Drugs and Alcohol

STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS MANDATE THAT DRUGS SUCH AS MARIJUANA, ECSTACY, COCAINE, HEROINE, AND OTHER, SIMILAR ITEMS ARE ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES.

The Browncoat Ball (BCB) and the 2024 Host Committee do not authorize or endorse the use of drugs while engaging in any Browncoat Ball activities or in areas in use by the Browncoat Ball event. We reserve the right to revoke Browncoat Ball memberships without refund for any reason, including the discovery of an attendee under the influence of illegal substances. BCB staff will support all applicable local, state, and federal laws regarding illegal substances. BCB staff will contact local law enforcement for issues of suspected drug use.

STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS ALSO MANDATE THAT IT IS PROHIBITED FOR INDIVIDUALS UNDER THE AGE OF 21 TO DRINK ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES. Alcohol will be available for purchase by individuals 21 years of age and older during the Browncoat Ball weekend events at The Centennial (event center) and Homewood Suites (Hotel). Purchase and consumption of alcohol will be under the authority of that establishment with their rules, regulations, restrictions, and limitations.

The BCB, 2024 Host Committee, and the Pennsylvania Browncoats prohibit the consumption of alcohol in non-event public areas of the event center and hotel. We will follow all event center and hotel and other venue guidelines regarding consumption of alcohol in shared public areas. If BCB staff finds an attendee 21 years of age or older drinking in a public area, the event staff will ask them to take their beverage to their room. If they are not a registered guest of the hotel, event staff or hotel staff will ask they discard their beverage.

If BCB staff suspects an attendee under the age of 21 is drinking or intoxicated, a staff member will contact the proper authorities. The BCB, 2024 Host Committee, and the Pennsylvania Browncoats DO NOT authorize, endorse, or condone underage drinking under any circumstances. We will follow all local, state, and federal guidelines regarding underage drinking.

Although the BCB, 2024 Host Committee, and the Pennsylvania Browncoats do not prohibit “room parties”, we encourage all hosts to be responsible for their party and their guests. Event staff will be active in ensuring that your party does not infringe on the other guests of BCB and the guests of the hotel. We remind you that the legal drinking age is 21 in Pennsylvania. We encourage you to enjoy your parties thoroughly, but also responsibly.

SMOKING: The Centennial Event Center and the Homewood Suites do not permit smoking in any of its rooms, but allows smoking in designated areas.

Weapons

Due to very restrictive laws in the Northampton, and the other surrounding counties, no live firearms of any kind are permitted. Due to the social nature of the BCB event, the BCB, 2024 Host Committee, and the Pennsylvania Browncoats strongly discourage you from including “prop” weapons and bladed weapons as part of your outfit. However, if you are determined to bring them, you must adhere to the following policy.

Cast-resin “prop” and non-firing replica firearms are permitted. Such weapons must be inspected at Registration. Immediately after inspection, all weapons will be peace-bound by event staff into a holster or other carrying device; no slung replica firearms (i.e., long arms) of any type are permitted. Please leave Vera at home.

Bladed weapons are to be inspected at Registration. Immediately after inspection, all weapons will be peace-bound by event staff into a scabbard or other carrying device which completely encloses the cutting surface.

Please ensure your rig allows the easy, visible application of peace-ties. We will not damage your rig in order to apply them. If your rig cannot be easily and visibly peace-tied, you will be required to store the rig (including weapon[s]) in the hotel’s secure facility at your expense (if any).

Any tampering with peace-ties or drawing of weapons is expressly forbidden. Under no circumstances are weapons of any type to be carried outside the hotel’s doors, not even to the smoking area. Any questions will be resolved by the event staff and staff decisions are final. Any violation of the above will result in immediate ejection from the event with no refund.

Conduct

The BCB, 2024 Host Committee, and the Pennsylvania Browncoats do not tolerate harassment of attendees, event staff, or hotel staff by any other attendee, event staff, or hotel staff. This includes but is not limited to:

• Stalking
• Intimidation
• Offensive Verbal Comments
• Physical Harassment and/or Unwelcome Physical Touching or Attention
• Symbols or Statements of hate toward, but not limited to, a person’s Race, Color, National Origin, Gender, Sexual Orientation, Age, Body Size, Disability, Appearance, Religion, or Mask Wearing

BCB appointed event staff, as identified by their badges, will have sole discretion to determine if a harassing action or statement has occurred or symbol has been used. Event staff will take prompt action in any form deemed appropriate toward anyone found in violation of this policy, which can range from asking an attendee, event staff, or hotel staff to leave the event space for a specified time up to expulsion from the BCB event with no refund or a lifetime ban from future Pennsylvania Browncoat events.

