Attendees
Attendees are expected to demonstrate appropriate conduct at all times. Any action by an attendee that interferes with, disrupts, impairs, creates an undue burden, or is deemed inappropriate by the SDMS is subject to disciplinary action. This may include disciplinary measures up to and including removal of the attendee from the contracted meeting space (including the exhibit hall) and termination of privileges of the attendee at future conferences.

Inappropriate/Disruptive Actions
Inappropriate and disruptive behavior are actions that interfere with the instructional, networking, administrative, or service functions of the SDMS Annual Conference including:

• Harassment, intimidation, or discrimination in any form: The SDMS is committed to promoting and implementing ongoing improvements to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the diagnostic medical sonography profession (SDMS Board Policy: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion [B.5.1]). The SDMS encourages all attendees, exhibitors, and other conference participants to support efforts to ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion in the sonography profession.
• Disruption of the presentations during sessions: All participants must conform with the instructions of the speakers, moderators, and/or SDMS staff members.
• Unapproved postings and messages: Public postings/messages that contain promotional materials, special offers, job offers, product announcements, or solicitation of services ​must be pre-approved by the SDMS in advance.

Attendee Registration Cancellation/Refund Policy
All written cancellations postmarked on or before August 31 will receive a refund MINUS a $50 processing fee. No refunds will be made for cancellations postmarked after August 31.

Conference Cancellation/Refund Policy
The conference cancellation/refund policy for attendee registration will be addressed on a case-by-case basis and will reflect appropriate accommodations for the situation at hand.

The SDMS is committed to the SDMS Annual Conference being a healthy, safe, and drug-free, event.

Alcohol

• The sale, availability or distribution of alcoholic beverages to anyone under the age of 21 is strictly prohibited. Venue personnel and/or SDMS staff members are required to verify identification that the conference participant is legally able to consume alcoholic beverages.
• In order to reduce risk and ensure the safety and well-being of conference participants, the SDMS will handle alcohol consumption through the distribution of drink tickets and cash sales for gatherings with more than 100 people.
• Beer or wine is standard when alcoholic beverages are served. Hard liquor will not be served unless approved by the SDMS Board of Directors.
• All alcoholic beverages must be consumed within the serving area. No containers, either open or closed, may be taken from the event premises and no alcoholic beverage may be brought in by participants.
• Venue personnel and SDMS staff have the right to refuse to serve alcohol to any person who appears intoxicated and/or disruptive.
• Conference participants who do no adhere to these policies are subject to remove from the premises and possible removal from all SDMS Annual Conference functions, including education sessions.

Drugs and Smoking
The SDMS has designated SDMS Annual Conference meeting spaces and the SDMS Exhibit Hall as a "drug-free and smoke-free" environment. Participants may not sue, possess, distribute, sell or be under the influence of illicit drugs or prescription drugs that impair safe and appropriate behaviors while attending the SDMS Annual Conference. 

Smoking of tobacco products or e-cigarettes is permitted only in restricted areas designated and clearly marked by the host venue.

Legal Marijuana Use
Some states (e.g., California, Colorado, Oregon, etc.) have enacted laws that allow individuals to purchase, possess, and use marijuana and related products (e.g., brownies, candy, etc.). However, no marijuana or related products may be possessed or used at SDMS functions occurring during the SDMS Annual Conference..

Dietary Restrictions

• The SDMS, to the best of its ability, will work with the host venue and any other contracted catering company to accommodate any necessary dietary restrictions requested by a participant in advance through their conference registration.
• The SDMS will work with the host venue and any other contracted catering company to supply food cards and/or full menu cards to provide food allergy awareness.

Religious Accommodations
For those conference attendees who require Kosher or Halal food preparation, the SDMS will work with the host venue and any other contracted catering company to review food-preparation certifications and dated delivery receipts for all Halal meats and Kosher foods.

The Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS) has a no-solicitation policy covering the SDMS Annual Conference. To provide exhibitors, sponsors, attendees, and employees a disruption free environment, solicitation is prohibited without prior written permission by the SDMS. Solicitation includes, but is not limited to, the following activities:

• Recruiting members for other affiliate groups/associations
• Advertising for other trade shows
• Promoting non-SDMS events
• Conducting recruiting for employers
• Hosting unauthorized receptions, parties or activities in the conference environment or off-site
• Making advances toward conference participants or SDMS staff (contractual, financial, etc.)
• Distributing promotional material unrelated to exhibits/exhibitors

Any participant and/or organization found to be violating the activities outlined in this policy may be removed from the SDMS Annual Conference with no refund. Repeated violations of this policy may result in permanent removal from future SDMS Annual Conferences.

Recording video, audio, or taking pictures (including the use of smartphones and other mobile devices), by anyone other than by the official SDMS photographers is prohibited in educational sessions. Images and video may be taken in the Exhibit Hall with smartphones and other mobile devices but not of a specific manufacturer’s equipment or supplies.

Attendees
Several photographs will be taken by the official SDMS photographer throughout the SDMS Annual Conference and will be used in future print and online promotional materials. By virtue of your attendance, you agree to allow the SDMS to use photographs of you in its promotional materials.

Photo/Video Release
The SDMS reserves the right to use any photograph/video taken at any event sponsored by the SDMS, without the expressed written permission of those included within the photo/video.

The SDMS provides 24-hour unarmed security personnel over the duration of the SDMS Annual Conference. Security is contracted through a third-party vendor or directly through the hosting venue.

