COVID-19 Notice and Disclosure Supplement
The World Health Organization has characterized the outbreak of COVID-19 as a pandemic. COVID-19 is a novel and extremely contagious communicable illness that is believed to be spread through person-to-person interactions. COVID-19 can cause symptoms in any infected individual, though data indicates that older individuals and those with existing medical conditions are at a higher risk of developing severe symptoms and complications. Not all individuals infected with COVID-19 display any symptoms, but such individuals may nonetheless be contagious and spread the infection. State and local authorities are closely monitoring the spread of COVID-19 in the State of Texas and have introduced mandatory quarantines, social distancing, and other safety measures to try to mitigate the spread of the disease. Public health officials anticipate that COVID-19 may remain a health concern throughout the 2020-2021 academic year, necessitating evolving protocols and responses.
Consistent with state, local, and federal guidance, Globe Aware is developing policies and practices and implementing modifications to our programs to help promote a safer environment. Our local staff will provide volunteers with more details about the policies and practices that will be required while COVID-19 remains a concern. However, circumstances are evolving rapidly. Volunteers understand that they may deviate from the guidelines and expectations set forth in orientation materials in its discretion as individual circumstances may warrant. By agreeing to volunteer, the volunteer, on their own behalf and on behalf of any above-identified minor, acknowledges and agrees that the volunteer and/or guardian will adhere to Globe Aware’s policies and other expectations and that failure to do so may result in suspension from the program.
Although Globe Aware and our community partners will strive to meet all applicable safety requirements, so long as COVID-19 continues to spread by community transmission and until there is an effective vaccine, there will be a risk that if volunteers are on a program location, they could become infected with COVID-19 despite the organization’s efforts. That risk extends to the families, as well as others with whom the student may have contact upon return. By agreeing to volunteer, the volunteer acknowledges and agrees, on their own behalf and on behalf of any minor, that despite Globe Aware’s efforts to reopen programs safely, there is nonetheless a risk that one could contract COVID-19 and become a symptomatic or an asymptomatic carrier of COVID-19.
Volunteers understand and agree that the duties and obligations of the organization and this Supplement may be modified or suspended immediately and without notice because of force majeure causes beyond the organization’s reasonable control and occurring without its fault or negligence, including, but not limited to, acts of god, fire, wars, governmental action, terrorism, epidemic, pandemic, outbreaks of infectious disease or any other public health crisis (including, but not limited to, as related to COVID-19, quarantine, or other social distancing restrictions), weather, other threats to the safety of volunteers, national emergencies, or any other event beyond the organization’s control. If such an event occurs, the volunteers acknowledge and agree that the volunteers’ obligations under this Supplement, including the volunteers’ financial obligations and the measures outlined in this Supplement, including, but not limited to, the volunteer’s obligation to be financially responsible for the individual's program fees, shall continue and the organization’s duties and obligations may be modified, suspended, or postponed until such time as the organization, in its sole discretion, may safely resume operations. The volunteers acknowledge and agree that the sole remedy for a force majeure event is future service delivery and not a financial refund.
This Supplement, and all rights and obligations provided for herein, shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas without regard to conflict of law principles. Any dispute arising out of this Supplement, the Enrollment Agreement, or otherwise between the Globe Aware and the Volunteer must be heard exclusively in the state or federal courts located in the United States. If any part of this Supplement is found to be unenforceable or illegal, the remainder of this Supplement shall still be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. Multiple copies of this Supplement may be signed, all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement.
I understand and agree that this Supplement is a binding and enforceable agreement and that the organization may bring an action to enforce any rights under this agreement. In such an event, or to the extent that the volunteers cause the organization to be brought into any dispute to which it is not a named party, the volunteers agree that the volunteers shall be liable for, and shall pay to the organization, its costs in handling the dispute, including, but not limited to, attorneys' fees, in addition to any other amounts that the volunteers may owe the organization by way of judgment, settlement, or otherwise.