Any attendee, event staff, or hotel staff experiencing an uncomfortable or unsafe situation is asked to bring the matter to the nearest event staff member, identified by their event badge. They will be escorted to a safe space to make an official report. After making a report, event staff will contact local law enforcement or medical assistance, provide an escort, offer a safe place and/or otherwise assist the attendee, event staff, or hotel staff to feel safe for the remainder of the event.

PHOTOS: Attendees should be aware that event activities are often photographed or video-recorded by other attendees and posted on social media. The photographer should ask for your permission prior to photographing or recording you at the event. Attendees should be aware that they may appear in the background of someone else’s photo or video and are responsible for notifying that photographer if they do not wish to be included in the image or tagged on social media.

Children

BCB is intended to be an adult event. the 2024 Host Committee, and the Pennsylvania Browncoats are sensitive to the challenges of childcare. If you insist on bringing your child or children to the BCB event you must follow the following policy. This policy is intended to provide for the safety and comfort of all attendees.

There are no discounted prices or meal substitutions for children. As stated above, people under the age of 21 will not be served champagne or other alcohol at the BCB event. If BCB staff suspects an attendee under the age of 21 is drinking or intoxicated, a staff member will contact the proper authorities. The BCB, 2024 Host Committee, and the Pennsylvania Browncoats DO NOT authorize, endorse, or condone underage drinking under any circumstances. We will follow all local, state, and federal guidelines regarding underage drinking.

Babies and toddlers 6 years of age and younger must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Children 7 to 12 years of age must be supervised by an adult at all times. Teenagers 13 years of age and older may roam the event at will, but parents or guardians will be responsible for their behavior and actions.

It is requested that all parents fill out Child Identification Cards at registration. The card is intended to help identify lost children and who their parents are. The card will have the child’s name, parents’ names and contact information, and physical description of child. The physical description will include: hair color, eye color, height, ethnicity, and other distinguishing characteristics. The cards will be kept in a secured box, available only to the BCB event staff. The cards will be destroyed after the event by shredding.

NOTE: No children under the age of 18 will be admitted except in the company of their parent or adult guardian. A waiver of the THE BCB, 2024 Host Committee, and the Pennsylvania Browncoats’ responsibility will be required of the parent or legal adult guardian. Proper ID will be required to register!

FUR BABIES: It is the hotel’s policy that pets are prohibited in any area of the hotel (this includes guest rooms). Service animals, such as guide dogs, are exempt from this in accordance with the laws of Northampton County, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Liability

You attend the BCB event at your own will, by your own consent, and at your own risk. THE BCB, 2024 Host Committee, and the Pennsylvania Browncoats take no responsibility for anything untoward which may happen during your participation in the BCB event. We make no guarantee, explicit or implicit, that the venue, location, means of transport, activities and events of BCB are free of potential hazards.

Damage to the hotel or the 2024 Host Committee, and the Pennsylvania Browncoats property will be the financial responsibility of the perpetrator. Parents and legal guardians will be responsible for the damage done by their children and/or companions. Nothing shall be thrown over railings or down escalators or stairs.

Refunds

The 2024 Host Committee is required to make non-refundable deposits and purchases while planning and executing the BCB event. As a result, we are unable to grant refunds for event memberships. BCB memberships are transferable up to 23, October 2024. Refunds for hotel reservations, airline tickets, etc. are at the discretion of the issuing authorities.

COVID

The 2024 Host Committee strongly encourages everyone to get vaccinated and boosted against COVID- 19. Because science! We do recognize that there are some valid reasons to not get vaccinated. We also recognize that vaccines aren’t foolproof against COVID, but they still help your (and our collective) odds greatly, even if you’ve already contracted COVID and have some resulting immunity. However, the 2024 Host Committee is not requiring proof of vaccination to attend the BCB event. The 2024 Host Committee will not require attendees to wear masks at the BCB event unless hotel policies and/or local, state, or federal mandates require them at the time of the event. We do recommend the use of masks when in crowds, and when indoors and not actively eating or drinking. Because science! Again, we are not requiring masks but everyone should feel comfortable wearing a mask to the event if that’s their choice. (See our Conduct policy for more information.)

By attending this event you assume the risk of being exposed to COVID-19.

Final Word

Any questions or issues will be resolved by the event staff and these staff decisions are final. Any violation of the above can result in immediate ejection from the event with no refund.

REGARDLESS OF ANYTHING ELSE, YOU MUST COMPLY WITH ALL LAWS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, LEHIGH COUNTY, AND CITY OF CENTER VALLEY, AND THE RULES AND POLICIES OF THE CENTENNIAL EVENT CENTER, HOMEWOOD SUITES, THE BROWNCOAT BALL, THE 2024 HOST COMMITTEE, AND PENNSYLVANIA BROWNCOATS.