The Girl Scouts of Greater Mississippi (GSGMS) requires the Board of
Directors, other volunteers, and employees to observe high standards
of business and personal ethics in the conduct of their duties and
responsibilities. Employees and representatives of the organization
must practice honesty and integrity in fulfilling their
responsibilities and comply with all applicable laws and
regulations.
Policy:
A whistleblower as defined by this policy is an employee,
director or other volunteer of Girl Scouts of Greater Mississippi who
reports an activity that she/he considers to be illegal or dishonest
to one or more of the parties specified in this Policy. The
whistleblower is not responsible for investigating the activity or
determining fault or corrective measures; appropriate management
officials are charged with these responsibilities.
Examples of illegal or dishonest activities include violations of
federal, state or local laws; billing for services not performed or
goods not delivered; fraud, corruption, or other forms of lawbreaking
covered by the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act
(RICO), the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989, or by state
whistleblower statues; and other fraudulent financial reporting. It is
the responsibility of all Board of Directors, other volunteers, and
employees to report ethics violations or suspected violations in
accordance with this Whistleblower Policy.
Procedures:
No Retaliation
No director, other volunteer, or employee who in good faith
reports an illegal or dishonest activity shall suffer harassment,
retaliation or adverse employment consequence. Any individual who
retaliates against someone who has reported an illegal or dishonest
activity in good faith is subject to appropriate disciplinary action
by the Council, including termination from the organization. This
Whistleblower Policy is intended to encourage and enable employees and
others to raise serious concerns within GSGMS prior to seeking
resolution outside GSGMS.
Reporting Concerns - Employees
Employees should first discuss their concern with their
immediate supervisor. If, after speaking with his or her supervisor,
the individual continues to have reasonable grounds to believe the
concern is valid, the individual should report the concern as follows:
Financial infractions to the Chair of the Audit Committee of the Board
of Trustees; All other concerns to the Board Chair. In addition, if
the individual is uncomfortable speaking with his or her supervisor,
or the supervisor is a subject of the concern, the individual should
report his or her concern directly to the Chair of the Audit Committee
or the Board Chair.
If the concern was reported verbally, the reporting individual, with
assistance from the Chair of the Audit Committee or the Board Chair,
shall put the concern in writing. For non-financial concerns brought
directly to the Board Chair, she/he will determine if the complaint
should be reported to the Chair of the Audit Committee, who has
specific and exclusive responsibility to investigate all concerns. If
the Board Chair, for any reason, does not forward the concern to the
Chair of the Audit Committee, the reporting individual may directly
report the concern to the Chair of the Audit Committee. Concerns may
also be submitted anonymously. Such anonymous concerns should be in
writing and sent directly to the Chair of the Audit Committee.
Board of Directors and Other Volunteers
Board of directors and other volunteers should submit concerns
in writing directly to the Chair of the Audit Committee.
Handling of Reported Violations
The Audit Committee shall address all reported concerns. The
Chair of the Audit Committee shall immediately notify the Audit
Committee, the Board Chair, and the CEO, of any such report. The Chair
of the Audit Committee will notify the sender and acknowledge receipt
of the concern within five business days, if possible. It will not be
possible to acknowledge receipt of anonymously submitted concerns.
All reports will be promptly investigated by the Audit Committee and
appropriate corrective action will be recommended to the Board of
Directors, if warranted by the investigation. In addition, action
taken must include a conclusion and/or follow-up with the complainant
for complete closure of the concern.
The Audit Committee has the authority to retain outside legal
counsel, accountants, private investigators, or any other resource
deemed necessary to conduct a full and complete investigation of the allegations.
Confidentiality
Reports of violations or suspected violations will be kept
confidential to the extent possible, consistent with the need to
conduct an adequate investigation.
Acting in Good Faith
Anyone reporting a concern must act in good faith and have
reasonable grounds for believing the information disclosed indicates
an improper accounting or auditing practice, or a violation of the
Code of Conduct. The act of making allegations that prove to be
unsubstantiated and that prove to have been made maliciously,
recklessly, or with the foreknowledge that the allegations are false,
will be viewed as a serious disciplinary offense and may result in
discipline, up to and including dismissal from the volunteer position
or termination of employment. Such conduct may also give rise to
other actions, including civil lawsuits.
Email Chairman of the Board and Audit Committee - Gloria Johnson - gjohns24@yahoo.com.
