Code of Conduct

Code of Conduct

Association Forum

Community Access Agreement

Welcome to the Association Forum’s online community (“Community”)! The Association Forum’s online communities are presented for the purpose of connecting the Association Forum members, sharing information and creating a peer-to-peer forum for the discussion of issues relating to trade associations, professional societies, and other not-for-profit organizations.

By joining a Community, you agree that you have read and will follow the rules, terms and conditions set forth below in this Community Access Agreement.  You also agree to reserve discussions and shared files and content to that best suited to the medium. This is a great medium with which to solicit the advice of your peers, benefit from their experience, and participate in an ongoing conversation. Questions should be directed to our Member Services department via the Contact Us link on this site.

This Community Access Agreement governs your participation in and use of the Community.  The rules, terms and conditions set forth below in this Community Access Agreement (collectively referred to as the “Rules”) apply to all members of the Community (participants, you, or users) and constitute a binding, legal agreement between you, the Association Forum, and its agents and assigns

Please take a moment to acquaint yourself with these important Rules. If you have questions, contact the member service department. In order to preserve a climate that encourages both civil and fruitful dialogue, we reserve the right to suspend or terminate participation in the Community for anyone who violates these Rules.

Rules

Community participants must adhere to the following rules:

  1. The Association Forum has made the Community available to participants for the purpose of providing a forum for the discussion of issues important to professionals involved in trade associations, professional societies, and other not-for-profit organizations.
  2. The Association Forum is making the Community available to participants for educational and informational purposes only. The Association Forum is not undertaking to render advice. Community participants must rely solely on their own judgment with respect to all issues discussed.  The Association Forum does not approve or endorse any specific practices that may be mentioned on the Community. The Association Forum makes no representations or warranties regarding the experience, qualifications or information provided by Community participants or otherwise provided using the Community.
  3. Information posted on the Community will not be treated as confidential and, therefore, should not disclose any confidential, proprietary, or sensitive business or other information. In fact, since any information posted on the Community may be downloaded, reproduced, and disseminated without the knowledge of user(s), users must use extreme care when posting or sending such information. 
  4. Users acknowledge and agree that they (i) will not have any copyright or other property rights in or to information that they (or others) post on the Community; (ii) specifically waive any such property rights; and (iii) hereby grant all users a license to use (including the right to publish) all information posted by them on the Community.
  5. Users are prohibited from using the Community to communicate about prices or terms of service, to exchange practice management or any other proprietary information, or otherwise communicate in a manner that may violate federal or state antitrust laws.
  6. Discussion topics are not to be relied on as specific advice, and such responses are not intended to constitute practice guidelines or advice. 
  7. Users should exercise both common sense and courtesy in the messages they transmit on the Community and may not use the Community to transmit defamatory, obscene, and otherwise offensive communications.   
  8. Users may not post or distribute files, articles or other information subject to trademark, copyright, or other proprietary rights, except with the express consent of the owner of the rights.
  9. Users are prohibited from posting commercial messages or promotions, advertising, or selling goods or services.
  10. Users must respect the security of the Community and may not attempt to gain access or provide access to areas private to the Association Forum or the Community.
  11. Users are prohibited from using the Community for any purpose that may be illegal.  For example, the Community may not be used to solicit or disseminate information having to do with, or to conduct any activity relating to, illegal drugs, pornography, gambling, spreading computer viruses, software infringement, trafficking in credit card codes, price-fixing, illegal boycotts, or other crimes.
  12. The Community may not be used in a manner that violates applicable federal, state or local laws, the Association Forum bylaws or any other policies, procedures, rules, or regulations of the Association Forum.
  13. The Association Forum will deny access to the Community to any individual who has not agreed to the terms of these Rules and reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to (i) remove any postings or other content that is not consistent with these Rules or otherwise not in the best interests of the Association Forum; and (ii) suspend or terminate access to the Community for violations of these Rules or for otherwise acting in a manner contrary to the interests of the Association Forum.

Disclaimer

The views expressed on the Community are those of the individual contributors.  They do not and should not be construed as representing the views of the Association Forum.  The Association Forum makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information posted on the Community, whether posted by the Association Forum or any third party, and the Association Forum assumes no responsibility or liability regarding the use or misuse of such information for any purpose.  The Association Forum disclaims any responsibility to maintain copies of any information posted on the Community or to assure that such information is deleted.  Unless specifically stated otherwise, the Association Forum does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, advice, guidance, product, process, service or organization presented or mentioned on the Community, and information from the Community should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement.  NEVERTHELESS, THE ASSOCIATION FORUM RETAINS THE RIGHT TO MONITOR POSTED INFORMATION AND REMOVE MESSAGES OR MATERIALS THAT IT BELIEVES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE TERMS OF THESE RULES OR ARE NOT IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE ASSOCIATION FORUM.

Release

The Rules include a legally binding release, waiver, discharge, and covenant not to sue (collectively, Release), made voluntarily by you, on your own behalf, and on behalf of your heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, and assigns (collectively, Releasor or you) to the Association Forum.

As the Releasor, you fully recognize that the Association Forum does not require you to participate in or utilize the Community. With informed consent, and for valuable consideration received, including access to the Community, as the Releasor, you agree to assume and take on yourself all of the risks and responsibilities in any way arising from or associated with the Community and any materials, information, guidance, or advice contained or posted on or to the Community, and you release the Association Forum and its affiliates, members, committees, board, officers, directors, legal representatives, employees, agents, administrators, assigns, and contractors (collectively, Releasees), from any and all claims, demands, suits, judgments, damages, actions, and liabilities of every name and nature whatsoever, whenever occurring, whether known or unknown, contingent or fixed, at law or in equity, that you may suffer at any time arising from or in connection with the Community, your acts or omissions, or information you transmit in connection with your participation in an use of the Community, and the materials, information, guidance, or advice contained on the Community, including any injury or harm to others (collectively, Liabilities), and you agree to defend, indemnify, and hold Releasees harmless from and against any and all Liabilities.

