Terms and Conditions

Terms & Conditions

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MEMBERSHIP TERMS

Memberships are paid for as DUES to The American Peony Society, a non-profit, all volunteer, organization.  The Society produces up to 4 member publications per year available to dues paying members.  A public website is maintained and is available to anyone wishing to learn more about peonies. The website, The Bulletin and all other activities are supported by membership dues, donations, auctions, and other Society sales. Additionally, all memberships include access to Member Portal which makes available additional content and activities. All APS activities are focused upon promoting, enhancing and providing educational opportunities for members and the public at large, per APS’ mission.

1. The purchase of an American Peony Society Membership constitutes agreement to the following terms.
2. Dues are paid for the calendar year (January 1 – December 31 of any year) and may be secured for 1,3 or 5 year membership durations. Members joining before August 25th are recorded for the current year and members will receive all four issues of The APS Bulletin for that year (while supplies last for printed/mailed memberships). Members joining between August 25 and November 25 shall receive the December issue of The APS Bulletin and all issues for the following year.  Applications received after November 25 are recorded for the following year, unless otherwise specified.
3. Membership Dues are DONATIONS to the American Peony Society and are NON-REFUNDABLE under any circumstance.
4. Individual members are responsible for managing their accounts through MY ACCOUNT.   Typical management may include:  Auto renew settings, payment methods, credit cards on files, address changes and password changes. American Peony Society administrators/leadership are unable to view or make modifications to member accounts within the APS website for security and privacy reasons. APS is not able to initiate or prevent any renewal payment – this is completely controlled by the member.  See MY ACCOUNT HELP for management instructions.
5. All new memberships are set to Automatically Renew upon expiration.
   • By purchasing a new membership, the member authorizes APS to automatically renew their membership in their next membership cycle and charge the credit card on file in MY ACCOUNT>Payment methods tab.
   • If automatic renewal is unwanted, the member is responsible for immediately changing the Auto renew settings after the purchase of a membership.   Manage the account  in MY ACCOUNT>My Subscription. Change Auto renew from “on” to “off”, and Delete credit card information within the Payment methods tab.
   • Turning Auto renew settings off, after a renewal and payment has been made, does not retroactively cancel or negate payment for membership dues, but will prevent renewal in the next membership cycle.  The member is responsible for  managing their account, which controls automated payments.
   • An automatic renewal of a membership, is non-refundable, whether deliberate or unintended.  For further details and instructions, see terms #3 & #4.
6. Cancellation of a membership, by the member, will result in termination of member benefits and no refund will be provided.  All funds are treated as donations to the American Peony Society’s non-profit activities and are non-refundable. See term #3.
7. Early membership renewal is not available for administrative purposes.  Turn on the Auto renew toggle in MY ACCOUNT>Subscription to avoid missing a renewal in the next membership cycle.
8. Membership type and duration may only be changed in the next membership cycle.  To do so, turn off Auto renew and allow the current membership to expire.  After expiration, purchase the membership of choice from the Purchase Membership page.
9. Occasionally, membership types and prices may change, which may cause automatic renewal to become non-functional.   In such cases, members will need to contact the Membership Chair or Website Manager, who will reset the account so a current membership option can be purchased.
10. Memberships which are not renewed, due to credit card payment failure through the website, will remain current until January 31.  A valid credit card may be entered in MY ACCOUNT>Payment methods up to January 31 and the membership may then be renewed.  A new membership may be purchased at no additional cost, if not entered prior to January 31.
11. Monetary donations, including membership dues may be tax deductible in certain instances.  Eligibility and donation exemptions are governed by the IRS, under 501 (C) (3) laws, and per individual member tax status, within given states.   APS makes no guarantee of tax deduction eligibility.
12. APS is not responsible for re-mailing Bulletins and Directories which are returned due to address changes, lost in the mail, stolen or not delivered to a member for any other reason.  Online Membership is recommended for overseas members and any other member who may have mail delivery issues.
13. Terms and information for different Membership types are as follows:

