The International Nanny Association (also referred to as INA) is committed to providing a wonderful experience for all its members, guests, speakers, sponsors, and attendees of the 2025 Conference. We aim to provide a safe, productive, and welcoming environment for all participants and with this in mind, it is critical to set a Code of Conduct so that each person attending one of our conferences and events has a positive and rewarding experience.
We invite all sponsors, volunteers, speakers, attendees, vendors, and others (“Participants”) to help us realize, create, and maintain a safe, respectful, and positive experience for everyone. We have established this Code of Conduct to provide guidelines to Participants and to ensure that all participants understand what behavior is expected, and what behavior will not be tolerated at an INA event. INA expects all Participants to abide by this Code of Conduct at all events. This includes conference-related social events at off-site locations, and in related online communities and social media. INA is dedicated to providing a harassment-free and inclusive event experience for everyone regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disabilities, physical appearance, body size, ethnicity, nationality, race, age, religion or any other protected category. Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately.
CODE OF CONDUCT
Harassment includes offensive verbal comments related to gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion, technology choices, sexual images in public spaces, deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography, or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention.
Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately.
Sponsors are also subject to the anti-harassment policy.
If a participant engages in harassing behavior, the conference organizers may take any action they deem appropriate, including warning the offender or expulsion from the conference with no refund.
If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of conference staff or a Board Member immediately. Conference staff and Board Members can be identified as they’ll be wearing branded clothing and/or badges. If you need help identifying a Board Member or Conference Staffer, please ask the hotel/venue’s front desk attendee.
Conference staff and all Board Members will be happy to help participants contact the hotel/venue security or local law enforcement, provide escorts, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment to feel safe for the duration of the conference. We value your attendance and want your experience to be positive.
We expect participants to follow these rules at conference and workshop venues and conference-related social events.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF ASSUMPTION OF RISK
This Acknowledgement of Assumption of Risk (“Acknowledgement”) is a written acknowledgement and agreement between the International Nanny Association (“INA”) and members and guests who voluntarily attend INA and INA-sponsored events (the “Participant”). Sponsored events include conferences, in-person meetings, and other events sponsored by INA (“Events”). The Participant hereby acknowledges and agrees to the following:
One of the biggest benefits for our attendees at the conference is their ability to network with other attendees. Attendees are able to talk to child caregivers and industry businesses in a professional but social atmosphere. Sharing information about yourself, your career, and your business is not only allowed but it is encouraged. However, there is a line between networking and what is called “Suitcasing” and “Outboarding.” These practices (defined below) are strictly prohibited. The INA relies on income from sponsorship and exhibitions in order to run a successful conference from year to year. Suitcasing and Outboarding work to take that income away from the INA and can cause the cost of the conference to increase for everyone.
What is Suit-casing?
Suit-casing is when a company either registers as an attendee or has no badge at all when they should be registered as a sponsor of the event. They are actively trying to recruit business from attendees – by handing out flyers in hallways, leaving printed material on tables, etc. – without paying to be a sponsor, vendor or advertiser. This is directly stealing revenue from the conference, as well as stealing from the official sponsors. It is deceitful and confusing to the attendees.
INA’s Suit-casing Policy: Only contracted Sponsors, Exhibitors, and Advertisers are permitted to advertise their products, services or company at the conference. Unless approved by the INA Conference Coordinator, all company displays and product sampling must occur within the contracted sponsored event or exhibitor space and only by those that have an exhibitor table. This includes, but is not limited to:
Companies found doing so will have their materials confiscated and disposed of properly. Attendees may be asked to leave the conference and forfeit their badge. Additional penalties may apply.
Sharing of your individual business cards is permitted. Furthermore, discussing your company and business with individuals that you meet in general sessions as well as breakout workshops and the Vendor Marketplace is encouraged. However, when an attendee decides to buy a registration with the direct intention to sell their products without purchasing a booth, sponsorship or advertising; they have essentially stolen from the INA and its attendees.
What is Outboarding?
Outboarding is similar and even more damaging. This person or company has recognized that the INA has brought together their attendees in one place. When a person or company that should be a sponsor of an event instead decides to host their own competing event, capitalizing on the presence of attendees without previously notifying the event organizers, without consent; they make a conscious decision to lure people from the INA Conference and host an event off-site without the consent of the organization. Many times, they even use the event organizers brand to confuse attendees into thinking this is a sanctioned event. When an Out-boarder does this during conference hours, they have just taken customers and revenue from other exhibitors, sponsors, and speakers. It is fraudulent and is harmful to attendees by confusing them into thinking they are supporting the official event when really, they are not.
INA’s Out-boarding Policy: This practice is considered unethical and is condemned by the International Nanny Association. It includes practices such as:
Any person or company is known to be hosting an event during INA Conference official hours may lose opportunities to sponsor, exhibit, speak or attend future events.
We encourage attendees who observe a violation of our policies to contact the conference coordinator immediately. Should you have any questions or concerns, please email conference@nanny.org or reach out to the Conference Coordinator on-site.
Conclusion
Event organizers sell a product just like any other business. Our product is the INA Annual Conference. We spend a significant amount of money promoting our product. We bring as many qualified people as we can to one place all at the same time. We set the prices for our products and we create the terms and conditions (T&Cs) around how we are willing to provide our products. We create these T&Cs to protect our attendees, speakers, and sponsors from unethical people and companies. Our goal is to create a level playing field for everyone. We ask that all attendees respect the INA and conference attendees by purchasing a sponsorship, exhibitor space or advertising if they intend to sell their product or service at the conference. This is their opportunity to share their product or service.
The INA’s mission is to elevate and nurture the quality of childcare throughout the world. Children remain the topmost priority and the driving force behind the annual gathering at conference. It is the INA’s intention to create an environment where attendees can fully immerse themselves in professional growth and return to their roles refreshed and better equipped to provide the highest level of care to the children under their supervision, or the businesses that strive to provide quality in-home childcare.
At times, children may pose distractions to professionals who seek a dedicated space for learning, personal development, and relaxation. For this purpose, children (under the age of 18) are not permitted into the INA Conference event workshops and general session space.
There are two important exceptions that we would like to outline:
The INA requests that all attendees please be respectful, helpful, patient, and supportive to parents/ guardians and their desire to be a part of the INA community. As an organization formulated and upheld by childcare professionals, please keep the spirit of unity and patience for children in mind as we continue to work together to make the best conference experience for everyone.