With public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it, nothing can succeed.  Consequently he who molds public sentiment goes deeper than he who enacts statutes or pronounces decisions.       

Abraham Lincoln (First Lincoln-Douglas Debate, August 21, 1858)

 

PUBLIC EDUCATION FORUM ABOUT CT METROPATTERNS REPORT

Planning Meeting #2

Worksheet

 

Focus:  Communication, marketing, turnout

 

Here is a menu of possibilities.  You can select what you want to do and leave the rest.

 

  1. Think about the formal tools for communication in your community.  Your chief elected official may have a press aide who could give you advice and even assistance if your mayor or first selectman wants to promote your forum.

What you'll try to do

Who will approach them

By what date
  • Daily or weekly newspapers:  talk with the editor or a friendly reporter and try to get an advance story about your forum, and a story about the actual event; write a letter to the editor about a story or editorial or column that connects with an issue that will be part of the subject matter covered by your forum, and issue an invitation for people to attend as part of your brief letter; get your event listed in the community calendar of your newspapers.
  • Cable access station:  get the four-part Sprawl Matters aired and publicize it; get a volunteer from your cable access station to videotape your forum for later re-broadcast; get your event listed on the community calendar of your cable access station.
  • Radio talk show and public service announcements:  inviting a media personality to moderate your forum can help to get you this kind of publicity.
  • Library:  display poster-size maps and have flyers available to publicize the forum.
  • Municipal website:  seek co-sponsorship of the event by your local legislative body; provide information about the date, time, place, speaker on a list of community events; provide links to the CenterEdge website.

 

 

 

  1. Think about different networks of people in your community.  Who are the key people in each?  Each of these networks has some form of internal communication (newsletter, website, listserv, church bulletin announcements, mailings, etc.).  The best way to get the word out is for a member of the committee to talk with a leader of these organizations in person or by phone, and to provide brief, clear, written material that connects this forum with what they care about and do.  The topical fact sheet series can be helpful.  Look at the list of CenterEdge Coalition member organizations for ideas.

Groups in your community

Who will approach them

By what date
  • Elected and appointed officials from your town (chief elected official, local legislative body, board of education, other boards and commissions, municipal staff, state legislators, etc.)
  • Education leaders and parents of school-age children (Board of Education, PTOs, daycare council, sports leagues, etc.):  could hand out flyers, put notices in newsletters, etc.
  • Older adults (senior centers, health clubs, travel clubs, volunteer organizations, etc.)
  • Clergy and faith-community members (formal or informal clergy association, faith-based community organizing groups, ecumenical or interfaith service organization, etc.)
  • Business leaders (chamber of commerce, business networks, etc.)
  • Unions (there may be a central labor council; municipal unions may have an interest
  • Leaders of major non-profit institutions (hospitals, museums, theaters, colleges, foundations, etc.)
  • Educators (high school or college faculty may want to include this in a course and make attendance at the forum part of it)
  • Environmental groups (land trusts, river and watershed groups, Trout Unlimited, etc.)
  • Service groups and membership organizations (League of Women Voters, Lions Clubs, Elks, Junior Chambers of Commerce, Knights of Columbus, Women's Clubs, garden clubs, civil rights organizations, Volunteer Fire Fighters, etc.)
  • Groups that sponsor carnivals, fairs, festivals, etc. where flyers can be handed out.