Terms & Conditions

Effective Date: May 9, 2025
Website: www.bgprofessionals.org
Organization: Association of Bulgarian Professionals (“Association,” “we,” “us,” or “our”)

Please read these Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) carefully before using the Association of Bulgarian Professionals website (“Website,” “Site,” or “Service”). By accessing or using our Website, you agree to be legally bound by these Terms, our Privacy Policy, and any other legal notices posted on the Site. If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, please do not use our Website.

This Website is owned and operated by the Association of Bulgarian Professionals. It is intended to provide general information about our community, scholarship programs, membership opportunities, events, donation options, and cultural initiatives. These Terms govern your use of the Website and form a legal agreement between you and the Association.

1. Use of the Website

  • This Website is provided for informational and educational purposes related to our nonprofit mission.
  • You may browse, share, and interact with the content in a lawful and respectful manner.
  • You agree not to disrupt or interfere with the functioning of the Website, or attempt to access private or secured sections without authorization.
  • You are responsible for ensuring that your use of this Website complies with all applicable local, state, and federal laws.

2. Eligibility

  • You must be at least 18 years old to use this Website or engage in any activities such as membership applications, event registration, or donations.
  • By using our Website, you confirm that you are of legal age and have the authority to enter into these Terms on your own behalf or on behalf of an organization you represent.
  • Individuals under the age of 18 may only engage with the Association through supervised programs or events specifically designed for youth, with appropriate parental or guardian consent.

3. Website Access

  • You are not required to create an account to access general information on this Website.
  • Some features, such as scholarship applications, event registration, or volunteer forms, may require submission of personal information.
  • We reserve the right to modify, restrict, or discontinue any part of the Website or its features at any time without notice.
  • Temporary or permanent access limitations may occur due to maintenance, technical issues, or security upgrades.

4. Intellectual Property

  • All content on this Website—including text, graphics, logos, event materials, scholarship documents, images, and design elements—is the property of the Association of Bulgarian Professionals or its content contributors and partners, unless otherwise stated.
  • You may not reproduce, republish, distribute, modify, reverse-engineer, or commercially exploit any part of the Website without our express written permission.
  • Use of our logo, branding, or media content for promotional or public purposes requires prior written approval from the Association.

5. Submitted Information

  • Any information you submit through our Website—such as contact forms, scholarship or membership applications, event sign-ups, or donations—must be truthful, complete, and accurate.
  • By submitting content, you grant the Association a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to store, review, and respond to your submission as necessary.
  • Materials submitted for scholarship consideration, including essays or supporting documents, may be reviewed by designated committee members but will not be shared publicly without consent.
  • All event materials, program content, and media created or distributed by the Association remain the property of the Association unless otherwise agreed in writing.

6. Service Availability

  • We aim to keep the Website accessible and fully operational, but we do not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free performance.
  • Access may occasionally be suspended, limited, or discontinued for maintenance, system upgrades, or other operational reasons without prior notice.
  • We are not liable for any inconvenience, loss, or disruption caused by temporary downtime or technical issues.

7. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law:

  • The Association of Bulgarian Professionals is not liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from your use of or inability to use this Website.
  • We are not responsible for any errors, omissions, interruptions, or delays in operation, or for any loss of data, device damage, or system failures related to your access or use of the Website.
  • All content is provided “as is” and we make no warranties regarding its accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any particular purpose.

8. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Association of Bulgarian Professionals, its board members, volunteers, partners, and affiliates from and against any claims, losses, damages, liabilities, costs, or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or relating to:

  • Your use or misuse of the Website
  • Violation of these Terms
  • Any breach of applicable laws or third-party rights

This indemnification obligation survives the termination of your use of the Website.

9. Third-Party Services

  • Our Website may contain links to or integrations with third-party platforms such as payment processors (e.g., PayPal, Stripe), event registration tools, or social media platforms.
  • We are not responsible for the privacy practices, content, or terms of use of these third-party websites or services.
  • Your use of any third-party service is subject to that provider’s terms and policies.
  • We do not endorse or guarantee the accuracy, security, or reliability of any third-party tool or service linked from our Website.

10. Termination

  • We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your access to the Website at any time, with or without notice, if we determine that you have violated these Terms, misused our services, or interfered with the integrity or security of the Site.
  • Upon termination, any provisions of these Terms which by their nature should reasonably survive termination will remain in effect, including but not limited to intellectual property rights, disclaimers, and limitations of liability.

11. No Warranty

  • This Website and all content are provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis without warranties of any kind, either express or implied.
  • We make no guarantees regarding the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or completeness of any content or service provided through the Website.
  • The Association of Bulgarian Professionals disclaims all warranties, including but not limited to warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.
  • We do not guarantee that the Website will be secure, error-free, or available at all times.

12. Governing Law

These Terms and any disputes arising out of or related to your use of the Website shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois, United States, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

Any legal action or proceeding related to these Terms shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Cook County, Illinois.

13. Dispute Resolution

  • In the event of a dispute or claim related to your use of the Website, both parties agree to first attempt to resolve the issue through informal communication.
  • If a resolution cannot be reached within 30 days, the matter shall be submitted to binding arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association.
  • The arbitration will take place in Schaumburg, Illinois, and the language of the proceedings shall be English.
  • Each party will bear its own legal fees and costs associated with the arbitration unless otherwise determined by the arbitrator.

14. Modifications to Terms

  • We reserve the right to update or modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be posted on this page with a revised effective date.
  • Your continued use of the Website after any changes are made constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms.
  • We encourage you to review these Terms periodically to stay informed of any updates.

15. Acceptable Use

By using this Website, you agree not to:

  • Upload or distribute any malicious code, viruses, or harmful software
  • Attempt to gain unauthorized access to restricted areas or data
  • Interfere with the Website’s functionality, servers, or security systems
  • Impersonate ABP staff, board members, or other users
  • Harvest or collect email addresses, contact information, or data from the Website without permission
  • Engage in any activity that violates applicable laws or infringes on the rights of others

Contact Information

If you have any questions about these Terms and Conditions, please contact us: