Standards of Conduct |
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Governance | |
Standards of Conduct for theUS Chess Executive Board
September 23, 2015
The US Chess Board of Delegates
establishes the following standards of conduct for Executive Board members in
the performance of their duties:
GENERAL PRINCIPLES: Members of the
US Chess Executive Board have responsibilities of the highest order for the
promotion of chess and for stewardship of the resources of US Chess. In the
execution of these responsibilities, they are expected to act lawfully and in
accordance with US Chess policy, and to adhere consistently to the principles
of fairness, honesty, and respect for the rights of others. They are expected
to conduct themselves in a professional manner throughout the performance of
all duties, contributing thereby to maximum effectiveness in the achievement of
the goals of US Chess.
(1) Executive Board members are
expected to contribute to the functioning of the Board as a cohesive unit, with
information flowing comfortably among all its members. Actions that interfere
with comfortable and open communication among all Board members should be
avoided.
(a) All Board members have the right
to receive all information pertinent to the making, monitoring, and
implementation of US Chess policy. Board member(s) should not withhold full and
accurate information from other Board members, when that information is
relevant to Board decisions or potential decisions. Where decision-making
authority has been given to a specific officer by the Board or the Bylaws, that
officer must keep all Board members fully and accurately informed of all
decisions made and factors influencing those decisions.
(b) All Board members have the right
to be involved in the determination of all Board decisions. A Board majority
has no authority except as a majority vote within the context of a properly
called Board meeting. Board decisions must result from discussions in which all
Board members have had the opportunity to participate.
(c) Board members are responsible
for contributing to constructive communication within the Board. Board members
are responsible to communicate directly with each other whenever there is
misunderstanding or ill will, making strenuous efforts to resolve the issue
amicably through such communication, before making the dispute public.
(2) Executive Board members must be
motivated solely by the best interests of US Chess in exercising their duties.
Any potential conflict of interest, whether due to financial, political,
personal, geographical, organizational, familial, or other considerations, must
be prevented from affecting any Board member in the discharge of his or her
duties.
(a) Except where noted below, no
Executive Board member or a member of his immediate family may receive
financial compensation from US Chess for any reason, except for standard
reimbursement of expenses, during his tenure on the Board, or for two years
after completing his tenure if such compensation results from bids accepted or
agreements made by the Board during his tenure. In claiming expense
reimbursement, a Board member must claim only that portion of expenses that
were incurred in non-political activities that were a legitimate exercise of
the Board member's duties. Any unusual expenses for which reimbursement is
questionable must be referred to the full Board for consideration. Board
members are expected to exercise all reasonable frugality in incurring expenses
to be reimbursed.
(b) No Executive Board member, or a
member of his immediate family, may profit financially from organizing or
directing a national tournament or activity organized or co-organized by US
Chess, or from any business activity of US Chess, if the Executive Board or the
US Chess business office is involved in determining the arrangements; such
restriction applies during the Board members' tenure and for two years
thereafter, with respect to actions taken during his or her tenure on the
Board.. This provision does not apply if the bid, and all relevant financial
arrangements, were finalized before the member was elected to the Board, and
are not changed to his advantage during his tenure.
(c) No Board member may participate
in consideration of bids for any event or for any expenditure of US Chess funds
if he or his immediate family member has any office or other interest in any
entity offering a bid. He is required to inform the Board whenever there is a
conflict of interest. However, the Board member may provide information on
behalf of such a bid, provided that his opportunity to provide information is
the same as for those involved in other bids. The Board member with a potential
conflict of interest may not make or second motions, enter into debate or
discussion in the capacity of a Board member, or vote on the bids or on any
issue reasonably related to the bid consideration. If consideration of the bid
involves sensitive matters that require a closed session, a Board member who
has a potential conflict of interest may not attend the portion of the closed
session involving that bid, unless all parties representing competing bids are
permitted to attend.
(d) Any Board member who believes
that he or another Board member may have a conflict of interest on any matter
is expected to inform immediately all members of the Board.
(e) A Board member should not
pressure any US Chess employee by means of stated or implied threats to
employment. Specific criticism of other US Chess employees should be conveyed
discreetly to the Executive Director.
(3) The Executive Board is
responsible for conducting business in an efficient, constructive, and open
manner.
(a) All actions taken by the
Executive Board must be consistent with the Bylaws of US Chess, and with all
policy established by the US Chess Board of Delegates.
(b) Executive Board members must
respect the dignity of all persons in all statements and actions. Any
derogatory and/or sarcastic statements attacking an individual in a personal
manner, or intended to bring scorn or ridicule on an individual, shall be
considered out of order at any and all times in an Executive Board meeting,
whether in open or closed session. Any angry and heated exchanges in a Board
meeting should be considered out of order. The Chair of the meeting shall be
responsible for promptly ruling such utterances out of order or any member may
raise a point of order to that effect. Personal differences must be privately
resolved without disturbing the efficient conduct of US Chess business in a
Board meeting.
(c) A closed session should be held
only when the best interests of US Chess are definitely served by doing so.
Examples of when closed sessions are proper would include the discussion of
matters that are legally sensitive, issues involving sensitive negotiations, or
matters in which the privacy rights of any individual may be at risk. Closed
sessions should not be scheduled to permit the airing of heated or derogatory
comments, which should be out of order in any meeting discussion, or to avoid
the necessity of Board members' dealing with unpopular issues publicly. The
Board may invite other persons into the closed session if such persons possess
special information or expertise needed by the Board, but a certified Executive
Board candidate who is not currently on the Board should not be included in a
closed session unless all Board candidates present at the meeting are also
invited.
(d) Board members should be
sensitive to the feelings of volunteers and staff members whose names may be
mentioned, or whose work may be criticized, during Board discussion.
(e) All Board members must strictly
observe confidentiality of closed sessions. In the case of a conference call,
the Board members must clearly understand what portions of the call are
considered open or closed, for the purpose of determining what information in
the call must be considered confidential. (4) When appointed by the Delegates, the US Chess Ethics Committee may consider an allegation by any US Chess member that an Executive Board member has committed significant violations of this code of conduct. The Ethics Committee may, if it determines that such violations have occurred, either warn the Board member or recommend actions, such as recall of the member, to the Board of Delegates in accordance with the Bylaws of US Chess. |