Raffle Terms and Conditions

WARNING: You must be 18 years of age or older at the time you place your order to enter this raffle. I have read the Official Rules of the “HNG Chamber of Commerce Annual Raffle”, (the “Raffle”). I understand that the Raffle is being conducted by HNG Chamber of Commerce and that by selecting “Checkout” and typing my electronic signature (which is equivalent to my written signature) on the following page that I am (a) affixing my electronic signature to this Order Form (b) certifying that I have read and agree to the Official Rules of this Raffle, and (c) upon acceptance of my order, my electronic signature will also be electronically affixed to my Raffle Tickets as may be required in certain circumstances. OFFICIAL RULES The following are the official rules (“Official Rules”) of HNG Chamber of Commerce (“CHAMBER”) raffle (the “Raffle”) on the CHAMBER website, to which these Official Rules are linked, and for which you are ordering tickets.

A. General Rules:

1. Eligibility: Eligible individuals who are at least eighteen (18) years of age at the time of entry may purchase raffle tickets for this Raffle. In addition, anyone deemed by CHAMBER, in its sole discretion, to be in the position to create even a perception of having an undue influence on the results of the Raffle, whether or not any such undue influence actually exists, is not eligible to participate and win. This Raffle is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations and is void where prohibited or restricted by law, rule, or regulation.
2. How to Participate: Follow the instructions provided to fully complete and submit your online order to purchase tickets for the Raffle. *There is no restriction on the number of times you may order tickets for the Raffle. Online orders must be received by the entry deadline as specified in the Official Rules (“Entry Deadline”). No orders will be accepted after the specified Entry Deadline unless the Entry Deadline has been extended as permitted by the Official Rules. All information submitted online by the entrant is subject to CHAMBER’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, both of which are accessible from links at the bottom of the CHAMBER website. With regard to any information that CHAMBER is required to retain by law, CHAMBER will retain this information in a manner consistent with applicable law. Entrant must fully complete and submit all non-optional data requested on the online order form to purchase tickets. Incomplete orders are void. All order forms and other material submitted by the entrant becomes the sole property of CHAMBER and will not be returned. CHAMBER reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to void any and all orders or tickets of an entrant who CHAMBER believes has attempted to tamper with or impair the administration, security, fairness or proper play of this Raffle, or who is otherwise not in compliance with these Official Rules.
3. Conduct of Raffle: The entrant acknowledges and agrees: (a) that this Raffle is being conducted exclusively by CHAMBER in the State of North Carolina, and (b) that any donation of prizes, or efforts to advertise the Raffle is done so on a voluntary basis and does not in any way, and cannot be construed in any way to, suggest that any group other than CHAMBER is conducting this Raffle.
4. Odds of Winning: The odds of winning the Prize depends upon the total number of raffle tickets sold. There is no limit on the total number of tickets that will be sold for this Raffle.
5. Taxes: The Internal Revenue Service takes the position that no portion of the ticket price will qualify as a charitable contribution for income tax purposes. Moreover, the Internal Revenue Service and the North Carolina Department of Revenue, the jurisdiction in which this Raffle is being conducted, treats the value of prizes won in a raffle as ordinary income for tax purposes. Unless otherwise stipulated on the Official Raffle Page, to mitigate these expenses, the Raffle provides a cash prize, paid directly to the Internal Revenue Service, and to the State of North Carolina, that is sufficient to cover the approximate withholding requirements of the Internal Revenue Service and the State of North Carolina; such that the winner is not required to remit any funds to CHAMBER to claim his/her prize. However, this cash prize is only meant to mitigate the winner’s tax liability and the winner, depending on his/her personal circumstances, may or may not be required to pay additional taxes to the Internal Revenue Service and/or the State of North Carolina. Any additional taxes that may be due are the sole responsibility of the winner. Please consult with your tax advisor to determine what your personal tax liability would be should you win the Raffle.
