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BARBERSHOP HARMONY SOCIETY
YOUTH POLICY STATEMENT
The
Barbershop Harmony Society members maintain high standards
of personal conduct to provide a wholesome environment for
singers of all ages.
As stated
in the Bylaws of the Barbershop Harmony Society also known
as the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of
Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America ("Society"),
it is the Vision of the Society "to be an ever-growing
fraternity of barbershop-style singers, leading the cause of
encouraging vocal music in our schools and communities." In
fulfilling that Vision, the Society, its subsidiaries,
districts, chapters, and members sponsor and/or participate
in a wide range of activities involving young persons. As
provided in the Society Bylaws and Statements of Policy,
young men may be considered for Society membership. In
keeping with the Society's commitment to maintain high
standards of personal conduct by its members and to provide
a wholesome environment in which the activities of the
Society and its subordinate units take place, and in order
to support and sustain the Society's good name and
reputation in the communities that it serves, the Society
Board of Directors has adopted this Youth Policy Statement.
1.
POLICY APPLICATION. This Youth Policy shall apply to all
activities of the Society or any of its subsidiaries,
districts, and chapters, and to all activities of Society
members where they are (or may reasonably be expected to be)
identified as being members of, or acting on behalf of, the
Society or one of its subordinate units, when such
activities (as used in this Youth Policy, an "Activity,"
or "Activities") involve (or may be anticipated to
involve) participation by Youth. Activities may include (but
are not limited to) meetings, performances, clinics or
schools, social events, or other public or private events.
For the purpose of this Youth Policy, "Youth" are
defined as persons who have not attained the legal age of
majority in the jurisdiction in which the Activity takes
place, and Youth involvement may include (but is not limited
to) participation as a guest, student or enrollee, audience
or observer, or participation as a Society member.
2.
GENERAL STANDARDS OF CONDUCT. Society members shall
conduct themselves as men of good character and good
ambassadors of the Society, being careful to avoid the use
of inappropriate language and actions either directed to, or
within the sight and/or hearing of Youth. All persons
attending any Activity are expected to comply with all laws
of the jurisdiction in which the activity takes place.
3.
MEMBERS' RESPONSIBILITY. It is the responsibility of
every Society member to be aware of the impact that his
conduct may have upon Youth who may be present at any
Activity. It is also the responsibility of every
Society member to bring to the attention of any member whose
conduct at any Activity may seem inappropriate, the need to
correct the situation immediately. In the event the
situation is not promptly corrected, or if the nature of the
conduct (whether corrected or not) is deemed serious enough
to warrant further action, it is the responsibility of the
Society member(s) observing such conduct to report the same
to an appropriate Society, district or chapter officer. Upon
receipt of any such report, it is the responsibility of the
Society, district or chapter officer to evaluate the same,
and to take such further action, pursuant to the Society's
Code of Ethics, or otherwise, as is deemed necessary or
appropriate.
4.
YOUTH RESPONSIBILITY. Parents are responsible for the
conduct of their Youth participating in Activities. For the
purpose of this Youth Policy, "Parent" is defined as
the parent, guardian, school or institutional
representative, or other person or persons having parental
or supervisory responsibility and authority for the Youth.
Neither the Society nor any of its subsidiaries, districts
or chapters shall have or assume the role or responsibility
of Parent for any Youth participating in any Activity. In
the event a Youth's Parent is not, or will not be personally
present during an Activity in which the Youth is
participating other than an "Exempt Activity" described in
paragraph 8 below, the Parent must provide a written
designation, naming and authorizing another person who will
be present, to act in place of the Parent to fulfill the
role and responsibility of the Parent. The designation must
include the specific authority to obtain, provide, or give
consent for any necessary emergency medical treatment to the
Youth, including (but not limited to) surgical procedures
that may be recommended by a physician, in the event of any
medical emergency involving the Youth. A Society member who
is also a Parent, or who has been named and authorized to
act in place of a Parent, performs that function in his
individual and personal capacity, and not as an agent or
representative of the Society, or any of its subsidiaries,
districts, or chapters.
5.
ALCOHOL. Youth may not be permitted to attend any
Activity where alcohol is served, made available, or being
consumed, unless accompanied by a Parent or other person
having parental responsibility and authority for the
supervision and control of the Youth. Youth shall not be
permitted to consume alcohol at any Activity, whether or not
the Youth's Parent consents to such consumption. Society
members who consume alcohol at Activities where Youth are
present must be particularly careful to demonstrate
responsible usage.
