630-574-0650
630-574-0650

Code of Conduct

ATTENDEE CONDUCT Guidelines

By being admitted to the Event, Event Attendees agree to abide by these Attendee Conduct Guidelines. AED reserves the right to eject any individual or company from the Event who violates these rules or who otherwise acts in a manner inconsistent with the purpose of the Event. In the case of ejection from the Event, the event registration fee will not be refunded.

  1. General Guidelines
    1. Every Event Attendee shall receive a badge from AED. Individuals without official badges shall be denied entry to the Event. Badges are not transferable.
    2. Event Attendees shall be respectful of others. Event Attendees shall not engage in conduct designed to intimidate or harass any individual or company, or engage in conduct that creates an unduly hostile or inflammatory atmosphere.
    3. Event Attendees shall not engage in disruptive or noisy conduct that distracts from the purposes of the Event. No Event Attendee shall engage in any activity, performance, exhibition, or entertainment that is potentially dangerous to Event Attendees or to the public, or which is illegal, indecent, obscene, lewd, or immoral according to community standards.
    4. No person may obstruct any aisle, passageway, lobby, or exit in any area licensed by AED. Protests, demonstrations, or vigils of any nature not sanctioned by AED are prohibited in areas licensed by the Association.
    5. No child under the age of 18 will be admitted to the Event, unless accompanied by an adult, or with a group affiliated with a school, in which case prior arrangements shall be made with AED.
    6. Smoking is prohibited at the Event. Smoking may be permissible in outside smoking areas.
    7. No person shall engage in any activity that violates any applicable local, state, or federal law (including, but not limited to, antitrust laws). For a more detailed explanation of antitrust laws, please refer to AED’s Antitrust Policy.
  1. Commercial Activity
    1. Exhibitors and Event Sponsors have compensated the Association for the opportunity to communicate with Event Attendees. In fairness to our Exhibitors and Event Sponsors, AED therefore limits public communication and outreach activities at the Event by other companies and individuals who do not have arrangements with the Association.
    2. Only AED, bona fide Exhibitors, or Event Sponsors who have entered into a written agreement with AED may distribute literature to Event Attendees. Magazines, folders, and other literature may be distributed by Exhibitors and must be related to the products and/or services displayed or promoted. Only literature approved or published by AED may be distributed in the registration area, meeting rooms, and outside the exhibit areas. Non-approved items will be disposed of immediately.
    3. Individuals or companies that have not purchased exhibit space may not solicit business or engage in outreach to Event Attendees within, or near, the exhibit areas. Any individual or company found to be conducting business or engaged in public outreach as outlined in the aforementioned manner is in violation of these Attendee Conduct Guidelines and shall be removed from the exhibit areas.
    4. Event Attendees are prohibited from displaying any signs in the areas licensed by AED. Only AED or bona fide Exhibitors may display signs in the exhibit areas. Exhibitors may not display signs outside the designated exhibit space. No attendee or other individual may post, tack, tape, or otherwise attach anything to walls, columns, floors, or any parts of the building or furniture in the areas licensed by AED. Distribution of gummed promotional labels by Exhibitors and Event Attendees is strictly prohibited.
  1. Anti-Harassment
    1. It is the Association’s policy to maintain for all Event Attendees a safe and professional environment free of illegal harassment. To that end, AED strictly prohibits harassment and does not tolerate harassment of any person on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability (mental or physical), age, and any other protected status under applicable federal, state, and local laws.
    2. AED’s position on harassment is one of “Zero Tolerance.” AED does not tolerate harassment in any form, including, but not limited to, the following:
      1. Verbal Conduct, such as sexual innuendos, suggestive comments, insults, humor, and jokes about sex, anatomy, or gender-specific traits, sexual propositions, threats, repeated requests for dates, or statements about others, even outside of their presence, of a sexual nature.
      2. Non-Verbal Conduct, such as deliberate intimidation, stalking, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, suggestive or insulting sounds (e.g., whistling), leering, obscene gestures, sexually suggestive bodily gestures, “catcalls,” or “smacking” or “kissing” noises.
      3. Visual Conduct, such as displaying images, posters, signs, pin-ups, or slogans of a sexual nature, or viewing pornographic material or websites in public spaces.
      4. Physical Conduct, such as touching, unwelcome hugging or kissing, pinching, brushing the body, any coerced sexual act, or actual assault.
      5. Electronic Conduct, such as “sexting” (i.e., electronically sending messages with sexual content, including pictures and video), use of sexually explicit language, harassment, cyber stalking, and threats via any form of electronic communication (e.g., e-mail, text messages, picture or video messages, intranet or on-line postings, blogs, instant messages, and social network websites like Facebook and Twitter).
    3. Any Event Attendee who is harassed, notices that someone else is being harassed, or has any other concerns related to this Anti-Harassment Policy shall contact a member of the Association staff immediately.
  1. Image Consent and Release
    1. I do hereby understand and consent to the use of my image, likeness, appearance, name, and voice (hereinafter, “Image”) by AED and its officers, employee, agents, successors, and assigns in promotional and marketing materials used for a commercial or fundraising purpose for the benefit of AED. This consent will apply to all Images taken or commissioned by AED during my attendance at the Event, and will apply to the use of those Images at all times both during and after my attendance at the Event.
    2. I consent to the use of my Image in the following forms: photographs, audio recordings, video recordings, and similar images taken in the course of my attendance at the Event.
    3. I consent to the use of my Image by AED in marketing and promotional materials meant for a commercial purpose or a fundraising purpose, including, but not limited to: any website or social media account operated, managed, or maintained by AED; any publication, magazine, brochure, newsletter, catalogs, or advertisement created or commissioned by AED; any presentation, advertisement, or sales video created or commissioned by AED; and any similar materials created or commissioned by AED for a commercial or fundraising purpose.
    4. I waive all claims to compensation or damages based on the use of my Image by AED for commercial or fundraising purposes.
    5. I waive any right to inspect or approve the finished photograph, video recording, or audio recording.
    6. I understand that I will not receive compensation for the use of my Image by AED for commercial and fundraising purposes.
    7. I understand that this consent is perpetual, that I may not revoke it, and that it is binding on me and my heirs and assigns.
    8. I warrant that I have the full right and authority to grant this consent.
  1. Miscellaneous
    1. Any decision made by the Association’s President & CEO regarding violation of these Attendee Conduct Guidelines or ejection from the Event, shall be at the sole discretion of the President and CEO, and shall be final. AED reserves the right to grant exceptions to these Attendee Conduct Guidelines in extraordinary circumstances, and the decision to do so shall not constitute a waiver of the future applicability of any rule.
    2. These Attendee Conduct Guidelines may be amended from time-to-time with or without notice to Event Attendees.
    3. I warrant that I am at least 18 years of age and that I am competent in my own name insofar as this consent is concerned. I further attest that I have read the Attendee Conduct Guidelines and agree to abide by the requirements therein, and consent to the use of my image by AED for commercial and fundraising purposes.

Any questions about these rules or notices of violation should be directed to AED’S GENERAL Counsel, Michael Airdo, at 312-506-4480 OR mairdo@airdoWERWAS.com.

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