I agree a hundred percent with Kenn Kaufman's assertion that he had no political message in mind when he posted about a conference to get minorities more involved in birding. Politics involves the exercise of various influences on public policy, mostly in the ways government exercises its powers. It's an entirely acceptable, legitimate, and important all-American thing, but reaching out to minorities in conservation/recreation activities seems non-political to me. I think nearly all of us are--or should be--interested in politics, but in keeping with ohio-birds guidelines--which advise against, but do not absolutely forbid it, all in the interest of politeness and amity--we try to talk about things with which all reasonable readers will be comfortable, or at the very least to be rational and polite. I think Kenn, and I and others, have posted messages with political overtones in the past, but without offending anyone other than the powers that be, and sometimes even to honor them. But what it is it about getting minorities more involved in birding that could offend anyone? Reliable information, not rhetoric, and the chance to learn more, is what we need, and that's what Kenn offered. Bill Whan Columbus ______________________________________________________________________ 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]