Public Conversation+Method

Individual discussions

• Approach people that are potential stakeholders in the following ways:
• On the telephone
• On the street
• At places of work
• In public places.
• Identify yourself and ask if the person is interested in discussing the issue.
• Arrange venue, times.
• Allow the participant flexibility in steering the discussion to areas of their interest
• Take notes (or tape/type notes).
• Use findings to modify a participation program and/or target specific stakeholder groups

Group public conversations

• Identify the issue or issues to be discussed.
• Advertise public meeting time and issue.
• Hire a facilitator who can bring a non-adversarial approach to the discussion.
• Record discussion points.
• Write up and distribute a report of the discussions, acknowledging the differing viewpoints and highlighting areas of overlap and difference.
• If such a discussion is part of a decision-making process, describe the final recommendations and reasons that come from the public discussion.