West Houston Girls Cotillion Rules, Consent, Medical Authorization, Assumption of Risk, Release and Indemnity Agreement

IMPORTANT: This is a legally significant agreement. Each participant and the participant's parent or legal guardian should read every provision before signing.

1. AGREEMENT AND DEFINITIONS

   In consideration of being permitted to register for, attend, or otherwise participate in the West Houston Girls Cotillion ("WHGC") or an event sponsored by WHGC, each member, escort, and parent or legal guardian agrees to the terms of this Rules, Consent, Medical Authorization, Assumption of Risk, Release and Indemnity Agreement ("Agreement"). A "participant" means each member and escort. "Parent" means the parent or legal guardian signing for a participant who is under eighteen years of age.

   Each participant must sign this Agreement. A parent must separately sign for each minor participant. A minor may not sign or consent on behalf of a parent. Registration is not complete until WHGC has received the required payment, registration information, and all signed agreements.

2. ELIGIBILITY, REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT

   Membership is by invitation only and is limited to the number of students established by WHGC. Membership is personal, nontransferable, and limited to the WHGC class corresponding to the member's expected graduation year. WHGC may establish participating-school eligibility and other reasonable registration requirements.

   Except as expressly stated in writing by WHGC, registration fees and membership payments are nonrefundable, including when a participant is denied admission or dismissed for violating this Agreement. WHGC may adopt a separate written cancellation or force-majeure policy for cancellation, postponement, venue closure, severe weather, governmental orders, or circumstances beyond WHGC's reasonable control.

3. ATTENDANCE, ATTIRE AND ADMISSION

   Attendance is limited to properly registered members and their properly registered escorts, if any. Members may attend with or without an escort. Dress requirements and event-specific arrival times will be communicated by WHGC. WHGC has reasonable discretion to determine whether attire or conduct complies with event requirements and may deny admission without refund for material noncompliance.

   Each participant must present acceptable photo identification upon request and check in at the official registration table. No participant may enter through an unauthorized entrance, admit another person, leave and re-enter without approval, or bypass security or check-in procedures.

4. PROHIBITED ITEMS AND CONDUCT

   Alcohol, illegal drugs, marijuana, tobacco, cigarettes, cigars, nicotine products, JUUL devices, vaping devices, controlled substances not lawfully prescribed to the participant, weapons, firearms, knives, explosives, and other dangerous or prohibited items are not permitted at the event.

   Fighting, threats, harassment, bullying, unlawful conduct, vandalism, lewd or unsafe behavior, disorderly conduct, foul or abusive language, tampering with safety equipment, and failure to follow reasonable instructions from WHGC representatives, venue staff, or security are prohibited. Participants may not share prescription medication or possess medication prescribed to another person.

5. REASONABLE SCREENING, INSPECTION AND BREATH TESTING

   As a condition of admission and continued attendance, participants consent to reasonable inspection of bags, coats, containers, vehicles presented for event parking, and other personal belongings by authorized event security when required by established entry procedures or a reasonable safety concern. WHGC may prohibit backpacks, oversized purses, overnight bags, and similar items.

   A participant may be required to submit to a non-invasive breath-alcohol screening administered by authorized personnel. Refusal to comply with a permitted screening, reasonable belongings inspection, or safety instruction may result in denial of admission or removal. Nothing in this Agreement authorizes an intrusive physical search by a WHGC volunteer. WHGC may contact law enforcement when circumstances warrant.

6. IMPAIRED PARTICIPANTS AND SAFE RELEASE

   Any participant who appears to be under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, drugs, an intoxicating substance, or medication affecting safe behavior may be denied admission or removed from the event at the reasonable discretion of WHGC representatives, venue personnel, or event security. Definitive proof of intoxication is not required before WHGC takes reasonable steps to protect participants and others.

   An impaired or otherwise unsafe participant may be kept under reasonable supervision in a designated safe area until released directly to the participant's parent, designated emergency contact, or another sober adult expressly approved by the Parent. The participant will not be permitted to leave alone, drive, enter a vehicle operated by a person who appears impaired, or leave solely in the custody of another minor.

   If WHGC cannot promptly reach an authorized sober adult, or if the participant's condition or conduct presents a possible medical or safety emergency, WHGC may contact emergency medical services and/or law enforcement. The parent accepts responsibility for reasonable medical, transportation, security, cleanup, repair, or other expenses arising from the participant's condition or conduct, to the extent permitted by law.

7. PARENT AVAILABILITY AND PICKUP RESPONSIBILITY

   The parent agrees to remain reachable throughout the event and to arrange immediate pickup when requested. At least one emergency contact must be available for the entire event and authorized to take custody of the participant. WHGC may require photo identification and confirmation from the Parent before releasing a participant. Any person picking up a participant must be a sober adult.

8. TRANSPORTATION, PARKING AND CHECKOUT

   Participants may not drive themselves to or from the event. Transportation must be provided by a parent, an authorized sober adult, or a properly licensed professional transportation service approved by the parent. WHGC does not arrange, supervise, endorse, or provide participant transportation unless WHGC expressly agrees otherwise in writing.

