PREAMBLE

The Illinois Craft Brewers Guild (“ICBG”) is the official trade association that represents the Illinois Craft Brewing Industry. The ICBG is committed to building a prosperous industry that is based upon best practices, effective standards and responsible leadership. A central tenet of the ICBG is to promote the Craft Beer Industry in the State of Illinois to consumers. Members of the ICBG seek to embrace the meaningful development of their fellow members, the industry, and their customers, and are committed to compliance with all laws and regulations that govern the brewing of beer. Members of the ICBG will always strive to maintain the highest standards of business conduct, by using only legal and ethical means in the business activities and in the ICBG membership’s activities. Members shall observe all applicable laws, regulations and rules pertaining to the marketing of their product. Members shall actively promote and encourage the highest level of integrity within the Craft Beer Industry. Members shall cooperate in every reasonable and proper way with other members and work with them in the advancement of the industry. Members shall commit to the development and use of the most effective standards and practices to promote consumer safety and awareness of the effects of consumption of beer. One member’s misconduct can damage the Guild’s entire hard earned reputation and compromise the integrity of the Guild. Every member of the Guild should therefore be familiar with this code and abide by its provisions.

PURPOSE

The ICBG exists for three core reasons. First, to give brewers a voice in addressing all issues (governmental or other) which affect the regulation of our industry. Second, to provide educational opportunities for Illinois craft brewers to further knowledge and educate the consumer while encouraging responsible consumption. Lastly, to promote members and their products to brewers, suppliers, legislators, tourists, and the public.

MISSION

As the Illinois Craft Brewer’s Guild, we will: foster access to materials and markets; encourage progressive research advancement in safety, sustainability, education, technology and materials; advocate for legislative and regulatory treatments that are fair and allow for growth; demand commitment to quality; educate craft beer drinkers and enthusiasts to understand our beers and support our brewers.

CORE VALUES & BELIEFS

The ICBG believes in: promoting and highlighting the small, collaborative, independent, traditional and creative culture of Illinois craft brewers; adamantly defending our trade and providing Illinois craft brewers with a collective voice; championing and supporting the responsible enjoyment of craft beer; teaching brewers and beer enthusiasts about the complexity, diversity and quality of beer; nurturing ethical and legal trade practices; developing relationships and working collaboratively with industry partners.

A. PRINCIPLES OF CONDUCT

1. We will seek to achieve the highest standards and will offer our services honestly and honorably in a fair manner, and encourage our member companies and stakeholders to do the same.
2. We shall behave in a professional manner and will respect the reputation of our sector and the other organizations with which we liaise.
3. We will undertake to promote co-operation within the Craft Brewing Industry in which we work, and between members, customers and suppliers. In doing this, we will seek to identify and apply good practices.
4. We will commit to improving the performance and reputation of the Illinois Craft Brewing Industry.
5. We will endeavor to maintain and improve the quality of our work through constant review of our aims, activities and outcomes, and the cost-effectiveness of every activity. Where there is a proven and positive cost or benefit to doing so, we will aspire to seek appropriate certification or accreditation under a recognized quality assurance scheme.
6. We will follow the rules of any public body to which we make representation and, where appropriate, seek guidance from the public body on any rules of relevance.
7. We will pay our bills promptly, and encourage the same of our members and suppliers.

B. INTEGRITY

1. We are committed to maintaining the highest degree of integrity in all our dealings with potential, current and past members as well as other stakeholders and consumers.
2. We recognize that our member companies may be in direct competition. We will strive to avoid showing any preference towards any member company over another and endeavor to maintain an independent position in our dealings.
3. We will ensure that all relevant competition laws are respected by our members in their dealings with us and each other.
4. We will never offer any financial or other inducement, including direct and indirect payments, offers of employment or substantial gifts or entertainment, to any member or prospective member.

C. TRANSPARENCY AND OPENNESS

1. We are clear and precise about our identity.
2. We will endeavor to represent the common interests of all members.
3. Where there is diverging opinion within the membership, we will seek to present a balanced case respecting the different interests involved. Where appropriate we will work with nonmembers and other associations in allied sectors on matters of joint concern.
4. We will use reasonable endeavors to ensure the truth and accuracy of any statements made or information provided to any third party in order to never knowingly make false or misleading claims or misrepresent the views of others.

