Code of Ethics

Michael D. Graves, owner and operator of the Thomas Sims Graves Awards Program held at the T.S. Graves Awards web site, does hereby declare on behalf of the company and any Evaluators who may be contracted at any time by TSG Awards to evaluate for any TSG Awards Sponsored Award Program, that we agree to advance and promote the Website Evaluator Code of Ethics in order to ensure fairness to all applicants and to maintain the honour and integrity of applicants, evaluators and awards.

We agree that all critiques given will be constructive in nature as positive comment is productive. We will refrain from criticism unless specifically requested by an applicant, and in such instances, will remain positive where possible in an effort to promote goodwill and advance the level of quality among Internet sites.

We agree to allow eligibility to all applicants who meet the SET (posted online, written = set) Criteria of any particular award. We agree to be uniform in our eligibility requirements (Criteria) and will fairly evaluate all sites/pages meeting our Criteria, which are submitted by any applicant. We further agree to clearly post these Criteria.

We agree not to discriminate on grounds of race, gender, nation of origin, religion, profession, age, mental or physical handicap, or any other reason, which is not globally viewed as an illegal trait or manner of conduct.

We agree to set forth Awards Criteria and to adhere to the same. Proposed time frames for changes will be posted for two (2) weeks prior to the final publishing of same with notices posted on site so all potential applicants can view and understand the proposed changes; except for if the change is a reduction in the criteria, in such a case the change will be effective immediately upon posting. Notification of any change will be posted in the TSG Awards Program home page.

We agree to evaluate web sites under the Criteria, which was in place at the time of any and/or all applications. If changes are made to Criteria AFTER applications is/are received, the submitted sites will be evaluated using the Criteria that was in effect when applicants initially submitted the sites.

We agree to immediately inform any Criteria compliant applicant in writing, of a 'Refrain to Evaluate' if it is found that a Conflict of Interest would occur in evaluating their Web site - e.g. Such may occur upon being requested to evaluate the Web site of a good friend. We will offer such applicant a choice of Evaluator taken from our Membership Listing.

We agree to maintain a professional, friendly and positive manner in any and/or all correspondence and/or communication held with any applicants.

We agree to evaluate all submitted sites within 2-3 weeks of receipt of submission. If this deadline cannot be met, we agree to suspend submissions until we can again work within this timeframe.

We agree not to divulge any information about any applicant to persons, groups, or agencies not directly connected to my Awards Program, and only then for the purpose of evaluating submissions and notifying winners. All information received from applicants via e-mail submissions or submission forms will be deemed private.

We agree to encourage and promote the use of original material for Awards Programs Criteria and evaluation processes. We agree to assist any person requesting advice concerning ethical evaluation for and disbursement of awards. PLEASE NOTE: The Awards Evaluation processes in use at TSG Awards are copyrighted material and written authorization is required for their use.

We agree to maintain any owned individual web site/s that include Awards Program/s to a standard that meets the Criteria of the Award/s given. In the case of any Award/s offered that is/are OUTSIDE the main subject of our web site/s, any and/or all such web site/s will be maintained to a high standard of integrity in all its/their main areas.

We agree to maximum dimensions of Awards given in courtesy of web sites that will use them. If the maximum dimensions cannot be adhered to then a text only link will be permitted for graphics larger than maximum size. (Maximum size dimensions offered from this web site are: no more than 200 pixels Height and 176 pixels Width.)

We agree that there will be only one obligation for winning Awards from this web site beyond meeting the Criteria. It is not now, and never will be, mandatory at this web site to sign a Guest book or to join a mailing list. It is a requirement that any Awards granted from this website must be linked back to the awards website in a method that will be outlined in Award notification e-mails.

We agree that we will not grant Awards to, or in any other manner endorse or promote, any web site that endorses, promotes or contains content which is considered globally to be illegal or discriminatory whether same be against human or wildlife.

We agree that we will not accept favours of any sort in exchange for preferential treatment of submissions. We will at all times maintain a high standard of honesty and integrity.

We agree that we will take all measures necessary to maintain the honour and integrity of the Awards Program.

Submitted on this day, Sunday September 05, 2004. 

This statement is considered public domain and may be used with appropriate modifications where necessary to meet your own personalized criteria.