• • Individual memberships are for one person at a single physical and email address, and will receive one copy of The Bulletin per publication cycle, either through the mail or online, per membership type. All Memberships include access to the Member Portal and online reading of The Bulletin and Directory of New Cultivars with one account email address.  Other optional benefits are available, as noted under Member Benefits. * APS is not responsible for re-mailing Bulletins and Directories which are returned due to address changes, lost in the mail, stolen or not delivered to a member for any other reason.
  • Dual memberships are for two persons at a single physical and email address and will receive one copy of The Bulletin per publication cycle, either through the mail or online, per membership type.  All Memberships include access to the Member Portal and online reading of The Bulletin and Directory of New Cultivars, with one account email address.  Other optional benefits are available, as noted under Member Benefits. * APS is not responsible for re-mailing Bulletins and Directories which are returned due to address changes, lost in the mail, stolen or not delivered to a member for any other reason.
  • Commercial memberships are for one business at a single mailing address, will receive one copy of The APS Bulletin per publication cycle, either through the mail or online, per membership type.  All Memberships include access to the Member Portal and online reading of The Bulletin and Directory of New Cultivars, with one account email address.  Advertising is open to all commercial members of the American Peony Society.  Advertisers reach a highly targeted audience of peony and gardening enthusiasts, while supporting the programming and outreach of the APS.  As a commercial member, you are also eligible to have a free listing and link on the APS website.  Further information about advertising in the Bulletin can be found:  Advertise in the Bulletin. Other optional benefits are available, as noted under Member Benefits. * APS is not responsible for re-mailing Bulletins and Directories which are returned due to address changes, lost in the mail, stolen or not delivered to a member for any other reason.  See Vendors Page for further requirements and options.  *Commercial Members who are not in the business of selling peonies or related items will not be listed on the Vendors page.
    REQUIRED:  Commercial Plant Vendors (business which sell planting material) are to practice APS Bylaw Article IV Section 5, which is in reference to  “Commercial Plant Vendor Code of Ethics” (Code).  Further information may be found on the Commercial Vendors Page.
  • Institutional memberships are for one organization at a single mailing address and include one printed Bulletin which may be made available to the public through their library system. The membership will be associated with the email address of one individual (staff or volunteer) who will have access to the Member Portal but, does not include public access to the Member Portal. Other benefits are available, as noted under Member Benefits, but no voting rights are included. Institutional memberships are available to libraries, botanical gardens, arboreta, gardening organizations and educational facilities.
  • Gift Subscriptions are available for on a one year trial basis. Gift Subscriptions are non-refundable, non-transferable and non-renewable, but may be cancelled without refund by contacting the [email protected].
    • Available for U.S. and Canadian residents only at this time.
    • Duration is 1 year (January thru December). If the gift subscription is received after August 15, subscriptions will begin the following year.
    • Includes 4 quarterly issues of The Bulletin.  Published Bulletins will mailed to the provided recipient’s address for the duration of the trial.
    • Includes a monthly electronically emailed APS Newsletter.  The Newsletter is sent via Constant Contact to the provided recipient’s email address.
    • Includes access to online Winter Seminars.  Links to Winter Seminars are included in the emailed Newsletters prior to the event.
    • Does not include other Membership rights or options.  The recipient may purchase a Membership at anytime to become a Member and receive full benefits and rights. Gift Subscriptions may not be applied to the purchase of a Membership by the recipient or purchaser (non-transferable to a Membership).
    • The recipient’s deliverable postal and email addresses are required at the time of purchase.
    • Gift Subscriptions are non-refundable, non-transferable and non-renewable.

*Online memberships will have access to the Bulletin and Directory of New Cultivars through the Member Portal for online reading and no print copies will be mailed.

*See the Dues Schedule for Membership Dues pricing: APS Dues Chart

SEEDS TERMS

1. A current membership with the American Peony Society  is required to order seeds.
   1. Orders  placed by non-members will be cancelled and refunded, less processing fees.
2. APS ships to members in the United States and Canada (Canada is paused due to shipping instability 3.12.2025) only.
3. Members must supply a shipping address in the United States or Canada (Canada is paused due to shipping instability 3.12.2025) to be eligible to receive seeds through this program.
   • Orders placed with shipping addresses outside of the United States or Canada will be cancelled and refunded, less processing fees.
4. Seed orders must be placed through the website’s Order Seeds page.
   • All seeds are limited in quantity and are provided on a first come – first served basis.
   • No orders will be taken via phone, email, mail or any other method.
   • Seed orders will be paid on the same day they are placed in the shopping cart.  No order shall be taken from a saved shopping cart due to the inventory issues it creates.  Saved cart orders will be refunded, less processing fees.
5. All seed orders are final and are non-refundable.
6. No cancellation or alteration of an order will be considered after payment.
7. Orders are shipped via the United States Postal Service.
8. Allow 4 to 6 weeks for seed orders to be shipped.
9. APS cannot guarantee delivery and will not refund/replace any order which does not arrive to its destination.  Additionally, lost, damaged, seized, misplaced, stolen, or misdelivered seed orders are not eligible for refund or replacement by APS.
10. Seed orders placed between May 1 and July 1 will be shipped in July.
11. APS does not guarantee the identity or viability of any seed selection.

