WSCAI Code of Conduct In order to promote high standards of conduct and ethics, and to promote respect and professionalism among members, the Washington State Chapter of Community Associations Institute (WSCAI) Board of Directors has adopted this Code of Conduct and encourages all members and attendees at chapter functions to comply with this code. [1] Chapter members and attendees at chapter functions are expected to maintain high standards of conduct and treat fellow attendees, participants, sponsors, exhibitors and speakers with respect at all chapter functions and meetings.
[2] Chapter members and attendees at chapter functions will address each other with respect even in circumstances of disagreement.
[3] Attendees will act with the highest ethical standards, recognizing that whenever competitors within an industry gather, appropriate care must be exercised to ensure that violations of antitrust laws do not occur. All participants in any chapter function or meeting should avoid any collusive practices or discussions. Collusion is an agreement to restrain trade and most usually is evidenced in the following anti-trust violations: product boycott, restrictive market allocations, refusal to deal with a third party, and price restraining activities. There need not be written or verbal agreements to restrain trade. Conversation regarding any of these sensitive areas may be construed as implicit violations.
[4] Chapter members and attendees at chapter functions are discouraged from making inaccurate or misleading representations or statements to current or potential clients, or disparaging statements about fellow members, competitors or attendees.
[5] Chapter Board and Committee members shall not coerce or intimidate other members based on a position of influence within the Chapter.
[6] Chapter members and attendees at chapter functions are encouraged to be aware of and avoid any real or apparent conflicts of interest in performing their duties and obligations and to promptly disclose any such conflicts.
[7] While the chapter does not restrain the exchange of business cards at any chapter function, attendees should display respect towards the function’s sponsors. Only sponsors of an individual program may distribute company literature or otherwise promote their company during a sponsored event.
[8] The chapter encourages members to refrain from criticizing peers and/or competitors or their business practices and to maintain a healthy and professional relationship with other members of the chapter and industry at large.
[9] Members with any CAI professional certification or designation are expected to honor their oath to abide by CAI’s Professional Code of Ethics or other code of conduct associated with such designation. Any chapter member or attendee at a chapter function who believes a member with a CAI designation may have violated the CAI Code of Ethics is encouraged to report such violation to the national office.
[10] Chapter members and attendees at chapter functions shall meet all financial obligations of participation in various chapter activities and functions in a timely fashion and according to any terms listed on chapter invoices.
[11] The following shall be considered a non-exhaustive list of unacceptable behavior at any WSCAI hosted events and programs and may subject a participant to removal:
• Harassment, intimidation, or discrimination in any form.
• Alcohol or illegal substances brought to an event without express written consent by the Chapter.
• Physical or verbal abuse, lewd or threatening conduct of or towards any attendee, speaker, volunteer, exhibitor, staff member, service provider, or other individual.
• Examples of unacceptable behavior include, but are not limited to, bullying, verbal comments related to gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, national origin, inappropriate use of nudity and/or sexual images in public spaces or in presentations, or threatening or stalking any attendee, speaker, volunteer, exhibitor, staff member, service provider, or other meeting guest.
• Disruption of presentations at sessions, in the exhibit hall, or at other events organized by WSCAI at the event or meeting venue, hotels, or other WSCAI-contracted facilities.
[12] Violations of this code may be grounds for the chapter Board of Directors to designate a chapter member as “not in good standing,” and to be afforded the loss of rights and privileges that accompany such designation. Under the chapter by-laws, the chapter Board of Directors has the power to suspend members for nonpayment of financial obligations to the Chapter or to CAI and further has the power to censure, to suspend, to expel and to terminate members in accordance with CAI’s Bylaws.
[13] Complaints or Notices of alleged violations must not be anonymous and must be submitted in writing to the Chapter Executive Director. The Chapter Executive Director shall report the violation to the Chapter President, and together they shall report the violation to the Board of Directors, which shall have sole authority to investigate the complaint and administer due process within a reasonable period of time. The Board of Directors will make a decision for action on the complaint. The Chapter President shall notify the parties involved as to the actions taken by the Chapter Board.
WSCAI has ZERO-TOLERANCE for any form of discrimination or harassment, including but not limited to sexual harassment by participants or our staff at our events. WSCAI reserves the right to take any action deemed to be necessary and appropriate, including immediate removal from the event without warning or refund, in response to any incident of unacceptable behavior.
Adopted by WSCAI’s Board of Directors on September 14, 2022. Download a copy of this policy for your records: CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
WSCAI Attendee Anti-Harassment Policy Adapted from CAI’s Anti-Harassment Policy Objective Washington State Chapter of Community Associations Institute (“WSCAI”) is committed to providing a professional environment that is free from harassment and discrimination in which all individuals, including without limitation employees, members, and volunteers, are treated with respect and dignity. Each individual has the right to work in a professional atmosphere free from unlawful harassment, discrimination, and retaliation.
