Support & Resources
The care Committee is responsible for upholding the BMQS Community Agreement, philosophies, and values (AKA the overall “vibes”).
If someone has issues with any policies, procedures, rules, regulations, or the overall management of the League itself, it can be addressed by the Organization Committee or the Board of Directors, not the Care Committee.
Not sure where to go with your issues or questions? Just ask, we’re happy to help direct you!
Scope of the Care Committee:
In certain circumstances, and in accordance with BMQS Bylaws, the Board of Directors has the ability to suspend or exclude any member from League participation. In these circumstances, the Care Committee will take the complaint to the Board of Directors who will follow the exclusion process laid out in the BMQS Bylaws.
Such circumstances may include:
- There is a severe violation of the Community Agreement
- A respondent’s behaviour puts any member at risk of serious harm
- A respondent repeats problematic behaviour
- A respondent is subject to another kind of complaint
- A respondent fails to comply with the conditions laid out in a resolution
- Any other reason deemed appropriate by the Care Committee
We will not tolerate the behaviour of certain individuals undermining the presence of others.
Once a suspension/exclusion period has elapsed, the Board of Directors and/or Care Committee will meet with the respondent, if they wish to reintegrate into the league. Depending on the outcome of this meeting, the Board of Directors and/or Care Committee may decide to:
- immediately reintegrate the person,
- extend the suspension/expulsion, or
- exclude the person from the league for an indefinite period.
Suspension pending investigation: At the discretion of the Care Committee, during extreme circumstances, respondents may be suspended from participation in BMQS activities while the committee investigates. This requires a decision from the Board of Directors as per BMQS bylaws. A suspension pending investigation in no way implies guilt.
Privacy: All complaints will be kept private amongst the members of the Care Committee (and the Board in certain cases, as needed), unless explicit consent is given by the person making the complaint to disclose information to other parties.
Timeline: The committee is obliged to respond to the complaints as quickly as possible.Note that any complaints submitted during the off season (September-April) may take longer to respond to.
Statute of Limitations: the Committee is not able to address conflicts from previous seasons unless a conflict was related to something especially egregious (violence, bullying, harassment, etc.). If you’re not sure, just ask!
Upon receiving a formal complaint, the Care Committee will take the following steps:
- A sub-committee will be formed to handle the complaint. Members of the sub-committee will ensure they do not have any conflict of interest.
- Members of the sub-committee will reach out to the person who submitted the complaint (AKA the “complainant”) to discuss the complaint and potential ways forward.
- As needed, members of the sub-committee will meet with the subject of the complaint (AKA the “respondent”) to discuss the situation and potential ways forward.
- Note: the final decision of the Care Committee may not be the complainant or respondent’s preferred resolution.
- If warranted, the sub-committee members may, at their discretion, meet with any witnesses and/or other BMQS members in order to gain a full understanding of the complaint.
- The sub-committee members, the complainant, and the respondent will work together to find a suitable resolution.This may include, but is not limited to:
- Meeting with all parties involved in an effort to find a solution. Individual meetings or a group meeting can be proposed to better understand the situation and find a suitable solution.
- Writing a letter to the respondent, clearly explaining the problematic behaviour, the league’s expectations, and the conditions necessary for the person to remain welcome at BMQS activities.
- Take no outward action, but hold the complaint in archives and, if the person accumulates numerous complaints, further measures may be implemented.
- Once resolved, the Care committee will archive the complaint confidentially.
Exclusion or Suspension from League Activities:
In certain circumstances, and in accordance with BMQS Bylaws, the Board of Directors has the ability to suspend or exclude any member from League participation. In these circumstances, the Care Committee will take the complaint to the Board of Directors who will follow the exclusion process laid out in the BMQS Bylaws.
Such circumstances may include:
- There is a severe violation of the Community Agreement
- A respondent’s behaviour puts any member at risk of serious harm
- A respondent repeats problematic behaviour
- A respondent is subject to another kind of complaint
- A respondent fails to comply with the conditions laid out in a resolution
- Any other reason deemed appropriate by the Care Committee
We will not tolerate the behaviour of certain individuals undermining the presence of others.
Once a suspension/exclusion period has elapsed, the Board of Directors and/or Care Committee will meet with the respondent, if they wish to reintegrate into the league. Depending on the outcome of this meeting, the Board of Directors and/or Care Committee may decide to:
- immediately reintegrate the person,
- extend the suspension/expulsion, or
- exclude the person from the league for an indefinite period.
Suspension pending investigation: At the discretion of the Care Committee, during extreme circumstances, respondents may be suspended from participation in BMQS activities while the committee investigates. This requires a decision from the Board of Directors as per BMQS bylaws. A suspension pending investigation in no way implies guilt.
Privacy: All complaints will be kept private amongst the members of the Care Committee (and the Board in certain cases, as needed), unless explicit consent is given by the person making the complaint to disclose information to other parties.
Timeline: The committee is obliged to respond to the complaints as quickly as possible.Note that any complaints submitted during the off season (September-April) may take longer to respond to.
Statute of Limitations: the Committee is not able to address conflicts from previous seasons unless a conflict was related to something especially egregious (violence, bullying, harassment, etc.). If you’re not sure, just ask!