Membership Rules
Application for OGRS membership shall be approved by the Executive Membership Board, after consultation and using information to establish the applicant's ethical and technical qualifications for membership and to create necessary membership records and OGRS Directory/Register records.
All applicants for membership status shall indicate whether or not they have previously been rejected for membership in the Association or had membership voided or have previously been convicted of a felony or sanctioned by any professional ethics body, licensing board, other regulatory body or any professional or scientific organization. All applications for member status shall carry the following statement, which the applicant shall sign:
"In making this application, I subscribe to and will support the objectives of the Ontario Gambling Research Society as set forth in Article I of the bylaws, and the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct, as adopted by the Society, and I affirm that the statements made in this application correctly represent my qualifications for membership, and understand that if they do not, my membership may be voided."
The OGRS may seek evidence from schools, organizations and universities that the candidate has attended, state/provincial/territorial or local psychological associations, professional employers, and/or other appropriate sources of information, when the submitted documentation leaves doubt as to the applicant's qualifications for membership in the Society.
Membership obtained on the basis of false or fraudulent evidence may be voided at any subsequent time by the Executive Board. Action to void may be brought either by the Ethics Committee or by the Membership Board.
Membership in the Society may be terminated by the death of a member, resignation, dropping for nonpayment of dues, or as provided in the Ethics Committee's Rules and Procedures.
Notice of the death of a member or formal resignation should be forwarded to Executive Board. Resignation will ordinarily be accepted forthwith, except while a member is under scrutiny by the Ethics Committee. While under such scrutiny, a member may be permitted to resign under stipulated conditions in accordance with provisions in the Ethics Committee's Rules and Procedures.
A member is dropped from membership in the Society after nonpayment of dues by January 1 of the year after dues have been unpaid for one year, except while a member is under scrutiny by the Ethics Committee. Members dropped after nonpayment of dues will be considered voluntary resignations from the Society.
A member may resign by not paying the dues or assessment of that division in connection with the annual Association dues statement.
The membership of a person who has voluntarily resigned may be fully reinstated at any time by the payment of all current dues. Prior to such reinstatement, the person must indicate any prior unethical conduct and make the ethics affirmation in accordance with the procedures of Society Rule and is subject to investigation by the Ethics Committee as provided in its Rules and Procedures for applicants. Reinstatement is effective as of the current year. The period of voluntary resignation shall not be counted towards the years needed to attain dues-exempt status. When fully reinstated, the person's membership dates from the original year of election. This option shall not be available to a former member who was under scrutiny by the Ethics Committee at the time membership was terminated.
The membership of a person who has voluntarily resigned or who has been dropped for nonpayment of dues may also be reinstated upon payment of dues for the current year. Reinstatement is effective as of the current year. The period of nonpayment of dues shall not be counted toward the years needed to attain dues-exempt status. This option can be used only once and shall not be available to former members who were under scrutiny by the Ethics Committee at the time membership was terminated.
Ordinarily, individuals who have previously resigned or been expelled from membership must reinstate into the previously held membership status and dues category and may not reapply as a new member. Exceptions regarding the membership status and dues category of reinstating members may be made by the Executive Board.
Privacy Policy
The OGRS recognizes the importance of protecting the privacy and rights of individuals in relation to their personal information. This document is the OGRS’ Privacy Policy and applies in respect of the information collected and used by the OGRS.
“Personal information” is that which can be used for personal identification. This may include a person’s name, address, telephone number, email address and profession or occupation. If the information collected by the OGRS can personally identify a member, or a member can reasonably be identified from it, the information will be considered to be personal information.
Some personal information is also “sensitive information.” Sensitive refers to a member’s individual’s racial or ethnic origin, political opinion, political association, religious beliefs/affiliations, philosophical beliefs, whether a member is of a trade or professional association or trade union, sexual orientation/practices, a member’s criminal record or a member’s health information (including genetic information or biometric information).
The Ontario Gambling Research Society will take reasonable steps to protect all personal information which we hold from misuse or loss and from unauthorized access, modification or disclosure. We may hold your information in either electronic or hard copy form. Personal information is destroyed or de-identified by us when it is no longer needed for the primary purposes (or any related secondary purposes) set out in this privacy policy.
Risks are mitigated through the OGRS’s commitment to de-identifying or destroying any un-required personal information where possible.
You should be aware when using our website that no data transmission over the Internet can be guaranteed as totally secure. Although we strive to protect such information, we do not warrant the security of any information that you transmit to us over the Internet (including through our website), and you do so at your own risk.
We may provide your personal information to:
· our staff, which include our paid employees, volunteers and contractors;
· our related partners, affiliates, research collaborators, contractors and consultants who assist us in providing services to us and are required by us to protect your personal information;
· any organization for any authorized person with your express consent;
· a person or organization to whom we are compelled by law, or otherwise permitted by law, to provide your information; or
· your organization, if you are acting on behalf of an organization.
If we refer you to a third-party service provider, that service provider may also collect and store your personal information. We make no representation or warranties in relation to the privacy practices of any third-party service provider and we are not responsible for their collection, use or disclosure of your personal information. Third-party service providers are responsible for informing you about their own privacy practices.
