Brooklyn Centre National Wildlife Community

my current Sales Practices Manual tells me I am not to be engaged in blogging activity

I have never used this or any other blog for professional purposes.

That being said,  I am aware, as of today, that because of considerations relating to my registrations with The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA),  I am not to be engaged in blogging activity. Therefore, this is my last blog post here; and here is the proximate rule, the one that most closely affects me:

Prohibited Activities

The below list is not intended to be inclusive of all of the instances in which the Firm will prohibit a communication with the public; rather it is intended to demonstrate some of the most common types of communications that are not approved. . . .

. . . Blogs: Interactive electronic forums such as blogs subject a member firm to various supervision and record keeping requirements. As such, no employee or affiliated person with the Firm may participate in blogs or other similar interactive electronic communications such as chat rooms.

WSP Online: Current Manual

And another, less proximate:

Electronic Chat Rooms, Blogs and Bulletin Boards

The fact that an individual is registered subjects him/her to a higher standard than members of the general public. Given the fast-paced environment of chat rooms, blogs and bulletin boards, casual or off-handed statements have the potential of crossing the line between being a reasonable opinion and an exaggerated or unwarranted claim. Because of the difficulties of supervision and the potential liabilities from participating in these forums, many firms limit or prohibit participation altogether.

Chat room participation by RRs is considered a public appearance. Therefore, RRs must follow the same requirements for participating in a chat room that they would if they were speaking in person before a group of investors. There are no filing requirements, but RRs are accountable under FINRA Conduct Rules and the federal securities laws for what they say regarding securities or services. Also, member firms are responsible for supervising the business-related activities of RRs including chat room participation. Remember, these rules apply regardless of whether an RR is in the office at home or a public computer.

In general, blogs and bulletin boards are considered advertisements and as such, all the content standards apply. Depending on the subject matter, firms may need to file these postings with FINRA.

RRs who are considering hosting a bulletin board, blog or chat room should contact their compliance department to determine whether such activities are permitted and what procedures may apply. Member firms must supervise the operation of any securities-related blog, bulletin board or chat room hosted by an RR or by the firm itself to ensure compliance with FINRA Conduct Rules and the federal securities laws. For example, a member firm may limit when commenters can post new messages to times when such messages can be monitored. A member firm may also require commenters to register and agree to abide by the terms of the Web site, including limitations on content.

Denison Cemetery Memorial Day Service

 

Who:  A group of friends and neighbors are called together by another neighbor Rick Nicholson each year to remember those who served our country—living and dead.  We give thanks for those who protected the freedoms of our country so that we can live without fear. 

When:  Monday May 25, 2009

               11:00 am

Where:  Denison Cemetery

               Turn left Off  Pearl Road on to Garden Avenue  (north of Denison Avenue

reminder for tomorrow: Rain Gardens & Rain Barrels

 "Rain Gardens & Rain Barrels"is a presentation which will be given by Jan Rybka, director of the Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District, at 2:00 pm on Saturday, May 23rd. This program will be held at and co-hosted by the Brooklyn branch of Cleveland Public Library, 3706 Pearl Rd., Brooklyn Centre, Ohio 44109.

Brooklyn Centre National Wildlife Community

May 9th meeting minutes and Gather Round Farm info

Members--

Please see the attached copy of the minutes of our last meeting. Thanks to Greg Cznadel for writing them up of us.

Also, today, Gloria and I had the pleasure of meeting with Meagen Kresge of Gather Round Farms, located at 3919 Lorain Ave., just east of Bodnar Funeral Home. Meagen and her crew have taken an empty lot covered in asphalt and are turning it into an amazing green space. There are herbs, and flowers and veggies and trees. They have the beginnings of a rain garden using the runoff from surrounding parking lots. They are successfully using rain barrel technology and are recycling vegetable scraps from the West Side market into their compost. You can contact Meagen at gatherroundfarms@yahoo.com if you would be interested in volunteering or learning more about what they are doing at this site. This is urban gardening at its best. You have to see it to believe it.

Sharon & Gloria

BCN Meeting May 9th, 2009, 10:00 AM

Welcome.

Rain Garden talk by Jan Rybka May 23rd.

* We should have a good turnout. We advertised in our brochure. We advertised at Earthfest. Sharon has received emails on upcoming event. * Brochure was created for library.

