Policies

We try to plan events with a variety of themes, activities, and focus for our community. This can be Speed Dating, Board Game Meetups, Sloshs, Munches, Polyamory Socials, Classes and Education, Play Parties, Impact Parties, Snuggle events, Movie Nights, tournaments, etc. Let us know if you have a fun idea! Members plan meetups on their own as well in the DISCORD server!

All money made through the BVC website is deposited to *INNER CHILD STUDIO (ICS) and used for BVC expenses. No one makes money unless they are gifted for volunteering. *ICS is a 502(c)3 non-profit organization.

BVC is a collective because we want whoever is involved to be making decisions. We have loose leadership, guidance, and consulting from various professionals, leaders, and experienced humans. Our community is based on CONSENT, COMMUNICATION, and human CONNECTION.

INTERNAL PRIVACY BVC will never sell, give, trade, expose or exploit your private information to any individual, company, or law enforcement without proper subpoena Your Private information is: legal name phone number address e-mail address social media handles identifying information like workplace, physical description, or relationships BVC Leadership that has access to volunteer information Volunteer Coordinator Front Desk Admin Operations Admin BVC Leadership that has access to Member database front desk admin operations admin COMMUNITY PRIVACY Failure to follow the rules will result in suspension of access or permanent banning from the premises. GUESTS SHALL NOT under any circumstances: share the social media handles, gaming handles, phone number, e-mail, address, workplace, location, or any other contact information of any other human being, inside the premises or outside, without explicit consent from them attempt to contact in any way any other human being through any means, physically or digitally, directly or indirectly, without their explicit consent to do so approach or attempt to communicate with someone in public that you know or recognize from BVC without their explicit previous consent to do so put anyone's privacy at risk in any way (online posting, photos, doxing) Take or post photos, recordings, or video of anyone without their explicit consent REPORTING Report any privacy violations you see or experience right away If the violation against you or others occurs on property, inform a volunteer or security officer right away You may submit an anonymous form if you see conduct violations against others. Reporting a violation against you requires your contact information so we can follow up with you.

All humans who enter the premises or are within 25 feet of any entrance shall at all times honor the COC or risk membership suspension, permanent banning, being legally trespassed, or arrested. The Code of Conduct is based on common sense and basic human values. Do not violate the dress codes. Read event descriptions carefully. VIP Members are responsible for the conduct of any GUEST they sponsor using a GUEST PASS. Do not touch anyone without their consent Do not touch anyone's property without their consent Do not violate the COMMUNITY PRIVACY POLICY in any way Do not violate the SAFETY POLICY in any way Do not approach someone if you are interrupting a conversation, scene, or the intimacy and privacy of others Failure to stop scenes immediately when a safe word or action is used may result in immediate removal from premises. Any guest perceived to be under the influence of alcohol or other substances will be refused at the door or asked to leave and ensured a safe way home. Continued violations will result in banning. Do not bring alcohol or drugs into the building (unless event description allows alcohol). No non-consensual aggression, violence, yelling, hate speech, insults, swearing, body-shaming, dead-naming etc. will not be tolerated. If someone asks you to leave them alone or "no thank you", do not ask them again and leave them alone. Pressure, guilt trips, and manipulation will be called out. Take responsibility for your actions and their consequences. Listen to others when they tell you you've hurt them or violated their comfort and safety. Acknowledge and hear criticism; strive to be better in the future. Offer grace to those who take responsibility and want to learn If you want, talk to people when you believe they have violated the COC involuntarily. Inform them in a non-confrontational matter without the assumption of malice on their part. File a report to the security team if you are more comfortable with that We are a COMMUNITY, not a nightclub. If you are not dedicated to creating a safe and inviting culture for EVERYONE, you will not fit in. If you have been given information or heard a rumor about someone, please directly address information from the source. Do not spread information that you do not know to be true. Remind people that talking behind others' backs is not productive or is only based on assumptions. The staff on premises are in charge at all times. The EVENT FACILITATOR is the highest level of authority. Follow all staff and posted instructions or directions. Recognize the Work. This club is run by volunteers who care about fostering a community of acceptance, respect, and consent. It takes HOURS and HOURS of free labor to make these events happen. Respect and show your appreciation for the people who dedicate their time, resources, and bodies for your entertainment. Tip your volunteers at the front desk. Respect the Space Everything provided for your convenience and entertainment costs money and time. Please respect the equipment, rooms, facilities, utilities, supplies and decorations. Do not unnecessarily waste consumables like water, electricity, toilet paper, paper towels, sanitation wipes, tissue, etc. Donate items on the NEEDS LIST to show your appreciation. Theft, destruction, damage or misuse of equipment, facilities, or supplies will not be tolerated.