6. Electronic Signature & Digital Tickets: Entrant acknowledges that he/she has read the Official Rules of this Raffle, and agrees that by submitting the order form to CHAMBER, he/she will be contractually bound by the Official Rules of this Raffle upon acceptance of the entrant’s order by CHAMBER. Furthermore, the entrant also acknowledges and agrees that by clicking the “I Agree” box on the order form and by entering his/her electronic signature on the order form and submitting the order form to CHAMBER, that the entrant will have affixed his/her electronic signature to the order form, certifying that he/she has read the “Official Rules” of this Raffle and that he/she agrees to be bound by them. Moreover, the State of North Carolina requires that each Raffle ticket purchased be signed by the purchaser and the person selling the ticket. The entrant hereby acknowledges and agrees, that upon acceptance of the entrant’s order, and issuance of his/her tickets, that the electronic signature provided with the order form will also be affixed as the entrant’s electronic signature to the tickets purchased by the entrant. The entrant also acknowledges and agrees that all Raffle tickets issued pursuant to this Raffle will be digital tickets (“Digital Tickets”) and that no paper tickets will be issued. Each Digital Ticket issued shall have the electronic signature of the President of CHAMBER affixed to it, at the time such Digital Ticket is issued.
7. Ticket Order Processing: Entrant acknowledges and agrees to the following: (a) that by submitting his/her order, the entrant is making an offer to purchase Raffle tickets from CHAMBER; (b) that CHAMBER’s receipt of the entrant’s order does not constitute CHAMBER’s acceptance of the entrant’s order; (c) that upon CHAMBER’s receipt of the entrant’s order, CHAMBER will send the entrant’s credit card information, via a secure router, to the entrant’s credit card provider, or a secure third party that provides verification services for the credit card provider, and await confirmation that the transaction has been authorized by the entrant’s credit card provider; (d) that upon receipt of a credit authorization code, CHAMBER will accept the entrant’s order, at which time the entrant and CHAMBER will be contractually bound by the Official Rules of this Raffle and CHAMBER will have received payment for the entrant’s order; (e) that CHAMBER will then issue Digital Tickets in the name of the entrant; and, (f) CHAMBER will issue the entrant an electronic receipt for his or her purchase that will provide reference numbers, which are not the Digital Ticket numbers, but rather a unique number formulated for each unique Digital Ticket number issued to the entrant. Moreover, once the entrant’s order has been accepted by CHAMBER, it cannot be canceled by the entrant. The entrant hereby acknowledges and agrees that all sales are final and that no refunds or exchanges will be issued.
8. Selection of Winner: A Potential winner shall be selected on the Drawing Date, as specified by the Official Rules, which may be extended as permitted by the Official Rules. The winner will be selected by a representative of CHAMBER to select a random winner from all of the Digital Tickets issued for the raffle. Each Digital Ticket has an equal chance of winning. The entrant does not need to be present at the drawing to win. CHAMBER will notify the potential winner, who will be announced as the winner of the Raffle subject to verification of eligibility and compliance with the terms of these Official Rules.
9. Qualification of Winner: Potential winner will be required to execute and return an Affidavit of Eligibility, Liability Release, Internal Revenue Service form W-9 (W-8BEN for non-US residents), and a Publicity Release, within two (2) days of the date of issuance of notification. Non-compliance with any of the foregoing or these Official Rules, the inability to contact the potential winner within a reasonable time period, failure to return such documents within the specified time period, or the return of a prize or prize items, or a prize notification as undeliverable may result in disqualification and, time permitting, awarding of prize items to an alternate potential winner, at CHAMBER’s sole discretion, to be randomly selected from among all remaining eligible Digital Tickets.
10. Claiming Your Prize: Once the winner is qualified, CHAMBER, at no additional charge, will coordinate the process of claiming prize items.  The Winner has 7 days from the drawing date (October 1^st, 2021) to contact the Chamber regarding the prize details.  If the winner cannot make the pickup date due to COVID-related travel restrictions, an alternate date agreed upon by both parties may be set.  In the event the prize items include a presentation ceremony and/or attendance at an event, or exhibition, where one or more of the prize items will be presented, the winner may choose to decline attendance at the presentation ceremony, and/or forfeit any tickets  event, or exhibition, in which case.  Any decision by the winner to decline attendance at the presentation ceremony, and/or forfeit of any tickets to any event, or exhibition, or any other prize items, must be in writing and in a form acceptable to CHAMBER and must be received by CHAMBER prior to coordination of the pickup of the remaining prize items (if any). Any and all prize items forfeited are forever gone and may not be transferred to another party or claimed at a later date. All tickets and other prize items are on an “if used” basis and will be forfeited, with no compensation to the winner, if they are not used by the winner.