This policy applies to conduct by employees, members, and volunteers of WSCAI, including board, committee and task force members, and applies to complaints of harassment that involve employees, members, and volunteers of WSCAI at all WSCAI events including, without limitation, board, committee and task force meetings, conferences, and all other WSCAI programs and events.
In order to provide all participants at events, including members and other attendees, speakers, exhibitors, sponsors, employees, and volunteers, the opportunity to interact professionally and benefit from the event, WSCAI is committed to providing a safe and productive environment free of discrimination, hostility, harassment, and retaliation based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by law.
WSCAI has a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination, harassment, and retaliation and is committed to enforcing this policy at all WSCAI events.
Equal Opportunity It is WSCAI’s policy to ensure equal opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by law. WSCAI prohibits all such discrimination and harassment.
Harassment Defined Harassment on the basis of any protected characteristic is strictly prohibited. Harassment includes verbal, written, or physical conduct that denigrates or shows hostility toward an individual on the basis of any of the above listed protected factors and that: (1) has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment; (2) has the purpose or effect of interfering with an individual’s performance or ability to participate in WSCAI events; or (3) otherwise affects an individual’s ability to participate in WSCAI events and activities.
Harassing conduct includes epithets, slurs, or negative stereotyping; threatening, intimidating, or hostile acts; denigrating jokes, offensive texts, and emails.
Sexual harassment means any unwelcome conduct, comment, gesture, or contact of a sexual nature, whether on a one-time basis or in a continuous series of incidents that might reasonably be expected to offend, embarrass, or offend an individual. Sexual harassment also includes any unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical unwelcome conduct.
Prohibited Conduct As a professional organization, WSCAI is committed to diversity, equity, professional treatment of ideas, and respectful treatment of all members, volunteers, employees and others at all WSCAI events. WSCAI seeks to provide a professional atmosphere in which diverse participants may learn, network, and participate in an environment of mutual respect.
Conduct that is prohibited includes: • Harassment or intimidation based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by law.
• Sexual harassment or intimidation, including unwelcome sexual attention, stalking, or unsolicited physical contact.
• Harassment, intimidation, or coercion based upon a position as a board member, committee member or any position of influence.
• Abusive, lewd, or threatening conduct.
• Bullying, harassment or unprofessional conduct toward employees, volunteers, members, or other participants at WSCAI events.
• Physical violence or threats of violence.
• Sexually charged communications or conduct.
Reporting Acts of Discrimination, Harassment or Retaliation WSCAI cannot take action to stop conduct if it does not know of the conduct. WSCAI encourages reporting of all perceived incidents of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, regardless of the offender’s identity or position.
Individuals who believe they have been the victim of such conduct should report their concerns to WSCAI’s Executive Director or Chapter President. In addition, WSCAI encourages individuals to advise the offender that his or her conduct is unwelcome and to request that it be discontinued, if they feel comfortable so doing.
WSCAI encourages the prompt reporting of complaints of concerns so that immediate action can be taken, if appropriate. An individual making a complaint may be asked to put the complaint in writing.
In the event that an individual feels that his or her physical safety is in jeopardy, WSCAI encourages the individual to contact the appropriate law enforcement agency to make a report.
Any reported allegations of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation will be investigated promptly. The investigation may include individual interviews with the parties involved as well as witnesses to the conduct.
WSCAI will maintain confidentiality to the extent consistent with appropriate investigation and corrective action.
If it is determined that an individual has engaged in prohibited conduct, WSCAI shall determine the appropriate action to be taken, which may include, but is not limited to: • Private reprimand
• Expulsion from the WSCAI event without warning or refund.
• Implementation of conditions upon attendance at future WSCAI events.
• Removal of the individual as a board or committee member.
• Restriction from attendance at future WSCAI events.
• Recommendation to CAI for revocation of membership.
Retaliation Retaliation against an individual for reporting harassment or discrimination or for participating in an investigation of a claim of harassment or discrimination is a serious violation and is strictly prohibited. Acts of retaliation should be reported immediately and will be promptly addressed.
National CAI Anti-Harassment Policy This policy (WSCAI Policy) is modeled after the CAI Anti-Harassment Policy (CAI Policy) adopted by the CAI Board of Trustees in September 2018. This WSCAI Policy is intended to supplement rather than supersede the CAI Policy, to the extent that the CAI Policy applies to any prohibited conduct described in this WSCAI Policy.
Adopted by WSCAI’s 2022 Board of Directors on September 14, 2022. Download a copy of this policy for your records: CLICK TO DOWNLOAD 
