Good causes are good causes. And good manners are good manners.

Let's make sure the two go hand in hand. I was reminded of this recently when a Sunday-morning walkathon appeared in my neighborhood.

First of all, let me say that I'm an advocate of walkathons. I've helped organize them when I once worked with a nonprofit.

But as we walk through familiar or unfamiliar neighborhoods promoting a cause, let's always be mindful of the tranquility of the surroundings.

Organizers should respect the space of others who live in the neighborhood. Be courteous and allow people the right of ways on their walks or jogging paths.

It’s not easy when several people are together, of course, but organizers should also respect noise levels while they're in the neighborhood -- in other words, no honking horns or loud music.

And most of all, organizers should encourage participants to respect personal property. No one likes to see people traipse across a well-manicured lawn to take a picture under a trellis of roses.

I don't believe anyone in any neighborhood has a problem with people promoting their causes. The important thing is to not let the neighborhood and its residents feel violated or taken advantage of as if they were a tourist attraction.

It's a matter of good common sense, manners and respect for the residents.