Legal and Privacy Information

Music content is © respective copyright or publishing owners.

The original writing and photography of the Big Heavy World web site by Big Heavy World is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Based on a work at http://www.bigheavyworld.com.

Code of Conduct

Big Heavy World administrates Code for BTV, an official Code for America Brigade of civic technologists. The Code for America community expects that Code for America network activities, events, and digital forums:

• Are a safe and respectful environment for all participants.

• Are a place where people are free to fully express their identities.

• Presume the value of others. Everyone's ideas, skills, and contributions have value.

• Don't assume everyone has the same context, and encourage questions.

• Find a way for people to be productive with their skills (technical and not) and energy. Use language such as "yes/and", not "no/but."

• Encourage members and participants to listen as much as they speak.

• Strive to build tools that are open and free technology for public use. Activities that aim to foster public use, not private gain, are prioritized.

• Prioritize access for and input from those who are traditionally excluded from the civic process.

• Work to ensure that the community is well-represented in the planning, design, and implementation of civic tech. This includes encouraging participation from women, minorities, and traditionally marginalized groups.

• Actively involve community groups and those with subject matter expertise in the decision-making process.

• Ensure that the relationships and conversations between community members, the local government staff and community partners remain respectful, participatory, and productive.

• Provide an environment where people are free from discrimination or harassment.

Racial Equity / Diversity Statement

Big Heavy World is committed to involving our staff and community members as partners in the ongoing process of developing and implementing racial equity work. We acknowledge and honor the fundamental value and dignity of all individuals by embracing cultural differences and remaining open to new experiences. We strive to be an organization and community in which people of all races create, share, and enjoy resources and relationships equitably. We have committed to complying with all diversity initiatives outlined in our following statement, and encourage others in our community to do so as well.

Employment Policies: Employees at Big Heavy World on-board with zero racial, cultural, or alternative biases. We welcome people from all identities, genders, races, cultures, and abilities, and do not allow discrimination of any nature. We are proactively an open, community-based, positive environment.

Our recent diversity initiatives: To cultivate and encourage a diverse and culturally aware community, Big Heavy World has dedicated itself to amplifying the presence of BIPOC (Black Indigenous People of Color) music, in which at least one or more BIPOC songs are in circulation and featured per hour. We have produced numerous special racial equity-themed programs in response to and commemoration of current events. We reach out to marginalized groups with the invitation to bring programming to our radio station that is relevant to those communities or offered in languages other than English.

Future Diversity Initiative Goals: To continually foster an inclusive and diverse environment, initiatives being developed for the future include: Expanding the on-air roster of Vermont-based BIPOC artists; continually supporting and welcoming our diverse community; and continually exploring opportunities to achieve racial equity and promote diversity.

Big Heavy World is committed to following the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s Diversity Eligibility Criteria. ,

This statement was inspired by Vermont Public Radio, WSKG, Jefferson Public Radio, and New Hampshire Public Radio.

The Vermont Music Shop

Our music shop accepts returns of damaged or defective merchandise within 30 days of purchase.

Privacy Statement

Big Heavy World has created this privacy statement in order to demonstrate our firm commitment to privacy. The following discloses our information gathering and dissemination practices for the websites: bigheavyworld.com, theradiator.org, and vmls.org.

This site contains links to other sites. bigheavyworld.com is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of such Web sites.

Our site uses an order form for customers to request information, products, and services. We collect visitor's contact information (like their email address) and financial information (like their account or credit card numbers). Contact information from the order form is used to send orders, information about our company, and promotional material from some of our partners to our customers. The customer's contact information is also used to get in touch with the visitor when necessary. Users may opt-out of receiving future mailings; see the choice/opt-out section below. Financial information that is collected is used to bill the user for products and services.

