About the club
Code of Conduct
DFMA is committed to making participation in our club and community a welcoming, harassment-free experience for everyone — on the air, online, and at events.
Our pledge
“We as DFMA members pledge to make participation in our association and our community a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of age, body size, disability, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, level of experience, education, socio-economic status, nationality, personal appearance, race, religion, or sexual identity and orientation.”
Encouraged behavior
What a good operator looks like
-
Using welcoming and inclusive language
-
Being respectful of differing viewpoints and experiences
-
Gracefully accepting constructive criticism
-
Focusing on what is best for the community
-
Showing empathy towards other community members
Unacceptable behavior
What won’t be tolerated
-
Sexualized language, imagery, or unwelcome advances
-
Trolling, insulting or derogatory comments, and personal or political attacks
-
Public or private harassment of any kind
-
Publishing others’ private information without their explicit permission
-
Any conduct that would reasonably be considered inappropriate in a professional setting
Repeater-specific rules
Additional standards apply on the DFMA repeaters
No FCC Part 97 violations
Follow the Repeater Use Policy
No soap-boxing or personal antagonisms
Do not acknowledge jammers or interference
Because our repeaters are general communication media, their availability and enjoyment depend on everyone using them responsibly. The following behaviors are unacceptable on the repeaters in addition to the general standards above:
-
FCC Part 97 violations — any transmission that is illegal or otherwise violates FCC regulations governing amateur radio.
-
Failure to follow the DFMA Repeater Use Policy — all operators are expected to know and follow the posted policy.
-
Soap-boxing and personal antagonisms — carrying on a conversation on the repeater as a thinly disguised broadcast, typically to put down an institution, group, or individual to as wide an audience as possible. This often goes hand-in-hand with overly long transmissions.
-
Responding to or acknowledging jamming or interference — engaging with a jammer rewards the behavior and prolongs the disruption. The correct response is silence.
Responsibilities
Board member role
Board members are responsible for publicizing and clarifying standards of acceptable behavior. They are expected to take appropriate and fair corrective action in response to any unacceptable behavior — including removing content, disabling repeaters, or banning individuals temporarily or permanently.
Scope
Where this applies
This Code applies to DFMA repeaters, online forums, public service events, and DFMA events — and in public spaces when an individual is representing the club or community, including via official email addresses or appointed roles.
Enforcement
How to report
Report incidents to the board at dfma-board@groups.io. All complaints will be reviewed and investigated. Board members are obligated to maintain confidentiality with regard to the reporter. The board’s first priority is correction so that everyone can continue to participate — but when correction is not possible, stronger action will be taken.
