Conflict of Interest Policy - Special Libraries Association

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Conflict of Interest Policy

06 (94)

SLA Leadership
CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY
Revised 9 June 2006

I. Policy

It shall be the policy of the Special Libraries Association (SLA) that no member, while serving the Association in a leadership capacity, either as an Officer, a Director, a Committee or Task Force Chair, or in another type of leadership capacity, will take personal advantage of his or her leadership role by allowing a situation to exist that may be construed as a conflict of interest situation.

II. Purpose

It has been the intent of SLA since its inception to carry on its activities in accordance with the highest ethical standards. Adoption of this Policy by the SLA Board of Directors is, therefore, a reaffirmation of SLA's intent that all Directors, Officers, Committee and Task Force Chairs, and other members holding elected or appointed leadership positions practice the highest ethical standards and give undivided loyalty to SLA and its goals. Any activities which do not serve the best interest of SLA or which favor the personal advantage of another person or corporation are inconsistent with the duties and responsibilities owed to SLA.

III. Practice/Procedure

It is therefore resolved that:

All Directors, Officers, Committee and Task Force Chairs, and members holding other leadership positions within the Association (Leaders), shall scrupulously avoid any conflict between their own respective individual interests and the interests of the SLA, in any and all actions taken by them on behalf of SLA in their respective capacities.

Conflicts of interest would include, but not be limited to, direct financial or close personal interests in a company or product which could be affected by a decision of a Board, Committee, Task Force, or other Association governing body on which the Leader serves; acceptance of any gift, entertainment, services, loans, or promises of future benefits from any person or organization that might benefit because of the Leader's connection with SLA (note: this does not apply to gifts and/or similar entertainment of nominal value); and compensation in the form of fees or salaries if such payment is affected directly or indirectly by the Leader's work with the Association (note: SLA is not critical of such interests; it merely requests that Leaders disqualify themselves from direct service to the Association if they have such interests).

Annually all Directors, Officers, Committee and Task Force Chairs shall disclose any direct or indirect relationships with organizations, either for-profit or not-for-profit, that may, during their term of office, be involved with the Association in a formal capacity. Examples of such relationships may include, but not be limited to, employer-employee relationships, governance relationships, shareholder relationships, contractor-contractee relationships, etc.

All Leaders of the Association shall refrain from accepting, during their term of office, any form of compensation from SLA or one of its units (Chapters, Divisions, Committees, Caucuses, etc.) for any purpose whatsoever, including, but not limited to fees for course instruction; grants for research; fees for consulting; salaries for work-for-hire; scholarships; and monetary or other awards (except in the case of awards specifically intended for active Leaders). This excludes reimbursement of expenses paid by SLA to the Leader for expenses associated with SLA business.

In the event any Director, Officer, Committee or Task Force Chair of SLA may stand to derive a personal gain or benefit from a transaction with SLA, or shall have any direct or indirect interest in or relationship with any individual or organization (i) which proposes to enter into any transaction with SLA for the sale, purchase, lease or rental of property; or (ii) which proposes to render or employ services, personal or otherwise, to SLA; or (iii) which may be seen as competing with the interests or concerns of SLA, such Leader shall forthwith give the Board of Directors of SLA notice of such interest or relationship and shall, therefore, refrain from voting or otherwise attempting to affect any decision for SLA to participate or not to participate in such transaction and the manner of terms of such participation. Minutes of appropriate meetings should reflect that such disclosure was made, and that such Director, Officer, Committee or Task Force Chair abstained from voting and absented him or herself from the review and vote on the matter.

A copy of this Policy shall appear in the orientation materials for newly-elected Board members, shared with new Directors, Officers, Committee and Task Force Chairs, shared with the Nominating Committee for distribution to all prospective candidates, and posted publicly on the SLA website. It shall also be included in all unit handbooks (i.e. Chapter and Division Guidelines, Committee Guidelines.)

This Policy shall be reviewed periodically for the information and guidance of all individuals who serve the Association in a leadership capacity.

Approved: 9 June 2006
SLA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SLA STATEMENT REGARDING CONFIDENTIALITY, COMPETITION AND DISCLOSURE OF POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

I have been selected to serve on the Board of Directors or as Chair of a Committee or Task Force of SLA.

I understand that my sources of income and financial interests and/or my business dealings with SLA may create a conflict of interest or apparent conflict of interest.

I agree to disclose (1) any significant source of income or other financial interest I or an immediate family member has which may be directly or indirectly affected by a decision of SLA and/or its Board of Directors, and/or (2) any significant interest I or an immediate family member has in an organization with which SLA is dealing or with which it is considering conducting business, either at the time of my appointment (or when this policy is implemented) or when that information is relevant to matters under consideration by the Board of Director on which I serve.

I agree that if (1) my income or other financial interest may be directly or indirectly affected by an action or decision of SLA or its Board of Directors, or (2) my interest involves an organization with which SLA is dealing or considering dealing, I will not vote on the transaction under consideration and will excuse myself from the meeting while the matter is under consideration.

At the present time, I am an employee, partner, director or officer of the following corporations or business entities, or am the beneficial owner of 3% or more of any corporation or business entity, or an individual that has had business transactions with SLA of an imputed value of $5,000 or more or with which SLA is considering transacting business potentially of an actual or imputed value of $5,000 or more:

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(Identify nature of interest, value of transactions. Attach additional sheets, if necessary)

At the present time 5% or more of my income is derived from the following sources that may be directly or indirectly affected by the decisions of SLA or its Board of Directors.

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(Identify source. Attach additional sheets, if necessary.)

I understand that it is my responsibility to update this information if there are changes in the sources of my income, my other financial interests, organizations with which SLA is considering business, and/or the impact SLA's actions may have on these interests.

I further understand that the information that I provide in this statement and/or in supplements to this statement may be provided to other members of the Board and/or officers of SLA.

I further understand that in the course of my duties as a Director, Officer, Committee Chair, or Task Force Chair, I will have access to confidential information about SLA's operations. I also understand that information that is not a matter of public record, or not otherwise authorized by the Board of Directors, President, or CEO and marked as confidential, will not be disclosed. I further understand that materials produced by me or for me for the sole purpose of fulfilling my duties as a Director, Officer, Committee Chair, or Task Force Chair will remain confidential until such documents or materials are made public. I agree that during and after my service to SLA, I will not disclose any such information to any person or entity, other than the officers, agents, and employees of SLA, except as SLA specifically authorizes or directs me in writing. I will observe any requirements or procedures that SLA may require for the protection of the confidentially of such information. I understand that any questions as to what information is confidential will be referred to, and resolved by, the President of the Association.

_______________________________ _________________________
Signed Date

_______________________________
Name

_______________________________
Office

_______________________________
Board/Committee/Task Force

Please submit completed form to:

Natasha Kenner
SLA
331 South Patrick Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-2514
Fax: +1 703-647-4903 Email: nkenner@sla.org

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