Guidelines and Conduct

Disclaimer: As a general rule, these are the guidelines for the Global Rational User Group Community; however, due to the independence of some user groups and their user group charters these guidelines are not abided by all groups.

• Rules of Engagement
• Rational User Groups Code of Ethics
• Statement of Principles
• Rational User Group Leaders and Global Rational User Group council Members

Rules of Engagement
For companies engaged in services or products for the Rational software community.

1. Rational User group membership is open to End Users, IBM and Companies engaged in services or products for the Rational software community.
2. User group members are requested to demonstrate their cooperation in ensuring that the user group is focused around a knowledge-based sharing and a forum to better enhance the user's deployment and implementation of the software.
3. The user group community is not a forum by which to advertise job vacancies or a forum to approach members for the same.
4. The information available to the community members should include, but not be limited to:
   1. Technical information
   2. Information to solve business problems of members
   3. Information to help make Rational offers more competitive
   4. Information to further the use and broaden the implementation of Rational
5. In order to reflect a broad representation of industry information, the community welcomes information from, End Users, IBM and Companies engaged in services or products for the Rational software community.

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Rational User Group Community Code of Ethics

The Rational software Global User Group Community Code of Ethics provides a set of principles that govern the business behavior of Rational User Group Members, Rational User Group Leaders and Global Rational User Group Council Members. All should be familiar with this Code as they interact within and represent the Rational User Group community.

The Guidelines are driven by a single overriding goal - maintain an environment of ethical and professional conduct and operate in the best interests of the overall Rational user group membership.

Non-compliance will result in the immediate expulsion as a member of their Rational user group leadership or Global Rational User Group council position and/or general membership.

From time to time, the Global Rational User Group Community and the Global Rational User Group council shall review this Code of Ethics to ensure that it is up-to-date and consistent with commonly accepted principles of fair conduct.

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Statement of Principles:

1. The user group meeting forum is not to be used as a forum to advertise products, services or job vacancies or approach members regarding jobs.
2. User group members are requested to demonstrate their cooperation in ensuring that the user group is focused around a knowledge-based sharing and a forum to better enhance the user's deployment and implementation of the software.
3. User group members will strive to project an attitude of professionalism, courtesy and respect for others, their property and proprietary information.
4. User group members will refrain from the exchange, copying, and distribution of copyrighted materials and software.

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Rational User Group Leaders and Global Rational User Group council Members:

1. User Group Leaders and Global Rational User Group council Members volunteer their time, and do not receive compensation or consideration from IBM. User Group Leaders and Global Rational User Group council Members do not receive formal licenses of any IBM products involved or used for development.
2. User Group Leaders and Global Rational User Group council Members shall agree that they will:
   1. Not use the group name or membership names in any activity that results in personal gain or professional gain for their respective employers or personally owned/operated businesses.
   2. Not use the group affiliation to solicit products, equipment, or favors from vendors or attendees at any time, or by any means. User Group Leaders and Global Rational User Group council Members agree that they will not initiate conversations with User Group members for personal or professional gain with respect to their employer or their personally owned/operated business. If however, a user group member approaches a Global Rational User Group council Member seeking information, the Global Rational User Group council Member may provide such additional information at that time.
   3. Invite speaker(s) from their respective organizations for the sole purpose of knowledge-based sharing and exchange and not use this opportunity for personal or professional gain with respect to their employer or their personally owned/operated business.

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