Reston Association in Process of New Ethics, Conduct Code

Reston Association is working on how its board of directors can better work together and how the organization can implement a code of ethics.

The board will discuss the findings of an independent report from Quantum Governance at its regular meeting on June 23.

RA’s Code of Conduct Task Force is studying how to improve upon the association’s conduct policies for employees, board members and volunteers. RA says it has been moving toward improving its system of governance since May 2014.

RA recently hired Quantum to review RA. The Vienna-based firm interviewed 44 people, including RA staff, board members and committee members. Read the firm’s Ethics Assessment Summary Report.

One finding Quantam reports is a lack of civility among board members.

From the report:

“The key behavioral issue identified by interviewees as an ethical concern was what many saw as a distinct lack of Civility in the Boardroom. This concern was also noted by Board meeting observations conducted by Quantum Governance’s consultants.”

The report makes a few recommendations. Among them:

• Align RA’s governance and ethics efforts.
• Revisit RA’s mission statement and core values, including possibly adding openness, transparency, inclusiveness, civility, respect, and honesty.
• Seek and obtain an individual, personal commitment from each board member, member of staff and volunteer to adhere to the code of ethics.

Based on findings in the ethics assessment report, RA has completed a first draft of the new Code of Ethics. The code outlines topics concerning gifts and gratuities, outside employment and transparency, as well as other ethical values and association policies.

The board will also discuss at the June meeting more ideas towards it code of ethics, such as a community poll or focus groups.