Page 64 - 2024_NEWS_MarApr_81-2

2024 Proposed Amendments Mar/Apr 2024 | Vol. 81 No. 2

94 The DKG Society International maintain an ethics policy to uphold
(cont.) will maintain an ethics policy their values, maintain trust, make
to uphold their values, maintain ethical decisions, and foster a
trust, make ethical decisions, culture of integrity. It is an essential
and foster a culture of integrity. component of effective governance
It is an essential component for a responsible reputation.
of effective governance for a Section B. Ethics Policy and
responsible reputation. Violation
Section B. Ethics Policy and 1. An ethics policy sets clear
Violation expectations for behavior
1. An ethics policy sets clear within the organization.
expectations for behavior It defines acceptable and
within the organization. unacceptable conduct
It defines acceptable and establishes a process
and unacceptable for holding individuals
conduct and establishes accountable for unethical
a process for holding actions. An ethics policy
individuals accountable serves as a public statement
for unethical actions. An of the organization’s
ethics policy serves as a commitment to ethical
public statement of the behavior.
organization’s commitment 2. The Administrative
to ethical behavior. Board should adopt and
2. The Administrative communicate to members
Board should adopt and policy and procedures to
communicate to members report misconduct and
policy and procedures unethical behavior including
to report misconduct the opportunity to report
and unethical behavior anonymously. The policy
including the opportunity should include the process
to report anonymously. for reporting an ethical
The policy should include violation, investigating the
the process for reporting violation, taking action, and
an ethical violation, administering reparation and/
investigating the violation, or apologizes if warranted.
taking action, and 3. A person determined
administering reparation responsible for violating
and/or apologizes if the adopted rules or ethical
warranted. policies of the Society
3. A person determined may be removed from any
responsible for violating international elected or
the adopted rules or ethical appointed position by the
policies of the Society Administrative Board.
may be removed from any
international elected or
appointed position by the
Administrative Board.
Rationale: DKG needs a policy to remove an appointed or elected leader for unethical behavior. An ethical culture promotes
honesty, transparency, and integrity. When members know that ethical behavior is valued and expected, they are more likely to
uphold these standards and do the right thing. Fiscal Impact: None. Submitted by: Dr. Elizabeth I. Tarner, Beta Delta, VA; Mary Lee
Makinen, Alpha Delta, MD; Carol Linscott, Alpha Sigma Kitsap, WA; Beverley H. Johns, Alpha Phi, IL. Approved by legal counsel.
Administrative Board Recommendation: to adopt

64