Personal Information

Birds Georgia collects demographic information on the audiences we serve to help ensure we are engaging in an equitable and inclusive manner. From time to time, we are also asked by foundations and other funders to report on our overall programmatic demographics. Your participation is voluntary and the information collected will be aggregated and reported anonymously.

The Parties to this Agreement are Birds Georgia and the “Program Volunteer.”

Both Parties agree that it is to their mutual interest and benefit to work cooperatively toward furthering the enjoyment of birding and the understanding and support of habitat conservation across the state of Georgia. Accordingly, the Parties agree to work together to provide attendees and participants of Birds Georgia field trips, events, and programs with the best birding experience possible. The purpose of this Agreement is to establish a mutual framework for the working relationship of the Program Volunteer and Birds Georgia for field trips, events, and programs. This Agreement outlines basic procedures, responsibilities, and expectations by which Birds Georgia and the Program Volunteer will provide support and guiding services on Birds Georgia field trips, events and programs. A Field Trip Protocol will be provided to all field trip leaders. Program Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age.

a. For Birds Georgia field trips, the Birds Georgia Director of Community Engagement will provide the names, and in some circumstances the emails, of registered attendees at least 24 hours before each field trip, which the Field Trip Leader/Program Volunteer will use solely for the purpose of verifying attendance and interacting with attendees during the event. Program Volunteers will ensure any copies of this information are destroyed after the program.

b. As integral members of the Birds Georgia team, Birds Georgia staff and Program Volunteers are expected to use good judgement, interact in a spirit of courtesy and cooperation with other Program Volunteers, field trip, event, and program attendees, and members of the public; and to maintain high standards of professional and business conduct and behavior at all times. This involves respect for the rights and feelings of others and the recognition of moral responsibilities not only to professional associates, fellow employees, and the public, but also to birds, their habitat, and the resources under one’s care. Accordingly, this policy forbids any unwelcome conduct that is based on an individual’s actual or perceived age, race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth or medical condition related to pregnancy or childbirth), gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religious creed, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, military status, Civil Air Patrol status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Program Volunteers are expected to refrain from: any behavior that might be harmful to any other Program Volunteers or staff members, members of the public, and/or the field trip participants themselves, such as offensive, inappropriate, harassing, or violent language or behavior, discussion of political opinions, or otherwise unreasonable actions or statements that might be viewed unfavorably by current or potential participants of Birds Georgia programs; or actions or statements that might be viewed unfavorably by current or potential clients of other companies or members of other organizations, or by the public at large. Birds Georgia will not tolerate such conduct, regardless of whether it takes place on company premises or off-site, including on the internet, at organization-sponsored social events, during business travel, training sessions, or conferences.

c. Birds Georgia will not tolerate harassing, violent, or discriminatory language or behavior from Program Volunteers under any circumstance, during or outside of Birds Georgia programs. Program Volunteers who engage in such behaviors or use such language will be immediately terminated, and will at no point in the future be permitted to volunteer with Birds Georgia. <br>

a. Many field trips and programs take place on public (city, state, and federal) lands. The Program Volunteer agrees to abide by regulations, orders and requests of the agencies responsible for the public lands. As some field trips and programs are planned to take place on private property, such as during Georgia Bird Fest, the Program Volunteer agrees to abide by the requests of relevant owners of private property during the field trip.

b. Birds Georgia reserves the right to allow and assign commercial sound recording, photography and/or filming. By participating in a Birds Georgia field trip, event, or program, the Program Volunteer gives Birds Georgia permission to use such sound recording, photography and/or filming to promote Birds Georgia events, including using such material on the Birds Georgia website and social media, and all promotional material. The Program Volunteer further understands that they will not be compensated for this use but will be credited appropriately for their work and contributions to the Birds Georgia programming.

c. The Program Volunteer will not tolerate inappropriate behavior that compromises the safety or well-being of themselves or others present as attendees or volunteers at Birds Georgia field trips, events, or programs. This includes sexual harassment, hate speech, threats, and acts of intimidation. If such behaviors are exhibited on a field trip, event, or program, the Program Volunteer agrees to take necessary action to ensure the safety of the participants, including asking the perpetrator to leave, and report the incident to the Birds Georgia Director of Community Engagement.

d. The Program Volunteer agrees to undergo a background check if they will be leading trips, events, or programs attended by individuals under the age of 18 who are unaccompanied by parents/guardians.

e. To ensure the safety and security of all parties, the Program Volunteer will not be alone with individual program participants for any Birds Georgia field trips, programs, or events after multiple participants have arrived. For programs that require volunteers to visit the residences of Birds Georgia constituents, such as for the Wildlife Sanctuary Certification program, the Program Volunteer agrees to undergo a reference check and will be paired with another Program Volunteer.

f. All data, materials, knowledge, and proprietary information generated through, originating from, or having to do with a program in which the Program Volunteer is participating, or persons associated with its activities, including contractors, is to be considered Confidential Information and is not to be disclosed to any outside party. This includes, but is not limited to, documents, information, designs, printed matter, policies, procedures, conversations, messages (received or transmitted), resources, contacts, e-mail lists, and e-mail messages, whether internally between staff or outside the volunteer program is confidential and the sole property of Birds Georgia. Client information, including all file information, is not to be disclosed to any third party under any circumstances without the written consent of Birds Georgia.

Improper, dangerous, or illegal behavior by a Birds Georgia event, field trip, or program participant or Program Volunteer; or injury/accident experienced by a participant or Program Volunteer must be reported to Birds Georgia using the Incident Report Form as soon as possible after the incident, and no later than 24 hours afterwards. The Birds Georgia Director of Community Engagement is required to acknowledge in writing that the report has been received by replying to the leader who reported the incident within 48 business hours of receipt. Incident actions may require further reporting to all field trip leaders to ensure the safety of future participants, program volunteers, and staff.

*The program volunteer agreement and incident report form will be shared with all volunteers for your reference and records.<br>