Earthfest

* Very successful. Thanks to Sharon, Tim Ferris, Ellen and Evan, Joe Mestnik and David Boyce for their support manning the booth and Tom Romito and Greg Cznadel who were super at bringing in the people. * Raffled off two baskets, "sold" butterfly garden seeds, passed out our brochure, and had fliers on various topics. * Obtained 23 names for our email list. Brought in $132.00 total. * Picture of table during the event with Joe, Tim, and Greg was in latest Old Brooklyn News. * Greg suggested saving articles and making a scrap book Sharon appropriately enough calls a "Brag" book. Would be great to display at table down the line. Sharon showed us book with BCN history.

Old Brooklyn News

Sharon mentioned all the past articles that have been published such as the one she wrote on native plants, Tom Romito's on local spring birds, and Greg's on Invasive Species. She will remind Daryl to write an article for next issue. An article from a kid's point of view was also discussed and Evan and his mom agreed to see what they could do.

Speaking of kids, Greg explained how one could identify male and female may flowers and white pine from Red pine. Sharon suggested we might do an event for kids this summer.

Landscaping Project

* Methodist Church landscape project still in the works. * Steel Valley Credit union added bird feeder and bird bath to their tree corner.

Archwood Street Sale, June 6th

* We were asked to participate by Darren Hamm of the BCCA. * Number of days - Even thought the street sale is Saturday and Sunday, we agreed on one day only, Saturday.
* Table - Sharon has a five foot table and chairs. She will talk to Darren to see it a table will be provided. * Basket to raffle - One will suffice. Greg has needed components left over from Earthfest. For larger events Sharon said two baskets were the ideal. * Satchels with "Maple leaf decal" and "BCN" will be sewn by Ellen. Sharon will help finish them up. There will be a bowl of lavender for people to "scoop" into their bag.
* List of Library Books - if the library has a list it was suggested Sharon could type it up, maybe in small font on a bookmark with our BCN maple leaf on the top. * Handouts - BCN brochure, NWF handouts. * Sign for front of table. * Volunteers - Sharon will email people to help.

Daryl gave Sharon a CD on the Call of Frogs and Toads. Possibly we could play this at the table for the Archwood Dennison Garage Sale. We would need a portable CD player. Evan volunteered to let us use his.

Re-Imaging a more sustainable Cleveland by Cuyahoga County Planning, The Cleveland Lab. and Neighborhood Programs given to Sharon by Darren Hamm.

Daryl Davis also gave Sharon a book on Vernal Pools - Natural History and Conservation by Elizabeth A. Colburn.

Daryl visited the Southwest Citizens meeting last week. Brian Cummins was present. The Health Department is concerned about the West Niles Virus. They plan on putting out poison bait for Raccoons. They also plan on putting pellets in water to kill mosquito larvae.

* People were upset. This is not the "Green" way or "Safe Pet and Human" way to do this. Let's clean up the sources of the problem.
* Let's pick up the tires on the hillsides that offer the perfect breeding places for mosquitoes.
* Let's pick up the trash. Let's make our vernal pools, streams, and pools more viable for lizards, frogs, and fish that eat the mosquito larvae.

* Greg suggested Sharon send out an email with the problem, the preferred solution, and the address. We agreed. * Sharon will find out about setting up a tire clean-up. Who will pick up the tires, where will they be taken to be recycled, etc.

Sharon got an email from Megan Kresge about an urban garden farm project.

Her email address is gatherroundfarm@yahoo.com.

Open Mondays 9-3 and Saturdays 9-2.

Sharon will invite her to May 23rd Rain Garden meeting.

Attendance:

Sharon

Gregory Cznadel

Evan

Ellen O'Neil

Meeting end: 11:30

Notes Submitted by Gregory Cznadel

Upcoming Archwood Street Sale

Dear Members,

Darren Hamm of the BCCA has invited our organization to participate at the Archwood Street Sale on Saturday, June 6th. We need volunteers to man the table that day. The table is fee-free, and we intend to run it just like we did at Earthfest: Sell raffle tickets for a gift basket, sell butterfly garden seeds, hand out brochures and flyers, and answer questions about the Brooklyn Centre Naturalists. If you have the time and would like to promote our projects to your neighbors, please e-mail us with the time or times you would be available. Please remember to bring sun hats and sun screen for the day.

Shifts available:

• 8:30am to 11:30am

• 11:30am to 2:30pm

• 2:30pm to 5:00pm.

Thanking you in advance.

Gloria Ferris & Sharon Martyn