Member Code of Conduct Policy

Mesa Monument Striders

Code of Conduct

Approved 10/28/2025

The Mesa Monument Striders (MMS) is a club with a purpose—to promote the health and welfare of the community through running and other forms of exercise. To achieve that purpose, MMS strives to build and maintain a community in which every member feels welcome, safe, and supported. MMS seeks to represent itself in a positive light in the running community and in the general community.

This effort requires MMS members to act in accordance with reasonable social and ethical standards, and with certain basic principles, in all MMS activities and in any other activities in which they may be seen as representing MMS. This includes in-person interactions, telephone communications, postal mail, e-mails and similar media, social media, and any other modes of action or communication.

Foundational Principles

• All MMS members shall further the spirit of MMS and running generally, by providing encouragement and support to other club members and by supporting the sport and activity of running in their communities.
• All MMS members shall represent MMS in a professional, courteous, and upright manner at all MMS functions and while interacting with both members and non-members, acting so as to provide a good role model to their fellow members and to members of their communities.
• All MMS members shall respect the fundamental rights, dignity, and value of their fellow members, and of the running and general communities, generally and without regard to sex, gender, race, ethnic or national origin, culture, marital or family status, socio-economic status, religion, political affiliation, age, weight, ability or disability, sexual orientation, or any other suspect category.

All MMS Members Shall:

• Be a kind, courteous and respectful club member.
• Foster a safe, comfortable, and welcoming club environment for all MMS members and for everyone you may interact with.
• Encourage your fellow members in their running and related endeavors.
• Represent the club in a positive manner. Show dignity, truthfulness, respect, and honesty toward your fellow members, volunteers, and the general public. Be fair, considerate, and honest in all of your dealings with others, and accept responsibility for your words and actions.
• Look after your fellow club members, and for others you may interact with.
• Be aware of and maintain the laws, standards, rules, regulations, and policies of the community and of the sport, including any running and sport governing bodies.

All MMS Members Shall Not:

• Engage in any action that may damage, disrupt, or impede MMS activities, property, or reputation, or the activities, property, or reputation of MMS members or other members of the community.
• Use abusive or vulgar language, yell, taunt, or threaten physical, verbal, or emotional violence upon another MMS member, a club or race volunteer, an event spectator, or anyone else you may come into contact with.
• Seek to impose your personal, religious, or political beliefs or opinions onto others, or represent your beliefs or opinions as those of MMS.
• Engage in any discriminatory actions or make discriminatory or derogatory statements, comments, or slurs, including but not limited to any actions, statements, comments, or slurs based on sex, gender, race, ethnic or national origin, culture, marital or family status, socio-economic status, religion, political affiliation, age, weight, ability or disability, sexual orientation, or any other suspect category.
• Act in any manner that could be deemed as harassment in any form, including but not limited to unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and verbal, emotional, or physical conduct of a sexual nature.
• Engage in bullying in any form, including but not limited to any use of force, threat, or coercion to abuse, intimidate, or aggressively dominate others.
• Engage in any other activity not in the spirit of this Code of Conduct.

Further Information on Social Media 

"Social media" includes social networking sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter/X, photo or video sites such as YouTube and Flickr, blogging sites such as Tumblr, review sites such as Yelp, podcasts, broadcasting sites, instant messaging, newspapers, newsletters, radio stations, online forums and discussion sites, and other uploading or sharing technologies. This Code of Conduct applies to MMS members' use of any such media, in any manner that might affect MMS or the rights, dignity, and value of its members. 

MMS maintains club Facebook and Instagram sites, and may employ other media in support of its purposes. In using those media, and in any other uses of social media, MMS members should be conscious that anything posted on, commented on, or uploaded to, the MMS accounts will likely be viewed or read by other MMS members and by non-members of the club, and may be taken as representing the views or policies of the club, or as indicating the general character of the club. Thus, any use of MMS media shall be in full compliance with this Code of Conduct. 

Due to the unique nature of social media, specific requirements include but are not limited to the following:

• Be careful about any content associated with MMS that you may contribute (post, comment, like, share, upload video or voice recording, reply, submit, direct message, etc.) to social media, including the tone and language that you use. Never include anything that is in violation of this Code of Conduct.
• Do not post or upload any confidential information about a MMS member including any personally identifying information such as address, telephone number, email address, date of birth, social security number, health information, or financial information, without that member’s explicit consent.
• Do not use any MMS-related media to promote or sell any goods or services without express written consent of the MMS Board of Directors.
• Do not use any media in any way that might assert or imply the club's support or endorsement of any product, service, view, or policy, without the express written consent of the MMS Board of Directors. 

Further Information on Harassment

Harassment consists of any behavior that is intimidating, demeaning, threatening, abusive, or offensive toward an individual or group, which is known or should reasonably be known as unwelcome, and which creates or may create a hostile or uncomfortable environment for that individual or for members of that group. It includes, but is not limited to, any inappropriate conduct, comment, display, action, or gesture of a personal nature, or based on sex, gender, race, ethnic or national origin, culture, marital or family status, socio-economic status, religion, political affiliation, age, weight, ability or disability, sexual orientation, or any other suspect category.

