Guyanese American Association

CODE OF CONDUCT

GUYANESE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHENECTADY

Preamble 

Membership in the Guyanese American Association of Schenectady is voluntary. By accepting membership, a member assumes an obligation of self-discipline above and beyond the requirements of laws and regulations.

These Principles of the Code of Conduct of the Guyanese American Association of Schenectady express the profession’s recognition of its responsibilities to the public and to colleagues. They guide members in the performance of their professional responsibilities and express the basic tenets of ethical and professional conduct. The Principles call for an unswerving commitment to honorable behavior, even at the sacrifice of personal advantage.

Responsibilities 

In carrying out their responsibilities as professionals, members should exercise sensitive professional and moral judgments in all their activities. As members, we perform an essential role in society. Consistent with that role, members of the Guyanese American Association of Schenectady have responsibilities to all those who use our services. Members also have a continuing responsibility to cooperate with each other to improve the services, maintain the public’s confidence, and carry out the responsibilities. The collective efforts of all members are required to maintain and enhance the traditions of the Guyanese American Association of Schenectady.

The Public Interest 

Members should accept the obligation to act in a way that will serve the public interest, honor the public trust, and demonstrate commitment to professionalism.

A distinguishing mark of a profession is acceptance of its responsibility to the public. The profession’s consists of grantors, governments, investors, the business and financial community, and others who rely on the objectivity and integrity of Guyanese American Association of Schenectady to maintain the orderly functioning of Guyanese/West Indian communities. This reliance imposes a public interest and responsibility on Guyanese American Association of Schenectady and it members. The public interest is defined as the collective well-being of the community of people and institutions the Guyanese American Association of Schenectady serves.

In discharging their professional responsibilities, members may encounter conflicting pressures from among each of those groups. In resolving those conflicts, members should act with integrity, guided by the precept that when members fulfill their responsibility to the public, the communities interests are best served.

Those who rely on the Guyanese American Association of Schenectady expect them to discharge their responsibilities with integrity, objectivity, due professional care, and a genuine interest in serving the public. They are expected to provide quality services and offer a range of services, all in a manner that demonstrates a level of professionalism consistent with these Principles of the Code of Conduct.

All who accept membership in the Guyanese American Association of Schenectady commit themselves to honor the public trust. In return for the faith that the public repose in them, members should seek continually to demonstrate their dedication to professional excellence.

Integrity 

To maintain and broaden public confidence, members should perform all professional responsibilities with the highest sense of integrity. Integrity is an element of character fundamental to professional recognition. It is the quality from which the public trust derives and the benchmark against which a member must ultimately test all decisions.

Integrity requires a member to be, among other things, honest and candid within the constraints of confidentiality. Service and the public trust should not be subordinated to personal gain and advantage. Integrity can accommodate the inadvertent error and the honest difference of opinion; it cannot accommodate deceit or subordination of principle.

Integrity is measured in terms of what is right and just. In the absence of specific rules, standards, or guidance, or in the face of conflicting opinions, a member should test decisions and deeds by asking: “Am I doing what a person of integrity would do? Have I retained my integrity?” Integrity requires a member to observe both the form and the spirit of technical and ethical standards; circumvention of those standards constitutes subordination of judgment. Integrity also requires a member to observe the principles of objectivity and independence and of due care.

Guyanese American Association of Schenectady is a community-based organization with a mission to fulfill the Guyanese/West Indian needs in the Schenectady area with an all-volunteer, not-for-profit group of people, looking to meet others through community service.  Becoming a member and participating in the organization’s programs is subject to observance of the organization’s rules and procedures.  Any existing or new member of Guyanese American Association of Schenectady will be required to read and sign this Code of Conduct before being allowed to participate in any Guyanese American Association of Schenectady activities.

The activities outlined below are strictly prohibited.  Any member or participant who violates this Code of Conduct is subject to disciplinary action, as specified below, up to and including removal from the organization. Guyanese American Association of Schenectady “management” reserves the right to make alterations to this Code of Conduct as required.  The current Code of Conduct and a history of any changes made will be maintained on file.

• Abusive language, discourtesy, rudeness, abhorrent behavior, or otherwise creating a hostile environment in the presence of management, volunteer, another participant, or anyone affiliated with any of the  organizations which Guyanese American Association of Schenectady assists
• Possession or use of illegal drugs or the excessive use of alcoholic beverages during any activities affiliated with Guyanese American Association of Schenectady.
• Bringing dangerous or unauthorized materials, such as explosives, firearms, weapons or other similar items to any activity affiliated with Guyanese American Association of Schenectady
• Verbal, physical, visual, written (including e-mail) or other forms of harassment of management, volunteer, another participant, or anyone affiliated with any of the organizations which Guyanese American Association of Schenectady  assists
• Actual or threatened violence toward any individual or group
• Conduct endangering the life, safety, health or well being of others
• Failure to follow any Guyanese American Association of Schenectady  policy or procedure
• Bullying or taking unfair advantage of any participant
• Failing to cooperate with Guyanese American Association of Schenectady  management or event leader during the performance of official Guyanese American Association of Schenectady  business or activities or in the course of performing other tasks related to those activities

The Guyanese American Association of Schenectady management shall have the sole discretion in deciding if and to what degree anyone violates this Code of Conduct.  The following specifies the order of disciplinary steps that shall be taken should the management determine that someone has violated this Code of Conduct. The Guyanese American Association of Schenectady management shall also have the discretion, should they deem the violation to be particularly severe, to skip any disciplinary steps and apply a more severe action.

1)  A warning shall be issued, either written (including e-mail) or verbally, to immediately stop the activity that violates the Code of Conduct

2)  A meeting of not less than half of the Guyanese American Association of Schenectady  management shall be convened, at a time and place at the convenience of the management, during which the person who violated this Code of Conduct shall have the opportunity to discuss his/her conduct and receive a final warning

3)  Immediate and final termination as a member of Guyanese American Association of Schenectady and prohibition from participating in any and all future Guyanese American Association of Schenectady  activities

By signing up with Guyanese American Association of Schenectady, you acknowledge that you have read and do understand all the terms contained within the Code of Conduct.