Nathan Garza
Volunteer Staff
I don’t have an opinion on the code of conduct. Only that there was absolutely no workshopping, or discussion via SLEC since this was first brought to us 13 days ago. I take great issue with that.
Request For Co-Sponsors: Adopting Code of Conduct for Volunteer Staff
- Thread starter Jeff Miller
- Start date
Dave Marino
Volunteer Staff
Specifically the use of the word "appropriate". Who determines this? In the Army Equal Opportunity program they used something called "the reasonable person perspective" but even that was vague enough for us still to be required to go through quarterly training on conduct. My fear is that this could be used by a faction to eliminate opposition instead of being used to bring us closer together, as I believe it is intended.
Billy Pierce
SLEC Member
If we want buy-in, support, enthusiasm, and acceptance, then a collaboratively produced policy would be more effective. People value something more when they had a hand in building it, and when it is codified, implemented, and administered by people whom they respect and trust. I am voting No.
RJ Pase
SLEC Member
This code was drafted by XD reviewed by Chair, VC, and department directors.
What more do we want/need? As SLEC members now we must review and vote up or down- that’s our oversight/hand in things.
Billy Pierce
SLEC Member
I respectfully disagree.
Kenneth Feagins
SLEC Member
This is a change I would be open to support, regardless if this passes and we motion to modify, or if this fails and we resubmit.
Libertarians tend to be outliers to the norms, so I see where that could be confusing, barring factional intentions.
Anastasia Wilford
SLEC Member
There are 4 instances where appropriateness is addressed. Two of them mention inappropriate conduct and give examples of what that means.
The only place where "appropriate" is used speaks to "appropriate channels" to report issues to and those channels are then defined later in the document.
Austen Hoogen
SLEC Member
Can you be more specific about which use of the word Appropriate you don't like? Or which section, in particular, you think is lacking in this regard?
I see four uses of (in)appropriate:
Section 2:
- Refraining from inappropriate behavior, such as harassment, excessive profanity, or conduct that harms LPTexas’s reputation.
- Zero tolerance for sexual harassment or inappropriate conduct, including unsolicited sexting, lewd comments, or any behavior of a sexual nature that makes others feel uncomfortable or unsafe
Section 3:
- Avoid internal factionalism or disputes that could disrupt LPTexas’s cohesion. Constructive feedback should be shared through appropriate channels.
Section 7:
- Inappropriate use of funds, materials, or property.
Those seem--with the exception of "inappropriate use of funds"--to be pretty clear.
Mike Coogan
SLEC Member
No. Since Jeff asked to go to a vote and a bunch of folks rushed to co-sponsor, we can't even correct all the punctuation errors in the document.
Dave Marino
Volunteer Staff
OK specifically -
Treating others—colleagues, members, and the public—with dignity and respect - under whose definition of "dignity and respect" are we referring, because my dad's version is a lot different from mine, and we are in the same family.
Refraining from inappropriate behavior - as I said, who determines this? "Such as" is not all-inclusive.
Maintaining a cooperative and constructive attitude in all interactions - So we must cooperate? What if we disagree and someone thinks our disagreement is not constructive? Who determines this?
Zero tolerance for sexual harassment or inappropriate conduct - So if I compliment someone's hair or dress/suit, is that sexual harassment? I've seen this happen.
I can keep on going, that's just the first paragraph, and I feel like I should not have had to even explain. You all are smarter than that, and I thought I was pretty clear in my last statement. When I said the word "appropriate", I also was referring to all synonyms and inferences.
Treating others—colleagues, members, and the public—with dignity and respect - under whose definition of "dignity and respect" are we referring, because my dad's version is a lot different from mine, and we are in the same family.
Refraining from inappropriate behavior - as I said, who determines this? "Such as" is not all-inclusive.
Maintaining a cooperative and constructive attitude in all interactions - So we must cooperate? What if we disagree and someone thinks our disagreement is not constructive? Who determines this?
Zero tolerance for sexual harassment or inappropriate conduct - So if I compliment someone's hair or dress/suit, is that sexual harassment? I've seen this happen.
I can keep on going, that's just the first paragraph, and I feel like I should not have had to even explain. You all are smarter than that, and I thought I was pretty clear in my last statement. When I said the word "appropriate", I also was referring to all synonyms and inferences.
