Friends & Traders was founded in May 2000 with a mission and philosophy that met the needs of traders to exchange ideas, and to be in an environment that they wanted. The founder and other carefully selected traders constitute the board of Friends & Traders.

With careful deliberation, we determined exactly what we wanted in the matter of atmosphere, and asked applicants why they wanted to join us. The overwhelming majority of our members said that they wanted to get away from the flaming and bashing that occurs at other forums, and that they did not want “vendors” who were always there to make a pitch. Our members have strong views on “solicitation.” For a time, we were committed to be “vendor free.”

The board realizes that there are Commodities Professionals which include Educators, Brokers, and CTAs who can provide information from a perspective that our members do not have. Educators may have a wealth of information on trading that they have accumulated in the process of developing their course. Brokers may have started in the pits, and experienced brokers can provide perspectives on the mechanics of placing a trade. CTAs have diverse backgrounds and may be authoring newsletters and hotlines for customers of the brokerage firm with which they are associated.

We are committed to maintaining our philosophy of no solicitation at the same time we are willing to admit those who might have solicited elsewhere. This creates a delicate balance of allowing Commodities Professionals to participate and enforcing our mission and philosophy.

The only way a Commodities Professional may participate in our forum is to agree to respect our Nonsolicitation Compliance Requirements which is part two of this announcement.

Our method of maintaining the standards related to our mission and philosophy is to delete posts whichare in violation. We ask vendors evaluate every post before they make it to ensure that it will not be necessary to delete what they have posted because of a compliance issue. If a Commodities Professional abridges the compliance requirements with reckless abandon, it will be necessary to delete their posts upon sight as they will no longer be welcome at Friends & Traders.

Please read the Nonsolicitation Compliance Requirements carefully before you decide to participate. A professional who abides by the requirements for participation is likely to be more effective in fulfilling the goal to generate business than one who would openly solicit. Keep in mind that a major marketing technique among America’s largest and most successful firms is to provide a service before there is an obligation to do so. Throughout our free enterprise system, there are numerous examples of “free samples” and providing a service before there is an obligation.

- Board of Friends & Traders -

Nonsolicitation Compliance Requirements
for Commodities Professionals

Preamble: To provide a solicitation free environment at Friends & Traders, yet include professional perspectives for evaluating the markets and appropriate trading techniques, the forum and other activities that may occur involving our membership, Commodities Professionals may participate if they maintain compliance with the terms stated herein.

The following apply to individuals who are Commodities Professionals, including but not limited to Educators, Brokers, and CTAs, hereinafter known as “vendor(s).”

When vendors post, their posts must have trade related substance rather than be an excuse to make their presence known and post a link to their site.

Vendors may offer advice or information regarding trading principles for which they are qualified under trade regulations promulgated by regulatory agencies.

Vendors may add to threads or start new threads.

Vendors must post their status in parentheses with their name (Broker, Teacher or Educator, CTA, etc).

Vendors may post a link to their site and their email address as well.

Vendors may complete a “profile” at a site that supports profiles. If a person asks for background information about you, you may either refer them to the profile or invite them to email vendor directly. You may not post in such a manner as to violate the premise of non-solicitation.

Vendors may not openly market their course or services.

Vendors may announce new products with ADVERTISEMENT as the only word in the subject line.

Referring to “their students/clients” within posts is considered a marketing technique and is prohibited.

Vendors may not refer to profits from their systems unless the trades are posted on this forum in advance, including the rationale for order placement, entry and exit considerations, and timing.

Vendors may answer questions asked by members.

Vendors shall not encourage their students/clients to solicit in vendor’s behalf.

Vendors shall not respond to attacks on them from a member or visitor who “gets out of line” as this is a responsibility for the board members to deal with the member or visitor. Vendors are entitled to the same courtesy expected of members and other visitors. A response of like kind simply lowers the person to the same level of rudeness as the attacker, and serves no purpose in appropriate forum moderation.

Termination: Vendors who fail to comply with the terms stated herein, and any terms, which may subsequently be added or revised, will not be welcome to participate in the forum or other activities and their posts are subject to deletion at the sole discretion of the individual board members.

Revisions: Nonsolicitation Compliance Requirements may change from time to time at the sole discretion of the Board. Vendor is bound by any revisions hereof, effective the date and time of posting said revision(s). Nonsolicitation Compliance Requirements shall remain in force in perpetuity unless deleted by the Board.

In the life of our membership, not one post has been deleted for noncompliance. This represents thousands of posts and hundreds of thousands of views. A visitor who feels censored needs an attitude adjustment.

The Board and membership of Friends & Traders welcomes all like-minded people to share in this common interest.