NO BICYCLES IN THE CLUB
Sorry, club rules: No bicycles in the club, even in the back by the restrooms.
Please lock all bicycles at the racks by the parking lot telephone pole.
NO SMOKING IN FRONT OF CLUB OR DON LALO’S
Please do NOT light up in front of the Club or in front of Don Lalo’s.
Wait to smoke over by the telephone pole, or across the street.
PARKING is prohibited in the temple parking lot across the street at ANY TIME. Even Saturday night for the Speaker Meeting. No parking in Don Lalo’s restaurant parking lot. Please be mindful of our neighbors and make sure you are not blocking any driveways or gates.
OVAC CODE OF CONDUCT
REVISED 2/13/25
1. NO FIREARMS OR WEAPONS ARE ALLOWED WITHIN THE OVAC FACILITY, EXCEPT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES UNDER COLOR OF AUTHORITY.
2. NO ILLEGAL DRUGS OR ALCOHOL ARE ALLOWED IN THE FACILITY OR ITS VICINITY.
3. NO VERBAL AGGRESSION, PHYSICAL THREATS OR ALTERCATIONS BETWEEN ATTENDEES OF THE OVAC FACILITY WILL BE TOLERATED.
4. NO SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF ANY KIND WILL BE TOLERATED, INCLUDING ANY UNWELCOME SEXUAL INNUENDOS, INVITATIONS OR REQUESTS, WHETHER INDIRECT OR EXPLICIT.
5. NO SMOKING, VAPING, OR CHEWING OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS IS ALLOWED WITHIN THE FACILITY OR ON THE SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF THE OVAC AND NEIGHBORING BUSINESSES, AS SPECIFIED IN THE OVAC LEASE.
6. SLEEPING IS NOT ALLOWED ON THE PREMISES; THIS INCLUDES IN THE MEETING ROOM, FOYER, AND ON THE BENCH OUTSIDE THE CLUB.
7. NO PETS ARE ALLOWED IN THE OVAC FACILITY EXCEPT SERVICE ANIMALS AS DEFINED BY THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA).
8. FOR SAFETY REASONS, BICYCLES ARE NOT ALLOWED WITHIN THE FACILITY OR ON THE REAR PATIO.
9. PARENTS OR GUARDIANS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONDUCT AND SAFETY OF THEIR CHILDREN AT ALL TIMES.
10. ALL ATTENDEES OF THE OVAC ARE ASKED TO BE COURTEOUS AND RESPECTFUL OF OUR NEIGHBORS. PLEASE REFRAIN FROM LOUD TALKING AND OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE, AND RESPECT ACCESS TO OUR NEIGHBORS’ PROPERTIES, BUSINESSES AND PARKING AREAS.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE OVAC IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THEFT OR DAMAGES TO PERSONAL PROPERTY OF ANY INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP USING THE FACILITY.
NOTE: IT IS THE PREFERENCE AND THE HOPE OF THE OVAC AND ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS THAT ALL GROUPS USING THE OVAC FACILITY, IN THE SPIRIT OF AUTONOMY, MAKE EVERY ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE PROBLEMS OCCURRING WITHIN THEIR MEETINGS AT THE GROUP LEVEL. PLEASE REFER ANY INDIVIDUAL CONCERNS TO YOUR GROUP SECRETARY. ISSUES IMPACTING MEETING ATTENDEES THAT CANNOT BE RESOLVED EFFECTIVELY AT THE INDIVIDUAL MEETING LEVEL MAY BE BROUGHT TO THE OVAC BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR DELIBERATION. VIOLATION OF ANY PART OF THE OVAC CODE OF CONDUCT, BY ANY INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP, CAN BE GROUNDS FOR SUSPENSION OF PRIVILEGES TO USE THE OVAC FACILITY. ANY INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP REPORTED TO BE IN VIOLATION OF THE CODE OF CONDUCT IS ENTITLED TO A HEARING BEFORE ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
For further understanding of the relationship of Alano Clubs and 12 Step Groups, please refer to: “AA Guidelines: Relationship Between A.A. and Clubs” at www.aa.org.
Ojai Valley Alano Club’s
ANIMAL POLICY
Ojai Valley Alano Club Animal Policy
Updated 03.10.2023
In order to ensure the safety, physical and emotional health of all who attend meetings at the Club, we have instituted a No Pets Allowed policy.
Service Animals are always welcome.
Thanks for Your Cooperation
Ojai Valley Alano Club”s
Anti-Harassment Policy
The Ojai Valley Alano Club is committed to a healthy, safe, harassment free environment for all our members and visitors who utilize our facility for meetings and social events. The Ojai Valley Alano Club has developed this policy intended to prevent harassment of any type, including sexual harassment, of its members and visitors and to deal quickly and effectively with any incident that might occur.
Sexual Harassment
The Ojai Valley Alano Club will not tolerate the display of pornographic, racist or offensive signs or images; practical jokes that result in awkwardness or embarrassment; and any unwelcome sexual innuendos, invitations or requests, whether indirect or explicit.
Sexual harassment is unwelcomed and offensive behavior of a sexual nature. Examples of sexual harassment can include such things as pinching, patting, rubbing or leering, foul or suggestive language or gestures, off color jokes, pictures or pornographic materials, comments, suggestions, innuendoes, repeated requests for dates, stalking, or any requests or demands of a sexual nature. The behavior need not be intentional in order to be considered sexual harassment. All harassment is offensive and, in many cases, it intimidates others and interferes with our members and visitor’s safety or sobriety. It will not be tolerated in our club.
