Member Code of Conduct and Policies

This document must be signed by every participant in a VLOC production.
​(G&S Sing Out Participants are excluded from the need to sign but will be held to the same policies).
vlocmembercodeofconduct.pdf
File Size: 152 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
 Victorian Lyric Opera Company is committed to fostering an artistic environment that promotes and values creativity, community, professionalism, respect, and tolerance. Members are expected to abide by and honor this Code of Conduct and its related policies whenever they are participating in a performance, concert, event, rehearsal, or interacting with any social media outlet associated with Victorian Lyric Opera Company.

I. Commitment Against Discrimination and Promotion of Equal Opportunity
Victorian Lyric Opera Company (“VLOC”) is an equal opportunity organization and will not discriminate in the discharge, membership, recruitment, training, or any other term or condition of membership on the actual or perceived basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, disability, family responsibilities, veteran status, documented status, immigration status, or any other characteristic characterized and protected by law (collectively, these are henceforth known as “protected characteristics”).

II. Discrimination Policy
No member is allowed, authorized, or permitted to assist or engage in discrimination at VLOC. If a member assists or engages in any type of discriminatory conduct, he or she may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of membership. It is the responsibility of every member to ensure that discrimination on any of these unpermitted bases does not occur within VLOC. Members are expected to review and comply with VLOC’s “Anti-Discrimination Policy” (Exhibit A). Further, VLOC requires all members to cooperate in any internal investigation of any matter involving discrimination and provide honest, truthful, and complete information to the best of the member’s ability. This policy relates to all aspects of membership and activities, including, but not limited to, auditions, concerts, performances, rehearsals, and site preparation (e.g., set building, painting, costuming, etc.).

III. General Harassment Policy and Prohibition
No member is allowed, authorized, or permitted to engage or assist in harassment through comments or actions that create an offensive or hostile environment for any member because of the member’s protected characteristics. Harassment is defined as anything that belittles or demeans another based on that individual’s protected characteristics. Generally, harassment does not require an intent to offend. Thus, inappropriate conduct meant as a joke, a prank, or even a compliment can lead or contribute to harassment.
Although members are encouraged to build relationships with other members and enjoy the artistic process, members are also expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner while engaging in projects for VLOC. All members must treat co-members, creative and artistic staff, volunteers, visitors, board members, and VLOC officers with dignity and respect.

IV. Sexual Harassment Policy and Prohibition
No member is allowed, authorized, or permitted to engage or assist in sexual harassment. Sexual harassment has the purpose or effect of interfering with an individual’s performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment because of that individual’s sex. Conduct constituting sexual harassment is prohibited and deemed to be outside the scope of a member’s casting, musical, and staging duties during a concert, performance, production, or rehearsal, and typically occurs without the consent of the individual being harassed. Members are expected to review and comply with VLOC’s “Sexual Harassment Policy” (Exhibit B).
No one with a supervisory role at VLOC may at any time: (1) threaten or imply that a member’s submission to or rejection of a sexual advance will in any way influence any decision regarding that member’s casting, performance, evaluation, advancement, assignments, discipline, discharge, or any other term or condition of membership; or (2) make any membership decision concerning an individual on such a basis. Moreover, any conduct by a supervisor or a co-member that has the purpose or effect of interfering with performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment will not be tolerated and may lead to discipline, including, but not limited to, termination of membership.

V. Prohibition Against Retaliation
No member will be subject to reprisal or retaliation for raising concerns and/or making reports in good faith. Retaliation against any member for (1) reporting harassment and/or discrimination; or (2) cooperating in an internal investigation of the same is a violation of this Code of Conduct and, like harassment or discrimination itself, will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of membership.

VI. Social Media Policy
In general, VLOC respects the rights of members to use social media on their personal time as a medium of self-expression, and VLOC does not intend to police the activity of members. However, VLOC reserves the right to monitor social media postings on any online forum concerning VLOC’s interests, and we will not tolerate any postings tending to demean or undermine our commitment to equal opportunity. Further, VLOC requests that members not speak on behalf of VLOC on social media. Members are expected to treat each other with respect and kindness while using different social-media platforms.

Member Acknowledgement
As a member, I have received and agree to abide by the above conditions and terms relating to Victorian Lyric Opera Company’s Code of Conduct and attachments. I further recognize that violating this Code of Conduct could result in disciplinary action, including, but not limited to, the suspension or termination of my membership with Victorian Lyric Opera Company.
Printed Name: _____________________________
Signature: _________________________________
Date: _____________________________________

Requirement for 2022-2023 Participation: Vaccination against COVID-19 virus

In order to take part in VLOC in-person activities - namely our rehearsals and performances - you must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This goes for singers, members of the orchestra, backstage and build crew, and production teams - basically anyone who will be in person at any given time for any VLOC purpose. Proof of vaccination (vaccine card, photo of card, print out) will be asked for at the first rehearsal or in-person activity you attend, but not stored digitally.

COVID-19 is an aerosolized virus - it is spread through droplets in the air - and the CDC has determined that group singing indoors is a high-risk activity for those who are NOT vaccinated. We want everyone to stay healthy, but masking and social distancing are not feasible at rehearsals and performances. As a company, we have decided that the way we want to re-engage and move forward, is with the confidence and assurance that ALL participants ARE fully vaccinated and our collective risk is significantly lowered when doing the thing we love. (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html)

So to reiterate: in order to take part in Victorian Lyric Opera Company in person activities this season, you must be vaccinated against COVID-19. The collective safety of our community is paramount, and by vaccinating yourself, you are taking care of others.

If you have any questions, please write to victorianlyricopera@gmail.com.
Victorian Lyric Opera Company is supported by funding from Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County,
​Maryland State Arts Council, and City of Rockville.
Victorian Lyric Opera Company
 PO Box 10391
Rockville, MD 20849-0391
Unless otherwise noted, all photographs
on this site are copyright Harvey Levine. 
© 2022 The Victorian Lyric Opera Company