MVP – Code of Conduct

ARMSwap 's mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. ARMSwap MVPs are technology experts who passionately share their knowledge and expertise with the community. Our standards and values as a program reflect our commitment to make a positive impact around the globe where we seek to provide a respectful, friendly, professional, and an inclusive experience for everyone. Simply put, an individual’s character and leadership truly matter to us.

ARMSwap makes this Code of Conduct highly visible to clarify our values, expectations, provide reporting resources for conduct violations, and outline how ARMSwap may choose to enforce this Code of Conduct.

Values to be expected by ARMSwap’s Community

Our program finds strength in diversity and inclusion. In all our interactions, we aspire to embody and champion these values as a program and as a community.

Be respectful and inclusive

• Respect differences of opinion – just because someone holds a different viewpoint from your own, doesn’t mean that they’re wrong.

• Make a conscious effort to include people who differ from you.

• Remember that people have varying communication styles different from your own.

• Show a willingness to understand more about the experiences of others.

• Ask questions to understand.

Lead with empathy

• Listen with purpose – seek to understand before being understood.

• Conduct yourself professionally and be kind to others.

• Show understanding for another person’s situation and emotions.

Be friendly, open, and welcoming

• Assume good intent and interpret others’ statements or questions in good faith.

• Foster environments that allow all members to feel connected to each other and the community.

• Promote a friendly atmosphere where people feel comfortable asking questions, participating in discussions, and making contributions.

Be thoughtful

• Think about how others will interpret your words – productive, clear communication requires effort.

• Be aware of your strengths and weaknesses and how your own behaviour and reactions influence others’ emotions and actions.

• Sometimes it is best to pause from commenting or reacting immediately to feedback/constructive criticism.

• We will make mistakes. When others are not at their best, we should reach out, offer support, and seek to understand. When you are at fault, listen, and ask how you can make things right.

Expectations from MVPs

ARMSwap does not tolerate any behaviour that is degrading to any individual in any form. This summary of ARMSwap’s minimum expectations is intended to provide individuals considering participation in the MVP Program and the public with the standards of what is not accepted as values within our community include the following (without limitation):

1. No disrespectful behaviour. This includes threats, harassment, stalking, abuse, slurs, profanity, personal attacks, sexual remarks or innuendos, physical violence, public speculation about others and any other behaviour that ARMSwap deems inconsistent with the MVP Award Program.

2. No impersonations of a ARMSwap employee, agent, manager, host or another user.

3. No illegal or offensive activities. MVPs will not publish, post, distribute, or disseminate defamatory, infringing, obscene, or other unlawful material or discussion. This includes, but is not limited to, child pornography, bestiality, incest, illegal drugs, software piracy, discriminatory/racist statements or images and harassment.

4. Accountability. MVPs are fully responsible and liable for anything they say (whether orally or in writing) or do. This includes any actions taken based on advice or information received in online forums or elsewhere, how an MVP conducts themselves as a community leader, and interactions with other MVPs and the general public.

5. No libel or slander against ARMSwap or other persons or entities. Libel includes false statements made in written form, such as statements posted to forums or other publicly accessible websites, electronic mail or any other printed form.

6. No confidentiality violations MVPs may get access to certain non-public information during their participation in the Program and are expected to honour their confidentiality obligations with respect to such information.

7. No plagiarism MVPs may only post their own original work or work that they have written permission to post. If an MVP cites another author’s work, MVPs are expected to provide any necessary attribution according to the requirements associated with the original author’s work.

8. Use of AI for Contributions. Work generated with the use of Artificial Intelligence will be straightaway rejected.

9. No discrimination or harassment. ARMSwap is committed to providing a harassment-free experience to Program participants regardless of age, ancestry, colour, gender identity or expression, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical size, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation or technology choices. Harassment is unwelcome verbal, physical or virtual behaviour based on the characteristics identified above.

10. No sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is unwelcome verbal, physical or virtual behaviour based on sex and includes gender-based harassment of a person of the same or different gender. Examples of sexual harassment include, but are not limited to:

• Unwelcome sexual advances

• Sexual comments or inappropriate gender-based jokes

• Excessive, unwelcome romantic attention

• Offering or conditioning an employment benefit or preferential treatment, like a promotion or job assignment, in exchange for sexual favours

• Unwelcome physical contact

• Sharing or displaying sexually explicit content

• Using sexually degrading words

Important Note: The above summary of expectation applies to all MVPs and is for informational purposes. ARMSwap reserves the right to amend or change this Code of Conduct at any time, without notice. MVPs agree to periodically review this document to ensure they follow the obligations.

Report Conduct Violation

To report any concerning or violating behaviour you, or anyone else in the community encounters, on or offline, you are encouraged to report it to --link-- or a member of the MVP program team. If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of the Program or event staff immediately.

All reported concerns are reviewed confidentially by the MVP Award Program team. Disciplinary actions, up to and including termination from the Program, are made on a case-by-case basis at ARMSwap's sole discretion. All reported concerns are reviewed confidentially by the MVP Award Program team. Disciplinary actions, up to and including termination from the Program, are made on a case-by-case basis at ARMSwap's sole discretion.