Security personnel provides services for the SDMS to assist with:

• Checking badges for entry into conference functions
• Monitoring contracted space around the clock
• Providing support to SDMS staff ​concerning any issues that may arise with a conference participant, including escorting them from the function at which the occurrence took place

Conference participants are solely responsible for their personal property while in the SDMS Annual Conference meeting spaces and the exhibit hall. The SDMS accepts no responsibility or liability for any lost or stolen items.

Guest Age Restrictions
Guests under the age of 16 years are not permitted to attend educational sessions, networking events during the SDMS Annual Conference, or in the SDMS Exhibit Hall.

Participant's Responsibilities
An SDMS Annual Conference participant is responsible for their guest's behavior at all times.

Appropriate Guest Conduct
Guests are expected to demonstrate appropriate conduct at all times. Any action of a participant’s guest(s) that interferes with, disrupts, impairs, creates an undue burden, or is deemed inappropriate or disruptive by the SDMS is subject to disciplinary action, up to and including the removal of the guest from the contracted meeting space (including the exhibit hall) and termination of any related privileges of the participant at the conference and future conferences.

Inappropriate/Disruptive Actions
Inappropriate and disruptive behavior are actions that interfere with the instructional, networking, administrative, or service functions of the SDMS Annual Conference including:

• Harassment, intimidation, or discrimination in any form: The SDMS is committed to promoting and implementing ongoing improvements to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the diagnostic medical sonography profession (SDMS Board Policy: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion [B.5.1]). The SDMS encourages all attendees, exhibitors, and other conference participants to support efforts to ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion in the sonography profession.
• Disruption of the presentations during sessions: All participants must conform with the instructions of the speakers, moderators, and/or SDMS staff members.
• Unapproved postings and messages: Public postings/messages that contain promotional materials, special offers, job offers, product announcements, or solicitation of services ​must be pre-approved by the SDMS in advance.

Participant Health and Safety
The following policy outlines the health and safety protocols for all participants (e.g., attendees, guests, vendors, etc.) of the SDMS Annual Conference and its associated events and activities (“Conference”). The SDMS takes the health and safety of its participants serious and have implemented precautions to help reduce the risk of communicable illness, including but not limited to COVID-19. Protocols are based on current guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The SDMS cannot guarantee that conference participants in attendance or traveling to/from the Conference will not be exposed or become infected with a communicable illness.

Liability Waiver and Release of Claims
I HEREBY RELEASE, WAIVE, AND FOREVER DISCHARGE ANY AND ALL LIABILITY, CLAIMS, AND DEMANDS OF WHATEVER KIND OR NATURE AGAINST THE SOCIETY OF DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL SONOGRAPHY AND ITS AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS, EXHIBITORS, AND SPONSORS, INCLUDING IN EACH CASE, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THEIR DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, VOLUNTEERS, VENDORS, PARTNERS, SUCCESSORS, ASSIGNS, OR AGENTS (THE “RELEASED PARTIES”), EITHER IN LAW OR IN EQUITY, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMISSIBLE BY LAW, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY FIRST-AID, TREATMENT, OR SERVICE RENDERED IN CONNECTION WITH MY PARTICIPATION AND DAMAGES OR LOSSES CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE, FAULT, OR CONDUCT OF ANY KIND ON THE PART OF THE RELEASED PARTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO DEATH, BODILY INJURY, ILLNESS, ECONOMIC LOSS, OR OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES, OR LOSS OR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY, WHICH I, MY HEIRS, ASSIGNEES, NEXT OF KIN OR LEGALLY APPOINTED OR DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVES, MAY HAVE OR WHICH MAY HEREINAFTER ACCRUE ON MY BEHALF, WHICH ARISE OR MAY HEREAFTER ARISE FROM MY PARTICIPATION IN THE CONFERENCE OR ANY ASSOCIATED EVENTS OR ACTIVITIES.

Acknowledgements
By taking part in the Conference, I acknowledge that:

1. My participation is voluntary, and I will derive personal satisfaction and benefit from participation;
2. Participation may include possible exposure to and illness from infectious diseases, including but not limited to COVID-19. While the SDMS’ health and safety protocols may help reduce this risk, the risk of serious illness and death does continue to exist; and

3. I knowingly and freely assume all risk of injury, harm, death, and loss associated with participation, including any injury, harm, death, or loss caused by the negligence, fault, or conduct on the part of RELEASED PARTIES or illness or infectious diseases, including but not limited to COVID-19.

Governing Law and Jurisdiction for Dispute Resolution
All claims, rights, and liabilities shall be determined in accordance with the substantive law (and the law of remedies, if applicable) to the State of Texas or Federal law as interpreted by the US Federal District and appeal courts of the Fifth Circuit, applicable to the claims asserted. Any legal action taken or to be taken shall be brought only before a State or Federal court of competent jurisdiction for Collin County, Texas, and each Party hereby consents to personal jurisdiction and exclusive venue in the State and Federal courts for Collin County, Texas.

Handouts
SDMS Annual Conference session handouts (including PPT presentations) may be available one week prior to the start of the conference to all paid registrants and available for review for 60 days. Registrants cannot earn SDMS CME credit for reviewing a handout; SDMS CME credit can only be earned for attending a session.

Copyright
SDMS Annual Conference session handouts are copyrighted by the SDMS, and registrants are prohibited from sharing and utilizing the session handout content received from the SDMS Annual Conference.