Membership

SNS Membership Criteria & Code of Conduct

(Click here to download a PDF copy of the SNS Membership Criteria & Code of Conduct)

 SNS Membership Criteria

 The Public Speakers Society of Nova Scotia, known publicly as Speakers Nova Scotia (SNS), is a registered non-profit open to people who meet    all of the following criteria:

• Live or work some or all of the year in Nova Scotia,

• Perform some form of public speaking as part or all of their work, whether paid or volunteer,

• Pay the annual membership fee as determined by the Board of Directors,

• Agree to perform according to the SNS code of professional conduct (see below).

 Failure to meet any of the above criteria will result in revocation of membership. 

 Potential members can apply through the application form on our website. Applications will be vetted by the Board of Directors.

Membership Exclusion Clause:
Due to the current political climate in our society, we are explicitly stating that we will not extend membership to persons who promote ideas or create content espousing principles of racism, sexism, queerphobia, ableism, or any form of hate speech or incitement of hatred, dehumanizing, or calling for the removal of human rights of specific individuals or members of protected groups, in any context or medium. Members who are found to promote these ideas after they have been approved to join will immediately have their SNS membership revoked at the discretion of the Board of Directors. 

SNS Code of Conduct

SNS Members will:

1. Act with competence, honesty, & respectfulness when conducting public speaking work and when representing the society. 

2. Be transparent with clients regarding compensation (fees, expenses, and in-kind), ownership of presentation materials, presentation technology & materials needed, and expectations for the content & style of presentations.

3. Maintain confidentiality of client, audience member, and fellow speakers’ personal contact information unless specific individuals have given permission to share it; members will direct inquiries for contacting other speakers to the SNS website or board members. 

4. Address any problems with clients, audiences, fellow SNS members, and other speakers who are not SNS members in a professional and respectable manner. 

5. Be open to diversity & inclusion in work with clients, audiences, and in SNS work or activities. SNS members will not promote hate, oppression, or dehumanization of others. 

6. Support the work of SNS and our members when appropriate and possible. 

7. Advocate for public speaking work as a profession.