6.
SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP. Under the provisions of the Society
Bylaws and Statements of Policy, Youth may become Society
members, although it is recommended (but not required) that
16 years be considered as the minimum age for membership.
From and after January 1, 2003, where membership is to be
extended to or renewed by a Youth, as a condition to the
approval or renewal of the membership (i) the Youth's Parent
must give written consent to the Youth becoming a member of
the Society and the chapter; (ii) the Youth's Parent must
agree in writing to be responsible for, and promptly
discharge, all financial obligations of the Youth to the
chapter, district and Society; (iii) the Youth's Parent (if
a member of the chapter which the Youth will join), or a
designated and authorized chapter member (if the Youth's
Parent is not a member of the chapter) must agree in writing
to assume, accept responsibility for, and diligently perform
the active supervision and control of the conduct of the
Youth in connection with all Activities in which the Youth
participates; and (iv) the Youth must acknowledge in writing
that his membership and participation is conditioned upon
his acceptance of, and compliance with such supervision and
control. It shall be the responsibility of each chapter to
obtain and retain in the chapter files, a signed and
currently effective consent, agreement and designation form
for each Youth Member. In the event a chapter member
(including a Parent) who is responsible for the supervision
and control of any Youth ceases to be a member of the
chapter to which the Youth belongs, becomes inactive, or is
otherwise unable or unwilling to provide such supervision
and control, or fails (in the opinion of the chapter,
district or Society board of directors) to provide the
supervision and control in a diligent and effective manner,
then another chapter member must be designated and
authorized, and agree in writing to assume and perform the
supervision and control of the Youth.
7.
YOUTH PARTICIPATION. No Youth (as a member, or
otherwise) shall be permitted to participate in any
Activity, other than an "Exempt Activity" described in
paragraph 8 below, unless and until all designations,
consents and agreements provided for in this Youth Policy
Statement have been obtained and filed in the appropriate
chapter, district, subsidiary or Society permanent records,
and remain currently effective.
8.
EXEMPT ACTIVITY. An "Exempt Activity," for which no
signed designation, consent and agreement form is required
shall include (but is not limited to) the following:
(a) any
Activity in which Youth perform or otherwise participate
solely as members of an identifiable non-Society related
entity or group, so long as such Youth are, at all times,
accompanied by and under the control, supervision and/or
direction of, one or more adults who, as teacher, director,
or leader acting in an official capacity on behalf of the
entity or group (or of the organization sponsoring the
entity or group), have primary supervisory responsibility
for the Youth (such as a school, church or community class
or choir, scout troop, or other organized youth or civic
organization); or
(b) any
interactive workshop, clinic, or demonstration of short
duration conducted or provided as part of an event which is
organized or sponsored by, and under the leadership of, a
non-Society related entity or group, so long as (i) the
event is not held on Society premises, or at the meeting
place of any Society subordinate unit, and (ii) neither the
Society nor any Society subordinate unit receives any
portion of any registration fee or similar charge paid by
the participating Youth (other than a performance fee not
based upon the number or amount of registrations); or
(c) any
scheduled or unscheduled public or private performance in
which Youth participate solely as spectators or members of
an audience, whether or not any admission or fee is charged;
or
(d)
occasional infrequent attendance at a chapter meeting, as a
guest.
Harmony
Explosion, or other camps or similar events, however
designated, shall not be an "Exempt Activity," whether or
not the participation by Youth is limited to participation
as set forth in (a) or (b) above.
9.
INTERPRETATION. The Society Laws & Regulations Committee
is authorized to issue binding regulations and/or
determination letters interpreting and applying this Youth
Policy consistent with the intent and purpose hereof,
including the further definition of "Exempt Activity," or
otherwise.
[Sample
forms are available from the Society Laws & Regulations
Committee, for use as guidelines. Chapters, districts, and
Society subsidiaries should consult local counsel for advice
concerning local law provisions which may be applicable to
Youth participation or Youth membership in their
jurisdiction, and the suitability of the forms for use in
their jurisdiction.]
Adopted by
the Society Board: July 2, 2002; revised November 2, 2002.
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