[Guidelines for censure, suspension & expulsion]

Notes on Process

The aforementioned is just one example of a group process for dealing with sexual harassment, and it could be applied to any and all situations of harassment.

Everything Food Not Bombs does is guided by process. In fact everything in life is. Most processes occur without people really thinking about them. Some issues within an open collective like Food Not Bombs are not so easily left to the fates, but rather require active participation in finding solutions.

How does a group deal with volunteers that are disruptive to the point of paralyzing the group and occupying everyone's energy and attention? What does the group do when the three principles of vegetarianism, consensus and nonviolence, usually the only "rules" that volunteers are asked to follow, are transgressed once? Consistently? What happens when a disruptive person refuses to leave a cookhouse, serving or meeting?

How can a group like FNB ensure accurate representation? What will be done if someone does something in the name of FNB that violates one of the three principles, puts someone else in danger or harms them?

Oftentimes the process of dealing with a difficult situation like one of those mentioned above is done informally: a friend or two talks to the person to see what's up and say that what happened wasn't cool, and things usually die down.

But what happens when there is repeated disruption of the group and its activities? Does the group just accept it for fear of being seen as "intolerant" and "exclusive"? Or does the group talk about and set limits on what is acceptable behavior while representing Food Not Bombs?

No one wants to be the police, and no one wants to be policed. Having a process to deal with difficult situations doesn't automatically equate to hierarchy and control. The group has to decide what is best for it and whether or not it needs anything more than just informal process.

As an example, here is a process that San Francisco Food Not Bombs consensed upon. It is here as an example. Each FNB should figure out what is best for it. Your group might not need to talk about something like this. What's important is that everyone has a chance to participate and contribute

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Guidelines for censure, suspension, and expulsions:
consensed upon by San Francisco Food Not Bombs - 11/9/01

These actions may be appropriate when a member has violated any of the three principles of San Francisco Food Not Bombs: nonviolence, vegetarianism, or consensus

EXAMPLES:

1. Acting in a manner that endangers any member of the group
2. Sexually harassing any member of the group
3. Oppressive behavior toward any member of the group
4. Physical violence toward any member of the group
5. Behaviors described in 1 - 4, done while representing San Francisco. Food Not Bombs, but impacting non-members
6. Bypassing group process by using coercion to force the group to take action
7. Unreasonably committing volunteers or group resources without first getting group consent
8. Knowingly serving meat while representing SFFNB

The severity of action taken by the group should be based on the following:

1. Is the member's continued participation a danger to the group, any individual in the group, or to the integrity of the group?
2. Was the behavior expressed in a single incident, or is it part of a pattern?
3. Can the behavior be corrected and dealt with while the offending individual remains a member of SFFNB? If so, set goals and a time frame so that the individual can show progress and will not need to feel like they are on permanent probation.
4. If the behavior makes it inappropriate for the individual to remain in the group, might the individual reform and/or make restitution while suspended from the group? If so, set goals and a time frame so that the individual can show progress and return to the group.
5. Is the threat to the safety of individuals or the integrity of the group so severe that the individual's presence in the group AT ANY TIME? If so, it might be appropriate to permanently expel the individual.

PROCESS:

The process should proceed like the standard SFFNB consensus
process, with the following exceptions:
1. The group needs to formally recognize that a process on the status of the future participation of a member of the group has begun. The individual at issue should be encouraged to participate in the discussion about their status. If possible, all current active members who have participated in multiple planning meetings over the previous two months should be informed that this discussion will commence.
2. After discussion, a proposal needs to be made about what actions should be taken: censure, suspension, or expulsion. Three or more individuals must make this proposal. The individual at issue should be encouraged to participate in this discussion, though the individual may not amend the proposal.
3. When calling for consensus, the individual at issue may not participate in the decision.
4. Before calling for consensus, the individual should be given the opportunity to "resign"
5. If an individual is censured, suspended, or expelled, that person should be given the right of rebuttal, which shall be put in the meeting notes.
6. The decision should be confirmed at one of the next few meetings. This confirmation helps ensure that everyone who wants to participate in the decision will get that chance. All current active members who have participated in multiple planning meetings over the past two months must be contacted that this confirming decision will take place. In this case, failure to meet these criteria before confirming the decision will render
the confirmation invalid. Others may also be informed, but it is only essential to inform those who have been taking an active role in group decisions.
7. If inactive members are there: they must stand aside the first meeting, but can participate in the second meeting, if they were present at the first
8. Any person making an honest effort to remedy a past conflict with others or the FNB Values, as outlined in any decision, shall be reconciled into the group.

ADDING TEETH:

Since SFFNB has no official "membership" criteria, enforcing the group's decision to suspend or expel a member is tricky.

Here are a few things that can be done:

1. Never recognize the individual at a meeting to speak.
2. Never place any of the individual's items on the agenda.
3. Do not share any group resources with the individual such as funds, voicemail, or mail.
4. Do not allow the individual to participate in FNB activities such as serving, cooking, meetings
5. Do not allow the individual to represent SFFNB in any capacity. This may or may not require informing other groups or individuals that this individual no longer represents SFFNB.

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