Code of Ethics for the Memphis Council for International Visitors

based on the Nonprofit Organization Code of Ethics written by the Independent Sector

Personal and Professional Integrity

All staff, board members and volunteers of MCIV act with honesty, integrity and openness in all their dealings as representatives of the organization.  MCIV promotes a working environment that values respect, fairness and integrity.

Mission

MCIV’s mission and purpose, as approved by the board of directors in pursuit of the public good, is to bridge cultures and build mutually beneficial relationships through person to person international exchanges. MCIV adheres to the following values in pursuit of its mission:

§  We believe in the value of citizen diplomacy — that the individual citizen has the right, even the responsibility, to help shape foreign policy "one handshake at a time."

§  We believe that the peoples of the world are interdependent and that our future is secured through collaborations nurtured by free, open, and respectful communication.

§  We believe that face-to-face meetings are the most effective means of communicating and that their success requires knowledge, information, and the skills to embrace and surmount cultural differences.

§  We believe that international exchange programs should engage all peoples within and across nations, spanning ideologies, cultures, ethnicities, age, gender and economic status; we believe these experiences are essential for those who hope to lead the communities and nations of the world.

§  We believe that the Memphis Council for International Visitors must at all times meet rigorous standards of quality and excellence in our programs, services, leadership, and management.

§  We believe that the pursuit of excellence requires commitment and competence and that it should be marked by flexibility, risk taking, and an enthusiasm that is infectious and invigorating to our boards, staffs, and volunteers and obvious to those we serve.

§  We believe that voluntarism is a unique trait of American society that must be reflected in our organization and programs; it is incumbent on us to generate and manage with wisdom and care the financial and human resources that will keep us vibrant.

 

All of MCIV’s programs support that mission and all who work for or on behalf of MCIV understand and are loyal to that mission and purpose. The mission is responsive to the constituency and communities served by the organization and of value to the society at large.