GENERAL EVENT CONDUCT
Philosophy
[toggle Gaming] ([tG]) is a non-profit volunteer organization that facilitates free gaming experiences for a wide range of people and cultivates a positive gaming community.
Organizers
Each [tG] event has one or more designated “organizers,” who represent [toggle Gaming] and are available to participants who have questions, concerns, or complaints about the event. Organizers can be identified by t-shirts or name badges or by asking facility staff.
In the event that a participant or participants are violating the code of conduct detailed here, organizers reserve the right to intervene, possibly asking participants to change their behavior or even to leave the event. Organizers on site have full authority regarding participation at the event.
Free to Play
A cornerstone of the [toggle Gaming] philosophy is this: you don’t have to spend money to play with us. We don’t charge admission to our events, and we offer our library for free to use. That said, our host venues depend on our business. So if you can afford it, we encourage you to buy drinks and food while you’re at our events and to tip your servers well.
We also spend money to buy prizes for our big events, to pay for hosting space (sometimes), and to maintain the gaming library (which undergoes significant wear and tear). We fund this through donations from the organizers, the members, and some generous game companies. If you like what we do and want to contribute, you can find a donation box at each [toggle] event or speak to one of the organizers. We are not (yet) a federally-recognized 501c3, so donations are NOT tax-deductible.
All funds and games donated contribute to [tG] operations. [toggle Gaming] is a volunteer organization; we have no paid employees, and our organizers are not paid for their time or participation.
Enjoy yourself
While we understand that some games lead to boisterous and enthusiastic play, participants at [toggle Gaming] events should strive to be aware of those around them, be accommodating to all players, and avoid excessive rowdiness.
Children at [toggle Gaming] Events
[toggle Gaming] events are open to players of all ages, but are not always specifically set up to be child-friendly. Most of our events include the sale of alcoholic beverages by the facility, and profanity is usually not prohibited. Children under 15 at [tG] events must be accompanied by an adult at the venue, and should be supervised by that adult.
Be welcoming
Participants are encouraged, where they feel comfortable, to offer places in their games if “seats” are open. While no one is obligated to invite or play with anyone in particular, an event like this works best if we’re all open to meeting and playing with new folks.
Respect the games
Hobby board games are expensive, and often difficult or impossible to replace. As such, participants must take care to be respectful of the games available to play, either from the [tG] library or brought by members. For example, treat cards gently by not folding or bending them unnecessarily, keep track of components and retrieve any you drop, and pack games away neatly when you finish using them. In particular, please take extreme care to avoid spilling beverages or getting food on game components.
Disclaimer
As with any public interaction, particularly in a venue that serves alcohol, participants knowingly accept some risk to their person or their belongings. Participants release [toggle Gaming] and host venue and host staff from all liability pertaining to attending a [toggle Gaming] event. This includes bodily injury and damage to personal property.
Participants who bring games to share acknowledge and accept the risk that those games might be damaged, and release [toggle Gaming], its organizers, the venue, and venue staff of all liability pertaining thereto.
PHOTOGRAPHY
We regularly photograph the [toggle Gaming] events. By attending, you consent to be photographed, and consent that this photograph may appear in public places such as (but not limited to) our website or Facebook page.
We will happily remove or redact photos of individuals at that individual’s request.
ANTI-HARASSMENT POLICY
[toggle Gaming] is dedicated to providing harassment-free gaming experiences for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, religion, or identity. Our events are intended to be open and welcoming to all. We do not tolerate harassment of participants in any form. Participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from events at the discretion of the organizers. Harassment includes offensive verbal comments, sexual images in public spaces, deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of games or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention. Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately.
If a participant, attendee, or guest engages in harassing behavior, the event organizers may take any action they deem appropriate, including warning the offender or expulsion from the event (or website). If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact an organizer or facility staff immediately. Organizers can be identified by t-shirts or name badges or by asking facility staff. Organizers will be happy to help participants contact venue security or local law enforcement, provide escorts, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment to feel safe for the duration of the event. We expect participants to follow these rules at all [toggle Gaming] venues and related social events. We value your attendance!
To report an incident (anonymously or non-anonymously), please contact info@togglegaming.com. For immediate assistance, contact event organizers in person on site.
*The anti-harassment portion of this policy was inspired by and adapted from the DePaul Pop Culture Conference Harassment policy. Thanks to them for sharing its language with us.*