1. Playgroups & Connections with Other Parents (parent-initiated postings only)

   This section provides a way for a BPN subscriber to connect with other parents on the BPN list. It is most often used for forming casual playgroups, but it can also be used for other kinds of connections.

   • What to post: Casual and parent-initiated playgroups and other connections.
   • Examples: playgroups, car pools, exercise partners, book clubs, neighborhood friends, lost & found
   • Not accepted:
        - Playgroups organized by businesses and agencies (these can be posted to Kids' Classes, or to the Childcare or Schools newsletters if appropriate)
        - Connections sought by businesses and agencies (see Other Announcements below)
        - Childcare co-ops (these go to the Childcare Newsletter).

2. Family-Friendly Events (non-profits and other community groups may post)

   This section is intended as a way for BPN subscribers to find out about family-friendly community events that children would enjoy, such as fairs, concerts, performances, and the like. Local businesses that subscribe to BPN as well as parents and non-profits may post to this section. Note that we cannot accept events for this section whose main purpose is to promote a for-profit business or to solicit new clients or customers. For example, a free demonstration day at a children's music class may be posted to Kids' Classes but not to Events for Families, because its main purpose is to bring in new students for the music classes.

   • What to post: Events that are suitable for kids with their parents
   • Examples: concerts & performances, dances, street fairs, festivals & carnivals, child-friendly community gatherings
   • Not accepted:
        - Events primarily targeted to adults such as lectures, health fairs, political fundraisers and art openings (sorry, but these are beyond the scope of BPN),
        - Events that are designed to promote businesses or solicit new customers (sorry, BPN cannot accept these),
        - Classes and workshops (instead post to one of the Classes sections, if appropriate),
        - School admissions events (instead post these to the Schools Newsletter),
        - Garage sales, rummage sales, and the like (instead post these to Marketplace)

3. Kids' Classes & Groups (all BPN subscribers may post)

   This section announces classes and groups for children. Local businesses that subscribe to BPN as well as parents and non-profits may post to this section. Because of BPN's no-advertising policy, postings for this section are limited to a very brief description. See Posting about classes and groups below for more information.

   • What to post: Classes & lessons for kids, and organized groups for kids
   • Examples: Classes & lessons for music, art, gymnastics, dance, cooking, academic tutoring, foreign language, etc. Groups for kids such as chorus, soccer, swim teams, organized playgroups, support groups and social skills groups.
   • Not accepted:
        - Summer camps and schools (post instead to the Schools Newsletter)
        - Parent reviews of classes (sorry, we don't accept unsolicited reviews)

4. Parenting Classes, Groups & Workshops (all BPN subscribers may post)

   This section announces parenting classes and groups. Classes must specifically target parents, parents-to-be, mothers, or fathers. Other adult classes and groups unrelated to parenting are no longer accepted. Local businesses that subscribe to BPN as well as parents and non-profits may post to this section. Because of BPN's no-advertising policy, postings for this section are limited to a very brief description. See Posting about classes and groups below for more information.

   • What to post: Classes for parents and parents-to-be
   • Examples: parent support groups, childbirth classes, parenting skills workshops, postnatal yoga classes, college planning seminars, etc.
   • Not accepted:
        - Groups and classes that are not specifically geared toward parents. Sorry, but these are beyond the scope of BPN and we cannot accept them. If the class has equal interest for non-parents, then the post isn't considered to be geared toward parents. Examples of postings we don't accept include exercise and yoga classes not targeted to parents or parents-to-be, self-realization classes, financial advising classes, adult art classes, adult hobby groups.

5. Other Announcements for Parents (postings from parents & non-profits only)

   This section can be used to post general announcements of interest to local parents. Posts must be non-profit in nature. Job openings of interest to local parents may be posted here. Researchers and journalists looking for parents to interview can also post here, but please make it clear in your post what the purpose of your study or interview is, since marketing-type requests are not accepted. (For more info, see Reporter and Research Inquiries.)

   • What to post: General announcements directed to, and of benefit to, the community of local parents
   • Examples: volunteer opportunities, jobs, city government info, research studies and surveys, journalist inquiries, product recalls, open letters to parents from a member
   • Not accepted:
        - Marketing surveys
        - Multi-level marketing opportunites
        - Announcements that promote businesses such as photographers, authors, therapists, clothing stores, etc. Sorry, these are beyond the scope of BPN and we cannot accept these.

The Announcements newsletter also contains two other sections added by the moderator: "Notes from the Moderators", which contains news about the BPN and other notes, and "Welcome to New Members" which contains a list of new subscribers from the past week.

What doesn't go into the Announcements newsletter?

• Announcements that promote products, services or businesses, except for parenting classes & groups and kids' classes & groups
• Classes, groups & workshops for adults that are not specifically targeted to parents

Reminder: BPN subscribers may recommend any of these businesses in the Recommendations newsletter in response to a query. However, they cannot be "advertised" in the BPN newsletters.

Posting about classes and groups

Here is an example of a posting for a class that meets the 300-character maximium:

Fencing Lessons in N. Berkeley for K-3 ($45/hr)
-------------------------------------------------------
I am offering private fencing lessons in my home near the Gourmet Ghetto for K-3
kids. I can pick your child up in Berkeley and they will be given a hot snack
and a nap after the lesson. Lessons last 1 hour; equipment is provided.  For
more information, send email or see www.fencingandsnacks.com.
Submitted by: Jane Dough (janedough@nowhere.com)