Code of Ethics

All RIBN Members, including the Board of Trustees, are to act in accordance to our Code of Ethics to uphold and advance the values, ethics, mission, and development of RIBN.

The Code of Ethics states that RIBN Members will maintain high standards of personal conduct in the capacity or identity as a Member and promote the integrity of RIBN at all times. RIBN members should act in accordance with the highest standards of professional capacity, including upholding timely responses to professional inquiries, follow-through, and appropriate attire. Members will treat colleagues with respect, courtesy, fairness, and good faith. Members are expected to always conduct themselves professionally among themselves, clients, and the community, with the highest level of integrity and ethical conscience. Members will provide and respect client confidentiality and all matters associated with RIBN.

Grievance Policy

All grievances regarding a RIBN member/advertiser/sponsor should be brought to the attention of the President. The President will, in identifying such grievance, pass the issue to the Grievance Committee. If the grievance is an issue that can be best made by a member’s professional affiliation/organization, then the Grievance Committee has the discretion to request that the grievance be settled by such organization. When a ruling has been made by the professional organization, RIBN agrees to uphold the recommendations of the professional organization to the best of its ability. A grievance will be submitted in writing with a detailed account of the event or behavior in question, the persons name, the location and date of the behavior in question, and a list of all parties involved including any witnesses and written evidence. The complaint must be filed within six months of the occurrence. When the President and the Grievance Committee receive a complaint regarding a RIBN member, that person will be notified within 10 days. The RIBN member/advertiser/sponsor will then have 10 days to answer the complaint with their account of the event or behavior in question. Any evidence or witnesses must be listed and included in the response from the RIBN member/advertiser/sponsor. The RIBN member/advertiser/sponsor involved with a grievance must not in any way contact the party placing the complaint. The Grievance Committee will then take all evidence and accounts from both parties involved and make every effort to render a fair and impartial judgment to the best of their ability. The judgment of the committee is final. The Grievance Committee has the right to decide the consequences of the judgment. All RIBN members/advertisers/sponsors must agree to this system of accountability and agree to abide by the decisions of the Grievance Committee, with no right to sue for damages. Possible results may be removal of membership/advertisement/sponsorship or warnings. This grievance policy and system is essential to our organization. RIBN membership/advertisement/sponsor must at all times demonstrate professional behavior and ethics according to our Mission Statement, Member Standards, and Grievance Policy.