As the Releasor, you recognize that this Release means that you are giving up, among other things, all rights to sue Releasees for injuries, damages, or losses that you may incur. You also understand that this Release binds your heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, and assigns, as well as yourself.

Choice of Law

These Rules shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of Illinois, United States of America, exclusive of its choice of law or conflict of laws provisions.  In addition, users consent to be subject to the exclusive personal jurisdiction of the state courts located in Cook County, Illinois or the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, whichever has jurisdiction, and waive any jurisdictional, venue, or inconvenient forum objections to such court in the event of any dispute between the parties.

Amendments

The Association Forum reserves the right to modify or change the terms of these Rules as it determines from time to time in the best interests of the Association Forum, provided that all Community users are notified prior to any such change. Use of the Community constitutes the user’s continuing agreement to be bound by these Rules, as amended from time to time.

Acceptance of Rules

By joining the Community, you (i) represent and warrant that you have read these Rules, including, without limitation the terms of the Release set forth above; (ii) fully understand the terms of these Rules (including, without limitation, the Release included herein) and acknowledge that you have had the opportunity to review these Rules (including, without limitation, the terms of the Release) with an attorney of your choosing if you so desire; and (iii) agree to be legally bound by the terms of these Rules. 

  

Meeting and Event Code of Conduct

The Association Forum of Chicagoland (“Forum”) is committed to providing a safe, productive, and Welcoming Environment® for everyone attending and participating in the Forum’s meetings, conferences, webinars, activities, and other events (collectively, “Forum events”). All attendees and participants, including, but not limited to, members, guests, speakers, volunteers, exhibitors, Forum staff, service providers, and others (collectively, the “Participants”) are expected to abide by this Meeting and Event Code of Conduct (“Code of Conduct”). This Code of Conduct applies to all Forum events, including those sponsored by organizations other than the Forum but held in conjunction with a Forum event, whether held in public or private facilities. 

Sexual Harassment & Other Unacceptable Behavior 

The Forum strives to provide an environment free of unwelcome sexual advances, unwelcome requests for sexual favors or other verbal or physical conduct or communications of a sexual nature constituting sexual harassment. “Sexual harassment” is defined as any unwelcome sexual advance or request for sexual favors or any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, including, but not limited to, the following:  

  • Verbal harassment or abuse 

  • Pressure for sexual activity with sexual or demeaning implications 

  • Repeated remarks with sexual or demeaning implications 

  • Unwelcome and deliberate touching 

  • Suggesting or demanding sexual involvement accompanied by implied or explicit threats or promises 

  • Inappropriate cornering, patting, or pinching 

  • Uninvited comments regarding physical or personality characteristics of a sexual nature 

  • Uninvited and unwelcome “jokes” or “teasing” of a sexual nature 

  • Uninvited and unwelcome letters, texts, social media messages, telephone calls and/or material 

  • Rape, sexual assault, or the attempt thereof  

The Forum has zero-tolerance for any form of harassment (including but not limited to sexual harassment), discrimination or other disruptive or unacceptable behavior by Participants at Forum meetings.  

 

Unacceptable behavior includes, but is not limited to (i) harassment, intimidation, bullying, or discrimination in any form; and (ii) physical or verbal abuse toward any Participant. Examples of unacceptable behavior include, but are not limited to: 

  • Verbal comments related to gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion or national origin, inappropriate use of nudity and/or sexual images in public spaces or in presentations and threatening or stalking any Participant. 

  • Disruption of presentations at sessions, in the exhibit hall or at other events organized by the Forum at the meeting venue, hotels or other Forum-contracted facilities. 

If you are a victim of sexual assault or other crime (or believe you are a witness to a crime), you are urged to call 911 and/or contact venue security immediately. In addition, if you experience or witness incidents of behavior that violate this Code of Conduct, we ask that you immediately inform either Artesha Moore, President and CEO of the Forum at executiveoffice@associationforum.org or (312) 924-7070; or Alec Rosofsky, Director of Learning and Events, at rosofsky@associationforum.org or (312) 924-7024.  

Responsible Drinking 

Alcoholic beverages may be served at some Forum events. The Forum expects Participants at our events to drink responsibly. The Forum and event staff have the right to deny service to Participants for any reason and may require a Participant to leave the event. 

Personal Safety and Security 

The Forum works diligently to provide a safe and secure environment at its events by working with venue staff to make sure meeting participants are safe. We ask that all attendees report any questionable or concerning activity to Forum or venue staff so that they can take immediate action. No concern is too small; if you see something, say something. In addition: 

  • Be aware of your surroundings at all times. 

  • Use the buddy system when walking to and from the event venue or networking event locations during early or late hours. 

  • Do not wear your meeting badge on the street. Take it off as soon as you leave the building/venue. 

  • Do not carry a lot of cash or credit cards. Leave valuable items in your hotel room safe. 

  • Do not leave personal property unattended anywhere at any time. 

The Forum reserves the right to immediately remove anyone found to have violated this Code of Conduct from the event without refund. In addition, the Forum may, in its sole discretion, prohibit offenders from attending or participating in future Forum events.