USEC Representative Code of Conduct for Directors, Officers, and Appointed Committee Members

B.    Exercise of Good Judgment
No Director, Officer, or appointed Committee Member of the USEC shall place himself/herself in a position which may impair independence of judgment in the exercise of his or her duties or give rise to suspicion by being in conflict with the interests of the United States Eurasier Club, Inc.

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C.    Standard of Conduct
USEC Directors, Officers, and appointed Committee Members are expected to hold themselves to the highest standards of courtesy, respect, professionalism and ethics in their interactions with any person, including but not limited to current and past USEC members and the general public, regarding USEC matters. They are expected to adhere to, comply with and enforce USEC bylaws and policies. Directors, Officers, and appointed Committee Member are subject to the highest scrutiny and will be held strictly accountable for their actions.

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1.    Adherence to Policies
USEC Directors, Officers, and appointed Committee Members will follow all USEC policies.  Failure to do so can result in discipline, up to and including removal from their position, and possible membership expulsion.  

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2.    Breeding
USEC Directors, Officers, and appointed Committee Members  who are Breeders are expected to maintain the highest standard of breeding, and to adhere to all applicable USEC policies in those efforts.  Violations of USEC breeding policies are subject to discipline, up to and including removal from their club position(s) and possible membership expulsion, depending upon the severity of the infraction.

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3.    Communications
When conducting business or otherwise acting on behalf of the USEC, all Directors, Officers, and appointed Committee Members of the USEC will conduct and identify themselves as a USEC representative, and will at all times act in the best interests of the USEC.  This includes communications through social media, telephone conversations, email, messenger conversations and all other manner of communication. All USEC representatives should identify themselves as such and any information disclosed during the conversation must be shared with the USEC Board if requested.

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4.    Professionalism
All USEC Directors, Officers, and appointed Committee Members must refrain from making public comment, including but not limited to posts on social media, that may allude to favoritism or that are not professional or factual in nature.

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If USEC Directors, Officers, or appointed Committee Members make a public comment, including but not limited to posts on social media, that is of their opinion and not that of the USEC, they must make it clear that it is not the opinion of the USEC. If such an opinion contradicts the USECs policies in any way, it should not be shared publicly.

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5.    Confidential Information
No confidential information may be published or shared with anyone but the USEC Directors, Officers or Committee Members who need to know, at any time in any manner other than as directed by the Board, including but not limited to communications via email or on social media. Sharing confidential information verbally or in writing is strictly prohibited. Confidential information includes data, documents or knowledge that is not publicly available. This may include medical records that are not displayed on public forums such as Orthopedic Foundation of Animals or financial information.

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No Director, Officer,or appointed Committee Member of the USEC shall use any information acquired by virtue of his/her position for his/her private gain, or to embarrass, humiliate or otherwise harm any other person.

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This duty of maintaining confidentiality continues after a Director, Officer, or appointed Committee Member has vacated his or her position.

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Violation of this provision serves as grounds for disciplinary action, including but not limited to, removal from the position and possible membership expulsion.

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6.    Cooperation
USEC Directors, Officers, and appointed Committee Members will work in cooperation with each other in service of the USEC. All representatives will regularly report progress on projects.

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At any point a USEC representative may be required to provide all requested information to the Board if there is a majority vote to do so. Failure to provide requested information to the Board serves as grounds for disciplinary action up to and including removal from office and possible expulsion from the USEC.

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D.    Financial Interest
No Director, Officer, or appointed Committee Members of the USEC shall acquire a financial interest at a time when it is believed or there is  reason to believe it may be affected directly by his/her official act as a USEC representative.

If a Director, Officer, or appointed Committee Members of the USEC has a financial interest which he/she believes or has reason to believe may be affected by the actions of the USEC, he/she shall disclose the precise nature and value of the interest. The disclosures shall be made at the time that interest arises and shall be made in writing to the Clerk of the USEC. Thereafter, the information or the disclosures shall be made available by the USEC Clerk for inspection by the USEC members or the public; except that the valuation shall be confidential except as required under applicable law.

E.    Conduct in USEC Hearings
It is imperative that the Board has the opportunity to fully and candidly discuss matters that come before it. It is equally important that rumors, gossip, and unsubstantiated allegations regarding USEC members, including Directors, Officers, and appointed Committee Members be eliminated while at the same time ensuring that well-founded allegations or concerns may be aired and addressed in accordance with USEC bylaws.

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Accordingly, all Directors and Officers must address the issues and at the same time maintain the confidentiality of information that comes before it relating to any alleged misconduct or violations by individual members of the USEC.

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a.    The allegations may be disclosed to third persons only in accordance with USEC bylaws. Disclosures and/or allegations must be made using and in accordance with the USEC’s complaint and/or disciplinary process, in which the individual member accused is provided an opportunity to present evidence on his or her behalf.

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b.    If the allegation or complaint is against any Director or Officer, he or she must recuse himself or herself and be excused from all discussion and action on the matter, except as provided in the USEC Bylaws for addressing the Board and presenting evidence and information on his or her own behalf. The Director, Officer or Committee member may also lose the necessary privileges to access USEC email or documents until the matter has been resolved; these loss of privileges and reinstatement must be made by a majority vote of USEC Directors.

c.   Individual discussion of any allegation or complaint outside of the Board by any Director or Officer in any other context is strictly prohibited, and shall be grounds for removal of the person making such unauthorized disclosures from his or her Director or Officer position, and shall subject that person to disciplinary action and possible expulsion from the USEC.

d.    Upon completion of any disciplinary and/or hearing process and a decision regarding an allegation against a Director, Officer, or appointed Committee Member, the remaining Directors reserve the right to vote to discipline up to and including removal from their position, if the individual is found to have violated  USEC policy, or failed to serve the best interests of the United States Eurasier Club.

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F.    Impartiality
While it’s understood that USEC Directors, Officers, and appointed Committee Members will likely have personal relationships with members and former members of the club, it is imperative that every representative's first responsibility is to the USEC, and that his or her actions serve the interests of the United States Eurasier Club, Inc.  Favoritism or the appearance of favoritism among USEC Directors, Officers, and appointed Committee Members will not be tolerated.

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G.    Personal Matters
All USEC Directors, Officers, and appointed Committee Members are to act in a professional  manner when representing the USEC at all times. Although personal issues do not serve the best interests of the United States Eurasier Club, they  will not be grounds for consideration of any disciplinary action by the USEC Board unless the matter involves or is related to possible violation of USEC policies or bylaws.

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H.    Gratuities
No Director, Officer, or appointed Committee Member of the USEC shall accept any favor or gratuity from any person, firm, corporation or other entity in exchange for the performance of an official act in his or her position with the USEC.

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I.    Annual Certification
Each Director, Officer, and appointed Committee Member of the USEC shall upon acceptance of any position and annually in January of every calendar year, sign an oath containing a certification that the representative has reviewed this “USEC Representative Code of Conduct”and will comply with the provisions contained herein.

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This Code of Conduct was adopted by the Board of Directors of the United States Eurasier Club, Inc.,
on the 19th day of February, 2008.
Revised August 15, 2017, November 15, 2023.