Participant Protection Policy

Sun City Musical Arts

Whistleblower Policy
Applies to all affiliated ensembles and programs

Rationale

Sun City Musical Arts (SCMA) is committed to creating and maintaining an open and transparent environment where any person involved with the organization — including participants, staff, volunteers, parents, and board members — feels empowered to raise issues, concerns, and complaints. This policy is intended to encourage and enable anyone to report concerns related to ethics, policy violations, and misconduct on the part of anyone associated with SCMA, and to seek resolution within the organization prior to seeking resolution externally.

Scope

This policy applies to all directors, officers, employees, volunteers, and affiliated participants of Sun City Musical Arts and all ensembles operating under its umbrella, including but not limited to:

• Arsenal Drum & Bugle Corps
• Sun City Independent
• Ethereal Winds Independent
• Allure Independent
• Sun City Sound
• Any other ensemble, program, or activity affiliated with or operating under SCMA

Policy

Sun City Musical Arts requires all directors, officers, employees, and volunteers across all affiliated ensembles to maintain high standards of business and personal ethics in the conduct of their duties and responsibilities. As representatives of SCMA and its affiliated programs, these individuals must practice honesty and integrity in fulfilling their responsibilities, and comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and organizational policies.

It is the responsibility of all directors, officers, employees, and volunteers to report actual or suspected ethics violations, policy violations, or misconduct in accordance with this Whistleblower Policy.

No person who in good faith reports an ethics violation or other misconduct shall suffer harassment, retaliation, or adverse consequences of any kind, including termination of employment, removal from a volunteer role, or dismissal from any affiliated ensemble or program.

Implementation

Sun City Musical Arts maintains an open-door philosophy and encourages all individuals within the organization to share questions, concerns, suggestions, or complaints with someone who can address them appropriately. For staff members, the immediate supervisor or ensemble director is typically the best first point of contact. Supervisors and ensemble directors are required to report suspected ethics violations to the President of the SCMA Board of Directors.

Staff members who are not comfortable speaking with their supervisor, or who are not satisfied with the supervisor’s response, as well as volunteers, participants, parents, and others, should report concerns or complaints to one of the following individuals:

• The Director of the relevant affiliated ensemble
• The Executive Director of Sun City Musical Arts
• The President of the SCMA Board of Directors

Alternatively, any person may submit a report or concern in writing by email to the SCMA Board of Directors at board@scma.org, or by mail to the organization’s official mailing address. Anonymous reports are also accepted and will be reviewed in the same manner as identified reports.

All reports will be acknowledged upon receipt, unless submitted anonymously, and will be promptly and thoroughly investigated. The identity of reporters will be kept confidential to the extent possible, consistent with the need to conduct a fair and complete investigation. Appropriate corrective action will be taken if an investigation warrants it.

In coordination with the SCMA Executive Committee, the relevant ensemble director(s), Executive Director, and/or Board President, as appropriate, will ensure that a prompt review of the reported circumstances occurs and that appropriate measures are taken to resolve or correct the situation in an expeditious manner.

Consequences for Violations

If a person is determined to have committed an ethical or policy violation, immediate and appropriate action will be taken, up to and including:

• Termination of employment or paid engagement
• Removal from a volunteer role
• Dismissal from participation in any SCMA-affiliated ensemble or program
• Referral to appropriate law enforcement authorities, as warranted

Failure by a director, officer, employee, or volunteer to report a known ethics violation, supervisory inaction following a report, or retaliation against anyone who has made a good-faith report under this policy may each independently constitute cause for action up to and including termination of employment or dismissal from Sun City Musical Arts and its affiliated programs.

Maliciously or knowingly filing false allegations of ethical violations, policy violations, or misconduct may also constitute cause for action up to and including termination of employment or dismissal from Sun City Musical Arts and its affiliated programs.

Sun City Musical Arts is dedicated to providing a safe experience for everyone involved as participants, staff, volunteers, and supporters. In order to achieve this, SCMA requires all those involved to act ethically, honestly, and comply with all applicable laws and regulations at all times.

SCMA aims to create and maintain an open and transparent environment where any person involved with the organization feels comfortable to be able to raise any concerns, complaints, and issues. At the same time, we understand the need to provide a means for confidential and anonymous submissions. You do not need to include your name and/or contact information. However, if you would like a prompt response, please include your contact information or email jcpineda@suncitymusicalarts.org directly. You can view our policies here.