As one who was involved in helping arrange for Miami University to host this mailing list, I feel obligated to add a comment regarding "advertising" in Ohio Birds messages. Regular readers of this list surely have noticed the blurb at the bottom of each message noting that Miami University hosts the Ohio-birds mailing list. Miami is a state-supported institution, and public institutions cannot and should not be involved in promoting individual business or private entities. Messages on Ohio Birds that may be perceived as "advertising" could prompt someone to question the university's support of the list. Likely? Perhaps not, but it seems to me that we should err on the side of caution. It is only natural and appropriate that OOS members should recognize and applaud those businesses (and individuals) who provide valuable services to the birding community and support OOS activities. That can and should be done in OOS-funded communications, at conferences, and so on. But, in my opinion, we should avoid even the appearance of "promotion" in a forum supported by a public university. By the way, I hope that this message is not seen as scolding or directed toward individuals. It's meant, as I trust Bill's message was meant, as a reminder to all of us regarding the limits of what is appropriate in this particular venue. -- Bill Heck ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]