**Proposed OARC Code of Conduct**

**//This has not been accepted and is only a proposal.//**

We aim to be a busy, productive, happy, innovative and agile community that can learn and innovate together, we welcome new ideas across the broad spectrum of the field of communications. We should always endeavour to foster good relationships and collaboration between groups with very different needs, interests and skills.

We gain strength from diversity and welcome participation from those who embrace it. This code of conduct exists to ensure that diverse groups collaborate to gain mutual advantage and enjoyment. We will challenge any prejudice that could jeopardise the participation of any person in the this group, the OARC.

The Code of Conduct governs how we behave in public and in private whenever we will be judged by our actions whilst acting as a member of the OARC group. We expect it to be honoured by everyone who joins the community.

We strive to:

**Be considerate**

Understand the diverse gatherings with the OARC and make allowance for the potential for misunderstanding due to the nature of the on-line text-based chat system that Discord uses.

**Be respectful**

Disagreement is no excuse for poor manners. We work together to resolve conflict, assume good intentions and do our best to act in an empathic fashion. We don’t allow frustration to turn into a personal attack. A community where people feel uncomfortable or threatened is not a productive one.

**Take responsibility for our words and our actions**

We can all make mistakes; when we do, we take responsibility for them. If someone perceives to have been harmed or offended, we listen carefully and respectfully, and work to right any wrong. The use of profanity will not enable anyone to win an argument, it only shows a lack of language; de-escalate at every opportunity.

**Value decisiveness, clarity and consensus**

Disagreements, social and technical, are normal, but we do not allow them to persist and fester, leaving others uncertain of the agreed direction. We expect participants in the community to resolve disagreements constructively. 

**Ask for help when unsure**

The collective knowledge within this community should enable everyone to receive help, be that technical, procedural or scientific. Just ask.

**Step down considerately**

If your time within a project, or within the community reduces or ends, please do so in a way that minimises disruption to the community. Announce your planned withdrawal and take the proper steps to ensure that others can pick up where they left off.

**Leadership, authority and responsibility**

We all lead by example, in debate and in action. We ensure that all community members feel empowered to lead, to take action, and to experiment when they feel innovation could improve the OARC and our participation within the communications area. Leadership can be exercised by anyone simply by taking action, there is no need to wait for recognition when the opportunity to lead presents itself.

**Benevolent Dictatorship**

The on-line nature of the community means that there are a some people who have administrative ownership of areas such as the Discord server and the website, and whilst they do have ultimate power over those amenities, this community is expected to regulate itself through this Code of Conduct. Contact with the support team will be determined through the reorganisation process currently underway. 

This Code is not exhaustive or complete. It is not a rulebook but it serves to distil our common understanding of a collaborative, shared environment and goals. We expect it to be followed in spirit as much as to the letter.