Sanitation Guests must sanitize any house equipment, furniture, fixtures, and floor that they use. USE means touched by a human in any way on any part of their bodies. Guests must use the sanitation supplies provided by the BVC. If sitting on a porous surface (couches, cushions), you must place a non-porous/fluid proof barrier between you and the surface. Clean your space after you use it - throw away garbage, tidy items, put things back where they were if you moved them. Remind people to sanitize and tidy their space if you notice they forgot. If you bring your own equipment, it must be sanitized before and after use. Clean spills on the floor immediately when they happen to avoid slips General Do not get close to people who are doing something that might injure or make contact with you. Examples include, whipping, flogging, fluids,, dancing, swinging on swings, suspensions, ropes, etc. Do not leave your property in a place that someone could trip on it, entrances and exits, or in the movement paths of people. Label all food you bring in with allergens and ingredients that could be an issue: gluten, dairy, meat, peanuts, artificial sugars, etc. Please refrain from wearing perfumes/colognes and scents. Pick up and throw away trash if you see it. Do not block exits, entrances, fire extinguishers or chemical spill cleaning stations. No smoking at or near the front entrance or back door. Lock your vehicle and bring scooters or bikes inside. Obey all safety signage. Do not attempt to fix broken equipment. Report it right away. Do not use fire, water, electricity, or needles without approval from security first. Inform the EVENT FACILITATOR of any problems, broken equipment, or safety violations.

The Bellingham Vista Club does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, housing status, economic status, immigration status, age (18 or older) or genetic information. If you feel at any time that you have been discriminated against based on something you cannot control, contact us right away.

Every event has a base policy of NO PHOTOS without explicit consent. Some events will have different specific policies. Please read event descriptions carefully.

When you enter the premises at any time: ​ You acknowledge that any event involves the potential for death, serious mental or physical injury and property loss. The risks include, but are not limited to: actions of other people including, but not limited to, participants, volunteers, spectators, event officials, event monitors and/or producers of the event; lack of hydration, weather, and/or other natural conditions. You hereby assume all of the risks of participating in this event. You certify that you have not been advised by a qualified medical person to not participate in the activities involved. You acknowledge that this Accident Waiver and Release of Liability (AWRL) form will be used by BELLINGHAM VISTA CLUB and INNER CHILD STUDIO (leaseholder), and the sponsors of the event in which you may participate and it will govern your actions and responsibilities at said event. In consideration of permitting you to participate in this event, you hereby take action for yourself, your executors, administrators, heirs, next of kin, successors, and assigns as follows: (A) Waive, release, and discharge from any and all liability for your death, disability personal injury, property damage, property theft or actions of any kind which may hereafter accrue to you or your traveling to and from this event, BELLINGHAM VISTA CLUB and INNER CHILD STUDIO, and their directors, officers, employees, volunteers, representatives and agents, the event sponsors and event volunteers, (B) indemnify and hold harmless all entities or persons mentioned in this paragraph from any and all liabilities or claims made by other individuals or entities as a result of your actions during this event. You hereby consent to receive medical treatment that may be deemed advisable in the event of injury, accident, and/or illness during this event. This AWRL shall be construed broadly to provide a release and waiver to the maximum extent permissible under the applicable law.

