Cpso Officers Code of Conduct Final

8/7/2019 Cpso Officers Code of Conduct Final

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CSPO Officers Code of Conduct &

Policies & Procedures Handbook

Draft written by CDS Mr-Canada

Monday, June 22, 2009

Discussed and edited in conference call July 8, 2009 for final edition with 12 officers present.


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Preface

This booklet has been a long, long time in the coming. When K2 and I originally devised the

CSPO infrastructure in December 2006, we had anticipated, and hoped for, growth, but it is

difficult to visualize the kind of scale of growth which we have had looking forward rather than

backward.

It is due to CSPO Officers like yourself that the CSPO as an organization has grown this far and

wide across this great country of Canada. When CSPO was originally devised over a bottle of

rum in my office in my basement we visualized an officer corps of people all on the same page,

all working together to grow this organization.

We had never visualized the hazards of handing power over to such a wide variety of people in

such a wide variety of locales. The recent re-organization where all of the regions got their own

General who were responsible for CSPO, and where administrative access to the website itself

was handed over to people in charge of each region, while a necessity due to our growth, was

quite a scary venture.

Typically, common sense prevailed as CSPO grew through from a small 10 man operation to the

1200 person organization it is today. The hazards that we never foresaw were that individual

officers would attempt to leverage their position within CSPO for their own personal and

business objectives. While this is not a widespread phenomenon, it has happened enough times

in enough different locales that such a policy booklet is a requirement, rather than an optional

project now.

CSPO operates more like a paramilitary network than a corporate or community venture.

Sometimes the lines become blurred between community, corporate, and the more paramilitary

adventures on-field. This guide book will hopefully provide our officers with guidance on not

only what to do in particular situations, but also provide guidance on what to expect and what is

expected of them as this organization grows and prospers.

CSPO is already the premiere paintball tournament, club, and team across the country of

Canada, the geographic diversity of CSPO is literally colossal. However like any organization

which is holding the top spot, CSPO must protect itself from becoming used as a springboard, or

marketing engine for competitors and splinter-cell type groups.

2009 has been a challenging year for CSPO as we have seen several of these misadventures

already, just as we are attempting to break out and become the NHL-class organization

within the sport of paintball for Canada. Hopefully you, officer, will lock in and be part of this

adventure, while we create the strongest paintball organization in our country, Canada.


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Basic Code of Conduct for all Officers

The basic code of conduct contained herein which applies to all officers, regardless of rank, is to

protect the image of CSPO and to ensure growth. In the organization of CSPO, our brand and

our name are our most valuable assets.

Failure to comply with this basic code of conduct is reasonable grounds for an immediate

dishonorable discharge or demotion within CSPO. It must be understood by everyone, and

most especially officers, that certain standards must be upheld in order to protect the

reputation of our organization.

Conduct at the field

1)

CSPO members must understand that the safety guidelines, rules, and requirements ofthe particular field they are operating at must be followed, whether they are standard,

or non-standard, and that such referees, or employees of the paintball field at which

they are operating are effectively the law on their premises. Any rules which are put

forth by such field operator will take precedence over any CSPO rule or guideline, unless

such rule is unsafe, unsportsmanlike, or violates a law in the jurisdiction in which said

field operates. This is to be enforced by all CSPO officers.

a. Exception to this would be outlaw fields. While operators of some outlaw fieldsmay not require it, barrel blocking devices such as barrel condoms or plugs must

be used at all times in the neutral zone by all CSPO members, even where rules

do not require it. This is to be enforced by all CSPO officers.

2) CSPO officers, regardless of the size of their group, will not demand special discounts,special attention or pricing due to their position, rank, or standing within CSPO. Such

negotiations should ALWAYS take place in private with the manager or owner of such

paintball field, and NEVER should be demanded in public of such field in front of other

paintball players who may or may not be CSPO members or squad members. In the

case of dispute of a pre-arranged discount which may or may not be honored, the field

manager or owner should be contacted or the matter discussed in private, away from

the other players.

3) CSPO officers should minimize the use of vulgar language both on-field and off-fieldwhile dealing with squads, recruits, potential recruits, and non-members of CSPO. A

CSPO officer should be a role-model at the field; and not offend other players and or

young children who may be present.