DOWNLOADABLE PRODUCT TERMS

1. Downloadable products are media in the form of .pdf files.
2. Download permissions expire in 360 days.
3. Downloadable products are non-refundable.
4. After purchase, downloadable product(s) are sent to the email provided at checkout by the customer.
   •  Ordering customers are responsible for managing filters and blocking applications within their email programs. Make sure American Peony Society domains and emails are not blocked or filtered by your email program.   Check spam or promotions folders in such cases in which they do not appear in the main inbox.
5. Downloadable orders may also be accessed within the customer’s MY ACCOUNT>Orders and will be available for 360 days.
6. USE POLICY: The American Peony Society (“APS”) solicits a variety of media information produced by members for use in APS publications, websites, social media, and other platforms (“APS Platforms”).  Media includes, but is not limited to the following: books, articles, guides, announcements, advertisements, webpages, blogs, video, social media posts, digital images, and photographs (the “Media”).  All APS materials are fully protected to the extent applicable under copyright law.  This download is for personal use only and may not be reproduced in any form or part for further distribution or use.

CONVENTION TERMS

1. Participation within meetings, tours, member auction and banquet are paid as “Registration Fees”.  Restricted to members only.
   • Participation in The Flower Show & Exhibition and Seminars are open to the public and are free of charge.
2. Convention Registration Fees may not cover lodging, which are arranged for separately by individually attending members, thus are not the responsibility of APS.
3. Convention Registration and associated fees may be refundable under the following conditions (updated 2024):
   • In the event a member has made payment and is unable to attend, the following will apply (beginning in 2025):
     • All but $50 will be refunded up until approximately 2 months prior to convention start.
     • All but $100 will be refunded up until approximately 1 month prior to convention start.
     • No refunds will be made if cancellation is less than 1 month prior to convention start.
4. Registration Fees are paid for the entire convention and may not be broken down into sub-parts if members do not or cannot attend all functions.  No single part of the convention may be cancelled or refunded.
5. In some cases, APS may offer special “add-on” activities which are non-refundable in whole. (examples: special tours, optional classes outside of normal convention offerings).

WEBSITE TERMS

1. MEDIA.  Media includes, but is not limited to the following: articles, guides, announcements, advertisements, webpages, blogs, video, social media posts, digital images, and photographs (the “Media”).
   • All Media submitted to and used by APS is fully protected to the extent applicable under copyright law.
   • Such Media submissions are solely owned by the member author and the member author does not grant any ownership rights to APS by submitting Media to APS.
   • Member authors retain the ability to use submitted Media at their sole discretion.
   • Submission to APS grants APS the limited right to publish such Media on APS Platforms.
   • Any use of Media without the prior written consent of the member author is considered unauthorized and deemed theft.
   • APS cannot grant reproduction and use permissions.
   • APS cannot supply member owner/author names, upon request, for privacy reasons.
2. Public Website.
   • The public side of the website may be used by anyone interested in peonies.
   • Media terms, as listed in section 1 of these terms apply.
   • The APS Website Platform and all its contents is fully protected to the extent applicable under copyright law.
3. Member Portal Website.
   • The Member Portal is available to Members holding a current APS Membership.
   • Media terms, as listed in section 1 of these terms apply.
   • The APS Member Portal Website Platform and all its contents is fully protected to the extent applicable under copyright law.
   • Online Reading material is not to be printed or distributed and is fully protected to the extent applicable under copyright law.
4. OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS MAY APPLY.  THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS MAY BE FOUND WITHIN INDIVIDUAL PRODUCTS, POSTS, IMAGES AND OTHER APS DOCUMENTATION.