This Website is offered and available to users who are 18 years of age or older. By using this Website, you represent and warrant that you are of legal age to form a binding contract with the BVC and meet all of the foregoing eligibility requirements. If you do not meet all of these requirements, you must not access or use the Website. Changes To the Terms Of Use We may revise and update these Terms of Use from time to time in our sole discretion. All changes are effective immediately when we post them, and apply to all access to and use of the Website thereafter. Your continued use of the Website following the posting of revised Terms of Use means that you accept and agree to the changes. You are expected to check this page from time to time so you are aware of any changes, as they are binding on you. Price Change Policy We may revise and update the prices of the services and products that we offer at any time without notice. User’s Personal Responsibility By using this Website, you accept personal responsibility for the results of your actions. You agree to take full responsibility for any harm or damage you suffer as a result of the use, or non-use, of the information available on this Website or the resources available for download from this Website. You agree to use judgment and conduct due diligence before taking any action or implementing any plan or policy suggested or recommended on this Website. Errors And Omissions This Web Site is a public resource of general information that is intended, but not promised or guaranteed, to be correct, complete, and up-to-date. We have taken reasonable steps to ensure that the information contained in this Website is accurate, but we cannot represent that this Website is free of errors. You accept that the information contained on this Website may be erroneous and agree to conduct due diligence to verify any information obtained from this Website and/or resources available on it prior to taking any action. You expressly agree not to rely upon any information contained in this website. No Endorsements From time to time, ICS will refer to other products, services, coaches, consultants, and/or experts. Any such reference is not intended as an endorsement or statement that the information provided by the other party is accurate. The BVC provides this information as a reference for users. It is your responsibility to conduct your own investigation and make your own determination about any such product, service, coach, consultant, and/or expert. Accessing The Website And Account Security We reserve the right to withdraw or amend this Website and any service or material we provide on the Website in our sole discretion without notice. We will not be liable if for any reason all or any part of the Website is unavailable at any time or for any period. From time to time, we may restrict access to some parts of the Website, or the entire Website, to users, including registered users. To access the Website or some of the resources it offers, you may be asked to provide certain registration details or other information. It is a condition of your use of the Website and any resources downloaded from the Website that all the information you provide on the Website is correct, current, and complete. You agree that all information you provide to register with this Website or otherwise, including but not limited to through the use of any interactive features on the Website, is governed by our Privacy Policy, and you consent to all actions we take with respect to your information consistent with our Privacy Policy. If you choose, or are provided with, a user name, password or any other piece of information as part of our security procedures, you must treat such information as confidential, and you must not disclose it to any other person or entity. You also acknowledge that your account is personal to you and agree not to provide any other person with access to this Website or portions of it using your user name, password or other security information. You agree to notify us immediately of any unauthorized access to or use of your user name or password or any other breach of security. You also agree to ensure that you exit from your account at the end of each session. You should use particular caution when accessing your account from a public or shared computer so that others are not able to view or record your password or other personal information. We have the right to disable any user name, password or other identifier, whether chosen by you or provided by us, at any time in our sole discretion for any or no reason, including if, in our opinion, you have violated any provision of these Terms of Use. No Unlawful Or Prohibited Use And Intellectual Property You are granted a non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use the Website and the resources available for download from the Website strictly in accordance with these Terms of Use. As a condition of your use of the Website, you warrant to the ICS that you will not use the Website or any of the resources available for download from the Website for any purpose that is unlawful or prohibited by these Terms. You may not use the Website or any of the resources available for download from the Website in any manner that could damage, disable, overburden, or impair the Website or interfere with any other party’s use and enjoyment of the Website. You may not obtain or attempt to obtain any materials or information through any means not intentionally made available or provided for through the Website. All content included as part of the Website, such as text, graphics, logos, images, as well as the compilation thereof, and any software used on the Website, is the property of the ICS or its suppliers and protected by copyright and other laws that protect intellectual property and proprietary rights. You agree to observe and abide by all copyright and other proprietary notices, legends or other restrictions contained in any such content and will not make any changes thereto. You will not modify, publish, transmit, reverse engineer, participate in the transfer or sale, create derivative works, or in any way exploit any of the content, in whole or in part, found on the Website or any of the resources available for download from the Website. The ICS content is not for resale. Your use of the Website or any of the resources available for download from the Website does not entitle you to make any unauthorized use of any protected content, and in particular you will not delete or alter any proprietary rights or attribution notices in any content. You will use protected content solely for your individual use, and will make no other use of the content without the express written permission of the ICS and the copyright owner. You agree that you do not acquire any ownership rights in any protected content. We do not grant you any licenses, express or implied, to the intellectual property of the ICS or our licensors except as expressly authorized by these Terms. The ICS name, the ICS logo, the ICS slogan, and all related names, logos, product and service names, designs, and slogans are trademarks or service marks of the ICS or its affiliates or licensors. You must not use such marks without the prior written permission of the ICS. All other names, logos, product and service names, designs and slogans on this Website are the trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.

