
  • AVAHO discontinues the App.

Effect of termination. Upon termination, your license ends immediately and you must cease all use of the App. Sections 6, 7, 8 (as to previously shared content), 9, 13, 14, 15, and 17 survive termination. Member Content previously posted to shared areas may remain visible.

13. Disclaimers

THE APP AND ALL CONTENT ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE," WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, AVAHO disclaims all warranties, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title, non-infringement, and any warranties arising from course of dealing or usage of trade.

AVAHO does not warrant that the App will be uninterrupted, timely, secure, or error-free; that defects will be corrected; that the App is free of viruses; or that content is accurate, complete, or reliable. You use the App at your own risk.

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties, so some of the above may not apply to you.

14. Limitation of Liability and Indemnification

Limitation. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, AVAHO AND ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, VOLUNTEERS, AGENTS, AND MANAGEMENT COMPANY SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR FOR LOST PROFITS, LOST DATA, LOSS OF GOODWILL, OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO YOUR USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE APP, WHETHER BASED IN CONTRACT, TORT, NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

Cap. AVAHO'S TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS OR THE APP SHALL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE AMOUNT OF MEMBERSHIP DUES YOU PAID TO AVAHO IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM, OR (B) ONE HUNDRED U.S. DOLLARS ($100).

Indemnification. You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless AVAHO and its officers, directors, employees, volunteers, agents, and management company from any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to: (a) your use of the App; (b) your Member Content; (c) your violation of these Terms; (d) your violation of any law or third-party right; or (e) your disclosure of PHI or other protected information through the App.

15. Dispute Resolution and Governing Law

Governing law. These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Washington, without regard to its conflict-of-laws rules.

Informal resolution. Before filing any claim, you agree to contact AVAHO at admin@avaho.org and attempt in good faith to resolve the dispute informally for at least thirty (30) days.

Time limit. Any claim must be brought within one (1) year after it arises, or it is permanently barred, except where a longer period is required by law.

16. Mobile Application Terms

Wireless charges. Standard carrier data and messaging rates may apply. You are responsible for those charges.

Push notifications. The App may send push notifications. You can disable them in your device settings, though this may limit certain functionality.

Updates. AVAHO may release updates, patches, and new versions. Some updates may install automatically. AVAHO may discontinue support for older versions.

Apple App Store. If you obtained the App from the Apple App Store, you acknowledge: these Terms are between you and AVAHO only, not Apple; Apple has no obligation to provide maintenance or support; Apple is not responsible for any product warranties, claims, or third-party intellectual property claims relating to the App; Apple and its subsidiaries are third-party beneficiaries of these Terms and may enforce them against you; and you represent that you are not located in a country subject to a U.S. embargo or on any U.S. government restricted-party list. You must comply with all applicable third-party terms of service.

Google Play. If you obtained the App from Google Play, your use is also subject to the Google Play Terms of Service.

17. General Provisions

Changes to these Terms. AVAHO may modify these Terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated by in-app notice, email, or both at least [15/30] days before taking effect. Your continued use after the effective date constitutes acceptance. If you do not agree, you must stop using the App.

Changes to the App. AVAHO may modify, suspend, or discontinue any part of the App at any time without liability.

Entire agreement. These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and any policies referenced here, constitute the entire agreement between you and AVAHO regarding the App and supersede all prior agreements on that subject.

Severability. If any provision is held unenforceable, it shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force.

No waiver. AVAHO's failure to enforce any provision is not a waiver of its right to do so later.

Assignment. You may not assign these Terms. AVAHO may assign them to a successor or affiliate.

Relationship. Nothing in these Terms creates a partnership, joint venture, employment, or agency relationship.

Force majeure. AVAHO is not liable for any failure or delay caused by events beyond its reasonable control.

Export compliance. You agree to comply with all applicable U.S. export control and sanctions laws.

No third-party beneficiaries, except as stated in Section 16.

18. Contact Us

Questions about these Terms may be directed to:

Association of VA Hematology/Oncology (AVAHO) Attn: AVAHOConnect, admin@avaho.org 

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