11. Prize Transfer Restrictions: Winner may transfer, assign, or substitute, the prize within 7 days from the drawing date. No cash exchange is permitted.
12. Winners Release: Entrant agrees that if he or she is selected as the potential winner, regardless of whether or not he/she is qualified as the winner, that CHAMBER, and each of its designees, (a) shall have the right and permission to use (unless prohibited by law) entrant’s name, voice, address (city and state of residence), photograph and/or other likeness for advertising, promotional and/or trade and/or any other purpose in any and all media or format now known or hereafter devised throughout the world, in perpetuity, without limitation and without further compensation, consideration, permission or notification to entrants or any third parties; and (b) shall have no liability and will be held harmless for any liability, loss, injury or damage, including, without limitation, personal injury, death or damage to personal or real property, to entrant or any other person or entity due in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, by reason of the acceptance, possession, use or misuse of any prize (including any travel or activity related thereto) and/or CHAMBER will not be responsible for weather conditions, Acts of God, acts of terrorism, civil disturbances, work stoppage or any other natural or man-made disaster outside their control that may cause the cancellation or postponement of any game(s), event(s), or exhibition(s), or travel and/or lodging provisions, if applicable, or the inability of CHAMBER to deliver any or all of the prize items.
13. Additional Documentation and Releases: The entrant acknowledges and agrees that in addition to any and all documents required by CHAMBER to qualify the entrant as the winner, and for the winner to claim his/her prize items, prize sponsors, and/or other prize providers, may also require that additional waivers and releases be executed by the winner and his/her guest(s) (if any), prior to providing prize items. In the event that any additional documentation is required, the winner and his/her guest(s) (if any) must complete any and all necessary documents, the necessity of which is at the sole discretion of CHAMBER, the earlier of, in time to utilize any prize items that are scheduled events or within 2 days following notification, as determined by CHAMBER. These documents may include but are not limited to, any and all documents necessary to complete a CORI or other background check. Failure to comply with any of these requirements may result in disqualification and the selection of an alternate winner if time permits. Moreover, winner and his/her guest(s) (if any) agree to comply with the terms and conditions specified upon any game, event or exhibition ticket, airline or other travel provider’s tickets, or any other ticket issued to the winner and his/her guest(s) (if any) in conjunction with this Raffle. The winner and his/her guest(s) (if any) also agree to comply with the rules and regulations of any and all stadiums or other public or private venues, including any lodging facility(s), that they attend as a result of winning the Raffle and to not act in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner, or with any intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person, including employees, at any such game(s), event(s), exhibition(s), or lodging facility(s). CHAMBER, and the applicable management of any such stadium, venue, or lodging facility, reserve the right to remove or to deny entry to the winner and/or any guest(s) (if any) who act(s) in a non-sportsmanlike or disruptive manner, or with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person, including employees, at any game(s), event(s) or exhibition(s) or lodging facility(s) (and no additional compensation or substitution will be awarded to the winner).
14. Travel & Lodging Restrictions: If any Prize includes air transportation, CHAMBER, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to provide ground transportation in lieu of air transportation if the winner and/or his/her guests reside within one-hundred (100) miles of the city in which a game, event, or exhibition included in such Prize will be held (and no additional compensation or substitution will be awarded for any difference in prize value). Moreover, if the Prize includes travel and/or accommodations, the winner and his/her guest(s) (if any), must depart and return on the dates and times specified by CHAMBER and winner and guest(s) (if any) must arrive and depart from any lodging facility on the dates and times specified by CHAMBER (dates and times of departure and return, and accommodations, are subject to change). Winner and guest(s) (if any) must possess all required travel documents (e.g. valid photo ID, passport, visa, etc.) prior to departure. Airline ticket(s), travel allowances, and/or any other transportation provided for in the Prize (if applicable) are provided to the winner and their guest(s) (if any) on an if-needed, if-used basis, and no additional compensation or substitution will be awarded for the difference in prize value if any such travel-related prize item is not needed or used. The entrant acknowledges and agrees that flight dates, times, and availability are beyond the control of CHAMBER and the Released Parties. The terms and conditions (as determined by the applicable airline) of airline tickets (if any) awarded as part of the Prize will govern in the event a flight does not occur due to weather, an Act of God, an act of terrorism, civil disturbance or for any other reason. The winner and his/her guest(s) (if any) agree to comply with all airline regulations at all times. Released Parties will not be responsible for Acts of God, acts of terrorism, civil disturbances, work stoppage or any other natural disaster outside their control that may cause the cancellation or postponement of any scheduled flight. All travel and accommodations details (if any) will be determined by CHAMBER at its sole discretion.
