Rules of Attendance
ATTENDANCE
The POCSN National Event is a support and
social event for people with Herpes (HSV) or Genital Warts (HPV).
It will be attended by people with HSV/HPV for the purpose of coming
together for friendship, sharing and fellowship. This is one place we
should not have to worry about disclosing or being outted. Some
people choose to bring a support person (less than 5% of the total
attendance usually). This support person
is usually a spouse, life partner or person of significance in their lives
and in their own private HSV/HPV struggle.
Bringing someone who fits this description is allowed
and appropriate for this event provided they are prepared to respect and
protect the privacy of the group and the other attendees. This
support person may be asked to wear a discreet form of identification during
the course of the event (eg. An apple lapel pin or rubber bracelet).
It would not be appropriate to bring a casual
acquaintance or someone you 'wanted to show' the group to. If you
have a question about this policy, you are encouraged to contact the POCSN
moderators at POCSN@yahoo.com or the
committee of the local group hosting the event, in this case POCAtlanta@aol.com
PRIOR to registering that person as refunding their registration (and yours)
may come at a penalty.
Picture Policy and ProceduresThe idea of taking pictures and posting is a very sensitive topic here at POC. These are the procedures for taking pictures and posting them.
1. Ask people before taking pictures if he or she minds his or her picture being taken.
2. Before posting any pictures, send the picture to all those who are posing and request if their picture can be posted.
3. After receiving an ok from those participants, post the picture.
4. Do not assume that because someone posed for a picture, that it is ok to post the picture.
5. Keep in mind that people are also posing for pictures that will go into personal keep-sakes, and that they are not necessarily posing for a picture to go on-line.
No matter what precautions we take to protect the privacy of those who attend our events, unwanted pictures are still posted. POC Social Networking will guarantee that we will either remove unwanted posted pictures, or we will use technology to remove your identity from the picture that involves a group pose.
Simple courteousness and respect from all will alleviate unnecessary tension as it relates to picture-taking and posting.
Volunteers Providing Transportation
All volunteers of transportation, including carpooling and task oriented driving, to and from tours and events and all other venues are responsible for anything that happens to any person in case of an accident. Please be responsible and have all appropriate licenses, insurances, and registrations available in case the unexpected arises. Please be sure to designate a driver if you plan to drink alcohol.
Anonymity
Due to the nature of our group, please respect the anonymity and privacy of other attendees and do not "out" anyone from the social group to your non-h friends and family without their permission. When attending an event in a public place, we ask that you refrain from disclosing the nature of the group to employees and/or other patrons of the establishment.
Drugs and Alcohol Policy
Drugs: Illegal substances of any kind are not permitted at our social events. Some of our members work in law enforcement and other sensitive areas, and their jobs could be jeopardized by any illegal activity on the part of other event attendees. Therefore, please be sensitive to the considerations of our law-abiding members. What you do in private is your own business, so please keep it private.
Alcohol: We understand that there are various members of our group who abstain from alcohol due to religious, health reasons or personal recovery. We also understand that many members of our group enjoy social drinking. Therefore, we try to have events that offer both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage choices for our members. Any bar/restaurant events we plan are usually held at establishments that also serve food. If you are in a 12-step recovery program for alcohol, it is your responsibility to use your judgment as to which events are appropriate for you to attend. No one is going to pressure you to drink, but we are not your "A.A. sponsors" and it is not our responsibility to make sure you don't drink.
Time to time, social events may take place in locations that ban public alcohol consumption, such as parks or beaches. We ask that group members respect the rules and regulations of these facilities.
If you do choose to drink alcohol at any of our events, we ask that you drink responsibly. Public drunkenness is no excuse for unacceptable behavior. And if you have had too much to drink, do not drive!
Sexual Harassment Policy
We request that group members not engage in any action that could be construed as sexual harassment, including but not limited to unwelcome sexual flirtations, advances, propositions, continued or repeated verbal abuse or innuendoes of a sexual nature. For example, asking a person you've just met to go home with you might be perfectly acceptable in your prior social circles, but could be construed as offensive and immoral by the person you have just propositioned. Or, for example, telling a dirty joke to your friends might seem like a perfectly harmless, fun activity; however, the same joke might be extremely disconcerting to a person who is new to the herpes social scene and is still struggling to cope with herpes and other sexual issues. Therefore, please proceed with caution, consideration and good judgment when interacting with others at social events. Last but not least, please treat all others with courtesy and respect at group events.
Illegal or Unacceptable Behavior
POC Social Networking defines "unacceptable behavior" as physically or verbally threatening or abusing other group members or engaging in behavior that is illegal or that poses a potential threat to other members. This includes theft, property damage, and intentional financial defrauding of other group members. If a situation such as this were to occur at a social group function, POC Social Networking representatives reserve the right to ask the offending person to leave. If an individual were to engage in illegal actions at a social event, the group representatives present at the event may choose to notify the police or other law enforcement authorities.
Enforcement of Social Group Policies
POC Social Networking National Event organizers are volunteers. We are not policemen, judges, psychiatrists, security guards or professional mediators. POC Social Networking is not incorporated and thus assumes no responsibility for the actions of attendees. If any situation arises between you and another group member or attendee, we ask that you act like mature, responsible adults and confront the other person directly to address and discuss your issues and concerns. If the situation is not resolved, notify the group coordinators. The group coordinators will discuss the matter and, if deemed appropriate, will issue a verbal warning to the offending person. If the person continues to engage in unacceptable behavior after the verbal warning, that person will be asked not to attend any further POC Social Networking events and will banned from it's Yahoogroup. When events are held in public places, POC Social Networking has only limited authority to enforce such decisions. Nevertheless, we ask that the decision of the group be respected by the individuals concerned.
Thank you all in advance for following the rules that we govern ourselves by.
~~ POC Social Networking ~~
*Policies adapted from the NY Social Group with permission. Special thanks to Amanda!
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