I am publishing below a copy of the loyalty oath that Hermitage volunteers are now being required to sign. It starts out perfectly normal, but to me, it becomes darker with each paragraph. Put yourself in the shoes of volunteer Valerie Conforti, who was met at the door by Jackie the guard, and told that no one was allowed to enter until they signed, and that "this was necessary because some of the volunteers had not been nice to the cats and, along with former staff members, they had been doing things that are bad for the shelter." Valerie refused to sign, taking the stance that signing would be admitting volunteers had mistreated cats and behaved improperly, and that this was not true. She is still waiting for the promised phone call from Rosalie.


THE HERMITAGE CAT SHELTER CODE OF PROFESSIONAL ETHICS

The Hermitage Cat Shelter is an animal welfare and service organization that strives to maintain a high standard of professionalism and productivity at all times.

To reach our objective, it is in the interest of the volunteers and organization to see the The Hermitage policies and procedures are followed with consistency and that volunteers have a commitment to professionalism and integrity within the organization.

Therefore, The Hermitage volunteers accept the responsibility to report to the Executive Director infractions of policies they believe may have an effect on the organization.

In addition, Hermitage volunteers also accept the personal responsibility to maintain a positive and professional work environment by following the proper procedure to resolve any conflicts. Malicious or speculative talk among volunteers is unproductive, undermines our ethical standards, and will not be tolerated.

There are then spaces for the volunteer's name, date, and then signature. Then spaces for the Executive Director's name date, and signature.

Volunteer and donor, Valerie Conforti, went to the Hermitage Cat Shelter Monday to work, and was met by Jackie, the new security person at the door. Jackie checked "The List", and found that Valerie was one of the volunteers who are still allowed in. Jackie said she knew that Valerie was very loving towards the cats. However, there was a form for everyone to sign and no-one was allowed in without signing it. Valerie read the form and saw that it said, among other things, that the volunteer has to agree not to engage in malicious gossip or speculation. The volunteer also had to agree to report any infractions to the Executive Director. Jackie said this was necessary because some of the volunteers had not been nice to the cats and, along with former staff members, they had been doing things that are bad for the shelter.

Valerie wasn't about to sign this. She said that by signing this, she would be admitting that the volunteers had mistreated the cats; that she had been going to the shelter for 8 months and never seen a volunteer be anything but very loving to the cats. Jackie then replied that Valerie would have to talk to Rosalie to get clearance, and had Valerie sign her name and phone number. It is now Wednesday evening, and no one from the shelter has called Valerie back.