15. Alternate Prizes: CHAMBER reserves the right to substitute prizes for other prizes, of equal or greater value, the relative value of such prizes being determined by CHAMBER in its sole discretion. Moreover, the entrant acknowledges and agrees that the Prize contains certain prize items that cannot be duplicated or replaced. Therefore, the entrant agrees that should, for whatever reason, and either before or after the Entry Deadline or the Drawing Date, all or part of the Prize becomes, at the sole discretion of CHAMBER, unavailable or withdrawn, and substitute prizes cannot be found, that CHAMBER may, in its sole discretion, replace the Prize in whole or in part with a cash prize equal to, if in whole, the Fair Market Value, as defined in the Official Rules, of the Prize or, if in part, the Fair Market Value, as determined by CHAMBER, in its sole discretion, of the part of the Prize that CHAMBER, in its sole discretion, has determined to be unavailable.
16. Disqualified Winner: If CHAMBER, in its sole determination, disqualifies a winner, the winner will not be entitled to any refund of any kind. If the winner is disqualified for any reason, an alternate winner will be selected from the remaining Digital Tickets until such time as a qualified winner has been selected. Once a qualified winner has been selected, if CHAMBER, in its sole determination, determines that there is not enough time for the winner to claim and receive all, or some, of the prize items, CHAMBER may, in its sole discretion, replace all or a portion of the prize items with other prize items of similar or greater value, or with a cash payment. In no event, will any such cash payment exceed the Fair Market Value of the prize package.
17. Administration of Raffle: The entrant acknowledges and agrees that decisions made by CHAMBER will be final and binding on all matters relating to this Raffle. CHAMBER reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to modify, terminate or suspend this Raffle (or any portion thereof) should virus, bugs, unauthorized human intervention or other causes corrupt or impair the administration, security, fairness or proper play of the Raffle (or any portion thereof) and, in the event of termination, at its sole discretion, select a winner from those eligible, non-suspect Digital Tickets issued prior to the event requiring such termination. CHAMBER reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any person and void all associated orders and Digital Tickets of any person, without any reimbursement of any kind to any such person, who it believes has tampered with the order process, or any other component of this Raffle whose conduct or actions affect the administration, integrity, security, fairness or proper conduct of this Raffle, or who is in violation of these Official Rules.CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEBSITE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS RAFFLE IN ANY WAY, OR UNDERMINE THE CONTENT OR LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THIS RAFFLE, MAY BE A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, CHAMBER AND/OR THEIR RESPECTIVE AGENTS WILL DISQUALIFY ANY SUCH ENTRANT AND RESERVE THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES (INCLUDING ATTORNEYS’ FEES) AND/OR OTHER REMEDIES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON OR PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ATTEMPT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMISSIBLE BY LAW. In the event a winner is not selected and CHAMBER cancels the Raffle because of any of the foregoing reasons, CHAMBER, in its sole discretion, may refund the entrants their money for their raffle ticket purchases, or if CHAMBER, in its sole discretion, determines such refunds to be impossible, or too expensive to process, CHAMBER may then announce, such announcement being fulfilled by posting any such announcement on the CHAMBER website, that the Raffle is null and void and that any and all ticket purchases for this Raffle have been reclassified as donations to CHAMBER, which will, in accordance to the agreement(s) between CHAMBER and the charity(s), be donated to the charity(s) named as beneficiary(s) of the Raffle. If CHAMBER declares that any such raffle ticket purchases are now donations, they will then become tax-deductible, as charitable contributions, to the fullest extent allowed by law.