For the protection of all of our guests and staff, you must be a registered site member to attend any events. To be a Site Member, click on the upper right Profile Page or Sign Up when prompted. Fill out the form and read the and agree to Code Of Conduct and policies You will be asked to subscribe to text notifications. If you check the box, you will receive a text to formally approve. Please subscribe to our mailing list if you want occasional updates and news. CHECK YOUR E-MAIL. Your Discord Invite will be in your Welcome E-mail.

You will be asked to sign up for a site membership online before checking in and paying.

When you arrive to most events (does not apply to support groups): Lock your car doors. Play events MUST BE RSVP'd online or you may not be allowed in. Check in with your FIRST or PREFERRED NAME. Do not say your legal name out loud unless you are comfortable with that. Front desk volunteers are trained to ask for last name initials, not last names. All humans will have their Identification checked to make sure you are who you claim to be, whether or not your ID is on file. Receive a bracelet to wear for re-entry (depends on event) You may be scanned by a metal detector before entering We are not responsible for your belongings, so keep them nearby and secured.

Take our survey and let us know what you are interested in/skilled with. https://airtable.com/appkvZeE68IJZVqti/pag5wkV8VTsQOCMEJ/form Attend the next Volunteer interest meeting on August 19, 2024 from 7:00pm - 9:00 pm

YES!! Event Facilitators receive 15% back in ticket sales for events they facilitate as a CASH gift (if they want - some refuse the gift - but that is up to you!). $20- 25/ticket events that still need facilitators: FleshCult (pleasure cult) - every 2nd Friday OTM Sun&Moon Club (BSDM) - every LAST Saturday OTM SenseLAB (sensory lab) - every FIRST Friday OTM Suspension Lab - every 4rth Thursday OTM $5-10 Ticket events: (less work) Bad Movie Club - every 2nd Thursday Polyam Social - every 2nd Sunday BLISS Nightclub - every First Saturday starting October TriviaCRASH! - every LAST Friday Events facilitators are gifted a flat fee: Orientation Consent Class Security Officers Volunteer Security are gifted $40 per VIP event worked

Sessions and events that need facilitator volunteers are: Gayme Night - every 2nd Saturday OTM Disability Support Group - every 2nd Monday OTM Polyam/ENM Support Group - every last Sunday OTM

Event Facilitators are the "Producers" of events. There can be more than 1 facilitator for an event. In fact, we recommend it. They are responsible for delivering the information each team needs to make your event a success. EFs are expected to: Create event descriptions and detailed information for the marketing team to implement the following: website posting printing posters social media graphics and posts Request staff from the volunteer coordinator Front desk Floor security Cleaning Crew any other staff needed (food sales, station hosts, etc.) Request needed equipment from Equipment Team (sound, projector, tables etc.) Setup and Breakdown of event Event logistics before, during, and after Close and Secure the facility Be the primary contact for reporting issues or violations that occur during your event

If you keep track of your Volunteering Hours in our Volunteer Log, you will receive coupon codes for 100% off any $25 play event for every 4 hours you contribute.

