IUG Conference Conduct Statement

As our organization grows, it is imperative to ensure that all participants can freely and openly share ideas in a friendly, safe, and welcoming environment that encourages and inspires mutual respect and collaboration. The Innovative Users Group Conduct Statement (IUGCS) states our shared ideals with respect to conduct. It is a way to communicate our existing values to the entire community.

Be welcoming.

One of the greatest strengths of the IUG community is our inclusiveness. Making all attendees feel welcome and included is everyone's job, including volunteers, presenters, exhibitors, and sponsors.

Be considerate.

IUG is an international event that attracts diverse people from a wide variety of ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds. We acknowledge that cross-cultural communication can often be complicated and encourage everyone to consider both the impact of their actions on those with different backgrounds and experiences. All participants should try to be sensitive to the possibility of misunderstandings based on differing experiences and backgrounds.

Be respectful.

Sponsors, volunteers, speakers, attendees, and other participants should strive to treat all people with dignity and respect, regardless of their culture, religion, physical appearance, disability, race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation.

Be collaborative and consult others when you disagree.

People are encouraged to take responsibility for their words and actions and listen to constructively-presented criticism with an open mind, courtesy, and respect. If and when misunderstandings occur, we encourage individuals to first try to resolve conflicts between themselves in a constructive manner, asking for help when needed. This approach gives people more control over the outcome of their dispute.

When we need it, we ask for help.

If people are unable to work out issues between themselves, they are encouraged to seek the advice of a mutually-trusted third party to help mediate. We do not tolerate harassment of conference participants in any form. If you feel threatened or violated as a result of intimidating, harassing, abusive, discriminatory, derogatory, or demeaning conduct, please immediately notify a member of the IUG Steering Committee or event staff. Likewise, please immediately notify a member of the IUG Steering Committee or event staff if you notice that someone else is being subjected to such behavior. If the matter is especially urgent, please call 911 or hotel security. The IUG Steering Committee wants everyone to feel safe for the duration of the conference.

The IUG Steering Committee and event staff can be identified by their name badges and will help participants contact hotel/venue security or local law enforcement or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment to feel safe for the duration of the conference.

We expect participants to follow these guidelines at all conference venues and conference-related social events.

Procedures

Procedures approved by the Innovative Users Group Steering Committee, October 19, 2015:

Any participants experiencing harassment will first try to resolve conflicts between themselves in a constructive manner, asking for help when needed.
Any participant seeking help will report the incident to a member of the IUG Steering Committee or event staff.
The contact will assist the complainant. If necessary, IUG Steering Committee members are empowered to take appropriate actions that may include, but are not limited to, private warnings and referrals to venue security or local law enforcement.
It is the responsibility of the complainant to work directly with facility security or law enforcement to initiate security or legal enforcement.
The IUG Chairperson, along with the involved Steering Committee member or event staff, will follow up with the complainant to inform them of any course of action taken.

The Innovative Users Group Conduct Statement is adapted from the draft DrupalCon Code of Conduct, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unreported License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) and is available for others to use and adapt for their own events.

Created October 2015
Revised April 2019, March 2025