So, you have a problem, and you're hoping we can be part of a solution. Well, you've come to the right place! Buckle up and let's chat about our decision making process when handling sensitive issues.

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Firstly: if at all possible, before bringing your issue forward for us to handle, please ensure you've first done your own due diligence in trying to resolve the issue through clear and direct communication. It's easy for misunderstandings to snowball into a bigger problem, and much conflict can be headed off before it grows large enough to require third party intervention. If that hasn't worked, or what's happened is too serious to allow you to approach the individual and safety is a concern, please get us involved. 

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Our goal is to handle community challenges as a collective. Decision making is not the sole prerogative of any one member of the organizational structure. Should an issue be such that a member of the team cannot be impartial (either due to being personally implicated, or through relationship with the person named) an independent third party will assist in the decision making process.

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We use the Ethical Decision Making Model, which works as follows:

• Gather the facts

• Define the ethical issue

• Identify the affected parties

• Identify the consequences of each potential decision

• Identify relevant principles, rights, and justice issues

• Make a reasoned decision

• Monitor and modify as needed

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As such, please be prepared to give a summary of the issue, and have screenshots if online or text based communication is part of the issue at hand, so that a full picture of the issue is presented and we can make the best decision possible.

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A meeting will be held amongst the organizers to discuss the issue, during which the team might decide to take any of the following actions:

• Facilitate a mediation meeting between both parties

• Note the issue, but not take direct action; this might be the best choice for issues which appear to have caused minimal harm, but would eventually be cause for an escalation if there was evidence of a pattern of problematic behavior

• Provide the individuals involved with a warning & ask for them to complete voluntary self-education

• Invoke a temporary ban, with the requirement to provide evidence of improved behaviour or self-education

• Invoke a permanent ban

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It's also possible that we might first:

• Request additional information from the person bringing forward the complaint

• Request information from the person named in the complaint

• Investigate the issue by speaking to other community members

• Investigate the issue by speaking with other events, munches, or community organisations

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This process also takes time. Please understand that to understand a complex situation and react appropriately, patience is important for all involved.

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The final decision that is made will be well considered, reasonable, and agreed upon within the organisational team. The goal of decision making is to provide an outcome which minimises harm and maximises access to community spaces. As such, banning is a last resort.

Finally and most importantly. We believe in restorative justice practices which allow for reflection, self-improvement, and commitment to change.