While often thought of in racial or sexual terms, harassment can be personal, or can be based on any of the categories listed above. Examples of harassment include but are not limited to:

• Bullying in any form.
• Making or spreading malicious rumors or unjustified criticism concerning any individual or group, including comments or statements that tend to ridicule or humiliate that individual or group, or to criticize or trivialize their goals or achievements.
• Making insulting comments, remarks, jokes, innuendos, taunts, or gestures directed at any individual or group that cause or may cause embarrassment or humiliation.
• Engaging in inappropriate touching or sexual assault, making suggestive or abusive comments or remarks of a sexual nature, asking questions of a sexual nature, making compromising invitations; using coarse language of a sexual nature, displaying sexually-oriented material, or seeking sexual favors.
• Singling out any individual, unbidden or unwelcomed, for particular or exclusive attention, or seeking to control or dominate that individual's attention.
• Using racist or sexist slang, phrases, or nicknames, or displaying materials, images, or graffiti that degrades one’s sex, race, ethnic background, or any other suspect category.
• Making unwelcome or insulting comments, remarks, jokes, innuendos, taunts, or gestures of a sexual, racial, or ethnic nature, or based on any other suspect category.
• Making unwelcome or insulting comments about another's religious beliefs, or trying to convert them from those beliefs or to a different religious ideology.
• Refusing to participate in MMS activities with an individual, or seeking to exclude them from such activities, based on their gender, sex, race, ethnic background, ability or disability, or any other suspect category.
• Engaging in any behavior similar to those listed above, that is personal in nature or is otherwise based on an individual's sex, gender, race, ethnic or national origin, culture, marital or family status, socio-economic status, religion, political affiliation, age, weight, ability or disability, sexual orientation, or any other suspect category.

Steps for Addressing a Code of Conduct Complaint

MMS members are encouraged, to the extent possible with personal safety, to challenge inappropriate behavior and language displayed by other MMS members, and/or report a complaint to the MMS Board of Directors (Board).

The Board will review any Code of Conduct complaints. Alleged violations are to be reported to the Board, in writing, by personal delivery, or by email at [email protected], identifying the individual(s) involved, the nature of the alleged violation, any witness(es) to the alleged violation, and any additional information that might be helpful in resolving the matter. The Board will take any and all allegations seriously, will handle them as quickly as the circumstances permit, and will act to respect the rights and confidentiality of those involved.

If a Code of Conduct complaint involves an MMS Board member or multiple Board members, the same steps listed below will be followed. The Board member(s) may participate in the process as a complainant, complainee, or witness, but shall not be involved in the review, deliberation, or recommendation-making process of the Board.

1. If a credible allegation of a Code of Conduct violation is received, the Board will provide notice of the accusation to the complainee (party against whom the complaint has been made) via email to their email address on file. If an email notification from the Board is not acknowledged, the notice will be sent via postal mail or by personal delivery.
2. The Board will cite the specific Code of Conduct violation(s) that has been alleged to have been violated. Any member receiving a notice of concern about a violation of the Code of Conduct may not, under any circumstance, retaliate against the complainant (party who made the complaint) or anyone else involved, through threatening communications, use of social media, slander, and/or any other form of communication or action that may be perceived as an act of retaliation.
3. The complainee receiving a notice of concern about a violation of the Code of Conduct has twenty (20) calendar days to respond to or to dispute the complaint. If the complainee fails to respond within the twenty calendar day time period, the Board will make a determination, which may include revocation of MMS membership for a period of time or permanently.
4. Should the complainee who has received a notice about a violation of the Code of Conduct wish to present information in their defense to the Board, they must do so, in writing, by personal delivery, or by email at [email protected] and request review of the violation of the Code of Conduct. The Board will have a central repository where all communications with the complainee are documented, and the Board will not respond to the complainee’s communications except to acknowledge receipt of such communications. The Board will review any records the complainee may wish to submit on their behalf. The Board will schedule a meeting or teleconference to review the allegation with the complainee. If the complainee fails to make themself available for a teleconference within a thirty (30) day timeframe following their request for review, the request for review will be deemed void. 
5. A separate meeting or teleconference will also be scheduled to review the complaint with the complainant along with any records the complainant wishes to submit. 
6. Should the Board deem it necessary, they may schedule more than one meeting or teleconference with both the complainee and the complainant at separate times to review facts and documentation provided by either party. 
7. Following the fact-finding, meetings or teleconferences, and deliberations held by the Board, a final action recommendation will be issued, which may recommend:
   • No action needed;
   • A probationary period with a zero-tolerance policy given to the member in question;
   • Revocation of membership for a period of time or permanently. 
     1. In the event of a suspension or termination, the individual affected shall not be entitled to any refund of their dues, in full or in part. 
     2. In the event of a termination, the affected member may be reinstated only upon application for and granting of reinstatement by the Board.
8. The recommendation of the Board will be communicated to both the complainant and the complainee. If either party disagrees with the recommendation, one final meeting or teleconference may be granted if new or additional facts need to be presented for further consideration. Following this meeting or teleconference, the Board will again deliberate and will issue its final recommendation.
9. The Board will record the recommendation in the minutes to finalize the process. If the action is revocation of membership, the individual must immediately cease all involvement in the club. If the recommendation is for probation, the Board will outline requirements for compliance to remain in good standing with MMS. 
10. If an individual whose membership has been revoked continues to show up at club functions, the Board retains the right to engage appropriate law enforcement authorities when necessary.