Appeals Policy

Last modified May 2024.

If an attendee wishes to appeal a staff decision made regarding a reported violation of BayCon policies, they may follow this appeals process:

1. 1. Appeal Submission Deadline and Format: Appeals must be submitted in writing to chair@baycon.org within thirty (30) days of being notified by BayCon staff of their decision of the original violation of BayCon’s policies. The appeal should include your name, the date of the staff decision, the name of the staff member making the original decision, the details of the originating incident, the reason for the appeal request, and any supporting evidence or documentation.
   2. Review Panel: A panel consisting of impartial staff members and/or designated individuals will be convened by the Society for the Promotion of Speculative Fiction’s Event Oversight Committee to review the appeal. Panel members selected will not have been directly involved in the original incident or decision.
   3. Consideration of Appeal: The above panel will carefully consider the written appeal, review relevant information, and may request additional input from involved parties or witnesses as necessary.
   4. Decision: A final decision based on the merits of the appeal and the available information will be made by the above panel within fourteen (14) days. This decision will be communicated in writing to the appellant within twenty-four (24) hours via electronic mail.
   5. Finality of Decision: The decision of the panel is considered by the Society to be final, and no further appeals or challenges will be entertained beyond this point.

BayCon strives to ensure a fair and transparent appeals process while upholding the integrity of the Code of Conduct. We value the feedback and concerns of our attendees and aim to address them appropriately.