Board Members’ Code of Conduct

The board of directors is committed to teamwork and effective decision-making.

Towards this end board members will:

• Provide an environment free of discrimination and harassment, where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity so they can contribute fully and have equal opportunities
• Endeavour to represent the broader interests of members and/or stakeholders
• Keep confidential any information disclosed or discussed at a meeting of the Board
• Balance their contribution as both an advisor and a working member of the board
• Refrain from trying to influence other board members outside of board meetings that might have the effect of creating factions and limiting free and open discussion
• Be willing to be a dissenting voice
• Endeavor to build on other board member’s ideas
• Offer alternative points of view as options to be considered, and invite others to do so too
• Be balanced in one’s effort to understand other board members and to make oneself understood
• Support the decision even if one’s own view is a minority one
• Disclose their involvement with other organizations, businesses or individuals where such a relationship could be viewed as a conflict of interest (see Conflict of Interest Policy)
• Advocate for the association and its mission wherever and whenever the opportunity arises in your own personal and professional networks
• Keep confidence, do not disclose or discuss differences of opinion on the board with those who are not on the board so that the board communicates externally with “one voice”
• Be aware that only Board member’s that are authorized by the board will communicate on behalf of the Board

This policy is meant to complement Fibromyalgia Association Canada’s conflict-of-interest policy and cover a number of conduct issues including the matter of board confidentiality