Miss Maryland Volunteer
Grievance Policy
Our Mission & Core Values
The Miss Maryland Volunteer Pageant’s mission is to empower young women across the state and nation through educational scholarships and extraordinary opportunities. We seek to support young women in their pursuit of higher education, and to help them to graduate debt free while strengthening their public speaking abilities, communication skills, and overall self confidence. In order to fulfill our mission, we, as a collective group of volunteers, work diligently to embrace the principles outlined in our Miss Maryland Volunteer Five Pillars of Integrity: Respect, Trust, Fairness, Honesty, and Purpose.
Commitment to Integrity & Transparency
As an organization that seeks to empower women to pursue their dreams and academic goals, our commitment to integrity and transparency is at the core of all we do. We believe that fostering an environment of trust and openness is essential to the success and reputation of our organization.
The Miss Maryland Volunteer Pageant adheres to maintaining honesty and accountability in all our actions to ensure that every contestant, volunteer, and stakeholder can have confidence in the fairness and ethical standards of our program. Our transparent processes are designed to provide clarity and build trust, from our selection procedures to our financial practices. We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and respectful atmosphere where everyone feels valued and heard.
We invite you to learn more about our policies and practices, and to join us in our commitment to integrity and transparency.
Understanding Our Grievance Policy: A Guide to Addressing Concerns
Purpose:
The purpose of this Grievance Policy is to ensure a fair, transparent, and confidential process for addressing grievances within the Miss Maryland Volunteer Pageant. This policy outlines the procedures for reporting grievances and establishes benchmarks that warrant internal investigations to maintain the integrity and ethical standards of the program.
Grievance Reporting:
Any person may report a grievance in writing to the state leadership office. Grievances should be submitted within 30 days of the incident(s) giving rise to the complaint. However, grievances will be reviewed regardless of the date it is received.
2. Grievance Officer:
The Grievance Officer shall be a neutral and impartial individual appointed by the Miss Maryland Volunteer Program. The Grievance Officer will oversee the grievance process, ensure confidentiality, and conduct internal investigations when necessary.
3. Grievance Benchmarks for Internal Investigation:
Internal investigations will be initiated when the reported grievance involves:
a. Misconduct: Allegations of any misconduct, including but not limited to harassment, discrimination, or abuse of power, committed by a participant, staff member, or volunteer.
b. Breach of Ethical Standards: Violation of Miss Maryland Volunteer Code of Ethics and Conduct, including acts that compromise the integrity of the program or its competitions.
c. Financial Irregularities: Suspected embezzlement, fraud, or financial mismanagement involving program funds.
d. Unfair Practices: Any actions that may give undue advantage to a participant or cause unfair disadvantages to others.
e. Criminal Offenses: Allegations or suspicions of criminal offenses committed by a participant, staff member, or volunteer concerning competition or organization related activities.
4. Investigation Process:
Upon receipt of a written grievance that meets the benchmarks for internal investigation, the Grievance Officer will initiate a thorough, impartial, and confidential investigation. The process may include interviews with relevant parties, collection of evidence, and consultation with legal counsel if necessary.
5. Confidentiality:
All parties involved in the grievance process, including the complainant, respondent, witnesses, and the Grievance Officer, must maintain strict confidentiality throughout the investigation. Breach of confidentiality may result in disciplinary action.
6. Resolution and Follow-up:
Upon completion of the investigation, the Grievance Officer will submit a detailed report to the Miss Maryland Volunteer State Leadership Team. Based on the findings, appropriate actions will be taken, including disciplinary measures, participant disqualification, or staff/volunteer involvement termination. The Miss Maryland Volunteer State Leadership Team will communicate the resolution to the parties involved. The conclusion and determination of Miss Maryland Volunteer State Leadership Team concerning the grievance is final.
7. Non-Retaliation:
The Miss Maryland Volunteer Program strictly prohibits retaliation against anyone who files a grievance in good faith or participates in the investigation process. Any instances of retaliation may be subject to additional disciplinary action.
8. Policy Review:
This Grievance Policy will be reviewed annually to ensure its effectiveness and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Contact Us.
If your grievance meets the criteria above, please fill out the contact form so that we can provide you with the applicable documentation needed for you to move forward with your formal complaint.