We run contests on our site in which we ask visitors for contact information (like their email address) and demographic information (like their zip code, age, or income level). We use contact data from our contests to send users information about our company and promotional material from some of our partners. The customer's contact information is also used to contact the visitor when necessary. Users may opt-out of receiving future mailings; see the choice/opt-out section below. Demographic and profile data is also collected at our site. We use this data to tailor our visitor's experience at our site, showing them content that we think they might be interested in, and displaying the content according to their preferences.

Our site uses cookies.

Public Forums

This site makes chat rooms, forums, message boards, and/or news groups available to its users. Please remember that any information that is disclosed in these areas becomes public information and you should exercise caution when deciding to disclose your personal information.

Security

This site has security measures in place to protect the loss, misuse and alteration of the information under our control.

Choice/Opt-Out

This site gives users the following options for removing their information from our database to not receive future communications or to no longer receive our service.

• You can send email to info (at) bigheavyworld.com

• You can send mail to the following postal address: P.O. Box 428, Burlington, VT 05402-0428 USA

Correct/Update

This site gives users the following options for changing and modifying information previously provided.

• email info (at) bigheavyworld.com

• send mail to the following postal address: P.O. Box 428, Burlington, VT 05402-0428 USA

Contacting the Web Site

If you have any questions about this privacy statement, the practices of this site, or your dealings with this Web site, you can contact

James E. Lockridge Big Heavy World P.O. Box 428 Burlington, VT 05402-0428 USA

info (at) bigheavyworld.com (Contact form)

Anti-Harassment Policy

All Big Heavy World network activities, events, and digital forums and their staff, presenters, and participants are held to an anti-harassment policy, below.

Big Heavy World is dedicated to providing a harassment-free experience for everyone. Sexual language and imagery is not appropriate for any Big Heavy World event or network activity. Anyone in violation of these policies may be expelled from Big Heavy World network activities, events, and digital forums, at the discretion of the event organizer or forum administrator.

Harassment includes but is not limited to: Offensive verbal or written comments related to gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, appearance, race, religion; sexual images in public spaces; deliberate intimidation; stalking; nonconsensual photography or recording; sustained disruption of talks or other events; inappropriate physical contact; unwelcome sexual attention; and unwarranted exclusion.

If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of the event staff or forum administrator immediately. Event staff or forum administrators will be happy to help participants contact venue security or local law enforcement, provide escorts, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment. If you cannot reach an event organizer or forum administrator in an emergency, call 911 and/or remove yourself from the situation.

You can also contact Big Heavy World about harassment by emailing one of it’s long-term volunteers, James Lockridge, jim@bigheavyworld.com; Bob Colquhoun, bob@bigheavyworld.com or Ross Mickel, Ross.Mickel@gmail.com, using the email template below. Big Heavy World may not always be in a position to intervene or evaluate, but we encourage you to inform us.

Email Template for Anti-Harassment Reporting:

SUBJECT: Safe Space alert at [EVENT NAME]

I am writing because of harassment at a Big Heavy World event, (NAME, PLACE, DATE OF EVENT).

You can reach me at (CONTACT INFO). Thank you.

Signature, Date, Cell Phone, Email

Our Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Big Heavy World provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. Big Heavy World complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Big Heavy World expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Big Heavy World’s employees to perform their expected job duties is absolutely not tolerated.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY

SECTION 1. PURPOSES: The standard of behavior expected at Big Heavy World is that all board members, officers, and staff scrupulously avoid any conflict of interest between the interests of the organization on the one hand and their personal, professional, and business interests on the other. This includes avoiding actual conflicts of interest as well as perceptions of conflicts of interest.

Several purposes of the Big Heavy World Conflict of Interest Policy are: To protect the integrity of the Big Heavy World decision-making process, to enable our stakeholders to have confidence in our integrity, and to protect the integrity and reputation of our board members, officers, and staff.

In addition, Big Heavy World is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization. Maintenance of its tax-exempt status is important both for its continued financial stability and for public support. Therefore, the IRS as well as state regulatory and tax officials view the operations of Big Heavy World as a public trust, which is subject to scrutiny by and accountable to such governmental authorities as well as members of the public.

