# Author Nation Code of Conduct

Author Nation is committed to providing an environment that encourages the free expression and exchange of ideas and promotes equal opportunities and respectful treatment for all participants.

Author Nation is its own entity, and does not adhere to any previous conduct standards or rules used by any other groups.

Author Nation is not in the business of dictating to people the nuances of social interactions. However, at Author Nation events, we are committed to creating event environments that are inclusive, safe, and free from discrimination, regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, transgender status, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, political affiliation, or any other classification protected by law. We support the freedom and diversity of our community, and equality for all.

### All participants of Author Nation events must abide by the following policy:

## Expected Behavior

1. Be considerate, respectful, and collaborative.
2. Refrain from demeaning, discriminatory, aggressive, or harassing behavior and speech. Free speech and discourse are welcome, but character attacks and belittling the beliefs or background of another is not. In open or public spaces, try to maintain the collaborative atmosphere by avoiding derisive jokes or insults about politics, religion, or social issues. If the conversation cannot be held in a respectful manner and tone, consider whether to have it.
3. Healthy, respectful dialogue during a panel or discussion is welcome.
4. Be mindful of your surroundings and of your fellow participants. Alert event staff if you notice a dangerous situation or someone in distress.
5. Wear your badge at all times while at the event or event venues.
6. Please drink responsibly.

## Harmful Behavior

Harmful behaviors may include, but are not limited to:

1. Harassment and discrimination may include any verbal, physical, or visual conduct based on sex, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, transgender status, race, age, national origin, or disability.
2. Harassment and discrimination may include inappropriate use of nudity and/or sexual images in public spaces; deliberate intimidation, stalking or following; photographing or recording another attendee without first securing their permission; sustained disruption of sessions, talks or other events; inappropriate physical contact; or any unwelcome sexual attention.
3. Harmful behavior may include boisterous, lewd, or offensive behavior or language; using sexually suggestive, explicit, or offensive language or conduct; profanity; obscene gestures; or racial, religious, or ethnic slurs.
4. Please wear clothing that is suitable for a collegial environment. Please avoid wearing clothing that insults any protected class of minorities, including any gender, gender-fluid, religion, race, or ethnicity.
5. **Author Nation respects and honors the First Amendment rights of all our attendees, but in deference to our peers, please keep in mind the time, manner, and place where you discuss current events, hot topic subjects, and “friends-only” content. This way, we can ensure the conference remains open and welcoming for attendees around you.**
6. Harmful behavior may include possession of a weapon or any item that can be used as a weapon, which may be used to threaten or cause injury to others if used in a certain manner.
7. Harmful behavior includes any destruction or vandalizing of personal property or event site or materials.
8. Harmful behavior includes possessing any illegal substance. Author Nation does not tolerate the use or abuse of illegal substances anywhere in the event venues.
9. Smoking or vaping is not permitted, other than in designated areas outside the conference area, as established by Caesars.
10. Harmful behavior includes any other illegal activity not already covered above.
11. Many event venues are shared with members of the public; please be respectful to all patrons of these locations.
12. Harmful behavior includes failure to follow any of the rules or regulations of the event venues or instructions of the event staff.

## Consequences of Harmful Behavior

Harmful or egregious behavior will not be tolerated. Anyone asked to stop harmful behavior is expected to comply immediately. If a participant engages in harmful behavior, the event organizers may take any action they deem necessary, up to and including expulsion from the event without warning or refund and, if necessary, involvement of venue security and local law enforcement.

## How to report Harmful Behavior or Suspicious Person/Behavior/Package.

### This policy applies to all attendees, speakers, exhibitors, contractors, volunteers, and guests at Author Nation events.

If you experience or witness a life safety emergency, please contact your local authorities. In North America dial 911, immediately.

If you have a complaint or concern about harassment, discrimination, bullying, or any other conduct that violates the Author Nation Code of Conduct, we encourage you to tell an Author Nation Room Monitor or hotel security immediately. If you witness this happening to someone else, please report that, too. You may request that your report remain completely confidential.

If you see something suspicious or would like to report a security issue, you can call Caesar's security, local authorities, report it to an Author Nation Room Monitor or security personnel wearing a badge, email us at [**[email protected]**](mailto:[email protected]), or fill out a report at [**https://form.fillout.com/t/bj91TNTpP4us**](https://form.fillout.com/t/bj91TNTpP4us).