D. MEMBERSHIP

To qualify for and maintain a membership in the ICBG all members shall:

1. Share in and strictly abide by the core values as set fully in this of Code of Conduct.
2. Supply accurate and complete information on the Member’s Application and background including information concerning the company’s principals and management personnel.
3. Members shall not have been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude or fraud by a court of competent jurisdiction.
4. Cooperate and abide by ICBG’s self-regulatory efforts, its complaint resolution programs and other association rules.
5. Promptly responded to all complaint’s forwarded by the ICBG or from any official complaint resolutions program, make a good faith and reasonable effort to resolve all such complaints in accordance with generally accepted business practices and activities, and to comply with the terms of any findings issued.
6. Meet its financial obligations, including, without limitations, financial obligations to the ICBG.

E. ENFORCEMENT OF THE CODE OF ETHICS AND STANDARDS OF CONDUCT

Any member of ICBG may be admonished, suspended or expelled for cause due to conduct, acts, or omissions that are contrary to the spirit and letter of the Code of Conduct. This disciplinary review process is enforced through ICBG’s Membership Ethics Advisory Panel (“MEAP”), a Board-appointed group that is focused on monitoring the industry, educating ICBG members on best practices in business ethics, and investigating allegations of Code violations. Specifically, the MEAP is responsible for reviewing (a) prospective member companies who are found in the membership application process to have questionable practices; and (b) allegations of unethical, deceptive, misleading, or unfair practices by current ICBG members. It acts in an advisory capacity to the Board of Directors. The MEAP consists of (3) members, including the Chair. The members of the MEAP, including the Chair, shall be appointed by the ICBG Board of Directors from amongst the members of ICBG. In order to be eligible to serve on the MEAP, panel members must:

1. be an employee of a ICBG member company in good standing;
2. hold a management level position within the member company;
3. possess significant knowledge of and experience in the Craft Beer Industry;
4. possess a working understanding of the ICBG Ethics Code of Conduct, Standards of Conduct, Bylaws, and all other ICBG policies, rules or regulations;
5. not have been involved in any acts, polices, or omissions that violate the Code of Conduct;
6. not be a member of the ICBG Board of Directors.

MEAP members agree to keep confidential the subject of all complaints and investigative discussions unless or until corrective action is taken by the Board. Investigations may not be discussed outside of the panel’s formal meetings.

The disciplinary measures which may be imposed upon a member may include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following: (a) a notice of corrective action, which entails a recommended remedy and an expression of concern and warning that more severe action could following if a future violation occurs; (b) a public notice of corrective action; (c) probation, in which the member shall lose all rights of membership for up to three years; and (d) expulsion, in which the member shall lose all right of membership.

F. BOARD MEMBERS, COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND STAFF

Board members, committee members and staff should:

1. Listen to our stakeholders and make all reasonable efforts to satisfy their needs and concerns within the scope of our mission, and to strive for excellence and innovation and demonstrate professional respect and responsiveness to constituents, donors and others.
2. Respect the confidentiality of sensitive information about the ICBG, its members, constituents, donors, board and employees.
3. Comply with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and fiduciary responsibilities in an effort to create transparency in all of our operations
4. For the board of directors, provide credible and effective oversight to the organization’s work without personal bias.
5. Not accept commissions, gifts, payments, loans, promises of future benefits or other items of value from anyone who has or may seek some benefit from the ICBG Association in return, other than occasional fits of nominal value that are in keeping with good business ethics.
6. Abide by the governing documents and policies of the ICBG.
7. Be accountable for adhering to this Code of Conduct.
8. Act at all times in accordance with the highest ethical standards and in the best interest of the ICBG, its members, constituents, donors and reputation.
9. Honor our commitments and promises to the best of our abilities.
10. Appropriately acknowledge contributions from other individuals and organizations who help facilitate our goals.

G. COMPLIANCE, MONITORING AND REPORTING

The ICBG Association management is responsible for communicating this Code of Conduct to all members of the board of directors, standing committee members, as well as staff, staff interns and staff volunteers and its adherence at all times.

H. CONFIDENTIALITY

1. We will always try to maintain commercial confidentiality, and also protect all personal information received in the course of providing business services.
2. We shall take reasonable endeavors to safeguard the confidences of all members and past members and shall not disclose these confidences to their disadvantage or prejudice unless the member has released such information for public use or has given permission for disclosure.

I. DISCRIMINATORY CONDUCT

1. We will strive to ensure that all professional duties are conducted without causing offense on the grounds of gender, race, religion, disability or any other form of discrimination or unacceptable reference.