4) Use of drugs or alcohol at the field by CSPO members of any rank will not be tolerated.Any verifiable complaint of such activity will result in an immediate dishonorable


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discharge for said member. A CSPO member should be a role-model at the field, young

children may look up to the CSPO member, and said member should ensure that there

are no activities which would make the parents of the child feel wary of looking up to

such members activities. This will be enforced by all CSPO officers. This excludes social

time amongst adults.5) Vandalism of any kind at the paintball field, or of the paintball fields property, will not

be tolerated. It is the operators premises, and regardless of the situation, any

vandalism other than shooting paintballs within the playing area is grounds for

immediate dishonorable discharge.

6) CSPO officers are expected to wear their CSPO patch in a visible fashion at all timeswhen at the paintball field. A rank patch is not required but is highly recommended in

order to reduce confusion as to who is the commanding officer.

7) At any particular field, all recruits must be directed to a SSGT-R who operates at thathome field for processing, regardless of the rank of the original person recruiting. In the

case of multiple SSGT-Rs at a particular home field, said SSGT-Rs and the individual

players will determine which SSGT-R is most appropriate for them to be dealing with,

any disputes will be settled by the LT in charge. LTs or higher may not directly add

recruits to a roster for a SSGT-R without the SSGT-R giving final approval for adding or

removing a member of said SSGT-Rs squad.

8) CSPO officers must not conduct marketing activities for any field other than the fieldthey currently playing at. Officers may advertise CSPO special events to CSPO squad

members and web members at the field in a overt fashion only after clearing such

materials past the field owner or manager (or highest ranking on-site staff). Any non-

CSPO special events, such as events taking place at paintball fields other than the

current field, must be limited to basic word of mouth only unless cleared in advance by

the current field operator.

9) CSPO officers must NOT use their position and rank within CSPO to leverage their ownbusiness interests outside of CSPO. Evidence of this activity will result in an immediate

dishonorable discharge. Some specific examples of this type of activity:

a. Starting a website forum outside of CSPO and requiring any or all membersunder such officers command to register a username, email, and password on

such website forum, CMS engine, or other community portal site outside of the

domain ofwww.canadianscenariopaintball.com

b. Collecting e-mail addresses, telephone numbers, instant message accounts, orgenerating other lists of personal contact information outside of what is

available on the CSPO website which is stored outside of CSPO internet

properties. The CSPO website offers many numerous ways to distribute

information to officers charges, and requiring any outside means or ways


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outside of the CSPO network of communicating such information is prohibited.

Exceptions to this would be:

i. Provision of telephone numbers for the purpose of sharing rides or foremergency contact information

ii.

Provision of telephone numbers in the case of minors whos parents maynot be present and require the contact information of an adult placed in

direct supervision of such minor

iii. The required exchange of information in the case of a purchase or sale ofequipment through the CSPO website for shipping or payment

information

10)No CSPO officer, regardless of rank, will require any amount of membership dues ofany organization, squad, platoon, section, or unit of CSPO for any reason or purpose

whatsoever, as a requirement for neither membership, nor as a requirement for special

placement within such squad, platoon, section, or unit of CSPO. Donations are

allowed, provided that such donations are fully optional and that a CSPO squad

member, web member, or junior officer will not be penalized nor receive special

treatment for such donation. Any donation must have a clear and specific purpose,

and a clear and specific dollar amount of funds which are to be raised for such purpose.

Once the specific dollar amount has been reached, such purchase must be made

immediately, and any excess funds should be returned immediately to the donors. In

the case that the dollar value is not reached, all donations should be immediately

returned upon dissolution of such fundraising objectives to their respective donors

within a reasonable amount of time. The only exception to this policy would be squad

patches; that any member in good standing may be requested to pay for such patch to

represent such squad. However, such squad patch may not be requested to be returned

if said member was required to purchase such squad patch. Any request for donations

should be approved and monitored by said officers commanding officer.

11)Any and all work, graphic design, recruitment activities, or names, are property of thesquad, group, or section, and in the case of any dispute, discharge, demotion, or

transfer, such work will remain the property of the majority of such squad, group, or

section within CSPO.

a. The only exception to this rule is in the case of grandfathering, where a pre-existing squad was integrated into CSPO, and the majority of such squad is now

removing themselves from CSPO; in such case the departing group may continue

to retain ownership of such names and squad patches as were designed prior to

such groups entry into the CSPO organization.

