Code of Conduct for Chamber Events and Programs

Updated: August 31, 2023

The following guidelines establish a code of civil conduct for all attendees, presenters, staff, and all other participants at Portland Metro Chamber (hereafter “The Chamber”) events.

Your registration for or attendance at any event organized by The Chamber, a Chamber committee, Chamber sub-group, or Chamber affiliate organization, indicates your agreement to abide by this policy and its terms.

Behavior at, before, after, and related to Chamber events

Chamber events are primarily designed to provide members and invited guests with opportunities to network, exchange ideas, stay informed, and collaborate, so as to strengthen their own organizations, the Portland business community, and the region at-large. Events are organized and hosted by the Portland Metro Chamber for our members; non-member guests may be allowed at the full discretion of the Chamber staff.

The Chamber provides inclusive, welcoming events, free from harassment, intimidation, and violence. We strive to create spaces where diverse opinions, experiences, and perspectives and can be expressed in a civil discourse. To this end, the Chamber’s event code of conduct establishes guidelines for all participants in three particular areas:

1. Professional Conduct

Successful events are built on a foundation of mutual trust and respect. The Chamber expects all event participants to conduct themselves with a high regard of professionalism and respect in all interactions.

All participants at Chamber events are expected to behave in accordance with professional standards and as prescribed in applicable laws governing appropriate workplace behavior. This includes, but is not limited to, appropriate attire, civil conduct, non-harassing language and behavior, and good-faith participation in the event as programmed.

2. Harassment

The Chamber will not tolerate harassment at any of its events, in any form, from any event participant or spectator.

Harassment is verbal or physical conduct that demeans or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual because of their race, color, religion, gender (sex), national origin, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, genetic information or that of their relatives, friends or associates and that:

1. has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment, or;
2. has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s participation in an event, or;
3. otherwise adversely affects an individual’s opportunities to participate in an Alliance event.

Harassing conduct includes, but is not limited to, the following:

1. epithets, slurs, negative stereotyping, demeaning comments or labels, or threatening, intimidating or hostile acts that relate to race, color, religion, gender (sex), national origin, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, genetic information, or;
2. written or graphic material that demeans or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual or group because of race, color, religion, gender (sex), national origin, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, genetic information, or;
3. harassing, offensive or inappropriate postings on social media or other online publications or other forms of electronic communication during or after an Alliance event and/or other postings that would improperly intrude on the personal and/or privacy rights of other attendees.

Participants who feel they are being harassed at Chamber events or believe they have witnessed harassment of another individual at Chamber events should immediately bring the incident to the attention of the Chamber staff. Harassment reports will be addressed immediately by Chamber leadership and will be managed with sensitivity and discretion.

3. Disruptive, Destructive, and Intimidating Behavior

The Chamber will not tolerate behavior from any event participant that is willfully intended to disrupt or stop a Chamber event.

This includes, but is not limited to:

1. protesting within the designated event space, or;
2. attempting to use the stage and/or microphone without permission, or;
3. causing loud noises, bringing non-approved signage into the event, or;
4. inflicting, threatening, or intimating violence, or;
5. allowing non-registered persons into the event, or;
6. causing property damage to the event venue or event participants, or;
7. other behavior intended to disrupt the event as programmed, or;
8. threatening or intimidating behavior towards participants before, during or after the event, whether delivered in-person, online, or in any other form.

Enforcement

Chamber staff, Chamber leadership, designated hosts of Chamber events, or other delegated Chamber representatives reserve the exclusive right to determine behavior that contstitutes harassment, per the guidelines provided above.

Any participant at a Chamber event who is asked to stop behavior that is outlined above is expected to comply immediately.

If a participant continues to engage in behavior that is considered harassment, the Chamber reserves the right, at the full discretion of on-site Chamber staff, to remove a participant from an event.

The Chamber reserves the right to deny future event participation to any individual or organization who have engaged in harassing, disruptive, or unprofessional behavior at a previous event. The Chamber also retains the right to deny event participation to any individual or organization if the staff reasonably believe that person or group will engage in such behavior. The Chamber retains the right to revoke membership at its discretion because of a violation of this code of conduct.

This Code of Conduct may be revised at any time by the Portland Metro Chamber. The terms of this and future codes of conduct are non-negotiable.