Greater Grand Rapids Ski Club Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy

Greater Grand Rapids Ski Club (hereinafter referred to as GGRSC) is committed to an

environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. Each individual

has the right to recreate in an atmosphere that promotes equal opportunities and

prohibits discriminatory practices, including harassment. Therefore, GGRSC expects

that all relationships among persons in the club will be respectful and free of bias,

prejudice, discrimination, and harassment.

In order to keep this commitment, GGRSC maintains a strict policy of prohibiting

unlawful harassment of any kind, including sexual harassment, and harassment based

on race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression,

sex, age, physical or mental disability, or any other characteristic protected by state,

federal, or local discrimination laws. This policy applies to all members, including

leaders and board members, and nonmembers who engage in unlawful harassment

during ski club activities.

Sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to making unwanted sexual advances

and requests for sexual favors where either:

1. Submission to such conduct is made explicit or implicit term or condition of membership; or

2. Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis of ski club

            decisions affecting such individual; or

3. Such conduct has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual's involvement

            in club activities or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive recreation environment.

Members who violate this policy are subject to discipline up to and including the

possibility of immediate termination of membership. Members must exercise their own

good judgement to avoid any conduct that may be perceived by others as harassment.

The alleged harasser’s intent, or lack of intent to harass, is not the determining factor in

deciding whether this policy has been violated.

DEFINITIONS

● Harassment is defined as unwelcome conduct which is based on a protected

category and has the purpose or effect of:

1. Creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive recreation environment.

2. Unreasonably interfering with a member’s enjoyment of ski club activities.

3. Otherwise negatively affecting a member’s enjoyment of ski club activities.

● Verbal and non-verbal forms of harassment include, but are not limited to jokes,

stereotypes, denigration, name calling, threats, visual displays, hazing, and

segregation.

● Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual

favors or any other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when:

1. Submission to the conduct is made either an express or implied condition of involvement in the ski club.

2. Submission to or rejection of the conduct is used as a basis for any advantage in the ski club.

3. The harassment has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with the member’s

     enjoyment of ski club activities or creating a hostile recreation environment.

● Verbal and non-verbal forms of sexual harassment include but are not limited to:

1. Suggestive comments and innuendo

2. Unwanted physical contact or advances

3. Repeated requests or pressure for “dates”

4. Sexually suggestive messages of any kind via technology

5. Insults or verbal abuse of a sexual nature

6. Graphic verbal commentaries about an individual's body

7. Use of sexually degrading words or vulgar words of a sexual nature

8. Humor or jokes about sex or gender specific traits (Note: This refers to targeted jokes, repetitive

     ones creating an uncomfortable environment, or gross ones)

9. Display of sexually suggestive objects or pictures

10.Leering, whistling, or suggestive sounds

11. Obscene gestures

12.Displaying pornographic materials and lewd photographs in common areas or via computer

13.Prohibited touching with associated innuendos (includes unwelcome touching of a sexual nature

      or intentional brushing of the body)

14.Stalking an individual after a request to be left alone has been made at or soon after a ski club event.

Any member or other person who believes he or she has been harassed by a member

of GGRSC or by a nonmember at a ski club event should promptly report the facts of

the incident or incidents and the names of the individual(s) involved to a trip leader in

charge at the time of the incident, Board member they are comfortable with, or in the

alternative, to the Vice President. All complaints will then immediately be referred to the

Vice President for investigation by members of the standing committee, an attorney if

necessary, and/or referred to the police depending on the allegations made. Upon

receipt of the complaint, the GGRSC will undertake a prompt, thorough, objective and

good faith investigation of the harassment allegations and make a recommendation to

the President for action.

If GGRSC determines that harassment has occurred via it’s chief officer, the President,

effective remedial action will be taken in accordance with the circumstances involved.

Any member determined by GGRSC to be responsible for harassment will be subject to

appropriate disciplinary action such as a documented verbal warning, up to and

including termination of membership. The alleged harasser shall have the right to

appeal the decision of the President to the entire Board by notifying the Vice President

within 14 days of being informed by the President of the remedial action taken. The Vice

President then shall inform the entire Board of the appeal and request that the decision

be reviewed at a closed session of the Board.

Members will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint and/or assisting in a

complaint or investigation process. Further, we will not tolerate or permit retaliation by

any member against any complainant or anyone assisting in a harassment

investigation.