Treat people with respect.
Be welcoming, listen without interrupting and make room for different perspectives. Do not harass, intimidate, discriminate against or pressure another person. Respect personal boundaries and a clear “no.”
HOW WE SHOW UP
Good people. Good business.
Our Code of Ethics is a shared commitment to treating people well and helping the local business community grow.
Build each other up.
We can compete for business and still be on the same side when it comes to our community. These expectations apply at meetups, in chapter activities, online and in member-to-member conversations.
Practice friendly competition.
Compete on the quality of your own work, service and ideas. Never bad-mouth, ridicule or spread rumors about another member or competitor. A competitor today can be a collaborator tomorrow.
Build alliances and support one another.
Look for opportunities to collaborate, share useful resources and make thoughtful introductions. Celebrate other members’ successes. Help where you can without treating every conversation as a transaction.
Make honest introductions and referrals.
Describe your experience and services accurately. Recommend a business because you believe it may fit the need, not because of hidden incentives. Disclose referral fees or financial interests when making a recommendation. Do not promise results on someone else’s behalf.
Keep your word.
Follow through on commitments, communicate changes promptly and be clear about pricing, scope and expectations. If you make a mistake, take responsibility and work toward a fair resolution.
Respect privacy and permission.
Ask before sharing someone’s personal contact information, photographs or private conversation. Do not add members to marketing lists without their permission. A networking introduction is not permission to spam.
Handle disagreements directly and constructively.
Raise concerns privately with the person involved when safe and appropriate. Stay factual and focus on resolving the issue. If help is needed, contact a chapter host or DCCO. Do not retaliate against someone who raises a good-faith concern.
Represent the community honestly.
Use membership and chapter titles accurately. Membership does not imply a government affiliation, a guarantee of your work or permission to speak on behalf of DCCO. Chapter activities should reflect this code.
Accountability matters.
Members are expected to acknowledge and follow this code. DCCO may review concerns, request a conversation, suspend a listing or chapter activity, or remove participation for serious or repeated misconduct.
Respectful conduct does not mean hiding wrongdoing. Nothing in this code prevents an honest review, a good-faith complaint, a report to an appropriate authority or seeking help when someone’s safety is at risk.
Raise a concern with DCCO ↗Version 2026-10-07. This Social community code supplements the separate membership terms and Code of Ethics on DCCO’s LBA website.