18. Arbitration: As a condition of participating in this Raffle, entrant agrees that (a) any and all disputes and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Raffle, or any prizes awarded, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by final and binding arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association before an arbitrator appointed by the Lake Lure, North Carolina office of the American Arbitration Association. Such arbitration shall be held and conducted in Lake Lure, North Carolina, and the costs of any such arbitration shall be shared equally by both parties. However, notwithstanding the foregoing, each party shall bear its own costs of representation. The arbitrator shall have the authority to interpret these Official Rules in accordance with the laws of the State of North Carolina and to enter his decision. Moreover, in no event shall the arbitrator have any authority to consider issues or allegations, such claims being deemed waived by the entrant. Furthermore, either party may apply to the Superior Court of North Carolina to confirm the arbitrator’s decision and enter a judgment in favor of the prevailing party. Under no circumstances will the entrant be permitted to obtain awards for, and entrant hereby waives all rights to claim, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, or any other damages, including attorneys’ fees, other than participant’s actual out-of-pocket expenses (i.e., costs associated with ordering and purchasing the entrant’s Raffle tickets), and entrant waives all rights to have damages multiplied or increased. In the event that the entrant prevails in any such arbitration, his/her damages shall be limited to the actual amount that he/she paid for the tickets he/she purchased for the Raffle.
19. Jurisdiction: The entrant acknowledges and agrees that this Raffle is being conducted exclusively in the State of North Carolina and that all issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation, and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of the entrant, CHAMBER, and the Released Parties, in connection with the Raffle, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the substantive laws of the State of North Carolina, USA.
20. Interpretation: In the event of a conflict between these Official Rules and CHAMBER’s Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, or any other information provided to the entrant regarding the Raffle, these Official Rules shall prevail.

B. Raffle Specific Rules:

1. Location: This Raffle is being conducted in accordance with the laws of the State of North Carolina. The entrant and CHAMBER hereby agree and confirm that all the elements of the contract created by and between these parties by these Official Rules and each party’s obligations pursuant to this contract, have been formed and will be fulfilled and discharged solely within the jurisdiction of the State of North Carolina. This Agreement is governed by and shall be construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of North Carolina.
2. Ticket Prices: Tickets are $10.00 each or three for $20.00.
3. Winner Notification: The winner will be selected on October 1^st, 2021, in Lake Lure, North Carolina, and the entrant does not need to be present to win. The winner will be notified by CHAMBER. The winner’s name and the winning ticket reference number will be posted on CHAMBER’s Facebook page on or about 10/2/2021 unless otherwise specified on the Official Raffle Page. CHAMBER also has the right to extend the raffle drawing, if necessary.
4. Official Raffle Page: The Official Raffle Page is defined as the page from which you begin the ordering process for Raffle tickets. The Official Raffle Page is incorporated into these Official Rules as follows:
   • a. Prize: The prize package(s) for the Raffle are described on the Main Raffle Page, subject to any restrictions referenced there or in these Official Rules.
   • b. Fair Market Value: The Fair Market Value of the Prize is as referenced on the Official Raffle Page.
   • c. Entry Deadline: The Entry Deadline for the Raffle is as referenced on the Official Raffle Page. However, CHAMBER, at its sole discretion, may, without any notice, penalty, or offer of a refund, and as often as CHAMBER, in its sole discretion, determines to be necessary, extend the Entry Deadline by up to thirty days from the original time and date of the original Entry Deadline by changing the Entry Deadline on the Main Raffle Page to reflect the new Entry Deadline.
   • d. Drawing Date: The Drawing Date for the Raffle is as referenced on the Official Raffle Page and the time shall be determined by CHAMBER. However, CHAMBER, at its sole discretion, may, without any notice, penalty, or offer of a refund, and as often as CHAMBER, in its sole discretion, determines it to be necessary, extend the Drawing Date by up to thirty days from the original Drawing Date by changing the Drawing Date on the Main Raffle Page to reflect the new Drawing Date.
   • e. Net proceeds: The Net Proceeds of the Raffle are defined as the proceeds from the raffle after all third party and prize-related expenses have been deducted. The Net Proceeds will benefit the Chamber of Commerce of Hickory Nut Gorge Foundation.