Rules of Conduct

From Page 10 of the Bonner AmeriCorps Enrollment Workbook 

At no time as part of their service may a Member:

(1)  Engage in any activity that is illegal under local, state or federal law.

(2)  Engage in activities that pose a significant safety risk to others.

(3)  Engage in any AmeriCorps Prohibited Activities that include:

• Activities involving attempts to influence legislation or an election or aid a partisan political organization, including voter registration, a letter-writing campaign to Congress, influencing state or local ballot initiatives, lobbying for your program, political advocacy, printing politically-charged articles in a Corporation-funded newsletter or discussion list, or taking part in political demonstrations or rallies;
• helping or hindering union activity or impairing existing contracts or collective bargaining agreements;
• activities that displace employees or service as an intern with a for-profit organization as part of the education and training component of the Program;
• participating in religious instruction or conducting worship services;
• providing instruction as part of a program that includes mandatory religious instruction or worship;
• constructing or operating facilities devoted to religious instruction or worship, maintaining facilities primarily or inherently devoted to religious instruction or worship; 
• any form of religious proselytization;
• organizing or engaging in protests, petitions, boycotts, or strikes or participating in or endorsing events or activities that are likely to include advocacy for or against political parties, political candidates, political platforms, proposed legislation, or elected officials;
• raising funds for an organization’s operating expenses or endowment;
• providing a direct benefit to a for-profit entity, a labor union, a partisan political organization, a religious organization, or a nonprofit that engages in lobbying;
• rendering abortion services or providing referrals for such services;
• administrative work unless it benefits the Member’s approved direct service activities;
• writing grant applications for funding provided by federal agencies;
• performing any type of international service or service that is of benefit outside the U.S. and U.S. territories.

(4)  Dedicate more than 10% of their total service hours to fundraising efforts. 

(5)  Dedicate more than 20% of their total service hours to training and enrichment activities.

(b) The Member is expected to, at all times while acting in an official capacity as an AmeriCorps Member, 

(1)  Demonstrate mutual respect toward others;

(2)  Follow directions and;

(3)  Direct concerns, problems, and suggestions to the appropriate Program Official; and

(c) The Member understands that the following acts also constitute a violation of the Rules of Conduct:

(1) Unauthorized tardiness;

(2) Unauthorized absences;

(3) Repeated use of inappropriate language (i.e. profanity) at a service site;

(4) Failure to wear appropriate clothing to service assignments;

(5) Stealing or lying;

(6) Engaging in an activity that may physically or emotionally damage other Members of the Program or Members of the community;

1. Unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession or use of an controlled substance or illegal 

       drugs during the term of service;

(8) Consuming alcoholic beverages during the performance of service activities;

(9) Being under the influence of alcohol or any illegal drugs during the performance of service activities; or

1. Failing to notify the Program of any criminal arrest or conviction that occurs during the term of service.
2. Falsifying log entries, signatures or dates on Hour Log Reports.

1. Under the Drug-Free Workplace Act, you must immediately notify the National Bonner AmeriCorps Program Staff if you are convicted under any criminal drug statute. Your participation in the Program is conditioned upon compliance with this notice requirement and action will be taken for violation of this.

1. In general, for violating the above-stated rules, the Program will do the following (except in cases where during the term of service the Member has been charged with or convicted of a violent felony, possession, sale or distribution of a controlled substance); however, there is no requirement that the Program follow a prescribed sequence in the imposition of a particular form of punishment:

(1) For the Member’s first offense, an appropriate Program official will issue a verbal warning to the Member;

(2) for the Member’s second offense, an appropriate Program official will issue a written warning and reprimand to the Member;

(3) for the Member’s third offense, the Member may be suspended for one day or more without compensation and will not receive credit for any service hours missed;

(4) for the fourth offense, the Program may release the Member for cause.

1. The Program reserves the right to release the Member for cause if, in the opinion of the Campus Administrator and Program Director, his or her conduct undermines the effectiveness of the Program or the project to which he or she is assigned.

1. The Program may release the Member for cause if, in the opinion of the Campus Administrator and Program Director, he or she repeatedly or periodically continues to demonstrate inappropriate behavior by engaging in a pattern of misconduct.

1. The Member understands that he or she will be either suspended or released for cause in accordance with paragraphs (b), (c),  (f) and (h) of section VII of this Agreement for committing certain acts during the term of service including, but not limited to, being convicted or charged with a violent felony, possession, sale or distribution of a controlled substance.