Announcements

Month: June 2020

Introducing JPus.Training

June 16, 2020

Where Marriage Officiants Go to Learn

The Justice of the Peace Association is pleased to announce JPus.Training, its new online learning center. Here we will host educational courses for JPs, notaries and other professional marriage officiants.
Visitors to JPus.Training can log into the site and sign up for courses of interest. The first training that we’re offering is COVID-19 Best Practices for Marriage Officiants. We developed the training in consultation with OSHA for two purposes:
★ to provide officiants the information needed to safely navigate marriage ceremonies during the pandemic
★ to provide assurance to couples that the professional officiants they hire have been trained for community protection
All officiants who complete the training will receive a certification; JPus members will be able to cite this on their findaJP.com profile.
This launch is JPus.Training’s initial release. Meaning, we are seeking users’ feedback to help us evaluate what is working, and where we can improve to make the site stronger. Training participants will be able to register for courses and track their progress through a training account page. To visit the site and/or register for COVID-19 Best Practices for Marriage Officiants click here.

Mobilize NH: HB1599

June 10, 2020

Your voice is needed!

New Hampshire’s Special Marriage Officiant bill, HB1599, is expected to come before the House of Representatives for a vote tomorrow. And then it will go to the Senate. That’s where we come in. We’ll need all NH JPs to get involved if we want to defeat this legislation.
We have a Zoom call scheduled for Monday to answer your questions, and talking points to help you focus your message. Read more about our strategy and get the details.

Statement on Racial Injustice from JPus’ Managing Member

June 8, 2020

Along with the rest of the country and world, I have watched the recent harrowing events unfold, and felt anguish and anger. George Floyd’s horrific murder, and the callousness of the police officers on scene who failed to intervene to save his life, illustrate the most heinous parts of our society.

I believe with all my heart that, in the words of the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr, “No one is free until we are all free.” Like many of you, I routinely put these values to practice in my daily life. But that is not enough. To make change, each one of us must speak out and be heard — in all aspects of our lives.

In light of this, where does the Justice of the Peace Association fit in? JPus and findaJP were built upon a foundation of love. All love. Quoting MLK again, “We must meet the forces of hate with the power of love…” We stand against racism and discrimination and will work for the change we want to see. We are an inclusive organization that believes in equality of all people. And our activities must reflect these values.

How can our marriage-focused organization be a part of the solution to end racism and discrimination? Our team is finding our voice and determining what steps we should take to do better.

First Steps:

We strengthened our policies to better reflect our beliefs.
We are revising the Code of Ethics that all members agree to when they join the Justice of the Peace Association. They are currently in DRAFT form, and we invite members to comment before we finalize them.
Please view the DRAFT of the revised Code of Ethics and send me an email with your feedback.

Next Steps:

Formally updating the Code of Ethics
Implicit bias training for officiants

We also renew our commitment to ensure that our space is welcoming and safe for people of color. We encourage all members of our community to join us in solidarity with our friends and neighbors and to speak out and demand policies and laws that address systematic racism. Some steps we can all take include:

Join peaceful protests to let your voice be heard.
Contact your legislators.
Have conversations. Even if they are uncomfortable.
Support organizations that address racial inequality. A couple that we like:
NAACP Legal Defense Fund and Color of Change

I always welcome your calls and emails, but especially during this time. Together we will be better by working for the change we want to see.
In health and safety,
Loretta

Loretta Jay
Managing Member
203.255.7703
[email protected]

Draft – Revised Code of Ethics

June 8, 2020

As part of the Justice of the Peace Association’s efforts to be a part of the solution to eradicate racism and discrimination, we have updated our Terms of Use policy. We are also revisiting our Code of Ethics. The existing language requires members to act in clients’ best interest and in ways that reflect favorably on self and others. As part of our plan to take an active role addressing racism and discrimination, we are now making our expectations more explicit. Following is a DRAFT revised Code of Ethics. Before we finalize it, we invite our members to please review and provide any feedback or suggestions before June 26, 2020.

DRAFT Code of Ethics

As a member of the Justice of the Peace Association LLC, www.JPus.org, having accepted the state authorized responsibility to officiate marriage ceremonies, I will faithfully discharge my duties with both competence and integrity.

I resolve that I will adhere to the following standards of conduct:

To execute the statutes of the State in which I am empowered, as promised when I took the oath of office
To perform all tasks and responsibilities to the best of my ability
To complete and submit all documentation accurately, on time and to the proper authorities
To be honest with my clients and to act in their best interests
To charge a fee for my services that reflects my expertise, effort, time and involvement in the preparation and performance of my duties and that is in compliance with state statute, if applicable
To always act in a manner that reflects favorably on myself, my office, and the Justice of the Peace Association
To treat people of all backgrounds and identities fairly and with respect.

Acts of discrimination by omission or commission toward any individual or group based on their actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, immigration status, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age or disability constitute a violation of the Code of Ethics.