Code of Ethics

The Member Code of Ethics has been developed to serve as a foundation for the Community Council of St. Charles County. The Code solidly connects our values and our ideals to the work each of us does every day. It is designed to ensure that every member organization understands fully the obligations of membership and the expectation of ethical behavior that are an integral part of membership in the Community Council of St. Charles County. The Community Council retains the right to bar from membership any individual or organization who violates this Code.

Members of the 2006 Community Council of St. Charles County Ethics and Professional Standards Committee: James T. Elcock, Brad Farber, Denise Liebel, Joi Niedner, Amie Stein

PREAMBLE

This Code applies to Community Council of St. Charles County members. The Code is designed to be a useful guide for Community Council members as they carry out their ethical responsibilities. The Community Council of St. Charles County is committed to ethical practices. Ethical practice is the most important obligation of a Community Council member.

MEMBER STATEMENT OF PROFESSIONAL VALUES

This statement presents the core values of Community Council members. These values provide the foundation for the Member Code of Ethics. These values are the fundamental beliefs that guide our behaviors and decision-making process. We believe our professional values are vital to the integrity of the community as a whole.

SUPPORT

We serve the public interest by acting as a responsible voice for those we represent.
We provide a voice in the marketplace of ideas, facts and viewpoints to aid informed public debate.

HONESTY

We adhere to the highest standards of accuracy and truth in advancing the interests of those we represent and in communicating with the public.

EXPERTISE

We acquire and responsibly use specialized knowledge and experience.
We advance the community through continued professional development, research and education.
We build mutual understanding, credibility and relationships among a wide array of institutions and audiences.

INDEPENDENCE

We are accountable for our actions.

LOYALTY

We are faithful to those we represent, while honoring our obligation to serve the public interest.

FAIRNESS

We deal fairly with clients, employers, competitors, peers, vendors, the media and the general public.
We respect all opinions and support the right of free expression.

PRINCIPLES OF CONDUCT

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

Core Principle - Protecting and advancing the free flow of accurate and truthful information is essential to serving the Community Council Membership.
Intent - To maintain the integrity of relationships with all sectors of the community and to aid informed decision making and collaboration.
Guidelines - A member shall: Preserve the integrity of the process of communication, be honest and accurate in all communications, and act promptly to correct erroneous communications for which the member or organization is responsible.

COMPETITION

Core Principle - Promoting healthy and fair competition in an ethical climate.
Intent -To promote respect and fair competition in our community.
Guidelines - A member shall: Follow ethical hiring practices designed to respect free and open competition without deliberately undermining a competitor, and preserve intellectual property rights in the marketplace.

DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION

Core Principle - Open communication fosters informed decision making in our community.
Intent - To build trust with our members and our community by revealing all information needed for responsible decision making.
Guidelines - A member shall: Be honest and accurate in all communications, act promptly to correct erroneous communications for which the member is responsible, and avoid deceptive practices.

SAFEGUARDING CONFIDENCES

Core Principle - Membership trust requires appropriate protection of confidential and private information.
Intent - To protect the privacy rights of organizations and individuals by safeguarding confidential information.
Guidelines - A member shall: Safeguard the confidences and privacy rights of present, former and prospective members, and protect privileged, confidential or insider information gained from a member.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

Core Principle - Avoiding real, potential or perceived conflicts of interest builds the trusts of our members, the organizations and the communities.
Intent - To earn trust and mutual respect with members, and to build trust with the public by avoiding or ending situations that put one’s personal or professional interests in conflict with society’s interests.
Guidelines - A member shall: Act in the best interests of the members, avoid actions and circumstances that may appear to compromise good business judgment or create a conflict between personal and professional interests, and disclose promptly any existing or potential conflict of interest to affected members.