Behavior Standards Policy

Skimo Northwest/SnowGoat Skimo is committed to maintaining an environment within our organization and during our organized events that is free of any and all forms of harassment, any and all forms of assault, and other problem behavior so that everyone may enjoy our events in a productive, respectful, and safe manner. Registration for or volunteering for an event or activity organized by Skimo Northwest/SnowGoat Skimo constitutes acceptance of and adherence to the standards detailed in this policy.

Activity and Event Participant Standards

Participants in Skimo Northwest/SnowGoat Skimo activities and events, and persons present on Skimo Northwest/SnowGoat Skimo premises or premises operated by our ski area partners (collectively “participants”), must comply with standards of personal conduct set forth below. For purposes of this policy the term “SnowGoat Skimo premises” shall include all properties whether leased or owned by Skimo Northwest/SnowGoat Skimo, and all properties and facilities leased or owned by partners of Skimo Northwest/SnowGoat Skimo including commercially operated ski areas. The term “activity” shall include all Skimo Northwest/SnowGoat Skimo events, including races, after-race events, promotional events, training activities, and social events. The term “participants” shall include staff, board members, and volunteers of Skimo Northwest/SnowGoat Skimo and registered participants in events. The phrase “could reasonably be expected to” shall be measured by reference to the judgment that would be exercised by a reasonably prudent person in the context of the activity, event, and/or location presented.

  1. Participants shall exercise personal responsibility and shall refrain from conduct during SnowGoat Skimo activities and on SnowGoat Skimo premises or partner premises that could reasonably be expected to impair the safety of the party, individual participants, or the collective participation and enjoyment of others.

  2. Participants shall:

    1. Respect private and public property.

    2. Obey federal, state, and county, and municipal laws.

    3. Treat all persons present with respect and comply with this Behavior Standards Policy.

Problem Behavior

Problem behavior is any action that impacts another individual’s safety or enjoyment of any SnowGoat Skimo activity and/ or violates this behavior standards policy. Within problem behavior there are specific actions that are particularly serious and will not be tolerated, including:

  • Discrimination

  • Sexual harassment and sexual assault

  • Threats, intimidation, and other forms of assault

  • Other forms of harassment

  • Retaliation against other participants

All problem behavior may be subject to an investigation as outlined within this and other SnowGoat Skimo policies. Particularly serious allegations, such as any type of assault and/or other potential criminal violations, may also be referred to law enforcement for investigation

Discrimination

Skimo Northwest/SnowGoat Skimo does not discriminate in employment, volunteering, or event participation on the basis of race; sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, marital status, veteran status, color, sexual orientation, the presence of any physical, mental or sensory disability, or on any other basis prohibited by law (e.g. caste discrimination). Discriminatory behavior is prohibited within Skimo Northwest/SnowGoat Skimo.

Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault

Sexual harassment is a behavior characterized by the making of unwelcome or inappropriate sexual remarks or physical advances. Examples of sexual harassment include actions such as:

  • Comments or jokes about sex, intimate acts, or private body parts.

  • Sex or gender-related name calling.

  • Sharing letters, notes, emails, texts, photos/videos online postings or other messages that portray, talk about sex, sexually-suggestive acts and/or private body parts.

  • Touching one’s own body parts in a sexual way; intentionally exposing one’s private body parts.

  • Commenting or teasing anyone about their sexuality, sexual development, or gender identity; harassing another for not fitting their idea of social gender norms.

  • Blocking another’s path so they can't get away from the sexual harassment.

  • Unwanted flirtations or showing sexual or physical interest in someone when the person has made clear that the interest is not wanted.

  • Asking or requiring an activity participant to submit to any form of sexual harassment in exchange for allowing that participant to participate in any Skimo Northwest/SnowGoat Skimo activity.

  • Threats of sexual assault.

Sexual assault is an act in which one intentionally sexually touches another person without that person's consent, or coerces or physically forces a person to engage in a sexual act against their will. Examples of sexual assault include:

  • Fondling breasts or genitals

  • Touching anyone else’s private body parts in a sexual way

  • Smacking someone on the butt

  • Groping another person in an unwanted and/or sexual way

  • Coercing someone to perform sexual acts

  • Rape

This list of examples is not considered exhaustive of all potential behaviors that constitute sexual harassment or sexual assault.