12)Grandstanding or soap-boxing by any CSPO officer on the CSPO website forums willnot be tolerated and are grounds for immediate dishonorable discharge. This includes


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any act of insubordination, public accusation, public questioning of CSPO policies or

procedures, or any other type of soap-boxing or grandstanding as deemed by an

officer of Captain or higher rank within CSPO.

13)All officers are granted access to the Officer Class section within CSPO. Any questions,or concerns about CSPO procedures will take place in this restricted forum, not in public.This area is provided for officers to discuss CSPO issues amongst themselves in order to

not involve the general public or potential recruits. Should a post be moved from a

public area to the private officer class area, the officer is expected to respect such

decision to keep this discussion in private amongst officers. Any attempts to thrash it

out in public will be grounds for immediate dishonorable discharge and potentially an

IP or site block from the CSPO website.

14)All officers understand that the CSPO website www.canadianscenariopaintball.comandthe CSPO mark are properties of CSPO and not in the public domain, nor a public

service.

15)All officers are expected to follow the chain of command. For new initiatives, they areexpected to request approval from their immediate commanding officer, and any

commanding officer who receives such request, should they be aware that it is outside

of the scope of their authority, will pass such requests for approval up the chain of

command until it reaches someone who has the authority to approve or reject such

proposal. The initiator is expected to await approval or rejection of such initiative prior

to proceeding with the initiative. This is especially the case for the following:

a. The planning of a CSPO or non-CSPO paintball event requiring ticket purchases tobe paid to a CSPO officer, or paid to an organization which is partly controlled by

a CSPO officer;

b. The implementation of any new policies or procedures which are not by theirnature standard to the sport of paintball as a requirement to those under their

command.


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Special Guidelines for SSGT-Rs

16)The SSGT-R must be the ultimate leader of their own squad and be in charge of any andall recruitment, squad practice training of their respective squad. The local acting LT

MAY NOT take over operations of these duties for said SSGT-R with exception to

standing in the case of a leave of absence due to vacation, sickness, financial difficulties,

or family issues, and that the local acting LT is NOT the person in command of such

SSGT-Rs squad.

17)SSGT-Rs must note that when their squad reaches sufficient size, they may be offered apromotion to the role of LT. Accepting such role brings new and additional

responsibilities, and the acceptance of such role also comes with it the de-facto

understanding that control of their previous squad must then be fully relinquished and

given to the new SSGT-R in command of such squad. This includes any squad names,

patch designs, ownership or any recruits or individuals within the squad, squad training

practices, or procedures, or anything else developed for or by the squad while such

SSGT-R was leader of that squad.

18)SSGT-Rs are expected, and required, to inform their recruits, squad members, andpotential recruits at the field of major CSPO operational objectives in the area as passed

down from their LT or higher up the chain of command.

19)SSGT-Rs are expected to act as the de-facto liason between their squad and the fieldoperator. SSGT-Rs are expected to represent their squad members to the field

operator.

20)SSGT-Rs are expected to represent their squad members to their acting LT, bringing anyconcerns or questions which may arise within their squad to their acting LT in private

conversation, private message on CSPO, or otherwise bring such concerns or questions

to their acting LT. Individual squad members should not feel that they need to bring

matters directly up to such LT unless such topics include complaints about the

performance of their SSGT-R directly.

21)SSGT-Rs are expected to speak to their commanding officer (LT) on the telephone,electronically, or in person at least once per month and advise them on the status of

their squad. Participation in a conference call where this party is present suffices for

this requirement.


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Special Guidelines for LTs

22)LTs must work directly with the SSGT-Rs under their command and under nocircumstances should they be directly engaging in recruitment activities recruits directly

to the roster of any of the squads under their command. Only SSGT-Rs (squad leaders)

may accept or reject a member to enter their squad, or evaluate such recruit to be fit to

join such squad. In the case where a SSGT-R is absent, said LT may encourage recruits to

contact one or multiple SSGT-Rs who operate at that particular home field. In the case

of website recruits, such recruits must be directed FIRST to PM the local squad leaders

who may fit that particular recruit best.