Please note that all members of the Conduct Committee are bound by a Non-Disclosure Agreement, and are thus obligated to maintain confidentiality of all incidents reported to the committee. You may report an incident anonymously. However, the committee’s ability to investigate and address the matter will be limited without contact information for a reporter. Also, the Conduct Committee will cooperate with law enforcement and any subpoena duly served as part of legal proceedings.

Author Nation expressly forbids any retaliation against individuals for reporting harassment. Similar actions may also be taken against any individual who knowingly provides false information regarding a harassment situation.

## Contact Information

For questions regarding Author Nation Events, please contact us at [**[email protected]**](mailto:[email protected]).

The Code of Conduct may be revised at any time by Author Nation and the terms are non-negotiable. This Code of Conduct is without prejudice to Author Nation’s rights, all of which it expressly reserves.

Together, we can ensure Author Nation events are safe and welcoming experiences.

# Guidelines for Author Nation’s Professional Conduct Committee to Invoke Warning Procedures or to Investigate

Every author has the right to attend Author Nation’s programs without shame, fear, or intimidation. Whether they are a victim or the accused, every author will be respected and treated with integrity.

Disagreements and conflicts are inevitable. Author Nation’s Professional Conduct Committee (hereinafter, “the Committee”) is not a security agency or a court of law. The purpose of Author Nation’s Professional Conduct Committee is to exercise a reasonable standard of care to keep a safe environment for the entire author community.

If an individual author has a concern about another author’s conduct that did not originate at Author Nation (hereinafter, “non-Author Nation-related events”), or believes they require a higher standard of protection than what is extended to the general community, the proper forum is Caesar’s hotels, a legal tribunal, or law enforcement.

Author Nation’s Professional Conduct Committee will not ban or isolate an author for a non-Author Nation related event, nor will it discuss said event with an author unless sufficient proof has been provided to justify that action. The Committee will, however, comply with any lawful order issued by a legal tribunal or law enforcement.

**By acting to facilitate a reasonably safe environment of mutual respect and anti-harassment for all authors, the Committee does not assume responsibility for incidents beyond its control that would be more appropriately addressed by Caesar’s Hotels or by law enforcement.**

That said, Author Nation’s Professional Conduct Review process will be triggered under two situations: 1) when an attendee has a safety concern that did not arise at Author Nation, and 2) when an actual dispute or problem arises at Author Nation.

### **Warning Procedures for Safety Concerns Stemming from Non-Author Nation Related Events**

Where a valid safety concern is reported that did not arise at Author Nation, the reporter has the burden of proof to provide evidence of their claim. Upon receiving evidence, the Professional Conduct Committee will act in the interest of maintaining a reasonably safe environment for everyone.

Evidence that may be submitted for the Committee to address a non-Author Nation-related safety concern includes:

1. A certified copy of a restraining order.
2. A police report.
3. A certified copy of a minute order showing a verdict of guilty for criminal assault, trespass, or physical violence; or a minute order showing a judgment of civil liability for said conduct. These legal orders must directly relate to the threat, concern, or conduct being reported to Author Nation.
4. Other documentary evidence (i.e., pictures, text messages, letter, social media comments or posts) showing a known perpetrator has a history of misconduct, that can be attested to by multiple different authors, which necessitates safety measures and boundaries to protect the peace of the whole community.
5. A witness statement or documentary evidence that someone has made clear and unequivocal threats to do future harm to another at Author Nation.

This is not an exhaustive list of situations in which the Committee might act on a non-Author Nation-related report, and the Committee reserves the right to modify this list in the future as circumstances require.

Under these circumstances, the Professional Conduct Committee might act to address a concern, threat, or conflict in the following ways:

1. Hold a collegial conversation with the alleged offending party asking them to maintain at least twenty (10) feet of distance from the reporting party at all times. This would not exclude them from any Author Nation meeting space, gathering space, or other facility or event that is designated for Author Nation’s use.
2. Ask **both** the reporter and the alleged offending party not to disparage one another with colleagues, not to use third parties to intimidate or address the other party, and to respect one another’s space, associates, and right to attend the conference in peace.
3. Reassign the involved parties to different tables, locations, or rooms, or to assign additional staff for monitoring purposes only.
4. Coordinate with Caesar’s Hotels or law enforcement as a precaution or to monitor a situation.

By receiving evidence for purposes of keeping a reasonably safe environment, the Committee will **not** adjudicate, decide, or take a position on the substantive facts. Nor will it otherwise involve itself in events that do not occur at Author Nation, or on any of its platforms, or which do not expressly implicate or reference Author Nation.