Currently we need Leaders in these departments - you will be in charge of a team of people. Every leader reports to the planning committee at monthly meetings. DO NOT VOLUNTEER FOR A LEADERSHIP ROLE if you are not committed to the time, effort, and money it takes to execute it right. if you just want to do it for power, control, or clout. If you prove to be a narcissistic or entitled ego driven person, you will be removed from your position. VOLUNTEER TO BE ON A TEAM if you want to help but don't want to be in charge (it's okay we still need you), and the team leader can adjust the intensity of your involvement based on your needs and what you have the capacity to do. Leader Title (group size) Task leader is responsible for: Tasks Tasks to assign to a volunteer Tasks Education (2-4) Task leader is responsible for: Maintain educator contact list and notes Schedule education Ensure educators have everything they need Ensure marketing has what they need to promote event Develop and record Educational policies and procedures Tasks to assign to a team member Find educators to teach classes or do trainings Assign project managers for individual Educators Develop a team to plan large educational events like conferences Shopkeepers (2-3) Task leader is responsible for: Management of the retail store; and online sales Order products for the retail store Create reports, watch sales and trends Tasks to assign to a team member Tagging, pricing, and displaying products Sourcing products and procuring local vendors Procurement (2-3) Task leader is responsible for: Keeping detailed notes about communications with sponsors and donors Keeping detailed records of every donation and sponsorship Finalizing any major financial transactions with the Operations Team Tasks to assign to a team member Procure donations and sponsorships Find worthy causes to fundraise for Find businesses to host fundraisers for us Secretary (3) (due to sensitive nature of access to personal information, special training is required to volunteer) Task leader is responsible for: Manage front office Take notes at Planning Committee meetings and enter into records Keep office tasks running efficiently Manage front office volunteer training Tasks to assign to a team member Maintain, clean and stock all office equipment Data entry and file management Outreach (6) Task leader is responsible for: Creating and maintaining relationships with other organizations, schools, businesses, and politicians. Maintaining detailed notes about contacts, collaborations, and communications Tasks to assign to a team member Procure contacts to organizations and make initial contacts Project leaders for collaborations Security (8) Task leader is responsible for: Ensure Codes of Conduct and Privacy Policies are followed and enforced; Develop training and protocols; Act as security staff at events. Tasks to assign to a team member Ensure all events have sufficient security coverage Maintain secure data about incidences and reports of conduct violations Maintain and inspect doors, locks, and security cameras Review and update Safety codes and Codes of Conduct regularly Safety(6) Task leader is responsible for: Maintain and enforce mental and physical health safety standards Inspect equipment and rooms regularly; maintain inspection and maintenance record Must consider in all decisions: Allergies, disabilities and accommodation, physical harm, triggers, mental health conditions, medical needs Tasks to assign to a team member Create signage and labels and safety information Maintain and restock medical supplies Maintain and restock cleaning and sanitation supplies Cleaning and sanitation Entertainment (2) Task leader is responsible for: Maintain detailed database of performer contacts and all communications Schedule performances Ensure performers have everything they need Report to the Planning Committee Tasks to assign to a team member Procure talent, musicians, performers, and live shows for in-house events or or their own shows and events Collab with artists for featuring on our gallery walls Marketing (3-4) Task leader is responsible for: Ensuring event facilitators have what they need for promotion Tasks to assign to a team member Writing and finessing event descriptions Posting events on Facebook, Instagram, Fetlife, Discord, and Tik Tok to assigned team members Posting photos and creating content Creating filler posts for social media (Happy Pi Day! Honoring Veterans Day!) etc. Equipment (1-3) Task leader is responsible for: All play equipment remains clean, maintained and stored properly Tasks to assign to a team member: Procure, restore, and maintain house equipment; Manage equipment rental bookings Historian (1) Task leader is responsible for: Maintain a photo and poster collection online or IRL Procure photographers and videographers for events Operations (4) (Due the security issues with keyholding, only specially trained people may volunteer) Task leader is responsible for: Managing room rentals; Keep facilities operational Keyholder and manager of building access; Tasks to assign to a team member: Develop and execute construction projects Maintain and inspect heat, electricity, and water systems IT (1-2) (due to sensitive nature of access to personal information, special training is required to volunteer) Manage IT operations Tech support Inspect and maintain video security, computers, technical equipment, audio and sound, servers and wi-fi. Ensure all IT above is compliant with our Privacy Policies Member Emissary (1-3) ensuring the Members' voices, needs, and concerns are heard, documented, acknowledged and passed on to the appropriate committee/authority Resource Advisors (1-2) Procure and collect resources and information that would be helpful to our Members pertaining to: Medical/Health, mental health, STI/HIV Testing, domestic violence, legal rights, gender affirming support, birth control, consent, education, training and certifications, social justice, and local businesses and organizations. Culture Cult (1-3) Responsible for maintaining the aesthetics, vibe, culture, and feel of our space. Fostering a space that reflects our values of non-discrimination and respect and appreciation for the local community Develop programs like “Member of The Month” and Featured Member Business” Installing and removing decorations, interior design, art direction, holiday decor Food & Bev (3-4) Task leader is responsible for: Procurement, display, handling, planning of all food and drink related matters Must consider allergies, vegans, religion, smells, textures and intolerances in all decisions Food handler’s permit holders preferred Create sales reports and trends for Planning Committee Tasks to assign to a team member: Buying/prepping food Create signs, menus, and labels for events Inventory and stock the Snack Bar and Fridge Develop signature mocktails and food recipes Tag, price, and label all food Other Roles: Event Facilitators Developing and executing events Give all needed material to the respective teams so they can do their job Communicate all event needs to appropriate teams Follow event planning procedures Keep detailed notes about event and report back to Planning Committee Field Crew (as many as possible) Outgoing, talkative people who are responsible for promoting events in the public and on the street. putting up posters, passing out flyers, making announcements at events checking on posters, and the supply of flyers at local businesses Tabling information booth at festivals and fairs Campus Liaison (3) Making connections to local colleges and students ages 18+ One for WWU, BTC, and WCC each We have: Logistics (due to sensitive nature of access to personal information, special training is required to volunteer) responsible for all administrative, legal, registrations, accounting, insurance, and taxes duties Volunteer Coordinator Ensure all Facilitators and events have the volunteers they need Maintain and update volunteer contact database Keep track of volunteer hours and make reports