23)LTs may not book or schedule squad meetings or practices. Part of the LT role is togroom, train, encourage and mentor new leaders in the SSGT-Rs under their command.

If a squad leader is not performing their duties, it is the LTs role to first encourage the

correct performance, and if this performance is not achieved then to re-evaluate the

SSGT-Rs fitness to lead this particular squad. Exception to this would be when the LT is

covering for a SSGT-R who is not able to fulfill their duties for a temporary amount of

time.

24)LTs are encouraged to book or schedule platoon meets, practices, and inter-platoonchallenges. All of these activities must be equally available to all squads and members

within their platoon, and such meets, practices, or challenges must be organized in such

a fashion so that it is equally convenient, or equally inconvenient to all members of the

platoon under their charge.

25)LTs are not permitted to favor their prior squad within the platoon. Intentionallydirecting recruits to their former squad when they may be better directed elsewhere is

expressly prohibited. Creating multiple squads under a single name with the

conventions of A, B, C, or Alpha, Bravo, Charlie or other sequential naming conventions

are expressly prohibited except in the case of an initial squad split as it grows into a

platoon. Any new squads coming online under the guidance of an active LT are required

to pick their own squad name, logo, and imagery to represent the new squad, and such

is the prevue of the SSGT-R who will be commanding such squad. LTs are also in such

role to encourage the squads as a result of such splits to concoct their own identities

after the split, in order to change the sequential naming convention as part of the new

SSGT-Rs taking over ownership and command of the new squad within a reasonabletimeframe designated by the area Captain or General.

26)LTs are expected to identify new potential SSGT-Rs within their assigned catchment areaand territory. Occasionally this may require that they bring a squad or platoon with

them to a new paintball field not yet explored by or where no existing CSPO SSGT-R

exists. The first recruit an LT is expected to source would be prospective SSGT-Rs who

may lead a squad there, and any other recruitment production from this exercise are to


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be referred to the new SSGT-R who may have been selected at that home field. Under

no circumstances are new recruits from a new third field to be encouraged to join up

with a squad which does not regularly play at the field at which the recruits were

recruited. This is a clear violation of CSPO policy.

27)LTs are expected to inform the use and advantage of any and all programs offered byCSPO to their respective SSGT-Rs, including the patch system, sponsorship

opportunities, website program, and any other offering to squads under the CSPO

banner.

28)Any efforts by a current LT, other than grandfathered efforts made prior to joiningCSPO, to launch or take control of a community portal website, forum, or other CSPO-

like organization are grounds for a dishonorable discharge and stripping of command.

Such conflicts of interest are not to be tolerated at the LT level, unless they are

expressly approved in advance of such efforts by someone up the chain of command

with authority to approve such venture.

29)LTs may under no circumstances transfer recruits from one platoon into their platoon,without approval from someone up the chain of command with the authority to make

such approval. Cases where this approval is not required are limited and as follows:

a. In the case where a player has moved their private residence and it is now moreconvenient for them to switch home fields

b. In the case where the SSGT-R whos squad the recruit was enrolled has alreadyprocessed a delistement from the squad more than 30 days prior to the transfer,

so they are in effect no longer part of such platoon

30)LTs are expected to speak with their SSGT-Rs under their command at least once permonth via telephone, electronically, or at the field. They are expected to speak with

their commanding officer on the telephone, electronically, or in person, at least once

per month as well. Participation in a conference call where these people are present

suffices to fulfill this requirement.


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Special Guidelines for CPTs

31)Someone promoted to the role of Captain must acknowledge that they are acting as asenior commander, role model, and decision maker within their assigned territory for

CSPOs activities in that region. Anyone in the role of Captain must declare any

potential conflicts of interest directly, through their respective General or directly to

national HQ, immediately upon knowing of such potential conflict of interest, and must

adhere to any restrictions, conventions, special policies or procedures, to ensure that

such conflict of interest does not harm CSPO either financially, by reputation, or

confusion of members under the command of said Captain. If such restrictions are

unpalatable to said captain, then such captain may request an honorable demotion

from their role, rights, and responsibilities of the role of Captain to their area General or

national HQ.