Jeff Miller
SLEC Member
Perhaps at the next meeting, we could adopt a revised policy manual that fixes all typographical errors, for instance the "3.4 COALTIONS" that has been in there for months, if not years, and the unnecessary extra space in Section 7.6, just to name a couple I notice.
Anastasia Wilford
SLEC Member
Brooooooos, do I have a secret for y'all!
Typos can be fixed without a motion. Just let the Secretary know and she can get it fixed.
Typos can be fixed without a motion. Just let the Secretary know and she can get it fixed.
Chris Owens
SLEC Member
"Who determines this?" is a fair question, which might already be answered elsewhere, but any code of conduct guardrails are going to require an evaluation and human judgement of whether an event meets the threshold of violation. That's inescapable.
Mike Coogan
SLEC Member
As I had said in the other thread, I completed my suggestions early and sent them to Carter. We spent some time yesterday discussing them. Because we both have personal lives, it is unlikely I can get his comments incorporated into it before we close this vote. I think a new version should go to the SLEC for comments after he has a chance to tell me I missed his point.
For this reason, I am going to vote no, with the presumption that we will miss any chance to do the right thing. After he is good, I will circulate with SLEC for consensus-building.
For this reason, I am going to vote no, with the presumption that we will miss any chance to do the right thing. After he is good, I will circulate with SLEC for consensus-building.
Dave Marino
Volunteer Staff
As I stated earlier, I will not sign this. I am not going to agree to conditions that I do not feel are adequately descriptive. I think you are trying to do too much with this (as it is written). If it passes, I hope you can get it fixed before the requirement to sign, or I will take whatever the unlisted punishment is.
I mean come on......
"By signing below, you affirm your commitment to uphold the values and standards of
the Libertarian Party of Texas."
Are these "values and standards" listed somewhere?
I mean come on......
"By signing below, you affirm your commitment to uphold the values and standards of
the Libertarian Party of Texas."
Are these "values and standards" listed somewhere?
Dave Marino
Volunteer Staff
Precisely, but that does not make it ok to make a punitive document with a signature requirement so vague.
We have a run-off election for Mayor here in El Paso. The best guy for the job had 4 ethics complaints filed against him in his first year as a city rep, none of them substantiated. All by political opponents that were butt hurt he won. The oligarch candidate, anointed chosen lord by queen of El Paso, Veronica Escobar and spending over a million dollars sent out a mailer that says "received 4 ethics complaints in 1st year in office." If he loses, this is going to be a big reason why. I may still choose to run for office in the future, probably for city rep in 4 years. If I sign this and someone gets "offended" by something I say or do, or by some joke I tell while hanging out at the bar for Friday night happy hour, and they file a complaint against me for violating this code of conduct, substantiated or not, if my opponents find out, this is what the mailer will read "accused of violating the Libertarian parties code of conduct". Most likely, I will not have the money to send out a counter mailer to defend myself. As Jodi and Nathan said earlier, you all are not thinking this one through, there are a lot of implications that have not been considered.
RJ Pase
SLEC Member
wouldn’t that be our platform, bylaws, and policy manual? Like you mentioned on a previous message I too don’t have these memorized but it’s something we checked when signing up for this stuff…
Also just my worthless two cents- a code of conduct won’t stop nefarious people to use this against people they don’t like. That’s up to the XD and/or Chair’s discretion on if it is substantiated or not or possibly SLEC if it comes to that.
I get you are using some extreme examples but let’s be honest here- this code of conduct puts in place a good skeleton of what to expect from our volunteers. Should we need to add meat and bones- so do it.
Again, and I cannot stress this enough, I still voted yes on this hoping that it would pass so it would appease those who wish for a code of conduct to be put in place.
Andrew Amelang
Chair
The Platform includes a Statement of Principles, so that in itself is a source of 'values and standards'. The Code of Conduct itself also has some places that add food for thought (for example, "Volunteers are expected to act with integrity, maturity, and courtesy.")
Dave Marino
Volunteer Staff
I would just like to say, relating the time for consideration for this to our vote on the budget is inaccurate and insincere. They are 2 totally different items, one of which is a brand-new consideration. But it does meet the requirements for consideration in our rules.