Have an awesome skill to share? Whether you are a professional or just someone passing on a passion, there are options for you! For casual learning and skill sharing You can teach in-house classes using our registration system You receive 50% of your class registrations back as a cash gift We are responsible for equipment, marketing/promotion, financial liability, taxes, legal filings, and reporting All educational content must follow BVC's policies on non-discrimination and privacy All guests must follow BVC Code of Conduct 2. For professionals teaching workshops and classes You may rent the facility for your event (see Rentals Page) You are responsible for your own ticketing, taxes, registration, insurance, and legal filings You must setup/breakdown, and clean up after your event All educational content must follow BVC's policies on non-discrimination and privacy All guest behavior is your responsibility

Because of the nature of some classes, they are available only to Site Members who are registered users of the site. Please read the descriptions carefully.

That's a tough question, but from our observations and experiences, here are some tips: Try to avoid: Interrupting people who are busy talking, playing, or doing stuff Staring or making comments about strangers' bodies Making assumptions about people Injecting yourself into situations and groups that you were not invited to join Meeting anyone with intention. We are here to be humans together, not to have sex, date, fall in love, or find a harem. That stuff happens naturally when you are in a community in which you have earned trust. Kink-shaming. Your YUCK may be someone else's YUM. If you're not into it, don't watch. Things to try: Introduce yourself with a question about something relevant and at hand ("That's a beautiful color for a rope, did you dye it yourself?) The reason we have so many different events is so everyone can find a common passion or hobby to connect over. Find something you enjoy and do it with us! Approach conversations with an open mind Read the room and the people around you. This can be difficult for some humans. Looking at faces, observing body language, listen to their tone of voice and choice of language can give you a clue of how someone feels about you Accept "No" and any variation thereof, as a complete answer Be helpful, clean, and contribute to the community Be curious about people. Asking relevant questions can open up great conversations Be YOUR SELF and ACCEPT others for being themselves. Authenticity will take you anywhere you want to go. If some people don't like you, that's their problem Keep your opinions to yourself if they are not positive, uplifting, helpful, or relevant to the situation Always avoid: Touching anyone without their consent Come up behind people when they don't know you are there Not asking for people's pronouns, mis-gendering humans Making any assumptions about a persons motivations or desires Talking about anyone behind their back or to others Believing information or rumors about someone without going to the source

If you are engaged in sexual activity with others, regular testing and communication with your partners should be a priority. After communication about your and your partners status, everyone can make an informed decision about the level of risk they are willing to take. You are responsible for your own protection against STI's or other transmissible infections or conditions. To read Planned Parenthood's guide about testing, click here. To read the CDC's most recent statistics on STI's in the U.S.

We have a dark quiet space in our front room for any decompression and sensory shut out you need.

If for any reason, you feel unsafe, afraid, or suspicious, notify or ask a friend to notify a staff member in a BVC Logo Tee or Badge, or a Security member wearing a neon shirt. Reasons could be- that you see a fire risk, were touched without consent, someone is creeping you out, equipment is broken, you need to be walked to your car- anything in which you feel your safety is at risk.