**To report a safety concern that did not arise at Author Nation, visit this [link](https://form.fillout.com/t/bj91TNTpP4us).**

### **Investigating An Incident That Originates at Author Nation**

Starting from the moment a report is filed either with a floor monitor or through the online reporting system, once the Committee has received a reported concern, it will investigate to the best of its ability, including interviewing witnesses, bystanders, video footage, and/or any other corroborative accounts.

Once the Committee reaches a decision on the facts, it may take any of the actions outlined in the sections on “Consequences for Harmful Behavior,” “Warning Procedures for Safety Concerns Stemming from Non-Author Nation Related Events,” or “Additional Code of Conduct Items for Speakers.”

While the Committee will give serious weight to resolving every complaint and concern, it also asks members to make every effort to avoid using the Professional Conduct reporting procedures as a means for personal motives.

# The Professional Conduct Committee’s Duty of Confidentiality

All information, materials, and disclosures received by Author Nation’s Professional Conduct Committee in support of a report of abuse, harassment, or other harmful behavior will not be disclosed to any individual who does not sit on the Professional Conduct Committee. Said information, materials and allegations will be considered and held in confidence pursuant to the Committee’s fiduciary duty of confidentiality to every member who files a report. The only exceptions to this:

1. The Committee will turn over any and all information requested by a criminal tribunal or police, and will disclose or provide information to comply with a duly served subpoena.
2. Instances in which the party requesting confidentiality has previously disclosed their own information or details related to the subject matter.
3. Exigent circumstances requiring the disclosure of information or materials to police or other authorities for the purpose of protecting someone’s life or property, or to prevent a catastrophic event.

## Anti-Harassment Policy

Harassment is defined by Author Nation as unwanted and unwelcome attention or other conduct that creates an environment where a reasonable person would feel unwelcome, uncomfortable, intimidated, excluded, or abused. Harassment based on gender, race, religion, national origin, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, genetic information, disability, matriculation, political affiliation, and any other personal characteristic is strictly prohibited.

# Additional Code of Conduct Expectations and Potential Consequences for Speakers

1. Successful authors are role models for our colleagues who admire or pay attention to us. Please be aware of your language, conduct, and presentation at all times. Be friendly, engaging and warm! We work hard to come together and have fun! But we are professionals, and we must govern ourselves as such.
2. If a complaint or report is filed about your conduct, the Conduct Committee is obligated to privately and confidentially investigate, interview witnesses, and make a thorough report. The Conduct Committee will then confer with the Author Nation Executive Board and decide how to address the conduct.
3. Consequences for harmful conduct could include the following:
1. having you removed from the conference, with no refund provided, and/or,
4. possibly barring you from returning as a speaker or an attendee.Please remember that when you applied to speak, you did so as an Invited Speaker or a Vendor. Invited Speakers are prohibited from selling from the stage and should be prepared to give complete talks without referring attendees to learn more elsewhere. Vendors may explain the features and benefits of a product or service in conjunction with a talk and may add an offer to their downloadable materials. Failure to adhere to your speaker contract may impact your ability to speak again at this or other Author Nation events.

# Additional Code of Conduct Expectations for Readers & Social Media Influencers

1. **There will be a specific time frame** allotted for social media influencers to interview and interact with authors prior to the signing. However, during the active signing event, while authors are signing, please do not approach the author table.
2. Before posting a photo and video of any author, check their table sign indicating that they are comfortable revealing their face or identity.
3. You may not skip the line during signing times if an author has a line at their table.
4. You may not take photos or video of an author without their permission outside of the signing time. If an author grants permission outside of the signing hours, videos and photos are accepted. Please respect the author’s need to get their booth space set up or participate in the activities at the event. Be mindful of their time and need to connect with their audience.
5. If authors are not actively signing, setting up, or hosting a line at their table, social media influencers may request an interview.
6. Candid photos and video footage are permitted while an author is signing, but please maintain distance so that readers can enjoy their moment with an author.
7. If you fail to follow these guidelines protecting the integrity of the signing, Author Nation reserves the right to ask you to leave the event and not invite you to return in the future.

# Additional Code of Conduct Expectations for Vendors

1. Do not lure an attendee from the table of another vendor.
2. If you sign up to be a vendor, you must attend for the entire duration of the time you agreed to be present.
3. If you are an author as well, remember to keep your vendor duties separate from your author sales and products. Vendor Day is expressly for selling or providing services that help author needs, and RAVE is where you sell your own product.