Consequently, there exists between Big Heavy World and its board members, officers, and staff and the public a fiduciary duty, which carries with it a broad and unbending duty of loyalty and fidelity. The board members, officers and staff have the responsibility of administering the affairs of Big Heavy World honestly and prudently, and of exercising their best care, skill, and judgment for the sole benefit of Big Heavy World. These persons shall exercise the utmost good faith in all transactions involved in their duties, and they shall not use their positions with Big Heavy World or knowledge gained there for their personal benefit. The interests of the organization must be the first priority in all decisions and actions.

SECTION 2. PERSONS CONCERNED:

This policy is directed to board members, officers, and staff of Big Heavy World.

SECTION 3. AREAS WHERE CONFLICT MAY ARISE:

Conflicts of interest may arise in the relations of board members, officers and staff with any of the following third parties:

1. Persons and firms supplying goods and services to Big Heavy World.

2. Persons and firms from whom Big Heavy World leaves property and equipment.

3. Persons and firms with whom Big Heavy World is dealing or planning to deal in connection with the gift, purchase or sale of real estate, securities, or other property.

4. Competing or affinity organizations.

5. Donors and others supporting Big Heavy World.

6. Agencies, organizations, and associations that affect the operations of Big Heavy World.

7. Family members, friends, and co-workers.

SECTION 4. NATURE OF CONFLICTING INTEREST:

A conflicting interest may be defined as an interest, direct or indirect, in connection with any of the parties mentioned in Section 3. Such an interest might arise through:

1. Owning stock or holding debt or other proprietary interests in any third party dealing with Big Heavy World.

2. Holding office, serving on the board, participating in management, or being otherwise employed (or formerly employed) with any third party dealing with Big Heavy World.

3. Receiving remuneration for services with respect to individual transactions involving Big Heavy World.

4. Using Big Heavy World’s time, personnel, equipment, supplies, or good will for other than Big Heavy World-approved activities, programs, and purposes.

5. Receiving personal gifts or loans from third parties dealing with or competing with Big Heavy World. Receipt of any gift is disapproved except gifts of a value of less than $50, which could not be refused without discourtesy. No personal gift of money should ever be accepted.

SECTION 5. INTERPRETATION OF THIS POLICY:

The areas of conflicting interest listed in Section 3, and the relations in those areas which may give rise to conflict, as listed in Section 4, are not exhaustive. Conflicts may arise in other areas or through other relations. It is assumed that the board members, officers and staff will recognize such areas and relations by analogy.

The fact that one of the interests described in Section 4 exists does not necessarily means that a conflict exists, or that the conflict, if it exists, is material enough to be of practical importance, or that if material, that upon full disclosure of all relevant facts and circumstances it is necessarily adverse to the interests of Big Heavy World.

However, it is the policy of the board that the existence of any of the interests described in Section 4 shall be disclosed before any transaction related to those interests is consummated. It shall be the continuing responsibility of the board members, officers and staff to scrutinize their transactions and outside business interests and relationships for potential conflicts and to immediately make such disclosures.

SECTION 6. DISCLOSURE POLICY AND PROCEDURE:

Transactions with parties with whom a conflicting interest exists may be undertaken ONLY if ALL of the following are observed:

1. The conflicting interest is fully disclosed;

2. The person with the conflict of interest is excluded from the discussion and approval of such transaction;

3. A competitive bid or comparable valuable exists; and

4. The board has determined that the transaction is in the best interest of the organization.

Disclosure involving board members, officers and staff should be made to the Board President, or if she or he is the person with the conflict, then to the Board Vice President who shall bring these matters to the board.

The board shall determine whether a conflict exists, and in the case of an existing conflict, whether the contemplated transaction may be authorized as just, fair, and reasonable to Big Heavy World. The decision of the board in these matters will rest in its sole discretion, and its concern must be the welfare of Big Heavy World and the advancement of Big Heavy World’s purpose.