32)Captains are held to a higher standard of conduct than SSGT-Rs or LTs. The violation ofany policy or procedure in this guide may result in a demotion, dishonorable discharge,

IP block on CSPO or other disciplinary action decided by those higher up the chain of

command within CSPO. Captains are expected to know and refer to this policy guide

prior to any action or reaction.

33)Captains are granted administrative privileges on the CSPO website, and may not use orabuse such privileges for their own purposes. Any event, article, or other submission to

CSPO which requires approval made by a Captain must be approved by another officer

with administrative privileges prior to becoming publicly viewable on the website.

34)Captains, acting with the authorization of their area general and national HQ, mayorganize special events under the CSPO banner, flag, and name provided they follow the

standard CSPO rules, operational guidelines, and principles of such games, and may take

personal profit from such activities in reward for their time and efforts. Captains

undertaking the organization of such events with authorization must understand that

full accounting of financials of such events afterwards must be submitted via their area

general to national HQ and that 10% of the net profits of such ventures must be paid

back to CSPO HQ for use of the CSPO brand.

35)Captains may not participate directly in any squad recruitment activities. Wherecaptains may be assisting web recruits, they are expected to refer any prospective

recruits to the LT responsible for that particular catchment area to which a particular LTwas assigned. In the case where there is no LT assigned to that catchment area, they

are authorized to expand or except this rule in order to promote a new SSGT-R who is

attempting to build up a squad in that particular area.

36)Captains, with the co-authorization of their area General, are authorized to delete oredit posts made by junior officers under their command for the following reasons:


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a. To prevent the reduction of troop morale due to personal attacks, defamatory orinflammatory statements, incorrect statements or outright lies

b. To stop competitive practices which run counter to CSPOs objectives as anorganization including events which are in direct competition to CSPO events in

their assigned territories. Competing events would include:i. Events which are very similar in scope to an event or series which is run

by CSPO (copied or stolen ideas)

ii. Tournament series which directly compete with CSPOs nationaltournament series or which may interfere with CSPOs ideology of

becoming the premiere scenario paintball tournament provider in the

country of Canada (direct competition to CSPO as an organization)

iii. Major events which take place on or near the same dates as plannedCSPO events in the region (direct competition to a CSPO event)

37)Captains are authorized to make promotions, demotions, and the resulting changes tosecurity clearance on the CSPO website that go with such promotions or demotions, to

ranks below the rank of Captain, provided that:

a. All CSPO policies and guidelines are followedb. That their area general is made aware of such promotion or demotionc. That said member who is being promoted has read and agrees to the policies

and procedures of this booklet

d. Said member agrees to such promotion or their area General expressly approvewith such demotion


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Special Guidelines for Generals

38)Generals are the highest regional authority for CSPO and are expressly accountable fornot only following all the guidelines contained herein but also for enforcing that they

are followed within their region.

39)Generals are expected to maintain an active presence on the CSPO website and aregranted all of the powers and express authorities within their region to act upon any of

the privileges or requirements contained within this manual.

40)Generals are expected to ensure compliance with these procedures, and tocommunicate with national HQ on a regular basis.

41)Generals may request that certain provisions be added or removed from this manual tonational HQ.

42)Generals are responsible for providing any financials for any CSPO branded events whichtake profit within their region and are personally responsible for ensuring that any 10%

of net profit for use of the CSPO brand within their region makes it to national HQ less

any applicable transfer fees.

43)Generals are authorized to use the CSPO mark, in its unaltered form, on any print mediawhich they see fit, provided that such print media has been reviewed prior to publishing

by their area captain or someone in national HQ.

44)Generals as the ultimate authority are expected to not only follow all procedurescontained in this manual but also to extrapolate the spirit as they interpret in the case of

a potential violation of the spirit of this document which does not violate this

document literally. These rules and guidelines are mostly common sense and in the

case of someone violating the spirit of the document but not violating the guidelines

literally they may opt to dishonorably discharge that individual, squad, platoon, or group

of individuals for the reason of gaming the system as they see fit.

45)Generals understand that the activities of their Unit under their command rest withintheir own personal responsibility.


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Violation of these guidelines

46)Any clear and proven violation of these guidelines contained in this booklet may cause acommanding officer to invoke a warning, dishonorable discharge, IP ban, or demotion as

that commanding officer sees fit without warning.

