The UHFNA Facebook Community

How we treat each other

Be a good neighbor

• Treat everyone with respect, even when you disagree.

• No bullying, insults, public shaming, or abusive language.

• No content that's inappropriate for children or a workplace.

• Handle personal disputes with neighbors directly and privately, not in the group.

Respect everyone's identity

Everyone is welcome here. Discriminatory statements based on race, appearance, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, or experience have no place in this group.

Buying and selling

• Small-scale handmade goods and pre-owned item resale are welcome. OK

• Girl Scout Cookies and similar community fundraisers are fine. OK

• No MLM, affiliate marketing, or pyramid scheme promotions including free samples, trials, or sign-up meetings. Not allowed

• No posts selling products or services for personal commercial benefit.

• No posting on behalf of a business unless it directly benefits the neighborhood (e.g. a charity fundraiser).

• Always disclose any personal financial interest in something you're posting about.

• Once an item is sold or given away, mark it as gone and handle any follow-up privately.

Politics and community issues

• Political topics that affect life in Madison are welcome.

• International issues with clear humanitarian concerns are welcome.

• No messaging designed to offend, belittle, or shut down discussion.

• No character attacks. All claims must be backed by direct quotes or credible news sources.

Reporting neighborhood activity

• Report suspected illegal activity to the proper authorities. That's their job.

• Found something valuable (over $100)? Post about it, then bring it to a Madison Police Station or the school office if found on school grounds. (Wisconsin Statute 170.08)

• Don't try to publicly identify people for the purpose of shaming or harassment. (Wisconsin Statute 947.0125)

• No threats, calls to violence, or intimidation, even as a joke.

Accuracy and misinformation

• Don't share information that can't be verified with a credible or official source.

• No sensational or alarming posts that don't directly affect our neighborhood.

• Don't misrepresent the Neighborhood Association, its board, or any member in an official capacity.

• Don't offer legal advice unless you're a licensed attorney.

• Don't report posts that don't actually break these rules.

Posting guidelines

• Don't share private posts from other groups.

• Don't repost the same content more than once in a two-week period. Commenting on your original post is fine.

• Exception: Official Neighborhood Association announcements and important civic posts (voting, public events) are exempt from the reposting limit.

How we handle rule violations

When a post breaks the rules

1. The post is removed at a moderator's discretion.

2. You'll be notified of the reason and given a chance to respond.

3. If the issue can be corrected, the post may be reinstated or you can repost a revised version.

Consequences for ongoing or serious violations

• Repeated violations may result in post approval being required before your content goes live.

• Serious offenses may result in a 30-day mute or removal from the group.

• If you're muted or removed, you can appeal at the next board meeting.

• Have a concern about moderation? Talk to us directly and don't air it publicly in the group.

About administrators

• Admins are appointed by the University Hill Farms Neighborhood Association.

• Admins participate as regular members and aim to moderate as lightly as possible.

Reporting Posts

When you report a post, please explain why. It helps us act quickly and fairly. Thank you for helping keep this a great place for our neighborhood.

Reporting unlawful behavior

Some behavior goes beyond a community guideline violation. Report the following directly to law enforcement.

Off-platform harassment and coordinated threats

This has happened, so we take it seriously. Posting information about the association, its board, or its members on any platform (e.g. Reddit) to incite harassment or threats is grounds for immediate removal and referral to law enforcement. Wisconsin cyber harassment (947.0125) and criminal threat (947.015) statutes apply.

Illegal goods and services

Do not buy, sell, or solicit illegal goods or services in this group. Posts will be removed immediately and referred to the Madison Police Department.

Physical threats

Any credible threat against a neighbor, board member, or admin, whether posted here or on an external platform, results in immediate removal and referral to law enforcement.

The board and admins are volunteers and your neighbors. Disagreements are welcome. Threats are not.

Cats & Dogs in Madison

This comes up way too often, so here is some valuable information:

• City of Madison — Pets & Animals — licensing, dog park permits, reporting off-leash violations

• Public Health Madison & Dane County — Pet Licensing and Ownership — leash rules, licensing requirements for dogs and cats

• Dane County Ordinance Chapter 47 — Animal Control — the county ordinance governing dogs and cats running at large

• Wis. Stat. Chapter 174 — Dogs — state-level dog regulations including licensing and liability

To report an off-leash dog or cat, call Public Health Madison & Dane County animal control at 608-255-2345. Worth adding that number alongside the links if this section goes in the document. City of Madison

Applicable Laws and Ordinances

Wis. Stat. 100.18 — Fraudulent representations

Wis. Stat. 170.08 — Found property

Wis. Stat. 423.301 — Prohibited practices, consumer transactions

Wis. Stat. 940.32 — Stalking

Wis. Stat. 942.01 — Defamation

Wis. Stat. 942.04 — Privileged communications

Wis. Stat. 942.08 — Invasion of privacy

Wis. Stat. 943.34 — Receiving stolen property

Wis. Stat. 946.60 — Compounding a crime

Wis. Stat. 947.013 — Harassment

Wis. Stat. 947.0125 — Unlawful use of computerized communication systems

Wis. Stat. 961.41 — Controlled substances, manufacture and delivery

FTC guidance — Multi-level marketing and pyramid schemes

Disclaimer

The University Hill Farms Neighborhood Association ("Association") provides this group as a community forum for neighborhood discussion and information sharing. All posts, comments, messages, and other content are the sole responsibility of the individuals who create and share them.

The Association, its officers, directors, board members, volunteers, and administrators do not endorse, verify, guarantee, or assume responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, legality, or reliability of any content posted by members. Participation in this group is voluntary and at each member's own discretion and risk.

The Association is not a party to, and assumes no responsibility for, any transactions, agreements, disputes, or interactions between members, whether conducted through this group or elsewhere.

The Association reserves the right, but not the obligation, to moderate content, remove posts, restrict membership, or enforce group rules. Any moderation activity is undertaken solely for the benefit of the community and does not create a duty to monitor, review, investigate, or remove content.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Association, its officers, directors, board members, volunteers, and administrators shall not be liable for any loss, injury, damage, claim, or expense arising out of or related to participation in this group or reliance on information shared within it. Nothing in this disclaimer is intended to limit liability for conduct that cannot be disclaimed under applicable law.

Nothing contained in this group, its guidelines, or its communications constitutes legal, financial, professional, or other expert advice. Members should consult appropriate qualified professionals regarding their individual circumstances.

By joining or participating in this group, members acknowledge and accept these terms and the group's posted rules.