Code of Conduct Policy

The MDVMA is committed to providing a safe, productive, and welcoming environment for all conference participants and MDVMA and hotel staff. All participants, including, but not limited to, attendees, speakers, volunteers, industry partners, sponsors, exhibitors, MDVMA staff, service providers, and all others are expected to abide by this Code of Conduct. This Code of Conduct applies to the MDVMA Summer Conference and related events.

This Code of Conduct outlines MDVMA’s expectations for participant behavior, as well as the consequences for unacceptable behavior. MDVMA promotes equal opportunities and treatment for all participants. All participants are expected to treat others with respect and consideration, follow venue rules, and to alert staff to any violations of this Code of Conduct, dangerous situations, or any participant in distress.

Code of Ethical Conduct

As a participant of the MDVMA Summer Conference, I will:

1. Conduct myself with integrity, respect, honesty and credibility.
2. Approach all meetings in accordance with the highest ethical standards of professionalism and personal conduct.
3. Negotiate all agreements in good faith respecting the rights of all parties involved.
4. Respect the policies and regulations of those organizations with whom I deal.
5. Pursue continuing education related to the veterinary industry and share knowledge learned with others to further the profession.
6. Avoid all activities that will cause damage to or discredit to my organization, the convention and meetings industry, or myself.
7. Refuse inappropriate gifts, incentives and/or services in any business dealings that may be offered as a result of my position and could be perceived as personal gain.
8. Avoid any and all conflicts of interest and advise all parties, including my organization, of any situations where a conflict of interest exists.
9. Value diversity and strive to reflect it by providing and fostering meetings and conferences that create an inclusive atmosphere for people regardless of their national origin, race, religion, sex, marital status, age, sexual orientation, physical or mental impairment.
10. Be considerate and collaborative.
11. Refrain from demeaning, discriminatory or harassing behavior and speech.
12. Be mindful of your surroundings and of your fellow participants. Alert MDVMA staff if you notice a dangerous or harassing situation or someone in distress.

Unacceptable Conduct

Unacceptable behavior includes:

Intimidating, harassing, abusive, discriminatory, derogatory, or demeaning speech or actions by any participants at or in relation to the MDVMA Summer Conference or related events. All who participate in the MDVMA Summer Conference and related events deserve respectful treatment, regardless of the capacity in which they are attending or participating. Discussion of opposing or different viewpoints is appropriate but is expected to be conducted in a respectful tone and manner that avoids personal attacks.

Verbal or physical abuse, intimidation, or efforts to annoy others, which in any way creates a disturbance that is disruptive or dangerous or creates reasonable apprehension in a person.

Harassing behavior (including, but not limited to, offensive 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 MDVMA-sponsored spaces or in presentations, yelling at or threatening participants, stalking or unwelcome following, harassing photography or recording, or unwelcome physical or verbal contact or sexual attention.)

Disrupting a meeting or related event. All participants must comply with the instructions of the moderator and any MDVMA staff.

Additional Rules

In addition, participants must adhere to the following rules:

• The recording or sharing of any meeting or related event (including education sessions, presentations, demos, etc.) in any format is strictly prohibited.
• Presentations should not contain promotional materials, special offers, job offers, product announcements, or solicitation for services. MDVMA reserves the right to ban sources of those solicitations.
• Any direct selling of products/services offered by speakers, industry partners, or consultants in any MDVMA-sponsored spaces is prohibited.
• Pets accompanying participants to the event must adhere to the venue’s rules and restrictions.
• Pets accompanying participants to the conference area must be under control, leashed at all times, and kept away from all food and beverage stations. Participants must clean up after their pet. Any mess caused by a pet in the conference area will be subject to a cleaning fee.

What to do if you witness or experience conduct that violates this Code of Conduct

Conduct in violation of this Code of Conduct should be promptly brought to the attention of MDVMA’s Executive Director, Marisa Francis, CAE at mfrancis@mdvma.org.

Consequences of Unacceptable Behavior

Unacceptable behavior will not be tolerated at the MDVMA Summer Conference or related events. Anyone asked to stop unacceptable behavior is expected to comply immediately. MDVMA reserves the right to take any action deemed necessary and appropriate, including immediate removal from the conference without warning or refund, in response to any incident of unacceptable behavior, and the MDVMA reserves the right to prohibit attendance at any future event, virtually or in person.

Participants must also cooperate with any MDVMA investigation into reports of a violation of this Code of Conduct by providing information requested by MDVMA that is relevant to MDVMA’s investigation. MDVMA will also report on the outcome of any investigation to individuals who have reported a violation of this Code of Conduct; the information provided to those individuals will be limited to whether the MDVMA found a violation of the Code, whether any sanctions or corrective actions were imposed, and in MDVMA’s discretion, the nature of those sanctions or corrective actions.