Virtual Programs Code of Conduct

AAI is committed to providing a safe, productive, and welcoming environment for all meeting participants. All participants including, but not limited to, attendees, speakers, volunteers, exhibitors, AAI staff members, service providers, and all others, are expected to abide by this Virtual Programs Code of Conduct. This policy applies to all AAI meeting-related events, including those sponsored by organizations other than AAI but held in conjunction with AAI events, on public or private platforms.

AAI has zero tolerance for unacceptable behavior including harassment (sexual or bullying), intimidation, or discrimination in any form, whether written or verbal, that is directed toward any attendee, speaker, volunteer, exhibitor, AAI staff member, service provider, or other meeting attendee.

Examples of written or verbal abuse include, but are not limited to, comments related to gender, sexual  orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, national origin; inappropriate use of nudity and/or sexual images in public spaces or in presentations; or threatening or stalking any attendee, speaker, volunteer, exhibitor, AAI staff member, service provider, or other meeting guest.

If any participant experiences harassment or hears of any incidents of unacceptable behavior, AAI asks that they inform Gale Guerrieri, CMP, Senior Meeting Manager, gguerrieri@aai.org, or 301-634-7399, so that appropriate actions can be taken.

In addition, participants agree they will not:

• record or transmit any sessions, presentations, demonstrations, videos, or content in any format that is presented during meeting.
• take screen shots of Q&A sessions or any chat room activity that takes place during the virtual meeting.
• disrupt any presentations held during the virtual meeting. All participants must comply with the instructions of the moderator and any AAI event staff.
• make presentations or postings, or send messages that contain promotional materials, special offers, job offers, product announcements, or solicitation for services. AAI reserves the right to remove such messages, charge accordingly for any ads, and ban the sources of those solicitations.

To preserve a climate that encourages both civil and fruitful dialogue, AAI reserves the right to terminate access for attendees who violate these rules. If you have questions about these guidelines, contact the AAI staff.

Rules for Posting

• Don’t post defamatory, abusive, profane, threatening, offensive, or illegal statements or materials. All such statements or materials are strictly prohibited and will be removed.
• Don’t attack others. The discussions on the community platforms are meant to stimulate conversation, not to create contention.
• Don’t post information or materials protected by copyright without the permission of the copyright holder.
• Don’t post commercial messages. Posts should not contain promotional material, special offers, job offers, product announcements, or solicitation for services. AAI reserves the right to remove such messages and potentially ban sources of those solicitations. Exhibitors will be permitted to post promotional materials at the discretion of AAI and according to the terms of their Sponsorship Agreement.
• Don’t post content if it encourages or facilitates members to arrive at any agreement that leads to price fixing, a boycott of another’s business, or other conduct intended to illegally restrict free trade.
• Don’t post content that encourages or facilitates an agreement about the following: prices, discounts, or terms or conditions of sale; salaries; profits, profit margins, or cost data; market shares, sales territories, or markets; allocation of customers or territories; or selection, rejection, or termination of customers or suppliers.

Information posted on the AAI meeting platform is public and comments are subject to libel, slander, and antitrust laws.

AAI cannot actively monitor all online communications among attendees or guests at Virtual IMMUNOLOGY2021^™ for appropriateness. In the event any inappropriate posting is brought to its attention, AAI will use reasonable efforts to take appropriate action. AAI reserves the right to block any participants who do not abide by stated guidelines.

AAI reserves the right to take any action deemed necessary and appropriate, including blocking access to the meeting without warning or refund for the offenders, in response to any incident of unacceptable behavior.  AAI reserves the right to prohibit attendance for any offender at future meetings whether held virtually or in person.