Sexual harassment does not refer to occasional compliments of a socially acceptable nature. Sexual harassment is not behavior that is based on mutual attraction, friendship and respect. If the interaction is consensual, welcomed and reciprocated, it is not sexual harassment. It refers to behavior that is not welcome, that is personally offensive in nature, arouses fear, debilitates group unity and threatens sobriety.
Discriminatory Harassment
Harassment occurs when a member or visitor is subjected to unwelcome verbal or physical conduct because of race, religious beliefs, color, gender, physical or mental disability, age, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, source of income, family status or sexual orientation.
Examples of harassment that will not be tolerated by Ojai Valley Alano Club are: verbal or physical abuse, threats, derogatory remarks, jokes, innuendo or taunts related to any member or visitor’s race, religious beliefs, color, gender, physical or mental disabilities, age, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, source of income, family status or sexual orientation.
Reporting Harassment
In the case of physical and/or sexual harassment, the preference of the Ojai Valley Alano Club is that it be handled at the level of individual meetings and sponsors. However, it is the legal obligation of the Club to provide a safe and non-threatening environment for its members and guests. If complaints cannot be handled by an individual meeting or on the level of sponsorship, an individual is encouraged to bring the complaint to the club manager, the club president, or any member of the board for consideration. In case of imminent danger to any member a meeting secretary, the club manager, or any member of the board is empowered to suspend the offending parties from the club for a period of 5 days and report this action immediately to the OVAC board president.
Within that 5 day period, the board president will convene a meeting of the board with at least 5 of the 9 members in attendance (including the board president or his/her designated representative) to consider the complaint or offense and required action. Both the complainant and the alleged harasser will be interviewed as will any individual who may provide relevant information. All information will be kept confidential. If the situation warrants it, the board is empowered to suspend a member or visitor from entering the premises for up to 90 days or to ban the person from ever entering the Club again. If necessary, the case may be referred to appropriate governmental authorities.
The procedure for reporting incidents of harassing behavior is not intended to impair, replace, or limit the right of any member or visitor to seek a remedy under available state or federal law by immediately reporting the matter to the appropriate state or federal agency.
What To Do If You Are Harassed
Tell the harasser that their behavior is unwelcome and ask them to stop. Advise your sponsor of the problem and ask his or her advice.
Keep a record of incidents (date, times, locations, possible witnesses, what happened, your response). You do not have to have a record of events in order to make a complaint, but a record can strengthen your case and help you remember details over time.
Make a complaint. If, after asking the harasser to stop their behavior, the harassment continues, report the problem to one of the following individuals: meeting secretary, club manager, board president or any board member.
A written complaint stating the exact nature of the harassment or offense is recommended but not required.
It is the responsibility of meeting secretaries, board members, the club manager or any member or visitor to take immediate and appropriate action to report or deal with incidents of harassment of any type, whether brought to their attention or personally observed. Under no circumstances should a legitimate complaint be dismissed or downplayed nor should the complainant be told to deal with it personally.
Ojai Valley Alano Club“s
Policy On Handling Disturbances, Inappropriate Actions And Suspending Club Privileges
The Ojai Valley Alano Club does not have authority on how meetings are run or how disturbances and inappropriate behavior are handled before, during, or after meetings. If such behavior occurs in the course of a meeting, it is up to the secretary or other meeting members to handle the behavior. Meetings may choose to ask an offending attendee to leave the meeting, suspend said person from the meeting for a period of time, and, if necessary, call the police. Please note, it is not a violation of an individual’s anonymity to refer a crime or a dangerous situation to the police.
If the behavior involves bringing weapons, alcohol or drugs into the club, threats or actual physical violence, or habitual smoking in front of the building (this is based on a provision of our lease), the meeting secretary or any meeting attendee should report these infractions to the Club manager or any board member and may request that said individual be suspended from the Club meetings and functions. (Contact information for the manager and board members are posted on bulletin board in the front room.) If the manager or board member witnesses any of the behaviors listed in this paragraph, they may suspend the individual or individuals on the spot pending a hearing scheduled within 5 days to include at least 4 board members, the individual(s) suspended, the person who imposed the suspension, and any witnesses who wish to attend. All sides will be heard and a decision made on whether to continue the suspension for a period of time or re-admit the individual(s) to the Club.
At the time of the initial suspension, the individual suspended will be informed of the meeting outlined above and every effort will be made to include the person in the meeting. If the person does not attend the meeting, then the suspension will continue until such time as the individual(s) request of the board that their suspension be lifted.
It is the legal responsibility of the Ojai Valley Alano Club to provide a safe place for all individuals to attend meetings. It is not our intention to interfere with the functioning or running of meetings beyond the boundaries set down in the rental agreement and code of conduct. In the past five years, no one has been permanently banned from the Club and there have only been four temporary suspensions imposed.
To further understand the role of Alano Clubs, Meeting Safety, Harassment in A. A. please refer to the following posted on the Club bulletin board in the front room:
A.A. Guidelines: Relationship Between A.A. and Clubs
Safety and A.A.: Our Common Welfare – OVAC Code of Conduct
OVAC Anti-Harassment Policy
Approved by the OVAC Board of Directors, July 2019
Ojai Valley Alano Club 
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