   Participants must follow the official check-in and checkout process and may not leave before the announced departure time without prior approval. Once a participant has been properly released, WHGC is not responsible for the participant's transportation, destination, conduct, or activities after departure. A WHGC volunteer should not transport a participant in a personal vehicle except in a genuine emergency when reasonably necessary to protect health or safety.

9. EMERGENCY MEDICAL AUTHORIZATION

   The parent authorizes WHGC representatives to contact emergency medical services and, if a parent or emergency contact cannot be reached promptly, to obtain emergency evaluation, ambulance transportation, and treatment reasonably believed necessary for the participant's health or safety. WHGC representatives are not required to diagnose a condition or provide care beyond their training.

   The parent accepts financial responsibility for medical care and transportation provided to the participant. The parent certifies that the participant's relevant medical conditions, allergies, medications, and emergency instructions have been disclosed accurately in the registration or emergency information section of this agreement.

10. ASSUMPTION OF RISK

    The participant and parent understand that attendance at a formal dance and related activities involves inherent and other risks, including slips, trips, falls, dancing-related injuries, crowded conditions, illness or communicable disease exposure, food or allergic reactions, acts or omissions of other attendees, security incidents, and transportation-related risks. Participation is voluntary. The participant and parent knowingly and voluntarily assume these risks to the fullest extent permitted by Texas law.

11. PARENT RESPONSIBILITY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE

    The parent accepts responsibility for the participant's observance of this agreement and for loss or damage directly or indirectly caused by the participant to the venue, WHGC, service providers, volunteers, chaperones, or other persons. The parent agrees to reimburse reasonable repair, replacement, cleanup, security, or other costs resulting from the participant's intentional misconduct or violation of this agreement, to the extent permitted by law.

12. PERSONAL PROPERTY

    Coats, shoes, purses, mobile phones, and other personal items are brought at the participant's own risk. WHGC and the released parties are not responsible for theft, loss, or damage to personal property, including items placed in a coat-check or holding area, except to the extent liability cannot lawfully be excluded.

13. DISMISSAL AND ENFORCEMENT

    WHGC may deny admission, remove, or dismiss a participant whose conduct violates this agreement or presents a reasonable safety concern. WHGC may use reasonable judgment based on the information available at the time. Dismissal may result in termination of membership and forfeiture of registration payments, subject to applicable law. Safety decisions may be made by WHGC representatives in coordination with venue staff, security, emergency personnel, or law enforcement.

    PLEASE READ CAREFULLY - RELEASE OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNITY

14. RELEASE OF LIABILITY

    TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY TEXAS LAW, EACH PARTICIPANT AND PARENT, FOR THEMSELVES AND FOR THE MINOR PARTICIPANT, RELEASES, WAIVES, AND AGREES TO HOLD HARMLESS WHGC AND ITS PAST AND PRESENT OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, BOARD MEMBERS, COMMITTEE MEMBERS, VOLUNTEERS, CHAPERONES, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, REPRESENTATIVES, AND OTHER PERSONS OR ENTITIES EXPRESSLY IDENTIFIED BY WHGC AS RELEASED PARTIES (COLLECTIVELY, THE "RELEASED PARTIES") FROM CLAIMS, DAMAGES, LIABILITIES, LOSSES, OR CAUSES OF ACTION ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO PARTICIPATION IN THE EVENT, INCLUDING CLAIMS CAUSED BY THE ORDINARY NEGLIGENCE OF A RELEASED PARTY.

    THIS RELEASE DOES NOT APPLY TO GROSS NEGLIGENCE, RECKLESS CONDUCT, WILLFUL MISCONDUCT, OR ANY LIABILITY THAT CANNOT LAWFULLY BE WAIVED. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT CREATES A DUTY FOR WHGC TO PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE, TRANSPORTATION, CONTINUOUS INDIVIDUAL SUPERVISION, OR SECURITY BEYOND ANY DUTY IMPOSED BY LAW.

15. INDEMNITY

    To the fullest extent permitted by Texas law, the participant and Parent agree to defend, indemnify, and hold the released parties harmless from third-party claims, damages, losses, and reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees, arising from the participant's intentional misconduct, unlawful conduct, property damage, or material violation of this agreement. This indemnity does not require the participant or parent to indemnify a released party for that released party's gross negligence, reckless conduct, or willful misconduct.

16. GENERAL TERMS

    This agreement is governed by Texas law. Any dispute must be brought in a court of competent jurisdiction in the Texas county where the event occurs, unless applicable law requires otherwise. If any provision is held unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain effective to the fullest extent permitted by law. This agreement contains the entire agreement concerning its subject matter and may be amended only in a writing issued or approved by WHGC. Electronic signatures and counterparts may be treated as originals.

    No waiver or form can eliminate all risk or replace appropriate supervision, security, emergency planning, insurance, and compliance with applicable law.