47)Within CSPO, the chain of command is the ultimate authority in the interpretation ofthese guidelines. If the officer immediately up the chain of command has interpreted

that there has been a violation of these guidelines, but that there is a dispute as to that

interpretation, then the violator may request an appeal via their area General and

Captain. There will only be a single appeal, if this appeal is rejected then that officer will

be removed without prejudice.

48)Violation of the spirit of these guidelines or gaming the system will be taken to animmediate dishonorable discharge from CSPO. As CSPO is largely volunteer run, our

officers do not have time to split hairs or debate the finer points of one word to the next

within this document.

49)This is not a legal document, but a policy and procedures document describing what isexpected of CSPO officers nationwide. As a CSPO officer, every one of these guidelines

APPLIES TO YOU. This standard may not be flexed, bent, altered or re-shaped in any

way to apply to regional or personal sensitivities for any reason. Any officer

communicating that any provision of this document does not apply for any reason to

any junior officer is incorrect and may be up for a dishonorable discharge themselves.

50)The creation of this document is not to create new rules, but rather to define and clarifycommon sense, and to operate as a written testament and standard for which officers

and members can fall back on when planning and operating their respective activities.

Other points of note

51)Command Guards, SSGT-Is, and other special officer ranks within CSPO should followthe guidelines in this document as a SSGT-R, and hold themselves to the same standards

as a SSGT-R would be expected to follow.

52)Under no circumstances, should any CSPO member, officer, squad member, leader, ornon-CSPO member alter or modify the CSPO mark, by changing its color, design,proportion or otherwise. Acceptable uses of the mark include:

a. The mark with a white background, red CSPO, red half-maple leaf, with Blackmarker

b. The mark with a white background, and all other marks on the mark being blackor grayscale


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c. A reverse version of the mark, with the background being black, and all othermarks on the mark being white or grayscale

53)Any officer, upon promotion, or upon creation and publication of this document, agreesto adhere to the following:

a.

To sign the form of understanding at the back of this document and fax it in toCSPO national HQ at 604-630-7969, or alternately to hand their signed copy of

this document to their commanding officer for faxing in and record keeping to

national HQ

b. To adhere in full to any and all applicable guidelines contained within the scopeof their role.

c. To follow the spirit of the guidelines as well as the letter


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*** CSPO Officers Code of Conduct and Policy Agreement ***

I, ______________________________________, hereby certify and agree to the points

relevant to my promotion to the role as ___________________________________, withinCSPO (www.canadianscenariopaintball.com ) of the preceding 14 pages, and have reviewed all

(53) fifty-three policy points contained therein.

I understand that violation of either the spirit or the letter of any of these points as applicable to my role

within CSPO may result in my immediate discharge and dismissal, and the promotion of someone in

CSPO to fill my role.

Especially with regards to points 1-15, I understand the basics of taking command and becoming a

leader within CSPO.

Also as an officer within CSPO, I understand that the CSPO website is an internet property run by the

collective officers weighed by the Chain of Command within CSPO, and that such internet property is not

and will not be a public domain or provided free public service other than to further CSPOs own

interests and to enhance CSPO recruitment activities for the benefit first and foremost of CSPO.

I understand also that in the case of a conflict between the interests of CSPO, and the interests of

myself, my associates, friends, business interests, any other paintball group, organization, field, league,

or club, that the interests of CSPO as an organization will take precedent without delay.

If I am a minor under the age of 19, I also understand that I must have my parent or guardian witness my

signature of this document and ensure that I am aware of the points to which I am agreeing. I also

understand that this document may not be signed under duress or my agreement is made null and void;

and such witness also understands this as part of signing as my witness on this document.

Also in signing this document, I waive any legal liability which I may believe or interpret now or in the

future to be held by CSPO (www.canadianscenariopaintball.com), except in the case where a law in my

jurisdiction may have been violated by an officer above me in the chain of command. I understand that

in conducting my CSPO duties, that I am responsible for following all applicable laws in my jurisdiction

and that any violation of such laws by myself are my own responsibility and not the responsibility of

CSPO or www.canadianscenariopaintball.com.

Signed: ____________________________ CSPO Rank: _______________________________

Name: _____________________________ Witness Name: _____________________________

Date: ______________________________ Witness: __________________________________

Documents

Cpso Officers Code of Conduct Final