Sexual harassment and sexual assault are never acceptable behaviors in Skimo Northwest/SnowGoat Skimo under any circumstances. Skimo Northwest/SnowGoat Skimo policies and practices are intended to help prevent any conduct on the part of any member, volunteer, or participant that constitutes sexual harassment or sexual assault. Sexual harassment and sexual assault are particularly serious prohibited behavior and those who are found to have engaged in this type of behavior are subject to disciplinary actions, up to and including expulsion from future activities, employment, the board of directors, or volunteer staff, and referral to law enforcement.

Threats, Intimidation, and Other Forms of Assault

Assault can be defined as a wrongful act that causes someone to reasonably fear imminent harm. This means that the fear is something a reasonable person would foresee as threatening to them. In the context of Skimo Northwest/SnowGoat Skimo activities, threats, intimidation, and other aggressive acts could be characterized as assault if the target of the behavior saw them as threatening and they feared harm.

Examples of other forms of assault include:

  • Aggressive physical behavior such as pushing, shoving, slapping, punching, and kicking;

  • Getting in someone’s face, screaming, spitting, and/or forcefully holding someone;

  • Threats of physical harm, whether physical, verbal, or written (e.g. a specific threat of harm in a text message or on social media);

  • Brandishing a deadly or non-deadly weapon in a way that suggests the victim may be hit or harmed by it;

  • Repeated bullying type behavior that harms the victim or leads them to believe they will be harmed.

Similar to sexual harassment and sexual assault, other forms of assault are never acceptable behaviors in Skimo Northwest/SnowGoat Skimo under any circumstances. Assault in all forms is considered to be a serious violation of our behavior policies. Those who are found to have engaged in any type of assault are subject to disciplinary actions, up to and including expulsion from future activities, employment, the board of directors, or volunteer staff, and referral to law enforcement.

Other Forms of Harassment

Harassment may include, but is not limited to:

  • Epithets

  • Slurs

  • Derogatory comments or jokes

  • Negative stereotyping

  • Other conduct that the individual might reasonably find to be offensive and which is directed at an individual member, their relatives, friends or associates

Skimo Northwest/SnowGoat Skimo does not tolerate harassment by one participant towards another whether the participant is a board member, volunteer, director, participant, or staff.

Responsibilities, Reporting, and Investigation

Each board member, volunteer, and participant is responsible for supporting and adhering to this policy, cooperating with any investigation as necessary, and conducting themselves in a manner that respects the integrity of Skimo Northwest/SnowGoat Skimo and all participants. Participants should never tolerate problem behavior. They should make their feelings known to the offending person immediately, whenever possible and safe, and in a direct and constructive manner. In many cases if a participant makes their feelings known to offending persons, tells them the conduct is not appropriate, and asks them to stop, this may resolve the situation, and immediate feedback is likely to be the most effective corrective action for changing behavior.

However, if any board member, staff member, volunteer, or participant is not comfortable doing this, or has tried and the offending behavior has continued, then the board member, volunteer, or participant should promptly report any offending behavior, whether such behavior is directed towards them personally or to other members, according to the process outlined below.

Board members, volunteers, or participants are strongly encouraged to report concerns before offensive behaviors become severe or pervasive, as Skimo Northwest/SnowGoat Skimo prefers to stop all problem behavior before it escalates to more severe acts like harassment or assault. Race directors, staff, volunteers, or board members who know or receive reports or complaints of offending behavior must promptly notify the President of the Board so action can be taken and an investigation can commence as necessary.

Staff and/or the Board of Directors will provide support to the designated investigators. Staff and/or the Board of Directors may also conduct investigations as appropriate. Anonymous complaints will be logged and an investigation conducted to the extent possible, however it is noted that without the ability to follow up for further detail findings may be inconclusive.

An investigation process will be followed and the recommended resolution will be documented and communicated to the parties involved. Because we strive for privacy and anonymity, we do not disclose the outcomes of this process beyond the parties involved.

Broadly speaking, outcomes may include things like banishment from future Skimo Northwest/SnowGoat Skimo events and activities and volunteering opportunities, loss of employment, or removal from the Board of Directors.

Retaliation

No action will be taken against any board member, staff member, volunteer, or participant who in good faith files an incident report, behavior complaint or assists in the investigation of such a complaint, solely because the board member, staff member, volunteer, or participant filed the report, complaint or assisted in an investigation. Board members, staff members, volunteers, or participants who believe they have been retaliated against for having reported harassment or participated in an investigation, must promptly report any concerns about retaliation either to the person(s) who are conducting the investigation, or if the investigation is concluded, the President of the Board.

Retaliation directed towards any person who has submitted an incident report, behavior complaint, and/or participates or assists in investigations, is prohibited. Persons who believe they have been subject to retaliation must report evidence to the person(s) conducting the relevant investigation.