Code of Conduct
1. CONFIDENTIALITY is very important. All names, locations, and other vital information is to be kept confidential unless specifically discussed otherwise. Breaking this policy will result in immediate and permanent termination as a member of CHIPS.
2. No member shall perform any investigation using the name CHIPS without the approval of CHIPS founders and at least one team leader present. (We cannot prevent members from conducting their own investigations, however, in order to make this group work, we need to work as a team).
3. A written "permission to investigate" form will be held by one of the team leaders.
4. RESPECT. All members are to respect everyone in the group. We may not always agree or see eye-to-eye, but respect is necessary. CHIPS members are expected to respect the property of others. VANDALISM, LITTERING, etc. will NOT be tolerated by CHIPS. Any destruction of property by ANYONE will be reported by CHIPS team leaders to the proper authorities.
5. NEVER INVESTIGATE ALONE. Because of safety, if the team is split into groups it will be at least groups of two and never anyone by themselves.
6. CEMETERIES. Remember, people have buried their loved ones here! Just because we may not know anyone buried in a cemetery does not mean that we should treat it with any less respect than if we did have loved one there.
7. NO SMOKING during an investigation. A smoking area will be designated prior to the start of the investigation in which smokers will be allowed to take "smoke breaks". Cigarette butts should be properly disposed of and not discarded on the ground.
8. NO ALCOHOL or ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES. No one will ever be allowed on an investigation under the influence of alcohol or an illegal substance.
9. All evidence collected in an investigation WILL be shared with the team leaders for analysis. It will become the property of CHIPS. This is to prevent our members from sharing their evidence with other online groups in which they are also members.
10. ALL issues or disagreements need to be discussed with a CHIPS team leader, and the team leader will work out the problem. Please, if you have a problem with someone on the team or the way that they are conducting themselves, do not address it yourself. A team leader will resolve the issue.
11. CHIPS, from time to time, may work with other paranormal groups during an investigation. ALL members of CHIPS will respect other groups that we work with. They have rules that they go by, and prior to any investigation with another team, CHIPS will review their rules and abide by them as well as our own. Any issue that arises in dealing with another team MUST be brought to a CHIPS team leader and that team leader will discuss the issue with a team leader of the group we are working with.
12. Use COMMON SENSE!!
13. Violations of any rules listed above will result in immediate termination of membership, access to equipment, and any association with CHIPS.
14. A protection prayer will be said at the beginning and end of all investigations. If you have any objections to this, get with the founder and or other members who have experience and find out what happens if you don't say a protection prayer.
15. You agree to hold no member of CHIPS liable for damages to your person, or your property.
16. Each individual will be responsible for their own equipment even if it is loaned out to someone else on site.
17. Do NOT bring friends, family members with you on an investigation.
18.Ouija boards will never be used.
19. Show Up On Time!
20. CHIPS founders reserve the right to add, delete, and edit rules of conduct as they see fit.