Setting the Standard
Our Volunteer Code of Conduct
The Chattanooga Theatre Centre is committed to providing a healthy and respectful environment for every volunteer. We have created the following Volunteer Code of Conduct to meet this commitment and provide you with a reference guide for appropriate behavior and processes during your involvement with the CTC.
To ensure a safe environment, all of us must:
- Know misconduct when we see it.
- Know what to do when we experience or observe it.
- Create a safe and supportive environment for people to share their concerns and experiences.
- Communicate and maintain effective reporting processes.
What are the expectations?
The activities outlined below are strictly prohibited:
- Actual or threatened intimidation, denigration, violence, bullying, or harassment (verbal, physical, or online/digital) of any volunteer, employee, contractor, or patron.
- Sexual or gender-based harassment of any kind. This includes unwelcome advances, verbal or non-verbal actions, non-consensual physical contact, and intentionally mis-gendering or dead-naming another volunteer, employee, contractor, patron, or guest of the CTC.
- The use of abusive or offensive language toward or in the proximity of any volunteer outside of the boundaries of consent related to the production content. This includes language, references, and jokes that are sexual or racist or bigoted in nature.
- Possession of dangerous, unauthorized, or illegal materials such as explosives, firearms or other weapons, illegal drugs, or other similar items on the CTC’s property.
- Stealing, destroying, or damaging CTC property, or attempting to do so.
- Endangering the life, safety, health, or well-being of any volunteer. This may include interaction beyond the theatre property and will be handled at the discretion of the Executive Director and/or Board of Directors.
- Any conduct on or beyond the CTC property that could damage one’s ability to fulfill one’s obligation to the CTC. This includes coming to CTC functions under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Taking or distributing photographs or videos of rehearsals or performances, backstage or onstage, without the consent of persons being photographed or videotaped.
- Failure to follow any policy, procedure, or expectation as set by the CTC Board of Directors. This includes behaving with disrespect toward staff, production leaders, and educators, or failing to meet commitments.
This Volunteer Code of Conduct establishes minimum standards and by no means covers every contingency. We expect our volunteers, employees, contractors, patrons, and guests to treat others with respect and in a manner in which others expect to be treated.
How to Report an Incident
The CTC is committed to providing every volunteer with an effective reporting process to confidentially communicate their concerns, experiences, and observations concerning the CTC and any violations of the Code of Conduct.
Volunteers must report an incident if they are the victim of misconduct, and volunteers must report an incident if they are a witness to misconduct. Retaliation against anyone who reports a violation of the Code of Conduct will not be tolerated.
Volunteers (cast and crew) are expected to communicate and report violations and concerns to the Director or Stage Manager during the rehearsal period or the run of a production.
Front-of-house volunteers should communicate and report violations and concerns to the House Manager, Volunteer Coordinator, or Box Office Manager during or immediately after a performance.
Should a situation arise that cannot or should not be handled by these individuals (for example, if the Director or Stage Manager is involved in the incident of concern), volunteers are entitled to report incidents and concerns first to the Executive Director ([email protected]) and secondly to the President of the Board of Directors ([email protected]). An email may also be sent to [email protected] if the situation is not appropriate for the Executive Director or the President of the Board of Directors to handle or if the volunteer is not comfortable reporting incidents to an individual person.
What happens if these expectations are not followed?
The CTC expects our volunteers to act according to the rules, guidelines, and standards set forth in this Volunteer Code of Conduct. Behavior contrary to these rules, guidelines, and standards will not be tolerated and will be addressed promptly, in confidence, and in accordance with standards of due process.
Any participant who violates this Volunteer Code of Conduct is subject to discipline, up to and including removal from an existing production or activity they are participating in and/or probation or barring from future involvement related to the Chattanooga Theatre Centre.
If a violation constitutes a violation of the law, that violation may also result in referral to legal authorities.
