Code of Ethics

Fromper Award Program

I, Anitra L. Freeman, own all Awards Programs held at Anitra's Web (http://anitra.net/ or http://anitraweb.org/ and sometimes referred to as AnitraWeb) including that run under the subdomain The Amused Muse (http://amusedmuse.anitraweb.org/).

I do hereby declare on behalf of myself and any other Evaluator who may be contracted at any time by Anitra's Web or The Amused Muse to evaluate for any AnitraWeb Sponsored Award Program, that we agree to advance and promote the Web site Evaluator Code of Ethics in order to ensure fairness to all Applicants and to maintain the honor and integrity of Applicants, Evaluators and Awards.

  • I will not discriminate on grounds of race, gender, nation of origin, religion, profession, age, mental or physical handicap, or any other reason which is not globally viewed as an illegal trait or manner of conduct.

  • I will clearly post Awards Criteria and adhere to the criteria I post. If I plan to make changes, those changes will be posted in an "upcoming changes" page for two (2) weeks prior to the final publishing of those changes as part of the set criteria, with notices posted on site so all potential Applicants can view and understand the proposed changes.

  • I will evaluate web sites under the Criteria which was in place at the time of any and/or all applications. If changes are made to the Criteria AFTER an application is received, the submitted site will be evaluated using the Criteria that was in effect when the Applicant initially submitted the site.

  • I consider eligible all Applicants who meet the SET (posted online, written = set) Criteria of the award they apply for. I agree to be uniform in my eligibility requirements (Criteria) and will fairly evaluate all sites/pages meeting the Criteria that are submitted by any Applicant.

  • I have a lot of friends on the Internet, and even a few enemies. If I have a conflict of interest in evaluating your site (if, for instance, you donated to a cause I work with, or publicly lambasted a cause I work with; published an article of mine, or refused to publish an article of mine; have had a long-running loving correspondence, or a long-running flame war) I will promptly notify you, in writing, of a 'Refrain to Evaluate' and offer offer you an alternate choice of Evaluator.

  • Whoever evaluates a web site for an Award (so far, just me) will be named on this site, with information about their qualifications.

  • I will maintain a professional, friendly and positive manner in any and/or all correspondence and/or communication held with any Applicant.

  • I will not offer criticism (a site critique) unless specifically requested by an Applicant, and in such instances, will remain positive and constructive in nature in an effort to promote goodwill and advance the level of quality among Internet sites.

    I do contact applicants if there is an easily correctible problem that could affect your winning the Award. All critiques given will be constructive in nature, as positive comment is productive.

  • I will evaluate all submitted sites within four (4) weeks of receipt of submission. I have not always done this in the past. If this deadline cannot be met in the future, I will post a notice on site that submissions are suspended, until I can again work within this time frame.

  • All information received from Applicants via e-mail submissions or submission forms will be deemed private. I will not divulge any information about any Applicant to persons, groups, or agencies not directly connected to my Awards Programs, and only then for the purpose of evaluating submissions and notifying winners.

  • I encourage and promote the use of original material for Awards Programs Criteria and evaluation processes. I will gladly assist any person requesting advice concerning ethical evaluation for and disbursement of awards. PLEASE NOTE: The Awards Evaluation processes in use at Anitra's Web are copyrighted material and written authorization is required for their use.

  • I will maintain any individual web site I own that includes an Awards Program to a standard that meets the Criteria of the Award given. In the case of any Award offered that is OUTSIDE the main subject of my web site, any such web site will be maintained to a high standard of integrity in all its areas.

  • I agree to maximum dimensions of Awards given in courtesy to web sites that will use them. My Award is under 10K in file size, but it is 250x250 pixel size, which is larger than most awards. I give permission to award recipients to resize the award, as long as it stays in proportion. I will resize the award on request. You may also use a text-only link to acknowledge the award, if you wish.

  • I will post the site name and description of all winning sites with a link graphic of their choice of at least the file size and dimensions of the award graphic I ask them to post. For this site, link graphics may be up to 12K in file size, and either up to 250x250 or a standard banner size of 468x60.

  • There will be only one obligation for winning Awards from this web site beyond meeting the Criteria. It is a requirement that any Awards granted from this web site must be linked back to our web site in a method that will be outlined in Award notification e-mails. It is not, and never will be, mandatory at this web site to sign a Guest book or to join a mailing list.

  • I will not grant Awards to, nor in any other manner endorse or promote, any web site that endorses, promotes or contains content which is considered globally to be illegal or discriminatory whether same be against human or wildlife.

  • I will not accept favors of any sort in exchange for preferential treatment of submissions. I will at all times maintain a high standard of honesty and integrity.

  • I will take all measures necessary to maintain the honor and integrity of my Awards Program.

Submitted on this day, January 9, 2003.

This Code was adapted, with minor variations, from the Code of Ethics developed by Rhonda M. Serong. The original author's note follows:

To Whomever this may concern:

For the purposes of this statement the Code of Ethics / Statement of Ethics will be known as the 'Code'.

Reason: As the 'Code' was created to be adapted for the use of individual Award Programs varying Titles may also be used.

The Spirit of the 'Code' and the reasoning behind the 'Code' being created and then gifted to the Awards Community were and remain as follows:

The Spirit of the 'Code' was and is that individuals, groups and/or organizations worldwide could have freely available a flexible standard format which could be used as the backbone of ethical Award Programs.

That no one individual, group and / or organization can or should own such a vehicle, therefore the 'Code', in its entirety, is International Property.

Any individuals, groups and / or organizations believing in and standing behind the 'Code' may legally without restriction offer the 'Code' in the form of a document from their website for use by other individuals, groups and / or organizations who may wish to adhere to such a 'Code'.

The 'Code' is to be offered to any individuals, groups and / or organizations without restrictions: this means that mandatory group and / or organization membership may not be part of the overall use of the 'Code'.

The 'Code', although within the environs of websites protected by Copyright, cannot be covered by any Copyright. The 'Code' belongs to all individuals, groups and/or organizations who desire to abide by the spirit and content of the 'Code' for the betterment of the International Awards Community.

Signed:

Rhonda M. Serong
(Original author of the Declaration of Ethics)

E-mail: otak@xtra.co.nz
Updated: January 9, 2003