This procedure has been adopted from the pycon code of conduct and the Ada Initiative’s guide titled “Conference anti-harassment/Responding to Reports”.
1. Keep in mind that all meetup organizers will introduce themselves at the beginning of the meetup. All of our organizers are informed of the code of conduct policy and guide for handling harassment at the meetup.
2. Report the harassment incident (preferably in writing) to a meetup organizer. All reports are confidential. Please do not disclose public information about the incident until the organizers have had sufficient time in which to address the situation. This is as much for your safety and protection as it is the other attendees.
When reporting the event to organizers, try to gather as much information as available but do not interview people about the incident. Organizers will assist you in writing the report/collecting information.
The important information consists of:
- Identifying information (name) of the participant doing the harassing
- The behavior that was in violation
- The approximate time of the behavior (if different than the time the report was made)
- The circumstances surrounding the incident
- Other people involved in the incident
The organizers are well informed on how to deal with the incident and how to further proceed with the situation.
3. If everyone is presently physically safe, involve law enforcement or security only at a victim’s request. If you do feel your safety in jeopardy please do not hesitate to contact local law enforcement by dialing 911. If you do not have a cell phone, you can use any library phone or simply ask an organizer.
Note: Incidents that violate the Code of Conduct are extremely damaging to the community, and they will not be tolerated. The silver lining is that, in many cases, these incidents present a chance for the offenders, and the community at large, to grow, learn, and become better. MadPUG organizers requests that they be your first resource when reporting a MadPUG-related incident, so that they may enforce the Code of Conduct and take quick action toward a resolution.
If at all possible, all reports should be made directly to Cea Stapleton (Co-Organizer) or Ian Cordasco (Co-Organizer).
MadPUG
Madison (WI) Python Users' Group
http://www.meetup.com/MadPUG/
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.