Our Mission Statements

• To engage all members to both participate in and contribute to the programs,
  activities, and success of the Club.
• To provide members, who have a wide range of photographic experience and
  interests, opportunities to share, learn, and develop photographic skills.
• To promote photographic art in the Town of Ajax and in the surrounding Region of
  Durham, Ontario.
• To provide a stimulating, inspiring environment and experiences for
  members.
• To provide regularly scheduled meetings for members to increase their knowledge
  and experience.
• To provide additional opportunities for members to increase their knowledge and
  experience. Examples are volunteer and/or paid assignments.
• To foster healthy relationships with other photographic organizations.

Our Values

Compassion
We show empathy for each other, our families, guests, and speakers. We listen openly and
speak respectfully. We provide a compassionate and safe experience for sharing and learning.
Inclusion
We are inspired by the diversity of our community. We make everyone feel welcome,
respected, supported, valued and able to fully participate.
Support
We inspire each other to create. We support each other to learn. We work together to enjoy
photography. We take responsibility for our actions and our work

Innovation
We demonstrate openness to different perspectives, ideas, and methods. We strive to learn
without judging each other.

Objectives

The objective of the Code of Conduct is to ensure a safe, respectful, and positive environment for our members, guests, and speakers.

• While attending Club meetings, programs, workshops, activities and events.
• When representing the Club at public locations and/or events.
• When competing in or exhibiting at Club and non-Club competitions, clinics or events.
  The membership has a duty to ensure that no person is subjected to any behaviour that
  interferes with a member’s participation and enjoyment of the club.
• All members are entitled to be treated with dignity, respect, integrity, common courtesy, and in a fair and equitable manner.
• A member shall refrain from, and will not tolerate, any verbal or written behaviour that is
  rude, disrespectful, inconsiderate, insensitive, harassing, discriminatory, offensive, abusive, racist, degrading, malicious, bullying or sexist in nature. There may not be intention of harm, but the end result of such behaviour makes for an unpleasant environment that is not acceptable.
• Members shall have proper regard for public law and the safety, health and welfare of themselves, other members, guests, invitees, and the public.
• Members shall maintain confidentiality regarding any records, documentation or other communication containing a member’s personal information, unless consent is specifically
  provided.
• Members are responsible for providing accurate and honest information. A member shall
  not share his/her login information or disclose any information about members to non-members, outside agencies, or commercial enterprises in any form, e.g. written, electronic, social media, and verbal.
• A member shall behave in a manner that represents positively the reputation of the Club and its members.
• A member shall represent honest, creative ownership of photographic work.
• Members will not distribute images that contain pornographic content or content that may be considered offensive, as deemed by a reasonable person. This includes competitions, member slideshows and the website gallery.
• As this Code of Conduct is posted on the Club website and Meetup site, all members are
  deemed to have knowledge of and are deemed to have agreed to this Code of Conduct as part of their Club membership.

Avenue to Address Concerns

In the event that a member feels that this Code of Conduct has been breached, the following steps will be followed:
1. The member is encouraged to consider raising the concern directly with the person(s) involved. If this approach does not resolve the issue or is infeasible, the member should carefully document the concern and contact a member of the Club Board.
2. If necessary, the Board will strike a Code of Conduct Committee made up of club peers.
3. The Code of Conduct committee then has the responsibility to recommend to the Board a course of action to resolve and uphold this code of conduct.
4. Actions could include, but are not limited to remediation between the affected parties, suspension and/or cancellation of membership. This will depend on the nature, severity and frequency of the concern.
5. The decision of the Board shall be final. Dues payments will not be refunded in cases of
membership cancellation.