Japan Evangelist Program Standards of Excellence

Why are we establishing Standards of Excellence?

We believe LF Japan Evangelists represent the best of the open source community in Japan. You have been selected because of your accomplishments, but also your ability to help others learn, collaborate and accomplish their own goals. These Standards of Excellence are designed to provide a set of guidelines and best practices for engaging with LF and the broader community. These Standards will make it easier for LF Japan Evangelists to contribute to a positive culture and environment by providing clarity around what and how we create the LF ethos.

Scope

If you are an LF Japan Evangelist, these Standards apply to you. This means they apply to your statements and actions in your capacity as an LF Japan representative, whether they occur online or offline, and whether they occur within community spaces or outside of community spaces.

In addition to complying with these Standards of Excellence, LF Japan Evangelists are also required to comply with the Linux Foundation Events Code of Conduct, and all other applicable LF policies, rules, or guidelines.

Be Kind, Welcoming, and Inclusive

Be kind to others.
Promote a friendly atmosphere where people feel comfortable asking questions, participating in discussions, and making contributions.
Show gratitude and appreciation for others. Look for opportunities to say “thank you” and recognize people when they are being helpful or making contributions.
Make a conscious effort to welcome and be inclusive of newcomers and people who are different from you.
Show empathy, care, and concern for others’ feelings, perspectives, and experiences.

Be Respectful and Professional

At all times, conduct yourself in a manner that is appropriate for a professional environment.
Always treat others with courtesy and respect. Rude, insulting, offensive, disparaging, or threatening statements or behaviors are not permitted.

Handle Disagreements Respectfully

We want to encourage the candid exchange of ideas and feedback and foster an environment in which people can openly agree or disagree with each other, so long as they do so respectfully. Disagreements are not an excuse for bad behavior. As an LF Japan Evangelist, you are expected to:

Respond to differences of opinion in a respectful manner.
Make a conscious effort to understand other people’s perspectives and learn the facts before you publicly take a stand on any highly controversial issue.
Seek to resolve conflict and disagreement in a respectful and collaborative manner and encourage others to do the same.

Promote and Enhance the LF Brand

As an LF Japan Evangelist, part of your role is to promote and enhance the LF brand and contribute to goodwill and positive relations among the foundation and other stakeholders in the open source ecosystem in Japan. Nonetheless, you can be honest and candid with constructive criticism, holding others accountable, identifying opportunities for improvement, and discussing potential challenges. However, always express yourself in a manner that is respectful and professional, and strive to also be tactful and sensitive to how your words may impact others. See the “Be Graceful With Feedback” section below for suggestions on how to deliver feedback constructively and kindly.

As an LF Evangelist, your actions can reflect either positively or poorly on the LF community, foundation, and brand. Therefore, engaging in activity that is illegal, immoral, fraudulent, deceptive, or is otherwise likely to damage the reputation of the LF community, foundation, or Evangelist Program, is grounds for immediate suspension or removal from the LF Evangelist Program.

Be Graceful With Feedback

Giving others kudos and recognition is a great way to contribute to a positive environment. Therefore, feel free to share positive feedback in both public and private forums.
When it comes to negative feedback or criticism, remember that none of us are perfect. We all make mistakes. Most people are good people who are trying to do good things. Therefore, when others make mistakes, strive to be understanding. When you make a mistake, take responsibility and do your best to learn and improve.
Always share feedback or criticism in a respectful, courteous, and professional manner. Additionally, always strive to present negative feedback or criticism in a constructive manner (e.g., as suggestions for improvement) rather than a destructive manner (e.g., insults or degrading language).
When you have negative feedback or criticism about an individual (other than a public figure), please share it privately to help the individual learn and grow. Please avoid sharing negative feedback or criticism about an individual (other than a public figure) publicly, because this could cause unnecessary shame, embarrassment, or humiliation.
When you have negative feedback or criticism about an organization or public figure, you may share it publicly or privately, so long as you do so in a respectful, courteous, and professional manner.

Independent Participant Clause

Participants in the Japan Evangelist Program are unpaid, independent individuals and are not, under any circumstances, to be considered employees, contractors, or agents of the Linux Foundation. This program does not create any employment relationship, contractual relationship, or agency relationship with the Linux Foundation. Participants are solely responsible for their own activities and expenses incurred as part of their involvement in the program. The Linux Foundation assumes no liability for any actions or representations made by participants while engaged in the Japan Evangelist Program.

Consequences for Violation

If LF determines that an LF Japan Evangelist has violated these Standards of Excellence, or if an LF Japan Evangelist has been found in violation of the Linux Foundation Events Code of Conduct, LF, at its sole discretion, may take any action that LF deems appropriate under the circumstances, including asking the LF Japan Evangelist to remove offending content from community spaces or public spaces, or suspending or removing the individual from the LF Japan Evangelist Program.

Questions and Reporting

If you have questions about these Standards of Excellence, or if you would like to report a potential violation, please send an email to japan-evangelist@linuxfoundation.org and the current community manager will contact you. We will respond promptly to all questions and reports.

Updates

LF reserves the right to modify these Standards of Excellence at any time, at its sole discretion. LF will notify LF Japan Evangelists of major changes to the guidelines by email. However, any changes to these guidelines will not apply retroactively. If these guidelines are updated and an LF Japan Evangelist does not wish to agree, their participation in the LF Japan Evangelist Program will cease until such time as they do agree.