Suggested Protocol for an Unsafe Situation
Situations can occur in meetings that can lead to unsafe situations whether they be sexual, violent, manipulative, financial or emotional. If you find yourself in any such situation here are some recommended resolutions to the problem…
- You can confront the person or persons head on.
- Some situations are more serious and some can be as simple as resentment. Depending on the circumstances and by using your best judgment, things can be resolved by simply confronting the person head on. You can ask someone to be there with you, if that makes you more comfortable.
- If you choose to discuss the matter with the person you believe has made you feel unsafe, be mindful that this cannot always go the way you want it to. We recommend this for issues that can be easily resolved.
- You can discuss the situation with someone you trust (another fellow, your sponsor, etc)
- If you are unsure of how to proceed or even the severity of the conflict, you can reach out to another fellow, your sponsor, or any other person whom you trust for advice on how to handle the concern.
- If you are experiencing an unsafe situation, there is a good chance that someone else in the rooms has dealt with it too. These fellows with their own past experiences can be a great resource to help find a solution.
- Be mindful of the person you choose to discuss this with to ensure the matter is handled with emotional intelligence.
- You can report the situation to the safety committee. (email chair@madistrict6.org)
- These situations can be complicated and there is no strict policy in place to handle them when they come up. For guidance, suggestions, or assistance you can email the safety committee and we are happy to be of service.
- You can bring the situation to the meeting itself.
- When you are not sure of the best way to proceed or you feel that you have adequately set a boundary but it is not being respected, you can bring the problem up to the meeting. As a member of the program, you can make an announcement during the meeting that you would like to discuss a safety concern at the next business meeting. If you believe it to be urgent you can suggest an immediate business meeting with a group conscience.
- Keep in mind that all meetings are autonomous and may not have any policies in place to deal with such issues. You can come with suggested solutions or leave it to the group to come to a conclusion together. Either way meetings are ruled by the group conscience and any actions would have to be voted on by the meeting as a whole.
- For more serious incidents we suggest filing a police report.
- District 6 is not able to take any legal actions towards any individual. Any criminal situation should be taken to the proper authorities.
Be mindful of the actions you are choosing to take, as the only actions you can control are your own. It is important to articulate your needs and expectations as any actions should be ones made with your consent.