Midwest Travel Writers Association (MTWA) is an organization of travel professionals which includes: a) Active members -- writers, editors, writer-photographers and broadcasters who report and comment on travel and tourism; and b) Associate members -- professional public relations people in the field of travel and tourism.

The purpose of the Association is to protect and upgrade travel writing as a profession by exchanging ideas, encouraging high professional ideals, fostering communications between travel writers and readers, and championing the cause of travelers from the Midwest.

Members of MTWA subscribe to the highest standards in the profession of journalism. In accepting and continuing in membership, each member agrees to abide by the Code of Professional Responsibility.

Code of Professional Responsibility

Midwest Travel Writers Association seeks to maintain truth and accuracy in all aspects of travel journalism. MTWA promotes the professional needs of its diverse membership in the following specific areas:

I) MTWA demands high professional standards of its members and recognizes a need for ongoing scrutiny of the compliance of its members.

II) With the exception of normal editing procedures, members shall not permit their bylines to appear on works not personally produced.

III) Solicitation of contacts on MTWA-sponsored trips for advertising or other business schemes not related to travel communications and intended to financially benefit a member shall not be permitted.

IV) Members are encouraged to participate in meetings and share the burden of running the Association. Whenever possible, members should accept assignments to serve as officers, committee members or chairpersons. MTWA is non-profit and members receive no remuneration beyond actual expenses for their efforts except for individuals contracted independently by the Association to perform specific tasks.

V) Members of MTWA are committed to the principles of fair, accurate, and unbiased reporting on travel subjects. No member shall promise favorable or biased reporting to any sponsor of a familiarization or any other trip.

VI) MTWA-sponsored trips are working opportunities and members shall not impose excessive demands on the hosts. MTWA expects members to behave in a professional manner and to exercise common courtesy and demonstrate respect toward fellow members, hosts and the customs and cultures of others.

A. Services requested by a member, over and above those provided on a hosted trip, shall be paid by that member. Such services include transportation, accommodations, admissions, food, beverages, postage and personal expenditures (phone, film, etc.) beyond what is set forth in the itinerary.

B. Members are expected to attend the functions listed in itineraries unless they notify hosts in advance.

C. Only a spouse, or spouse equivalent, may accompany members on MTWA-sponsored trips. Under special circumstances, others may attend tour functions only if approval as been granted in advance by the host, who will be reimbursed for expenses incurred by those other guests.

D. Members and guests should follow dress codes requested by the host.

Members evincing unprofessional conduct shall be subject to disciplinary action by Midwest TravelWriters Association.

Section I: Complaints of a violation of the Code of Professional Responsibility must be made in writing, signed by the complainant (s) and mailed to the President. Anonymous complaints will not be considered. Complaints may be registered by members of MTWA or nonmembers. Throughout the procedure, all discussion regarding the complaint(s) and of the investigation will be kept confidential by those subsequently involved in the matter.

A. All signed complaints will be investigated initially by a person appointed by the President. If, however, the President has a direct connection with either the complainant or the subject of the complaint, the next highest-ranking officer without direct connections will serve in lieu of the President as Executor.

Within six weeks of the filing of the complaint, the person appointed by the President or Executor shall conduct an investigation to determine the merit of the complaint. The person appointed by the President or Executor may contact complainant and the subject of the complaint during this time to solicit further information which may resolve the situation without formal action.

If it is determined that an investigation is warranted, the person initially appointed by the President or Executor will be joined by two other persons, also appointed by the President or Executor, creating an Ethics Committee, specifically charged with handling the complaint. At this time, the complainant and the subject of the complaint must be notified that a committee is being formed to deal with the matter. Members of the Ethics Committee must have no direct connections, other than membership within MTWA, to either complainants or the subjects of the complaints.

B. During its investigation, the Ethics Committee will take into account information supplied by as many sources as deemed necessary, including the complainant(s) and the subject(s) of the complaint(s). Within 45 days of being formed, the Ethics Committee will deliver a written report of its decision(s) to the President or Executor who will carry them out.

C. The decisions which can be made by the Ethics Committee include:

1. Dismiss the complaint.
2. Issue a warning to the subject of the complaint to cease the offending activity and, if need be, rectify any financial obligation within 30 days of the receipt of the warning letter. Written proof of such action must be provided to the Ethics Committee by the subject of the complaint. Failure to provide this documentation can result in further action by the Ethics Committee.
3. Place the subject of the complaint on probationary status during which time the member shall not be allowed to participate in MTWA-sponsored functions. The length of the probationary period is to be determined by the Ethics Committee and shall not exceed two years.
4. Expel from MTWA the subject of the complaint.

D. Whatever the decision of the Ethics Committee, the subject of the written complaint must be informed by the President or Executor via Certified Mail. If the Executor is anyone other than the President, the President must also be notified at the same. If disciplinary action is taken, it shall be effective immediately.

E. Besides sending a letter via Certified Mail to the subject of the complaint, the President or Executor shall inform the subject of the Appeal Process, as outlined in Section II.

Section II: The subject of a complaint may appeal the Ethics Committee’s decision by requesting, in writing to the President or Executor, a review of the Ethics Committee’s decision by an Appeal Panel composed of the three most recent former presidents of MTWA who are current members, fit and able to serve; they also must have no direct connections to the subject of the complaint or the complainant. The members of the Appeal Panel shall consider the appeal within 45 days of receipt of the letter by the President or executor from the subject of the complaint. The Chairperson of the Appeal Panel shall inform the President or Executor and the subject of the complaint in writing of the panel’s decisions which shall be considered final. A file on the disciplinary action will rest with the President.

Section III: The subject of a complaint may have a representative discuss the situation, at any stage of the process, with the Ethics Committee, Executor or Appeals Panel if the subject chooses not to do so personally. The subject of the complaint will bear all costs of contacting the Ethics Committee, Executor and Appeals Panels, be that in person or otherwise.

Section IV: If expelled from MTWA, the subject of the complaint shall not be allowed to re-apply for MTWA membership until at least four years after the expulsion and must follow regular application procedures.

Revised November 2, 2000