1. In the event of members having a complaint against another member / other members of the club in relation to conduct at club functions, including committee members or officers, then they should put their complaint in writing to the committee.
2. The member(s) against whom a complaint has been made will be given a copy of the complaint (this may be done in the first instance without naming the complainant, if the committee considers this to be appropriate).
3. They will also be given a copy of the code of conduct of the club and the nature of the alleged infringement will be pointed out to the individual(s) concerned.
4. Those individuals will then be asked to respond to the complaint(s), in writing, to the committee.
5. The committee will, if appropriate, appoint one of its number to attempt an informal mediation between the parties.
6. If mediation fails to resolve matters, then both sides will be invited to attend a meeting of the committee to present their cases.
7. The aim of such a meeting is to achieve a resolution of matters and avoid any friction between individuals at club functions.
8. Such a meeting shall be confidential, and any minutes will only refer to any action or decision on sanctions to be applied.
Sanctions
1. The Committee may decide that there was no infringement of club rules or code of conduct, in which case no action will be taken and the complainant(s) may be asked to apologise to the member(s) against whom the complaint has been raised.
2. If an infringement of club rules and / or code of conduct is found to have occurred the offending party may:
2.1 be asked to apologise to the complainant(s) in writing and any other members involved, or
2.2 be asked to refrain from attending club functions for a limited period to allow the situation time to resolve itself.
2.3 In the event of serious infringement of club rules, or conduct proven to be unacceptable in any reasonable company, then that member may be expelled from the club. Such conduct shall include (but not exclusively):
2.3.1 Verbal or physical aggression at a club function.
2.3.2 Sexual harassment of a member of either sex.
2.3.3 The deliberate use of offensive language, or any offensive behaviour, in the presence of a member who finds it objectionable, without being willing to apologise for any offence caused.
2.3.4 The expression of offensive views of an ageist, racist, sexist, religious or political nature at any club function in the presence of club members.
2.4 Following expulsion from the club, reapplication may be considered, at the discretion of the Committee, after a period of sufficient length has passed to enable the Committee to judge: (a) that the Code of Conduct will not be breached in future; (b) that the person dismissed has accepted responsibility for and recognised the seriousness of their actions; (c) whatever the reason for the behaviour has ceased to be an influence on their behaviour, and (d) any ‘victim of the behaviour’ is safe from retribution.
The person concerned may be put under a period of probation following acceptance of reapplication, at the Committee’s discretion.
(end)
FnT York 